Grub's Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | Christmas Presents

[VanJack]

I mean some of you people seriously drive me nuts. Are you planning on not watching the Canucks in three or four years? We’ve had one good season. This one is up in the air. And you guys wanna go all ? as far as trades go, if a good trade is available make it. But the guys you are temporarily hating we’re not gonna bring you back much. And every decision has to include complying with the cap.

Absolutely true. I remember at the start of last season, Rutherford basically said that "everything had to go right, for the Canucks to even make the playoffs" And I'm sure he believed it.

Basically everything did go right. Pettersson and Miller were 100-point centers; Hughes won the Norris; Boeser had 40 goals; and Demko was a finalist in the Vezina voting. Even guys like Soucy and Myers had 'career years'.

But this year's version of the Canucks is probably closer to what they really are. There's a reason why Fan-duel; Sports Action and almost every betting site has the Canucks miles down the list of Stanley Cup contenders. They see a team that dramatically overachieved last year, and is coming back down to earth.

So blowing up another chunk of the future to add to this core in the vain hope that they're actually a Cup contender, is sheer folly imo.

The best case scenario is that they scuffle around the wild-card playoff bar.....and even if they make it, they won't be favored even in the first round. Even Rutherford said last night, that their home record 'isn't the record of a playoff team'.

That's just the way it is.

 

[Ernie]

Absolutely true. I remember at the start of last season, Rutherford basically said that "everything had to go right, for the Canucks to even make the playoffs" And I'm sure he believed it.

Basically everything did go right. Pettersson and Miller were 100-point centers; Hughes won the Norris; Boeser had 40 goals; and Demko was a finalist in the Vezina voting. Even guys like Soucy and Myers had 'career years'.

But this year's version of the Canucks is probably closer to what they really are. There's a reason why Fan-duel; Sports Action and almost every betting site has the Canucks miles down the list of Stanley Cup contenders. They see a team that dramatically overachieved last year, and is coming back down to earth.

So blowing up another chunk of the future to add to this core in the vain hope that they're actually a Cup contender, is sheer folly imo.

The best case scenario is that they scuffle around the wild-card playoff bar.....and even if they make it, they won't be favored even in the first round. Even Rutherford said last night, that their home record 'isn't the record of a playoff team'.

That's just the way it is.

This is the dose of reality this fanbase needs right now.

 

[rypper]

Add Hronek and another top 4 defender and things are dramatically different. That's a team worth going for it with.

 

[DFAC]

This team isn't going anywhere without a healthy Demko and Petey playing at an elite level - both of which aren't happening right now (and might not)

No point going all in

 

[rypper]

This team isn't going anywhere without a healthy Demko and Petey playing at an elite level - both of which aren't happening right now (and might not)

No point going all in

Lankinen is a fine 1b to play while Demko finds his game. Hronek back and another top 4 defender pushes everyone down in minutes and provides Pettersson with someone who can actually get him the puck unlike the ring it of the boards trees he's currently playing with.

 

[DFAC]

Lankinen is a fine 1b to play while Demko finds his game. Hronek back and another top 4 defender pushes everyone down in minutes and provides Pettersson with someone who can actually get him the puck unlike the ring it of the boards trees he's currently playing with.

Oh come on - we're really blaming Petey's poor play on our defenseman? This is a new hot (and bad) take

 

[rypper]

Oh come on - we're really blaming Petey's poor play on our defenseman? This is a new hot (and bad) take

It's a contributing factor. Not the only factor.

Pettersson plays nearly exclusively with Hughes while Miller is gone, goes on a heater. Miller is back and gets glued to Hughes, Pettersson has a couple bad games.

There's a lot more to it, but they could be doing more to set him up for success.

 

[DFAC]

It's a contributing factor. Not the only factor.

Pettersson plays nearly exclusively with Hughes while Miller is gone, goes on a heater. Miller is back and gets glued to Hughes, Pettersson has a couple bad games.

There's a lot more to it, but they could be doing more to set him up for success.

It's on him to make those around him better, not the other way around.

He's being paid like a top player in the league and he needs to start playing like one. Do fans make the same excuses for guys like MacKinnon, Kaprizov, Kucherov?

 

[rypper]

It's on him to make those around him better, not the other way around.

He's being paid like a top player in the league and he needs to start playing like one. Do fans make the same excuses for guys like MacKinnon, Kaprizov, Kucherov?

Well they all play with their teams top defenders no?

 

[DFAC]

Well they all play with their teams top defenders no?

Don't they play together on the PP?

Who did Petey play with last year?

Again, the excuses are just mind boggling to me.

 

[I am toxic]

Any thought that the team will be better in a few years from now is beyond ridiculous.

Miller and Demko will be aging out, and Hughes will be getting the market rate for the anticipated higher cap.

If there is the suggestion that in a few years Petterson and Boeser slightly past their primes, and the addition of 'maki, will somehow more than compensate for Demko and Miller's decline, then I don't know what to say.

Who am I kidding, I know exactly what to say: it's moronic.

The time to go all in is now. Oh wait, I forgot this is Hockey's future. Of course the team should hold onto prospects and picks. Whatever was I thinking.

 

[PavelBure10]

The time is now

Boeser 27 turns 28 in February
Miller 31 turns 32 in March
Demko 29
Pettersson 26
Hughes 25

The time is now no question. If Allvin doesn't go all in, he just wasted our best opportunity with this core.

