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[theguardianII]

I don’t care what’s realistic.

Hope can be crippling.
It can lead to desperation.
It can lead to really bad decisions.
It can cause panic.
It can cause paralysis.
It lowers expectations.
AND
It can be used over and over again with no results.
It can be used to narrow view points, make improvement smaller, tiny by comparison to the bigger picture.


Hope without results is never ending.

 

[Vector]

BU Semester ends mid-May btw.

That feels like a lot longer than when I was at university. Was usually done by late-April.

 

[LemonSauceD]

That feels like a lot longer than when I was at university. Was usually done by late-April.

I think it’s just a BU thing.

 

[Josepho]

american private universities are weird and quirky

 

[iceburg]

What a messed up year. Everything went wrong. And they are only going to miss the playoffs by 2 to 4 points. Crazy.

I'm actually relieved it's over. Getting excited for the draft and thinking about next year.

I'm super happy with the D. D-Petey, Mancini, Willander, Kudryavtsev and Mynio are all exciting prospects, three of which should be in the line-up (at least at times) next year. The top 4 is solid. And we have Quinn Hughes. When have we been able to say this about the D?

At forward, there is actually a decent base to build from but it needs work.
Going in to the off season I see the baseline as this:

Debrusk - EP - Hoglander
Suter* - Chytil - Garland
Joshua-Raty-Sherwood
O’Conner - Blueger - Karlsson
Lekkerimaki
Sasson
Aman

This is very solid from #7 down. Hard to do but their entire focus should be to bring in both a scoring winger and a top 6 centre. I actually think Chytil has the chops to be a top 6 centre but his injury history makes him a high risk answer. His 23 year old season was great. Had he kept that trajectory it would be a reasonable assumption that he would peak at 25 to 30 goals and 60 to 70 points, perfectly reasonable for a 2C. And his speed brings an important element. I just don't know if the club should take the chance.

There is no doubt they need a skilled/scoring winger. Lekkerimaki needs more time before he's ready to take on a F/T top 6 role, IMO. If Marner would leave Toronto, he would be the guy I'd target. But doubtful. Ehlers would be my 2nd (and more likely) choice. They'll probably get crazy contracts. The fall back would be to find one in a trade but also hard to do. Lekkerimaki might end up getting pushed a little more quickly than desirable.

 

[Lupuls Grit]

I would love to get Marner but I can't see it happening. If he costs 12.5 million and if that is the amount the Canucks can spend this off-season while letting Boeser and Forbort walk, are the Canucks better off resigning Suter (4.5) and trading for Horvat (8)? Centre depth would be phenomenal. Horvat slides in to where he should be which is a 2C. Ride Chytil as 3C until he hits his head again and then move Suter from productive top-6 winger to 3C. I think the Canucks will make a trade to acquire a 2C. Many of you know the league better than I do these days so curious who, other than Horvat, may be available in a trade that would be a good 2C?

 

[iceburg]

I would love to get Marner but I can't see it happening. If he costs 12.5 million and if that is the amount the Canucks can spend this off-season while letting Boeser and Forbort walk, are the Canucks better off resigning Suter (4.5) and trading for Horvat (8)? Centre depth would be phenomenal. Horvat slides in to where he should be which is a 2C. Ride Chytil as 3C until he hits his head again and then move Suter from productive top-6 winger to 3C. I think the Canucks will make a trade to acquire a 2C. Many of you know the league better than I do these days so curious who, other than Horvat, may be available in a trade that would be a good 2C?

The one player everyone talks about is Sam Bennet (UFA). A little less offensive productions compared to Horvat but more grit. He would be a Tocchet guy. That said, a lot of people see Bennet as a 2C/3C tweener. He would be an upgrade but he would come at a cost.

 

[JT Milker]

I don’t care what’s realistic.

They chose a path that was unrealistic in the first place years ago. And then they somehow did make the moves to turn into a top five ish team.

The path is impossible. They have to do the impossible. It’s not even as if I’m exaggerating it. Even just two forwards is literally just replacing Brock and Miller, who they lost this year. If they think 2/3 of Garland, Lekkerimaki, Hoglander can be two of the solutions in the top six, they still need an elite play driver and matchup capable 2c... and both need to be elite PP1 options !!

