westcoast

They have waited way too long to maximize assets but they have hit on enough draft picks lately if they just fire sale and get benning some picks this team could be solid for a long time.

If the Canucks can pick up a couple more prospects and picks and things keep going the way they have they could have the core done and plenty of cap space.Just need a bit of luck on the next first pick.

Raatcliffe

I'd like to see them get Shane Bowers with that second I have a hunch he will be a good one.We are on the hunt for an offensive centre or two and Bowers would compliment them.200ft,gritty and good on draws.I think he may draft day rise.

There are always fast players in the late first,second round that bring some intangibles like toughness,defensive play,physicality that if you have multiple picks you can pick up as luxury bottom 6 Fwd projects.

My concern is torontos direct matchup with the staff on a top 6 team.Tough to win if they drop both to the other teams ace.The blue jays can fire sale in the summer to rebuild the youth if they have to.Not sure if they have the assetts to get a Sonny Gray though.

I think the jays should go for it and get a dominant top end starter,Edwin and Jose could be gone after the season so the time is now.

Not much AA ever does actually pans out but I will say he is a master of creating a buzz around the Jays.

Jays are done sell.

The only thing that might make sense is a package that brings two aces that are young and under team control for a few years.Even that as lofty as it is would have to be done with positional prospects for the most part because the Jays need to retain young pitching depth.On top of that they would still need a guy that can shut the door in the ninth.Shultz,Osuna,Hoffman,Norris hopefully stick around.

The top teams pitching staffs would demolish the jays.Chances are two aces aren't on the way at the deadline,and the prospects the teams want are actually very good.

The game has changed since the Gretzky era.The league was filled with plodding slow tough defencemen.I think Pavel Bure skating through all five opposing players like he did was the most obvious evidence of that.

Correct me if I'm wrong but playmaking was less of an issue with Raymond than the fact his build had him being physically overpowered constantly.Its actually a testament to how fast he actually is allowing him a few decent scoring seasons while being underwhelming in the strength dept.

People have to realize a player that has average skating but great hockey IQ has very little time to make plays in the NHL.On the other hand a player with blazing speed and quickness can get away with having a lower hockey IQ because he gives himself more time to process what he's seeing.

At the end of the day no one really knows how the game these kids have will translate to the NHL.When time and space is cut down and the physical players are at an elite level punishing you unlike juniors.Taking a kid that can skate fast,shoot hard,can snipe and plays a playoff style game,That's a player we need regardless of where he's from.The fact he will play harder for the crest than the rest of the players we could have taken in the first round is a bonus.

The kid can skate and shoot so what's the problem?

Like I assumed Linden seems determined to try and bolster the old core.As a fan more power to him although it will probably hurt our draft next season,but I hope Kesler deal is independent of it and picks #10 and #24 are aquired and used with the 6th to draft three more players to help Horvat.

Id go top end centre/big fwd/big D ......then having lost out one of these two.

I think both Ekblad and Fleury are going to be very good.I agree the Value now is a heavy price but if they turned into a Keith -Seabrook Calibre pair for 15 years and anchored the Canucks D it would be worth it.Trading Kesler for two potential gold pieces is better IMO than grabbing some lower ceiling players that are bigger gambles.

Kesler for #10 +#24 #10,#24,Tanev,Hansen to Florida Van selects Ekblad #1,Fleury#6

Don't care either way but sure looked like that went in off his glove last on the one camera angle.

I don't think I'd buy out Burrows,but I'm surprised people are shocked it's being talked about.Of course it's being talked about.Burrows and Booth are prime candidates to be replaced by youth ,they make too much for the numbers they produce.

I guess I'm the only fan here that prefers when the teams genuinely hate each other.Beats asking for the other guys stick I'd say.

It will be Trotz.

Well I have to say that I'm interested to see how a GM who was the head of the players association is going to significantly improve this team.Without trading any of the NTC protected core.Without asking them to waive rights they have negotiated.Without asking long time fan favourites to think about playing somewhere else and not retiring here.Without trading the young guns the team has aquired.Without trading the #6 pick or for that matter the coveted 2015 pick.The new coach will have to stay no matter what as another coach firing would be the laughing stock.Not too many options for a guy that is pro player and friends with the core players.