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Everything posted by aGENT
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I'm hoping he can be a 40+ point guy who can bring an intimidating speed/physicality game on top of being a complimentary scorer, likely on the 2nd line, in his prime. Any more than that is gravy IMO.
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They're also some of the better/higher scoring PWF's in the game today.
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Still no reason to panic then, is there?
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Man I wish we'd picked Benn he definitely 'got it' and got it early. Voracek largely did as well (to a slightly lesser extent). Lucic put up 'only' 27 points in his draft +2 year and would be a prime example of what I'm talking about. He had a decent year in his draft +3 putting up 42, then had a bit of injury issues/regression and only put up 20 (33 point pace) in his +4 year and finally broke through at 22 going on 23 years old in his +5 year. Simmonds, again... 23, 40, 30, 49, 32 and finally broke through to 60 points at 25 going on 26. Hartnell did fairly well but still had just a 16 point season to start, a few decent 30-50 point seasons and didn't break 60 until he was 26. Perry had 25 points and split time in the AHL his first NHL season at draft +3, had a couple decent 'middle 6' scoring level years and then had a good then great season at 22 and 23 years old respectively. And these are largely the 'better' examples you came up with. Are you not seeing a trend here? As for Ritchie, yes, by all means some of it should certainly be credit to him for doing the work and for performing when given the opportunity but he's also VERY insulated behind all the Getlaf, Perry, Vermette, Kesler etc. Virtanen didn't exactly have a lot of help with the heavy lifting of being the skilled, big/physical guy in the top 9 on the Canucks. And still, Ritchie's on pace for a 30 points. That's decent, but again it's not like these guys are all stepping in to top 6 roles/scoring rates at 19. He had a whopping 4 points in 33 games last season (10 point pace). Virtanen last year had 13 in 55 (19 point pace) on a FAR inferior team. Now clearly he's regressed a bit this year due to whatever reasons (injury? maturity? needing and not initially getting extra coaching and practice time initially?) but IMO, it's FAR too early to start panicking. Again, if he hasn't progressed by next year and the year following, we certainly have more cause for concern. As of right now, if he can get back on track (as he appeared to be doing in Utica) there's very little cause for concern IMO.
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So you can name one guy on a far better (not to mention larger) team where he's FAR more insulated. Seriously, I'd love to see this long list of 19 year old 220lb+ PWF'S making these massive contributions on their NHL clubs. Most of them spend a couple years in the minors, then a couple years as around 20-30 point players before making a jump in production around 23/24.
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I don't know if I entirely agree with that. Tkachuk is good around the net and a LOT of NHL goals are scored there. That and that he's a good complimentary guy to more skilled players is why he was ranked in the top 10. His performance this year also shows that. But otherwise, yes he's not the greatest skater in an ever faster league and while he has decent size he's not huge for the style of game he plays. That will likely catch up to him over his career. As well reff'ing with that temper. Juolevi was not 'off the board' they were pretty much ranked 5/6 with a few scouts (rightly IMO) having Juolevi at 5. Picking say Bean would have been 'off the board'. Not to mention Boeser. Boeser plays a less gritty but more skilled (as well as primary vs complimentary) version of a similar type of game.
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Maybe that's why they lost lol
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Tkachuck isn't even 200 lbs... Large PWF'S take time to adapt to no longer being able to simply dominate due to being larger than almost everyone like they could in junior. It usually takes most of those guys, with that body type, until 23/24 years old until it really comes together. Though many contribute at a decent 20+ point level from 20-24 and then jump up to 40+ at that point. Some like the Berniers/Pyatts never really make that jump. That body type also tends to require a LOT more training and work to get in to what we'd consider NHL shape/stamina level. It's a bit like trying to turn a tractor in to a race car. It takes time, dedication, a bit of luck and a LOT of work. There is no shortcut here. All of this is why is prefer he stay in Utica largely the rest of this year and next (first call up on forward next year). Let him do all that work and get his swagger back away from this fish bowl. Then he can come up and likely be a 20+ point guy for a couple years in a 3rd line/occasional 2ND line role and with any luck make a leap from there in to a top 6 role. All of this is likely a good 3+ years away. If it hapens at all. There are no guarantees and patience is required.
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Meh, panicky buffoons.
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I'd be perfectly happy if he spent the rest of this and most of next year in Utica.
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And Granlund goes and gets the opener
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He might also be happy to remain with the team that drafted him and the management that gave him another shot at the NHL. Also a team that will have increasing spots opening up on their roster the next 2 years. Besides, he'd only be 3rd line next year until the sedins retire and would likely see top 6 time with injuries. I could easily see him on a 1-2 year 'show me' contract here (if we don't lose him in trade/expansion).
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Yeah, I don't know which of the three we'll end up keeping. Rodin is tantalizing as he looks like he has a similar skillset to Baer but is less passive and a faster skater from my limited observation. Enticing. But Baer has actually shown he can bring it at this level (albeit not consistently). The next few months should prove interesting between those two. Granlund seems to play a more mature/2 way game and adds versatility of playing W or C. And while no slouch offensively, he's less dynamic than the other 2 IMO. Pretty sure one's gong to Vegas. Hopeful another nets an upgrade with Tanev. That leaves 1 to build with. (I'm hoping for either Hischier or Lilj myself )
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I personally think we lose 2 of Baer/Granlund/Rodin this summer. One of them gets added to Tanev in trade for a young, top 6 upgrade. Another from expansion. Trade, Horvat, Eriksson Sedin, Sedin, Hansen/Boeser Baer/Granlund/Rodin, Sutter, Boeser/Hansen ? ? ? , Gaunce, Dorsett I'm excited to see if Rodin can live up to the hype and then if we can manage to hang on to him through that.
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I hate to agree with the analitixzzz crowd but really, who do you remove from that top 9? You could certainly swap Rodin and Baer. And you could maybe make a case of moving Burr down (though IMO that would be a mistake as he's the catalyst on that line with Horvat). Unless they play him with the twins on RW and put Hansen with Horvat, I don't see how he fits elsewhere.
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Most of the players Benning has drafted are either still in junior, in college or already in the NHL. That's not a 'failure'.
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It would seem that way. I'd view it more as the 'checking line' though. They may very well get more minutes some games than the Granlund line.
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I'd not be surprised if he puts Baer on the third Sedin, Sedin, Hansen Rodin, Horvat, Burrows Baer, Granlund, Eriksson
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Virtanen had a whole other bunch of separate reasons why he was here last year. Not sure why people choose to just ignore them...
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Middle 6. None of those guys are bottom 6. Tanev is an analytics darling and not far off Domi on 'best player' value alone. Never mind adding one of our middle 6 wingers. Chayka is an analytics guru and they need top 4 RHD and would easily be able to protect him. He also employs a coach whose system relies heavily on defensive play A lot of things add up IMO. Domi would fit well with say Hischier and Boeser down the line as our first line
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Send them Tanev + one of Baer/Granlund/Rodin for a warm body on LW. They get the top 4 RHD they need, a promising LW and they also have a high pick this year to help replace with a promising forward.
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Why is it that so many Canuck fans insist the most likely answer is some assanine conspiracy?
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He has been apparently dealing with a 'lower body' injury. Perhaps that's been affecting his stability (and his skating)? That said, I haven't seen him get bowled over a ton...