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sting101

Registered User
Feb 8, 2012
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Are you serious?

Your takes are usually a lot better and less reductive than "20 year old isn't ready for the best league in the world yet? Must be a bitch".
Could have used better language but thought it was funny watching Tocchet beat around the bush in regards to how soft and perimeter he was.....

"Sometimes shooters just want to shoot and stand around"
"Can be more involved"
"Go to certain spots"
"maybe gettin' to the net"
"being a bumper play"
"maybe going behind the net"
"he can do other things but he just wants to be a shooter"
"that's the next development for him"

Also add i was at the Preds game behind the bench and there were a few occasions you could see how timid/scared JL was and the reaction/body language with the coaches. The main one being late in the game on a 50/50 in the corner to keep the play alive where he got alligator arms and it quickly ended up in the empty net goal.

Subsequently he's sent to Abbotsford with these messages on top of "his defensive game has come along way"

In no way am i throwing hate at Letterkenny i've been a big supporter he's just always been the goal scorer and not had to be a physical force and is weak by NHL standards. He has to get stronger more confident asserive and stuck in all over the ice. He's a young 20yr old who is pretty much 19 in terms of development due to injuries and mono he'll be fine

Was just making fun of the interview watching a guy like Tocchet have to dance around a skill guy playing perimeter timid hockey
 

God

Free Citizen
Apr 2, 2007
10,767
8,459
Vancouver
Nikita Zadorov
  • Struggled in Boston
  • Bruins have told Zadorov to carry the puck less
  • Canucks do miss him
  • Mentions Conroy going from Calgary to LA and then back to Calgary
  • So far, hasn’t been a fit
I love Zadorov and I think he belongs in a Canucks uniform because he's our folk hero. But the bolded bit worries me a bit about reacquiring him because the new Tocchet transition system from the backend hasn't been working well so far, and it's tough to say whether that's because of the system or because of the defensemen not playing up to potential.

Is Soucy suddenly bad, or does this style not fit him? Ditto for Myers and Desharnais to a lesser extent. Because we've seen how Brannstrom, Hughes, and Hronek are playing, and they are not the same profile of player as the others, and Zadorov belongs in that category too. It almost seems more convenient to just go back to how things were last year to try and make Soucy/Myers more effective rather than spending capital to get Zadorov.
 
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sting101

Registered User
Feb 8, 2012
16,833
16,157
Good news on Demko, but really concerned about his durability for a long playoff run. I don't recall any Stanley Cup winner with tandem goaltending in the playoffs.
Francouz played 7 games for Colorado
Fluery played 15 and Murray played 11 in 2017
Hill 16 Brossoit 8

Ideally you have a stud game changer but its not completely off the table to use back ups for some games. Oilers might have done better to use Pickard a little more than 3 games last year. It would be really tough to make those decisions though pre emptive vs a goalie pooping the bed.

I too am really concerned about Demko. I hope they are taking their time so it's not an issue going forward during this window. As a long time fan it's hard to not expect bad news
 

ManVanFan

Registered User
Mar 28, 2024
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I love Zadorov and I think he belongs in a Canucks uniform because he's our folk hero. But the bolded bit worries me a bit about reacquiring him because the new Tocchet transition system from the backend hasn't been working well so far, and it's tough to say whether that's because of the system or because of the defensemen not playing up to potential.

Is Soucy suddenly bad, or does this style not fit him? Ditto for Myers and Desharnais to a lesser extent. Because we've seen how Brannstrom, Hughes, and Hronek are playing, and they are not the same profile of player as the others, and Zadorov belongs in that category too. It almost seems more convenient to just go back to how things were last year to try and make Soucy/Myers more effective rather than spending capital to get Zadorov.
I can't remember where I saw it but it said that Brannstrom was being spoon fed some of the easiest minutes in the NHL this season. He's facing almost no Top 6 on the other team. Easier minutes than the avg 5/6 defenders face.
 

LemonSauceD

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Jul 31, 2015
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love Zadorov but if we want to bring him back it’s probably more of an off season move. Too much cap at the moment and a guy like him shouldn’t be our top priority right now. See how much the cap rises, make all the necessary changes and signings to the roster, and look at perhaps making a move around Soucy (assuming he doesn’t have Boston on his 12 team list) and Zadorov sometime in July or August.

