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canuckleheads fan

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Everything posted by canuckleheads fan

  1. Tanner Pearson, is probably the best fighting non-fighter I've seen. He is the team's Swiss Army Knife; he knows much of his value will be to protect the kids; I hope he is up to the task.
  2. Dude, it's pre-fricking-season. Miller's a veteran with nothing to prove. God willing, he'll play heavy minutes in 82 games plus a long playoff run; why should he be busting his ass in the preseason? He could care less if we lose every pre-season game, as long as he's in shape and ready to go when the puck drops for real. The only players with something to prove are the bubble guys or guys playing to get shipped to Abby instead of released. Honestly, there's not even heat or hate in these preseason games because you've never seen half the guys on the other team. The core will be ready when they ring the bell.
  3. Can you imagine what a beast EP1 would be if he had the body of EP2? I'm hoping EP2 has a fast trip to the show, would be fun to hear Shorty call games with two guys on the same team with the same name, lol.
  4. When you are playing a compressed schedule the way the Canucks did after Bruce arrived, it's hard to implement new systems with little to no practice time. They seemed to make some changes during that dead week when Aqua didn't want to play in an empty arena, but they need an entire camp and pre-season to install completely new systems.
  5. Big bodied D are a thing of the past, what you need for the current NHL are mobile D who can skate and move the puck. I really the Dermott move, I think he's got good potential to play up and down the lineup. We have two good skating puck moving Ds in Abby, one a LHD, the other a RHD, both are rookies. I have a feeling that one or both will push for roster spots next year. The cupboard is not bare.
  6. Not to be morbid, but my Dad's in late-stag Parkinson's and the only thing that brings him joy is when the Canucks win. I doubt he'll make it to the end of next season, so here's to a spotless end of the regular season and a long playoff run, maybe even a cup. He's been a fan since the team's inception and I would love for him to see one championship before he goes.
  7. Eichel is such a little B. He winds up on the wrong side of QH, just like when Petey turned him inside out last game for the tip in goal, Quinn gives him a little push, Eichel dives and then looks at the refs in disbelief that there was none call IN OVERTIME. I haven't bothered to watch many Buffalo games during the Eichel years because they were so horrible, so I haven't seen much of him, but he does not appear to be a franchise player to me. He's no McKinnon, McDavid, or even Stone. He's soft, a defensive liability, and I have yet to see him do anything that made me take notice. He does not even seem to be working that hard, and now Buffalo is playing better than when he was there, so maybe he's a cancer in the room too. Maybe he's still healing and recovering his timing, maybe he'll be better next year, but so far this year, meh.
  8. I actually think Baumer was the problem. Green's problem is that he was too loyal to his friend. I don't really see Bruce doing much different than Green did when the team was going well. People complained that Green clamped down on the young guys, stapled them to the bench when the screwed up, relied too heavily on vets and plugs, looks a lot like what Bruce is doing. There is no doubt that Green had lost the room, and Bruce gave some players a fresh start, hence the streak when he took over, but Green's biggest sin was not letting Baumer go last offseason, handing the defense to Shaw and finding a specialist to coach special teams.
  9. I would have him there instead of Hughes. Miller is too good as the Rover and Bo as the Bumper to do something different with either one. Since the behind the net guy is pretty much only a screen, you don't need either Bo or Miller in that role. You could put Miller behind the net, but since he's been the Rover, he draws the defenders away from Bo. I though last night's powerplay was the best I've seen it maybe this season. Perhaps they should alternate every couple of games between OEL and Hughes, it makes PP1 less predictable.
  10. The only disappointment is that Kadri scored their goal, the POS should be out of hockey.
  11. Can't afford $2.5 million for a 4th liner. So you get what you can. My guess is they will try to fill the hole with Dowling or Bailey, and hope Lockwood can win the position outright next year. I wouldn't be surprised to see them call Lockwood up now (if he's healthy) and give him an extended audition to show his stuff. If you look at the trade deadline tracker, this is commensurate for what teams are paying for rentals. I don't see anybody getting pantsed this year. That might be the reason Miller, Boeser, and Myers are still Canucks, because the brass didn't get any offers that made them pull the trigger.
  12. This is an excellent point. The tailspin the Canucks went into following the loss of Markey and Tanev was more about their missing leadership as it was the loss of their on-ice play. Miller takes a lot of pressure off Petey, which at this stage of his career is essential given his struggles earlier this year.
