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bigbadcanucks

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Everything posted by bigbadcanucks

  1. So that's where all my crap goes...I thought it ended up in the Vancouver landfill off of Highway 17. They can have my crap.
  2. I have a suspicion that if the Canucks are going to upgrade their top four, the guys that get moved are the current top four (i.e., on the right side Tanev or Stecher; on the left side Edler or Hutton). As much as I like the way Stecher and Hutton asserted themselves when they were given the ice time, I think they are going to be the casualties of an upgrade on the top four. As much as the NHL has become a faster league where you need quick, puck moving d-men, there is still a need for players that bring size, grit, and toughness on your second and third pairing. Part of the historic problems with the Canucks has been that their small guys were skilled and their big guys have been bruisers...the Canucks would be well served by big, talented and nasty d-men packaged into one player (Jovo was the last guy that gave the Canucks this...maybe Ohlund...Edler?).
  3. From the games I watched (which is pretty much all, plus a few live), I would say that Schenn is quicker than the way you view his play. He's slow, but he plays a controlled game and forces and boxes the speedy guys to the outside where they can be contained, especially with back check support. Unlike Gudbrandson, Schenn didn't give up the middle of the ice, his footwork was better than advertised, and actually made quick plays with the puck (hence, quicker than how you may have viewed him). For sure, Schenn won't win any straight line races, but he plays within himself and was far more effective (especially when paired with Hughes) than expected. I'm all for having Schenn back as the number six guy for the next couple of seasons. I would also be in favor of adding a player like Adam McQuaid to provide more grit on the backend. Just what I observed.
  4. and size. The team that Burnaby Joe has assembled is loaded with talent and size. Gotta laugh as I watch Gaudreau, Mangiapane, Bennett, Tkachuk, Monahan get manhandled by Zadorov, Johnson and Cole. I love how the Avs are constructed. Feeling a whole lot of envy right now.
  5. I like your view of the universe... Hockey is sort of a microcosm of life, in that nothing is absolute and that decisions made are never made in isolation, are circumstantial, and are based on available information and one's insight, isn't it?. I sense that is how you view the revisionist history and the present/future of the Canucks (and the Leafs for this particular thread). I find the discussions that takes place on CDC is counter to that, which makes it a very interesting and entertaining place. To answer your question, the sure thing and obvious is the former, but wouldn't it be great to hit a home run with a middle pick every once in awhile? That's the "dream" result that most everyone shares with the notion of stockpiling picks. But I'd rather have Tanev on the Canucks roster (injuries and all) than a second round draft pick that he would most likely return in a trade.
  6. I'm all for bringing in someone like Ralph Kruger. First, Ralph is a great first name. I was a huge Ralph (Dieter) Brock fan when he was QB'ing the Bombers when dinosaurs roamed the earth. But seriously, Ralph Kruger strikes me as someone with the experience (running a Premier League FC is probably one of the most difficult jobs in professional sports), leadership qualities and personality that could re-set the 50 year culture of mediocrity (sprinkled with a few bursts of winning runs). I especially like his humility and grace. And being from Winnipeg also helps (where I'm from...btw, Winnipeg has produced many CEOs and leaders in industry).
