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Vector

Moderator
Feb 2, 2007
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Junktown
Dude somehow has a half PPG. I haven't noticed him at all out there.

Everyone who has watched a game live has commented on how he pops there but not on TV. There's been a lot of players like that. Always in the right place and pushing the play in the right direction. Around the net offensively or chipping the puck out to facilitate controlled exits.
 

credulous

Registered User
Nov 18, 2021
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100% agreed. In 2-3 years when Willander and D Petey might be core pieces, 2/3rd of our top line will likely be exiting their prime (Miller and Boeser), with no real replacement for Miller's contributions in sight.

People treat this team like the typical young team who's contention window just opened, but they're forgetting the core's age. Realistically, we should've been making the playoffs from 2019-2020 onwards given the core pieces we had in place & where they were in their development, but management was absolutely dogwater at identifying complementary pieces on the bluelines, in the bottom 6, or a good coaching staff.

Unless you're of the belief that this core just isn't good enough, or that you'd rather just make the playoffs every year instead of contend, this is the time to go for it.

they really need to optimize around hughes. he has two years beyond this on his contract and while i'm not a doomer that thinks he's going to bolt at the first opportunity to play with his brothers or "go home" to michigan i do think it would be foolish to take it for granted he'll reup here. that gives them 3 shots at the cup that happen to line up pretty nicely with what should be pettersson's peak and hopefully before age starts to creep up on miller too much

given that i don't think you can really pin your hopes on players like lekkerimaki, willander, (elias nils) pettersson and raty coming in and filling the holes in the roster. the team needs to look at every opportunity to add talent and depth to the roster that comes with more certainty than hoping willander will step in immediately as a top 4 dman. that's a losing bet in my opinion

i also think they have to be careful not to overcommit to this year's team. in retrospect they definitely did that last year moving out kuzmenko, brzustewicz, a first and two thirds with nothing to show for it this year. ideally they'd add to this roster in a way that also adds to the 2026 and 2027 rosters so they can compound those efforts
 

Vector

Moderator
Feb 2, 2007
27,761
47,228
Junktown


Last Night’s Game
  • Had a tonne of days off and practice time
  • No excuses
  • Liked that Tocchet apologized to the fans
  • A coaching saying they were “outcoached” is not to be taken lightly
  • Alarm trends with the team
  • Scored 18 fewer goals and allowed 15 more against
  • 27-9-5 at home last year
  • No compete in front of fans
  • Blueline only had 5 hits last night
  • Soucy-Myers let two goals go unchecked and Hughes-Hronek responsible for another one
  • 4 netfront goals by the Oilers
Acquiring a Defenceman
  • Won’t be easy to fix the blueline; prices are very high
  • Says that you need to trade for players that aren’t on the Penguins
  • Well aware that Marcus Pettersson is available but the price is high
Schedule
  • Canucks schedule has been very easy; need to start collecting points
  • Haven’t played 4 of the top-5 teams in the Western Conference
Boeser
  • Really good to see Boeser at the rink yesterday
  • 8 days ago he got hit
  • Horrible timing; UFA and 4 Nations team was watching him
  • If Boeser is out long-term, Canucks will need to get a top-6 forward
  • Can’t put a timeline on head injuries
  • No one in the organization thought Poolman’s injury would be career threatening; was also dealing with whiplash issues and still is
  • Hoping Boeser gets a little bit better every day
 

thecupismine

Registered User
Apr 1, 2007
2,645
1,935
they really need to optimize around hughes. he has two years beyond this on his contract and while i'm not a doomer that thinks he's going to bolt at the first opportunity to play with his brothers or "go home" to michigan i do think it would be foolish to take it for granted he'll reup here. that gives them 3 shots at the cup that happen to line up pretty nicely with what should be pettersson's peak and hopefully before age starts to creep up on miller too much

given that i don't think you can really pin your hopes on players like lekkerimaki, willander, (elias nils) pettersson and raty coming in and filling the holes in the roster. the team needs to look at every opportunity to add talent and depth to the roster that comes with more certainty than hoping willander will step in immediately as a top 4 dman. that's a losing bet in my opinion

i also think they have to be careful not to overcommit to this year's team. in retrospect they definitely did that last year moving out kuzmenko, brzustewicz, a first and two thirds with nothing to show for it this year. ideally they'd add to this roster in a way that also adds to the 2026 and 2027 rosters so they can compound those efforts

There's plenty to show for the moves last year, even if none of it is currently on the roster. The team was a couple of freak injuries away (Demko, Boeser) from taking out the Oilers and going to the WCF.

