*Buzzsaw*

This is what I have been saying for the last month. Yes, the team has had bad luck in losing Demko, and a number of others to injury, but if a team has the fundamentals right, they can play through those problems. But this team has zero discipline, no defensive structure and the players are not accepting their responsibilities. Its probably too late in the season to change the Head Coach, but not too late to find replacements for the Assistants.

A real Captain does not...'dial out'. They get the team on their backs by inspiring them with their play while looking them in the eye and challenging them to be better. I am sorry to say that Horvat is not stepping up enough. I was one of the first to say he should be the next Captain after the Sedins, but he has not shown me enough.

OP doesn't know what he is talking about.

Clear how much the team misses Pettersson's leadership and his skill. Powerplay is nowhere, and without the threat of EP on 2nd line, the other teams are keying on Miller and Horvat.

Concussions effects are real... and they are crippling. Migraines are something completely different. My niece's husband used to be the hardest working guy I knew.... always had something on the go... has his electrical ticket, used to working 12 hour days doing that, and as well in his spare time fixing up investment properties, plus playing sports and raising a family. Since he's suffered three concussions in a row, he is a shadow of what he was... no energy, depressed, headaches, can't remember, etc. etc. The only cure for concussions is rest and avoiding strain, loud noises, heavy stress, etc.

The assumption Kuzmenko will continue at his current goal production rate is a typical error hockey fans make. He is new to the league, there was no opposition book on him and his go-to moves, and like a lot of newcomers with talent, he is taking advantage of being an unknown. Plus its the start of the year... nearly everyone scores at a higher rate in the first half of the season than they do in the second half. Lets see what is happening at the end of February and beginning of March.

No you didn't fail with your point... you failed in that the person your comment was directed towards seems to have difficulty in understanding how important a play driver like Pettersson can be in how productive his linemates are.

He's smart enough to know getting fed gimmes by Pettersson is in his own best interest.

The solution for Kuzmenko is trading Boeser. With the CAP space we save, we can sign him. Even if we don't get much for Boeser, it will solve a lot of problems.

Blake Coleman is a center, not a winger, had multiple 20+ goal seasons on a cr*p team, plus is an excellent defensive player who likes to be physical and will drop the gloves.

Never happen. No team would give up a 1st for him at the deadline.

I know everyone is positive with the result. And sure, the Canucks are hanging in there and still have a chance at a playoff spot. And yes, the team has plenty of offensive skill and talent. But their defensive game still remains extremely poor. When they win, it is usually because they got a lot of goals from the forward group. Tonight was no different, but fortunately the Canucks had a standout performance from Martin... by any measure they should have lost in regulation. The issue continues to be coverage of assignments by the forwards, gap management, (or complete lack of it) and horrible tendency to both give up the blue line and collapse to the net prematurely. Management has shown they are either unwilling or incapable of making the trades needed to give the team the talent they need to anchor the blue line, so the only alternative is for the forwards to focus on team defense and play responsibly. The question is, when is the Canuck coaching staff going to get them to play like defense is a priority? I really don't think that with the current level of defensive play, even if they scrape into the playoffs, that they will last any longer than the first round.

From Bo's statement, I'd draw the inference his agent and the Canucks are not close in the contract talks.

If Management is not prepared to trade for/find the defensive help the team requires, (which seems to be the case) then there is only one alternative. That is to implement wholesale defensive structure changes... with new assistant coaches or maybe even a new head coach. Talented offensive players can learn to play a structured defensive style, maybe it isn't a style they are used to, but there is no reason to think that Pettersson, etc. can't learn to be responsible... and to learn defensive systems which will break up the opposing cycle game which is killing the Canucks in their own zone. But the changes need to start now.

