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Everything posted by IBatch
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2023-24 Best offensive year for our forwards?? Could be.
IBatch replied to danjr's topic in Canucks Talk
Don't think we will ever reach the same heights of the early 90's again. 343 goals? Not happening. What we could enjoy is 4 guys around 30 goals and maybe quite a few in the 15-22 range. 300 goals is a lot these days, and has been for decades. We don't get many goals from the back end. Miller isn't scoring 40. Don't think so anyways. EP yes he could one day. Edit: -
[Discussion] Will early exit playoff teams revisit Miller?
IBatch replied to Provost's topic in Proposals and Armchair GM'ing
Not a chance. The trade would just have to be something a lot more lopsided than the one suggested by the OP (which is pretty fair so good job Provost). They backed the horse that wanted to stay. And two different management groups love the guy. And 3 coaches don't have anything bad to say about him. Not sure why us fans can't just enjoy and appreciate him. We simply don't have the center depth we used to. Imagine how much fun EP would have with virtually all the attention coming his way? Not much i'm sure. Miller has a couple gears. Hope that the coaching change helps Miller commit to his craft this summer. EP would not be happy if Miller was traded, his contract year, and had to do it mostly on his own. Sure he'd be awfully miffed at this. So would a lot of other players on the team. And Tochett. Miller has the right attitude when it comes to winning. And puts team first. Edit: After his 99 point season ... Miller didn't seem affordable anymore. He's absolutely fine as a UFA signing at 8 x 7 ... better than a lot really. And did leave money on the table for Horvat. Horvat didn't take what would have been still a more Horvat than team deal. 7.5ish x 8. I'd much rather have a team guy. Miller taking less, hopefully set an example when it comes to EP. I'm pretty confident we are going to like EP's next deal, and pretty sure that we'd be absolutely screwed had management bowed to Horvats ridiculous asking price. He obviously was a Horvat first player. The team didn't even think signing Miller was possible. Miller convinced them otherwise. Blue chip UFAs you pay a premium for of course. Miller earned every cent of his next deal. It's truly too bad we had bad cap elsewhere. Every team in the league would have considered, and a lot would have done the deal JB made for him. Both bottom feeders and for sure bubble and playoff teams. I for one, am truly looking forward to what sort of legacy JT Miller can cement himself, as a Canuck for 11 seasons. He's proven durable. Has a decent chance of retiring with us, as a top 25 all-time player or more. -
[Discussion] Will early exit playoff teams revisit Miller?
IBatch replied to Provost's topic in Proposals and Armchair GM'ing
This is a typical borrow from Peter to pay Paul situation. Moving Miller would create a huge hole. Miller scoring 60 points and hitting, is actually decent value for a second line UFA... and he's not going to be doing that for a couple seasons at least. So we fix our D and find a 3rd line center ... and not even sure it fixes anything. Zacha isn't going to get 60 points as a second line C. Maybe 50. Miller is a swiss army knife. Yes he comes with some flaws when he tries too hard especially. When he's on his game, which for sure he's done since Tochett came in, he's more than just fine at 8. We aren't going to find a free agent to do this job for cheap. I'd much rather we just go with the devil we know etc ... Plus unlike some, I like Miller. And never saw this Miller vs Horvat stuff either ... would have liked to keep both. That said, and know it's only been a couple months, management for sure so far looks like they did the right trade. Horvats salary is way too high. And he hasn't done much of anything yet to earn that in NYI. IF we go here, how the heck are we going to have two lines next year? Or in the future... To me it makes way more sense to trade Brock. Use his salary to find a suitable 3C. Our D. Yes. It's sad as is. Not good enough. Hronek has played 4 games or so, and injured. Let's see what he can do. And trade a winger this summer. If we can trade a winger, to free up cap or make a hockey trade, plus sign EP to his 8 year monstrosity, that's a decent off-season. Draft a D this year. Edit: Provost kudos for bringing this back in a reasonable way. Just curious what your plan would be next though. We wouldn't have the cash to plug the Miller hole via free agency, and well we all know that usually means your not getting full value, blue chip guys come at a premium once they get there. To me Miller has more than done enough to earn some respect and endearment from the fanbase. Over a PPG guy getting 5.35ish...and doesn't seem like the type that would be happy to rest on his laurels either. Wants to win a cup, and wants to win a cup in Vancouver. What more could we ask from this guy? Not much IMO. He's a leader, cares mostly what the guys in the room feel about him (which I take no issue with, our media and fanbase isn't exactly the greatest at times, especially when times aren't good throwing jerseys on the ice - puke, don't remember that ever happening in the Messier era)... Think with some minor tweaks on the wings, our cap should fall into place. A lot is riding on OEL playing to his ability ... and yes for sure we need a defensive d on the right side. Carlo is a good prize. -
2023 James Norris Memorial Trophy finalists unveiled
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
Sad but true. That said, it's ok. Do have enough faith in the average hockey writer and their real plus imagined reputation, that they'd have enough substance to truly try and get it right. Get that some teams have specialists including guys that kill penalties so won't get too much into that, other then i've got some built in prejudices that makes me think any D that's not also killing penalties shouldn't be getting too much consideration for the Norris no matter how much offense they are producing. Also well, the best ones i grew up with kind of did it all. -
