Attila Umbrus

I also think Benning is insulating himself for next year if the twins don’t resign. You need to ice a competitive roster, and at least these guys can play on In the nhl. Both have upside and it will be interesting to see what kind of offence they bring to the team to end this season. Both of them have to see we will have some major openings next year they will be playing for top positions, pretty motivating if you ask me. Benning has created some good competition for next years roster.

Stay at home defensmen to the max lol. But he seems agile enough with his skating to be able to translate on the smaller ice. A new age Douglas Murray??

Funny I thought that last game. I remember Burrows’s first season, he only scored 8 goals I think, playing on the 4th line. He scored a hat trick in one game near the end of the season. He came back the following year being challenged by the coaching staff to score more as his D game was solid. Then boom, the growth of Alex Burrows goes on from there. I just had shades of those memories the other night when Gaunce almost got his first hat trick.

I don’t know what his issue is, but I don’t like that he’s got attitude issues. I do like that they have Salo coaching him over there. If he needs to be broken down and re-constructed mentally i’d rather it happen over there under Salos tutelage.

Agreed, Cam Neely...that’s all i’ll say...

Very good point. At the end of the year they do look at over all points, but they also look at the players impact to the team. If Brock keeps up his pace it's hard to argue that he wasn't the most important rookie to any team in the NHL this season, aside from McAvoy in Boston. I think it's a 3 man race. Barzal, McAvoy, and Boeser. Keller and Kerfoot are also close, but I feel aren't at the same level as the other 3.

I agree with your assessment. Last year when I watched the All Star game Gaudreau was an absolute puck hog and wasn't using his team mates as much as he could. Granted it is just an All Star game, but same complaints were made against him last year as well.

It’s funny, they get a burr in their butts over some players. I think he was pissed that Benning wasted a contract on him in the first place. But back when he slammed the signing you’re right they never even watched a full game on the kid before writing that putrid article. At least they are saying sorry, but too often they are too quick to slam managements decisions. The one guy I really like there on CA is Cory Hergott, he does all the Utica comet pre game and post game write ups. The guy is very detailed and when you read his articles you ACTUALLY get a sense of how the game played out. Then you read the Canucks pre and post reports by the other writers, just garbage coverage.

Can’t question his logic there. Shows a lot of character and selflessness. And I don’t think this will limit his growth either. You always want your prospects playing big minutes and getting involved in every situation. At least that’s how I like to see it done. He steps up to the SHL and has to take 10-15 games to gain a coaches trust at this point in the season...? By the time he gains trust the season is almost done anyways, it’s not worth it. If he started the year in the SHL then i’d Have no problem as he can take his time and work his way up the line up.

Vintage and Sid...what would we all do here with out you!?...I don’t wanna even think about it. Never leave please and keep up you’re good work. Cheers fellas!

I used to listen to that band a long time ago lol. Then they turned into Finger 11...but you already know this lol.

I dunno, but it needs to come back! Need to reign in the trolls some how...

BPA is still a crap shoot. Mike Gillis drafted Jordan Schroeder in the 1st round because he was the BPA. Don’t have quotes to link a source or anything, but i’ve watched the draft now for about 15 years now, so you get a sense of things. BPA is a term a lot of GMs use and it does make sense as a drafting technique, but it doesn’t always work out. For every Tkachuk there are several Schroeder’s.

Nice, right on! Hope you get to fulfill your dream. It's a great city and there aren't a lot of bad spots at Rogers place viewing wise. Even in the top deck you can still see the players pretty well. I usually sit somewhere in the middle upper deck, this way I can watch both ends of the rink evenly. I actually prefer it view wise. The lower deck you don't get to see as much of the play. Sign me up for Sikura! I'm a fan for sure. Cheers, again

There we go! Straight from the horses mouth (think I got that saying correct lol!?). Thanks for the solid info. Enjoy Gaudette for us, he must be a fun player to watch live. Do you go to any of the games? Hopefully we see him in a Canucks uniform at the end of your NCAA season. Cheers!

Nice info Sid, screw knowledge I say!!...kidding of course, but from what i've heard about him plus this, he wants to be playing hockey, not reading books. You gotta follow your passion in life.

Kid is well spoken, Gaudette has me very excited, and now knowing the fact the 2 are good friends only adds to my excitement further. I really hope Gaudette does get the Boeser treatment and the end of the season and get him into some games!

Now that’s some power!...but I don’t even think the gods can help with that one. I think it’s a universal law, you know theory of relativity e=mc2, or more succinctly put, Canucks never get 1st over all. To suggest other wise would literally break our universe, time would mean nothing, and everything would cease to exist...I’ll stick with 5th overall...lol, it’s our 1st! ....(You should try the cool aid i’m drinking, it’s great!)