You could definitely get more assets out of Boston. But now isn’t really the time nor fit.
 

LemonSauceD

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Jul 31, 2015
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Also if the cap jumps to 95-97M this would be IMMENSE and potentially save us from the OEL hit and could turn us into a cup contender with the right moves.
 

God

Free Citizen
Apr 2, 2007
10,767
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Vancouver
I can't remember where I saw it but it said that Brannstrom was being spoon fed some of the easiest minutes in the NHL this season. He's facing almost no Top 6 on the other team. Easier minutes than the avg 5/6 defenders face.
That's only a problem if they try to re-sign him this off-season and he wants top 4 money. As long as he's crushing the minutes he's been given, that's good.
 

sting101

Registered User
Feb 8, 2012
16,833
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I took a lot of heat for my takes on Soucy last year. He did step up and play well in the playoffs so i was happy to see that and think maybe it was more injury related.

This year has been worse and he's shown he's still not a good top4 option over the course of 82 games though.

We're still in a good spot overall as the season is a marathon not a sprint. Brannstrom has been an excellent stop gap and once we acquire a true #2/3 to supplement Hughes Hronek and give Myers Soucy the support they need with Willander possibly not too far off we could turn the defense in the right direction.

Especially so if Demko comes back close to what he has been and can clean up some mistakes
 

ManVanFan

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Mar 28, 2024
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That's only a problem if they try to re-sign him this off-season and he wants top 4 money. As long as he's crushing the minutes he's been given, that's good.
It is a problem because it's having Soucy-Myers pair to take extra hard minutes that they aren't good enough for.
 
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God

Free Citizen
Apr 2, 2007
10,767
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Vancouver
It is a problem because it's having Soucy-Myers pair to take extra hard minutes that they aren't good enough for.
But then it's just chicken and egg stuff, are they bad players in general or are they bad players in this new system? Because they weren't bad last year, and maybe Myers has age-related decline, but Soucy's only 30. Philosophically, does the team want to get more goals or play conservatively? It makes the question of the Zadorov acquisition tougher, because he isn't going to help them get more goals, but he will help in a more conservative system - yet we might have those players already.

Sometimes I question why the change was made when it was pretty obvious the lack of offense was because Pettersson was injured. He probably contributes an extra 5 goals over the course of that Oilers series.
 
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Hodgy

Registered User
Feb 23, 2012
4,866
5,084
Willander? Maybe not for a run this season, but I don’t think he’s far off, no point wasting assets on a longterm fit at probably the most costly position to fill.

I think the bigger hole is a guy on the left side that can move the puck and PK. I’ll be surprised if Allvin doesn’t have interest in Marcus Pettersson.
Ya, Willander is definitely part of the solution. I just wonder where management thinks Willander is at, and how quickly he will be a top four defensemen. But ya, perhaps it makes more sense to target a left side defensemen given we have Willander and also given the lower value of left sided defensemen vs. right sided defensemen.

I'm sure there is some interest in Pettersson. Look what Ekholm did to the Oilers.
 

Just A Bit Outside

Playoffs??!
Mar 6, 2010
17,816
17,584
Soucy got Myers a new deal last year.

Myers looks like old Myers because Soucy is having a tough start to the year.

IMO, Soucy would look better if with another more competent d partner.

But the issue remains to what you do with Myers if that happens.

If Brannstrom continues to play the right side, mgmt might be better off to look for a LHD to babysit play with Myers.
 

quat

Faking Life
Apr 4, 2003
15,524
2,651
Duncan
Could have used better language but thought it was funny watching Tocchet beat around the bush in regards to how soft and perimeter he was.....

"Sometimes shooters just want to shoot and stand around"
"Can be more involved"
"Go to certain spots"
"maybe gettin' to the net"
"being a bumper play"
"maybe going behind the net"
"he can do other things but he just wants to be a shooter"
"that's the next development for him"

Also add i was at the Preds game behind the bench and there were a few occasions you could see how timid/scared JL was and the reaction/body language with the coaches. The main one being late in the game on a 50/50 in the corner to keep the play alive where he got alligator arms and it quickly ended up in the empty net goal.

