Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks Game Review: Road Trip Ends With Whimper in Pittsburgh The Vancouver Canucks wrapped up a good road trip on a sour note when they surrendered four third-period goals on their way to a 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

It'll be nice to see the full lineup again (when Sutter, Henrik and Hammer are all back).
I still think we'll miss the playoffs, but not for a lack of trying.

In other news.
The Edmonton Oilers have assigned winger Zack Kassian and defencemen Brad Hunt and Griffin Reinhart to the American Hockey League's Bakersfield Condors.

...that didn't last long.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...t-after-shoving-linesman/

Oilers next game isn't until Feb 2nd. Zach needs to play games, he hasn't played nearly enough this year

Imagine having Selanne and Bure together in their primes?

Read this a couple of times recently:

http://canucksarmy.com/20...rt-3-2014-draft-revisited

I'm wondering how folks feel about it? Personally, I've been mostly happy with the team, though the Garrison trade and moving out Clendening are major black marks that I think made the holes in defense, 'gaping'.

I thought the Miller signing was better than they gave credit for (I think as Carol mentioned previously, the thinking was that keeping Lack and Markstrom was going to be impossible long term), Dorsett is probably a character guy whose definitely gritty and only signed for 3 years and while Luca Sbisa has been bad, he hasn't been worse than what they have now, so probably best to grab whatever defenseman you can get...not sure if I agree that what we had on the farm was good enough to replace him.

In terms of trades...verdict is still out on the Sutter trade (at worst it's going to be wash but wish they still had Clendenning), but they won the Prust trade in hindsight and Baerstchi seems like he's going to be worth the 2nd. Like Etem as well, or as I call him Mayson Raymond 2.0.

I thought the draft is where you saw some of Bennings best decisions so far: Nylander might be better than Virtanen on paper, but Virtanen is playing now...if Nylander can't crack the Leafs today, then at least it wasn't a terrible selection. Picks 1 - 3 are looking like money.

One of the most revealing things I thought was the Kassian trade, since it shows the limitations of analytics. Everyone thought we got fleeced, because things like team chemistry, development of youth, work ethic, etc. are not things you can measure. Sometimes a greaty skilled player is a cancer in the lockeroom. Sometimes a guy who sucks in skill, works his ass off and makes others on the team do the same.

The team is somehow in the playoff hunt with almost every metric in the negative...injuries up the wazoo, all the while playing rookies and prospects and stocking the cupboards a bit. Gotta see that as a win.

Imagine having Selanne and Bure together in their primes?
- golfingsince

With Larionov in his prime as their Centre. Marinate on that a lil

With Larionov in his prime as their Centre. Marinate on that a lil
- PetrolSexual

Even Roenick was pretty dominant for a decade.

Read this a couple of times recently:

http://canucksarmy.com/20...rt-3-2014-draft-revisited

I'm wondering how folks feel about it? Personally, I've been mostly happy with the team, though the Garrison trade and moving out Clendening are major black marks that I think made the holes in defense, 'gaping'.

I thought the Miller signing was better than they gave credit for (I think as Carol mentioned previously, the thinking was that keeping Lack and Markstrom was going to be impossible long term), Dorsett is probably a character guy whose definitely gritty and only signed for 3 years and while Luca Sbisa has been bad, he hasn't been worse than what they have now, so probably best to grab whatever defenseman you can get...not sure if I agree that what we had on the farm was good enough to replace him.

In terms of trades...verdict is still out on the Sutter trade (at worst it's going to be wash but wish they still had Clendenning), but they won the Prust trade in hindsight and Baerstchi seems like he's going to be worth the 2nd. Like Etem as well, or as I call him Mayson Raymond 2.0.

I thought the draft is where you saw some of Bennings best decisions so far: Nylander might be better than Virtanen on paper, but Virtanen is playing now...if Nylander can't crack the Leafs today, then at least it wasn't a terrible selection. Picks 1 - 3 are looking like money.