This same mindset is what had people freaking out about draft position when Petey and Hughes were playing big minutes at the end of the 2023 season. Sometimes, getting the experience of doing something/showing how great you can be/how close you are to getting there is way more valuable than the hard asset itself.

The Mats Sundin acquisition was a superb example of this in 2008/2009 - the Sedins broke out the year after, Kesler turned into a top 6 forward as soon as they started playing together, and the young guys on the roster took a big step. The mental aspect of the game is huge, and is wildly underrated around these parts.

The acquisitions pushed this team hard, and showed the core their internal faults/flaws that they need to overcome to take that next step to win it all. That's more valuable for this team's timeline than a first and a couple nothingburgers.
 
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credulous

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Nov 18, 2021
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There's plenty to show for the moves last year, even if none of it is currently on the roster. The team was a couple of freak injuries away (Demko, Boeser) from taking out the Oilers and going to the WCF.

i don't mean that it was futile or counterproductive. i just mean that literally they spent assets to improve the roster and none of those improvements carried over to this year. yes there are intangibles in the way you described but those will never compensate for a lack of talent on the roster and a lack of assets to go get more

i'm just saying they need to be careful not to treat each season as the only season
 

pitseleh

Registered User
Jul 30, 2005
19,386
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Vancouver
There's plenty to show for the moves last year, even if none of it is currently on the roster. The team was a couple of freak injuries away (Demko, Boeser) from taking out the Oilers and going to the WCF.

This same mindset is what had people freaking out about draft position when Petey and Hughes were playing big minutes at the end of the 2023 season. Sometimes, getting the experience of doing something/showing how great you can be/how close you are to getting there is way more valuable than the hard asset itself.

The Mats Sundin acquisition was a superb example of this in 2008/2009 - the Sedins broke out the year after, Kesler turned into a top 6 forward as soon as they started playing together, and the young guys on the roster took a big step. The mental aspect of the game is huge, and is wildly underrated around these parts.

The acquisitions pushed this team hard, and showed the core their internal faults/flaws that they need to overcome to take that next step to win it all. That's more valuable for this team's timeline than a first and a couple nothingburgers.
I think the point was to make those types of deals but for players you can keep around for a few seasons to take advantage of the current window, rather than rentals.

The Canucks just don’t have enough assets to go all in for three more deadlines so they have to make the most of what they have unless they want to run out of steam a year or two early.

Vegas has done this with guys like Stone, Hertl, Martinez, etc. Tampa with Hagel, Paul, Jeannot, etc.

Lindholm would have been an awful long-term add at the price they offered him.
 

Vector

Moderator
Feb 2, 2007
27,761
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Junktown


Nothing Canucks-related but I thought the conversation about the Penguins and the other about Jiricek were interesting.

Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Don’t expect big moves from the Penguins
  • Penguins have never thrown in the towel on a season with Crosby and Malkin
  • Admits he got burned by the Game of Thrones fans because Jon Snow did bend the knee; needs to stop with the culture references because not good at them
  • Sooner or later you can’t keep trying the same path
  • Dubas mandate is to get them through the Crosby era and prepare the organization for when it’s over
  • Dubas wants young NHLers or prospects that are close to NHL ready
  • More and more defencemen being taken off the market; a lot of people think the Kings will re-sign Gavrikov
  • Some players have term; Nedeljkovi and Acciari are mentioned
  • O’Connor doesn’t get a lot of points but is under 1m and can play anywhere in the line-up
  • Thinks if Crosby was going to go, he wouldn’t have signed an extension
  • If deep down Crosby was convinced the Penguins were going to contend and once they start rebuilding he realizes he couldn’t stomach it, then he may ask for a trade
  • Penguins won’t go to Crosby but Crosby will have to go to the Penguins
  • No interest in moving Malkin and he doesn’t want to leave
  • There are teams that love Letang and have a lot of respect but his contract is risky and contains insurance questions
  • Up to Karlsson if he wants to move on; his salary goes down each year
  • If Sharks (he meant Penguins) retain there is going to be a team that would acquire Karlsson
  • Bukauskas points out that the attendance is dropping
  • Fans vote with their wallets and that gives more incentive to make changes
  • Sullivan is not giving up
  • Going to be hard to find a better coach than Sullivan; only reason to fire him is that the key players aren’t listening to him, doesn’t believe this is the case
  • Not making a change for change sake
Blue Jackets & Jiricek
  • Evason has told Jiricek he has to earn the right to play
  • Blue Jackets veterans want a higher standard
  • Jiricek wants to play
  • Worry that the “waters are already too deep”
  • Is already chaffing a bit
  • Way too early to give up on him
  • Don’t usually become available this quickly
  • There are organizations watching the situation to see where it goes
 

