Guile

@UticaHockey @Connor comet So ideally, something like this for centre depth? Kero Gaudette Gaunce Hamilton/Darcy/whathaveyou Just watched the goal highlights from today and I saw Boucher's nameplate a lot, and apparently hit iron a couple of times as well. Archie scored, MacEwen scored, Kero put one in... Hypothetically, say the Canucks/Comets acquired a real-deal top six AHL playmaking/skilled centre. Where would that leave them (realistically, as you always are) relative to the rest of the league? How do the wingers and the D-men compare to the above average teams, and what else is missing from the team? I've seen some comments about lack of physicality, especially when Archie was with the Canucks, and some questions about generally poor team defence and too many shots allowed. Anything else?

Awesome! He's had quite the impressive start, stepped right into the Hockey Gaud's spot in his team and our prospect pool. Early times, but couldn't have done much more right to begin his year.

I don't normally read canucks army past checking Biech's twitter account regularly, but this was an excellent read for sure. Goldy is creating like a mad man; there are many video snippets in that article of good plays he's made in the last 3-4 games. Worth checking out.

Everything he does looks so transferable to the NHL. The puck protection is very good, and that's a skill that I believe allows young players to make the NHL soon after being drafted. The agility on his cuts down below the goal line is hard to defend. Obviously, wicked hands. He would, for me, complete our core group of forwards. The only question I have is how high would your jump for joy be if we drafted him?

True, MacEwen stepped up last year after injuries if I remember correctly. Lots of those wingers will find out if they can drive their line's play.

Gotta love Archie: Defence? I hate playing defence.

Vintage already posted a thread, but Gaudette is not playing today (call-up confirmed). Think yesterday he was playing with Archibald and Carcone. These are the lines today vs. the Marlies. I have to say, I love the sets of wingers, but man, as has been discussed plenty on here, the centre depth is slightly yikes-worthy with Gaudette gone. Scary. Lots of young guys on the wing will be depended on to create starting right now. Edit: Awesome D though

While I'm at it, here's the full set: And just cuz:

@SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Carcone and Darcy.

Utica plays their first pre-season game tonight against the Binghamton Devils. It's going to be just as exciting (if not more) to watch the young guys learn this year in Utica vs watching the big club. I'm thrilled to have two teams to follow that will both show many signs of progress this year. First regular season game is October 5, next Friday, against Toronto.

JO - Legendary Canucks defenseman Jed Ovanovski? Jokes aside, this style of play makes him valuable regardless of whether or not he puts up points. He will frequently prevent scoring chances and (directly or indirectly) cause the Canucks to gain possession of the puck in an efficient, even conservative, manner.

From the line above his table: "I will update closer to the start of the NHL season, but for now, here is a look at how Canucks prospects did during last year (regular season and playoffs, if applicable)" Still neat to see those guys and perhaps use their stats as justification/discussion points while August lingers, perhaps?

Big thanks for doing this, @Down by the River. A few observations from last year's data: Demko's save percentage is beautiful Look at that progression from Cole Cassels - more than doubled his PPG! Can't believe we let him go... \s I'd forgotten how well McEneny started the year before his injury, that's a nice stat line Love seeing Juolevi, Dahlen and Lind increase their PPG in the playoffs vs. regular season Similarly for Dipietro, ridiculous performances in the playoffs this season Gaudette's stat line isn't fair to him, and I don't think he'll wait long to rectify those zeros

I actually like that idea in principle, but you don't have a face-off winner on that line and that would create some interesting problems. See below; that basically forces EP to play on the other offence-oriented line, which happens to be the top line, because he certainly would not be utilized well on a checking line. That sounds good to me, to be clear, but then suddenly Thing 1 and 2, which you'd think based on talent would be Baertschi and Eriksson, don't really fit on their lines. In other words, I think Jake would be a great fit on one of the two defence-oriented lines because of his turnover/counterattack ability, and other players (Bear, Loui, perhaps Goldy or Gagner) fit better on more offensive lines as well. Granlund, while obviously capable of offence (from two seasons ago), would also look good on a defensive line. Pettersson-Horvat-Boeser Roussel-Sutter-Thing1 Leipsic-Granny-JV Schaller-Beagle-Thing2 That doesn't look so hot big picture, but I still like the combination of players you have there when looking at the line out of context. Hard workers all, turnovers, a decent passer and some raw skill and speed We could potentially see it post-injuries IF Granlund is trusted at C and can be at least mediocre at face-offs.

