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IBatch

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Everything posted by IBatch

  1. Whatever. Sometimes I wish we could add the middle finger as a response instead of a confused face so consider that mine (and I rarely use it). Doesn't that mean that neither is CAL, WNP, NSH and MIN? We've had three cycles so far in the season where we've struggled - all but this one SO FAR we've followed up with winning a bunch of games - and all three have included key injuries. Demko has played good, even great for us during this stretch of seven games since Markstrom went down. Every game we could have won except the OTT game. Still won three of them. BB is back and we still have TT, that's all the difference this team needs to turn those close losses into wins or ties (OTL etc). The difference between a playoff team and a bubble team is razor thin - and yes we are absolutely one them. Go look at the goal differential - ours is better then all the teams around us - plus we have a propensity to beat the contenders/best teams in the league. Shouldn't be encouraging the trolls who are out in force. We aren't out yet, my take on this year is hell yeah. It's a team that's easy to get behind, and win or lose I'm always behind them anyways. Maybe your just pointing out we'd lose tie breaker to WNP? If so maybe clarify next time as this comes across as a post trying to get an emotional reaction to me. Dangled some bait and this is my reaction. Confused emoji = middle finger ha ha.
  2. Demko has been shelled most nights making the first, second and even sometimes the third save with regularity. Yes our system allows a lot of shots (to re-gain possession?) He's given the team a chance to win every game he's played with the exception of maybe the OTT game. Too bad the couldn't capitalize on a couple of those close games - particularly against CLB...last night put Demko on the leaderboard for most saves by a Canuck goalie... edit: three of his last seven games he's had a sp of .918 (last night) .923 (ARI) and .925 (MTL)...two bad games OTT/TO and two very respectable CLB games .909 each. Getting BB will make a Hughes difference (ha ha that's autocorrect supposed to be huge but I'm superstitious right now and leaving it) - teams will have to be wary on who defend against both our top lines now ... plus his scoring will win us some games for sure. He would turned at least two of those losses into wins IMO. All close games ...
  3. We used to have the best pool I can remember, now it's back to average already (EP and QH playing young NHL stars)... I have similar concerns. Which is why I'd rather just take our medicine and let the remaining place holders contracts run out - we need who's left to replace them otherwise we'd be right back to free agency to plug the roster holes and the cycle continues. It's ok if we miss the playoffs next year - or even two more years if that's part of it. Noticed some posters thinking the cap will go up. Well we can forget about that if fans get sent home like in SJ this month because of the cvirus. Factually the cap might go down as a result. TT needs to sign here to replace Madden's loss, otherwise that's all it is - a loss. That said only if the cap hit is palatable and we can afford him plus EP and QH the following year. Wouldn't want to be the guy making the hard decisions...there will be some for sure.
  4. Noticed quite a bit of chatter on the tie breakers earlier in this thread. With this many team that close and fighting for the playoffs wild card spots we are not in an envious position. Winnining percentage is the first tie breaker - but unfortunately that only helps determine the order before the season is done - if two teams are tied at the end their percentages will be identical. Used to be ROW that determined the first tie breaker - they changed that to RW - regulation wins - and can see the merit in that - but we've got less then all around us right now, by as much as three. Our ROW (second tie breaker) is tied or one below so not too bad. With this many games left I think passing CAL is the only safe way to gaurantee a spot. It's definitely a concern. If the season ended now WNP would take the second spot and we'd be out.
  5. No thanks to that. At least he's in his mid/late prime - but I hope JB's learned from the LE signing and won't do something we'd all later regret. Look at Neal, Hayes and a pile of others (Ladd, Okposo, Lucic, Foligno, Backes. LE etc from a few years before) ... I'd go as high as Miller for 4-5 years but that's it otherwise let him walk. Maybe he's a playoff hero and we make room for him and add a little more ... but this is not his career norm and the only other time he scored like this was also a contract year so yeah I'd be careful with the $$ and term. Glad we have Brock back - the sample size with both these guys in the top six might determine how far JB willing to and who he's willing to give up to open the space and cap to sign (which also factors into the price).
  6. You just never do know - it's hockey and a lot can happen yet. If we are going on winning streak now is definitely the right time. Still have faith in this team - don't think we are out of out of it yet. Hope the team comes out both angry and hungry.
  7. Do you really believe that Motte is better then LE? Think you've drank too much CDC koolaid. I'm sure he's fine. We'd need at least one more forward before LE's pushed out.
  8. Wow. That's pretty lame. 1. One BIG hit ... Face palm 2. A "rusty" Boeser is better then anyone on the right side 3. When he went down he was 4th in R wing scoring - and we already know he can do better 4. This gives us three scoring lines 5. Where's WaldoLE? Not in the top six anymore Instead why not - wow! That's a legit top six! Or wow! He's fresh legs right when we need it! We already have enough negativity on the CDC - it's been quite the ride so far. There is no reason why we can't get our hopes up and consider this a HUGE win given he wasn't supposed to be back until playoffs. And there is zero chance the medical staff wouldn't clear him unless he was ready to play. This isn't 1997 Babych getting forced to play while injured - times have changed.
