Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Jim Benning Speaks from Utica, Sizing Up the Griffins Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning shares his thoughts from Utica as the Comets prepare to face the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL Western Conference Final.

Aside from Benning wanting to "recover a pick", I don't think we'll see much activity from them. He should try to deal Matthias if he's not going to sign.

He’s in danger of falling in between (roles). He’s not the natural goal-scorer to play in the top six, and he has to round out his game better to play in the bottom six. The details in his game have to improve. To help us win, he’s going to have to be a Jannik Hansen-type player.

See you later Nicklas. Nice not knowing you.

See you later Nicklas. Nice not knowing you.
- bloatedmosquito

Not that it's a big surprise. Adios.

See you later Nicklas. Nice not knowing you.
- bloatedmosquito

he had his chances and he didn't take advantage, its unfortunate but not every 1st round pick pans out,

Aside from Benning wanting to "recover a pick", I don't think we'll see much activity from them. He should try to deal Matthias if he's not going to sign.
- VanHockeyGuy

It's going to be interesting to see how active Benning is. Matthias is going to want more than he's worth so it should be bye bye time. Richardson is never healthy anymore so bye bye there as well. As much as I want Burrows/Bieksa/Higgins gone tough to say whether it will happen before TDL. One of Lack or Markstrom needs to go so really maybe we will only see a few roster spots available (Matthias/Richardson) even though we should be opening up close to 5 spots.

It's going to be interesting to see how active Benning is. Matthias is going to want more than he's worth so it should be bye bye time. Richardson is never healthy anymore so bye bye there as well. As much as I want Burrows/Bieksa/Higgins gone tough to say whether it will happen before TDL. One of Lack or Markstrom needs to go so really maybe we will only see a few roster spots available (Matthias/Richardson) even though we should be opening up close to 5 spots.
- LordHumungous

Then you add what Benning said about Utica players...

"That has to be our standard at all of our levels. That’s the culture we want to set up. The players learn to play the right way (in Utica). There are no shortcuts."

So with possibly 5 open spots, there is a lot of work to do.

he had his chances and he didn't take advantage, its unfortunate but not every 1st round pick pans out,
- SRam19

But it does seem like the canucks have more than their fair share of 1st round duds. If it wasn't for the twins our 1st round drafting record would be disgusting.

I think someone showed earlier this season that if the canucks just picked the next available ranked player they would have done better than they historically have.

What's the point in having a scouting department? Just pick the next best available player. Odds of success would be higher.

But it does seem like the canucks have more than their fair share of 1st round duds. If it wasn't for the twins our 1st round drafting record would be disgusting.

I think someone showed earlier this season that if the canucks just picked the next available ranked player they would have done better than they historically have.

What's the point in having a scouting department? Just pick the next best available player. Odds of success would be higher.
- bloatedmosquito

Like when you show up at a hockey pool draft and you haven't done your homework, just look at the sheets of the guy next to you.

he had his chances and he didn't take advantage, its unfortunate but not every 1st round pick pans out like Sbisa.
- SRam19

Fixed for Nucker

But it does seem like the canucks have more than their fair share of 1st round duds. If it wasn't for the twins our 1st round drafting record would be disgusting.

I think someone showed earlier this season that if the canucks just picked the next available ranked player they would have done better than they historically have.

What's the point in having a scouting department? Just pick the next best available player. Odds of success would be higher.
- bloatedmosquito

CanucksArmy also came up with a "draft the highest PPG player ranked in the top 30 available" for each pick and the Canucks woukd have ended up with these players since 2000:


Justin Williams
Jason Pominville
Kyle Wellwood
Matt Stajan
Max Talbot
Josh Gorges
Mike Richards
Dave Bolland
Claude Giroux
Tyler Ennis
Brendan Gallagher


Obviously you'll end up with barely any d-men and zero goalies with this strategy but it should at least be used for all forward selections. Hmmm Henrik, Giroux, Richards and Bolland down the middle....but I was told PPG is a stupid way to draft

Fixed for Nucker
- A_SteamingLombardi

I have to say Hawks fans are still the whiniest on this site by a mile.

