RayCathode

We only have Hughes at left D that is not replaceable.

Yep, despite his success at RD, one should keep in mind that he is first of all a center. A defensive minded center that can drive offence is a great find.

Thanks for referencing the article, Fred, great read.

Somr guys grow late. Tanev was too small to even make a junior team, then he had a late growth spurt.

We have had so many draft picks that struggled in their first year in the ahl, Bains appears to be a quick study - struggled in his first couple of games, but then seemed to 'get' it. He seems like a real clever guy, which is crucially important for moving up if you aren't the world's greatest skater (Bains is a decent skater). The thing that makes a difference by being smart is that your anticipation can compensate for slower footspeed.

No question that some JB picks were/and are promising, but there are three big problems - he traded away far too many draft slots for the opportunity to waste cap on the Beagle, Roussels of the world and our development system was a disaster, and lastly, he gave up on his picks way too soon (McCann, Forsling, and so on). All of this, in my opinion, was to satisfy ownership's urgent need for immediate mediocrity. Not a good strategy if you strive for excellence.

Because the tire fire that is the Canucks will have lots of vulnerable guys to jump ahead of.

Lind is killing it this year in the AHL - 13 points in 10 games.

We've had some luck with Swedish third round D picks in the past - well once - Edler.

Petterson's growth this year has been significant - he added a strong element of physicality this year, I think there is lots to come as he matures physically.

Yeah, I'm not really attached to any of this bunch except maybe Horvat, Pettersson and Martin. The big problem is the cap is so screwed with long term, big money deals that we will have a near impossible task in getting rid of them.

The big problem of the right side is having to cover for the two guys on the left side that can barely skate.

You mean in the toss?

They got scouted by the Leafs spotters up above - and then started attacking the left side of the Canucks D.,

I don't think his beard was unable to check anything except soup.

Because the spotters above the rink scouted the Canucks weakness - the left side of the defence - it happens over and over, game after game.

Rutherford needs to shut up about Boudreau and address the massive problem that is the left side of this D.

Well the leafs figured out in the second pereiod what almost every other team in the league has learned - attack the left side of Vancouver's defence. On the first one on the PK, OEL deserts his spot to run off into the same corner as Myers leaving his side of the D entirely open. On the second one, Stillman, in between falling down more often that Mason Raymond, leaves his guy open. On the third, Hughes is off doing Schenn's job. Why Stillman is on this team is a mystery known only by management. Send Stillman to Abby and let Burroughs play - at least he can stand up on skates. Schenn, Myers and Bear are a little less than average right side D, but on the left side we have no-one that can defend - and left side D should be easier to find.

No-one would get away with a half-arsed effort, for starters.

I guess the counter argument is that we were playing with three D each of whom has less than 50 games NHL experience and whose total number of games between them is under 90, and we're missing our only real top four D in Hughes. I can't say we are missing Boeser because he hasn't played well enough yet this year to be missed, and we are missing Lazar.

No doubt. After watching the Canucks this year I feel exhausted - like I'd played myself, had three fights and got crap kicked in every one, and unlike the kid in the picture admiring the beer, I think I'll unwind with an Irish Whiskey - that stuff just evaporates the minute you look at it.

The thing about these last three games is that the Canucks were playing with three D with less than fifty games of NHL experience: Burroughs 47 Brisebois 35 Rathbone 20 None of whom were high draft picks.

There is no predicting what the refs will call on a 'crosscheck'.

Demko looking like Demko in the third period after a shaky beginning. Congratulations, Bruce!

Myers two minutes for being a Canuck