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kilgore

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Everything posted by kilgore

  1. Some nights are worse than others. Probably depends on other events, and humidity in the forecast. But still, way too many nights watching the puck bounce around like crazy. Shameful for a Canadian hockey city. Canadian ice makers are supposed to be the best in the world, and should be able to engineer the ice to be more solid and cold for 3 hours.
  2. Folks who haven't reset to the retool yet are just in for more self inflicted pain. The tank dream is dead. At least for this season. I don't know if some are confusing our democratic election system with the NHL And fans with voters. its not a democracy. And the world is not fair. We live in a capitalist society where money rules. And only the very wealthy get to own the sports teams, and decide on how they want to run it. We are simply along for the ride. Now maybe there is a tiny bit of influence in embarrassing an owner if enough fans b@#$# about some aspect of the team, and the media shows pick up on that, and eventually the grumbling gets all the way up to Francesco. But I really don't think we sway the Aquilini's much in how they spend their money. For the most part, we have to go along with the owners vision. We've had to for all of Bennings disastrous torturous years while he ran around trying to bandaid the team for Francesco every Summer. We are still working with the same plan that Frank had for JB in 2014. But there is a big difference. Firstly we have competent experienced managers and coaches. We have bonified stars ready to break out, and actual good veteran signings lately. This retool has a real chance of getting us to the dance. We now have a legit top RHD. Yes it probably will be a one and done team as we will have no futures to build from, but hopefully we can get near the top of the league with Petey and Hughes, and Miller and Demko, for a few years before it all comes crashing down. A proper rebuild there would be more chance to build something sustainable, with a farm bursting at the seams. But with a well engineered retool, we can still get to contender status, even if its temporary. But if it works it will be quicker. Whatever it yields, we have to cheer it on and hope it works don't we? Even if it means winning more games down the stretch than is good for us draft wise. What else can the Canucks proletariat do?
  3. I think that is a real possibility, if Canucks at least get some kind of prospect and/or pick back too. But it means we gave up a top ten first, and second round pick to get OEL, and then gave up another top ten first a couple years later to get rid of him. I still don't understand what JB saw in OEL that he tripped over himself for two off seasons to try and get him here at any price. To the point he was so busy working on OEL's triumphant splash into Vancouver that he was ignoring Tanev's, Stecher's and Tofolli's agents calls. I can only imagine Jimbo sitting back once the deal was done with a giant cheshire cat grin thinking he'd out-wit the Phoenix GM into giving up a prime #1 top D, for a mere 1st and 2nd, and who only needed a change in scenery to shed 10 years, and re-emerge as a stud top 2....(at least that's what his agent kept telling him with a straight face). No need to actually look at his numbers declining every year.
  4. I'd say Miller is the best we have as far as speaking to the media. He doesn't seem to mind it and will wax on with honest evaluations. Petey still struggles a bit with English and saying exactly what he wants to, and won't speak more than a minimum he has to because of that. He just seems uncomfortable to take on the Captain role just yet. It does seem like it would be more of a distraction for Petey vs JT.
  5. Who the heck paints his face up to go to a mid season game in a visitor building for a team who plays thousands of miles away? Oh right Laffs fans.
  6. I was being a little facetious ie.....I understand why JR/A jumped on the deal for Hronek now. I admire the boldness and opportunism. Not complaining. We haven't had this quality a RHD for a long time. Just lamenting though and laughing how it all follows natural Canuck Luck that because of getting him now, he will help us move down in the draft.
  7. Another thing different from the previous regime. Perhaps JR/PA rush moves, but at least they don't "run out of time" like JB. And lose a player they want to keep or to trade for. I too am a little leary of making these kinds of cap absorbing decisions now. When there traditionally will be more choices opening up in the Summer. But on the other hand, maybe that is the way to do it. Be more opportunistic. The deal for Hronek came up now. Perhaps later more teams would be in on the bidding. Or he'd not be available anymore. I sounds like it was a proactive inquiry. I like to hear that. I'm the wrong person to talk to about Miller, as I liked the re-signing. I guess we will have to wait until it plays out next season if both the Hronek acquisition and Miller playing with his new big contract, will pan out. But you have to admire at least management not sitting on their hands when they see an opportunity like Hronek. Or even Miller, it seems like when Miller's camp seemed willing to accept a fair deal, they jumped on it. Because deep down they put Miller > Bo. And frankly I agreed with that too. Even just that we need a culture change and Bo being the Captain, his leaving would trigger the most towards that.
  8. And soon Hronek will join the teams push to get down to at least the 11th spot in the draft. JR/PA just HAD to find a decent RHD now instead of the Summer.
  9. Its perpetually entertaining to hear Drance give his two cents on some guest spot, or in an article. And a poster here writing and saying pretty well the exact same criticisms of the team. And in the next post the same poster blasts Drance as an idiot.
