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Everything posted by Fakename70
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Regarding play making centers? H. Sedin is pretty much the only one. Certainly among the top-6, anyway. Sutter is more of a goal scorer, and Horvat isn't exactly what I'd call an assist factory, either. Kinda renders Benning adding a legitimate goal scorer moot if no one can put the puck on his stick consistently. Pretty sure we saw that firsthand this season with regards to a certain veteran Czech RW.
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You're assuming the young kids will continue to develop enough that they can contribute to a playoff push next season. I think the jury's still out on that. Benning would need to add a couple strategically-placed veterans in the top-6 among forwards and at least 1 among the top-4 defenceman for that to become reality. Put a squad like that in front of a healthy Miller and you just might have something next season.
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If the guy added that to his game I'd change my opinion completely. Need to see that from his partner, though, too.
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Id definitely love to see a battle between him and Larsen for that 4th RH D spot, assuming the Canucks carry 8 with 4 on each side for balance: Tanev TBD (but, I'm hoping for Demers) Gudbranson Biega or Larsen
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I try not to let Kevin Bieksa's opinion on something influence my own, you know? But, we'll see about Tanev with regards to the shooting coach. It isn't just the lack of offence so much as I just tend to lean more towards someone on the right side more physical than he is. Particularly if paired with Edler. I'd love to see Tanev add some muscle, but, it's obviously not realistic to expect the guy to bulk-up by 30-40lbs. But, someone like Dan Girardi with a smaller cap hit is what I'm getting at. Or, Luke Schenn, whose current contract that expires on Canada Day has a cap hit of just under $1M LESS than Tanev's, for some reason. I rarely get too involved in player salary discussion, but, that, to me, sounds like someone's a bit overpaid.
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You misunderstood. I went out of my way to ensure you didn't think I was saying Tanev is a liability on offence. But, you did anyway. I'll assume that was the original comment you edited.
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Eriksson? Meh. Yet another LH RW for the Sedins. Sutter's really more of a goal scorer than playmaker, so, I think it'd be worth a shot. You're forgetting the Canucks experimented with Hansen at centre under AV, and Torts had Kesler at RW. And, for whatever reason, Scott Hartnell found himself in Tort's doghouse this season in Columbus. I think his contract runs only 1 year beyond the Sedins, but, I would bet he'd waive his NTC to come here. I'd love to see him opposite Hansen on the 2nd line. Would just be a matter of acquiring the right playmaker to center it. His cap hit is at least a full $2M less than the Sedins. I don't think he's worth a singular top prospect, but, 2-3 of the younger guys with no future with this organisation could work. Would save Benning from having to chase any high-priced UFA's for the offence, even though I wouldn't mind Okposo. Would rather see UFA's added on defence. I'd like to see Darren Archibald get another shot at 4th line LW duty than Matt Martin. Assuming Gaunce centers that line. But, who knows where he ends up...
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No, not really. You assume I don't already watch Canuck games when I get the chance, or haven't seen his progression since 2011. I'm just of the mind that an upgrade is needed to someone who isnt as invisible (notice I didn't say a liability) on offence. Particularly among the top-2 pairings.
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Trade him only if the Canucks are out of it at the deadline. But, not before. Would like to see Demko get a full year at Utica before he gets the call.
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You're comparing Horvat to Henrik? You sure about that? One has nothing to do with the other. Sure, he's a lock for a top-6 spot sooner than later. But, RIGHT NOW the drop off on the depth chart at that position from 2 to 3 is too steep to have him at #2. Surely you don't mean to imply Sutter is better suited for #3 behind Horvat, do you? I'll assume you missed the bit where I said having Horvat centre the 3rd line (next to Baertschi) at this stage of his career could make the Canucks a deeper team, with the right veteran(s) at RW on the Sedin line and LW and C on the second. I know it's a lot to process, but, going with what they have RIGHT NOW I don't see as good enough to avoid another non-playoff season next season. And, I wouldn't even use Sutter as a centre anyway. Like I said, I know it's a lot. You mentioned the twins in your last paragraph. That's EXACTLY who I'm thinking of with my comments. I can't stand the thought of seeing them waste another year watching the playoffs on TV. I get and support the idea of turning it over to the young kids. But, not completely and not while 22 and 33 are still here. They're just not ready for that type of responsibility, sorry. And, surely we can't expect the Sedins to do any holding of hands and leading the youngsters around by the nose and show them how to be an NHL'r, right? The Canucks already tried that with Vrbata this season and got burned. Developing the pups in the bottom-6 among forwards and bottom 4 among defencemen while pushing the vets for playing time could make this a better team the next few seasons. Moving those pups up the depth chart too soon and having to RELY on them in expanded roles could lead to more of the regression you referenced.
