Boudrias

If his attitude is as bad as rumoured then your offer is to much. For that matter any offer would be to much. Making that kind of call required inside knowledge of Kane. Probably available if the scouts scratch deep enough. The 'eye and smell' test is a fail but what do I know.

Sure glad CDC fans don't have a vote on Gillis's moves.

Timmy has never had Kassian's frame blocking out the sun either! Kassian is due for a big game!

I am not that worried that he isn't putting up a lot of points. I am watching his puck possession and retrieval. He can dominate the boards at times. Even tho his last goal was a deflection infront I agree that he is at the perimeter a lot. However his play is much more confident. I am not suggesting he is top 6 yet but have hopes that by March he will be challenging for that spot.

Amazing how CDC was estatic when Gillis signed Garrison, at the going rate, and now into a new coaches tenure it is all about trading for that 'next' savior who will take us to the CUP. It is all about making the playoffs not winning the Conference with this roster. Let them work with Edler and see what happens. The only serious disaster I see in this roster is Booth. Torts seems to think he can turn it around but that might be simply putting a brave face on things. As well as the team played last night I thought Booth was shaky to be kind. I also don't like teams that do not have a role for a 4th line and that appears to be Torts direction just as it was with AV. I can appreciate that he wanted that win. On a positive note Kassian is becoming a regular standout IMHO. Another very strong game last night. His consistency is getting there. By spring I am hoping he claims the top 6 role on the RW. There is your answer for a top 6 winger rather than trading Edler.

Burrows has shown this org more than enough times what he is capable of. I expect him to do it again. He is very close to breaking out. Tonight is as good as any other. I will watch Kesler to see if in fact is best position is wing. Danny dried up just when I thought he was getting back to his old ppg groove. No player is untradeable. It is all about time lines. It is all about what can be gained by moving them and whether the returning asset compliments the team going forward. Vancouver has a history of letting players walk with no return. It is a org killer. NTC mean nothing in today's NHL other than the player having a say on where he goes. All parties knowledge that reality.

Why would you want A guy who sits there any flashes a wad of cash to make an impression? Phones celebrities and demands an audience. Regularly calls out teammates and then stinks the place out himself. Not impressed.

The difference between the Canucks today and in the past is that there is better depth. I never consider any player untradeable as it is always about what would come back. The impact Burrows has had on this org is hugh but that does not mean he ends his career as a Canuck. The hope has to be that in a few years Van can move Bur for a piece that helps strengthen the team going forward. At some point this core will win a CUP or their window will close. At that point the team has to transition to youth and all the older players will be evaluated for what they can contribute in a rebuild or for what talent they can bring if they are moved. I suspect that Burrows would be a great mentor.

Thanks for all the work!

The thing about Rodin was that I wasn't that impressed with him in the Young Prospects Tournaments either. He was playing in his age group and was still perimeter type.

How much of that was Canucks development vs the whole Chicago situation? I never liked that deal from the get go. Utica will be 100% better. Probably to late to help Rodin.

Yensen played his last year of junior eligibility in the SEL. I don't consider EURO hockey a real prep for the NHL but it was his only option other than going back to the OHL. I simply do not like the physical compete level of EURO hockey. Not to upset really as Yensen can play in Utica for at least half a season and round his game out. He has decent size and will play in the NHL. Rodin had his crack at NA and I doubt he comes back, at least with the Canucks. He has fallen down the depth chart big time. At some point players like Rodin have to decide whether a EURO contract in a less physical league is preferable to the NHL. I think he picks Europe.

