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Everything posted by alfstonker
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"It really isn't that bad from keslers point of view. Florida isn't in complete disarray like buffalo." I would agree totally. I have watched a lot of Florida this year and they are only maybe 2 or 3 experienced pieces away from having a contending team imo. Kesler and maybe even Garrison would be enough to set them on their way and with Roberto and the fact they are pretty big, I could see that as an attraction for Kes. That said I would hate to lose Kesler.
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So can we assume A V wasn't the problem?
alfstonker replied to jerkstore1972's topic in Canucks Talk
They certainly did. Unfortunately Gillis was not for firing himself. Many people I recall argued for keeping AV at the time and getting rid of Gillis but if I remember a few said that Gillis friendship with the owners would mean firing AV would give Giliis one more throw of the dice. And so it turned out to be. "Coaches have shelf live. Some have longer shelf live than others. AV needed to go from Vancouver not because he’s a bad coach but because the locker had tuned him out the last year." Coaches with inept GM's have shelf lives. Some have longer shelf lives than others. AV was forced out of Vancouver not because he’s a bad coach but because he was given dross for 3 years to augment a SC Final team. There, I fixed it for you. Good coaches don't have shelf lives, in fact they should get better. Unfortunately AV had a players agent for a GM, who got cold feet in the trading room and then ultimately froze up altogether, incapable of making any coherent decisions. He saved his worst for last, saddling the team with a self serving, hot headed, neanderthal, who ran our players into the ground and then covered his mistakes by insulting them. -
Well any young guy that played his heart out like he did, at least deserves an offer, providing he shows he is fit. Let's face it some nights he was our best player. I'm not for holding spaces open for prospects when there is someone who has proved he can cut it on any line. Prospects have to fight their way into the team imo, just like anyone else. The way Santorelli played reminded me a bit of how Gallagher played in the SC for the Habs.
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Well done AV and Rangers. Imo the best team I have seen in this year's SC. Whether they have enough left in the tank, well, we'll see but it has been a brilliant vindication for the ex Canucks coach (es) How anyone could say they are weak is beyond me and sounds like sour grapes. I hope they lift the cup just to give us some inspiration for next year. Speed, skill and just enough physicality, reminds me of us in 2011 and we were not weak by any means. By the way that was some bit of business by our ex GM. We trade Weise, who was a revelation in Montreal, for Diaz, who we then trade away for a 5th in 2015 before we had even assessed him properly. (6 games, that he played pretty well if I recall) That guy better be some 5th rounder, that's all I can say. I felt sorry for the Habs because but for Lundqvist they might have been going to a game 7. Well done to their young goalie too.
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[Confirmed] Jim Benning signs as new Canucks GM
alfstonker replied to TheRussianRocket.'s topic in Canucks Talk
In my opinion, Gillis gave us 3 years of expectation culminating in abject misery. It is worth noting just how good a team we had in 2011. Did he appreciate how good it was or was he swayed by the mountain of Canucks fans and media so disillusioned by entitlement that he thought he had to start tinkering with it and ultimately almost destroy it. He never seemed to have a plan, worse still he never seemed to act decisively while others around him knew what they wanted and achieved it. Gradually the team just withered through poor judgement, poor recruitment, poor farm team development and poor drafting. Not surprisingly AV eventually lost his way and was made a scapegoat for Gillis to have one more throw of the dice. We all know what happened with that. I will welcome Benning, if as I suspect, he has a plan and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it. That approach will be so refreshing for this organisation. -
[Confirmed] Jim Benning signs as new Canucks GM
alfstonker replied to TheRussianRocket.'s topic in Canucks Talk
