Boudrias
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Everything posted by Boudrias
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The rationale for sending Stecher down last fall made total sense to me. Waiver exempt and a rookie. The big deal last fall was finding out what Larsson, a KHL All-star, had in his tank. As it turned out he didn't have enough. Stecher got called back and he took advantage of his opportunity. I have to smile thinking of the reaction if Stecher has a sophomore lapse like Hutton did. I might be to cautious but IMO the over riding concern should be what this team looks like in 5 years not this year or next. Many Canuck fans have a high opinion of the prospect pool but I consider it no where close to where it has to be.
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Not sure what you are suggesting with the half empty comment. Boeser's entire pro experience is 9 games. We would all like to see some light at the end of the tunnel but if that undermines Boeser's development then I am willing to error on the side of caution. Fans looking for 'bright spots' cannot be a rationale for putting a 20 year old in the NHL. The 2004 NHL lockout had a lot of ramifications. One of them was that many current NHL vets played their season in the AHL. The majority of those that did were very positive about the benefit it gave them as they adjusted to the pro game. This is one of the main reasons I would not be disappointed if young prospects spend 1/2 or even a full year in Utica. Obviously it is up to coaching to make that decision. If Boeser has a big camp it makes the coaching decision tougher. I do expect Boeser to start in Utica. Goldobin, Boucher, Gaunce, Megna, Chaput and Rodin are all waiver eligible. I expect Green will want to assess these players early on before risking losing them on waivers. Maybe pre-season makes that decision easier but I doubt it.
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Cross bars don't count? That is meat and potatos Canuck fare!
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Gadjovich might have been listed as the 13th forward but he played a regular shift. Coaching obviously see his potential in the ozone as he saw more ice towards the end of the game as Canada tried to tie it up. He scored his goal from infront where he typically ends up. Again his board work and puck possession in the ozone was very good. Very impressed earlier in the 3rd on a back check by Godjovich where he caught the USA forward and broke the play up. Really nice play. IMHO Team Canada did not have the same level of cohesiveness that Team USA had. It appears to me that Canada dwells on individual skills rather than the mechanics of the game. In the past that worked because Canadian kids played 80 games of CHL hockey a year that gave them a tremendous advantage. Today many American kids are getting that CHL experience as well combined with the USA development program. It is making me uneasy.
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Sure they have a lot of players there. This is an evaluation camp for those that 'might' be on the radar. IMHO Gadjovich sat out to give some TOI to others. He has played extremely well and definitely improved his chances to play at WJC. Lind played another game as coaching seems to want him in the 3C spot with a defensive posture. His play reminds me of Cassels with less physicality but more speed.
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It is August! Kind of a waste of time for the prospects. They are forced to participate so they can register with their coaching. I watch the fundamentals.
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Totally agree. I also think he gets some 3rd line TOI this year. This kid has never returned from a summer of training without taking a step forward.
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Guddy and Gadjo. The One/Two punch of the Vancouver Canucks!
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Gadjovich had a real solid game IMHO. On the ice for 3 GF and 0 GA. Went to the net, won most of his board battles and was physical. Coaching obviously likes him as they put him on the ice for ozone starts. His puck possession is strong. I agree he could be some thing. On the basis of this game he makes the team. I am looking forward to the USA game.
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That line had some good shifts but were broke up later. Lind played some PK. He might look a little lost but adjusting his game would be harder for him than Gadjovich. Coaching moved him around and he seemed to get stronger as the game progressed.
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Being reported that he is playing through a hip problem. Not sure why he is playing. He had a decent enough game. PP time but no PK time. On one PP he was on the RD. Coaching obviously likes what it sees. Thought he did not play a lot in the 2nd. Late in the 3rd he was getting a lot of ice.
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Funny how perceptions can vary. Like you I do not think Baer's true upside is known yet. J.R.'s concern is warranted. We are talking a player who should/could have had 50 point season. His compete level took a big jump last year. Saying all this I do not see him as being on a Canuck CUP contending team. Of course all this goes by the wayside if he has a big season.
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For sure there are lots of criteria that go into assessment. Also consider the span of a season over 5 1/2 months. To some extent I think fans might be shocked at Green's approach. I see a lot more patience out of Green than Desjardin. Not saying this as a critic of either coach as their imperatives will be different. Green knows that he has talent coming and likely more being drafted in 2018. Green has always developed his teams over the span of a season which means he was patient. With less pressure on making assessment decisions I can see Green playing his waiver prospects longer. I also suspect that Green will advocate for the benefits of AHL experience for the younger prospects. If as I suspect the season is mediocre at best on the standings side the preference for the org might be a positive season in Utica and a patient game in Vancouver. Ideally that would be my preference as well. Start rotating the younger prospects through Vancouver in February and let the chips fall where they may for the Canucks.