  7. If I may jump in to the conversation... I get what you're saying, but I am all for Jim Benning trading diminishing assets for draft picks or developing prospects, especially in the context of rebuilding a team. From what I can gather, the counter point is that it would have been better if JB was able to get something for players like Matthias, Hamhuis (maybe not a good example), and others rather than nothing. To your point about the deals the Leafs made where the first round pick was the core asset given up, the secondary assets (i.e., later round picks) provided them with the added leverage that allowed them to outbid another team. Assets are assets, and how they are deployed are all within the context of the deal that is being made and the competitive nature under which they are made. You make some strong/valid/factual points regarding the likelihood of 2-7 picks making the NHL but wouldn't you agree that stockpiling or acquiring draft picks for players that may not fit what you're doing as a team that you can later utilize in the marketplace a good thing? IMO, this really isn't a Leafs/Canucks argument (though the dialogue thus far is based on that), but moreso how Jim Benning has not been able to extract as much return as he could possibly have over the past few years. Personally, I am not altogether upset that JB hasn't been able to do much with players like Matthias...I'm somewhat disappointed that he's had more misses on the late picks than hits (though his work in the early rounds picking Boeser/Petterson/Hughes trumps that)...the list is long - Mackenze Stewart, Kyle Petit, Tate Olson, Carl Neill, Dmitry Zhukenov, Brett McKenzie, Rodrigo Abols, Jakub Stukel, Cole Candella, Matt Brassard have all turned into throw-aways. And the list will probably continue to grow. So, would having more picks in the late rounds result in more players that you toss in the BFI bin? Law of probability says yes, but you do increase your chance of unearthing an Adam Gaudette statistically.
  8. I actually find myself disliking ALL Canadian teams that are not the Vancouver Canucks. This spring, I'm pulling for the Blues, Avs and Bruins (yikes!!! on the Bruins). Don't know why, but I can't stand any of the Canadian teams...and I'm from Winnipeg and grew up a Jets fan as a kid (the one that moved to Phoenix).
  9. A young, big guy with skill? I'll take as many of these types of players as possible please. Gladly replace Goldobin, Granlund, Spooner with a developing player with the assets that Fischer possesses. I might be a little hesitant in giving up Kole Lind for Fischer, though (I have a suspicion that Kole Lind will find his game again sooner than later).
  10. Not gonna lie...I've always hated the Avs but right now, I'm a huge Avs fan. C'mon boys. Lay the boots to the Calgary Fakes.
  11. That would be the best case scenario. I would go as far as trading him for another bad contract, if trading partner is willing to take on full cap hit.
  12. ^^^^^This. Nelson has been remarkably durable (missed 12 games in the past five seasons, playing for Team USA in WC after Isles regular season), has great bloodlines (Dave Christian is his uncle), has size, two-way acumen, and is a UND alumni. I can see a first line made up of: Nelson (LW) -- Pettersson (C) -- Boeser (RW). Connolly, after a slow start to his NHL career has solidified himself as a bonafide top nine foward IMO. Tall (6'3"), but a little light (195 lbs), I can see him on a second line with Bo and Baertschi...Baertschi (LW) -- Bo (C) -- Connolly (RW). IMO, Connolly would be an upgrade from Leivo. A third line made up of Pearson (LW) -- Gaudette (C) -- Leivo (RW) could give the Canucks a top nine that could score goals, though Gaudette is still unproven as a third line center. After seeing Josh Anderson do what he's doing for Columbus, I would be hesitant to give up on Virtanen. He played his best hockey when he was lined up with Roussel, so I can see a real effective fourth line made up of Roussel (LW) -- Beagle (C) -- Virtanen (RW). That would leave a bunch of veterans on the outside looking in (Eriksson, Sutter, Granlund, Spooner, Schaller and Motte). I would buy out Eriksson, trade Sutter, not qualify Granlund, bury Spooner or Schaller, and have Motte and Spooner or Schaller as 13th and 14th forwards. Eriksson's buy-out would hurt for three years ($5.6M for two and $3.6M for the third), and ease off when the money is really needed.
  13. Really enjoying the beat down the Avs are laying on the Flames on the scoreboard tonight. Especially enjoying Mike Red Light Smith getting lit up.