Firstly, any player that Boston wants, I would hold onto. We should be very wary of judging a player when he and the team are having a hard time. We all know what a fit and on form Edler is like, we need to hope our new coach gets him back there. I had no time for the way Tortorella publicly humiliated him on the bench either. Something like that does not go down well with the rest of his team mates. He did the same with Hansen. That should be done behind closed doors where the player has an opportunity to speak in his defence. For all of Tortorella's talk of "protecting" his players, I'm afraid actions speak louder than words. He was found out much quicker here than in New York, thank goodness for that. We need to assess the players on this team under a more "stable" coach otherwise we are likely to enhance other teams at our own expense. Anyway I think Benning knows he needs to make things happen here, from the get go and for that reason I am sure he is pouring over the dvds and stats of every player on the roster with a view to establishing an idea of who fits with his ideas and who doesn't. -
WcF: Chicago Blackhawks vs Los Angeles Kings
alfstonker replied to Apples's topic in General Hockey Discussion
I am loving these playoffs. Most entertaining since 2011 for me. It seems hockey has at last come to the fore. It's a pity our 2011 team wasn't in it they would excel in that atmosphere. Well done to the Rangers and Montreal coaches especially for lighting up this tournament. And while I am on it, Lundqvist !! what a goalie. -
[Nick Ritchie] Junior Point totals vs Getzlaf, Lucic, and Nash
alfstonker replied to Merci's topic in Canucks Talk
Wasn't too impressed with the late hit and well done for the guy that challenged him and fought "at least" a draw despite being much smaller. Maybe we should just leave him for Boston -
[Nick Ritchie] Junior Point totals vs Getzlaf, Lucic, and Nash
alfstonker replied to Merci's topic in Canucks Talk
We shouldn't forget that Ritchie's numbers may well be exaggerated in his obvious size advantage. This will even out in the AHL and the more so in the NHL. I would rather take a higher skill and speed factor shading towards Dal Colle is 6'-2 and Draisaitl is 6'-1" who are both likely to grow more and fill out. -
[Nick Ritchie] Junior Point totals vs Getzlaf, Lucic, and Nash
alfstonker replied to Merci's topic in Canucks Talk
I seriously doubt the Canucks/Benning will get what they have stated they want at No 6. My view all along is they will try to move up. I would like to know what these health issues are. I am not enamoured either by "erratic shot" stated on one of the coaching reviews. "The big winger has battled staying healthy early in his young career but few players are as dominating as Ritchie when he's playing a full health. Ritchie remains a potential top 10 prospect for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and currently leads Peterborough in scoring with 18 points through 16 contests, including a team high 10 goals. Profile from: Brendan Ross of Dobber Prospects - Feb. 15th @IssHockey - "Dominating power fwd & key to Petes offense. Elite puck protection & offensive tools" - Nov. 28th, 2013 "Ritchie is a prototypical power forward with an impressive blend of size, skill and strength. He skates well for a big player and has agile feet. He bulls his way around the ice and has an impressive, erratic shot" -
I must say this was the reaction I had when I saw it watching the game. It was even more blatant in the replays. The linesman to my mind was aggressive, over physical and was almost inciting a reaction. The normal procedure is just to hold until the player, and talk to him till he calms down. That said I doubt if AV has helped his case any. The main thing for the Rangers now is not to be drawn into anymore contentious episodes as it is playing into the Habs hands. The Habs were never in that game until all the trouble started. It reminded me a lot of the Canucks v Boston Final.
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Agreed. The more I read about Ritchie the less he fits what we should be looking for. Ok he has size but I don't think he fits easily to an elite team's top 6. We are looking for size, yes but Benning has stated, someone to carry the franchise forward, that to me screams high skill, speed, and character. If you take that view it seems to me we need to move up. It has to be Sam Reinhart, and he's from North Vancouver BC. "Reinhart is a nice blend of poise, maturity and a high hockey IQ. He's got creative hands, excellent vision and superb instinct in the offensive end. He's able to slow things down and dissect the play. He battles hard and is a true team leader" I think if Benning wants to make a signature statement of his intentions for the Canucks he would achieve it with Reinhart's acquisition.
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I don't know why you can't have a combination of both. I noticed you said a similar thing to me despite ignoring what I said in my post. "I realise size isn't everything but size with talent is what we require." Give the poster credit, nearly everyone knows you don't just go for size. If that was the case we could just fill the team with Sestitos. Benning has intimated that he DOES want size and I'm sure you would not speak to him like that. We are all on the same side are we not?
