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Everything posted by DownUndaCanuck
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The Canucks are starting to look tired. This happens to good young teams in the home stretch, they stop scoring and become leaky on defence. Hughes has been coughing up giveaways for a while now and we ignore it, our forwards have stopped being able to forecheck well and sustain offensive pressure and we're a mess defensively as a 5 man unit. To be honest they look tired and I'm not sure if they can hold on for an 82 game pace. Green is going to have to try and employ something to keep the Canucks from collapsing and slipping out of the playoffs because at this rate we're not going to make it.
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I wonder if he needs another year in the AHL or whether he'll compete for a roster spot next season. It's going to be pretty tight to get onto the Canucks next year, with most of the same faces returning next year, but Lind could be quite an explosive bottom-9 forward for us going forward. I still think he's 1-2 years out but you never know, Gaudette impressed enough to steal ice-time and Lind is progressing so quickly that he may do the same.
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Would be nice to see how his game translates to the NHL, because as we know all too well, Utica success means nothing compared to the NHL. It'll be hard slotting him in to the lineup now unless injuries occur but the games are getting much more intense as well and the big question for Brogan will be his physicality and pace. Lots of young AHL D-men make mistakes at a higher pace and we can't afford any more massive turnovers.
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I do wonder where he'd best slot in, even if he is a late addition in the stretch-run or even in the playoffs (if that's allowed)? Of course if injuries hit then Tryamkin is a top-4 lock but at the moment it's hard to squeeze him in: Edler - Myers Hughes - Tanev Stecher - Benn Depending on how he adjusts, it's tempting to slot him alongside Hughes and bump Tanev down, but of course it's a bit risky. Tryamkin's size would really help Hughes win some puck battles along the boards, which is something Tanev is struggling with a bit more as he gets older (was once one of the best at this). Really depends how he can adjust mid-season, otherwise if he's around next season I'd slot him straight into our top-4 if he's still as good as he can be. He won't be happy on our 3rd pairing or press-box so Green will have his hands full keeping everyone happy.
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Needs to be shut-down for multiple reasons: 1) If you're going to heal a concussion it takes a lot of time. They need to do what they did with Crosby, no hockey for a year and see how he's like after that if he wants to salvage his career 2) Expansion draft is next Summer and Ferland's got a NMC so will have to be protected if he plays the prior 60 games (which I doubt at the moment) so best to keep him on LTIR for the Canucks as well 3) LTIR gives us cap relief for the off-season This isn't just about his health, his future with his family and his financial status, but it's about the team too and there's a win-win solution there. Get him away from hockey for 12 months and re-assess then. They've tried rushing him back, didn't work. They tried "taking their time" and he gets recurrences immediately in Utica. Time to be shut down LONG term. His career isn't necessarily over, but I think they shouldn't even re-assess him until after a year from now. If he wanted to just retire I wouldn't blame him either but either way he should stay well away from a hockey rink for a year. The Canucks aren't necessarily screwed over either because we lose his NMC, cap hit and protection needs at the expansion draft.
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I think the way he's playing now, we have to sign Markstrom and try to trade Demko or at least hope Seattle won't take him. They get to pick 3 goalies and you just know teams are going to be exposing their backups, and Demko is probably the best of the bunch so he'll be gone. However, we'll also be exposing someone like Tanev, possibly (but hopefully not) Pearson and Stecher if they're still around which might be a bit more tempting for Seattle. I really do hope they take an ageing veteran like Tanev, the way Vegas took Sbisa, to kick-start their veteran leadership group, and leave us with Marky and Demko in the future going forward. Finally we get a nice 3-tier goalie group with no controversy and the ED comes in place. We can only hope if we expose a juicy player that they'll leave Demko alone...