Thanks for filling me in, that's cause for further optimism! I was actually going to mention that being one way he could earn assists even if his vision and passing isn't much above average (not a bad thing if so). Hopefully he starts out quickly, gets a goal or two in the first 5-8 games and progresses form there.

Fair enough, but the majority of players have that weighting since it's easier to get an assist (5 out of top 50 scorers last year had more goals than assists, one was evenly split). I was more thinking of a couple posts I saw in the Utica thread this year, where a couple of the local Comets fans said similar things about him. If I recall correctly, particularly at the beginning of the season, they said he was playing with his head down and attempting to skate the puck himself. I may be misremembering from last year's camp, Junior playoffs, etc, but I think it was the Utica guys. That said, the reports from them near the end of the season were that he really progressed offensively, was starting to learn defensively, and overall had a promising first pro year. I'm quite excited to see him in camp and find out if he'll continue improving with comfort and experience!

Double up, buttercup!

He's definitely a power forward, go to the net, do-it-yourself kind of guy, though he has quite soft hands. Not a playmaker at all, as of last year's dev camp. You also have to remember that he was "the guy" on his junior team behind Vitaly Abramov, so was probably used to being leaned on to make things happen. @UticaHockey, still much the same regarding his less-than-excellent passing/vision.distribution?

Exactly, I fully agree; I just happen to think that he'll make it there in a season or two, not this October with how many bodies are in front of him. Edit: Admittedly, a line of Roussel-Gaudette-Sutter (latter two interchangeable positionally, Gaudette can play C for weaker opposition matchups and take a percentage of face-offs) could work, but this would again push Leipsic or Goldy off the team. Not the worst scenario, but avoidable.

You're right that Gaudette should play as a center, regardless of which team. It may be that management/Green foresee/want/need Gaudette starting in Utica regardless of his and others' performance in training camp. Not exactly fair, nor does it foster the competition you want, but it may be another Stecher situation that certainly won't hurt Adam in the slightest. Signing Beagle really opened up a lot of options for the next couple seasons, and it bought both Gaudette and Pettersson time to falter and develop with few consequences (should it happen). Sutter is around for three more years, Beagle four, and obviously Horvat is 1C if/until he's surpassed by EP at C. Gaudette should complete the set of 4 guys who are permanently 100% centres all the time; EP, as has been discussed thoroughly, may not be that ever (unlikely) or for some stretch of time. However, assuming (within 1-2 years) Horvat/Pettersson/Gaudette develop sufficiently to be our top 3 centres, legitimately capable of producing at those levels, Beagle locking down the 4C spot, it gives us 5 NHL quality centremen on the roster. Sutter could play with EP on wing at certain times, could get spot duty on face-offs, could be traded, etc. For the start of this next season, though, I think it likely that Gaudette starts a Comet until injuries hit for exactly the reason you mentioned: He should play centre, and there likely isn't a way to fit him in without needlessly loosing another young player with promise in Goldy/Leipsic. Sutter and Beagle take the defensive matchups, Horvat + another centre take the offensive matchups with that +1 centre playing against a third-line quality of competition. Like JR, I think that will either be EP or Gagner, even though Adam could likely fill that spot just fine and develop successfully. However, being in Utica for 1/2 to a full season (being first in line for C call-ups) won't do him any harm, and it allows us to retain more of our young talent. Thank you for the news on Schaller! That's both great to hear and slightly unfortunate

Not this year, surely? I'm a pretty big fan of his steady play, but there's quite the logjam in front of him and he has practically no chance of being claimed on waivers. No need to get rid of him, but I don't expect to see him with the big club this year barring multiple injuries.

Actual footage of Nikita Soshnikov, Joffrey Lupul, and good ol' Frankie Corrado trying to escape their cells on Robidas Island?

Okay PB, think I started following the Canucks hard a year or two after whatever the bleep this is. Help a guy out and provide some context here?