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snizzle_

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  1. Hey Everyone, It's been awhile since I've posted but thought I'd share with the community. I got the chance to talk to Chris MacDonald, who's been an Amateur Scout for the Canucks for the last 6 years, and was willing to let us record him for the Podcast I started with some friends. Would love feedback, maybe have him on after the draft to get him to break down the picks. Would love to field questions from the community. It's an interesting time for this organization, and wanted to bring the analyst, media, fan perspective and thought we got some cool answers/stories from Chris. I think everyone will enjoy the Petey story. We'll be cutting the video to do 1 per question because we realized how long it the original plays. Cheers Everyone
  2. 10 second Instagram stories don't prove anything. If he doesn't come out in the pre-season hitting and shooting everything in sight, then Utica is where he'll be for the foreseeable future.
  3. Don't you think Utica would be in better shape with these younger prospects instead of AHL scrubs and college leftovers. Benning's 2014 Draft, and now 2015 class (aside from Boeser and Brisebois) won't produce any new prospects to see in the minors next year. Kind of disappointing so far.
  4. He needs to add 20 pounds to even compete for an NHL spot, and if he does that this summer who knows if his body has adjusted to the added weight. Given that, he should be in London next year. Like you guys said above, he really needs to to add on some mass this summer because he's going into his D + 2 season and should atleast look at a man in that league. Also, as some of you have pointed out, most of his points come from the powerplay and so I hope he's better 5v5 next year in creating off the rush. I get that we should not try to make him out to be a player that he's not, but one of the key features of a top pairing defenceman is the ability to transition the puck with a pass or skating. Even a player with limited offensive ability like Tanev can transition the puck and carry it up ice. Olli doesn't stickhandle particularly well, and I guess carrying the puck up ice isn't his strong suit but an area to work on.
  5. I think it's a little unfair to put all the responsibility for the inability of those players to translate on Green. While the optics don't look great you have to consider Utica's talent level and how that is correlated with the Canuck's success and injuries the last 2 seasons. The last two years we've finished 29th and 28th place and have had extensive man games lost to injury and that directly affects the Comets as we draw their most responsible, highest scoring veterans to plug into the Canucks lineup. When the Comets had O'Reilly, Markstrom, Sanguinetti and co. 2 years ago, we saw some pretty good insulation for Shinkaruk and Gaunce but at that point, we had no real prospects in the system as Shinkaruk and Gaunce were in their rookie seasons. But I do agree with you that his track record hasn't been solid and that there are signs that he isn't a great "development" coach, in the sense that I've watched a lot of Comets games and he relies very heavily on his Veterans, often not trusting the young players to make the mistakes they need to make to have offensive confidence to be creative and score. Doesn't that kind of remind you of a certain ex-Canucks coach?
  6. I watched most of the game and Jake and Goldobin were not regular linemates. I'm pretty sure Jake got out there early because Grenier went on a change. Virtanen as been playing mostly with Cassels and Labate
  7. His play of late is more encouraging, but still far from anything substantial. If Utica makes a playoff run, I hope he makes strides there. He's been streaky all year, remember when he scored in three straight games in November, so it's too early to say he's turned it around.
  8. I think what's very underrated about his game is his ability to create space and put himself in better position or others. People keep saying that his skating is his weakpoint, and while he can't breakaway from a player, he creates separation with power and edgework. Countless highlights of his ability to stop up and change direction quick. Love to see players try and create space for themselves.