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[Proposal] Gaudette for Ristolainen
DownUndaCanuck replied to Kanukfanatic's topic in Proposals and Armchair GM'ing
Considering how much Gaudette has grown over just his rookie season, I'd consider him a wild-card and untouchable at this point. Ristolainen is great, no doubt about it, but Gaudette is playing around 10 minutes a game scoring at a torrid pace and scoring clutch goals. We traded Grabner away far too soon for Ballard and look what happened there, and I've got a feeling Gaudette is going to be the same type of player - fast, skilled, tough at times but can score big goals for us. This kids potential right now is too high to be trading away until we know what he can bring. Green loves him too, he plays the right way and could easily be a 20-30 goal scorer for us next year. I'd sit tight on Gaudette for now, he's one of the leagues best kept secrets. -
[Proposal] Tyler Toffoli and Wayne Simmonds
DownUndaCanuck replied to Pears's topic in Proposals and Armchair GM'ing
I've always liked Toffoli, he's always played his best against the Canucks but has had some quiet seasons after his big 30 goals. This year on pace for about 25-30 which is nice on a struggling team, he's going to command a lot of return though. I wouldn't bother with SImmonds, just give LAK Stecher + Baertschi +/- 3rd for Toffoli. Slots right alongside Pearson and Bo for one of the better 2nd lines in the league, or he can play on our top line. Another player we need to protect in the ED though, but he'd be worth it. -
I think SJS is going to get a lot for Dillon, so I'd be tempted to just give Stecher + Baertschi for Dillon and perhaps a 3rd rounder if they want to sweeten it up a bit. Stecher has been solid for us though and I've seen Dillon make some stupid mistakes this season, but his toughness would be great on this team. Benn is the only defenceman throwing hits lately and while I'm sure this will change in the playoffs, it would be nice to have a bruiser in a top-4.
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Seattle Expansion Draft - Who do the Canucks protect?
DownUndaCanuck replied to lukchin's topic in Canucks Talk
Incredible how much this thread has changed since it was started, but it's going to change again over the next 12 months. At the moment though, I'd be protecting: 1) Eriksson (because we have to, unless we somehow find a way to trade him) 2) Horvat 3) JT Miller 4) Pettersson 5) Edler (NMC) 6) Myers (NMC) 7) Boeser 8) Last spot up for grabs - I would take Pearson at this point in time and leave Stecher and Tanev exposed who they will likely gobble up 9) Goalie - I'd keep Markstrom because he'd be the obvious pick for their goalie and expose Demko as sad as it'll be. Seattle can take 3 goalies and you just know they'll take Demko if he's available for their backup because there's not going to be many top tier goalies exposed. Let's just hope they take an ageing Tanev instead of Demko... Ferland will be an interesting one due to his NMC and injury, if he hasn't played the prior 60 games then he doesn't have to be exposed. -
Canucks will go exactly as far as the PP takes them.
DownUndaCanuck replied to Got the Babych's topic in Canucks Talk
I think the powerplay and goaltending are the two key factors for this team, as they are for most teams, but especially the Canucks who really struggle 5-on-5 and defensively have been giving up far too many opportunities and, of late, are even struggling to grow chemistry amongst the top lines. Even during our winning streaks we were never really firing on all cylinders the way the Lightning are for example, they're dominant in their wins and we just squeak some through but usually play pretty badly. I think we're bottom 5 in terms of shots against and we just haemorrhage grade A scoring chances on a nightly basis which is disgusting to watch. This team will start with Markstrom and our goaltending in the playoffs, and will end with our powerplay. If we can score more on the PP than we can give up massive chances then we'll do well. In all honesty, if we're in a similar position to where we are now come Game 82, I think having home ice advantage will be key as well and we'll be up against a fairly weak opponent who we can hopefully take a 4-2 series win over. The 2nd round we'll probably get trounced by the Avalanche though... -
TDL Strategy; Think Now, or Look Ahead?
DownUndaCanuck replied to Nuxfanabroad's topic in Canucks Talk
I think and hope JB sits tight on this one, it'd be tempting to load up, trade a prospect for a decent top-6 forward (eg. Juolevi for a scorer) or try and bulk up the 3rd or 4th line, but we've got to remember not to sacrifice our future and most importantly, with the expansion draft coming up, that will be another player we have to protect at the expense of a young guy we don't have to protect. If anything, I'd like to see a nice lateral trade but really hope JB doesn't trade any of our defencemen away. Of course with Ferland out we could use some toughness but in all honesty I think this team has it hiding, and come playoff time our boys will get fired up and start throwing the body around. We've got "tough" forwards and big strong defencemen, we just aren't playing a tough game and personnel isn't necessarily going to change that but come playoff time, I think Green will get these guys playing a lot harder. -
[Report] Isles looking for Defensive Forward
DownUndaCanuck replied to Provost's topic in Trades, Rumours, Signings
Eriksson obviously doesn't crack their lineup but I wonder if they'd be interested in someone like Motte or Schaller for a decent return? -
[Report] Evander Kane suspended 3 games
DownUndaCanuck replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
Good on him for calling them out, probably going to get a fine or longer suspension but it's worth it, the Sharks are finished anyway and someone needs to bring light to this, especially before the playoffs when the rulebook changes. A 3rd party would be the most objective way of doing it but I do wonder what the outcome would be if there was a players poll? Obviously impossible to perform and far too much subjectivity, but the players themselves are the ones being hit and want to be protected so I wonder what they would like the suspensions to be. -
[Report] Erik Karlsson out for the season
DownUndaCanuck replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
In all fairness their 3 best players are injured. That's the equivalent of Pettersson, Miller and Edler out - we'd be done too -
This team needs to straighten up defensively, they're playing offence like a top 10 team, defending like a bottom 10 team and goaltending like a top 5 team. Not a bad recipe but it's going to get exposed badly near the end of the season and the playoffs. This is on Green to tighten up our defensive structure because it's not one or two guys, it's everyone.
