VegasCanuck

Exactly!

I think Jared Hauf may disagree with you! Bigger player that Virtanen threw over the bench: Link: Hauf = 6'5" 223 lbs Virtanen = 6'1" 205 lbs

Looking forward to seeing how he measures up in Camp. I think he was pretty good on the PTO in Utica. I would expect him to have a full time gig there for next season.

Thanks, had missed that.

There was no reason to keep him there. We have 9 D still with the team and if it was really necessary, we could always send them Cederholm or Subban if the injury bug really struck. I believe he will be signed to a regular contract by the team and that he will be at camp in September. I don't have any proof of this, just gut feeling that they won't let him walk and are probably working on a regular contract for him. PTO was just a stop gap measure to see how he could perform in a professional league.

I think if you put Cassels - Gaunce and a experience S#$t disturber like Dorsett on the right wing, you'd have a lineup that no one would want to play against.

I think one more summer of working on foot speed for his first few steps and he'll be about ready to break into the lineup. Have always been really high on Gaunce as a prospect as well. Was impressed with his eye, hand coordination in camp and had generally good cruising speed. Just needed to get a little faster out of the gate and maybe be a little more physically aggressive along the boards. Hope he gets a look for 4th line winger in September!

I get the impression McCann is pretty happy with the team he landed with, just not how far he fell in the draft. I think he has a chip on his shoulder about that and is motivated to prove the other 23 teams that passed on him, wrong. That's not a bad thing!

Miller is still a really good goalie. There's nothing wrong with him, he has good attitude and seems to be a really good mentor for younger goalie's. Unless there's a big surprise when then announce the cap for next year (like it goes to 73 million or something), I don't see how we fit everyone in and I think Miller is the most likely guy to go.

Not going to say he was exceptional while here, but I thought he was generally pretty good. Had a few games where he seemed to collapse, but that happens to all goalies. He has a lot of experience, and I'd never tell you that I think we'd really get a first for him, but I personally think we need to find a way to move him out for cap space. I don't think cap is going to grow this year, the way it was projected to when we signed him.

I think Miller is going to be on the market due to cap space, I don't believe that Lack is. Howard is locked up with Detroit for the next few years, I don't think they are going to jump to move him Hiller has one more year in Calgary and there's no guarantee that they can resign Ramo Riemer has one more year and its anyone's guess what the Laughs are doing there. Ward has another year left in Carolina, they have been talking about making a change there for awhile but nothing has happened Lehner has one more year in Ottawa and I think they like their depth. Their recent addition will likely get a full year on the farm before he is asked to start playing in the NHL. That's not to say that there isn't always some available, I think anyone is movable if the deal is right.

Miller and Higgins and a 6th for 21st overall? Not that I want to get rid of Higgins, he has a good cap hit and is generally effective for the spend, but that would provide the youth of Buffalo with some really solid experience to mentor them. Might really help Buffalo develop a young goalie the way that Miller has undoubtedly helped mentor Lack.

Seriously, Buffalo I think would be a good trading partner for us for an NHL ready goalie. Edmonton doesn't have a lot of depth for NHL ready goalies and could be willing to make a move. Even though Arizona has invested in Smith, after his results this year, they may be second guessing that decision and might be interested in more depth and security if he falters again next year. Nice write up. Not sure if we could pry a 1st away for just either Lack, Markstrom or Miller, but it would be interesting to see what type of deal Benning could swing by adding something else on our side to make everything work.

Miller to Buffalo for the 21st overall!!!

Really hard to say. I think the only way either McCann or Virtanen get in is really if there's injury. With our depth down center, I can't see McCann getting a shot. If there's injury on the right side, or if Green decides that he just needs to increase speed down the right, I think Virtanen may get a chance to show that he can play in the AHL. Time will tell!

Virtanen might actually get a little work in the playoffs in Utica. Where he has the advantage to slip into the lineup is based on the fact that we are really kind of weak down the right side. Much higher chance he will draw in due to injury or just if Green thinks they could use more speed down the right side.

Never hurts to have the players on the ice looking over their shoulders at who's waiting for an opportunity to get on the ice. Keep everyone motivated!

Have always liked his eye, hand coordination. Could totally see him on the power play, parked in front of the net, making life difficult for everyone.

So, out of interest, who here thinks that Horvat gets sent to Utica for their run?

Markstrom and Mannino ejected for fighting each other. AWESOME!!!

Since I really don't get to see the junior games down here, can someone give me some idea of where he's lining up for Calgary? Which line is he normally on? 1st, 2nd or 3rd?

Have been pretty impressed by him from what I saw last night, but I'd rather he was back in Utica for now, gaining confidence and refining his game. Unless we have injuries that make it necessary, let's wait until camp and see where he fits best.

There's a really good chance that Bieksa retires as a Canuck. When he's out, we miss his physical presence. As much as fans like to go after him, (I guess we always need one that we can pick on) we're a better team when he's in the lineup. Would be completely okay seeing him resign a contract that takes him to end of his career and mentor some of the guys coming up. We need someone to show these kids how to fight and how to be a physical force. Pedan, Tryamkin and Cederholm are the only really physical guys that we have in the defensive pipeline right now. We need someone to instill a little more physicality into the other guys coming up.

If Virtanen is pretty good defensively, would love to see him out killing penalties in future with Horvat. Play Virtanen high up near the blueline against the defensive pairing like they used to do with Bure. What I've noticed with this kid, his acceleration is incredible. May be able to pickup a lot of short handed breakaways.

I've said before, Gillis had faults, but generally (other than a certain 2nd round pick), drafted pretty well and did a pretty reasonable job of finding free agents. It was some of his other skills that were lacking.