SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME

I’d be good with that. Seeing Edler hit 1000 games in a Canucks uni would be cool. Or seeing him get to 500 points. Definitely want to push those all time records as high as possible, just to give Huggy a bit of a challenge. EDIT: Pretty amazing to think that next season should see Edler break into the top-100 all-time career points for NHL defencemen.

Probably somewhere between $1000 and $2000, I’m guessing? Hard to tell condition from my little phone screen (and I’m not a card grader). Can see some issues with the corners, but the card itself looks to be in good shape. You’re not my cousin, though, right?

Also, as predicted, the reaction in already in full force on social media. And, as expected, the most vocal opposition is coming from the typical “keyboard warrior” types (as well as the most vocal support and marked attempts to deny the validity of cultural appropriation as a whole). As for the actual Indigenous people commenting on the issue, they are offering the most sane opinions (as is usually the case). Generally, they’re saying it would’ve been nice to have been consulted, and would have loved to have seen an Indigenous artist do the work, but they still see the mask as a celebration of their culture, and generally don’t have a problem with it. (Just a note: the above was poorly worded. I didn’t mean to attempt to speak for Indigenous peoples or state their opinions for them. Just was summarizing the responses I’ve read on social media from people who identified themselves as belonging to that culture.)

I get that. And I was trying my best in that post to not be too critical. I really don’t think anyone involved had bad intentions. I fully believe that both the artist and Holtby intended this to be respectful and a celebration of the beautiful art and culture of the Indigenous peoples of the region in which the Canucks are based. That said, this one was such a missed opportunity, and it was basically a lay-up. Would have been so easy to find an Indigenous artist to do the artwork, or to consult with the local First Nations, before going ahead with the design. And this would have earned a tonne of good will and good press for a new player, as well as possibly put some much needed money in the pockets of local Indigenous artists. Unfortunate too, because Holtby tends to be on the right side of these kinds of issues, and I expect that he’ll be disappointed when he realizes this might have an unintended effect. I also won’t be surprised if he takes it as a learning experience, does something to address and correct it, and is a better person for it (and he’s already a great guy, by most accounts).

I’ve wanted to a few times, but it would probably make my mom and his mom cry.

It’s beautiful work, but I fully expect a cultural appropriation uproar in the coming days. And not without reason. I expect everyone involved has the best intentions, but I’m not sure a Swedish artist based in Sweden was the best choice for creating a Thunderbird based mask. Especially for a white hockey player playing in the region that is home to First Nations for whom these are sacred images. And also a city and region where you’re basically spoiled for choice, when it comes to Indigenous artists who could easily have created the same, or better, artwork. Not saying I want there to be a controversy. Just that I fully expect one, and definitely won’t say that’s it’s wrong if certain people are upset by this kind of use of First Nations cultural symbols.

That mint Gretzky rookie card going for $1.29 million is bringing back bad memories. https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2020/12/11/wayne-gretzky-rookie-card-first-hockey-card-to-break-1-million-milestone.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=SportsHockey&utm_content=waynegretzkycard I had that card. Not mint but probably VGE to excellent condition. Had a bunch of the big name rookie cards from that era, and lots of other valuable cards. Stored them at my parents’ house. The only person who ever came near them was my little cousin. He’d look at my collection when he came over (I was away for college). I had them packed away in a cabinet in the closet of my childhood bedroom. Nobody else came near them. And there were no break-ins at the house. One year, I came home, checked my collection, and it was like someone had gone through with a Beckett and siphoned off every high value card. Devastating. My little cousin was questioned. He denied it. I gave him the opportunity to return the cards, no questions asked, said I wouldn’t even be mad. He continued to deny it. So, nothing more I could do, without causing a major family rift. The one good thing about Covid-19 is I don’t have to see his face this year. Kid’s all grown up, but when I look at him, I just see the little **** who stole thousands of dollars worth of cards from me.

It’s funny. I have a great appreciation for Edler’s game, but even I was surprised when I started looking through his numbers at 30+ years of age. Was expecting to maybe see him top-50, but not so much top-30, and top-15 (at least for last year). Looking at his age curve and career results, he may very well be one of those Dmen who has a steady period of high level play through his mid 30s, and then hits his real decline in his late 30s (it’s not the norm, but many higher end players follow this curve, versus the standard decline pattern that starts in the mid-to-late 20s). It’s hard to say, but if I were to bet, I’d say that, barring injury, Edler might very well be able to play another 3-5 years as a top-4, and even maintain NHL quality to age 40 (or even beyond—before actually dropping to “replacement level”), if he takes care of himself, and still has the drive to continue his career. EDIT: Even by advanced metrics, Edler is actually trending upwards as he gets older, and hits his mid-30s. Over the last three seasons, his WAR is something like 0.3, 1.5, and an eyepopping 2.4 last season (anything over 2 is pretty much elite). It almost seems like the arrival of Hughes, and the rise of the young core, has helped Edler re-establish himself in a role where he can provide a ton of value to the team, while gracefully taking a step back, and ceding that #1D spot and the primary offensive responsibilities to Hughes.