thecupismine

Registered User
Apr 1, 2007
2,645
1,935
i don't mean that it was futile or counterproductive. i just mean that literally they spent assets to improve the roster and none of those improvements carried over to this year. yes there are intangibles in the way you described but those will never compensate for a lack of talent on the roster and a lack of assets to go get more

i'm just saying they need to be careful not to treat each season as the only season

Yeah that's completely fair. It's why someone like Guentzel would've been a better deadline move last year than Lindholm, as you want that player back long-term afterwards whereas with Lindholm he saved us from signing him to a terrible deal.

The short-term guys moving forward should be in the Zadorov mold, where the asset cost is relatively neglible.
 
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Burke's Evil Spirit

Registered User
Oct 29, 2002
21,749
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San Francisco
Y'know, Ethan Bear's been playing pretty well in the AHL ...

Hughes-Bear
Brannstrom-Hronek
Soucy-Myers

...could be an interesting stopgap.

i don't mean that it was futile or counterproductive. i just mean that literally they spent assets to improve the roster and none of those improvements carried over to this year. yes there are intangibles in the way you described but those will never compensate for a lack of talent on the roster and a lack of assets to go get more

i'm just saying they need to be careful not to treat each season as the only season

Yep. I do not want to significant assets expended on rentals. Not a fan of targeting Pettersson. Get a guy with term - Fowler, (Hampus) Lindholm, and Sanheim are the guys I'm eyeing.
 
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credulous

Registered User
Nov 18, 2021
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vegas is apparently extending mcnabb so that probably means hague is available for the right price. i don't think hague is really a top 4 defender but he's probably better than all but two of the canucks current defenders and he's big enough for tocchet/foote to play while still being able to move the puck
 

StreetHawk

Registered User
Sep 30, 2017
29,047
11,246
If Sid didn't consult other people about the state of the pens, then no one should feel bad for him. He had the option to ask for a trade if he wanted to. If he was delusional that Pitt would do more than barely compete for the WC spot, he needed someone to tell him otherwise to the reality that the Pens are in.
 

Vector

Moderator
Feb 2, 2007
27,761
47,228
Junktown
vegas is apparently extending mcnabb so that probably means hague is available for the right price. i don't think hague is really a top 4 defender but he's probably better than all but two of the canucks current defenders and he's big enough for tocchet/foote to play while still being able to move the puck

 
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Just A Bit Outside

Playoffs??!
Mar 6, 2010
17,761
17,491
Hawks are in town.

Doubtful, but I'd look at acquiring Alec Martinez who is nearing a return. Pending UFA for $4M. Can play either side.

He's on the older side but could still provide Top 4 minutes.

Another pipedream would be to acquire Reichel in the same trade. Nucks are super thin at LW and have q good amount of potential depth now at RW with Boeser, Garland and Lekkerimaki.

Again, I don't see why Chicago would give him up unless something of significant value goes the other way.

Just a thought.
 

theguardianII

Registered User
Jan 30, 2020
3,704
1,867
Boeser on the table. What can they get for him?
Should be something pretty decent.

BUT NO MORE TOCCHET GUYS unless dmen but then Rutherford/Allvin had already made the defence one of the biggest in the league and guess what they ended up 5th in the league with different goalies in the net.

Another question, do they fire the team again or fire the coach, again. Every time a new coach is hired there has been a reassurance of success by this core group.

This core has had 5 years to go beyond one playoff appearance now 3 of 4 core players have degraded, Demko, Pettersson and even Miller to some extent.
The cap will dictate whether they sign or trade Boeser. They can resign him but the cost in staying static on the rest of the roster. Just a guessed at number for Boeser lets say he agrees to stay for home town discount of a 15% pay increase taking him to a 7.7 million cap hit the team still has to shed salary, they have to pay 4.7 million to OEL to play in TO.