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[Report] Connor McDavid out 2-3 weeks
DownUndaCanuck replied to -Vintage Canuck-'s topic in General Hockey Discussion
Never good to see a star injured but I bet Draisaitl is going to go all Malkin and lift this team. 10 games, chances are no McDavid will cost them a couple extra losses in those games. -
Win-win, Pitts is clearly going to go all in while they have Malks and Crosby and just burn the farm for current success and worry about rebuilding later, and to be fair they should. This sets up their wing position nicely over the next few years. Big price to pay, but he's exactly what they need in their top-6
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What are YOUR top 5 memories as a Canucks fan?
DownUndaCanuck replied to Roberts's topic in Canucks Talk
Luongo's incredible 47 win season in 2007 to drag a team of pylons to the 2nd round. Sedins winning back to back Art Ross trophies. Linden's number being retired. Burrows goal against Chicago in Game 7 OT of course. AV losing it when Bieksa got mocked by Fiddler. Honorable mentions to the Brabarian Cowen and Salo losing a testicle in the playoffs. -
Pettersson's going through a phase of his career that almost every young skilled player goes through. The Sedins endured it for most of their season and, while they did get Burrows/Carter etc. from time to time step up and protect them, later in their career they really just had to take the hits and hurt the other team on the powerplay. Sadly Petey is going to have to do the same thing under this coach but it's good to see him go after other players a bit with late hits and a swing of his stick today against Calgary. I hope the games against Boston and Calgary made him angry, and over the off-season he beefs up a bit more and takes matters into his own hands. Would love to see him not only protect himself, but throw a dirty elbow or slash here and there. Other teams have to learn that he's not an easy target the way the Sedins were. The Sedins very rarely hit back but it's good to see Pettersson doing it already. The kid's got a lot of pride and character and I think we're going to see a big evolution from him in the next 12 months.
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To be fair to Green, there's a time and a place for a physical "push back". All those dirty plays on Pettersson were when the game was still tight and taking a silly penalty could have cost us the swing of the game. Even at 4-2, this Canucks team has been known to blow up offensively and we still could have tied it up (see what Carolina did). I think at 5-2 we should have started taking some liberties. Obviously everyone was scared of Lucic, but someone like Virtanen or Roussel should have just gone out there to give Gaudreau a whack on his wrist. The problem with the Canucks is that they're not soft, they're a tough team, but they're always on the receiving end of the dirty plays. They're a clean team, and sadly in this league the DOPs doesn't help out much so clean teams and good guys finish last. The 2011 SCF was the ultimate sign of this, but we see it every single day and every single game. This team is not going to be feared physically if they don't go out there and hack away at opponents best players. Obviously it's nice to say that we need Ferland back, but he's not going to play a dirty game either unless Green tells him to go out there and injure a divisonal rival star. Calgary knows, Bennett knows, that being a useless 4th liner, if he can cross check Petey in the back, give him spasms and have him useless all game long and potentially out for a few games, the Canucks will drop points in the standings. We never play like this which, while is ethically great and is nice to stand by a "good guy" team, means we're always going to be on the receiving end of dirty plays. Next Flames game I want to see someone rock Hamonic again on his side, re-injure him, and someone try and cork-screw Giordano to tear open that hamstring again. You want to win in today's NHL, you have to play the long-game and that's wearing down the opponent through injuries. It'll happen in the playoff series, but clearly the Flames are starting now.