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Gawdzukes

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Everything posted by Gawdzukes

  1. Yup, never count out other teams to start the year unless they're just horrendous. Seattle is maybe the only one. The Ducks and even Sharks we're highly competitive last year until they dropped off. A couple of free agents, a year's experience, and a couple rookies can really change things for a team. But yeah it's hard to predict how any of those other 4 teams will be but certainly are all poised to possibly have good years. Pretty much the same boat as us really. I've been trying to find some predictions and such but all I've dug up is some SCP betting odds. We're not in the top 20 in most I've seen indicating not a playoff team.
  2. Yeah a nice little road trip to bond and get the boys focused. Sometimes that's the best way to start. Of course you know I've been pumping the trade Miller tires but I'm actually getting quite excited to see what this forward group can do. Hopefully a better training camp makes all the difference.
  3. True, it might be the one thing that helps get us in. However the same was true last year. I hate Vegas but no way they are worse. They'll probably win the division. Edmonton has shown they don't need D to beat us and Calgary has a good team still and is well coached. I'm hoping for the best but I think the biggest factor is us. We actually have to go out and turn all this feel good stuff into actual wins. It should be fun if we can do that!
  4. I definitely agree on seeing the lack of back checking (couple guys stand out there Miller/Boeser spring to mind), especially early in the year. I guess what I was saying is that our D we're not doing their job so ultimately it had to be a forward coming back to retrieve the puck and/or play defence after a turnover. Rarely did a defender do the right job unless Hughes or OEL was first back. I know Bruce is pretty adamant about 3 man defensive pressure from the forwards but I think in a lot of instances the forwards are expecting the puck only to confusingly see it being passed backwards behind our own net or to the oppositions stick. Whatever it is we need to get on the same page. I think we would be better served getting the puck out of our own zone as quick as possible. Our RD isn't talented or quick enough to outthink other teams. Basically got 3 pylons out there puck control wise. I cringed every time the puck went into our own zone last year. But yeah a better effort from the forwards wouldn't hurt either.
  5. Yeah I'm hoping there is some serious reconciliation there. Even without the most skilled personnel playing simple can be very effective and achieve good results. Hopefully Bruce is able to get these guys all on the same page. I think if we concentrate on getting the puck out of our own end our forwards are almost as good as anyone. We just got to stop playing hot potato in our own end.
  6. I'm actually amazed that we ranked that high as defensively we looked absolutely horrible all year. It hurt to watch the continual tire fire in our own end and it was clear as day that Demko and the forwards playing hard d was saving our bacon nightly. The team showed they are able to cover some deficiencies to eek out wins but clearly this defensive group doesn't belong anywhere near the playoffs imo. I don't think they're overly concerned either but I don't think this team is a threat to anyone until they figure something out. It kind of feels like they are basically content/forced to burn a year or two getting rid of dead cap and acquiring players to play on the right side. It's like we're only able to play at 80% as we're missing an entire position. It seems like it's such a huge task but really there are only 3 positions that need to be addressed. Even one qualified RD could turn things around quickly. As @stawns mentioned clearing the puck is simply abysmal and it looks like they are were coached to move the puck out of the zone with possession at all costs. So I don't know if that's a coaching issue or if our players are just that dense. If they can just coach Myers and co to dump the puck out in the air we would be far better off. I can't stand watching these guys just screw around with the puck in their own zone until they lose it. HELLO TYLER, NEWSFLASH YOU ARE NOT GOOD AT STICKHANDLING OR PASSING!
  7. I think we're probably a wild card team on paper. We don't have crazy amounts of elite talent though and our defence sucks plus there are lots of new faces and Bruce will face a challenge to get this team up and running out of the gate. We should hopefully make the playoffs but there's a 50/50 chance we don't either. Just don't put any money on it this year!
  8. Well said. I see playoff experience currently being very low on the list compared to improving the team. On a side note. What if Allvin is pulling a super Lou and already has JT signed. 6x7.
  9. I think you're missing the big picture here. Every player plays with risk after signing a contract. It's just like real life though when someone throws 50 mil on the table it's a great idea to accept it when you can if there is danger in losing out on the whole deal. Even if you can get 55 mil you're playing with fire and karma likely going to burn you.
  10. Yeah I think it's a pretty obvious consideration. As well what would his plan be in 8 years when his kids are like 10-12 or whatever. Does he just uproot them and move across the country back to Pitt or is he and the kids more better suited to already living, seeding, and growing roots in that area if it's already his ultimate destination?
