CanuckFanUpNorth

My friend Scott was given access to box seats by his company. And like a good lad, he invited his best mates. This was the first time I have ever been in box seats and it is rather amazing how many bells and whistles their are. I even mentioned to one of the waitresses that I wanted my stepdaughter from South Africa to become a hockey fan. She went and retrieved me a hockey puck with the Canuck logo on it. It was an indulgent experience, and I wish that all the uneaten food was given to the homeless after the game. But alas, I love the Canucks and the company even more. Anybody here ever been in the box? Box Seats in Rogers Arena.mp4

That's a fair point. But I think with that perspective in mind (that this management is brand new), we have to judge this regime on its own terms, and disconnect the rash decisions made by the previous management (ex. Arizona trade to save their jobs) from the process this management has moving forward. What I mean is that our team has faced (for the most part) almost a decade of careless decision making and awful asset management. I expect Allvin and his team to have some time to fix these mistakes in a reasonable and patient fashion. Here's what I think the new management has done well so far. 1) Delegation and Solidarity Rutherford, Granato, Allvin, and Castonguay each appear to have different roles. It appears Castonguay is handling contract negotiations, and she did a great job with each one announced this week. In the Canucks All-Access video about the upcoming draft, we heard Granato and Allvin narrate, as prospect development and scouting appear to be their focus. And Rutherford, as the most common media spokesperson was present, listening and getting a lay of a land before he goes and makes a big J.T. Miller trade. There have also been no leaks, which is an accomplishment given the ferocity of the Vancouver media. 2) Honesty The team has been honest about the team from the get-go and they are always talking about the future direction. Benning would always justify his gut decisions with the player's past resume. To quote the all-access show again, the constant focus of the whole scouting staff was not where the prospect was today, but rather what they could be in the future. 3) Patience There are many dominoes waiting to fall. I will admit. I am surprised that a wheeler-and-dealer like Jim Rutherford hasn't made a big swing yet. But I think that speaks to the patience and solidarity of the GM and AGMs. Everyone knows Vancouver had the most potential players on the trading block. In my opinion they have waited it out, have held firm, and cleverly removed one of those pieces from play. I think that elevates the value of Miller, Garland and any other Canucks that other teams are interested in. 4) Reputation Jim Benning was known as a bit of a goof around the league. He would let heart-and-soul players like Tanev and Markstrom walk because they "ran out of time." Every press conference was a mess, and drafting record aside, it was rare that the assets would be managed well anyway. I think within half a season, with the moves made, the signings completed, and the honest and unified PR approach has changed the way other teams view Canuck management. Kuzmenko picked this team. AHLers signed 2 way deals. Coaches want to coach here. Other teams are starting a bidding war for our players for once. I think despite the fact that no major deals have been done yet, I think the new management has managed to change the outward perception of the franchise for Canuck fans and the league alike.

I genuinely feel really comfortable with the direction and management of the team right now. I couldn't even begin to imagine what those players would bring, but I don't want to be another Arizona. Funny story, I was looking at the Coyotes on CapFriendly. With so many picks and so few players signed for the following season, I genuinely wonder how they will dress a team. The Coyotes franchise is an example of how rebuild after rebuild, without the gifting of a generational talent (Edmonton, Pittsburgh) can be a repetitive and demoralizing process.

Even if for only one season and it provided you with: - A top RHD prospect - A top C roster player - A 1st and 3rd round pick ----‐------‐-------------------------------------- Bonus Question: Would you budge if Dickenson/Pearson went with Miller in the WASH deal and the retention on Miller remained?