I honestly feel like last year was the year. The stars aligned and everything went right. That is until Demko got hurt and Petey disappeared in the playoffs.

 

[Kryten]

The time is now

Boeser 27 turns 28 in February
Miller 31 turns 32 in March
Demko 29
Pettersson 26
Hughes 25

The time is now no question. If Allvin doesn't go all in, he just wasted our best opportunity with this core.

I honestly feel like last year was the year. The stars aligned and everything went right. That is until Demko got hurt and Petey disappeared in the playoffs.

Last year was only the year because we had NSH fall into our laps. It was funny pushing EDM to the limit with Demko and Hughes hurt, Pettersson MIA and a 3rd string goalie though

 

[Baby Pettersson]

If Demko was healthy and Pete wasn't MIA I see no reason we didn't end up in the finals last year.

What could have been...

 

[Nick Lang]

The time is now

Boeser 27 turns 28 in February
Miller 31 turns 32 in March
Demko 29
Pettersson 26
Hughes 25

The time is now no question. If Allvin doesn't go all in, he just wasted our best opportunity with this core.

I honestly feel like last year was the year. The stars aligned and everything went right. That is until Demko got hurt and Petey disappeared in the playoffs.

If this is the year I don't think it's going to very happy around here. This year is not looking great with all the obstacles we've had. It looks like a crapshoot. I would be looking to next year when hopefully Willander and another legit age appropriate top 4 defender are added. Obviously if we can add such a player this year go for it but the opportunity may not come until the offseason.

 

[Ernie]

Any thought that the team will be better in a few years from now is beyond ridiculous.

Miller and Demko will be aging out, and Hughes will be getting the market rate for the anticipated higher cap.

If there is the suggestion that in a few years Petterson and Boeser slightly past their primes, and the addition of 'maki, will somehow more than compensate for Demko and Miller's decline, then I don't know what to say.

Who am I kidding, I know exactly what to say: it's moronic.

The time to go all in is now. Oh wait, I forgot this is Hockey's future. Of course the team should hold onto prospects and picks. Whatever was I thinking.

I don't know what next year looks like but it's usually not the year to go for it when the coach is openly musing that players have checked out in December.

Maybe things turn around but it seems unlikely the Canucks will be able to make the kind of trades to fix this defence in the short term regardless. Smarter to save their powder for the offseason.

 

[supercanuck]

It's on him to make those around him better, not the other way around.

He's being paid like a top player in the league and he needs to start playing like one. Do fans make the same excuses for guys like MacKinnon, Kaprizov, Kucherov?

Aren't those guys always playing with the best players on their teams?

MacKinnon didn't really break out until he got Rantanen on his line. And he also gets Makar tied to his hips as well.

Kucherov is on a line with Point and Guentzel, and I'm sure Hedman is not far behind when they are on the ice.

I mean McDavid, Draisatl, Bouchard are always out there together too.

All these successful teams are helping their stars to be even better by playing them with the other top players on the team.

 

[sting101]

And who are the 5 or 6 that seem to not be fully into it?

 

[supercanuck]

It's kind of funny how some players are allowed to be hurt, but one guy tells you that he IS hurt but he's categorized as MIA.

One guy literally steps away from the team to reset and is ok (NOTE: I am 100% in support of this), but the other guy is mentally weak and "disappears in the playoffs".

I'm honestly quite shocked at how so many have started piling on EP.

 

[Chairman Maouth]

 

[Jerry the great]

Keyvn Adams has got to be feeling the heat right now. if he isn't in desperation mode yet, he will be soon.

Some interesting options there.

 

[Vector]

Keyvn Adams has got to be feeling the heat right now. if he isn't in desperation mode yet, he will be soon.

Some interesting options there.

Drury too. Rangers have now fallen out of a playoff spot. Problem for the Canucks, they don’t really have any win-now assets to give up beyond Hoglander unless a massive franchise altering trade is made.

 

[CanuckleBerry]

Absolutely true. I remember at the start of last season, Rutherford basically said that "everything had to go right, for the Canucks to even make the playoffs" And I'm sure he believed it.

Basically everything did go right. Pettersson and Miller were 100-point centers; Hughes won the Norris; Boeser had 40 goals; and Demko was a finalist in the Vezina voting. Even guys like Soucy and Myers had 'career years'.

Add to that Joshua-Blueger-Garland striking lightning in a bottle, Hronek putting up career numbers, and Hoglander likely posting the highest goal total he ever will. Everything went right last year, and it was definitely the right year to go all-in.

 

[racerjoe]

What I really have been noticing is our zone exits and entries have been terrible, and I haven’t looked at the stats, but if they are “controlled” it will only be for a short time before it’s been turned over.

 

[Bobby9]

It's a contributing factor. Not the only factor.

Pettersson plays nearly exclusively with Hughes while Miller is gone, goes on a heater. Miller is back and gets glued to Hughes, Pettersson has a couple bad games.

There's a lot more to it, but they could be doing more to set him up for success.

If Demko was healthy and Pete wasn't MIA I see no reason we didn't end up in the finals last year.

What could have been...

you are correct. That was the best chance this core will get. Everybody was on a heater all year long. Was a great team until the ASG. Even after their were glimpses

EP disappearing act was and Demko injured were to much.