One of the most revealing things I thought was the Kassian trade, since it shows the limitations of analytics. Everyone thought we got fleeced, because things like team chemistry, development of youth, work ethic, etc. are not things you can measure. Sometimes a greaty skilled player is a cancer in the lockeroom. Sometimes a guy who sucks in skill, works his ass off and makes others on the team do the same.

The team is somehow in the playoff hunt with almost every metric in the negative...injuries up the wazoo, all the while playing rookies and prospects and stocking the cupboards a bit. Gotta see that as a win.
- Ronning4ever

Regarding Nylander, who's ultra-talented offensively, they're keeping him down in the AHL on purpose, it has nothing to do with whether he's good enough to play or not...because he probably is.

Still...I like the Virtanen pick, he's something the team needed badly.

my God. What could have been.

Response to P sexual.

Even Roenick was pretty dominant for a decade.
- golfingsince

But JR was a goof. Remember when Hatcher broke his jaw. Today that hit would get you a lengthy suspension.

But JR was a goof. Remember when Hatcher broke his jaw. Today that hit would get you a lengthy suspension.
- bloatedmosquito

He still is a goof. But he carried the Hawks to the final offensively, along with Larmer.

Regarding Nylander, who's ultra-talented offensively, they're keeping him down in the AHL on purpose, it has nothing to do with whether he's good enough to play or not...because he probably is.

Still...I like the Virtanen pick, he's something the team needed badly.
- LeftCoaster

Would you have gone Nylander over Virtanen? I thought Virtanen was basically another Bo-type, two-way player?

Would you have gone Nylander over Virtanen? I thought Virtanen was basically another Bo-type, two-way player?
- Ronning4ever

Me personally...no. They had a second 1st round pick and it's really hard to find what Jake has. It's really a gamble though to see if he can put it all together.

In hindsight I'm pretty sure I'd have taken Dylan Larkin over almost every other player. Except Ekblad.

But JR was a goof. Remember when Hatcher broke his jaw. Today that hit would get you a lengthy suspension.
- bloatedmosquito

I'd have taken Roenick over Linden looking back. It's amazing to see who the Canucks could've drafted had they made the right choice. Could be said for every team.

Me personally...no. They had a second 1st round pick and it's really hard to find what Jake has. It's really a gamble though to see if he can put it all together.

In hindsight I'm pretty sure I'd have taken Dylan Larkin over almost every other player. Except Ekblad.
- LeftCoaster

I would have taken Draisaitl. Surprise

He still is a goof. But he carried the Hawks to the final offensively, along with Larmer.
- golfingsince

Had a couple of not too shabby guys on the back end during those times as well, and throw in Savard.

I'm not too big on the "what ifs", Roenick could have ended up being a bust in Vancouver and traded early in his career, ending up where he is now because of personality. Who knows.

I'm happy they took Linden, he was the right guy for the job that needed doing.

I would have taken Draisaitl. Surprise
- thundachunk

#3 on my do-over list...kids good

But JR was a goof. Remember when Hatcher broke his jaw. Today that hit would get you a lengthy suspension.
- bloatedmosquito

Total Goof.
I don't think he would have had the same career here in Vancouver.
Vancouver and Linden were/are a perfect match.
Characters like Kes, Bert, even Luongo don't last.
Vancouver seems to embrace the nice guys (ie Sedins).

Denver's gonna win if the Patriots don't make some adjustments.

Looks like Higgins is doing his thing with the Comets.

Denver's gonna win if the Patriots don't make some adjustments.
- LeftCoaster

Tom Brady is playing like Peyton and Peyton is playing like Brady

Looks like Higgins is doing his thing with the Comets.
- Scooby_Doo

Sitting on the bench watching the other team score ?

Sitting on the bench watching the other team score ?
- Redmile247

He's probably -6

He's probably -6
- LeftCoaster

That's what I was thinking when I read that but it says -1