Rob_Zepp

He looked a bit lost for about 19.5 of it mind you. He will be fine but there wasn't enough oxygen for him out there. He was gassed. You could see smart thought but he was pretty "hot potato" with the puck a few times and simply got beat on plays he won't be in a week or three. He is a fast skater with excellent edge movement but in this game he looked like a guy who was given goalie skates, two pre-game beers and was digesting three burgers.

Totally agreed. It reminded me of a preseason game with some (Hamonic) looking beyond rusty. The Canucks should be encouraged about a lot of little things though include Boeser looking like the rookie sensation he was and Holtby looking every bit as good as they are going to need to be competitive. Schmidt was a tad invisible. OJ had one blunder that was not totally his fault but he blew a coverage/puck battle BUT two shifts later was in on the rush and played very solid. He is real deal as many of us thought he would be. Oh, and if the NHL hasn't yet noticed - Horvat is a beast and is entering elite territory as one of the best second line centers in the entire league.

Whatever gets you through the day Sparky. Go with whatever works for you and your meds. Cheers!

Yup, for sure.

Different and quite logical actually. I think in North America the lack of care for the elderly in managed care is so pathetically bad that politically it needs to happen there.

Love your music tastes mate!

You, Petish-Boi (or whatever) and OldlyNews....three of you.

Not a service - people who are invested in knowing the players trends in multiple European leagues. I know there are a lot of personal relationships with individual clubs involved too. There is a different level of information exchange in Europe than in North America - perhaps due to the media doing most of the work in North America.

He was there, can't explain where some people live.

was the scariest thing I have ever seen in the bowl for sure

I did and heard you scream.

Opening night first line is a good place to start.

Not only is the ridiculous for its ability to be false about the relative roles/insights between Benning and Brackett, it is implying that any GM who in years following any draft didn't pick the better hindsight players was "selfish" or similar. There is not a SINGLE GM in the NHL who has been in place as long as Benning who hasn't wins and warts in their drafting record but few can match Benning's overall success and, in fact, many see him in top five over his tenure period in this regard. I often wonder how some of you get these fantasy inventions about how this all works.

So this year that means he misses about 1/2 of the regular season.......

For what it is worth, I think Canucks are kicking tires on moving some depth prospect or another for a good one year fit with somebody like Patric Hornqvist from the Panthers or moving a bigger package for a longer-term fit with a target of someone like Tuevo Teravainen from 'Canes. Both would fit the team as it is formed and if chatter means anything, they are players Canucks have asked about before (no idea if currently).

Sid, his CORSI for is insane - nearing 70%.

Nope, and hope my answer didn't either. It isn't my data to share and I cannot find it publicly so I have it with privilege. My point was you can take what I know or just not take it - I can't control that. I have looked at the numbers, in fact have them in front of me as I type this. They are compelling and as good as his WJC numbers where his projected assist numbers alone would have had him leading that tournament in points. Kid needs linemates and minutes and he will be beyond what most of you Canuck faithful are expecting - may be the most pleasant surprise in terms of draft slot in your recent history.

Share, can't do that. Translate? They are numbers - numbers don't know language. He drives play, has incredible possession numbers and gets stuck with largely linemates in lower quartile of KHL averages. Take that at face value or don't take it - your call.

I am here just for you. Glad I can offer you that comfort!

Don't take your guide on the Canucks from media that is either largely eastern based or comes from people who have very little hockey background (many out west). Hate to tell you this but as someone originally from Ontario, there is very little effort at all to learn about things out west and even lesser on the other side of the Rockies. That includes a media that is largely Toronto/Montreal centric. The one thing the Canadian division will do this year is open more eyes to the immense talent pool the Canucks are growing and if any credible media individual says at end of the season, irrespective of how the Canucks do, that their D this year wasn't on paper miles ahead of the start of last season then you should simply write them off entirely. Canucks, like all teams in the NHL, have holes to fill but on balance given their youth still emerging and their recent moves, this is an upper tier (playoff) team trending upwards even more. This season is a crap shoot given the timing, the unpredictability of player availability (Edmonton with LD or CM or Calgary without Monahan/JohnnyH over the first four games is same thing for Canucks without Miller) and the Canucks having a farm team that is essentially unavailable to them. However, I personally think it as likely they emerge from the North after the playoffs then it is they don't make the playoffs. I think they will stack up against any team in the Division assuming each team is fully equipped with their respective best line ups. I think Canucks have second best goalie situation, best defensive lineup over top six (and spares) and second or third best forwards but with the wild card in there that EP40 may be as good as Matthews by end of this year (again, IMHO). Cheers

I didn't, I simply surmised I doubt they would. Speaking for others is something you like to do. Cheers!