I think we should wait and see what kind of salary demands Edler makes before deciding he should walk. He’s still a very good player, and also a huge part of the leadership group. Guys like Juolevi and Rathbone are a long way away from proving they’re good enough to displace Edler. Consider Edler’s past season. Even with Hughes taking over primary power play duties, Edler put up 33 points in 59 games. That’s 38th among all NHL defencemen. Decidedly “first pairing” numbers. And they look even better when you consider per game and per 60 rates (he then becomes top-30). And when you look at even strength rates, Edler was top-15 among NHL Dmen in 5v5 points/60. Getting close to #1D numbers, all considered, even while making way for Hughes to be the top dog on the PP and during prime offensive 5v5 minutes. And last season wasn’t even a one off. The previous year, Edler was 42nd in defensemen scoring and 25th in points/60. The year before, he was 41st in defenceman scoring. ”Steady Eddie” has been steadily giving us “first pairing” quality play and production for the past several years, and he’s really showed very little decline in his play, since turning 30. In some ways, he’s actually stabilized and looks better now than he did during various stages of his late 20s (at least in terms of his overall performance and results—of course there are signs of aging in his game, and I won’t deny this). I think Edler, barring a significant injury, has quite a few good years left in him, and if he’s willing to give us those years, on some relatively cheap short term deals, there’s no way I’d say no. And even if Juolevi and Rathbone pass him (which I doubt happens any time soon), Edler is certainly capable of playing his off side. We have this belief that he can’t play the right side, because he struggled in the past. But that was also playing his off side in a top-4 role. If Rathbone and Juolevi are leapfrogging Edler, then Edler won’t be playing top-4. And he’s more than capable of playing 3RD, if needed. Especially now, as a cagey vet, versus back in the early 2010s, when he was a relatively young Dman playing some tough minutes on his off side with LHDs like Hamhuis and Ballard. I think so long as it’s financially feasible, and he continues to perform well through his 30s, there’s a place for Edler on this team. (Certainly, if he decides to test the open market, we can’t afford him. There’s no way we can match “market value” on a player like Edler. In that scenario, I’d agree that we’d have to let him walk. But hopefully, Edler is willing to take a discount.)

Agreed. We are in such a great position to pick up quality Dmen that teams can’t protect from the expansion draft. There should be opportunities for paying pennies on the dollar, so that teams without protection slots they need can salvage some value, versus losing those players for nothing, to expansion. A young, top-4 quality RHD would be a great target for us, and I expect there will be opportunities to acquire that player. I’d also suggest we might be able to pick up some young forwards as well, since we’re actually quite well positioned to use a protection slot for an acquired forward, especially if Pearson isn’t extended (in which case I actually hope we sell him at the TDL—even if we’re in a playoff position). While it would be fun to see what Tryamkin could add to our group this season, I think we’re better off bringing him back for 2021-22, and using our favourable expansion draft circumstances to take advantage of some of the teams that are short on protection slots, and long on good quality young (but expansion eligible) players. EDIT: JPat and Drancer joked about this on the latest Vancast, calling the Canucks the “clubhouse leaders” for the Expansion Draft Cup. We’re very likely going to make it through two expansions without giving up any player of significance, which is certainly not the case for most teams.

Definitely true, when it comes to the current roster and that 3LD spot. In future, however, there should be space for both. OJ is better suited to a more static game, two-way play, PK, and breakout passes from his own zone, and then follow-up offensive support. Rathbone is more dynamic, better skating with the puck, joining the rush, and then venturing deep, or staying up top to provide a bomb from the point. His defence is better than generally advertised, but I think OJ has a leg up, if the Canucks want a two-way guy on that third pair, who can also help on the PK. They’re different players, and both could fit on that left side, when Edler retires. But certainly, for right now, Rathbone could easily leapfrog Juolevi, with a standout performance at camp, forcing OJ to wait even longer for his NHL chance. I think it’ll take a lot, however. The organization definitely wants Juolevi in the NHL this year, if at all possible. Rathbone probably needs to do more than just look better than OJ. He’ll need to leave absolutely no doubt.

Biggest wildcard for this season. Can’t wait to see what he brings to camp. If Rathbone transitions his game to the NHL at a similar degree to what our previous college Dmen have managed, he’s a game changer for the back end.