  9. I've found myself starting to get superstitious game days lately...you know avoiding ladders and mirrors...wondering if I should get my kids to wear my 94 western conference finals t-shirt (it's a gift that won't fit). Broke my Canucks mug this year and my hot/cold carry mug too...penance has been paid by now I'd think. One thing i will say is this epic fail is going to end up near the top ten worst Canuck moments for me without a miracle. 1. 94 2. 2011 3. Keenan/Messier 4. Bure leaving 5. Naslund injury 6. Moore incident (ok that could be the same thing but at the time I felt it was our best shot at a cup with that team - now no Bertuzzi too) 7. Otto kicked it in 8. MIN comeback 9. McSorley/Brashear 10. MG contracts ruining chance of a getting loads of picks for us Honourable mentions. Well let's just say I could find one for each of the 49 season's so far (lock-out means next year is our actual 50th season). 11. Lidstrom scoring from center ice in 2002. 12. Neely 13. McLean backing up Ricther 14. Losing the lottery as an expansion team 15. Not signing Jovo an extension 16. Not signing Ronning an extension 17. Bure injured most of the time Mogilny was here 18. New Lottery rules just when we need the old ones the most Ok that's enough for now.. Going from 1st to? in our division this year...well let's just say it sucks major monkey balls. And for anyone who's followed this team since the first cup final or even the second one...our "fan suffering index" is ranked at the top by THN and quite a few other writers that have delved into that sort of thing. Two riots...hard not to understand the frustration. As for tonight- just win for chr!sts sake! I will say a prayer for that miracle.
  10. Would like to add: IF and When JB gets the boot - it's definitely a possibility that a rebuild will ensue again and only one or two key players will be kept. It's what happens....
  11. Blowing it up would be trading BB, Horvat and Miller for picks and maybe a young talented RHD .... and expecting QH and EP to carry the torch. It would be insanity. Guess one could argue TO blew it up and the lucked out with AM so it's possible it could work - but almost certainly all it would mean is we waste a good thing and re-set the clock to four years ago...and miss the playoffs 9 out of a 10 year period. Not going to happen. For better or worse this is the core we have (and Miller is part of it for sure), we still have some great prospects that should give the team a boost - and most of the placeholders will get replaced internally (not all - will still need a few UFAs to fill the roster out) in the next one-three years (and that's assuming LE doesn't retire or get traded, otherwise 1-2 years). What wouldn't surprise is in three years time Miller and Horvat get traded to move prospects behind Podz, Hogs, EP, Hughes and BB as a mini-re-tool - that's how good teams stay good longer.
  12. Wow thanks for the laughs (first 8 pages of two posters making this a fire green 3.0 thread)... Its not over until it's over. Hope for a win ... Demko has been solid for the most part kept us in games - time to see some of that offense come in and rip apart Trotz tight defensive systems....
  13. Ummm haven't seen much yet that would compare Bo to Linden. Maybe we will when it counts the most ... sure he will grow into it. Linden played at 18 too so they have that in common, the difference was he made a way bigger impact right away. If he wasn't moved to center and turned into a two way player - I'd bet he'd have 425ish goals and well over 1000 points. When he retired he was in the top 100 all-time scorers ... I have high hopes for Horvat - he's selfless like Linden - they do have that in common for sure..
  14. Neither did Smyl or Linden ... at this point I have an open mind ...
  15. Don't worry, this year we will be complaining about both...
  16. Crawford won a cup his sophomore season as a coach, furthermore he only had one year of AHL coaching before it. It can happen - and of course the Nordiques/COL team back then was loaded with future HHOFers (what a gig!) and adding Roy was the icing on the cake. Less "experience" both coaching and as a player then Green has. Could say Sullivan didn't have much head coaching experience either ... although he had loads of assistant coaching experience. As far as finding NHL experienced coaches that haven't lost their jobs permanently... well 25 coaches were hired around the same time or after...and most of them don't barely register with any sort of name recognition - including some that played in the NHL. Babcock is about the only one available that would fit the bill. Some say Gallant but what has he ever done in the playoffs and how many years of NHL coaching experience does he have? Not much more then Green. To be honest I figured TG would be here just long enough until our core was ready and then given the boot. The team is at least one year ahead of schedule (the contracts make that pretty obvious as to when JB figured his picks would start replacing place holders - one-two years away) and TG has been part of that too. I get we are losing a lot and that it could mean his job. That said JB better be awfully certain the next one will do a better job or it's his head on the platter next. I truly don't think we have a good enough roster to have had a much better season. But also understand that expectation and the losing could mean his job. Think next year we wont be much different regardless of who's coaching too.
