VanNuck

Quite an underrated pick. Pair him with Horvat maybe and they should do wonders.

HockeysFuture lists Hutton as 6.5C - a third pairing blueliner. How accurate is this?

My hope is that will not come true, Lu being the best never to win. They will have to replace Gallant with a better coach, the Panthers have the personnel to win, but the coaching is suspect.

Yeah, you see the Sedin's reliance on cycling makes them easy to defend - all you have to do is cut off the passing lane between them (not like Gretzky who wouldn't exclusively pass to Kurri, or take the shot himself), or play them physically. A north-south Virtanen on their wing should complement them by at least warding off defenders, or even helping altar their usual game.

Jake Virtanen I believe is just the perfect linemate for the twins. He's a right-shooting power forward (who can complement left-shooting Daniel Sedin). Combines physicality, speed, and a laser of a shot, he can make nights a lot easier for the twins by either opening up space for them, warding off any pesky trouble-makers or physical blueliners, or simply giving Henrik Sedin another passing option. He could even make the occasional Bure-rush breakaway. I say, if possible, give him a shot at the bigs this year - he might stick. If he does, trade Vrbata and get some salary cap space (or a good defenseman).

Heading into the draft, it seemed like Jeremy Roy was the concensus first pick among the fans. We needed an offensive defenseman badly and Roy seemed like the ideal fit. In hindsight, if we did the draft over again, who would have picked Roy over Boser?

Like many others, I would have picked Jeremy Roy, but after assessing Boeser, I am impressed. Great character player, very good skill set, similar to Virtanen. Overcame much adversity, willing to get up and press forward.

I certainly would draft Virtanen if for nothing else, he is a hometown boy. Two questions though, I wonder how does he fare as a character, and what is his leadership/team play rating? Secondly, if he is every bit as good as you say he is - and I've seen other reports that conclude so - will he be available by the time we go up?

I say Neidermayer for coach. The guy is an excellent teacher, developed the young Anaheim players into what they are today, helping put them back on top. Also a BC boy and one of the greatest winners of all time.

Yeah, I'd keep Torts, mainly if they keep the Sedins, and most of the core. Personally, I actually want to see a full-scale rebuild, trading away the entire core, rebuild through the draft, and I don't know if Torts will want to coach a team that projects to lose next year.

I would rather play a Canucks style hockey, than emulate the Bruins (or anyone else). Emulation doesn't win, leading and setting your own style does. What kind of style? Rebuild through the draft, shed old stars for new. Attract free agents Don't have time to give a full lineup, but headlining this Canuck style hockey would be these guys: Top line: Reinhart-McDavid-Jensen/Lucic First pairing: Day-Hamhuis/Garrison Starting goaltender: Price Put this team against the Bruins, McDavid will (properly handled) zip right through them. Marhant can try beating him up (but he probably can't catch him). Chara couldn't stop him. Day and Price would lock them down. Blackhawks? Canucks could match them tit-for-tat. McDavid is better than Kane, Day could outdo Keith or Seabrook. Price? Yeah, dare Crawford to outduel him.

I think Lucic would appear on an ESPN special with Jim Gray, and tell him, "This fall, I'm taking my talents (as UFA) to the Pacific Northwest and join the Vancouver Canucks."

Nooo, don't buy out! I think Garrison is an underrated hockey player. Would love to keep him, maybe try an pair him with an elite defender (if the Nucks went through death valley and took lottery picks, I would draft Day and pair him with Garrison). They could complement each other quite well and Garrison would be lethal next to this youngster (like Keith and Seabrook).

Linden is hired as president, but not GM, but whatever. I've still got four words for all you doubters: I told you so.

If he flops in his first season - it would be just perfect, because he can draft McDavid or Barzel. Actually, I'd want him to do just that.

Hoping that Nicholson would become president, and hire Linden as GM.