That’s disappointing to hear. It seems like things are very different from school to school. For example, my kids’ school has had two exposures, both the same week, and one in my son’s class. Only a handful of students were determined to be “close contacts” and they were quickly contacted by public health and sent home for isolation. A number of other families (many who weren’t even exposed) also voluntarily isolated. The school did a full “deep clean” before reopening. I think because of the school’s procedures, “close contacts” were minimal. Our school actually has a universal mask mandate and has been very good with strict measures for distancing and hand washing. We also are fortunate to have small class sizes and cohorts (at least compared to most urban school). All the students wear masks full time, from the moment they step on the school grounds. Anyone without a mask is given a disposable surgical-type mask before entering the building. Masks are only removed for eating. This is enforced K-7, as far as I know (my kids are Grade 3 and they are wearing masks all day—no exceptions—even for playground and in-class learning). There were zero transmissions from the exposures and there haven’t been any exposures at the school since. And the learning groups (where the “close contacts” were determined to have occurred) are now canceled school-wide. This whole Fall, I’ve only seen one person on school grounds, or even on the sidewalks around the school, without a mask. That was a parent, and people were not happy with him. Otherwise, it’s been 100% masks, all the time. I’m not sure how the school is pulling this off, as I’m pretty sure elementary schools are still “voluntary” for masks, but our principal is very dedicated and I suspect she’s implementing her own policies, above and beyond what was set out in the “Back to School” plan.

I’m not sure how you put your cellphone on the hook to start with, but if anyone can find a way, it’s EP40.

Probably my top-3 as well. Just swap Canada to #2 and Sweden to #3. I wanna say Canada #1, but that Finland skate is just too damned aesthetically pleasing! USA is the worst, of course.

Podkolzin was 6’ 0.75” and 196 lbs at the 2019 Draft Combine. That’s probably the last truly accurate measurement we can trust. But at that time, a number of scouts commented on the size of his hands. (Like adopting a puppy with big paws, you need to plan on ending up with a very big dog.) It’s possible he’s 6’ 4” now. I certainly expected him to keep growing and eventually end up a few inches taller. Maybe not quite this fast, but I do think a fully matured Podkolzin will be somewhere in the 6’ 3” to 6’ 4” range and around 220 lbs. EDIT: But still, I think right now he’s probably 6’ 2” ish and 200+ lbs.

Elvis dropping a whole double album’s worth of posts tonight in the prospects forum!

The two other goalies from the 2019-20 Maine Black Bears have left the team. The starter (Jeremy Swayman) has gone pro and signed with the Bruins. And the other guy IIRC was around a 26 year old backup/3rd stringer who’s moved on to another NCAA team for a 5th year, after completing his 4 years with Maine. Thiessen is the only returning goalie for Maine. So the net is pretty wide open. Thiessen will be competing with two other 2000 born goalies, both of them undrafted. Right now, his main competition looks to be the Swedish goalie Victor Östman. He had an impressive 2019-20 season with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, finishing top-5 in most categories, and leading that league in wins, 3rd in GAA, 4th in Sv%, and 4th in shutouts. However, being a sophomore, Thiessen likely has a slight leg up on the incoming freshmen goalies.

I think the Maine Black Bears (Thiessen’s team) are now scheduled to play their first game on December 12th. They were set to start in November, but due to Covid infections on campus (including some players on varsity teams), winter sports were delayed, and the first two weeks of games got postponed. Hopefully, they’ll get the all clear to start the schedule back up next week.

He’s still on our reserve list. CapFriendly has draft rights listed until August 15th, 2023. This is probably correct, although the rights might have an earlier expiration (like Rathbone, who was initially listed as 5 years from his draft, but a CBA clause created an earlier expiration, which was a concern for a minute there, until he got signed). Regardless, still lots of time. This season will likely determine whether or not Thiessen is a “prospect” or not. He’s expected to play a fair amount, which should give us a better idea of his potential.

3 goals against on 6 shots and then pulled after 7:02 TOI.

That’s quite the compliment for Pettersson. Three years ago, Montén was coaching him at the World Juniors, and now, he’s asking Petey for advice on the same tournament. Definitely speaks to the level of understanding Pettersson has of the game and his elite hockey intellect. And not the first time we’ve heard a coach say that he’s learned more from Petey than he’s taught him.

Damn. I was sold a “head butt” and was expecting this and not this Oh well. Guess we’re gonna have to wait on that “snarl.” Always time, though. Maybe Joni will spear a guy’s nads next game. Can always hope!

Is it bad that I like seeing this from Jurmo? Generally, I’d say I’m against head butting. Dirty play and not really part of the game. But... When you have a 6’4”, 200+ lbs prospect defenceman, whose scouting reports say he lacks “snarl” and could improve his aggression and physical play, you kinda like to see it when he mixes it up and yes, maybe even gets a little “dirty,” at times. Not saying I want him to add head butting to his regular repertoire, but there’s nothing wrong with him getting a little meaner.