TGT68

I think I hear you making a really good case for why the team owner would want to move the team to somewhere that they own the surrounding property and the arena. Because what I hear in your atmosphere is "fan experience" which does little for the players but the team owner sees beer $$$ they don't get, food $$$$ they don't get etc etc

An additional attendance note. Victoria arena is also 7000 capacity. Victoria averaged about 4000 with the ECHL salmon kings. Went to about a 5000 average with the WHL Royals. I would argue the Comets would draw in the 6000 range in Victoria. But I honestly can't see them doing much worse in Abbotsford.

Just to address one point. How would attendance not exceed that of Utica? Utica attendance is about capacity with a 3860 capacity for hockey. Abbotsford capacity is in the 7000 range. The Heat averaged similar numbers to Utica when it was the hated flames prospects instead of the local Canucks prospects. Do you not think the change of affiliation would make a change of attendance figures?

Right. No one is better than Sid. But then no one is more entertaining then Alflives either.

I am not stats savvy enough to show you how individually generated goals work but know enough to tell you that ain't it. Like if EP played with BB and BH and got 58 points I don't think you could count too many of those to Sedin replacement.

If that was the only goal I would guess they would have already acquired a WHL team (before the Giants moved to Langley). They seem to be holding out for something more which implies they know something of someone's plans (maybe the Aquilini's).

My guess is it is most likely for the team to move once Seattle sets up their AHL franchise. Then two Northwest teams can start in Abbotsford and Victoria and thus reduce travel between each other and both their parent clubs.

One anyway

Honestly we have nothing that can compare with that alignment for our power play, so I think that alignment will come into play this season with some combination like Horvat, Baertchi and Edler. Long term Horvat, Dahlen, Hughes with BB and EP and a PP2 built around Gaudette and Lind in the shooting spots with Gadj, Palmu and Juolevi. Or something like that depending on new assets. We could maybe see that PP2 or close to it in Utica this year.

It will be interesting to watch how the players of that 2017 draft continue to develop. Petterssen wa a bit of a reach at 5 and now looks like he was picked late. Glass looks like a Kole Lind quality prospect while Middlestat (picked later) looks like he might just be second line center in Buffalo and the favourite for rookie of the year. Then guys like Vilardi are even farther back (11th) and he was a man among boys in Junior this past year and may even make the offense starved Kings. Near the top Patrick was not great, Makar was iffy or awesome depending on your perspective. It will take a couple more years for this to shake out but there are 5 or 6 star players taken spread over the top 11 or 15 picks. Here's hoping Petterssen continues to impress and ends up in the top 2 or 3 in a redraft.

I hope he makes the Canucks out of camp. Don't prefer him starting in Utica as I feel it may negatively impact Brisebois' usage and development.

Ok. Let's take you at your word and JB's word for a second. Gaudette and Petterssen and only those two are among the top 12 forwards. Which 5 of the following do you waive or trade to make room for Gaudette. I will list the players from locks to borderline to make it easier for you. Bo Brock Sutter Roussell Beagle Schaller Virtanen Ericksson Baertchi Granlund Leipsic Gagner Gaunce Achibald Goldobin Boucher As each of those forwards need to be waived to go down to the AHL. Can you see them keeping Petterssen and Gaudette and waiving Boucher, Goldobin, Archibald, Gaunce and Gagner? Keeping Dahlen and Jasek and adding Leipsic and Granlund? No one took Gaudette's spot, the volume of players make it really difficult for the forwards who are knocking on the door. Let alone some guys who think they should have a spot. This assumes we keep 13 forwards and 8 d which is Canucks norm. the same problem exists to a lesser extent at defence as all 8 return from last year with Juolevi knocking on the door and at least 3 more within longshot territory.

Beagle is a 4th line center. Gaudette should never be that. I would guess it will be a mix of Petterssen, Schaller and/or Gagner in the 3rd C spot when we are healthy. Maybe Gaudette on call up at times when we aren't or maybe after the deadline (but maybe they keep everyone down at the end of the year for a Calder run). But reality is that management has left little room for the young guys with the signing they did, perhaps the plan is the Calder run. But I don't honestly think Gaudette is the second best young forward at camp and we could realistically see Petterssen, Jasek, Dahlen and Gaudette all be in the top 12 at training camp but there is no way the team waives or trades some 7 players to make room for 4 rookie forwards. The way we are built we will get one or two rookies (Petterssen and maybe Juolevi) to start the season and some chance of callups for the developing hoard of players. May be really exciting to watch Utica this year. Will be great to see a few good young players in Vancouver (BB, BH, JV, EP) but it could have been much more progressive and youth oriented this year. We will have to be content with what we get in Van and be watching Utica and the assorted other prospects again. That may be close to as good as prospect watching last year though.

Easy to see that it is you who listens to 1040 and knows that. Me? I can just count to 16 forwards who require waivers plus Petterssen who is in front of Gaudette and see he isn't being given a fair chance.

I do like the way Virtanen and Leipsic play together. Speed kills and JV's size and Leipsic puck skills balance each other well. Was really thinking Gaudette would look nice in the middle there before July 1 when it seems they gave AG's NHL spot away.

Think you missed Palmu. And my guess is he could slot in 3rd or 4th on that list.

Regardless, Hughes will be fun to watch in college just like Gaudette was last year and comes with the added bonus of Lockwood playing with him. We will have a loaded Comets team to follow this year too. The WJC will be awesome this year with at least 3 maybe 4 prospects there. I really think it may just come close to rivaling last season for prospect excitement.

And we have seen EP make a similar play where he scored in last year's WJC. To have two of this quality prospects is kind of mind blowing.

Would be nice to see him get to go in some roll this year and go back and dominate the year after.

Am I reading the ages right? Woo born in July 2000 would be eligible for this year and next years WJC?

did I open the leipsic thread? I could swear it said Petterssen.

I didn't include Gaudette as being a center and where he has developed I don't see goldy competing with him at all.

I just think this will be a development year overall. EP in his rookie year developing from wing to center. OJ up and down gaining NHL confidence. Gaudette getting prime AHL minutes with two good wingers. The rest of the gang developing in the A with him as they do a Calder cup run. Woo, Dipietro, Hughes and Utunen (sp) at the WJHC in Vancouver. Hughes and Lockwood going deep at the Frozen 4. It will be like last year only different player in different leagues. Maybe a high draft pick again and then we start to seriously compete next year.

baertchi horvat boeser leipsic petterssen virtanen that would be my optimistic guess. But I just don't see goldy making it with Dahlen, Jasek, Lind and Gadjovich on his heals now. He will be the next Boucher (player who used up all their big league chances).

I would say that was 4 years after the peak.