I’m not sure what you mean. The team wasn’t going to rebuild no matter what management team was hired and was forced to trade one of their top 6 Cs this year. It’s not reasonable to set a baseline of acquiring 4 top 6 forwards in one offseason to offset this.

 

[ziploc]

The one player everyone talks about is Sam Bennet (UFA). A little less offensive productions compared to Horvat but more grit. He would be a Tocchet guy. That said, a lot of people see Bennet as a 2C/3C tweener. He would be an upgrade but he would come at a cost.

I don’t know if it would be cap feasible, but Ep40, 18 year old Sam Bennett, Pope Pius Suter, and Raty/Blueger is decent centre depth. But we would still be hurting for top end talent on the wings.

DeBrusk and Garland are top 6 worthy.
Hoglander is a serious question mark.
Lekk could be, but the jury is still out.
Sherwood has shown an ability to plug in there, but it’s asking a lot.
Chytil might not play another game.
DOC, Joshua, Sasson, et al are bottom six guys.

 

[krutovsdonut]

just checked and we have 8 active players on two way contracts on the roster right now.

i realize it is garbage time but is that maybe a record?

it's a tribute to the coaching and the integration of abby systems with the big club that this is possible without looking like a train wreck.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

I don’t care what’s realistic.

They chose a path that was unrealistic in the first place years ago. And then they somehow did make the moves to turn into a top five ish team.

The path is impossible. They have to do the impossible. It’s not even as if I’m exaggerating it. Even just two forwards is literally just replacing Brock and Miller, who they lost this year. If they think 2/3 of Garland, Lekkerimaki, Hoglander can be two of the solutions in the top six, they still need an elite play driver and matchup capable 2c... and both need to be elite PP1 options !!

Realistically, the best we can hope for is a Nashville 2014-2017 window where the team just develops chemistry and clicks despite having a bunch of mediocre forwards. We are going to have to do this without elite level talent.

I'm personally hoping we luck into signing a stop-gap 2C like Mikael Granlund.

 

[credulous]

I’m not sure what you mean. The team wasn’t going to rebuild no matter what management team was hired and was forced to trade one of their top 6 Cs this year. It’s not reasonable to set a baseline of acquiring 4 top 6 forwards in one offseason to offset this.

i don't think anyone expects them to acquire 4-6 top 6 forwards in a single offseason but if this team wants to be a contender they need to find a way to add at least 3 (and probably 4) before the trade deadline. it's not about what's reasonable it's about constitutes success

 

[JT Milker]

i don't think anyone expects them to acquire 4-6 top 6 forwards in a single offseason but if this team wants to be a contender they need to find a way to add at least 3 (and probably 4) before the trade deadline. it's not about what's reasonable it's about constitutes success

Is it success to take Benning’s shit sandwich and turn it into a contender in a few years, or is it astounding? Not to say management is infallible, but you have to set realistic goals otherwise you may be underselling really strong performance.

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

For people saying Chytil will not play again, it makes no sense. He is already skating with the team, the off-season is long I see no reason why he won't be at training camp and in the opening lineup. Whether or not he is long for the team is another question with his injury history. But he wants to come back that is a personal decision and if the season was another month we would probably see him return to the lineup.

 

[andora]

Chytil should be wing

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

That feels like a lot longer than when I was at university. Was usually done by late-April.

Probably an “athlete” schedule.

Especially with how far BU went.

 

[credulous]

Is it success to take Benning’s shit sandwich and turn it into a contender in a few years, or is it astounding? Not to say management is infallible, but you have to set realistic goals otherwise you may be underselling really strong performance.

i'm not judging them by my standard i'm judging them by their own

they've made moves the last three years that assume this team is in a contention window. trading a first for hronek. trading a first for marcus pettersson. trading a first and brzustewiczs for lindholm. using picks to clear salary (dickinson, poolman, mikheyev). buying out oel. these aren't the moves you make if you think you're years away from going for it

i'm not demanding they win a cup or even be a 110 point team year after year either. i get there are ups and downs. i just expect them to act in accordance with their expectations. if they don't think they can get to contention in the next year or two they shouldn't be operating like they are. they've shown nothing to make me believe they've changed direction

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

For people saying Chytil will not play again, it makes no sense. He is already skating with the team, the off-season is long I see no reason why he won't be at training camp and in the opening lineup. Whether or not he is long for the team is another question with his injury history. But he wants to come back that is personal decision and if the season was another month we would probably see him return to the lineup.