This is a pretty apocalyptic thread. Here's my perspective. I have liked the moves and direction and lack of desperation from the new management. The positive aspect is that under Boudreau this lineup was a 108-point playoff team. But as Minnesota taught us (a 110+ point team) that doesn't mean you are making it past the first round. I think this lineup requires a patient overhaul. If we blow it up that completely, all of the draft picks we did develop and graduate to the NHL (Pettersson, Hughes, Boeser, Hoglander) will want out anyways. And we don't have anything after them in the pipeline anyways. So I don't think a total rebuild is now necessary for a couple of reasons. First: Yes, some of our contracts are unfortunate. Myers signed when this term was in dire times and UFAs didn't want to sign here and our drafting had been terrible. OEL has a contract that Arizona had to give him for the sake of their franchise, and because of JB we inherited. But given the value of our Demko, Horvat, and Miller contracts, it kind of evens out. We have some steals. (Kuzmenko, Schenn) Now J.T. Miller has became the gift that keeps on giving. Aside from being the heart and soul of our team for the last 3 years, and keeping us competitive, he has also played himself out of our pay range. And his inevitable trade will lead to youth, prospects, picks and/or younger talent coming back. I encourage a Miller trade for what we expect (1st, prospect, roster player). I encourage a lateral move of Garland for a RHD who is younger like a Marino. I also encourage not feeling the need to overfill our team with new UFAs. We have to give Podkolzin, Kuzmenko and Hoglander larger roles to raise their confidence and value. Above all, I think Canuck fans have to be willing to take a step back this year in order to move forward. We are flushing JB toxins our of our organization and that takes a bit of time. I expect our lineup without Miller to score less and be less dynamic. But if we don't make the playoffs at the end of next year and instead show patience, it will benefit us next year. The 2023 draft will be good and we can sell some assets at the TDL if we feel like we aren't contenders. And that could realistically be a guy like Tyler Myers. He will be a cheaper rental and the final year of his salary (2023-2024) is only $1 million in actual salary. So I believe by playing Myers for the 50 games this year, it will raise his value by the trade deadline. All the while our younger talent will have opportunities to get more experience and develop defined roles on the team.

I don't think Sanheim is the type of defenceman we need. First, he is another LHD left handed defenceman. Secondly, any defenceman we would get from the Flyers lineup will be on an all-time confidence low after the previous two seasons. Kind of like OEL leaving Arizona. Thirdly, really non-physical defenceman. Less than half a hit per game over 80 games. And he plays 23 minutes a game. I don't see him making any space for Hughes. Frost was drafted high but has been trending downward with the AHL Phantoms. And I'd rather have the Flyers 2022 1st so we could draft Nemec or Jiricek. So while I think the formula is right (1st, Top 4 D, and prospect), I think the only asset I would ever want from Philly right now is a high draft pick or Konecny with some cap retention. Right idea, wrong team for me. But that's just my two cents.

I don't understand the interest in Domi. Undersized and on a pretty severe downward trajectory. Even in the playoffs, except for one Game 7 against Boston, he was inconsequential. I'd much rather have Trocheck who brings grit, agitation, and a nose for the net. Trocheck makes a difference in a game even if he isn't scoring. Pettersson, Horvat, and Trocheck as your top 3 interchangeable centres would be pretty awesome.

I do want to give space for Kuzmenko and Hoglander to have a larger role and that is why I have no real desire to get Kapanen. Maybe that is why I went for the 1 for 1 hockey trade. The real prize for me would be Iorio as a RHD prospect who could be given time to develop while Marino plays with Hughes. Add the other pick from Washington and I think we are sitting pretty. I still think Myers, and OEL for that matter, become easier to trade next year, when their actual salary (not AAV obviously) goes down. I would rather not include the assets needed to trade them this year. But if it could be done then I'm all for it. Then you could go the Manson/Gudas route. Am I crazy in thinking that Washington has become our most realistically solid trade partner given their immediate needs and ours? For me, Iorio is the long term treasure.