  14. Hilarious post...made me laugh. BTW, isn't that what they say about LL?
  15. Scenario: you are Jim Benning for the day. What would you do with the current crop of Canucks' RFAs and UFAs? (What I would do are in brackets after the player name). Current Roster RFA - Brock Boeser (7 years at $7 million) RFA - Markus Granlund (Qualify him) RFA - Tyler Motte (2 years at $900,000 NHL and $250,000 minors) RFA - Josh Leivo (2 years at $1.75 million) RFA - Nikolay Goldobin (Don't qualify; sign him as UFA for 1 year at $650,000 NHL and $150,000 minors) UFA - Alex Edler (3 years at $5 million) RFA - Ben Hutton (Qualify him) UFA - Luke Schenn (2 years at $1.25 million) RFA - Derrick Pouliot (not sign) RFA - Josh Teves (2 years at $925,000 NHL and $162,500 minors) RFA - Brogan Rafferty (2 years at $925,000 NHL and $162,500 minors) RFA - Thatcher Demko (2 years at $1.5 million) Minors/Injured RFA - Yan Pavel Laplante (not sign) UFA - Tom Pyatt (not sign) RFA - Brendan Gaunce (2 years at $800,000 in NHL and minors) UFA - Tanner Kero (1 year at 1 year at $800,000 in NHL and minors) RFA - Reid Boucher (Don't qualify, not sign) UFA - Evan McEneny (not sign)
  16. I hope they sign Dorsett for some sort of a role with the Canucks on July 1...but for a position that doesn't count against the cap. Maybe a Western Canada Amateur scout or something like that. Apparently he and his family have a thriving real estate development business so he's got a good life outside of hockey. Sort of like Trevor Linden.
  17. I suppose so...except Dorsett is off the books as of June 30th. So, come July 1, Dorsett's $2.65M becomes available and until Roussel is back, they have his $3.0M that they can commit to on a short term basis, though they would have to make some hard decisions about the extra money spent once Roussel comes back (assuming the team is pushed up against the cap).
  18. Didn't know that Greener had such affinity for another man's stick's stiffness. Just kidding...we all know what he meant.
  19. Agree with this plan completely. A player like Roussel probably needs no more than a month and a half to get himself to full game shape. I would rather see Roussel be 100% than come back ahead of schedule. This, of course, would mean that someone or through committee, would have to bring their game up to what Roussel at say 85%, would bring on a nightly basis. I'm hoping that someone like Virtanen can do that consistently. Roussel reminds me of a young Alex Burrows.
  20. Roussel's full cap hit is charged. But because he's on LTIR, Roussel can be replaced by a player who's cap hit is not charged as long as the player replacing him has a cap hit of $3 million or less. If the player replacing Roussel has a cap hit bigger than him, it will be the cap hit the replacing Roussel that gets charged while Roussel's cap hit is not charged. Once Roussel is activated off the LTIR, both players' cap hit are charged. Which then means the Canucks capologist (whoever that might be) would have to find ways to make sure the team balances it's books properly through player moves to stay at or below the cap limit.
  21. What an odd thing to piss and moan about. I would say that anyone who is entrenched in the community as the Aquillinis are, spend to the cap nearly every year (even in the face of successive losing seasons), and also count themselves as fans of the team on the ice are entitled to position themselves anywhere they want in a group/team photo. For all the negativity that is thrown at CSE and Francesco Aquillini, IMO, he's been a very good owner on multiple fronts.
  22. Liking Tanner Pearson a lot. Reminds me of a healthy Chris Higgins.
  23. Like on 650: Rick Dhaliwal, Alex Auld, Corey Hisch, Scott Rintoul, guests Elliott Friedman and Brian Burke and John Shannon, and Doug McLean. Mixed feelings: Dan Riccio, Bertuzzi and O'Brien (O'Brien most of the time), rest of the morning crew, Satiar Shah, Randeep Jandha, Joey Kenward. Dislike on 650: Jawn Jang (too dramatic for my liking), the guy that's on with Scott Rintoul, the girl that's on at night. Turn the radio to TSN: when Nick Kypreos comes on. Can't stand him. He's the worst part of HNIC. Like on 1040: Don Taylor, Tom Mayenecht. Dislike: everyone else, especially the passive-aggressive clown Jeff Patterson, Blake Price, Matt Sekeres, Farhan Lalji, and the guy stuffing himself at the buffet table. Does Blotchford still appear on TSN? If he does, I'd put him there.
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