  17. For some it doesn't seem that long ago. Back then there was only the radio, the games on TV, coaches corner ( no plethora of talking heads), and the print media - for me it was the Victoria Times Colonist and the Vancouver Sun (ha ha what Sun?)... and everyone LOVED Linden. Before 94. There wasn't much not to like really. No internet - no CDC calling for Quins head after ever loss. I have a book from 92 called "The Young Stars of the NHL". Modano and Linden were the featured players. Both guys were said to be working their way to the HHOF. Not sure what you we're reading, listening to, or buying back then - but Linden was considered a future star in the league from the day he was drafted and NOBODY questioned his Captaincy. 94 did happen. Funny thing is if by some miracle Horvat wins a cup, he won't be considered as the best captain ever. Same with whomever does finally if he doesn't. Pretty soon both his legs were broken and his ribs too and still he went out and scored two goals in a tight game seven .... that's the legend of Linden. He's always going to be the best leader we've ever had. Because he WAS.
  18. Yep. He's had the reigns for awhile now and really hasn't disappointed- but hasn't come close to finding his inner Roy either. Or his inner Hammond either (cautionary tale - goalies can be hot and fizzle out once they are signed - it happens regularly enough and GMs know this). Demko might get us second at best. We are definitely better off keeping him and developing him more. MAYBE a huge MAYBE if there was no ED a team would take a flyer at him and trade a first.
  19. When has JB/management ever said OJ was going to be a top defenseman? References please. Maybe the CDC has debated this but I don't recall this other then nice things said about him when he was drafted. Have you watched him play? I have - including live (AHL). Don't count him out too soon - injuries definitely derailed his development. He's got moves. What top" AHLers are you referring too? Vey (he wasn't) Goldobin? (He wasn't either). Please explain. If they are so is Bouchard. Rafferty IS a top AHLer - we haven't had one in a long time. Bouchard might be the closest but he's never going to make it. McEwen might in the bottom six because of his size and intangibles. Your dreaming if you think Tryamkin is going to move Sutter or Bear. Delusional if you think he'd move LE. He hasn't played here for a while. And if he's good enough we should keep him. Same with McEwen. Same with OJ. They have to prove they can play in this league first. Demko and BB for Risto? What a train wreck for us. No thanks. No thanks for Boqvist we don't need another shrimp thanks. Now if you were talking AHL star Bouchard from EDM I'd get behind that but no way they are trading him for what your offering.
  20. We better win or this forum will be rampant with how we should have offered Trotz the keys to the bank accounts... he's one of the best coaches the past decade. Reminds of Ruff, with the exception he won a cup. NSH owes him a lot for what he did with some mediocre or even below average teams early, him and Poile seemed inseparable for a long time - talk about trust if Poile decided to quit on him early during bad spells maybe he wouldn't even be here now. There are a lot more Yeo's out there - coaches that get a couple chances with usually bad teams and then let go and are basically done then guys like Trotz and Ruff (Buffalo) who's GMs give huge amounts of rope too (patient with). So far I'm hoping TG can eventually become one of these guys - and do think if he's fired won't have a long wait to get another offer, it's mostly our fan base that thinks he's a bad coach. Also hope he's not fired and bails this sinking ship out and plows us through a few rounds. TG with the win.
  21. I agree with most of this except The second to last sentence. Over the course of the entire season the Canucks have only had a handful of really bad games (bottom feeders), and definitely more really good ones. Its also why our goals differential is still above, and much better then all the teams around us (think CAL is actually a minus team)... a ton of our losses have been one goal games or one goal games plus the empty netter. If we are that close to a tie with that many games it doesn't at all make us a bottom feeder. The parity in this league is actually ridiculous right now. So many what ifs ... Markstrom and BB going down was just terrible luck. The team needs a hard gigantic kick in the ass right now. Every player should be incensed that their hard work earlier is gone now - and that they are trending the wrong way at the wrong time. A week ago I was pretty sure they'd turn it around and keep a spot - now I'm wavering. Still think they can it, it's been like hand grenades and horseshoes lately but not enough. Demko is giving them a chance - need to capatilize when he does because he won't do it every night (and neither did Markstrom).... .500 won't be enough now. We need a winnjng streak - adding BB next game would be absolutely huge..those extra few shots and sweet passes would make a huge difference in these close games. Posts ... ugh they have to go in soon right!
  22. You bet. Demko isn't the problem, he's making 9/10 saves and that's all we should expect. He's had maybe one bad game, Markstrom has ones too. Take away the empty net goals and each game has been very close. Oh well - based on this Demko should win the next three or four right?
  23. So in summation after yet another loss: 1. It's the coaching 2. Bo isn't a good captain 3. FIRE GREEN 4. Bo doesn't have enough "fire in his belly" 5. Our playoff hopes are dead 6. Oh well at least we keep our first. 7. Crying meme's 8. Markstrom would have won etc. 9. Refs refs refs 10. Babs is on his way (Ok that's for Alf). About right?
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