Hogs & Podz

True, true... This just reinforces Bennings drafting abilities. Because we have such an astute deafting team now in Van, I am more interested in the draft now than ever before. I believe the Canucks are top five in drafting.

Phat fingers.. "The McCann pick is likely his worst so far." I agree totally. As far as first round expectations that is.... I mean, wasn't Debrincat choose just after? Again hindsight is 20/20, but overall Benning has been very productive so far.

With a better 200 ft game... Like his Dad.

Talking about OJ.... I had a chance to meet him... Well my intent was to meet him. I went to Shawnigan Lake to watch the prospects 2016. That was the one Boeser was at with Stetcher after being signed as a FA and all the other draftees for that year. I really wanted to meet OJ in person, as I was excited we drafted him. I waited around after practice. First came Demko and Boeser to sign autographs. Both these guys were engaging, calm, comfortable with the attention on them. I especially liked Demko! When the time came to meet OJ, he really didn't make himself available to the public.... I figured because his english wasn't strong.... But after seeing him pass by, I tried getting his attention, he looked at me and looked to me like he was uncomfortable and wanted to have nothing to do with the fans. Now, this is my interpretation but, after that encounter, I wasn't sure about his ability to embrace his new surroundings, team and culture. Hopefully this was because of his young age and my misinterpretation!

You make some good points, and I agree that the canucks management look at character as an important part of their drafting process. Also, until you mentioned it, I hadn't thought about Hughes's characteristics. We will see... But he could turn out to be a me first kinda guy. His style if play can be perceived that way... Time will tell if his personality is 'all about me'. He stayed with Michigan this year rather then going to Utica or Vancouver out of loyalty and desire to win a championship with them.... So.... That shows good character. Will be a fun process to watch. Sorry..... Didn't realize I was in OJ forum!

I was also at the USA vs Slovakia in Vic today... The first thing that surprised me was, about 3/4 of the crowd was pulling for the Slovacs! I ask some of their supporters behind me why they were supporting them and they said they wanted to get the competition (USA in this case) out of their path for Canada winning the gold! I get it but I was going for Quinn and Tyler!.... Both by the way, were really noticeable. Especially as the game went along. Tyler though not as noticeable as Quinn, he seems to know were to be on the ice... Makes subtle plays knows when to dig in and compete for the puck when its warranted. Quinn was probably the most noticable player on the ice from second period in. Most of his decisions were smart ones. There were a couple that in the NHL he'd have caused a grade A scoring chance against. At this level, he was able to recover and break up the play before the scoring chance against materialized. Overall was awesome to see both teams. The Slovaks played a pretty good game and for half of the game they outplayed the US... But then the counter attack and speed of team USA more or less took over. Quinn will definitely be a welcome addition on the back end. Our mobility will be upgraded drastically with him passing or carrying the puck up ice. However, he may make some bone headed (trying to do to much by himself) from time to time... We will have to have patience with him.

Interesting theory... The year OJ was drafted, I was very excited. With the other picks available at 5, it was a toss up between Sergachev and OJ... I thought OJ could have the higher ceiling... We will eventually see. As it stands now MT looks like the best pick... If we do trade him, it better be for another defencemen. I hope we keep him though... Maybe he was drafted to high but I still think he can turn into #2 or #3 defencemen for us.

Awesome post from long ago.... Or at least objective. Virt is showing he has more character then originally projected.... But we still don't know what his ceiling is.... That's a good thing!

