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PhillipBlunt

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Everything posted by PhillipBlunt

  1. Playing with Gudbranson should give Ben every opportunity he needs to grow the physical side of his game. He can not only watch to see how it's done, but has a defensive partner who is more than capable of standing up for him, should he piss off the wrong player.
  2. He found his way back to his bridge.
  3. Fair enough. Crazy that the NHL would prevent players from wearing cages. Wow.
  4. Someone get the NHL defenseman tier chart, so we can settle this, once and for all!
  5. I'll quote how I see fit, just as you'll post as you see fit. If anyone wanted context, they can view your post, which outside of the good looks bullet, was pretty succinct. I can see Gudbranson's marketability being based on his size, character, physical play, GAA, GFA, and a flurry of intangibles, such as the way the team plays with a noticeable uptick in confidence when his skates hit the ice. That's something that's been sorely lacking on the team and throughout it's culture since Bieksa was traded. As well, while Gudbranson is, for all intents and purposes, a man of pulchritude, he was noticeably absent at the media availability scrum at the beginning of the year, and hasn't factored very much into the post game video much, except before the Buffalo game, for obvious reasons. On the flip-side of that, I see you're point in how the Canucks did market him in the Pepsi commercial, what with him speaking about the proposal from the girl with the sign, so I could see it being offered up as a bargaining point, although a very minute one. It would be a worthwhile exercise for those interested in compiling statistics, to attend a game and determine based on the name on the back of the jersey being worn in the stands, which players are preferred, how demographics break down based on each player. I personally don't see looks factoring a huge amount in to a hockey player's new contract, not nearly as much as say an actor or even a basketball or soccer player, where helmets and padding wouldn't be a factor in obscuring the individual.
  6. Really? Because these guys are male models?
  7. I think it all hinges on his choice. I'm pretty certain (although not totally) that Benning and Linden want him to sign.
  8. Gudbranson has been effective as previously mentioned, with the puck. Very few times in this young season have I seen him get his pocket picked. Having a player like him on the team gives the entire roster more presence. The confidence has permeated the entire roster, and players like Dorsett and Virtanen are also making their presence felt. There are less and less instances of players backing down in the face of the opposition trying to physically dominate. It remains to be seen how the team will play against high flying, offensively driven teams, but I have a feeling the Canucks will play every team they meet this season with the same intensity and physicality they have in the last four. The consistency may wane, but hopefully the general tone of play will remain.
  9. but......but.........how else do you determine a player's worth without crunching numbers and zone starts and exits? And what about the PDO? Fenwick? Corsi?
  10. Same. He's a smart, calm, and capable defenseman who is quick to right his errors. Yesterday he was walked by a Minnesota player, but he hustled back to catch up to them as they zeroed in on Nilsson. Needless to say, they were intercepted. As well, his nerves don't get jangled. Zucker gave Gudbranson a solid shoulder check that surprised him, and instead of getting steamed and trying to install a new face on Zucker, he calmly gained position and boxed him out. I do notice that the opposing team is far less likely to rush the net or put up shop in front of the net with him there. A great addition to the defense which truly shows Benning's multifaceted approach to building a solid defensive core.
  11. Calling a player a plug is an easy way to compartmentalize them. Out of the millions of kids who play hockey, only 700-800 every make it. They have to possess something special to make it that far. Even Bartkowski does......maybe.
  12. I think Pouliot is learning from his mistakes and that Green is the right coach to help him. Hell, I was not liking how Hutton was playing in the first four games, but he's starting to play with less jitter and more confidence. I still think Ben needs to add more physicality to his game, and if your defensive partner is Gudbranson, why not give it a go?
  13. Good to know. Thanks for providing that information, AJ.
  14. Subban, Suter, Weber, Letang, Keith, Burns, and other top tier defensemen have made horrible gaffes in their own end from time to time. It's human error. Pobody's nerfect. Has Pouliot ever had this much exposure to the NHL game? If not, well there is something called the learning curve that young players will experience.
  15. Was probably pretty funny at the time, I bet.
  16. Wiercoch being called up, I assume.
  17. Not sure what the motivating factor is behind that kind of thinking considering how well Gudbranson has stabilized the defence, and how differently teams play the Canucks with him on the ice.
  18. I was kidding. I think Jake is awesome as well. Was this the 1040 post game show? Who was running it?
  19. That makes literally no sense at all.
  20. I didn't hear you make that call.
  21. Whenever a pairing comprised of two of the aforementioned players was on the ice, this is what came to mind...
  22. 5-6 years. Although he has to also show Gudbranson that there is a reason to re-sign in Vancouver.
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