hobart16

his PP time is down so I guess his opportunities to break sticks are too. I can't think of the last time he broke a stick

I've heard similar stories about stick flex and blade curve changes for some players. In fact I wondered if Edler switched his flex or weight as the incidences of broken sticks for him are way down.

The skating coach is working with them throughout the year. He caught Lind’s wacky skate set up early is all. Kind of crazy that he would have skates two sizes too big. The players choose their equipment of course and he just went with what he always had. Had gotten pretty far with his choices to that point. Of course his improvement this year is due to several other factors. Experience strength training.

Heard a great story about Kole Lind last night at the game. Apparently, the Canucks brought in a skating coach for the Comets for the first time and he took a look at Lind at the end of the year last year and measured him for new, custom skates. Lind's were two sizes too big and were the same off the shelf skates he used in junior. Now look at him. He is a different player this year.

He was very good again last night. By all accounts he has good character too and should have a long professional career at some level.

Totally agree on your point that it is silly to criticize a business decision because it is bad for your team. My bad.

That's fine, go to a divisional rival and cash in. But don't cry when they make a list of the greatest Canucks and you aren't on it. He had some great years no doubt. But that isn't the standard. By comparison, Jere Lehtinen won the Selke 4 times. Played entire career for Stars organization, 15 years. He is ring of honor worthy and had his number retired. Pavel Datsyuk played entire NHL career in Detroit, won Selke 3 times, Lady Byng 4 times and 2 rings. He is ring of honor worthy though he probably won't have his number retired or be in any ring of honor in Detroit. Patrice Bergeron won Selke 4 times. So far. Plus a ring after game winner over the Canucks. Entire career in Boston 16 years and counting. Throw in Toewes (1 Selke, one team, 2 rings), and Kopitar (2 Selkes, one team, 2 rings), etc. who are also identified with an organization and city, have stanley cup rings and are better players. They are ring of honor caliber although none have been put there by their organizations. Only Lehtinens number has been retired. Kesler is not in the same discussion as any of them.

Virtanen has had to begin to agitate and drop the gloves from time to time and Bailey may have to add some of that to his game. He is big so some expectation that he can go when called upon but fairly lean. Every once in awhile he puts on a burst that makes you raise your eyebrows ala McDavid or Mackinnon. He might want to trade a bit of that for some more heft if he can develop more anticipation and game sense with time in the NHL. I recall him scoring against the Canucks a few years ago for Buffalo and I seem to recall a thicker player back then.

i dont think moving JV was punishment either, i think it was to get Rouseel and Gaudette going, and maybe Brock too. I would have considered moving Brock to Horvats line and moving Erickson down to play with Gaudette Roussel. Can't understand the criticism of Green either. We haven't been in this position in years, and it appears that he has been a big part of the moves JB has made to get the style of play that Green wants, which has been good for the Macewen/Ferland/Beagles, bad for Baertschi/Goldobin/Huttons.

Travis put Virtanen back with Roussel and Gaudette to get them going better? I don’t think it is punishment

i kept thinking "damn, this kid keeps getting better"

Not sure what to think about Schaller's game. Nothing bad, scored a decent goal. Wasn't super visible or impactful. And his goal was a little fortunate bouncing off the goalie but a goal is a goal. And Roussel seems a little absent compared to last year anyway. Miller great, Petey solid maybe a little below par for him and what he wants to do, Virtanen was good again, Boeser ok with one bad pass that cost us. Beagle, Sutter solid, Pearson was having tough luck with pucks bouncing on him, Bo solid as a rock, Loui was very good, Gaudette a little inconsistent but nothing bad and a great play to generate Schaller's scoring chance. The D played well overall with a shaky start from Myers. I don't know, not much to bitch about at all though the Isles looked a little quicker overall and going up 17 shots in the third seems excessive. Marky wasn't super tested despite the numbers, no stack the pads highlight reel stuff, but he swallowed up everything that came to him. Made things look easy and had another good game. I guess maybe Demko gets the next one?

Freebie point for the Isles there. Very kind of us to gift our hosts.

Damn that was a snipe. Quinn Hughes says yes please I would like the Calder. Butch Goring says soft goal. BS

Pearson has been unlucky all game, although he should have passed to erickson rather than shoot with 3 minutes to go

According to the MSG broadcast, they do this once a year. A group comes and cheers every time the ref blows the whistle. Brooklyn.

Jennifer , the Isles analyst did a good segment on the Canucks D blocking shots and clogging up the middle in this game getting sticks on passes and shots, with a bunch of video clips to support her analysis. Saying the D isn't getting enough credit in Vancouver.

screwed up the change, plus bad pass to Fantenburg whose legs were dead and he couldn't adjust

Gaudette made that goal happen with some good driving play.

We don't seem to have a lot of jump in our legs but the Isles are tough to play against.

Burke has been picking up extra work doing some college football and lacrosse games too.

MSG broadcast has Jennifer Botterill and Shannon Hogan handling the commentary and analysis during breaks. I think they have a third woman who does inside the arena commentary too, AJ Miezcko (no warranty on spelling) though I haven't heard from her yet. And the play by play guy Brendan Burke is the former Utica Comets announcer. Burke is great; Butch Goring is quite a homer.

It is true Bailey has been a fringe player until now, but he has taken a step forward, and this is where coaching comes in. Bailey might be the kind of player who can find a niche with the Canucks under Travis. I watched LA last night and Travis never liked Ben Hutton, but Hutton looked very good on the 2d pairing and is doing ok with LA. He had an incredible assist on LA's first goal. Bailey might be able to contribute, but you won't know until you throw him in there and see if he is playing the way Travis wants.

And we are bitching about Loui at 6 million, good lord computers would be bursting into flames all over BC if we had a goalie like Jones making 7 million for the next four years. He has played 4 games since November something like that? 0-4. He makes more than Demko and Markstrom combined

He was having a big impact on the 4th line's decent offense at the start of the season until his last injury, and he was definitely missed as the fourth line started to get pasted in the fancy stat categories. Under rated as he is probably the best forechecker on the team IMO.