So far, I have been very pleased with the moves made by the new management group. Everything from the limited leaks, to the confidence of the all-access videos, to the relative sense of calm in Canuck nation. I think Allvin and Co. are even having a calming effect on the CDC for the most part. Given the direction I think we are going in, I would still like to think we have a few key moves to make. These are ones that I expect, and am not hoping for. Trade 1: Big Splash J.T. Miller (with 50% retained as its only one season and will up his trade value) 4th Round Pick to Washington for: Connor McMichael (our long term centre replacement, behind Pettersson and Horvat) Vincent Iorio (big solid RHD and a future prospect for the pipeline) 2022 1st Round Pick 2023 3rd Round Pick Why Washington Makes the Move: Remember when Sami Sosa and Mark McGuire grabbed the attention of all of North America for that summer in the late 90s? The Washington Capitals, and their franchise must finish what they started with Ovechkin, and his race to Gretzky. Aside from validating their financial commitment to the player, it will be a huge revenue creator for the franchise. The countdown will be front page especially as he gets closer. J.T. Miller is a consistent, durable player who will either create space for Ovechkin, or have space of his own. It's a good match up. And as I said, the next few years are dedicated to getting Ovechkin to that record. Trade 2: [1 for 1 Hockey Trade]: Option A and B Option A: Conor Garland to Pittsburgh: John Marino Why Pittsburgh Makes the Move: Two affordable contracts being traded for each other to help with a positional need. Garland could excel in the Top 9, and Crosby could help make that contract even more of a bargain. Vancouver gets a young RHD to play with Hughes, until Iorio is ready to step into that spot. Option B: Pearson/Dickenson + To Florida: Radko Gudas Why Florida Makes the Move: Florida has a size issue. Their forwards whizzed around the ice in the regular season, but in the playoffs got pushed around and were rendered ineffective. Having a big body like Pearson could help in their middle 6. But largely, it will be our plus (prospect or mid pick) that will make this trade happen. Gudas will protect the hell out of Quinn Hughes. It is amazing how much space that man creates. And his contract would be affordable too. Move 3: One of the Following UFAs 1) If Miller is moved: Vincent Trocheck for 5 years X 6 Million: Sandpaper, Grit, Nose for the Net, Shows up on the scoresheet in multiple ways, will be 3 million less than Miller 2) If he is available: Josh Manson: 3 years X 4.75 Million: I don't know what gymnastics are necessary, but I think Colorado resigns Kuemper, Burakovsky, and Nichushkin, and has to let Manson and Kadri go. 3) If he is available: Frank Vatrano: 2 years X 2.75 Million: Feisty, Speedy, Timely goal scorer, improves team speed, quickly gains chemistry with new linemates Remember, I don't believe we can do all of these. Only one. So I ranked them in order of helpfulness to the team. If Miller is not moved, then Manson becomes the top free agent. 2022-2023 Opening Night Roster Podkolzin - Pettersson - Boeser Hoglander - Horvat - Kuzmenko McMichael - Trocheck - Dickenson/Pearson Highmore - Lammikko - Lockwood Hughes - Marino OEL - Myers Rathbone - Schenn Dermott Now in the Pipeline: Canucks add 15th picks, Washington's 20th Pick, Washington's 3rd Vincent Iorio I kind of think of this as a greatest hit collection from the last few months. I think it gets us younger, tougher, and allows to have more assets moving forward. I would use the 15th and 20th picks to draft a defenceman and a LW.

Thanks for sharing Brilac. I agree about the difficulty of adding a new team out of circumstance or proximity. The same way I will never be a Vancouver resident who just cheers for the Seahawks because they are close. I have always had one team in each conference that I cheer for. Vancouver in the West, and Philadelphia in the East. I think I started cheering for the Flyers just because when I was a kid, they were the first team that stood out for having a distinct identity as a franchise. I also love their logo and fan base. Perhaps I wish Vancouver had more vocal fans as well. Who knows.

They Benched McDavid [Small].m4v The Setup I'm a teacher up in the Northwest Territories but North Vancouver is my hometown. I contacted my friend Paul, who is from Edmonton. He is an Oilers Fan. I am a Canuck fan. We decided we would go to the game with ridiculous posters and try and entertain the crowd at Rogers Place. I was also hoping to go 2 for 2 as a road fan. I also saw the Canucks win in Phoenix when they were still the Phoenix Coyotes. The Short Film While not completely hockey related, this is a video about being a road fan. I must compliment the many Oilers fans I met along the way who were great sports, enthusiastic and really generous. Leaving the stadium, Paul and I felt like mini-celebrities, posing for pictures from fans of both teams like it was prom night. Edmonton was a really welcoming and hospitable city, and I never felt anything but competitive love from the Edmonton locals. What has been your experience being a road fan?

Is it just me or does Sam Lafferty look like a J.T. Miller clone with no beard, moustache or messy hair in this photo? They could be older and younger brothers.

I agree with what one of the posts said about the Minnesota 2nd/3rd line. I think Foligno, Greenway, and Hartman have the potential to give our defense a lot of physical pain. Unfortunately, Minnesota is one of those teams I always have doubts playing in Vancouver. And unlike before, they seem to have a different and more exciting identity now. Still, they are pretty much the last team I want to play in my home opener. I predict a chippy and physical 2-1 Wild victory, with some missed opportunities on some of our best scoring chances. But of course, I hope I am wrong. I also hope that the Canucks give our returning team a warm welcome after their 3-2-1 roadtrip. Watching from the NWT! Go Nucks!