  13. Just like with Bobby Orr, as soon as other players learned his knees were his weakness, that's what they went for. If the goal is to take EP out of a game, then paying a 2 minute penalty is a paltry sum for a slash that could end his game, especially when the Canucks PP still revolves around his one-timer, either the actual shot or the threat of the shot. When EP's not on the far half wall, I noticed defensive coverage shifts to the middle to take away the bumper, knowing that OEL does not have a feared slapper. It's an equipment issue, today's players wear low-cuff gloves to free their wrists. I've noticed that JT wears plastic wrist guards under his gloves, I have not seen the same thing on EP, but he needs to do something! Maybe Bauer can come up with a fix.
  14. Considering he's so limited by his size, the fact that an 8D on most good teams has gotten so much PT during his career is testament to his personality and his drive.
  15. I've noticed that Garland's game has had a lot of impact on Hogs game. Hogs has always been hard on the puck on the boards, but I've noticed him doing some of the Garland rod-hockey turns against the boards, and trying shots from impossible angles with hopes for rebounds or flukey goals. He had a chance at a one-time that he whiffed, but that goal Hogs scored was a beauty, right from the dirty area.
  16. Is that it? It looks like he's giving about half effort, and is frustrated because it still hurts but he doesn't want to advertise it. I'm figuring he's frustrated because just when the wrist was feeling back to normal and he'd rediscovered his one-timer, some POS hacks him again.
  17. If you're covering the league in general, it's easier to hide your favoritism. Some reporters are literally fans of the game, or fans of specific players and it's harder to figure out who their favorite teams are. I have no idea who Jeff Marek's favorite team is, but I know he roots for certain players, and he roots for interesting storylines. Others of the Sportsnet crew give away their biases through their coverage We bash on Hrudey for being a Flames homer and Cheech for being a Canucks homer, but having been in that position, travelling with a team, getting to know the players and the coaches as people, and liking them, it's impossible to be unbiased. Hrudey and Cheech travelled (before Covid) with their respective teams, they still see them at every home game. I have no idea how you can be unbiased in that setting. I will say that when a home announcer is doing a national broadcast, he should try to be as unbiased as possible. Aside from having a wealth of interesting Canuck trivia in his brain, it's hard to tell for whom Shorty is the home announcer, Rick Ball is much the same. One of the reasons I love Jim Hughson is because he calls it right down the middle. Harnarayan Singh on the other hand should never be allowed to broadcast any national game involving the Oilers. Actually, he's awful and should never be allowed to broadcast any game. In the US (where I live) I can't get the Canucks games on my cable package that are picked up for national broadcast on TNT. So, I didn't get to hear Shorty and Cheech on the last TNT broadcast, last week's MTL game I think. TNT brought in the Seattle announcer. I have not been impressed with him in the past, as he's very pro Kraken on their local games, but he did a fantastic job on the Canuck's broadcast.
  18. The stupidest thing management could do trade Miller IF the playoffs are a possibility. It's been evident for a while that JT is our best, most consistent player. Night in and night out, he's driving the bus, he makes everyone he plays with better. Pearson's passion is palpable lately when just a month ago, he was going through the motions most nights. Miller's passion is rubbing off on those around him. I agree with Juice; Miller is untouchable; he is the kind of guy you cannot replace. You keep him and try to resign him.
  19. Although they're not showing up on the scoresheet every game, I've noticed a distinct improvement with Pods and Hogs compete levels since they each got a game in the press box. I think they were both picturing themselves as finesse players, and Bruce informed them that they're both muckers with some skill. I wonder if Bruce could have saved Virtanen's career with a similar touch. I doubt it; I don't think he's smart enough to grasp the concept and too lazy to put in the work every night.
  20. Game in and game out last season, Brock was one of our top-two players. He proved he could drive the play. Something's going on, because this season is often looks and plays disengaged. I don't know if something's happening in his personal life, or if he looks around the locker room, does the math, and realizes that he's the odd man out. I really don't think, unless JR gets a king's ransom type deal that he can't turn down that Miller goes this season. Miller is a unique talent who can play in all situations, can drive the play, is a consistent scorer, is a vocal leader on and off the ice, and he plays center. Replacing Miller would be nearly impossible in the near term. Plus, Miller's deal runs through next season and it's two million less than what Boeser's QO will be, and Brock knows that team has a cap crunch. Maybe Boeser is playing like a guy with short timers.
  21. Living in WA I had to watch the Seattle broadcast as opposed to Shorty and Cheech who get to watch for every other game. There was an issue with the sync for the announcer's voice and the picture, in that the announcer appeared to be forecasting the future as his description was happening at the exact moment the play was going on or immediately before. It was weird.
  22. Brock was awful tonight, stupid passes, no hands, looked like he didn't care. When the one thing that makes you special is your shot and you are credited for zero shots...something's wrong.
  23. What you don't see in the highlight is Petey giving up the body to draw a Shark to him before delivering a perfect pass to JT. Petey was quietly very good tonight, and I thought his line was almost there on a few chances.
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