zimmy

Goalie looks like George Gardner (based on the mask style) but he wasn't a lefty and wasn't prominent but he played that first year. Could it have been reversed as a result of artistic license?

We can't afford too many injuries to the top 6 however (what franchise could) but there are enough serviceable players that the team wouldn't fall off the cliff. Its how Benning has created this safety net that I think deserves the most praise.

Not saying I’m concerned but can admit that I’m extremely interested in how Podz’ game looks when he comes over for the CIBC challenge series (and the World Juniors for that matter). Repeat - not concerned and not an alarmist. Just extremely interested.

I, for one, am totally down with this “ outrageous statement”! This is how things should unfold if they unfold at all. Great take.

While I appreciate your hopeful take (yours and many others here on this forum) and sincere and fervent wish that Tree returns, I'm not convinced. It's as simple as that (though I welcome a happy and productive ending). Just not convinced he's ready and willing to come back to fight for a spot on the team vrs slotting into the top four. Without going into the myriad reasons why he felt he had to leave and how he was or wasn't harmed developmentally by the coaching staff at the time, the bottom line is that he left the team and his teammates and he's been away three years now.

With all due respect, if he really knew how things work on this side of side of the pond he'd actually be here on that pond with a nice cabin and a boat launch and he'd enjoy a healthy swim every day and then when that pond froze over in the winter he'd go out for a vigorous game of shiny with his buddies.

That may be true but it doesn’t speak well to this player’s dedication to the team, something that I question and what makes me leery about welcoming this intriguing physical package back from Russia. I do understand yours and others perspectives on this matter but I suppose I’m just too cynical to hope for a happy ending to this saga.

In a strange twist to this narrative, Tree left after the coach that he had so many issues with was fired by the team. I guess in waiting three weeks before signing to his Russian team he was giving the Canucks the opportunity to bring in a coaching staff more to his liking.

Not that it’s possible to make any player play like someone else but if it was possible, you could do a lot worse than playing like Chris Pronger. Also I’ll admit that I do indeed hold a grudge, the kind of grudge that makes me question this player’s motives and willingness to bend to this organization’s will. His departure signaled red flags for me but despite this I can appreciate your measured take on his potential return. If his play and demeanour warrant it I will, like you, welcome him back.

I’ll preface this with the reminder that I haven’t ever dismissed Tram’s potential but as far as those who think he should have played top 4 minutes, I’ll place my trust the observers who are more qualified to make (and made) that determination. From my imperfect perspective, I saw him as a serviceable but not great puck mover who had a developing offensive awareness. For a man his size his skating was impressive but certainly not elite. While there were moments of brute strength and burgeoning truculence, I didn’t see this on a consistent enough basis to say meanness and edge were part of his DNA. His conditioning was questionable though not as much of an issue at his leaving. This is all to say that, as a prospect, particularly a d-first variety, there’s something there. Whether we see him as top four or 5,6,7 is open for debate. I just wouldn’t be confident going to war with this guy. But I’ve been wrong before ...

So, you know the observational skills you used to determine that he looked awesome when he was here? I just used mine to determine that he looked less than awesome in my eyes. Never said that he didn’t have some potential and that a fully committed, humble and contrite Tram could still make it work but that I didn’t think this scenario would ever unfold judging by the inglorious manner in which he both arrived and left the last time and the fact that I don’t view him as some folkloric Demi-god. To each his own.

A pragmatic approach is always best. My level of pragmatism however, unlike yours, is less hopeful and borne out of a belief that this player has shown an inclination in the past towards entitlement. I sincerely hope I am wrong because Tram intrigues me as a potential force on our blue line.

A path on which he returns humble and contrite.

Your sober, mindful approach is admirable. This is the exact tact I would take as well. It is, however, unlikely that such an offer (opportunity) would be taken up by this player and his agent, in my opinion.

Loved the Miller trade from the moment it was announced so ... no wow on that account. Not dismissing the physical talents Tryamkin might possess. Just can’t see a scenario that he comes back to the team if it is understood that he’s going to have to earn a spot, certainly not after the way he left. I’m not saying he won’t be a useful player somewhere in the league but I’m convinced he and his agent will be marketing themselves as top 4 or bust and, in my opinion, they’re in no position to make that demand. If you believe he is entitled to that privilege this is where we differ, not in the underlying attributes of the player. With all due respect.

Agree with all of the above. If I thought he'd come back and bust his hump to legitimately win a roster place (at the same time exceeding the promise of our bevy of eligible Utica d-men) I'd happily welcome him back. His value is in what we might receive back in trade. He'd be an awfully big sweatener in any potential deal.

As of right now he'd be lucky to make the top six. He certainly hasn't earned anything and its debatable how much better he is than Benn or Stecher. I might feel differently about this in March when our d-core has suffered its usual decimation.

Those assists were late in coming. I demand immediate "fantasy" satisfaction.

Hey, what am I missing? Why no assists on the Ferland goal?

We can always "build through the draft" but would you agree that its high time we "win with the draft"? In other words have confidence in the good job done over the past several drafts and allow this encouraging core to win now rather than wilt on the vine waiting for draft picks that won't arrive for two, three, four, five years in the future?

I think it would be easy, using advanced stats, to show that he is already allergic to his opponents' equipment and has done all he can to stay as far away from them as possible.

The pickle in Ray’s backside is quite real though. JimmyM’s got that part right.

1. Source? 2. (cheveldayoff) Deal !!!

If you want to go straight up best skating d-man I offer up Bob Manno. He was the pond hockey king would have been a delight to see 3 on 3 although he was not necessarily the smartest player ever.

Perhaps somebody can save me from backtracking 15 pages.... this is nothing, right? I mean, my head says it's nothing but I've been wrong before but this can't be something, can it? I get why it might become CDCized and actually become something but its Bo and it can't really be something. It's gotta be nothing. Tell me it's nothing and nobody is obsessing over this.