canuckledraggin

I think you're undervaluing MDZ and Gagner as a fit on a Blackhawks team that is starving for legit NHL players. If you look at their team the way it's setup, They have huge holes that need to be filled https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/blackhawks I'd be asking for Dylan Sikura or Jokiharju. and a 2nd/3rd plus a late pick. If we have to eat salary so be it. There's lots of cap space to eat there.

My take on the Hughes signing is that they probably have a deal in place, but they are trying to make a trade prior to signing him. There's not enough room for him with the current contracts on the team so they need to get a trade done before he signs. If they sign him 1st, it takes value away from the trade they are trying to make, because teams will look at the logjam on defense and give a lowball offer based on the need to offload a D-man. I think the Del Zotto to Chicago rumors make the most sense in terms of getting a deal done. I'd like to see Del Zotto and Gagner deal to Chicago for picks and a prospect.

You should get your wish sooner than you expect. Green has already said he'd be trying him everywhere to see what he can do. I'm assuming that would include time at center during the pre-season. Especially during those split squad games, there will be plenty of opportunity.

The consensus #1 for next years draft is 5' 10" 161lbs. It's amazing to watch the game change in such a short period of time. I agree that if they decide that it's best for Quinn to play in the AHL until an injury occurs before they bring him up, he will still be developing in the pros. I just don't see a scenario out of training camp where he isn't outperforming all of Hutton, Pouliot, Stecher and Biega. There is a spot for him on the Canucks and we're possibly going to lose one of those guys to waivers. I would waive Biega 1st. He is the Comets leader and has been for years. He still gets his money in the minors and he's the perfect role model for the franchise.

I was off my seat when it was a choice between Zadina and Hughes at #6 we were going to get a game changer at #7. I was beyond thrilled when it was the D-man that fell in our laps. There's no way that Dobson, Bouchard, or Boqvist were ahead of Quinn for me at that point.

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/vancouver-canucks-jett-woo/c-299429598 He thought they were booing? They'll be Wooing for years to come.

Didn't they say the same things about Patty Kane and the hockey smurf from Calgary? To quote Ivan Drago... "if he dies... he dies" is he going to be significantly bigger next year? The year after that? When will he be big enough?

Dumbest $&!# ever. Kuz asked the question as a joke and the other reporters around him gave an audible groan. Quinn did the obvious thing and didn't even address it... and now somehow it's a story? What planet am I on. It must be bizzarro world. My hope is he signs and gets sent to Utica. I know he doesn't want to be in the minors, but it's what is best for the team. We have 6+ rookies who are going to start in Utica and several of them will be his future teammates. Ryan Johnson said they had 69 practice days this past season. How would it be better for him to be taking basket weaving 201 rather than playing with the Comets? Signing bonus, plus AHL salary, plus playing with the group of studs he just got to know, should be all he needs to put him on a pro career trajectory.

Those tight turns at speed are jaw-dropping.

Jack was a junior in highschool this past year. Not impossible to do his senior year during the summer, but he might not be willing to take that amount of time away from training.

His skating puts him on the right side of the puck almost every time and from there he uses his stick very aggressively to strip pucks. There will obviously be an adjustment period when the time and space gets tighter, but his IQ is as good as his skating, so it won't be a problem.

Damn. That is a huge leap in skating in just one year. Very impressive.

You deny them based on empirical evidence Our man games lost for the past 3 seasons are 360, 439 and 302 this past season. Utica went through 60+ players this past season. Given those numbers and the fact that the Canucks have played their 11th and 12th defensemen during those years. It makes sense that they would want our bluechip guy in the system, just in case. Anyway you slice it, he's going to play for team USA for the WJC in Vancouver. It would be stupid to keep him out of that tournament. Given our injury history, I really don't see how the Canucks can afford to keep this guy in the amateur ranks. Edited Tuesday at 05:44 PM by canuckledraggin

He has the most to prove of any Canucks hopeful. The team is desperate for a top 6 left winger and he has the inside track if he can up his game coming out of training camp. He's waiver eligible and likely has to beat out a PTO, but I saw enough evolution in his game since joining the Canucks to believe he can take that spot.

I'd definitely look at Tyler Soy or someone who stands out at development camp and is still looking to continue their pro hockey dream. The reality of the salary cap era is that these guys will likely never reach the NHL, but they can still contribute to a minor league team. They are beneficial to teams that are looking for depth and they aren't a hindrance to the pro games played veteran rules of the AHL. Ryan Johnson will be looking closely at these guys coming out of camp and it's likely a part of who they have invited.

Congrats on Vrbata and Beauchemin for outstanding NHL careers and on their retirements. Leafs are interested in making trades that will make our team better this year. Feel free to hit us up if you have a deal in mind.

Are those guys all available? I'm not sure that they're all available. Cal for sure...Czarnik, Appleton, Petan and Agostino. There's a ton of pro experience and scoring in that group.

http://www.uticacomets.com/news/detail/get-to-know-the-2018-canucks-draft-picks

The only question regarding EP is whether he'll wear #14 or 40. They might as well move his thread to current players.

It was during this past season you were calling fans out for drinking the kool-aid. Welcome to the light side. Our man games lost for the past 3 seasons are 360, 439 and 302 this past season. Utica went through 60+ players this past season. Given those numbers and the fact that the Canucks have played their 11th and 12th defensemen during those years. It makes sense that they would want our bluechip guy in the system, just in case. Anyway you slice it, he's going to play for team USA for the WJC in Vancouver. It would be stupid to keep him out of that tournament. Given our injury history, I really don't see how the Canucks can afford to keep this guy in the amateur ranks.

You've gone full Apollo. You never go full Apollo. I think I liked you better when you agreed with everything Desiboy was saying.

I wasn't referring to anyone specifically, there's just a contingent of fans who are dead set against him playing pro next season. As far as the fishbowl goes, he'll be well out of the spotlight playing in Utica. There really aren't many Vancouver media members who pay attention to our minor league affiliate, except tweets from Dhaliwal and the odd radio hit. I agree that it's about his development and it will all come down to his decision after development camp. My hope is that he makes a good bond with players like Gadjovich, Palmu and Lind, and he sees the value in playing with future teammates. Utica is also in need of a puck moving PP QB and there is a fit there for him as well. If he's dead set on going back to college and trying to get the Wolverines to a national title, then that's good too. I just don't see a ton of difference in development between those 2 situations. As far as playing with Jack goes, that could be a big reason for him to stay in school, but Jack needs to do his senior year of highschool this summer, so there's no guarantee that will happen at this point.

I guess that's the part I don't understand. How is it any different for 24 and 25 year old never will be players in the NCAA, whose career highlight would be to nail a blue chip prospect? College hockey is not a no hit league and the risks of getting run are real there as well.

I'm struggling to understand why people are against him playing in The AHL next season. The cons that I can think of are that it would burn a year from his elc and the style of play is a bit more sloppy and scrambly than it will be at the next level. Is it any less structured than the NCAA? The pros are numerous from my way of thinking. He gets to play with and against other pro players. He will be coming in with a group of his peers who he can share the rookie experience with. The vocal and on ice leader of the team is Demko, who he will be playing in front of for years to come. His head coach was a former defense coach. According to Ryan Johnson the team had 69 practice days last season, so there's lots of time for development. If he starts to carve up the league he can be called up to the big club and can be sent down at will... https://www.tsn.ca/radio/vancouver-1040/johnson-demko-sets-tone-for-practices-in-utica-1.1118414