thad

I heard he was pretty good, but wow. I was thinking maybe a bit better than baertschi if we're lucky but that looks like elite level talent and vision.

Yeah he's definitely a project but the tools on display in that video are very encouraging. The scoring troubles kind of remind me of Horvat when he first came into the NHL. He just didn't have the timing on the shots and the outside inside move he pulls once a game now wasn't getting through. He was still doing better than Jake but there were so many golden chances and breakaways he wasn't converting on. Jake looks like he just needs to clean up the finer details of his offensive skills and the points will come.

Taking it out would destroy the chl and Canadian hockey. It's the premier junior league on the planet because the competition level is so high. A guy like Tate Olson doesn't stand a chance if you rip all the Barzal's out of the league. What would have been the point of even leaving Cassels down if he wasn't going to shut down mcdavid? The talent would likely spread into the BCHL and NCAA because major junior would no longer be as attractive to young players. Then you've just lost the best development program there is because it would really benefit one prospect per team every few years. It would be a devastating blow to hockey as a whole.

What's the scoop on Popugaev? Guys huge and looks ranked mid first round? Just got traded to the Cougars today so I'll get to watch him a bit. PG is loading up adding him and Guhle in 2 separate blockbusters to an already damn good team. Popugaev Might have a good opportunity to up his draft stock on a team built to go deep this year.

In one of his interviews this year, Jake said they watched lots of video with him last year and a lot of hits took him out of position and caused odd man rushes. So this year he's trying to pick his spots better but unfortunately that's half of his tool box. Thank god he's in Utica being molded by green finally. He needs to get the awesomeness Willie coached out of him back and come up smashing guys into next week.

I like to think that way too. The NHL is full of surprises. All its gonna take is a couple of these kids to blow the training wheels off and become our new best players. JB's added the pieces to make us competitive in the playoffs. It's just up to Bo Sven Jake Ben Guddy and co. to take the wheel and fill out the roster with impact. It's a waiting game on them, once they get going, we'll start winning rounds with the twins as a second line and sutter on the third.

Sure seems like he's got the character for it. Check out the video the Canucks just posted of him and Boeser mic'd up during the scrimmage. He sounds like he's having a blast out there.

Go to 1040 on Twitter and find the Woodley interview. Some good insight on Demko. Apparently he watches NHL games and takes notes to study the game and tendencies. Really good interview

This kid probably has the brains to play now but there's no need to rush him if he can't handle Virtanen in front of the net at camp. One more year of physical maturity and this kids gonna blow us away the following year at camp. Bigger, stronger and faster. Boeser is doing the same thing. I could see the next year being one of the most exciting in Canucks history. Olli and Boeser both make the team while Virtanen's just hitting stride.

Yeah, me too. I don't mind it though. I'd rather let him grow a bit more and come in built like a Mack truck, ready to gun for the Calder. There's something about this kid. Him and Demko just have that extra poise to them. You see it in Juolevi, Hutton and Bo too. JB is under the radar compiling players with that champions pedigree and soon everyone is going to see what rebuild while staying competitive really means. Jims got a razor sharp eye for talent. Even if we're drafting in the bottom half of the round he's got the eye to pick out the Hidden gem.

He's looking thick in the dev camp coverage. He'll be so NHL ready this time next year, it ain't even funny.

I gotta wonder how fired up they'd be to play with him though? I don't question their hearts in the game, I know it is.. but I wouldn't be surprised if they came out of the gate with a little extra jump this year. What an awesome way to finish their careers. Go out and sign fellow countryman and friend(who also happens to be a 30 goal scorer) to a 6 year contract. This could be the magic we've been waiting for all along, the true 3rd sedin. I selfishly wanted Looch all along but this is a sold move. The term? Whatever, as Ricky's dad always says "effin way she goes sometimes, boys". You want a top FA? be ready to pay up and hand out all the clauses cus you're not getting them any other way. If he can be a 45 point guy in this final year, that's fine. The going rate will likely but around that for those guys by then.

I hope he picks Motörheads version of Louie Louie for his goal song!

I think something has to be said about his rookie season on smaller ice too. A guy has to be thinking defense first as he's making that adjustment.

Tkachuk can have fun taking it to the net against Gudbranson and Tryamkin. Fins are totally in right now. Olli is going to be a hell of a player for us.

There's 2 now, one on tsn 1200 too. He's unreal lol. You feel like your listening to the greatest hockey player of all time when he opens his mouth. I can see why Willie and Lou lost their minds over this. I'm absolutely in love with the guy already. Give him the C.

Have any of you guys met the kid? I got an autograph from him after practice at training camp in PG. He's just a ridiculously thick dude. That was the one thing I noticed about him. I didn't realize how big he really was until I saw him in person. Real thick neck and his arms looked like they were gonna burst through his jacket. I think any success he has in the NHL is going to be centered around his conditioning and hopefully it won't be a problem. The kid has a chance to be one of the most beloved franchise players his hometown has ever had if he hits the gym like a mad man. I'm talkin sedin like conditioning and he'll be a feared player in this league with that magnificent frame of his. I really cant see him needing to bulk up. He's already huge. What he needs is the best personal trainer money can buy. Not because he's slamming cheeseburgers and overweight. He's probably in pretty good shape for a big boy. He needs a guy to break him and push him to his peak physical condition so he can lead the league in hits, score 30-40 goals a year and scrap Darnel Nurse on the regular. If if we want to win the cup with this next core that 6th overall can't go to waste. I don't want a pretty good Jake Virtanen, I want a dominant Jake Virtanen. If he really wants it, it's there for him. He just has to put in the work and he couldn't have better mentors than Hank and Danny. Do what they do and the sky's the limit, Jake.

I didn't think they'd put him in against Finland either. Might not have been a bad idea though, condon 2 goals on 5 shots so far

Belarus scored 3 goals on 12 shots today? I think Demko may have a chance to steal the starting job. Kinkaid let in 5 against us and condon is sitting with a .750 haha

Vey was outplaying Mccann in the last quarter of the year.. But that's all you can ask for really. Your going to strike out on a few of them but some of them are going to help shape the supporting cast of our future core. If I knew Baertschi was going to take off like he did at the end of this year, I'd have thrown Gaunce in the deal to get him.

Jim's a freakin boss. If people don't want to aknowledge his vision, I don't care. I love the way he's filling out this team. Targeting the player strengths he wants and getting right on what they need to work on... Boom you have a Baertschi... Boom you have a Granlund.

We signed Troy stetcher today is he any good? I dunno but he's got a sweet picture slideshow on YouTube

Not a chance. He probably wouldn't even want to. Even mcdavid would look like the biggest douche taking a retired number. Might go the mccann route and pick 61. Anyone know who his favorite player was growing up? Kass took 44 in Edmonton. 17 frees up next year too.

Way to pick em, Benning! Make the playoffs and still come out with a player that should have gone to a non playoff team. If the hockey gods bless us with Matthews this year, we'll be poised to be a future powerhouse. Defense still needs work but we're finally about to have the assets to address that.

I thought he was fine. Especially in the first period. He did his job, got in shooting lanes and even blocked a shot. He seemed to stay in position quite well and the Dman always had a hard time finding a shot. I think if there's one thing he needs to work on its breaking out with the puck. he tries to force things himself sometimes and turns it over. Pretty normal for a kid fresh out of junior though.