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CallAfterLife

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Everything posted by CallAfterLife

  1. I'm hoping he plays with the Canucks.
  2. I give a lot of credit to the Sedins as well but I do give credit to Benning for not forcing them to carry all of it alone. Miller was and Sutter has been a big leader on the team. Not unless Benning wanted to ice half a roster of AHL players.
  3. Hopefully Juolevi just stays with the Canucks and this won't be an issue.
  4. So the hope is that Virtanen doesn't pursue arbitration, signs a fair contract and decides to put in the work for his next contract.
  5. I just can't imagine a satisfying return on Virtanen. Especially a young defenceman with top 4 upside. I think Benning is better off trying to get a home town discount and letting Green coach him into an acceptable player.
  6. Which players would that be though? The only RHD I know that had somewhat of an underwhelming season was Dante Fabbro. I doubt Nashville would give him up for Jake.
  7. Miller and Vrbata and Vanek etc were just meant to keep the Canucks competitive in every game. To give the team a chance at winning and having a sense of self respect as Canucks. To keep Vancouver becoming a joke like Edmonton and Buffalo. To keep prospects motivated to make a good team. The Kesler package to this day has never made any sense to me. I don't understand how Benning could look at Bonino and literally say something along the lines of "well last year he got more points than Kesler" as if that qualified Bonino to be a 2C in the NHL. I somewhat wish that Benning chose to resign Santorelli to gave him a shot at being a 2C and asked the Ducks for a different trade package.
  8. I'd hate for the Canucks to ruin either Markstrom or Demko the way NJ ruined Schneider. Markstrom especially since he's a lot older and will be signed to big money contract that will be hard to move if his play drops off. NJ had such poor defence and just absolutely overplayed Schneider. I can't help but think that's why he developed hip problems and lost so much of his lateral mobility. Schneider can still track the puck well but he just doesn't have the agility that he once had. The Canucks don't exactly have the best defence in the league. It's by no means the worst but the team does still rely on good goaltending more times than not. If Benning decides to part with either Markstrom or Demko he better have a good backup signed first. Someone capable of playing at least 30 games in the regular season and a playoff game here and there.
  9. The team and the fanbase just don't need the drama that this would bring.
  10. Quick Summary. Returning for sure: Pettersson, Hughes, Horvat, Miller, Edler, Myers, Pearson. Returning maybe: Boeser, Markstrom Restricted likely staying: Gaudette, Motte, MacEwan 50/50: Toffoli, Leivo, Stecher, Benn Wildcards: Eriksson, Ferland On the block: Virtanen, Sutter, Beagle Expansion compliance watch: Demko, Domingue Buyout watch: Roussel Likely to move on: Tanev, Fantenberg, Baertschi
  11. Way too much nostalgia for 2011. But what Bowness has done in Dallas has been impressive. I thought they wouldn't make it out of the round robin.
  12. Regardless of what happens with Jake, I want to see him succeed. Whether it's with our team or another. Jake's a BC boy and I can't help but be biased towards him.
  13. Gaudette looked over matched and sometimes lost in these playoffs. Especially against Vegas. There were times where it looked as if he was trying to force an offensive play but just didn't have the skating or stick handling ability to create something. Don't get me wrong I love Gauddette's hustle and effort but if a tough call had to be made against him and Jake, I would pick Jake.
  14. Gaudette reminds me of another Hobey Baker winner, Jimmy Vesey. Both players are top line talents at the NCAA level but not at the NHL level. I think Gaudette has room to grow but if a tough decision needs to be made on a young RFA I would rather it were him instead of Stecher or Virtanen.
  15. NJ does have our original first this year. I wouldn't mind having the 20th pick back.
  16. Wow. I was expecting the Jake to be Jake Bean. The Canucks already have cap problems going into next season and Jake DeBrusk would be more expensive to resign than Virtanen.
  17. Who knows where Tryamkin will fit in though. I sometimes think the Canucks can be a highly offensive team that covers up defensive mistakes through good goaltending. Juolevi, Rathbone and Rafferty are the most prominent defenders in the system and transitioning the puck up ice is their signature trait.
  18. Replacing Edler and Tanev will be crucial. Especially since Meyers is someone that can at times need someone stable to cover him.
  19. Demko is the crown jewel of Benning's first draft with the Canucks. Demko also will get better alongside Pettersson and Hughes. Demko staying with the team keeps our window open a lot longer. Markstrom, as much as I appreciate the guy, will decline soon. I really hope the strategy is to sign Markstrom to a contract that allows him to be traded or exposed. Whatever happens with Eriksson I hate that his contract has put the Canucks in a position to lose Virtanen, Stecher, Gaudette etc.
  20. I like that Benning didn't completely rule out having Eriksson suit up for the team next season. I hate the idea of losing assets just to move his contract.
  21. It's exciting that Benning thinks that Juolevi will be ready for the NHL next season. The Canucks desperately need another defenceman that can quickly transition the puck up the ice behind Hughes.
  22. I don't really have much of an opinion on Toffoli. He was brought in because Ferland and Leivo were hurt and for whatever reason Baertschi wasn't given the opportunity to return to the NHL. Leivo was on his way to putting up at least 35-40 points this season. He's a guy that has put up points in the past while signed to a cheap contract so I hope to see him signed for another short term deal to see how he's recovered from that knee injury. I don't want to see the Canucks regress. And it's not just about the playoffs its about the grind of the regular season as well. But I think it could happen as the Canucks go through some growing pains when Juolevi and Podkolzin etc are integrated into the lineup. Juolevi especially. The Canucks really need a #2 puck mover to back up Hughes and help with the transition game. But regardless of what happens, the key for Benning going forward will be to draft the next group of young players that can slowly be brought into the lineup to support the core. Benning likely won't be in a position to draft the next Pettersson and Hughes, but if he can draft players that can supplement the team like Brock Nelson at #30 or like an Olli Maatta or Mike Matheson who were taken at #22 and #23 in the same year, the Canucks will be in a good place to remain competitive throughout Pettersson and Hughes tenure. I really don't want to chase the Cup the way Gillis did. I want the to do it the way Boston and Tampa have been doing it. Those teams have a shot at winning the Cup every year because they've drafted a great supporting cast and even some future core pieces.
  23. I don't want to see the Canucks regress either but for whatever reason a lot of young teams tend to regress or only make it past the first round after one initial strong push. Maybe I'm getting antsy for the draft, especially one with Brackett to see how Benning does, but I don't think it would be terrible for the Canucks to draft well around the 15-20. I'll be interested to see how Juolevi, Rafferty and Rathbone fair in the next few years. Benn and Fantenberg are just not mobile enough to be effective against teams with aggressive forechecks like Vegas. Plus with Edler likely retiring soon. There's a lot of opportunity to upgrade the blue line from within.
  24. I don't know quite what it is but something about Stecher reminds me of Burrows. Both these players just have a lot of grit and determination and are willing to punch above their weight. They both just have the type of character that successful teams need. I hope Stecher is still a Canuck next season.
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