I have to say Hawks fans are still the whiniest on this site by a mile.
- golfingsince

We're not too far behind then

We're not too far behind then
- Nucker101

OMG we didn't get enough of a PP advantage last game. The Ducks are so dirty.

We're not too far behind then
- Nucker101

(frank)ing Benning, (frank)ing Linden, (frank)!

(frank)ing Benning, (frank)ing Linden, (frank)!
- VanHockeyGuy

The amount of complaining about coach Q is incredible. That guy does a great job of line matching in the playoffs.

The amount of complaining about coach Q is incredible. That guy does a great job of line matching in the playoffs.
- golfingsince

Please have him work with WD this summer then.

Whiny Friday

Guy on Fan sided writing why the Canucks should trade up in the draft, his trade chips are perplexing.

http://zipzp.eu/news.php?u=http://dlvr.it/9wlCVN

I have to say Hawks fans are still the whiniest on this site by a mile.
- golfingsince

How dare you take that prestigeous honor away from your own fanbase.

I think we tend to be a little more humorous than most though.

When you cant win the cup, Humor is all you have left.

See you later Nicklas. Nice not knowing you.
- bloatedmosquito

So in other words... he isn't talented enough for top 6.... and doesn't work hard enough for bottom 6.... I think most of us on here had already come to this conclusion.

The first round hasn't been as bad as is suggested.

Since the Sedins to the Jensen Pick (2000-2011) the Canucks have had 10 1st round picks. But I am going to eliminate the Bourdon pick so 9.

Those picks average out to 21st overall over that time, and 5 of those players have become NHLers. While it doesn't look likely, it is still possible that Schroeder and Jensen end up carving out an NHL career.

Kesler, Umberger, Schneider and Grabner have had decent to excellent careers so far. Hodgson while having a horrible season last year still will likely be an NHLer.

5 out of 9 isn't great but I don't think it is as terrible as some people suggest when you consider that the nucks have been picking in the top of the draft the majority of the time.

In Comparison:

Bruins drafted 5 NHLers during that time out of 9 picks (Caron, Colborne, Kessel, Stuart, Morrisonn) and they averaged 16th overall.

Anahiem drafted 8 nhlers out of 12 selections (Lupul, Getzlaf, Perry, Smid, Ryan, Gardiner, Palmeri, Holland) and they averaged 13th overall.

Detroit drafted 3 NHLers our of 4 picks during that time ( Kronwall, Kindl, Smith) and have averaged 25th overall.

Chicago drafted 6 NHLers out of 12 picks during that time (Ruutu, Babchuk, Seabrooke, Skille, Toews, Kane) and they averaged 12th overall.

This guy Taj on Twitter on Nicklas Jensen "His agent should demand a trade"

The first round hasn't been as bad as is suggested.

Since the Sedins to the Jensen Pick (2000-2011) the Canucks have had 10 1st round picks. But I am going to eliminate the Bourdon pick so 9.

Those picks average out to 21st overall over that time, and 5 of those players have become NHLers. While it doesn't look likely, it is still possible that Schroeder and Jensen end up carving out an NHL career.

Kesler, Umberger, Schneider and Grabner have had decent to excellent careers so far. Hodgson while having a horrible season last year still will likely be an NHLer.

5 out of 9 isn't great but I don't think it is as terrible as some people suggest when you consider that the nucks have been picking in the top of the draft the majority of the time.

In Comparison:

Bruins drafted 5 NHLers during that time out of 9 picks (Caron, Colborne, Kessel, Stuart, Morrisonn) and they averaged 16th overall.

Anahiem drafted 8 nhlers out of 12 selections (Lupul, Getzlaf, Perry, Smid, Ryan, Gardiner, Palmeri, Holland) and they averaged 13th overall.

Detroit drafted 3 NHLers our of 4 picks during that time ( Kronwall, Kindl, Smith) and have averaged 25th overall.

Chicago drafted 6 NHLers out of 12 picks during that time (Ruutu, Babchuk, Seabrooke, Skille, Toews, Kane) and they averaged 12th overall.
- belcherbd

You remind me of a young Nucker before I slowly died inside with each conversation about how the Sedins are still stars, guys like Sestito/Sbisa suck, drafting players who aren't producing in lower levels of hockey are basically wasted picks etc.