If it makes you feel any better, I just assume that Benning would have ruined his development anyways so it would have been no big loss.
Three quality NHLers in the four picks following too (Dunn, Trenin and Siegenthaler). Better picks 53-57 than you usually see at 23-27 in most drafts.
Not worth talking about but the Canucks continue to send Bains and Brannstrom down to boost their accrual.
But then they really didn't have a great draft position either being one of the top teams in the easy season. Picks in the 27 to 31 spots are not the same as the top 6, 10 or 15. Two President Trophies and a cup final.The same thing happened to the 2009-2013 era Canucks. We really felt the lack of promising ELC talent that could come in on cheap contracts and play above expectations. The only reason that team was so competitive is the Luongo cap manipulation + group discounts in bulk.
Tocchet does not seem to be flexible.Additionally - I don't love that since Tocchet's arrival, they have tried to brute force a completely different playing style than the core was used to. Seems like exactly what Benning tried to do in 2013 and beyond because of the loss to Boston. It worked last season because everything went our way until the All Star Break - as soon as everyone came back down to reality, productivity fell off a cliff and we haven't seen things go particularly well since.
There were a couple of comments about Lindholm's game in the playoffs, like when he was hitting. Paraphrasing, "that's different for him, he usually isn't playing like that" and one of "was that Lindholm making that hit?" like a surprise.It felt like they were on the cusp of being a truly exciting, offensive juggernaut of a team and they tried to switch gears to become a grinding, defence-first team that capitalizes on mistakes. But the problem is that we didn't actually have those types of players on our team - they have tried to force players like Pettersson, Kuzmenko, Suter etc. into being way more physical and put a leash on their offensive creativity, lest ye receive the Daniel Sprong treatment.
Agreed that this simply isn't the same team as a year ago. But that's not to say that they could be, before the end of the season.This team has had a bad stretch from 2019-2024 where they either haven't held onto their high picks or haven't managed to find impact players to insert into the lineup. The notable exceptions being Hoglander, Lekkerimaki and Willander (who haven't yet made the jump). This is always a risk when you trade picks for rentals, because unless you win it all it's not going to be worth it in the long run. Missing on Podkolzin was a huge blow to our top six, especially considering Boldy and Caufield went immediately after.
The same thing happened to the 2009-2013 era Canucks. We really felt the lack of promising ELC talent that could come in on cheap contracts and play above expectations. The only reason that team was so competitive is the Luongo cap manipulation + group discounts in bulk.
The current core of this group had their cheap years wasted by Benning's inability to run a bath, let alone a f***ing hockey team. The rest of the players were acquired or signed and haven't exactly played above their value, which is collectively what you need to win a Cup. If everyone plays at or below their cap hit, you simply can't compete in a salary cap world. If you end up with situations like Loui or OEL, you are dead to rights. No team can overcome $10+ million in dead weight.
Additionally - I don't love that since Tocchet's arrival, they have tried to brute force a completely different playing style than the core was used to. Seems like exactly what Benning tried to do in 2013 and beyond because of the loss to Boston. It worked last season because everything went our way until the All Star Break - as soon as everyone came back down to reality, productivity fell off a cliff and we haven't seen things go particularly well since.
It felt like they were on the cusp of being a truly exciting, offensive juggernaut of a team and they tried to switch gears to become a grinding, defence-first team that capitalizes on mistakes. But the problem is that we didn't actually have those types of players on our team - they have tried to force players like Pettersson, Kuzmenko, Suter etc. into being way more physical and put a leash on their offensive creativity, lest ye receive the Daniel Sprong treatment.
And when they realized they were lacking those types of players, they overpaid on the open market to bring them in. Only now, you have a bunch of players with no history of playing together mixed with a core group of players who have been forced to change what has made them successful. The result is a disjointed, dysfunctional mess. That's where we are.
I hate to say it, but I think last year was the best shot this core will ever have. The door was wide open and they blew it.
Agreed that this simply isn't the same team as a year ago. But that's not to say that they could be, before the end of the season.
