wren223

If Benning swung a deal for #3 would people lose their minds if he took Valdari, Glass or other C he wants at 3 then trade back from 5 to 7-10 for some more second rounders and then took Tippett and waited to draft D next draft as it is said that draft is heavy with D talent? Gets another second rounder or maybe two?? and gets a C everyone wants and then adds a guy who is high on skill and goal scoring?

Like the Ericsson signing? I get why but it just also wasn't such a great deal. It gave that mixed signal, rebuild? no? make the playoffs? huh? Yes, he has. You read some posts on here and he is the most incompetent GM out there but really he's done some great work.

It does make a decent arugment for if a D is better ranked and has more potential do you take him? Second line centre, maybe first, versus top-pairing dman who is on the offensive side? I guess it's the whole debate of drafting, it's all about potential. However, the more I hear it the more I'm starting to side with taking Makar if he's there at 5. The kid has a whole lot of potential and fills a major need. Other need is a number one centre, if Horvat isn't that, but I don't think that's there in this draft at 5. Ah, I'll just have to wait until the 23!

Oh straight up on that. Often Benning gets hammered for his trades but he did some great work with Garrison and Kesler, and Bieksa was a decent return too.

My bad. got the order mixed. Insert Garrison or Bieksa instead. Point was that Benning has experience working with players with no trade clauses. I think he did well getting what he did out of Anaheim.

One team is better than no team. It was a hard trade and situation that Benning pulled off. Kesler could have just as easily said no straight up. More over it was just noting that Benning has experience working with players who have no trades so not moving Tanev before his kicks isn't the end of the world. Overall, I don't want to overpay for the 3OA. Tanev is a valuable assest and should be fine to get that 3OA. He also fixes an area of concern for them and really helps their team. That can't be ignored either.

Totally agree with you on this point! Why would be pay Dallas so much for 3rd? It isn't like last years draft with big talent in the top three. The 3rd overall will be a good player but why pay Dallas. Let them pick and wait on a player to develop. They won't, they are in a win now mode. Spezza is getting older, they fixed up the tending and now need that solid Dman. That's Tanev and a lot of teams have interest in him so why make it sweet and easy on Dallas. They want him, they want a need addressed, then they pay for it. Why pay them to get better? No one will help us so why help someone else? It looks like teams are calling Benning about Tanev so he deals from a better position. If Dallas doesn't want to pay then just wait. TDL, next year (yes, no trade kicks in but Benning got Kesler to waive his) and get the price you want. Then why take the pain? What is at 3OA that would make or break this team? I like the idea of two picks in the top five but is it worth it this draft?

Makes sense. I still am out on Virtanen. I don't think he's been handled well but he has potential to be the big, hard hitting, skill guy. Just don't know if he's got the hockey IQ for it. Someone else on here mentioned Malkin and that's a good example of a tough, skilled guy. A Getzlaf is another good example too. The reasoning is sound I just don't know if Virtanen fills that void or not.

You need skill and speed in the regular season. Come playoff time you need toughness so that you can protect your skill and speed because the whistles go away and it's anything goes. Look at the Anaheim/Nashville series, it was wicked with the stick work, after whistle stuff, crease crashing and all sorts of physical play that would have been called all season long but isn't in the playoffs. You need both but now your tough guys need to produce or be mixed with skill.

Dallas would only move a pick to us if they totally and utterly destroyed the Canucks in the trade. There is no love lost between the two owners. Buffalo does need younger D but it's very hard to say what the new management group does. I think they are more likely to stand pat then trade their first first round pick. They've very little time to get set up before the draft so I suspect they're more inclined to hold that pick. Arizona can use a right D but by the time more of their young guys are playing big Tanev will be moving out of his prime years. It'd be nice if that could be done as I think Arizona is a possibility but remember their new GM loves analytics and I don't know if Tanev is on the right side of the numbers. He is a shot blocking machine though so depends if he's what they are looking for. Thank you though for providing more of an insightful answer than so many on here.

It goes back to the same questions asked on here already. Who is the 'heck of a young talent' Van would give up to try and get another first round pick? What team is willing to part with their first round pick? That last one is the big question. I've seen people just throw out team names, but it has to make sense not just a team that's around where there's a player liked is sitting. We aren't getting a top 5 pick because anyone moving those will charge through the nose. Vegas isn't moving their pick either so we have to push into 7 or later. It's a great idea but I just don't think there is a deal like people want out there. The off-season game plan for Van mentioned a trade with TO for Tanev, but didn't mention the pick that Van would get, which was the Leafs first. That might be one of the few deals out there if it goes off.

Congrats Lou!! He's a great goalie and loved him when he was here and since he has left. He got a lot of crap dumped on him but he is a stellar goalie and it was sad to see him go. Go track down CoJo next Lou. He'll make the Hall of Fame one day.

Term and money is what he was going to get. Can't argue with it or else we'd not have signed him and that'd have been tough. He gives offense and goals, things people said we are missing. I haven't seen that there's a NTC or NMC in the contract so that's a good thing. If it isn't working or Canucks decide to go another way he can be shopped and moved.

Gaunce had an excellent game. The OT goal was great. He flew in and just ripped his shot. 5 seconds and it was all done but the crying. He was chippy and hard working all game. He really rubbed the other team the wrong way. His tying goal was all hard work and effort. He was great all game. The release on his winner was amazing though, so accurate and fast.

Yes, this fact keeps bothering me. A lot of apprehension about the US college players and how they can choose to not sign and suffer nothing. If they're a hot prospect teams will line up to sign them. Demko is a hot goalie and teams would fight to sign him. Any news or word on what the chances are and when he signs with Van? This kid is a future number one for us and it'd be horrid to lose him for nothing.

Virtanen had a number of good chances. Man, he can lay the body and is physical. Great to see as that's something we're missing. Gets in there and supports his teammates. Great feed in the neutral zone for I think the third goal (I think the third one). Just a quick, redirect pass up and hits his man in stride.

Great game by Virtanen. I like how he stayed disciplined and calm when he got hit from behind into the boards. He didn't go head hunting or take a stupid penality in retaliation. He took a moment to get up then got right into the play and had a quality scoring chance, then layed a nice hit. That speaks to a level of maturity with his physicality and game. That is often missing with young players and I hope it continues and he matures more so he knows when and how to be physical at the next level. I'm glad Van has this kid.

I'd qualify so that he can then be packed in a trade for picks or a prospect. No sense in letting him go for free if he can be qualified cheaply. Heck, he might even do well under a new coach.