They are just 4 points from 26th in the league and they have had one of the easiest schedules in the league by far.

It is still early yet but ....
 
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theguardianII

Registered User
Jan 30, 2020
3,704
1,867
Come on Allvin. It's Friday, so give me my trade fix
Who do Rutherford and Allvin know that are GMs and other connections with teams needing help as well?
Columbus, Carolina, Pittsburgh, ?

What asset with value do they have to trade? Boeser. Especially if Lekkerimaki can replace him on that line which Tocchet and Miller seem to be promoting his good play after only one game.

That might explain the general let down from the rest of the players, knowing a retooling may be coming. If they could dismantle the playoff team certainly they will dismantle this failing experiment. They may give it more time yet but the window for change has to very small.

There are empty seats.
 

brock hughes007

Registered User
Sep 12, 2019
1,176
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victoria
Patrick Alvin's plan has not looked good so far.All his Boston boys can go back to Boston as far as I'm concerned. Vinny D needs to go to the AHL.The only one I'm loving is Sherwood.Alvin has scored 1 out of 5..that's pretty bad ufa signings.
 

Reverend Mayhem

Tell me all your thoughts on God
Feb 15, 2009
28,699
5,832
Port Coquitlam, BC
This team was always going to have to be "finished" by the trade deadline. In the meantime, just stay in the hunt. I've heard some absolute shit news on the Boeser front, but I am not sure how reliable that is.

I'm not sure people realize just *how* right things went for us last year. I have us at 98 points to finish.
 

supercanuck

Registered User
Mar 2, 2016
2,845
3,528
I still think Tocc should try Hronek on his own pairing first. Would make a huge difference if he can carry a 2nd pairing.
 

Nucker101

Foundational Poster
Apr 2, 2013
21,918
17,975
Patrick Alvin's plan has not looked good so far.All his Boston boys can go back to Boston as far as I'm concerned. Vinny D needs to go to the AHL.The only one I'm loving is Sherwood.Alvin has scored 1 out of 5..that's pretty bad ufa signings.
Heinen has been fine
Sherwood a home run signing
Lankinen a homerun
DeBrusk so far looks pretty meh considering his contract
Desharnais looks rough so far
Forbort tbd
Sprong basically a wash, nothing lost or gained.
 

Reverend Mayhem

Tell me all your thoughts on God
Feb 15, 2009
28,699
5,832
Port Coquitlam, BC
I disagree that Heinen's been fine. Granted, he has room to grow and has done some positive things, but he does some weird-ass things out there sometimes.

E: Count our blessings though, I completely agree the team looks like ass and we're still somehow over .500 in W%. I don't think that means panic.
 
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krutovsdonut

eeyore
Sep 25, 2016
17,586
10,336
the negative situation with the team is they are lacking timely offence and not as hard to play against as last year. add to that they have less to prove.

-miller and pettersson so far are inconsistent and at no time blowing the doors off and rarely pushing play. there are too many games where one or the other is not engaged. this is the biggest change from this time last year and shows on the scoresheet.

-lankinen has been good but other teams are now getting to him. he loses position when you crowd the net. this is only going to get worse. he is another desmith who can be good until nhl scouting figures him out. we need demko back and healthy.

-the defence is actually not bad technically but is not extracting a physical price from other teams. i agree that it is missing a piece. the piece must be physical. i do not see marcus pettersson as the remedy.

-the forwards are not forechecking as hard as last year and the heavy boardwork has dropped off. there are a lot of stick checks or blocking plays instead of body checks. both heinen and debrusk are good players but not that physical and it shows when they play with garland and he does all the heavy lifting on the boards. they are not bad players in and of itself but add them to blueger and suter who have similar physical limits and the middle of the lineup no longer wears down other teams. joshua should help with that but i think they expected more from debrusk. he reminds me a little of horvat in that he has size but does not use it for its own sake.

-i think they got used to being bigger and meaner with zadorov and joshua. joshua coming back will help but the lack of snarl on defence is an issue.

people are focussed on incrementally upgrading the defence. maybe, but i don't think that is the answer. i think a bigger trade may be coming. maybe trade in one key piece for another with different qualities.
 

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