I wasn't at Bure's first game but I remember waiting all day to watch his first game as a canuck.... I remember the hype (pre-internet)... There were still a lot of fans both curious and excited to finally see this new addition from the old Red Army team. Bure's first shift was like nothing I'd ever seen before. It was amazing. Way ahead of his time, when it came to powerskating and edgework... and hands... almost at the same level. But what made him so great for so long was also his biggest weakness... He loved I mean LOVED to score! So much so, that he didn't like to (share) pass the puck or use his teammates... A lot of time he didn't need them but in time it soured the relationship between him and some team mates, coaches and fans. There were reports leaked to media at the time, that he wouldn't even listen to coaches game strategies during practice, or participate in drills (later during his tenure with the nucks). So... this is my long winded way of saying that though Bure was so electrifying he was not a COMPLETE player. EP is a very special player... We can all feel and see it unfold before our eyes. It's the same feeling.... That feeling that you get when you know you are seeing greatness unfold before you. That same feeling I had when I watched Bure..... BUT... EP is a team player.... He really cares about his teammates. More than scoring, he really, REALLY wants to win! Because of these character attributes, he (in my books) is already a more COMPLETE player then Bure ever was. When all is said and done, I won't be surprised if he in time becomes a more impact player for the Canucks then Bure. Hopefully he'll stay healthy long enough to prove it to the world in a Canucks jersey!!!

Yah, read this article yesterday. Great insight as to how hockey players (for Hunters perspective) deal with intimidation. Many, professional or not, do not look forward to dealing with an opposing player that can hurt them and take them away from the game they love and/or the lifestyle that they have gotten use to and rely on. It still really matters in contact sports. There are no guarantees.... Whether you're trying to make it to the 'show' like Woo here or Pettersson, trying to stay and learn to stay away from danger areas and players... Woo is attempting to be that deterrent... That hybrid 'Scott Stevens'... That throwback. That sounds good to me. As long as his body can handle the physical demand and not give out before he makes the NHL.... then we will have a very special player and piece to compete for a Stanley Cup! Thanks for posting.

sh*°^´" folks! Sorry I'm not stoned right now.... Making to much sense... I'm out till later!

Yah hold off as long as you can.... It's a kid by kid basis! Bottom line... as we all know is moderation. Teaching by showing the kids respect with the use helps a lot! I have plenty of stories... And even a couple when I didn't moderate myself with booze or weed and showed my kids the aftermath of my choice lol!!! They thought I was kinda weird to show them my state at that time but you know... I think it has workout so far. Both my kids are way more respectful to their bodies and make much better choices (so far... And that I know of) then I at their age. I'm just glad its above board now and can be talked about freely without shame or guilt. Im happy you have that freedom now while raising your kids!

My kids are grown now... I occasionally smoke with my younger son (19yrs). My older son doesn't like smoking with me. We have once or twice. I think he feels awkward or paranoid around his dad? Lol! I get it! Anyway... When they were growing up I always waited until they were in bed or if in front of them (discreetly) when a party was at our home. But just like you, I just felt spaced out, not connected to them in the way they needed from me... In our system. I'm just not great at multitasking while stoned... That's just me.

Kesler was the last prospect successfully developed as a center while with the AHL Moose. Its been awhile. I think Gaudette will be the next...

Come on... Lets talk about what we saw in him as a Canuck. Huge body (rage dolled whole Anaheim team)... Skates well for his size (saw a couple of games where he went end to end with puck). Seemed to have a accurate first pass but timing of said pass was sometimes a question.... picked off or just thrown away (most common for him) off the boards and out for icing... He is an enigma because there are these moments of shear domination potential that we saw (physical). However... The bottom line is, he was inconsistent yet he expected to be treated as if he was. If there is one thing I've learned in life is... If you don't earn it... Don't understand the value of the process of earning your place (with a team) , the work that it takes... No matter how great your potential... You'll never fully realize it... period. He was trying to set his own standard as an individual, on a team, of what he felt he deserved... Regardless whether he was right or wrong he was presenting himself as separate from the 'team'... Basically saying 'rules that applied to others didn't necessarily apply to him'. As cliche as it is 'there is no I in team'... And there in lies the issue! He was not a team player and that is why he's not in the NHL.... (KHL relies on more independent skill verses team systems) If he changes his attitude and becomes a true team player... Trains hard and goes through a wall for his teammates... Well watch out! He'll be a beast!!!!... But I ain't gonna hold my breath.

Where did you see him?