Subsequently he's sent to Abbotsford with these messages on top of "his defensive game has come along way"

In no way am i throwing hate at Letterkenny i've been a big supporter he's just always been the goal scorer and not had to be a physical force and is weak by NHL standards. He has to get stronger more confident asserive and stuck in all over the ice. He's a young 20yr old who is pretty much 19 in terms of development due to injuries and mono he'll be fine

Was just making fun of the interview watching a guy like Tocchet have to dance around a skill guy playing perimeter timid hockey
I suspect he may be seen now as more of a trade piece.
 

sting101

Registered User
Feb 8, 2012
16,833
16,157
I suspect he may be seen now as more of a trade piece.
Hard to say.....i could see both sides of that.

Will say though teams almost never trade 20yr old high picks that are already flirting with regular NHL roles.

They have to do an honest assessment from now till the deadline at how he fits long term

Also if he is used it's not for a rental

Soucy got Myers a new deal last year.

Myers looks like old Myers because Soucy is having a tough start to the year.

IMO, Soucy would look better if with another more competent d partner.

But the issue remains to what you do with Myers if that happens.

If Brannstrom continues to play the right side, mgmt might be better off to look for a LHD to babysit play with Myers.
No he didn't???

If anything Myers has a better track record as a competent #4
 
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Just A Bit Outside

Playoffs??!
Mar 6, 2010
17,816
17,584
Hard to say.....i could see both sides of that.

Will say though teams almost never trade 20yr old high picks that are already flirting with regular NHL roles.

They have to do an honest assessment from now till the deadline at how he fits long term

Also if he is used it's not for a rental


No he didn't???

If anything Myers has a better track record as a competent #4
Myers is a tire fire and Soucy 100% got him a new contract last year.

If it wasn't for Soucy, it's very doubtful Myers is even on the Canucks this year.
 
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quat

Faking Life
Apr 4, 2003
15,524
2,651
Duncan
Hard to say.....i could see both sides of that.

Will say though teams almost never trade 20yr old high picks that are already flirting with regular NHL roles.

They have to do an honest assessment from now till the deadline at how he fits long term

Also if he is used it's not for a rental
It's not that they don't recognize his upside, but if they'd seen him stronger on the boards (and he can play that way) and going more to the net I suspect the Canucks might be considering moving others of value in a hockey trade before him.

Not saying they'll go that route, but I think the interview with Tocchet showed some cards.
 
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sting101

Registered User
Feb 8, 2012
16,833
16,157
Myers is a tire fire and Soucy 100% got him a new contract last year.

If it wasn't for Soucy, it's very doubtful Myers is even on the Canucks this year.
Soucy played 40 games mostly not that good before a nice stretch and playoffs where nobody was clamouring that Soucy was keeping Myers from falling apart. You could say Cole or Zadorov got him a new deal just as well then. They really just need to split them up for awhile and get some help that doesn't suck. They both have relatively cheap contracts for 4/5 guys if they can get back to the better side of how they usually play
 

GranvilleIsland

Registered User
Feb 26, 2013
1,540
1,036
Vancouver, B.C.
Hard to say.....i could see both sides of that.

Will say though teams almost never trade 20yr old high picks that are already flirting with regular NHL roles.

They have to do an honest assessment from now till the deadline at how he fits long term

Also if he is used it's not for a rental


No he didn't???

If anything Myers has a better track record as a competent #4
100 of 1000 games isn't much a track record. Neither guy is a #4 except for when they're at their best and when they are they work well together. I'm guessing Tocchet is going to keep throwing it out there until they figure it out or the team drops in the standings.
 
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ManVanFan

Registered User
Mar 28, 2024
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820
But then it's just chicken and egg stuff, are they bad players in general or are they bad players in this new system? Because they weren't bad last year, and maybe Myers has age-related decline, but Soucy's only 30. Philosophically, does the team want to get more goals or play conservatively? It makes the question of the Zadorov acquisition tougher, because he isn't going to help them get more goals, but he will help in a more conservative system - yet we might have those players already.

Sometimes I question why the change was made when it was pretty obvious the lack of offense was because Pettersson was injured. He probably contributes an extra 5 goals over the course of that Oilers series.
They are players being asked to too often play out of their depth. They weren't bad last year because less was asked of them.
 

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