[[Speculation] Canucks exploring Tyler Myers trade]

Given the players unique abilities need a trade partner from outside the division…

[[PTO] Olli Juolevi with Coyotes]

Coyotes depth is very weak I saw one chart with stetcher in their top 4.  Atleast he’s picking opportunities where he could feasibly play.  It would also be really easy to go back to Europe so respect the desire to keep on going.

[[Poll] Hughes’ partner 23/24 season]

7 minutes ago, Pears said:

Yeah that’s definitely a good starting point for a package to get a Pesce-type player. We don’t have time to wait for prospects like Lekkerimaki and future 1sts to develop we need to get going with this core now. 

Lekkerimaki would be a handy Boeser replacement when he hits ufa and on a ELC to boot

[[Poll] Hughes’ partner 23/24 season]

11 minutes ago, Ted Lasso said:

I like this take, and have all kinds of time for a Hughes Hronek pairing. The Makar Toews example is a good one.

 

Soucy and Cole may have some chemistry from their time in Minny, and there’s also an outside chance Myers bounces back with a player like Cole

I think there’s some situations you might want Hughes and Hronek out together for but given both of their abilities to drive play got to think most of their 5 on 5 play they will be anchoring pairings of their own.

[What do you think of how the Power Play will be run this year by committee as compared to last season? Will it improve or decline?]

1 hour ago, Ballisticsports. said:

When our pp2 gets maybe 15 sec, I am not sure they can even be called a pp2 ?

I always thought with our forward depth, if pp1 fumbles and doesn't create anything on an attempt, that the next pp you start pp2 to motivate and send a message to pp1 (I thought that would be making people accountable and hungry to be out there to pad their own stats)?

Or at least take out someone who wasn't performing on the next pp to create competition and accountability for the opportunity and reward to be on pp

Nothing worse than seeing the same listless pp underperforming on nights they aren't clicking

 

I like the idea of rotating guys out if we aren’t getting results and certainly if we are loosing possession any time after the first minute PP2 should be hitting the ice.

 

Petey Miller and Hughes are 3 of the best power play guys in the league so definitely want the puck on their stick as much as we can.

[[Report] Canucks name Quinn Hughes as captain]

Hughes is really well spoken and has such a confident but relaxed way of communicating.  Good to have a dman as Captain as well.

[What do you think of how the Power Play will be run this year by committee as compared to last season? Will it improve or decline?]

Agreed the SH goals against need to go way down.  If we do go two D it will be interesting how they setup shots for Hronek from the top of the umbrella as that seemed to be the area for growth last year.

[What do you think of how the Power Play will be run this year by committee as compared to last season? Will it improve or decline?]

11 minutes ago, IBatch said:

Good points.   A couple stats that were interesting, is the two worst PKs in the league, also scored the most short handed goals lol.   MTL and us.   Our PP also allowed the most shorthand goals.   For a net gain of exactly one goal.   Short handed goals are momentum killers, we allowed that 14 times and did it against others 15.   It for sure helped us win some of those Tochett games AND improved almost 15% over Bruce's PK, and that was without Horvat.   Miller and EP with one of Soucy or Cole.  Maybe both.    If our PK is 83% a 5%ish improvement to Tochetts last year, AND we can manage 15 goals short handed that would be good for some more wins for sure.   I've got us going from 69 goals allowed down to 50-54 average to slightly above average.   Any better than that is money. 

 

As for the PP, also thought about Miller running one, EP the other.    We could ice two legit units, just not sure we will be good enough.   At least this year, it won't be Myers on the ice facing the best in the world the shift after.   Hopefully anyways.   It's a momentum killer getting scored on shortly after having a power play too. 

I think you need the best PP1 possible, any production out of unit 2 is gravy

[Filip Hronek | #17 | D]

Nothing wrong with guys showing up to camp like that!

[[Signing] Senators re-sign Jake Sanderson]

I think Ottawa has gone bold on these contracts as they have usually struggled keeping players when they get to UFA.  This way they are buying the players best ufa years but making this type of bet so often there will likely be a few that don’t click.

[ESPN at #26]

That rating is baloney we will have demko at full strength and good reason to believe our dcorps will be better.  If the pk is atleast 80% we are a playoff team

[Where is Brock Boeser??]

21 hours ago, Gassy Jack said:

 

Well he was feeling up Tyler Motte's bride last month in Whistler, not sure if that's a good sign or a bad one.

Gotta like the self confidence 

[Jonathan Lekkerimäki | RW]

Dang that’s a long preseason 

[Jonathan Lekkerimäki | RW]

When does the SHL regular season start?

[[Report/Rumour] Elias Pettersson Contract Talks]

The bet on yourself does come with risk, just ask shohei ohtani who just saw a few hundred million evaporate with an injury.  
 

on the other hand maybe Petey will be more like Matthew’s and take a series of shorter contracts to maintain personal control rather than long term security?

[[PTO] Alex Chiasson with Bruins]

Got to love the passion for the game.  Almost needs to be in the conversation for a masterson trophy.

 

 

[Who is your All-American Team? (can it beat Canada?)]

