KassianBeastMode

yep...its 'quick feet'...which is typically a problem for bigger guys (ie why there is always preaching by the Nucks about Kass 'moving his feet')...same issue but he's a step slower than Kass... This is why Horvat is exciting, he is by no means a big man with Shinkaruk type feet, but he's also not sluggish out of the gate...Its really what separates him from Gaunce. But, if Gaunce can simply improve that to a point where its not a detriment, he has the size, skill and hockey sense to at least play in the NHL...he has a very mature game for a 20 yr old

Well both he and Shink are off to good 'pro starts'... Gauce 4 games 1g 2a / +3 (leads team in +/- and tied for lead in pts) Shink 4 games 2 a / even Jensen, slow start again, 4 g 0pts / -3 but leads the team in shots on net, so chances are being created, and he will find the back of the net soon Good signs all around...Looking forward to seeing how Bo plays Would love to see Bo/Jensen together , and Gaunce/Shink If Gaunce keeps this up, only good things can come from it...I'd be pleasantly surprised if he can exceed my expectations of 3rd/4th liner

Why do people keep saying this? Use him 'when a forward gets injured x games from now"? What are you Nostradamus? Someone is getting hurt? LOL ok who, tell us? what kind of logic is that....

If Guance can work on moving his feet, gain some acceleration/speed, he has the ability to be a very strong 3/4 C/W... He has the game smarts, has size, and is positionally very sound. I think people assumed because he was a first rounder that he would automatically be a 1/2nd player and given he's showing he doesnt have that 'elite' skillset seem at times a bit concerned or upset. But, a guy who can be a great shut down center at 3/4 is also very valuable. I think about a guy like Manny who was a high first rounder with similar point totals in junior (ppg) and how valuable a type of player he was for us during the run, is now for montreal etc. I think Gaunce, seems to have a well rounded tool box but doesnt seem to 'excel' at anything in particular. This is always a worry as players typically need to excel in at least one area (and usually more) of the game to be legitimate NHLers...Whether that's skating, passing, hitting, scoring, in the past even fighting...and given Gaunce hasn't shown to be 'great' in any one area there is always worry. But, the areas he can certainly develop, to ensure he can be a valuable player, are those areas that are indeed coachable/teachable. If he can work on his skating, faceoffs, continue to develop his defensive awaresness and keeping his 'motor' going....he could become a very valuable 3/4c

Ryan Strome is a 2 way stud man....he's been compared to Sakic

What's your definition of ready? Serious question... Because I have raised this before. 1. Ie He is certainly capable of playing at the NHL level , we can all see that. 2. But, is he BETTER than any of the players he will be replacing and its clear to me he hasn't 'beat out his competition' but rather just shown he can compete at this level. 3. Issue then is a tradeoff for Benning. Do you end up likely having to move a player (assuming Shink and or Jensen stick which one should) for unproven players, who may just fade, face challenges etc, as many young players do. 4. Don't forget Ryan Strome who has a much higher ceiling than any of our young guns was sent back to Junior (as have many stars in the NHL), its not as 'bad' as many here are suggesting. 5. Keep in mind that Benning has stated his focus is also to win now, so arguably he needs to ice his best lineup for now as well, not just be concerned with 3 years hence.

Also allows the team to showcase Matthias and Hansen who are the most likely to be moved

This is a fair point, kesler started on the 3rd, Burr on the 4th, the twins on the third and actually weren't even ready! but that almost busted them.. Thankfully our team has the twins and enough depth not to rush anyone...he is capable of playing at the nhl level, if it means moving a hansen/matthias i am all for it. Just think we shouldn't be moving a Richardson and I also think Shink has earned a spot and Jensen is ready for a real shot, at least the same shot Kassian has been given.

Kesler, the Sedins, Burr all started on the 3rd or 4th lines (Burr)...there is nothing wrong with giving him 4th line minutes right now for him to get used to the pace, with no pressure to perform offensively. In reality, it comes down to what does he have to learn, and can he develop that best in the NHL or OHL. He really isn't 'ready' for the NHL and would be best served as our 1c in Utica if he could actually go, which is indeed the conundrum. The OHL won't help his pace, but it might help him develop more offensive confidence. The NHL will help develop his pace but it may actually hurt his offensive confidence as he'll play with plumbers and his offensive timing may slow... The reason this thread has 100 pages is because it is that challenging to figure out where he is best served to develop all aspects of his game. If they are going to keep him up, I hope they give him at least one winger who can actually score once in a while, maybe Higgins Sedin Sedin Vrbata Burrrows Bonino Vey Higgins Horvat Kassian (I think this might work nicely) Mathias Richardson Hansen/Dorsett