Like I said before the game: This team cannot win by having no defensive system and thinking they can outscore their opponents. Maybe that works against bargain basement tanker teams like Arizona and San Jose, but it won't work against a contender like Minnesota.ll Boudreau needs to get team discipline right and have players cover their assigned opponents. Tonight I was watching a team running around in the D-Zone with no idea who to cover and with the opponent cyclng the puck at will. The Wild had someone open at all times... because the Canucks were not covering their assignments. Sure the Canucks had some pressure in the Wild end for periods of time, but in their own zone they were horrible. The Wild were able to survive the Canuck pressure, but the Canucks were hopeless when the Wild turned it up. It would have been much worse except for Spencer Martin. He made the score respectable. And the number of odd man rushes and/or breakaways the Wild were allowed was completely unacceptable. Just Cr*p team play.

Chara's comments are a function of the fact the Bruins all know they won the Cup because of interference from the League... and they feel guilt. The League was dirty then and its dirty now. The clearest indicator of that is the fact no Canadian team has won a Cup since the year Gary Bettmann took over as President and the fact he has blocked the expansion of the NHL into Canada as much as possible. Meanwhile their chosen hitman Kelly Sutherland continues to ref the finals.

The only thing I will mention is I hope the Canucks and Bruce Boudreau realize they can't play against a playoff team like Minny the same way they have been playing against Montreal and San Jose. Ignoring defense and trying to outscore your opponent doesn't work against a team with a competent back end. Canucks desperately need to get a new defensive system in place. Right now the team is like the 1980 Oilers, but with Pettersson replacing Gretzky.

Where is the link to Pettersson's postgame?

On the positive side: - Demko is a #1 goalie... he will be back. Martin is an excellent backup, although probably not a a #1. - We have 4 excellent forwards with Miller/Horvat/Kuzmenko/Mikheyev... plus one real star... Pettersson. - We have two younger forwards who are growing into their games... and likely one at least of them will be a top six... Hoglander/Podz. (Podz having a sophomore year) - We have assets we can trade or play on the third line... Boeser, Garland - We have a decent group which can make up a fourth line, or promote to 3rd line, Dries/Joshua/Studnika/Aman/Lazar What we don't have is a good defensive system to teach to the forwards and a couple real top 4 D-men.

- Our #1 Goalie is having a bad year because of an un-healed injury... now he's out - We only have one defenseman playing like a legitimate top 4 D... that being Hughes. OEL and Myers are not playing up to their salaries... playing like #5's. Rest are 6/7's except maybe Bear who is also a #5. - We have a p*ss poor defensive system... the forwards are not backchecking or covering their assignments. - Whole team is collapsing to the net far too soon at even strength... as if they are in the PK... leaving other teams with plenty of time and space. - No system to break up opposing team's cycle game... which kills us.

Bo isn't gonna cost that much to sign. He's having a career year... which won't be repeated. He has a 22.7% shooting percentage this year... he can't keep that up. He averages over his career approx. 15%. GM's know that... they set values based on consistency... not career years.

He'll be signed.

Walk will never happen... the Canucks will sign Horvat and then trade him in the summer if the signing is too much for their CAP. Other teams will offer something decent in return.

Here's who might be traded: - Boeser (Canucks might have to sweeten the deal with additional players) - Garland (not performing as well this year as last, but a good acquisition for many teams) - Kuzmenko (suddenly a very valuable property... on track for 30+ goal season) - Mikheyev (not needed anymore... Kuzmenko could replace him if we keep Kuz) - Pearson (still a valuable player, Canucks might need to eat some of his salary or sweeten the deal) - Any of the current D except Hughes, Schenn and OEL could be thrown in as sweetening to the above players if a high end D is coming back to the Canucks

1) Bo will sign in Vancouver for less than he'll sign for anywhere else. I.e. he'll be a bargain. And don't forget contracts are based on career performance, not just one year. Bo has scored 25 goals and 60 points most years. 2) Bo is on track for a probable 35-45 goal season. What GM in the league trades a 35-45 goal scorer when he can probably get him for less than market value? 3) Bo wants to stay in Van... this is his home, he likes being Captain. Chances of him being Captain where he is traded are slim.