2023 James Norris Memorial Trophy finalists unveiled
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
Total ice time also matters. It shows how much a coach trusts that player. In the end it's about scoring more goals then letting in for sure... -
2023 James Norris Memorial Trophy finalists unveiled
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
Only problem with plus minus is it's a team stat until you start looking at quality of competition between different lines and quality of competition. Was Edler the worst defenseman in the league when he led the league with a -35 or something? Don't think so - neither was Murzyn the best D on our team in 93 when he had the best plus minus ever for a Canuck D (also Dixon Ward of course wasn't better then the Sedins best season either - plus 34ish or something like that). Goalies matter too. To me 5 x 5 trumps PP everytime too. How's EK supposed to be killing it with Couture and Mier (for most of the year anyways) ... huge difference then what we could ice. But do get the basic concept. Gretzky's last Art Ross he was a minus player by quite a bit ... but still had a huge positive impact once you added his PP contribution to the bottom line, so using your system isn't all bad. But for sure you need to dig deeper. If EK is a plus but his teams differential is horrible ... something to also consider. -
2023 James Norris Memorial Trophy finalists unveiled
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
Only thing is there is too much season he didn't play. Who knows how it would have gone for him. Fox is a deserving candidate for sure. It's truly nice to be able to even debate this. It's been way way way too long waiting for another group of young D's to come in and be special right off the hop. Took Lidstrom quite a while to get there. Borque, Orr and Coffey not so much. Ten years ago, a lot of these guys would have won the Norris ... Heiskanen. Fox. Makar. EK. QHs. Take your pick. Heiskenan, Fox, Makar, QHs, Dahlin ... and some bright lights coming in too. It's really nice that the talent level is finally catching up with expansion. Just hope that continues. -
2023 James Norris Memorial Trophy finalists unveiled
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
That's a fair ranking AJ. QHs is very special, and takes his defensive game seriously - unlike other "rovers" in the past the won Norris trophies, Subban, Scott Neidermayer, he doesn't actually spend much of any time around or behind the other goalies net. He's not a pinching defenseman really either - not often anyways, instead gains their zone and creates space with his passing game. Actually like to see him do it more often, but think he lacks foot speed, isn't Karlsson, Coffey, Neidermayer, Zubov, Housley or Leetch - can't skate back fast enough. If he works on that, top speed, for sure he could add that to his tool box. To me he's more of a Brian Campbell, and will only get better and better at this. Campbell was a Canuck killer before he went to Florida ... could control the pace of the game in all three zones using his edges and his passing. Karlsson was by far SJ best player this year ... his plus minus is gross, but when you compare some of his linemates it's not so bad at all. Thought his chance of 100 slipped away at the TDL ... lost even more talent on his team. It's a pity he's back but been wasted in SJ. Hope he gets traded. He's also showing the young group we have today aside from maybe Makar, what a truly great offensive defenseman looks like. And that he is. Karlsson prior to Cooke severing his Achilles tendon, deserved to be in the same conversation as Ovi and Crosby - a generational talent just entering his prime years. What he'd done to that point was truly special. And OTT probably would have won a cup and EK the Smythe IF they scored one more goal in game 7 versus PIT. That wasn't a great OTT team, just pretty mediocre aside from EK. Stone wasn't there yet and neither was Zib. Anderson reminded me a lot of McLean. They had that going for them. Before this year, EK was already part of a select group of D's ... Potvin, Orr and Coffey, only other guys to be in the top 11 in scoring 3 times. Now he's done it four times. Makar won't likely do that. Lidstrom and others won a Norris being a minus player. What also needs to be considered is the team they have infront of them. SJ would arguably be the worst in the league without EK's other worldly performance this season. -
Remember Soucy in the bubble? I thought he was their best defensemen, very tough to play against and made our guys pay every time they went in the corner against them or infront of the net. Hartman was also a standout...not at all surprised to see them having success now. We had Schenn and Myers ... OEL didn't play with the same chip on his shoulder he had his first year. QHs isn't going to intimidate or hurt anyone with hits or his physical play. Like to see Schenn back. Vegas did the exact same thing. How they got Theodore ... ANA really was stupid to not protect him, but loaded up on defenseman. Have more trade value for one. Francis is looking pretty smart right about now. It also goes to show that there is a lot of value in the mid range guys, especially ones that haven't had a chance yet (McAan) ... and it's not a surprise to me at all anyways, seen it happen for decades now, when a talented middle six player gets his chance, often he runs with it. Top line minutes and power play time makes all the difference in the world to a players stat line ... Weiss when he went to the Panthers ... JT Miller coming to Vancouver. If a middle six guy is getting close to 50 points ... or second line guy even, playing 14 minutes and limited power play time ... likely gets over 70 plus once he's getting 17-19 minutes and first unit time.
