FireGillis

Jimmy Vesey says hello! http://www.theplayerstribune.com/jimmy-vesey-harvard-hockey/

The tank sure doesn't need him!

The reasons you listed are just the smokescreen reasons he will give if he goes back to school because nobody really says they do it because they want to be a ufa even though that's the real goal. The exclusive negotiating window isn't a big factor because it's not long enough where the player isn't better off to just let that window pass and become a ufa.

The only logical reason why Demko would return to school is because he wants to become a UFA. If he goes back, then unless the canucks can convince him to sign mid season and leave school, he'll just finish school and become a free agent because there's no downside. He could still sign with the canucks if he wanted to, but now would also be able to talk to every team. I think he'll sign with the canucks this summer because this is one of the best spots for him. There's no carey price or lundqvist blocking him for years, so his path to being number 1 won't be as hard compared to other teams.

Why do people attribute a player electing to becoming a free agent with lacking character or integrity? It's a college player's right to hit UFA if he finishes school and shouldn't be a negative mark on his character or integrity. If demko chooses to hit UFA I won't hold it against him. However, I do think this loophole should be closed, but since it exists, a college player is free to use it. It doesn't come up a ton though since if you're a sure fire NHL player, you're not going to sacrifice years of an NHL salary to finish school, so you can be a UFA. Just like eichel teased about going back for his 2nd year, but he was never going to delay his NHL career.

But then Button hated virtanen last year and ranked him 43rd! So if you want to trust button you have to hope he's wrong on virtanen.

So you don't care when our draft picks end up as busts? Hasn't everyone constantly been complaining about the canucks draft history? Didn't think there were fans who were so ho hum about failed draft picks and don't care or expect better.

Eh? We didn't draft virtanen to be a bottom 6 player like kennis. It's not good if he ends up as just a bottom 6 forward. Not sure why you would be happy about that.

I'm not sure why you use a strawhat man argument that if benning wanted a franchise guy he'd get mcdavid. That was never a realistic possibility. Neither were any of the players drafted ahead of virtanen since they were gone by the time we picked. The nylander, ehlers and virtanen comparison is fair since all 3 we had a shot at. I'm glad to see you've already judged nylander and ehlers to be not elite or stars considering they haven't played 1 nhl game yet, while on the other hand you have already declared virtanen better and a star when he hasn't played 1 nhl game either. I've lost some faith in benning since the sbisa signing so am not as enthusiastic about his judging of talent skills as you are anymore. I bought the benning hype when he was hired, but some of that shine has come off after this season. Like I said, I'm praying virtanen pans out because it would just hurt so much to have a pick that high bust on us and would just be typical canucks luck. Last year once we got eliminated from the playoffs was the first time I've ever cheered for tanking and it took a miracle for the canucks to move from 10th to 6th in the draft in the last 2 weeks. Took some losses by us and some miracle wins by bottom teams especially by carolina on the last day of the season to launch us into 6th. I was so happy that in a crappy year with torts, we at least achieved a consolation prize with a top pick. I did want nylander first, then ehlers and my heart sank when virtanen's name was called, so I'm hoping Virtanen proves me wrong and becomes a stud for us.

I disagree with that. At the time of the draft the canucks offensive output looked bleak being one of the lowest scoring teams in the league. This team desperately needed potential top 6 scorers and it was our biggest need. We also had no offensive studs waiting in the wings for when the sedins retired. I still think nylander or ehlers were the better pick and I hope virtanen proves me wrong, but he's got to start putting up points eventually. Nylander already had 32 points in 37 AHL games this year and looks like the stud he was projected to be. Virtanen right now still has people making excuses for his play. I'm praying virtanen pans out because to have the canucks highest pick since the sedins bust would just be so canucks luck for them.

Sven is going to be great next year! I just wish willie played him more in the playoffs as we might have beat calgary if he did, but willie had to bury him with like only 10 mins of ice time.

I don't believe any of these cocky/bad attitude hockey stories because we all know out of all the major sports hockey players have the best class and are saints! Hockey players are routinely thought of as the most respectful and classy athletes in the world compared to other sports!

Do you think the coaches have time to spend with two players who won't play in the middle of a playoff run? I dunno. I figure the coaches would be spending all their time with active players so they can win in the playoffs. Seems more wishful thinking to me. The players are there to get some pro experience but I just don't think the coaches will have much one on one time for them in the middle of a playoff run. Don't think it would be effective use of the coaches time during the playoffs.

I agree. When I hear the term nice hands I think of dangles. If someone has a nice quick release then you say he has a nice shot, not nice hands.

Just like johnny hockey is getting crushed in the west or patrick kane? Skill wins out in the end and nylander has a ton of it. I know people want to try to ignore nylander, but he's going to be forever linked to virtanen now. How many of you guys complained about the canucks awful drafting in the past and hated on gillis picks, ron delorme, etc and then pronounced benning as god for his picks this year? It's fair game to criticize this pick if nylander ends up a star and virtanen a bust. I really hope virtanen pans out cause wasting such a high pick would be devastating to our rebuild.

I agree. That poster isn't trolling at all and is giving well thought out and reasoned points to back up his claim. I agree with a lot of what he says. I wanted nylander too and am praying virtanen isn't the next Taylor pyatt.

I'm just glad teams passed on him when he was on waivers. Some teams were very dumb to do so like Dallas cause lindback is awful. This is why I thought the miller signing was unnecessary and we should have rolled with a lack/Markstrom combo. Miller is going to be untradeable with his no trade clause and I fear the canucks may trade lack instead like they did with Schneider.

Remains to be seen. Nylander has the higher ceiling and if he reaches it, he's got star potential. I'm praying the virtanen pick turns out otherwise it'll be another wasted draft pick. I was one of those upset we passed on nylander and ehlers. Nylander is currently dominating the SHL right now and is the league's best player according to some people. That's why I hope virtanen pans out. Their fates are going to be tied together for a while especially since toronto drafted nylander. Hope this turns out better than bourdon over kopitar.

Glad to see he's off to a good start. I didn't want him, so I hope he pans out because nylander is looking dominant right now in the SHL.

Sad to see he never panned out. I was hyped as hell when he dropped and luongo called out his name. Thought we had the steal of the draft despite his size. I now pass on my hopes I had for schroeder onto shinkaruk now! Don't let me down hunter!

Because cam ward is terrible these days! I don't want any of ward, miller, hiller, niemi, etc. I believe in lack and if they don't trust markstrom, then get a veteran backup not a goalie who wants to be a number 1 still.

I'm going to puke if we land miller because I've never liked him and always thought he was overrated. Also, I believe in eddie lack! However, if we do land miller, I expect lack to beat out miller which would then lead to miller pouting if he starts getting benched in favour of lack. Just a bad scenario all around which should be avoided.

True, but if you finish dead last, you're guaranteed eichel if you miss out on mcdavid. Both of them are projected as franchise players a step above the rest of the draft class in a very strong draft year. Even getting a top 5 pick next year can get you a franchise player, that's how strong the 2015 draft is. The best thing for this franchise is getting a top 5 pick next year.

They took him to the keg and then to the roxy.

Huh, lack is our future permanent starter.