Have we confirmed he’s skating in the right direction?

Maybe he’s just going in circles.

 

[Vector]

Have we confirmed he’s skating in the right direction?

Maybe he’s just going in circles.

You jest but Paterson said he was more involved in the last pre-game skate than the previous day.

 

[iceburg]

I don’t know if it would be cap feasible, but Ep40, 18 year old Sam Bennett, Pope Pius Suter, and Raty/Blueger is decent centre depth. But we would still be hurting for top end talent on the wings.

DeBrusk and Garland are top 6 worthy.
Hoglander is a serious question mark.
Lekk could be, but the jury is still out.
Sherwood has shown an ability to plug in there, but it’s asking a lot.
Chytil might not play another game.
DOC, Joshua, Sasson, et al are bottom six guys.

If they flip or LTIR Chytil they have the space to resign Suter ($4M), Bennett ($8M) and a $5M winger. If they want a higher end winger, they either need to not sign Suter or flip another contract.

 

[BimJenning]

Have we confirmed he’s skating in the right direction?

Maybe he’s just going in circles.

At least he didn't fall down again in an optional practice like he did last year. I don't think we should be making any bets on him staying healthy for a season.

 

[JT Milker]

i'm not judging them by my standard i'm judging them by their own

they've made moves the last three years that assume this team is in a contention window. trading a first for hronek. trading a first for marcus pettersson. trading a first and brzustewiczs for lindholm. using picks to clear salary (dickinson, poolman, mikheyev). buying out oel. these aren't the moves you make if you think you're years away from going for it

i'm not demanding they win a cup or even be a 110 point team year after year either. i get there are ups and downs. i just expect them to act in accordance with their expectations. if they don't think they can get to contention in the next year or two they shouldn't be operating like they are. they've shown nothing to make me believe they've changed direction

But those are mostly good moves that align with the goal of being competitive. Magicing a new top 6 would also be a good move aligned with being competitive, but unlike the moves you quoted it’s not realistic and shouldn’t be used to evaluate performance.

 

[Ernie]

For people saying Chytil will not play again, it makes no sense. He is already skating with the team, the off-season is long I see no reason why he won't be at training camp and in the opening lineup. Whether or not he is long for the team is another question with his injury history. But he wants to come back that is a personal decision and if the season was another month we would probably see him return to the lineup.

I love how he can carry the puck through the neutral zone.

I don't love how this type of play opens him up to big center ice hits. He needs to keep his head up.

 

[ziploc]

If they flip or LTIR Chytil they have the space to resign Suter ($4M), Bennett ($8M) and a $5M winger. If they want a higher end winger, they either need to not sign Suter or flip another contract.

I don’t think Chytil is reasonably worth anything at this is point, but I also don’t think he has a future in this team. He is a good player but probably should not be playing any more. I think Suter, Bennett and a 5m winger would set up our forwards decently well. We would have a lot of depth and youth, a bit more grit, but still lacking in high end skill.

 

[thecupismine]

Lots of people LTIRing Chytil, but I don't think that's the path they're going down based on him practicing. Abandoning one of the pieces they got back from the Miller trade that quickly doesn't seem like managements MO.

My guess is they don't acquire a high-end center and try running back Suter/Chytil/Blueger, with Raty/Sasson playing wing and shifting to center as needed (and take faceoffs in Raty's case).

Given the price of centers generally, my bet is they try and acquire a true first line winger, much like they tried last year with Guentzel. The team's offensive depth is actually decent imo, it's just that they didn't have anyone playing at a first line level this year.

If they can get Petey back to even a PPG level alongside a first line winger, we'll have another 100 point season next year and be back in the playoffs. From there they can see how the youngsters are playing on the back-end and in the bottom 6, and make the appropriate adjustments to be in cup contention in Hughes' last year on his contract.