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Oh, ok. I get it. CDC logic dictates that any dissident or unpopular opinion is equal to trolling.
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I need to see Baertschi continue to progress before I'm comfortable with him directly behind Daniel on the depth chart at LW. But, don't take that as an endorsement of Burrows, either. And, as much as Willie seems comfortable giving Horvat the responsibilities normally reserved for vets, specifically defensively, this team can be that much deeper with him centering the 3rd line --- alongside Baertschi --- if Benning can acquire a legitimate top-6 C for the 2nd. On the right side of age 30, preferably. Which, of course, brings me back to Tanev. Because, no way will the Canucks be able to afford Ladd AND add those 2 top-4 RH D's I keep going on about.
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Ok, but, don't be fool enough to believe that I'm the only one who feels this team is mediocre defensively, starting with its "#1 pairing". I can't see them going anywhere in the next 2 years without an upgrade.
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In that case, you probably think Baertschi and Horvat belong in the top-6, too. Not if they want to make the playoffs next season they don't.
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Armchair CDC GM's have been trying to move Edler for several years. Meanwhile, in the real world he has a NTC and doesn't want to leave. You'll never catch me entertaining any proposals that include moving him for those 2 reasons. And, if Gudbranson is such a proven shutdown guy, why'd Florida move him for a rookie forward who still has yet to show if he's more suited for C or LW? Especially considering Willie Mitchell's possible retirement. I wouldn't put too much stock in Tanev's International performance with a team of All Star and veteran talent players that are ahead of many of his current Canuck teammates in terms of skill level. He's just too invisible on offence for a team that needs secondary scoring.
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But, if he has that NTC and still doesn't want to leave...
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No, I meant Tanev. Benning needs to upgrade the top-4 on the right side to someone who isn't invisible on offence. And, someone more physical opposite Edler for the #1 pairing would be great, too. I think Tanev's a prototypical 3rd pairing player at this stage of his career and doesn't belong in the top-4 for a team that plans to make the playoffs. He's solid, sure, but ultimately not really anything special compared to other top-4 RH defencemen in the conference. Again, key word: upgrade. There's enough young(er) bottom-4 depth to replace him.
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Linden Vey upon arrival.
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You think they'll carry 9 D? That's pushing it a bit, I think. Can't see him doubling as a forward. I think he'd be more of a lock to stick with the team if not for the addition of Tryamkin.
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Hadn't realized that yet about Hamonic. You make good points about Tanev, but, I've got secondary scoring on my brain. JB's gotta get a RH partner for Edler who plays just as you described, but can also put points on the board. Or, at least be so sound and physical in the Canucks zone that Edler can take more chances. That bumps Tanev to the 2nd pairing, if not moved altogether since I don't see him as a bottom-4 guy with this team. But upgrades are definitely needed on the right side for the top-4 D.
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He's not projected as a top-4 defenceman next season, is he? This team is in trouble if he is.
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Shop all you want, but, with his NTC his value is less than you think and he doesn't want to leave anyway. How many GM's do you think are queuing up to acquire a guy who's still mentioned in the same paragraph with the word "potential" at age 30?
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Neither Hutton nor Tanev belong in the top half of the D corps next season. If they're serious about developing one and hoping for playoff-level performance from the other, that is. Gudbranson is exactly the type of young RH D this team --- Hutton, specifically --- needed for the bottom 4. If either one are going to be in the top half, I'd rather they develop their way up rather than thrown to the wolves because there's no one else worthy of the spot. That's how Tanev got there.