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They already accomplished what they set out to do ... win a series lol. That said it's not like they didn't play well enough to win, Bobrovsky is playing like the all world goalie they thought they'd be getting. Panthers are a spunky team, with a well rounded roster. TO ... i don't know if they have it in them to win four in a row...or four of five games left. I do agree with your assessment...Dubas found a way to bring O'Reilly in, which so far worked better than Kane and Tarasenko in NYR. Was key to winning two games last series ... and Schenn was according to Keefe - the glue behind the belief they'd finally win a series...19 years lol. I bet some on this site were awfully young back then - grade school, others in high school. That's funny. Once the Canadian team are out, Panthers is a nice team to cheer for.
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Well this was funny. And one of things that some younger folks might not know, is Chara joined the league as an enforcer in NYI. Was an average one, Worrell was probably a better super tall one in Florida or maybe on par. They were ok. Chara wasn't weak though, he was strong for a big dude. But wasn't an elite fighter, just pretty good. He did clock some guys too. The guy on Boston that was actually scary was McQauid.
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Both CAR and FLD looked good last year too. Sometimes it takes a year and a loss to make things click. I'm just glad the Rags are out. Same as it ever was, loading up and losing. Some of those teams in the dead puck era were ridiculously loaded. Jagr, Bure, Lindros, Fluery etc etc etc long list ... They still have the same idea. Can't blame them for finding a way (Tarasenko and Kane) but it's a little hilarious that with the cap they keep going to the same well. And nice thing is - they have jock tax to deal with so not sure it's going to work - ever.
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I think he peed himself a little waiting for the faceoff. I'm really glad others noticed this too. Wendel Clark didn't pee himself, despite giving 30 pounds and four inches every time he fought Probert or any other monster, neither did Tie Domi. Or Tochett. Or Berube. Or Kocur, Nilan or a hundred other hockey players. My only issue with Lucic was exactly this - always fought the lesser guys and not just sized guys because that was understandable, also lesser fighters. And avoided the enforcers that were still in the game although long in the tooth, like the plague. Did have couple goes with a guy named Prout. Wins/Draws and Losses .. anyone even remember him?
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Lucic versus Orr .. one of the few guys he fought that were actually really good at it - "Lucic has had problems with his nose before" lol... By the time Lucic was playing, the real monsters were mostly gone already. There were a few left and he avoided them like the plague. That bugs me. Shanny going against Brashear when he was almost done, 41 year old Roberts going against 235lb Ben Eager when he was almost done. Lucic now ... some respect because well there really isn't anyone left.
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2023 Frank J. Selke Trophy finalists unveiled
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
That's definitely true. Used to like the pre-game game when I lived out West ... a lot of Canucks games I PVR and watch in the early morning now ... I'm also pretty sure some writers are total homers - as evidenced by some of the first place votes for guys that really had no business getting that, over the years for many different trophies, both East and West. -
Sucks you missed a really unique 1993 playoff's, Roy's signature moment IMO (yes two other well deserved Smythes, but 10 OT wins in one playoff is about as safe as Gretzky's playoff totals or his 215 point season). TO/LA was a great series to watch as well. And of course just one year off seeing the Habs win it. Back then you could tell the power was shifting to NJ/Detroit/COL and PHI. And PIT if Mario was around was still in play, so were the Rags. CAL was about to implode - lose all its great players...
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2023 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalists unveiled
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
Yes it is. It's either ignorant or naive. And i'm a guy who likes fighting and the battle element of the game. It's incredibly difficult to play that sport at that level, and not get a penalty. The skill required is something else. Also appreciate power forwards which have been a dying breed for a long time. And tough as nails defensive defenseman. If you go look at the recipients, there isn't many names on that list that aren't warriors. -
2023 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalists unveiled
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
His daughter made him change the way he played the game. With one simple statement "why are you going to sit by yourself while Unlce Bobby and his friends go sit on the bench?" Pretty amazing really. Imagine that today. -
2023 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalists unveiled
IBatch replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
If you look at the list, there were some tough hockey players that won it, a lot really.