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[Botchford] Kesler gave a list of 6 (revisited)
alfstonker replied to HunterHorvatBure's topic in Trades, Rumours, Signings
I don't think Kesler wanted to leave back then and I definitely don't think he will want to leave now. Not with all the new faces and exciting staff in the office. Certainly, if I was Kesler I might think "Hey I could be missing out on something here" The sad fact is he is probably the only forward other than the twins who would fetch anything worthwhile. Then you have to think that you would need someone of equal quality to replace him. Maybe a "chain" deal where we get someone that Florida or the Sabres want and we get the no 1/2 pick. What's the going rate for a 1st or 2nd? -
"Im pretty sure we are taking Ritchie now that Virtanen is having surgery. We could still take him, hes supposed to be back in November but Im betting on Ritchie just like I have been for the last 2 months." I'm not sure. Is Richie considered a player to carry the franchise in future? It seems to me when Linden was saying this he had probably already discussed the draft with Benning and they were of one mind. It suggests they intend to do what it takes to move up to first or second. As I see it the top 3 are really the only "potential franchise leaders" and as has been discussed elsewhere, defenders are very hard to predict, a lot harder than forwards. Reinhard (possibly Daisraitl or Bennet ) is the player I expect them to move for, unless they are convinced Ekblad will be the real deal.
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I like the idea of Desjardins. "His teams were always well prepared and they always played hard,” said Hay, who’s returning to Kamloops for his second stint at Blazers head coach. “Willie is a real genuine person and a real quality coach. His teams will always come at you hard and play a real uptempo game. Everywhere he’s gone, he’s had success. "“He can work with all kinds of athletes and that’s what he wants to be known as — a guy who’s not one-dimensional. He’s coached at all different levels and really fits in well with a variety of people. He showed he wants to be a (NHL) head coach, too.” You almost think maybe this guy would have been a better choice than Tortorella. He seems very fluid and adaptable, while still gleaning success at every level. He seems ready to take the step up especially with a strong character like Benning behind him and a trusted tandem like the Sedins ready to bring on the expected youth injection.
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8 missed playoffs, 5 first round exits and 2 second round exits. I suppose with Nashville, that is a pretty decent performance, however I remain to be convinced he is the best available. Having said that, if Benning wants him I will be right behind him. Coach evaluation seems so difficult. What seems to work in one Club is a disaster in another and vice versa. I'm glad I don't have the responsibility for the hiring. I would say though that we are a slightly on the side of veteran team hoping to get younger and the new man must have a synergy effect with regard to the young players as well as the trust of the established core players
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Weise says Lucic threatened him during handshake
alfstonker replied to J529's topic in General Hockey Discussion
" .. I love it when a common cause unites us all .. we should all pull together like this for our team next year .. just support every player and give them the benefit of the doubt .. +1." This would indeed be refreshing. I am looking forward to a season of harmony. Apologies for the butchery "All across Canuck nation such a strange vibration Linden's devotion There's a whole generation with a new expectation Linden's devotion, BC in motion" -
Habs won imo because NYR made the same mistake we made against Boston in 2011. They got involved in too many distractions. Hats off to Montreal, they saw the way this series was going, as Boston did, and decided to get under the Rangers skin as a way to put them off their game. Hopefully AV will get them back on track for the next game. Rangers need to regroup and the Final awaits them.
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Listening to Linden though, you have got to wonder who in the top 6 he expects to be "leading the franchise" That to me implies a special talent which is noticeably ahead of the rest. Reinhart or Draisaitl for me. Which means the Canucks are going to deal, probably with Florida or Buffalo. If that is the case it would be good if we could keep our 6 and maybe pick up Dal Colle as well.
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"I realise size isn't everything but size with talent is what we require." Of course I didn't just say "bigger" you will notice, that would have been a bit silly on my part. After all if that was the case we could draft any 6'4" 240lbs plug to top 6 position. No, the size must come with the talent. And you know the old saying "a good big one beats a good small one every time.
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One thing most of us agree on I'd imagine is : While we are in the West, we need to get bigger and faster. However for me that applies as much to the D as the top 6. I realise size isn't everything but size with talent is what we require. If it means we trade players for prospects and picks and wait a bit longer, I'm ok with that. I don't buy into the opinion held by some that we are soft but I do think we have lacked a physicality needed to contend in the SC, especially to fight our way out of the West. There will also come a time, mid season, where we have to decide if Lack will be able to carry us. Anyone watching complete games of this season's SC will see right away that you don't get far without a top net minder. I think Lack has these qualities but the question is, is he ready to carry the franchise now.