  11. It's no certainty but the lure of America is big for Americans, just like Canada is for us. A hockey players sense of self worth is tied to their hockey legacy and their place in the hockey world to some degree. Obviously they take a lot of pride in what they do and what they have accomplished. Mr. Miller may desire to be a big hockey name in a bigger American hockey market and solidify himself as an American hockey icon. JT would probably love to play in the next Olympics as well and be remembered as an elite American hockey player. I definitely think this is all more realistic based in America as obviously the Canucks are not front page news there. Not to say this is the case for sure but I certainly wouldn't begrudge him in the slightest. I would respect him if that was his choice. Imagine if you had your choice in your 30's to spend living in say Boston or somewhere in BC. I think a lot of Canadians would simply choose BC because it's in Canada ... closer to home, even if it's not Vancouver where say you are from originally. Edit: Most of the American hockey cities are located close to Pitt where they're building a house as well. Would make life a lot easier and perhaps more enjoyable for his wife during the season if she can spend it with friends and family even with a short commute in that area.
  12. Injury and a down season obviously plus age while trying to negotiate a new deal.
  13. I have a friend who I must admit is a complete moron. He's always blaming stuff on the vaccine. Everything like being tired to feeling sick. Like he refused to get the booster and got covid twice now but the says the vaccine gave it to him. Lately he kept blaming this pain in his arm/chest area for like two weeks now on the vaccine. Turns out he's 53, and a painter working 80 hour weeks who has a separated shoulder.
  14. I don't know I think the emergence of Byram was an underlying story in the Avs success as was Girard. The combination and abundance of skill throughout the lineup was impressive. Overkill wins Cups! I would say taking out two stellar dmen and replacing with Duchene they probably lose.
  15. Should be very very interesting if we go into the year with this group. Dare I say slightly more exciting than Petan, Dowling, Dickinson, and Dries.
  16. Yeah I'm slowly improving and trying to re-invent myself but it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I did get some (limited choice) approved funding for school so I'm taking a secondary education parts management course starting at the end of August. I missed out on web design as it was full unfortunately, but I am looking forward to school again. It's kind of a backwards situation but I'm limited to making $6100 gross per year by the government or I lose that limited funding I do have. I have done a couple of painting side jobs for a friend ($12 an hour lol) and I've made about $700 which has at least allowed me to have a little fun with friends this summer. Thanks for asking!
  17. Yes of course. I can never tell if you're simply providing information or just running everyone's ideas into the ground. At the end of the day I just don't think it's impossible that the SC Champs want to beef up their line-up with probably the best player available, fits their needs to a t, and who is also extremely cheap. As a Canuck fan and even as management there are no easy options so one must look at every avenue and turn over every leaf. I would venture to guess you can go through hockey history and it's just littered with moves that go against stated directives like these. I'm surprised by moves that apparently don't align with current directives all the time. It's partially what makes sports leagues so entertaining. It's like when GM's say they want to get younger. Does that mean they can never sign a vet again? I remember some CDC'ers getting mad at Benning for stuff like that.
  18. This thread is really maturing nicely lol. Reasons to trade Miller. High probability of being a psycho killer. Fa fa fa fa fa Hey man. Glad to bring you back. This song always resonated with me too. Gets me all hyped up!
  19. Okay. Fair enough but I just don't read into these statements like they are personal promises and binding agreements like you do though. I believe managers will make the best decisions they can for their hockey team despite what they said in a tweet months or even days before. I wouldn't want to trade Girard either obviously but there is a thing called the salary cap and you do have to give to get. This is still absolutely a reasonable option in my mind so I choose not to eliminate it. You have no clue how they rate a player like Newhook vs Miller. I do believe teams have the right to re-evaluate constantly and change their minds at any time. p.s. All Managers say stuff like they're happy with they're group. JR just said our defence might be good enough. It's a meaningless statement or does that mean the Avs can never trade again now until they come out with a tweet saying they are unhappy with the team? Or do they even need to be unhappy in the first place if it makes their team better?
  20. After my accident I'm learning to live on $12,186 per year. It's kind of tough.
  21. Well regardless of what the Canucks said things are also not going the way they thought. They also said major changes were coming so you can't exactly take that statement to the bank as they may be forced to plan b. I'd be completely happy with futures and cap space myself. At this point I think it might pay off far more and be way more beneficial to us anyway. Also they would most likely be able/have to move on from a player anyway to fit an upgrade in Miller under the cap. TJ Compher, Ben Meyers, Girard, or even Newhook could possibly be moved in addition to futures, especially before the season starts.
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