  10. "Then there's the strategy of targeting prospects and young players instead of picks. A strat that, again, we've already seen." "But still, most of the stuff we're seeing now just looks like a continuation of what we were doing under Benning. I want to be hopeful, but we've seen this movie before." I think the proof will be in the pudding. We are so used to failure from Bennings and Frank doing the same thing over and over for almost a decade and expecting a different result each time, that we think a retool is INSANE. But one key factor in it working is the personnel in charge. I don't think there is anyone who could do a worse job than Benning at a retool. And maybe that was part of the problem, Aquilinis hired someone better known for develop through the draft to do a veteran heavy retool. So even if JR, Alvin and the chipmunks are just average, I'd put their chances way ahead of Benning and Weisbrod. Have they made mistakes? Sure. But they quickly admit and correct them (Stillman). Their pro scouting is light years ahead of JB and company. Which is key for a successful retool. They have slowly chipped away, and added pieces that are most beneficial to becoming a team that can play with the best. The only black eye that landed from the Bruce Boudreau firing was on the media. Making it out to be more than it was. Tocchet had to give two weeks notice in his job at TNT. Would it really have made a difference to let BB go then and coach with an assistant coach for two weeks? BB was happy to coach as long as he could. He made millions doing what he loved best in playing and coaching. He's a big boy in a cut throat business. And I don't think there has been any coach in the history of the NHL that has had a more emotional, supportive, celebratory sendoff than Bruce in his final game. So no, I don't feel sorry for him at all. If anyone it was the owner's fault for hiring him before a GM in the first place. It was always a messy situation. I think its fair to say that with Demko seeming to be at his former self again, and Petey playing at his hungriest, no key injuries left, we will once again finish closer to the mushy middle than we are now, a good chance even out of the top ten. Too bad but that's reality. The sooner fans let go of Bedard the better for their sanity. If we end up in the 10th spot, beat the odds, and miraculously land Bedard....Fantastic!!! But I'm operating now with the assumption Canuck Luck will go on as usual. There is nothing we can do about it now. Its a RETOOL folks. And whether you agree with it or not, its happening. If the Miller, Boeser, Mikheyev, Kuzmenko, signings didn't convince you, the acquisition of Hronek for another first and second should seal it. So IMO, as a fan, I have got to want it to work. And so far, with the new additions, and the new systems being taught, I have high hopes that a JR retool can work. For no other reason than it has to now. So celebrate the improvements as they come. I look at it this way, if they are so good, if the chemistry comes together so well, that they screw up their chance at Bedard, it also bodes very well for next season. Conversely, if they stink for the rest of the season, just can't manage to improve on any aspect, are still allowing multiple goals against etc...then I will be a little depressed about just how much better we can actually improve over the Summer. But the bonus there will be a higher pick. Gotta look at the silver linings.
  11. Say goodbye to Bedard Embrace the Retool The sooner fans accept this, the sooner we move on
  12. Whats really bizarre about your opinion is that you seem to think your fellow Canuck fans are capable of stopping the tank's progress, and are confused as to why we would choose to use that power at this moment. And if its not the case then what exactly can't we keep doing? And more importantly, what do we have to do to help them not win so we can get the prize from North Vancouver? Inquiring minds want to know.
  13. I see no one has yet had the bright idea to actually point a mic towards the reporters so we can actually hear the questions.
  14. Well, he's the GM, the buck stops with him. So no, I don't give him any slack for that. The Sedins are not pro scouts. But I too am uneasy about their influence on management. And you are probably right that they pushed for Eriksson and for OEL. Trying to get their fellow countrymen jobs. Quiet, well mannered Swedes mailing it in, need only apply. Just what we need more of.
  15. I think you nailed it. It was Benning's arrogance that did him in. The Smartest Man in the Room syndrome. His gosh shucks personality masked it well. Anyone who dared embarrass him by sounding more logical, more prudent, more realistic than he was, or upstaged him like Brackett, was fired. And one of the biggest example of the arrogance was his belief that he was such a great draft genius, he didn't need prospects from past the first round to try and develop. They were basically useless. coughDatsyukcough No good players are found past that, in his opinion, so he could deplete the farm of anyone but his sure bet top picks like Virtanen and Joulevi. The two top ten picks he reportedly insisted on. https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/courier-archive/news/jim-benning-wont-trade-draft-picks-but-also-downplayed-acquiring-them-3092735 There was one quote, however, that had some fans sit up and take notice. “The numbers speak for themselves if you go over the history of the draft,” said Benning. “If you’re looking at the top five picks, they have a chance more often than not to become impact players over time. But if you look at the bottom five picks in the first round, some of those guys don’t even play.” Even the bottom five of the first round were not valued much. JB had zero comprehension that the more picks you acquire, the better chance to at the very least fill your bottom 6 needs in-house, and more chances that you find a Demko in the second round for instance. I think Jason Botchford deserves a posthumous apology for being ridiculed for screaming about how wrong headed Benning was managing the team back then and how what we really needed was an army! (of picks)
  16. I just want to say that Burroughs has played such a quiet, efficient way since he was inserted back into the lineup. As soon as Bear went down, who did Tocchet put in to play with him? Burroughs. I love his physicality and his fighting, but I think new coaches have told him to focus more on his defensive play lately, and it shows. He's unnoticable for all the right reasons. He gets to a loose puck fast, and gets rid of it fast, but seems to always find someone to pass it up to...one of our players not one of theirs. That's Myers specialty. I know ultimately Hughes needs a Seabrook type of partner. (or a Tanev) But before we manage to get that, I think Burroughs is a great standin. He is the closest to Schenn's way of playing if Luke does leave.