I think Gaunce is at best a 4c as well. Unless 1. He really works on his skating and starts using his legs. he coasts WAAAAY to much and tries to play the 'smart' game but you have to still work. This is why he is not creating, he is sitting back and just trying to minimize errors effectively becoming a 3rd defensman...sure it works, and he doesn't use much energy but he sure as hell isn't doing much other than being a 3rd defenseman. 2. He's going to have to find a bit of mean streak and start using his body. No one wants Taylor Pyatt 2.0 and that seems to be his game. 3. Manny competes damn hard..I can't say suggesting Gaunce can be a Manny is fair to Manny. Lets hope somewhere along the line he 'gets' it. I think the AHL may teach him that he needs to work harder and compete harder if he wants to be in the NHL. 4. I am not one to call players 'busts' at this stage, but I can't say I've been impressed with Gaunce. He does everything 'ok' but nothing great. Teams don't need a player that is just ok. You need to be good everywhere and great in one aspect. Either that's scoring, passing, hitting, checking, fighting, whatever it is but one part of your game has to be 'great' and then you have a role and will stick...right now, I just can't say I see anything that Gauce does that is 'great'

I didn't realize that both Richie and Matthias were UFA's end of this season. I think this may be why the Nucks are really wanting Horvat to make it. Richardson is such a great player in his role and his value come deadline time will be high for a contender. A great checking center who can move easily between 3/4c and is great in the circle and pk's is extremely high value at the deadline as well as how he plays. I really hope we can re-sign him prior as I love what he brings but if not, I can see him being moved as a rental for a pick...which makes Horvat making it even more important. I suspect Benning will get Matthias done sooner as he is younger and Benning tried to trade for him in Boston Interesting...

thanks for this, i hadn't heard of it till now and just checked out the reviews/trailer etc...does look to be a must see as I am a big film buff!

wasn't that predictable? lol

its the kind of movie you need to watch twice there is so much in it, that every time you watch it you glean more that being said, books tend to be more fulsome in explaining/allowing you to think about things more since you can come back to it, reread a passage etc... vs a movie that flies by you....worth doing both.. I am reading the book now and know I missed alot in the movie as well

This is a very good point and I concur, as I played at a very high level and agree, a big hit pisses you off BUT The guy who is : in your way taking away ice leaning on you all game making you battle on the boards for the puck battle for space well THAT guy, wears you down...he tires you out, and eventually gets you off your game and mentally defeats you if you aren't mentally tough enough to keep fighting through. that guy can get you so tired that when your one real chance comes late in a game, you're mentally off and you miss...because you're expecting him to be on you taking away your space and time. Some things people seldom realize if they haven't played at a high level: 1. 'Big' hits don't come around that often, players don't expose themselves much to a big one 2. Going for that big hit, or simply a hit for the sake of it, as you said, can take you out of position defensively and open up an odd man chance or simply space for the other team, and at a high level that is what teams often 'wait' and are coached for - that one break / positional error by the other team.... 3. Trevor Linden was never a 'big hitter', Kesler (sorry!) was never a 'big hitter' but they used their hitting effectively and their bodies effectively in the right spots - picked their spots Agree 100%! And I think I read somewhere that Horvat was wearing the "c" in exhibition tournament? If so, I think that speaks volumes about this kid....think about it folks (if he was wearing the C) ..

Most of the poster's here don't subscribe to the same development process that Benning/Linden and older fans do, that being 'earning their way up the lineup'. I believe many on this site are in their late teens early 20's and really have a different expectation and view of both life and how opportunities are created. A. In the 70's, 80's an 90's it was common place for young players to spend a few years in the minors. B. After that, they earned their way up the lineup, often starting on the third/fourth lines and proving year by year they could contribute more and more and then moved to the second and first if they were capable - key here, movement up the lineup was earned, not given. C. A few players clearly never go through that (pure elite skilled players (sakic's, forsberg's etc, and team's in need of talent desperately, ie Linden). D. Now, people may argue that Horvat is a higher talent player, but for every Linden that has made the jump there are players like Nedved who was almost busted (to this day suprised he didn't), by being rushed too early into offensive pressure situations. Stefan, Brendl, Daigle, etc etc...Nedved didn't bust but he certainly came close and was not ready to be in the NHL when brought in....the others clearly busted. E. Earning a spot not only allows the player to develop, it instills the right attitude within the team, within the player, and the organization. That merit gets you there, not where you are drafted - as we see with Kassian. F. I believe, many in Generation Y (and I see it in those I hire), seem to believe that they are deserving of very important roles without experience, this a generational attitude and its seen even amongst players now - ie Cody Hodgson. They perhaps believe, youth and energy trump, the knowledge gained via years of experience, and perhaps its been caused be parents who provided every kid with a ribbon, leading to an 'entitlement' attitude. G. The idea of experience, developing your skill set, contributing to the team is secondary to personal goals amongst many in that group (not all but those who subscribe to what I have described). It is why Cody Hodgson didn't want to wait his turn behind an Art Ross and Selke winning center. H. In the 70's and 80's I remember players talking about learning their craft, about who they got to learn from, back then a young center would have seen the opportunity Hodgson had as a dream, learn from 2 of the best in the game at their respective roles? offensively and defensively? but no, he was 'owed' a bigger role. Well look at how that turned out....Likely moved to the wing because he isn't a good skater, terrible defensively and terrible in the circle...yup getting paid though = personal goals achieved, team goals nope! Horvat if he's ready, can play on the 4th line and SHOULD....let him learn how to compete at this level vs MEN, let him show he can compete every night, play a 200 ft game, play hard every shift and contribute more than Bonino, more than Richardson, more than Matthias, before he's given the second or third line role. This is what many here just don't seem to get....