I jest... It's a win win scenario... You get to prove a point and get pluses. Intended or not, I think it's kinda brilliant actually... See... DangeRuss all the way!

So I bit... Great way to get (+)'s!

More natural given physical talent for sure. Up to this point Newtons decision making has been anything but elite and that may be due to an even worse attitude. It seems he has been maturing.... Slowly... If his maturity/attitude comes even say 70% close to the level of his physical attributes he'll lead the panthers to a Superbowl... But I'm not holding my breath. I'd pick R.W. any given Sunday, and wouldn't swap quarterbacks if given the choice.

1985- Jackson 5 (Victory tour) 1989- Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation) 1989- The Who (Kids are all right) 1992- Pink Floyd (Division Bells) 1993- Rolling Stones (Steel Wheels) 1993- ACDC (Thunderstruck) 1993- U2 (Achtung baby) 1994- Buddy Guy 1995- Violent Femmes Kids happened.... No concerts for awhile lol! 2001- Nickleback Kids..... 2007- The Police 2008- Stevie Wonder 2009- Michael Franti 2009- Toots and the Maytals Slowing down... More festivals including Earthdance (San Fran) and Burning Man! 2016- Lauryn Hill Next... I think trip to New Orleans for festival that headlines Donald Glover!

2018 NHLPA ROOKIE SHOWCASE AUGUST 26 AT MASTERCARD CENTRE TORONTO (Aug. 17, 2018) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) will host its 10th annual NHLPA Rookie Showcase Sunday, Aug. 26 at Mastercard Centre in Toronto, with 26 NHL® prospects and rookies scheduled to attend. This unique event provides Upper Deck – the official trading card partner of the NHLPA and the NHL – with an opportunity to capture photographs and videos of many of the game’s top young prospects and rookies in their official NHL team uniforms. The content collected will be used for upcoming Upper Deck trading cards, memorabilia products and digital video posts. 2018 NHLPA Rookie Showcase Scheduled Attendees: The following 26 NHL prospects and rookies are scheduled to be in attendance for the 2018 NHLPA Rookie Showcase: Vitaly Abramov (Blue Jackets), Rasmus Asplund (Sabres), Rudolfs Balcers (Sharks), Drake Batherson (Senators), Kieffer Bellows (Islanders), Henrik Borgstrom (Panthers), Evan Bouchard (Oilers), Daniel Brickley (Kings), Travis Dermott (Maple Leafs), Ryan Donato (Bruins), Dillon Dube (Flames), Adam Gaudette (Canucks), Jordan Greenway (Wild), Carter Hart (Flyers), Miro Heiskanen (Stars), Jordan Kyrou (Blues), Timothy Liljegren (Maple Leafs), Casey Mittelstadt (Sabres), Michael Rasmussen (Red Wings), Ilya Samsonov (Capitals), Dylan Sikura (Blackhawks), Nick Suzuki (Golden Knights), Robert Thomas (Blues), Juuso Valimaki (Flames), Gabriel Vilardi (Kings) and Filip Zadina (Red Wings). Yes Gaudette will be there. To bad Hughes won't (because of ncaa restrictions). Regardless, should be pretty entertaining.

? I guess I'll have to go into the archives to confirm but yah... OJ was touted as the best skater in the draft related to defencemen. I don't know if that is still the case. I think Chychrun was close? But not seen to be to much of a gamble and OJ the safer pick (better hockey sense and vision).

Shawnigan lake 3 camps ago? I was at that one too! That the year we drafted OJ. I don't recall seeing Virt there... I met Demko, Boeser and Stetcher. Wanted to meet OJ but he seemed a little standoff ish... Didn't hold it against him though... Just a kid after all. Must have been the camp the year before that?

220 is not 'fat' Virtanen. 235-240 is though. He has a naturally thick frame. That's why players bounce off him. In his prime, he will be playing between 220-225... And that's with minimal body fat... To be able to skate as fast as he does with that frame, is one of a kind in the nhl.... Now if we could get him thinking the game faster he would be the most dominant power forward in the league.

What about Wooooo!!!