  17. There isn't much logic to the game of hockey. Its just putting a rubber disk into the other guys goal more than they do to you. And that's all the players and coaches care about. Nothing a fan can do about that.
  18. Only in Canuck Nation. Its been a year and a half folks. Many of you....including me....gave Benning at least 4 or 5 years before we started to grumble. Some here still defend him ffs. The problem on defence Benning left us is near impossible to fix. I don't know why some expected it to be fixed overnight. One clear mistake was the Dickenson cap dump for Stillman, And worse, JRs obvious pressuring BB and RT to play him over Burroughs to save face. I'd put the signings of Boeser and Miller in the "questionable" category. With Boeser, I don't know anyone who was overly upset at the time of the re-signing. Maybe it was all naivety and sympathy, but I think many thought with injuries and his dad's sad story behind him, he was going to have a renaissance year. That's why I'd rate that as questionable rather than bad at the time. Hind sight is 20/20. With Miller, the only sticking point for me is age. And all the ramifications surrounding that factor. I love him as a player, and if it were Bo or him, I'd choose the more passionate one every time. That was why I have more of a problem with JB trading away yet another 1st and 3rd rounder at the time for a player that didn't fit any rebuild timeline. But now that he's here, and Bo's gone, we still need veteran leadership and the deal is fair, so i'm good with Miller. He also is a big part of a new culture we are building. The team will hopefully be able to still take advantage of his passion and skill in the first years of being a contender, knock on wood. The back end of his contract will be a problem but its hardly unique to a lot of FAs. Its almost now accepted that very good players in the middle of their prime, late 20's, you must give them term to include a few years where they will decline. What is hoped is that before that they have performed an important role in the success of the team. (Hopefully a Cup in there) Not sure about giving up on a 6 ft + right hand D prospect in Myrenberg, (and DiPietro) for Studnicka. We don't draft RHD, we just trade them away for some reason. Stud has hardly lived up to that name. The Bruce firing process was fine. Anther media driven "scandal". Its not like BB had a young family and needed job security, and hadn't already built up a nice nest egg and already had a long successful career already. Oooooo they made him coach for two weeks when he knew he was a lame duck. The horror! The Kuzmenko grab was a highlight. Mik is a very good acquisition. Bear was a steal. Horvat's haul was good on surface. Not going to list all the smaller deals already talked about, but they have mostly been good. Chipping away. Doing what he can for now. The important part is that JR has not had to give up hardly any draft picks or good prospects with his moves. Apparently he stuck to his guns in not giving up Hoglander in the Kravtsov trade. So far JR's pro-scouting has been light years ahead of tweedle dee and tweedle dumb. I just think there's a lot of pent up impatience with this fan base. Which is understandable. But unfortunately I think we have a ways to go, and IMO. Its impossible to judge any GM after this short a time, no matter who it is. There's a reason why the firing order is usually first coaches, then players, and finally the GM. It takes years to fully appreciate the work from a GMs/PHOs first years.
  19. I understand what you are getting at. You don't wish for an injury. Only pointing out that IF Petey was out of the lineup......maybe even for personal family reasons....we'd have a way better shot at Bedard. Sometimes injuries are a blessing. Tampa Bay made use of $18 million injury circumvention to win a Cup. I'm not advocating for injury either, but only to point out that some kind of non-major injury, where a player is still 100% healthy for training camp this Fall, to any of our top players, Miller, Hughes, or Petey, or a greater delay in returning Demko, would have an impact on us having a good draft, maybe even an exceptional one. And actually, its a much more honourable way to tank if you just don't have the talent left on the team to compete on an even scale with other teams. As opposed to losing continually with all our top core players healthy. It also doesn't give a lot of hope for next season if we don't have any injury excuses for this season. Demko's injuries early on probably made a huge difference already.
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