aqua59

Oh boy. Perspective gives one a view far from bleak. There are obvious problems and challenges but things are far from bleak. Frustrating? Yes. Every one is in a big panic over what? Some people better get around the fact this team isn't going far in the play offs as constructed and I don't think they're expected by management or ownership to do so. People forget who plays goal for this team. Luongo. Luongo himself can carry an average team fairly deep into the play offs and with this present Canucks team that can still happen. So blowing all the chips on change now at this point in the season would be foolish. Last years reset started with the draft and MG stating he would build young and big. That would mean hanging onto the picks he has and getting more picks as time goes on. That means there could be growing pains on the horizon. But perspective arises again. Look at Edmonton and all that talent. It's a disaster, only of late have they played better but far from expectations. The Edmonton management team is inept at developing and rebuilding their team. To me that is bleak. Here in Vancouver fans have to sit tight, relax, clean the stain out of your shorts and wait it out patiently.

I have to agree. Also, I 'd like to add that all these TSN rumors very rarely pan out, it's all speculation.

From what I"m reading and hearing from personal Oiler fans is that Keven Lowe's welcome in Edmonton is wearing thin. I've always wondered where he learned his corporate business practices? Then there's Mac T, where did his GM's business credentials come from? He;s been behind the bench for a while now. I look at Jim Nill in Dallas. How many years was he Assit GM in Detroit learning his craft? How about our own Mike Gillis, a law degree and years of being a player agent learning his craft. Back to Edmonton. It's great they have a committed owner, who I think in the long run will get it and clean house. Darrel Kates didn't get to where he is through incompetence. Unfortunately he's finding out the hard way that just because players won big time on the ice doesn't mean they win off it. Edmonton is a mess. Once again Edmonton will be in the running for 1st pick over all. Now Corporate Calgary has hired Brian Burke, whom I might add has a grudge against Kevin Lowe, (see barn fight challenge). Calgary is arguably also in running for the #1 pick which I"m sure Burke covets. With both teams possibly vying for a trade scenario who do you think will out GM the other? Lets not forget Burke ended up with both twins back in the day. What's Kevin Lowe done in his day? I'll bet on Burke and leave the ineptness of Edmonton for Darryl Kates to sort out. I'd like to see Vancouver steam roll Edmonton tonight, I expect it it once and for all.

Agreed.

Adding to that I'll toss in the point that people assume what Vancouver would get back in return through a trade would be better than what they already have. This team has the right personnel in place to develop their young prospects properly.

What are you watching? Seems to me the team's doing just fine under Torts. This version of the Canucks is far more entertaining than last years AV dud season. The focus on the NHL right now is big. Regardless what you think this is good for business. Passive hockey or any other professional level of sports sells on aggression. Wow, if you think Torts was bad you should have seen the 60's, 70's and 80's NHL hockey. Saturday night was mild. If that was too much for you might want to start watching golf only or TSN darts.

Your last sentence hits the nail on the head. Spending prospects and draft picks to push for what? Keeping what you have in place may be better in the big picture when it comes to developing younger players playing along side veteran players. For the time being as in until the June draft. At that point buy outs, consensual trades with no trade clause players is easier and less disruptive to the bigger scheme. I am counting on the fact that Gillis,as he's stated, wants to get bigger and younger, which is seemingly happening. I don't see Gillis trading young and up coming players like Tanev who's only getting better. Gillis went out and found the guy. As for Edler, people forget he's been out of the line up long enough that he's behind the rest of the group. He hits people, when lined up his hits are punishing. He'll be fine. I think people will be disappointed when they realize Gillis will stay the course. I believe he's learned some lessons along the way. One last point. This team could go a lot farther than people think with out changing much because of who plays in their goal. Luongo and his back up Lack. Luongo can carry a team and the hype of being at the Olympics combined with his professionalism gives Vancouver a bigger chance than they might deserve at this point.

PJ Stock goes about his reporting much like his hockey career, getting his a$$ kicked. His reporting was very biased where as his two counterparts were trying as hard as they could to steer the course with out their personal feelings getting involved. PJ Stock clearly has a hate on for Torts. Let me put some perspective on PJ Stock and his broad casting career. With Rodgers taking over all hockey broad casts and reserving the rights of keeping the cream of the crop in broadcasters Stock will be looking for employment else where most likely out of hockey. There seems to be a long line up of ex hockey enforcers sitting behind broadcast desks these days and most of them are tooling their trade far better than PJ Stock. In the long run we won't be listening to this amateur for too much longer. Mean while Torts will still be in hockey in some form. PJ Stock should note, if torts isn't behind the bench hes far more qualified to do Stock's job. So that's where I see Stock in all of this, at the bottom. Hartley may not be too far behind when it comes to coaching in the NHL. It's not a stretch to see Hartley fighting for his job in Calgary with Burke in charge. That was Burke type hockey on Saturday night and Hartley knows it. He wants to keep his job because when you loose your bottom of the barrel coaching job on a bottom of the barrel franchise not a lot of new opportunities at the NHL level come up. See Mark Crawford, a great coach with out a job. There are others. So Hartley's motivation on Saturday night was clear and his denying what he was doing is a joke. Don't think Gillis and Co and the League know it. Hartley is a desperate man hired by the man that was just fired several weeks ago. Do you not think he;s fighting for his NHL life? Too late Bob. You should have came into your organization like Torts and made it yours. As for Torts, he's stated clearly what he did wrong, apologized, is now taking his lumps, and will carry on like a man with the entire team and fans of Vancouver behind him. Torts going to the Calgary dressing room was over the top. The players in that dressing room, if they weren't willing before, will go through a wall for their coach and fans now. While in Calgary the out look is dismal at best. A coach that will most likely be fired for the sake of change,with an ego freak in Brurke in charge . The Flames as an organization have disaster written all over it. Vancouver will move on from this. One thing Calgary has managed, and that is to put a chicken behind the bench and coach a hockey team. That's impressive.