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IMHO it is all about development and assessment. Playoffs are not a priority. If this is how management views things then I do see the waiver exempt players starting in Utica. For how long will depend on how they play there and how the waiver eligble players perform at the NHL level. Again, development and assessment. Boucher, Rodin, Chaput and Gaunce will all require assessment this year. Injuries always happen and strong performance in Utica equals a trip to Vancouver.
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Really? He looked young in his rookie season but you could tell from the get go that Linden was special. Never forget going to a Canucks game at the Saddledome. Only two Canucks showed up for that game, Gino and Trevor. Linden stood out on the ice like a sore thumb. He had it all. Gino stood out for different reasons but he was a thing of beauty.
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It would be such a home run if this kid was able to make the roster. My comment would be that he was claiming his injury was healed last fall as well. The proof will be in his camp I guess. He does have a bit of a injury history. The positive is that he has worked through it all and still has the desire.
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Not sure what you are basing your assumption on other than last year's ppg. I am expecting Gaunce to establish himself this year. 4th liner on a bottom feeder team is no endorsement but I thought he had a solid rookie season. The 4th line was pretty solid most of the season. My expectation of Gaunce this season is a 4th line role but with 3rd line exposure due to injuries. On a more physical team I can see Gaunce contributing more in that direction. I also expect a higher ppg as well with his experience. I really do not see the pressure in this roster that puts Gaunce in Utica. I doubt he would clear anyway. The imperative this year is not trying to cobble a playoff roster together. It is all about players like Gaunce who has to develop. If comes down to choices I waive Dorsett, Chaput, and Boucher before Gaunce.
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Team morale and culture is always something to consider. It can also be overstated. The over riding objective within the org has to be winning a CUP. All players should be evaluated and developed in that light. No player is more important or is owed more than the org winning a CUP. I was a big Habs fan growing up and often wondered why Sammy Pollock moved a fav of mine. He won CUPs and that why Montreal was legendary. In this light I would have exposed both the Twins to Vegas. The odds of Vegas taking a Sedin knowing the other would not be coming or that they would likely retire should have been a move worth risking. Instead the team lost Sbisa. A young d-man lost for nothing. Who knows what conversations were had? I believe Edler stated at one time that he had never been asked to waive his NTC. Since my theme is all about the Team and not individual players if Benning was approached with a deal for Edler, and it was worth it, Edler should be asked to waive. NTC's were developed to give players some say in where they might be moved if traded. Good for them. Orgs should be up front with players about their priorities. Suggestions that Jim Benning would not even broach the subject of trade because of a NMC or NTC is naive. Yes, if asked I do think Edler would waive. Since he is still heere then any proposal has not been worth it to JB.
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The 'Grin' is deceptive/disarming by design. I am expecting more physicality from Hutton this year.
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I can see the appeal of OJ playing against professionals. That said I prefer another year in London playing for Hunter. NHL quality coaching. He played OJ as his d-side #1 and then played him at both ends during the Mem Cup. Joulevi answered the bell both on the PP and PK. Many OHL teams play at a quasi pro level. The size of many of these players is incredible. To me hockey has always been more about limiting mistakes rather than pure offense. Joulevi's OHL career has covered the full range of the game. Because London will have a offensive players a year older I expect a more offensive game. Joulevi should end his OHL career with a well rounded game.
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Totally agree and that is why I suspect the waiver exempt prospects will start in Utica unless they are lites out in camp. That gives Green some time to access the waiver eligble players and decisions made. If BB plays 30 -40 AHL games there is absolutely no problem with that. IMO the whole exercise is about what this team looks like in 5 years not the coming year.
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I have great expectations of Hutton this season. He put on 20 pounds last summer and I thought he finished the year well. His grin disguises his desire but it is there. Both he and Horvat ended the year with scraps and that was a signal to team mates IMHO.
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I thought Joulevi had signed a Canuck contract. If so I doubt he is playing in Euro. I see value in 9 NHL games this year and the balance of his season in London. He plays WJC for Finland and has another Mem Cup. That is a lot of hockey. Sets him up for a Canuck rookie season.
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IMHO this is what the upcoming season will be all about. Rotating waiver exempt players between Utica and Vancouver. Evaluation and development. Goldobin with his success and experience in the AHL should get a long look. He always runs the risk of being usurped by another prospect. I do believe the Canucks have to many vets going into the season but injuries always seem to take care of that.
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I have 'great expectations' for Gaunce's upcoming season. He played a OK physical game last year but I would hope he amps that up a bit. His ppg will come. He was hitting posts and cross bars on a regular basis last year. My take on Gaunce is his great ability to read the play. A year's experience will stand him in good stead.