10 hours ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

Perfect example of what I was mentioning in the Canadian thread. The US has more depth on Defence and Goal than Canada. Canada does have higher end Forwards. But the gap between the two have narrowed considerably.

 

I'm still thinking it's due to the expense of hockey and equipment. Climate and culture has changed as well. I don't think we have as long or cold of winters. The days of kids getting outside and skating on a frozen pond or lake and playing until it got dark out. You still see some kids playing street hockey. But now there's other activities kids can do.

Is there any small community rinks that just have free ice sessions to let kids play shinny or a simple pick up game?

 

I proposed years ago, we have a system of hockey development done through our schools. They buy equipment on consignment so it's always last years, or 2 year old equipment. Have a development system starting in Grade 6-7. Only one game a week, and practice sessions learning skills and the basics. Grade 8 (Level A) you learn more advanced skills and introduce systems and go to 1 game one week, 2 games the next. Grades 9-10 (Level AA) you start allow hitting, and teaching advanced systems and improve skills and go to a 40 game (2 games a week) schedule. Grades 11-12  (AAA level) prepares you to try to make college teams (Maybe to to 5 games every two weeks). Allow sponsorship to improve funding. Because it's a scholastic program you can have no fighting and full face helmets. At least more kids would get a chance to play hockey than they otherwise would allow. Maybe it will improve the NHL draft even if it's someone in the later rounds.

 

There should be more of a push to have our Canadian Colleges and Universities trying to attract more talent. And themselves develop players. When's the last time a Canadian University had a phenom playing for them?

Some interesting thoughts, I think we will see more players from non traditional markets make it.  Since the sport started access to development and coaching would have limited many but now with access to online tools you can have access to more tools if the desire is there.  Your points on Canada’s diminished grassroots side is very relevant.  I will say the current group of minor players stands to be the most skilled rec players ever.

[Jack Rathbone | #3 | D]

1 minute ago, 250Integra said:

Tough position to be for Rathbone. Injuries aside, he needs to have a great camp to get a shot on the third pairing or as the 7th defenceman. Hopefully Myers will be better in a smaller role.

 

Hughes-Cole

Soucy-Hronek

Wolanin-Myers

Rathbone

 

 

I think with Willander in the system the team will just pick the best 7-8 dmen that help the team win on opening night. We had one of the worst d corps in the league last year I don’t think our depth is at a big risk of being claimed off waivers.  Rathbone is depth for Hughes or Hronek maybe the puck mover on pair 3.  Briesbois or Irwin will fill in for the shutdown guys when injuries arise.

[[PTO] Brandon Sutter with Oilers]

Hopefully he can play in the NHL again and go out on his own terms.

[Tom Willander | D]

I’m not sure how I missed that he’s only played d for two years,  the repetitions needed for decision making could be the biggest development piece for this player.  The offensive skill set could be a huge plus if the two way game connects as hoped.

[[Signing] Canes re-sign Aho 9.75x8]

16 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Petey is better both offensively and defensively than Aho.  Not sure how Aho is even a comparable.  Petey just put up 102 points, Aho has never hit 84.  Plus, Petey has played 2 less years in the league.  Petey isn't signing for less than $11 million, regardless of what other players are signing for.  He can simply sign a one year extension and walk to free agency and have every single team in the NHL bid for his services.  As a UFA, Petey is easily getting $12 million+...

Aho is a pretty much as top flight a two way centre as you are going to find.  Really smart player who plays winning hockey ie doesn’t cheat for offence.  Doesn’t pull you out of your seat the way Petey does.  Tough to make an argument that this is a good comparable maybe 5/10% more dough for Petey if he signs this off season.

[[Report] Matt Murray out indefinitely, will be placed on LTIR for 2023-24 season]

Bad case of overthecapitis?

[Canucks’ Rick Tocchet on what he wants to see from Vasily Podkolzin and Nils Höglander next season]

43 minutes ago, Highstickin said:

Making the statement "you can teach defence, you can't teach scoring" is simply a lie. I agree that offense is not easy to learn but playing solid defense takes commitment, the IQ to read plays and the heart to play physical/punishing hockey. There are a lot of players now that are not willing to put in the effort in the D-zone because a) all they want are stats on a sheet of paper & b) they don't want to get their hands dirty. 

 

Your entire argument here can be neutralized by looking at who won the cup this year. Guess what, Vegas didn't give a crap how many points each player got they only cared about winning. You say top 6 guys are not here to shut down opposing players, well Vegas' top 6 does and they are contenders year over year because of it. You can value all your regular season goals, assist and points you want but when games matter the most defense wins (and this includes players in your top 6). 

Virtanen was a waste of tremendous talent, lots of athleticism and skill but for a variety of reasons lacked what was needed to be a long term NHLer.

 

You can’t teach scoring is very true you are either a scorer and embrace being relied on for that.  Some guys can’t handle the pressure of being “the guy”

[Patrice Bergeron Calls it a Day]

Congrats on a great career and finishing 1 point behind Daniel Sedin

[Canucks: How new trainer, new outlook could produce best version of Brock Boeser]

Brock was pretty great once tochet took over, if the type of conditioning he was doing was not up to snuff we should see a difference at training camp.