No one knows much when it comes to speculation. None of us were actually there before or after.

So if it's a bush league why are you watching it? Why are you eve participating in the discussion. Maybe the actions were bush league but the entire league? Why are you wasting your time on this. If it's bush, stop participating. Lets not forget who is running the Flames these days. They say it starts at the top. Brian Burke, now there's a bush league person if there ever was one. But to call either organization bush league is a stretch. There's bigger perspective here. Personally the Vancouver dressing room has galvanized over the past several weeks with far more than a faint pulse. Something AV was unable to find. I for one am so glad we have a coach like Torts. Even Larry Brooks was standing up for the NHL this morning. Growing up with 60', 70's hockey Saturday nights hockey sqabble was nothing. If people don't like it go watch steroid and scandal filled baseball.

Look, I don't understand why you're still holding a so called gripe with management, hind sight is 20/20. How long ago did the trade involving Hodgson happen? You never know, management might have learned something through it all. Personally I think think they handled things pretty well by keeping it out of the media for most part to this day. So how do you know how things were really handled. Canuck management knew what they had in Hodgson more than any of us will ever know, they drafted him. You say they miss managed him? I say he was a pretty big cancer behind the scenes for management to trade him on the potential of a player, whom I might add was far younger than Hodgson at the time and presently is still maturing. So not really knowing what the whole of the story is one can't say they mismanaged him. People can say things aren't fair but when millions of dollars of contracted money is on the table get over fair. Maybe their biggest fault would have been being too patient with him knowing what they had. The Kassian trade is old news and if you liked Hodgson that much, head over to Buffalo. You can follow him there. side note: I watch Hodgson during high lights, he's a crap skater, do you think he's going to get faster? I watch his defensive play, which is effected by his lack of speed, is that going to get better? Kassian on the other hand is what we've got to pull for and he's looking better. His learning curve is between his ears. He's maturing with great guidance from Torts and Co.

Vancouver is not going to trade their young players. Does Garrison have a no trade clause? If not I could see him going. But who really knows. We'll see.

That's nice. People expect some answers after every fart this team makes. Who are you that Gillis needs to answer to? Why repeat what we already know collectively? As stated below Gillis already has his list of excuses. Plus, Gillis and Co aren't going to tell you or any one else what his next move will be. He knows he's got to do something. Really the only one he has to answer to is Mr Aquillini. Don't forget about ownership in all this. Personally I"m not expecting much this season. Hope breeds hopelessness. I'm banking on the big picture and that's building from with in. I suppose you're one of those people that can't understand why all of last years picks aren't in the line up. People around here need to get over themselves. No one owes any one but season ticket holder and ownership answers. I'd be interested how many people actually pay to see games on this site.

Here's a good read in this morning province. There are some spots regarding the US team but a lot about Canada's team. From the performance of the juniors to selecting the Men's Olympic team. I like what they say about Sutter. http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Jack+Todd+strikes+already+Hockey+Canada/9351742/story.html

5 years from now that group of people will be out of the house.

The knock on Cody was and still is his skating. His skill makes up for it, sort of...

Usually unfounded fear is the root of hatred, the fear of a Chihuahua being smarter than you is probably your problem root problem with Chihuahua's,( take that as a joke). You can get over that one, they're actually pretty cool dogs but your point is taken and I agree with your analogy. Gaunce or any other prospect can't be judged at this point. It's unfounded, low thinking. We focus on all the top picks that make it not on the huge numbers, drafted high by other teams that don't make it. People think that Vancouver only has prospects that don't develop. See AHL.

I"m looking at NY over all and as stated before I wonder what Torts would have done with this team during their last run. Looking at NY present day compared to last season's team they look flat and lifeless, showing flashes. Reminds me of last years Canucks. Maybe there is something to be said about Torts knowing his old players but there's also knowing enough to stay away from certain players. More importantly as mentioned above by another poster this team needs to stay the course .

I think one has to ask one's self if this short term of improvement warrants inflation in Booth's trade value? Vancouver, if you have been listening to what management has been saying, is in the business of using Booth for the reasons they traded for him in the first place. If they were, or could trade him, he has to play better for more than a batch of games.

I don't think you really answered the question, or got it.

Another smart guy in the system. Good on Gillis for sticking to his guns on picking up smart players.

I'm so tired of this debate because it goes no where. The trade is now old news about two different types of players on different teams going in different direction. People still going on about this trade are not lovers or haters of the players but the trade. It's done. Vancouver has Kassian who is improving slowly but improving and Hodgson is on a rebuilding club where he finds himself injured at present. We don't know how this will turn out in the end but that is how people see things right now, the end result. That is what I take issue with. Neither player has come to full fruition and both arguably have a lot of up side if things in their own right line up. Point being we're at the point where we're at because of a trade a few years back. There are lots of what if's and could have beens but it is what it is, now! I'm not even looking at the players any more but their environments. What coach would you want developing your young players at present? Not what coach mishandled a players development in the past? This topic is with out full foundation until each play has respectfully finished their development. All I know is it won't be at the same time and may not be fully judged until their careers are over.

It's one tourney in his whole career.

You really believe this? Nice fantasy story.

It sure is. But trying to make people that still live with their parents understand this is a waste of time. Also there are 29 0ther teams thinking the same strategy.