Posted here is a copy of an e-mail I sent to Club 16 Fitness for Trevor. The way things seem to be panning out, it might come true, and if so, you heard it first in 2012. March 14th, 1:46am Dear Club 16, My apologies for sending a potentially unsolicited message not pertaining to fitness, but I do have a personal message for Mr. Linden. So Trevor, if you've seen the movie Frozen, I'm sure you recall this song, where Anna begs her sister Queen Elsa to return to Arendale to reverse a spell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9kDG0r_evs. Well the Vancouver Canucks is the kingdom of Arendale - currently frozen over. There are a growing number of people who believe that the man who can reverse it is #16, Trevor "Captain Canuck" Linden. I understand you have now moved on to running this fine fitness establishment and want to move on from hockey, and nobody can force you per se to become GM of Canucks - if Mr. Aquilini even chooses to replace his friend, Mr. Gillis. What you do in life from here is up to you entirely. However, if I may say so, you once said you loved the game of hockey, and it is no secret how much you care about this city. That's why people (who don't decide who will be GM) nonetheless believe you should be given a chance at this job. What's more, when the Canucks eventually do win the Cup, it would be most disappointing not to have your name engraved on the Cup and be given a ring, after all that you have been for not only Canucks but for all Vancouver. Steve Jobs once held two CEO posts, Pixar and Apple - he took the later job to save a great company he founded. I don't see why you can't do the same with Club 16 and the Vancouver Canucks. That said, I would personally ask you to consider returning to Arendale (if Mr. Aquilini would hire you). Once again, I apologize if you are receiving excess fan mail like this to your Club 16 account, but I just don't know where I could direct "fan mail," and needed to get this message across. Sincerely, VanNuck P.S. I live in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor. Any chance you would be opening a center out here? March 14th, 9:03am Hi VanNuck, Thank you so much for your support. We will be sure to pass this letter on to Trevor. We just recently opened a club in Maple Ridge, but we are always keeping an eye open for new locations! Keep checking our updates. Thanks again, Club 16.

If I haven't convinced anyone yet, the "Hire Trevor Linden" facebook page has nearly doubled in the last 24 hours. More folks want the clown called Gillis gone.

Too little too late. Roberto isn't our only beef. Should have asked for Florida's first-rounder in that trade, btw. Cory Schneider, Keith Ballard, Cody Hodgson, Raffi Torres, Marco Sturm, Wilie Mitchell, the list goes on about all the mistakes that were made. I could suggest reversing maybe one or two moves and getting the Cup by now.

Wow, someone tell me two things: how do you lose a game 7-4, blowing a 4-2 lead in the third period, let alone a 3-0 to start the period? And what kind of GM would sit by as this team crumbles, one who cares about this city or this team?

Did you just mention Craig McTavish in the same sentence as Mike Milbury and Garth Snow? Give the guy some time before you cast him in the hall of failure. You also could have mentioned Steve Yzerman, who is turning things around for Tampa Bay, or Joe Sakic in Colorado.

Gretzky left California last I checked. The guy would be a great GM though - he was exec director (aka GM) for Canada's 2002 gold-winning Olympic team, and as you said, could attract players here on force of his reputation.

Not because he was a great player loved by fans, but because he is a leader who cares about this city and hockey. Qualifications? Tell that to Serge Savard, became GM immediately upon retirement and won two Cups for Montreal. Linden has even more experience, serving as NHLPA president, negotiated a CBA for the lockout, so he can also negotiate player contracts. Plus, he understands a hockey team's dynamics. No reason why he can't. And I've repeated myself over and over about his lack of interest - it changes nothing. If the team needs him, then it'd be pretty selfish of him to stay away.

One more thing, someone made a FB page calling for Linden to be hired... and I did not launch that page. Fetched 350 likes in its first 16 hours, that's better than the Fire Mike Gillis page for the records.

Whoa, whoa hold on... Sakic is effectively the GM in Colorado as VP for hockey ops, and "GM" Sherman is really more like an assistant GM. Being Sakic's equivalent in Vancouver, Linden is essentially GM... and Gilman could do well to be his assistant. First, Burke is already running the Calgary Flames. Second, like I said, Linden can stay away like Simba tried to stay away from Pride Rock or Elsa tried to stay away from Arendelle, but things won't get better until he (or Smyl) returns. Gilman's a good negotiator and accountant, but I highly doubt he could orchestrate the entire large-scale vision to run a hockey club. Just ask Sherman why he's relegated to effective assistant GM (despite keeping the label "GM") in Colorado.