Torts: My feeling about Torts so far is how far he swing the pendulum over to the d-side more than AV's puck possession offence? I was critical of AV's over reliance on his transition so when I saw Torts overloading zones on defense it looked good. It might tighten up the d-zone and make Lu's job easier. How much it hurts the offense will be determined. Something else I saw last year with the NYR's PP was the o-zone play where the C comes out high trying to draw a d-man with him. The two attacking d-men would either pinch down for a two on one with a deep winger or pass the puck down to the winger for a 2 on 1 with the other winger. I thought it was pretty interesting. I'll wait on Torts before judging. Guance: I agree with your comment about Guance not getting top line talent to play with. His foot speed might have pidgeon holed him before he could adapt. With his size I suspect it takes him some time to get going in a season. If he has a defensive mindset(which centers have), especially playing wing when he is normally a center, it wouldn't help trying to break in. I was impressed with his vision. I really like this kid. Horvat: I think you are reading to much into things if you think Horvat was getting a break because he was the Schneider return. He might get more of a look because his size suggests he might come into the NHL a little faster. He does carry himself very well and he was doing well in the FO circle. Speed is decent. I don't know about Torts or Gillis but when Coach Hunter says he is a good one I would listen. Shink: I must not be seeing what everyone else appears to be. I rank Shink last on the top 4 list. Corrado-Guance-Horvat-Shink. Not a put down. He has a great shot but simply has to get a little older and a little heavier. I would not roll the dice on this kid. Van should play it safe and put him back in junior. Bring him back up at the end of the year.

Pretty much agree. I thought Guance's hesitation on the forecheck might have been simple caution since he is a center. I think they had him at LW the last two games. What was encouraging was he seemed to be getting better with each game. I am sure there is aspects that we cannot pick up from watching on TV. I don't mind Horvat and Shink getting some pro games but all these kids should be back in junior. Any 18 year old who sticks in the NHL has to dominate or show unreal talent. These kids are good but not that good. I do not want another Brule.

A lot of fans equate physical capability as the sole basis for playing in the NHL. I think we can all remember high pics who did not make it because they were rushed into the league. IMO the mental adaptation can be more difficult than the physical side. Classic example is Brule last night still trying to make it. The Yotes really screwed up his development. In his case I think it was a combination of physical development and his mental approach.

Is Guance picking up his check or not? Positionally he looks good. The two goals he scored speaks more about his positional play than scoring prowess. I would be more concerned about his physical play. I cannot say that I have seen a lot of that to date.

Guance doesn't have Weise's speed nor Sestito's physicality but has real solid positional play. Really disappointed in Sestito's play last night. He turned the puck a lot and looked real slow. There is no point keeping Guance in Van if he plays less than 10 minutes a game. Even with PK minutes I don't see that happening. Of the young players he looks most ready to me.

It is worth trying Schroeder as 2RW because of his playmaking ability. His wrist shot should not be underestimated either. Depending on how well his FO % is after surgery the 3C role is an option. It would drop Richardson to 4C as neither Higgins or Hansen will be bumped off the 3rd. Like every year the lineups will be in limbo for 5 - 6 weeks while Torts assesses. All this assumes that Gillis doesn't use his + $2 mil in CAP space.

I don't think the SEL prepares players for the NHL that well. Less physical. It might work for Rodin to get his confidence back but I don't hold out a lot of hope. Jensen played there last year which was OK because he was to young for the AHL but I still thinks he needs at least 40 games in Utica.

Is it Gaunce or Horvat who has Hunter for a coach? I love the way he preps players for the NHL.

When fans say they aren't noticing Horvat then they should look at what he is doing on the 'd' side of the puck. This kid is a team leader back in junior and plays a complete game. I suspect he is erroring on the side of caution not wanting to get caught out of position. A natural reaction for a 18 year old playing NHL games. I prefer he goes back to junior. A Memorial CUP and a WJ gold medal and this kid returns next year ready to go. He has the build already.

Weise is playing it crafty. Throw Bo a bone and hope for a goal mouth pass to tap in. There is more to being a pro than a good haircut!

To a degree I think Lain is flying under the radar. Adjusting from college to pro play is a challenge. Fans should watch his camp this fall. He skates well, protects the puck and his simply hugh.

Physically the Russians can still be intimidated. The Americans are a tougher team to play as they cannot be physically intimidated. The USA usually fails because mentally they expect Canada to beat them. The success of their U18 and WJ teams over the past several years might be changing that attitude. I would take a Burrows but not a Bolland.

Did you just wake up and realize how this country is ran? I prefer Sportsnet anyways so the less I have to watch CBC the more I like it anyway.