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gameburn

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Everything posted by gameburn

  1. Spooner has been better too; but you're right, Pettersson is having a tough afternoon. There have been statements around the Canucks that he's been wearing down over the last 2 months. Pettersson himself talked about "conditioning" this summer, which I interpret as confirmation of the fatigue from a really long season.
  2. Very much. And you notice the poke checks? He must succeed with 3 or 4 every shift. Never seen anything like it. He doesn't get hit much, and doesn't have to use hitting much himself. Will keep him in the lineup a lot more than Edler, Tanev, and other old school guys. Probably means he can play more minutes each game too.
  3. Spooner's best game, by far. And Rafferty... what if he can do this for a season? I know the last few games can be misleading, but still... looks like next season will have an interesting pre-season.
  4. Alf... do you think it's time for a "Canucks Playoff" Topic?  Points needed... players we expect to help us get there... TDL related to this.... what do you think?

  5. In the long-run, yes. Short-term? Probably not. But "long"-term may be as near as 18 months or 1.5 seasons from today, which is pretty soon. Moving Sutter or Gaudette to the wing is a waste, for sure. Gaudette has the potential to be another Horvat, except even better defensively -- although never as good at faceoffs. Even at .50 ppg Gaudette would be incredibly valuable on this team. Because it would give us 2 high quality 2nd centers and Pettersson. It's easy to forget that Horvat's first 2 years were not great offensively. Gaudette is older than Horvat was so, it's probably fairer to assess Gaudette's year coming up as equivalent to Horvat's 2nd or even 3rd years. Gaudette cannot be expected to be a 1.00 ppg player like Horvat appears to be. Even Horvat might be more of .900 ppg player. As for the 4th line, on paper it's better to keep the younger guy (Sutter) for the timing of a playoff run in 3 years, but Beagle would work out okay too, given the length of his contract In Beagle's last year we would be challenging for top 8 finish and a decent playoff run. Maybe even his second last year. You have to worry about age and injury, but that's true of any player over 29.
  6. Your argument is pretty convincing. And there have been a few players lately who have been waived, and not picked up. Can't think of too many who have been picked up, other than a goalie months ago, and one D, whose name I have forgotten lol.
  7. I think he might be picked up, yes. He's under 2 mill I think. Not sure how much cap space teams have now. Schaller looks like he could play a relatively heavy game -- haven't seen enough of it here, I know, lol.
  8. I keep forgetting how many players are back from injury!... we have too many forwards for the first time in a long time. Tough to give up on Goldobin; Granlund can be moved, though. Gaudette looked better after he'd been sent down... shame this can't be done with a few of the Canucks, not least Schaller. If he gets through waivers... I guess he could be in Utica, perhaps to his benefit.
  9. Yes, Gaunce looks pretty good all of a sudden. He was starting to play heavier and over all better the last time he was up. No loss at all to see him replace Schaller, couldn't agree more.
  10. Both of you have valid points. What about a compromise? Move Edler at TDL, move Eriksson in summer (retain 1/2 salary)? Is moving Edler now too much of a hit to a rising team? Interesting problem.
  11. Chris Higgins had a tough end to his career, but he too was treated pretty well. Chris said as much. Eriksson is our next guy to deal with. And I think he will be treated well too. Some retention of salary, or maybe Eriksson retires/quits early. I give Benning and the owner credit too, as well as previous managers (Quinn, Burke). It's one of the best things about this organization and another reason to stay a fan, in spite of zero cups and other heartaches. (I feel the same about Costco too: they treat their employees well!)
  12. I think teams feel duty and even affection for players who have been there a while and have done their best. Archibald making low money vs. Archibald able to build a nest egg for the inevitable retirement.
  13. Nilsson looked so good at the start of the year, and even later at times. I don't think he was that much behind Markstrom. But Demko changes everything. And Markstrom grew into the job, you could just see him become the starter we'd been hoping for. Nilsson couldn't keep up; might do better somewhere else, though.
  14. He is a scratch tonight.... I think he's about to be traded.
  15. Goldobin a scratch for Ottawa game tonight (Jan 2nd)... is he about to be traded?
  16. I hope Goldobin is just a late bloomer, not quite on the defensive side of things yet. But yes, I think he's going to be moved. I can't see getting anything but cap savings in moving Schaller and Gagner, but maybe that's okay too. Edler and Tanev…. tough one for sure: Edler is loyal, Tanev is a rock; One of the two will be gone imo. I hope it's Edler and not Tanev. Re: Chiarelli. You're right: Benning is no Chiarelli. He may overpay dubious FAs but his drafting instincts are the best, and even when he has moved a scorer for a solid D, it seems to have been much more sound. (Hall for Larsson vs. McCann for Gudbranson)
  17. You're right: Nilsson not in our long-term plans. DiPietro, Demko, Markstrom: more than enough. In 2 years: Demko starts, DiPietro backs up, Markstrom traded for a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Question for you: do you see more trades coming for the Canucks in the next 2 months (prior to trade deadline.)
  18. Well put. Also, even if he plays only 15 games the rest of this year, it will be on a team that is going somewhere. Utica is not having one of its most positive years, I don't think. Demko: well deserved. McKenna over Bachman: brilliant. Pyatt over Archibald? Not sure it matters.
  19. Totally agree. And you are right: Hughes adds a lot to every attack -- especially for players smart enough to watch for him.
  20. In the last couple of Canucks' games I've been listening to the commentary a little closer. Guys like Garrett and some of the other teams' people: they've all been showing replays of Pettersson looking all over the ice (head on swivel) when carrying the puck. I suspect there will be videos shown of him all over the hockey world. The equivalent of the mandatory "shoulder checks" in driving school lol. Yes, Hughes will like Pettersson.
  21. Very promising. Juolevi for sure... Woo is a bit more like Edler, but faster. I've seen replays of him getting shots through, and of following up on plays in the offensive zone.
  22. And Benning isn't done yet. More hockey I.Q. guys in the works I'm guessing.
  23. A forum member (Horvat is a Boss -- see above) gave a beautiful long description of his play against Sweden. Basically, Sweden is the superior team at all points, but Hughes is able to create chances in spite of it. He said what sets Hughes apart from the best of the Swede D (Boqvist e.g.,) is that he is unpredictable, can do more when he gets the puck. I therefore see him as a Pettersson style D-man. Not quite as good finish/shot yet, but everything else is pretty impressive. Alf is right: he will change the Canucks next year. Allow them to play a type of game we have never seen before. Fluid, dynamic, incredibly strong on rushes and broken plays. Hughes will like his new team, too. Boeser, Horvat, Virtanen, Pettersson, the strong centers like Sutter and Beagle to provide structure... this team will FLY next year.
  24. Bobby Orr style, tbo. Only really dominant skaters can develop this style of defending over the course of their career; that's because it takes a LOT of dominance to regularly play this way. Not recommended, as a rule.
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