I'm not sure if this is where we put predictions, but I'm going to give it a shot. Vancouver will go up 1-0, on a grinder of a goal from our bottom six. Then the Canucks and Oilers top lines will exchange goals, but overall, the road team will outplay the home team, much like Pittsburgh outworked and outplayed Tampa last night. Unfortunately at the end of the 2nd period, Edmonton will get the home calls they always get, and score on a Powerplay with less than 2 minutes left in the 2nd Period. Much like the Coleman goal in the Stanley Cup Final, this will be a goal the Canucks may not come back from. I predict the Canucks will lose 5-2, even though they outplayed the Oilers for a majority of the game. I'm very much hoping I am wrong. Mica [Prediction Record 0-0] p.s. I attached a photo of the Northern Lights from outside my house last night. They will be out tonight. Canuck game on my TV, Northern Lights outside. Life is good.

Whoa. I managed to predict the Quinn Hughes deal on my first ever CDC post back on September 23rd, so I got to go with my gut once again. I think the number will not match with either number. I believe that they will "sign" Pettersson first at 11:11am, followed by Hughes because he made the longer commitment in years. I think the Canuck media team will want to give enough time for the national media to praise the moves, and ultimately Vancouver's glorious off-season. *Knock on wood,* if this team performs as it can, I can see Jim Benning as the early favourite for GM of the Year. I wanted to add that I appreciate the Canucks allowing the media cycle to focus on Indigenous reconciliation on this day. I'm from North Vancouver, but I live and teach up in an Indigenous community in the NWT. My younger brother and I left our phones behind today to walk on the land, and acknowledge the territory. It was really peaceful, and I wasn't thinking about hockey at all. I returned to about 10 texts from friends. Funny how that works. Today is an important day.

Whoa. I managed to predict the Quinn Hughes deal on my first ever CDC post back on September 23rd, so I got to go with my gut once again. I think the number will not match with either number. I believe that they will "sign" Pettersson first at 11:11am, followed by Hughes because he made the longer commitment in years. I think the Canuck media team will want to give enough time for the national media to praise the moves, and ultimately Vancouver's glorious off-season. *Knock on wood,* if this team performs as it can, I can see Jim Benning as the early favourite for GM of the Year. I wanted to add that I appreciate the Canucks allowing the media cycle to focus on Indigenous reconciliation on this day. I'm from North Vancouver, but I live and teach up in an Indigenous community in the NWT. My younger brother and I left our phones behind today to walk on the land, and acknowledge the territory. It was really peaceful, and I wasn't thinking about hockey at all. I returned to about 10 texts from friends. Funny how that works. Today is an important day.

People are excited about the Toronto Maple Leafs documentary, "All or Nothing," for the same access that the 'Road to the Winter Classic' gave us. Honestly, I would pay to be a fly on the wall in the Jim Benning-JP Barry contract negotiations. It would be fascinating to compare and contrast their numbers, with the numbers we are speculating. Regarding the supposed 5 year X 8.25 deal. Honestly, I would take it. Who was the last Canuck drafted that signed for five years? Wasn't it Henrik and Daniel? As another post said, you cannot force someone to want to play for you. That is true. However, you can create a winning culture that makes star players take less at a chance to win (see Taylor Hall in Boston). I believe if we have the ability to sign Pettersson for 5 years, and QH at a bridge, that is a victory. Just not the same amount of years please. If Vancouver is a top-flight team in 4 years time, you present that argument to EP at the time. But neither the team, the player, or the fan base can predict where Vancouver would be in that time. Thus the player wants to control his own destiny to a degree. I don't blame him. If signed a 5 year deal, that's still 8 years dedicated to Vancouver. For me, this is all about Pettersson. When he agrees to something, Hughes will follow. I believe in Jim Benning.