A lot of these new guys are still trying to figure out 'Tocchet hockey'. I guess there's a chance some of them can never adjust to it, and the team struggles around the playoff bubble all year.
But by the 20 game mark or U.S. Thanksgiving, we should have a much clearer picture.
November 28th, TDay in the states.Seasons are long and what is happening in October has little relevance to what will happen in April. You just don't want to be one of the teams that lose the season by starting 3-10 or whatever like we did in 2021 and 2022. And so far we haven't.
Two of the last 12 Cup winners (LA 2012, St. Louis 2019) were actually teams having crappy seasons until the right moves fell into place past the mid-way point of the season.
November 28th, TDay in the states.
85% of teams in a playoff spot make it.
The Canucks do have a very easy schedule up to then.
This season does seem atypical in the standings as some teams wind down but still have "game" left.
Those two teams listed also had tons of cap space and had been winning teams for years before that happened.
I mean, im just annoyed because we clearly over paid at the time and I don’t think anyone had much doubt. Not sure it matters to me that he was the result, mostly because I don’t know that we would have taken him anyhow. That said I’m sorry to hear your balls are experiencing such an extreme reaction. Make sure to use Ice.Burns my balls that he was the pick we gave them for Baertschi.
Hoglander has value and it’s not a bad contract. I suspect some of the teams in rebuild would like his age and have the ability to give him time on the PP.Fair enough and i agree but Hoglander Boeser OEL - Poolman is gonna cost us 5 million to contend with already. If the cap goes up 4 million your losing Suter and Forbort for 800k contracts and being tight to the cap.
To squeeze in a 5 million dollar player it's cap in cap out.
Garland or 2 of Desharnais Hoglander Heinen Joshua have to go.
I would have zero issues sending back Hoglander Desharnais just not sure if said team will be that excited to help us out given 1 is on the 4th line with a 3m cap hit going forward and the other is getting healthy scratched. Moving Garland would be a mistake
Gilman said the league requires proof that the players leaveDo they actually have to report to Abbotsford or is it just a formality and they don't leave the team?
Yep.Seasons are long and what is happening in October has little relevance to what will happen in April. You just don't want to be one of the teams that lose the season by starting 3-10 or whatever like we did in 2021 and 2022. And so far we haven't.
Two of the last 12 Cup winners (LA 2012, St. Louis 2019) were actually teams having crappy seasons until the right moves fell into place past the mid-way point of the season.
The bus that is supposed to be taking them will be suffering from the following every weekGilman said the league requires proof that the players leave
Not worth talking about but the Canucks continue to send Bains and Brannstrom down to boost their accrual.
Stupid and silly question...but let's say we still had Loui on the team. Could we keep on sending him down as well to accrue cap space? I mean no one is taking him off waivers and we would love it if someone did. I'm probably missing some big caveat here.
Benning would never have been willing to do that with Eriksson......sending a high-priced UFA to the minors is something he just couldn't bring himself to do, not matter the provocation.Stupid and silly question...but let's say we still had Loui on the team. Could we keep on sending him down as well to accrue cap space? I mean no one is taking him off waivers and we would love it if someone did. I'm probably missing some big caveat here.
Stupid and silly question...but let's say we still had Loui on the team. Could we keep on sending him down as well to accrue cap space? I mean no one is taking him off waivers and we would love it if someone did. I'm probably missing some big caveat here.
Eriksson?
Yeah. Just using him as an example of a useless player.
Stupid and silly question...but let's say we still had Loui on the team. Could we keep on sending him down as well to accrue cap space? I mean no one is taking him off waivers and we would love it if someone did. I'm probably missing some big caveat here.
That wasn’t much of a win streak… it was against bottom feeder teams. The Panthers had their top line sitting out and we could barely beat them.Yep.
There are flaws and criticisms of the team, to be sure. But it's a lot of handwringing over two games in October.
5 days ago the vibes were high after a win streak.
These are the ebbs and flows of a long season.