Can he get “in touch” with Loui Eriksson? And remind him he should be putting up more points than he is...? That would be great

Most people’s understanding of hockey is rudimentary at best. At least that is what i’ve found. You really have to have a passion beyond just having a favourite team to assess things. A lot of people never really look beyond their own team and see what else is out there. People who follow lower tier leagues in hockey seem to be more adjusted to seeing the game the way it is. I think it’s because when you start paying attention to hockey from the bottom up you really start to see a growth pattern and evolution to the game...but one really has to be a hockey nut for that lol.

Like an old Western movie...Ahlberg is on a one way train to Lockwood, it’s a dirty scrappy one horse town. Look out for yerself there kid! And keep yer head up. Ya never know when ol’ Willy is coming! seriously tho...this kid loves to hit. Excited to see him develop. I had a dream about an all college draft pick line of Lockwood, Gaudette, and Boeser. But that was a while ago...you know, before Brock took over the league with his magnificent man flow, playing on a top line with Horvat...

I did not like Down at all in his first 2 games, but I knew better than to crap on him. Change is hard no matter where you go! He's been looking lately like a Dorsett player after all, you may be onto something. But I do worry about his ablility to win faceoffs, his numbers aren't great in that department...so the question to me is who is better at faceoffs for that line, because I want possession right away with them. Goldy crafty enough to get the puck and get it to Virt, Virt pressures it up ice, let the play develop from there...Burmistrov has the best FO % so far out of, Granlund, Gaunce, Dowd. The only other guy with decent FO % available right now is Gagne. I did not see that one coming lol!? He's never been known as a good FO centerman. But hey i'll take it! I like the Nikita comparison. They both bring "impact" to the game. You notice them each time when they are on the ice. Good and bad. To me it's a good sign tho. If a player is engaged and trying to make plays they won't get it 100% of the time, but at least they are out there making a difference, putting their "balls" on the line (you're welcome Sutter...lol). Eventually Jake will smooth out his game, as will Nikita. Both will be impact guys for this team going forward (yes i'm in the group that believes Nikita will come back).

Yeah, he has kinda bounced around the whole line up. But has shown the ablility to play with anyone. I thought he looked ok with the Sedins, but didn't last...this was before the Sedins re-ignited themselves tho. He needs a playmaker with him, i'm not blown away by the Goldy/Burmi/Virt line yet. But that line needs some time to develope chemistry, would like to see it left alone...I'm really hoping him and Goldy can pair up and make sweet sweet music together.

All he needs to do is learn how to pass the puck better when going full speed. You can see him hesitate to make plays at that speed. Which is why IMO he seems to always take the shot instead, or try and go behind the net, circle, and look for a pass. But never really finds anyone with it. He's reminding me a lot like Hansen this year, which is a great thing. Hansen has always had a bomb of a shot and was a vicious forechecker and general pain in everyones ass. But it took him several years to round out his "play making" game. Hope Jake learns quicker than him. But man, love what he is bringing each game. Gaunce and him are both due for some puck luck!

I agree, his first season is what most people are expecting from him. But same as Stetcher, the reality sets in and teams catch onto the players style of play and learn how to eliminate them as a threat. That's why sophmore slumps are a real thing for a lot of players, with the exception of higher end guys like Matthews or McDavid. So I usually take a back seat approch to watching players develop. They tease in their first year, but I always keep my expectations lower just in case. Stetcher and Hutton are still growing, who really knows where they end up. Stetcher in particular this year hasn't looked that great. A lot of bad passes, and man does he need to work on his shot. There is no power to it whatsoever. Playoffs, another good point. You really don't know what kind of player you have till they are battle tested in playoffs. Many players have had great regular seasons only to dry up and dissapear completely in the post season. That's also why I think our team going forward in the future is going to be good come the post season. Virtanen whether he levels off as a third line RW/LW, is value added. Plays gritty and I think can still be effective during playoffs. And he's the tip of the ice berg from Bennings drafting plan. He is bringing in players with IMO the right amount of skill and grit to play in the post season. I am worried about Pettersson but he's so skilled I think he can make it when surrounded by the right cast of players. In any case, it's fun to watch the re-tool/build...or whatever. I haven't seen great young talent like this coming through our system in a very long time! And as always i'll never stop hoping for that cup! Benning may not be around long enough to see how good he's set our team up, as is the case with a lot of GM's. Hopefully management gets his contract locked down and we can keep the prospect pool flowing. If we keep drafting gems through the years as Benning seems to be able to do imagine our tradeable asset base. You'll have your main NHL roster, but with tons of skilled kids from the farm team knocking on the door repeatedly, you'll then eventually have to purge a few players to allow room for more growth as there will most likely be other good young players from the junior leagues trying to turn pro right behind the farm team kids. The quality of our trades will go up since Benning has players worth real value to trade with. All in all it's a good thing to have so many good prospects. In a way it's currency. And with Benning and his scouting record our currency should be worth a lot more in the near future...IMO. Cheers!