I have just read 204 pages of comments regarding the RFA contracts of Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. I am a lifelong Canuck fan, and I have been reading the CDC for over a decade. I have never written anything myself, because I enjoy using this virtual space as a general barometer of how the fanbase is doing. Right now, I am a Grade 9 teacher in the NWT, but a beautiful Canuck jersey sits in the middle of my classroom. (Much to the anger of my Oiler-supporting students) I have never been more excited for a season of Canucks hockey. I'm sure it is partly due to our slow emergence from COVID-19, and NHL hockey definitely represents that sense of normalcy. I wanted to follow this thread because it has been on my mind. Pettersson and Hughes, in my opinion, are the first superstars we have had in over 25 years. I love Naslund, Linden, and the Sedins, but to me, those guys were local heroes. EP and QH are superstars. After the bubble, I made this picture to celebrate the players on the team that really inspired me. For me, my number #1 guy is actually J.T. Miller. If I got a number and name on my jersey, it would be #9. He plays with emotion and joy and frustration, which is something that has always been lacking for me in this organization. But I must be clear. The short and long-term future of our team is dramatically effected by these matching RFA contracts. I am going to list a few things that I have learned or observed over 204 pages. 1) I believe that Kyle Dubas has changed the RFA market forever. There's no going back. And unlike TB and NYI, where they have cultures where star players will take less money in exchange for team success, we have no such culture here. At least, not currently. Hughes and Pettersson are so important to our team, and everyone knows it. I can only name a handful of teams that have two players that are even more important to their teams. 2) What I think they should get and what they will get, are both irrelevant numbers. Kaprisov changed the market with his $9m X 5 deal. He has played only 60 NHL games. Dahlin brought it back to Earth with 6m X 3. Let's be honest. Both of these deals are a risk and an equation. Perceived skill multiplied by perceived potential. Both Hughes and Pettersson have higher ceilings than Kaprisov and Dahlin. I predict that Pettersson will signed 8.25 X 3 years and Hughes will be 6 years at 7.75. It is backwards. Elias Pettersson is the sure thing, but potential is a commodity to which risk is attached. Hughes is currently at a confidence low, and Pettersson is willing to bet on himself. I'm not surprised EP is reading The Mindful Athlete. 3) In general, I am really disappointed in the rapid shift of Canuck fans and their opinions on these RFAs. At least how it is represented on these boards. Don't get me wrong. We are all fans, and we all have committed parts of ourselves to this team. But I think we should also know that everyone of these players, whether we like it or not, have committed much more. They have trained for many years to become the elite of their sport. They have left their homes and families, and they have all committed to varying degrees to our city. If I were a young person, especially in times as uncertain as this, I would be fighting for financial and career security as well. 4) The concept of greed, shouldn't apply in the same way with professional sport. I have read a lot of people speaking of greedy agents and players. The truth is this. Players create the supply, and we create the demand. We demand success. We also expect professional athletes to try and see things the way we do. To us, this is a passion project. To Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes it is their job, their career and their livelihood. It just happens to be a job and position that millions of unrelated people also care passionately about. Let's think about greed. Are people writing 204 pages of messages to Canadian senators who have huge salaries considering how little they work? Their jobs were given to them, and still they do so little. Their jobs have a tangible effect on our lives every day, and we care little for their actual greed and underwhelming performance. Their effort is minimal, their sacrifice non-existent. NHLers are the best hockey players in the world. Not only do they excel at their sport, but they excel at motivating, inspiring, and frustrating the fans that follow them. If you consider the overall impact they have on our society, I think they are still underpaid, but that is just me. 5) I love the team that Benning has put together while EP and QH hold out. Benning is in a no-win situation. If he tries to improve the team, he should have waited. Instead of signing competitive players while Pettersson was talking on Swedish radio about 'winning culture,' JB should have signed EP and QH first. If that were the case, we would still have Roussel, Beagle, and the empty-netter specialist. 6) In a sense, I consider my role as a teacher in a classroom to be similar to an NHL GM. Let's say the parents are the fans. The school administration are the refs. The education minister is Gary Bettman. And the students are the players. There is no perfect way to teach a classroom. There are egos at play, and emotions usually run wild. Every student plays different roles in the room, and subsequently, each have different needs and wants. Some will behave in a way that benefits the class, while others make selfish decisions. But they are all part of the classroom. And I have no choice but to accept that I have to make it work the best I can. I think we all have to understand that Jim Benning is making decisions that he thinks are best for the collective whole. These relationships don't work in a vacuum; each decision has an effect. But whether you agree with him or not, he is trying to create a competitive team. Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes are two of the most exciting players we have ever had. I think we have to support them and show some loyalty. While they have been here, they have made me proud. I think the same goes Benning. We should certainly hold him accountable, and voice our displeasure. But once again, the reactionary nature of our fanbase towards our players mirrors our relationship with our GM. In my mind, our team is nothing without his drafting team. I won't pick and choose what I like and don't like. Overall, since he arrived, our team has become better at selecting players and developing. The operative word here is better. 6) One positive shutout. In the 204-page message board, I believe one fan best represents what I hope a Canuck fan would be -DLC-. I appreciate how she balances high expectations of her team with a supportive loyalty understanding that she is writing about human beings. I think these are excellent qualities for a fan to have, and I wanted to let her know that I value her opinion. Thank you for reading this if you had. If it you haven't, that's okay too. Thanks for giving me so much to read and so much to think about.