  9. I wouldn't mind seeing Juolevi in Utica if it permits this year. That team needs a boost on the backend.
  10. We all know he has the tools/skills it takes to be an effective NHL'er. The sheer power and speed he can play with are unprecedented to this organization, that has never been my issue. You're right that his issue is being mentally prepared, engaged shift to shift and the focus to be trusted in all situations on the ice; I have echoed these statements in the past. But that's where my worries lie, if he'll ever be mentally engaged enough. Tat's the biggest unknown because some players just get it and some don't. I'm glad you're someone who played the game at a high level, and while I never played as high as you, I played 3 years of Junior while being a full time University student. But that also means that you've seen many players that you played with or against that either had the propensity to put the mental game together, or did not. It's not truly binary, but the mental makeup of a player is a pretty crucial indicator of NHL success and definitely a differentiator in being an impact player. The area that separates players like Ghallager, Stetcher, Toews, Horvat, etc. is "between the ears", as coaches would say. Not to say it can't be taught or improved, but it's been Jake's knock for a long time. Again, I'm cheering for him, but I'm also fully aware of his downfalls and the risk it poses to his NHL success. He is "learning" in the AHL right now, I get that, but he was sent down at the beginning of the season to "practice" and "gain confidence" because we want him to be an offensive player. Regaining your offensive touch and learning the defensive intricacies of the game are not mutually exclusive. He should be able to work on his offense all while learning the pro game (albeit he should have learned a lot last year), yet we've all seen his production.
  11. I apologize for making it sound like I was assuming you agreed with what I said. I just wanted to use your point as a connection to what mine was. Did not mean to associate you with my views. I'm a big fan of analytics, believe me, but you need to pass both the quantitative tests and qualitative tests. I've watched probably a dozen comets games since Jan, and he's not a defensively minded player. He constantly glides and does fly byes when he contests the point. He gets puck watching fair too often and sometimes he doesn't open up well enough to be an option on a breakout. He's very very good at rushing the puck out once he's collected a few strides and takes a look up ice because of his separation speed. But he doesn't have great instincts to read plays. I think that's my favourite way to describe him, is that his instincts aren't great. Let me be clear, I've had my differences with Jake over the past couple years, but that doesn't mean I'm not cheering for the kid. I want nothing more for him to be up with us in the Vancouver lineup next year and for him to make an impact. Just going to give my honest opinion and if you disagree with me then debate, don't hate.
  12. He's a defensive liability in the terms that BoDangles mentioned above. He isn't a very smart player, he doesn't have the vision or skill needed to play offwing in the defensive zone. Could you imagine Jake getting a breakout pass on his backhand with full forecheck pressure? Best case scenario is that he'd go glass and out. But, as I said above, I think you have to live with that. With with the fact that his zone exits may not be very effective, but the off-chance that he gets a headstart breakout pass where he can take 2-3 strides untouched and he would be lethal off that left-wing because he could blow by or bull through players.
  13. I don't think anyone forgot the strides he took last year - everyone was actually using that as evidence as to why he was going to be a good player to start the season. He was training in Vancouver with the Sedins all summer, saying the right things, right up in till opening night when he fell on his face. I 100% agree with him playing on his offside, he's such a unique player, that you need to live and die with the good and bad with Jake. He is always going to be a "liability" defensively, and so I get why you wouldn't want him playing his offwing for breakout purposes. However, he would be a much more confident player if he plays on his offwing because he can gain separation and lower his shoulder, get around players on the LW and, therefore, create off the rush. Other than Horvat, we do not have a threat of a player carrying the puck through the neutral zone to create. The kid needs some consistency, and one way to find consistency is confidence! FREE HIM
  14. He's always been such a streaky player dating all the way back to his Junior days, and hopefully he finishes strong this season. Although, he has only had 2, let me repeat that, TWO, multi-point games (vs SJS, vs FLA) in the last 2 years. He has yet to have a multi-point game in the AHL this year. Really puts into perspective his struggles in the last 2 years it seems. I'm really hoping for the best and its looking like it's going to be a long road before Jake becomes an impact player. He needs to show up to camp next year and light the world on fire and play with a Hansen mentality, or he's going to start back in Utica next season. I really think he has a good shot to start the season in Van because Jim loves him so much, but he needs to do his job this summer and really work on his fitness, making quicker decisions and boardplay.
  15. He was far and away a better prospect back in 2014 than he is currently in 2017, so having a Michael grabner esque ceiling seems good now. He's not tracking nearly as well currently.
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