Boudrias

I don't want Tanev back because of injuries. I don't want Schenn playing with Hughes because of age and speed. I want a pairing that allows Hughes to push forward and yet have his back covered. Willing to go younger and have the pairing mature together.

I would keep Tocchet. It is a little strange that Gallant never last much more than 2 years in any spot. They say he is a players coach so what is the problem? A disconnect somewhere?

I certainly have not been a fan of Evander Kane but I will tip my hat to how dailed in he is for these Cup playoffs. He has been playing great hockey for the Oilers. It wasn't the Oilers that started the physical stuff. Kane was certainly dishing out some solid body punches but I am not sure who started it or how it was started. Does the Code still exist? I think it does. Suggesting the names from yesteryear always opted for the Code is a bit of a stretch. To me NHL play is getting more Euro all the time. Embellishment, fake high sticks, stick work etc. A player cannot make a legit hit anymore as players hit the ice as if mortally hurt. Even if they are actually hurt it doesn't make the hit an offense. Canadian hockey used to be rough and tough but between the NLPA and the NHL owners protecting their assets it is all going away.

I'd be upset about it but since this year the ball falls in our favor I am not. We're moving to the top Baby!

I like the idea of JL playing in Abby because the program has improved so much since Cull was culled. Obviously JL has to be comfortable with making such a move at 19. Not that other players have not done the same thing successfully. It will take JL, his family, and Canuck management to make the call. There are so many Swedes in the org now that he will have that type of support. His English is already decent. I agree with your take on the SHL. Younger players don't get a lot of TOI. The advantage to Abby is that the team is getting even younger and JL will be developing with team mates he hopefully will graduate to the NHL with.

When are tickets available for Penticton? That will be well worth going. Someone suggested removing Winnipeg and adding Seattle. I thought that a great idea since their AHL teams all play in the same division.

Tocchet through them with both hands. Tough dude.

Are Colliton and assistant coaches signed for next year? With all the young talent signed this past year Abby should get even younger. There is a learning dynamic in Abby now which did not seem to exist before. 6 post season games should leave a taste for further effort. Very exciting for Abby.

When I was in business I got a call from a marketer who wanted to sell me promo handouts with the Blue Jays emblem on it. I told him I was in Western Canada and there were no ball fans here. Well they are Canada's team he said. Nope I have no use for them and hung up. Well the phone rang again and this guy was back screaming at me for my ignorance. I said your ball team is like your hockey team, all Laffers.

How many teams would be as patient as the Hurricanes as they developed KK? I give them a lot of credit. Same for Chatfield. The Cap hit on KK doesn't look so bad now but the offer sheet was excessive by all standards at the time. That said KK is rounding into a pretty decent player. Rod B. doesn't hand out kudos much but he had some nice comments about KK. Canes remind me of Seattle to some extent. Nice balanced attack. The Laffers on the other hand have 40% of their Cap in Taveres, Marner and Matthews. How do you pay for a supporting crew?

Matthews crosschecked a guy and he wasn't suspended or even fined? The crosscheck on the Laffer kid wasn't suspension worthy.

No East Coast League for Bains. It sounds like he has a good enough d-side game to be able to play a 4th line. Combine that with scoring potential and he looks really good.

Wouldn't be fair to Abby fans but I wonder if Rogers Arena would sell out if they moved the games there? If the weather is nice enough maybe some big screens outside?

Excellent post!

You say there is a risk with Tryamkin but you are willing to sign him for $1.5 mil x 3 years? Seriously? Sam says he has watched him play and thinks he is worth a try. Maybe $1.25 - $1.5 mil x 1 year with the ability to send him to Abby. Try knows what Koz did and got a big pay raise for it. If he cannot see the same for himself then maybe this is a waste of time. KHL defense is certainly not the NHL. I can see bringing him to camp but don't hold a lot of expectation. Willing to be pleasantly surprised.

Isn't this Goldy in a nutshell.

Let's hope Brock can come back as a game changer for the Canucks. He has all the tools other than so/so skating. My issue with BB is his physical game. When Petey, 30 pounds lighter, plays a more effective physical game then there is a problem. That said BB played more net front under RT and seemed to handle it well. It is all about building a Cup contender not just a regular season fun to watch team. Currently Seattle is showing what it is all about. Does Brock fit into that? I suspect part of RT travelling to see players this summer is also an effort to assess these players and whether to keep them or not. If BB is moved, which is likely, it might be about who comes back. We know that Allvin likely talked to many teams last season about Boeser. Boeser was obviously show cased this spring as he got top line TOI. The Canucks have options going into the fall.

I guess the question for Hip would be how much of the economy does he want government to take? Currently they have about 56% of GDP. Will 75% drive the money lenders from the temple? It seems progressives are simply happy to dissect, Investigate and confiscate. It all works as long as they get something for nothing. Another question might be why capital is leaving Canada on an ongoing basis. Over $100 billion a year. If profits were so good in Canada why isn't that money staying here and being invested?

Capitalism is not unfettered, not even close. Cannot think of an industry that goes about their business without government oversight. "Crony capitalism" sounds good but what do you mean? "Infinite growth"? How many industries have we all seen come and go? The 'dot com' rage was a classic. Growth or decline is not universal. "Weak are devoured", maybe they should be. Bad management exists in both big and small. SVB bank was in the $100's of Billions. Credit Suisse, $100's of Billions, both bad management. As a progressive you might not like it but how do you measure an efficient business if not by a market valuation? There will always be BS'ers in politics and business.

TD backed out of their purchase of First Horizon, a $13 Billion deal. TD said it was because of weakness in the regional bank market. I am more inclined to think they will pick it up for half the amount. Cannot remember the building name but a office building in SanFran valued at $300 million in 2019 went on the market at $60 million last week. Office space in SanFran is 30% empty.

Snuggles worth!!!

Geez Nik the Russian options are being shot full of holes by the Ukrainian army. Better look at the SHL.

That was borderline cruel.

We could easily think of many scenarios that would cause some concern for whatever reason. Most of those concerns would never manifest. In the case of the Russian players how do you sit a young 20 year old down and discuss the politics of Russia in a serious way? Not saying those conversations should not happen. Bottom line is that a political situation might occur that will force them home and that would really hurt the Canucks. Do the Detroit Red Wings not draft Canadian hockey players because they might not take vaccines? It can get to far out there. As a Canuck fan I have always been upset by the lack of Western Canadian players on the team or as prospects. Two of the greatest Canucks, Stan Smyl and Trevor Linden were Canadian boys from the West. Would Western Canadian players want to stay in Vancouver more than others would? As I said Calgary has concerns, likely the Jets will and we know many players refused to go to Edmonton. IMO the bottom line is the quality of coaching and management and team mates.

Ya, it hurts. Averaging down.