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Everything posted by DIBdaQUIB
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What makes Jake such a conundrum is that he does show what he could be but only for short periods of time. Who is the real Jake Virtanen on the ice? I think the jury is still out on that. Obviously Green likes what he believes Jake can be it is just that Jake doesn't seem to grasp the concept or doesn't have the means to bring it consistently.
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See "Goldobin". Coaches have a certain amount of patience but not never ending. Green has been clear about how Jake has to learn to bring it consistently, drive the net, be a force etc. After three years, Jake's game has not grown much and he is often MIA. There are lots of young players in the Nucks stable and more on the way. If Jake wants to secure a spot in the future, he has to start to "get it".
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Time is running out on Jake. It has been what, 3 years? and he still has to be told to use his skills to be effective? Either he is too thick to understand or it is just not in his make up to play that way. He did in junior but seems reluctant to play that way in the NHL. One could just say he will be an effective 3rd or 4th line player but his disappearing act and fly-by defensive lapses don't really make him that kind of player either. Maybe something will click at some point and he will put it together but it seems he struggles to think the game and I'm not sure that can be taught.
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Funny but unfortunately, appropriate.
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For sure the agent and player have that hammer but in the case of the Canucks, they have been clear they want to get a look at what they have in Hughes which will help them in any moves they need to make before next season. Hughes has been clear that he is excited to be a Canuck and likes the opportunity that exists with their group. I don't think hard-ball was played by either party. It just makes sense with the condition of our D group, to get Hughes exposed to the NHL as soon as possible. If we had an established, successful and deep D core, perhaps it would be a different discussion.
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AS poor as his play was, he did make a difference at times just by his presence. The new NHL doesn't allow guys to hunt down offenders and pummel them. It is also no longer a career ending humiliation to refuse to fight so his physical intimidation was marginal. HIs defensive failures just weren't enough to offset his physical attributes. From what I hear, he was a class act and a good team mate. I wish him well in Pittsburgh.
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Certainly last game was encouraging. If he can bring that every game, he should become a top 6 fixture. Fingers crossed.
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I 'm really pulling for Goldy to figure it out. Yes he makes some bonehead plays and has been inconsistent but he has exceptional offensive talents/instincts and can gain entry and control the puck in the offensive zone better than any of our guys except Petey. If he can grasp the rest of the game, he will be a force for us.
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You've been hacked by Apollo.
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Most dangerous job in the world...a small, skilled forward on the Canucks.
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Maybe, but EP does a great job of faking a move/pass across the crease which the defenseman bites on. He then pulls.and releases in a very smooth and quick fashion . All happens so fast, i can see that beating a lot.of NHL calibre d men
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The boards make it much harder to miss the corner than the net...
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Very good news. The guy is a force out there and a major deterrent. Analytics don't recognize that kind of leadership but it is essential to have that in the NHL.
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Here's hoping the balls drop in our favour for a change.
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He back end is indeed shaping up. I like what Gudbranson brings and Try. Far fewer liberties will be taken when they are regularly patrolling our end. Jb is rightly searching for scoring talent as this team is in desparate need if that but so far, not much size with those players. Guys like Goldy, Bocher, Granlund etc., Are going to need linemates that play a heavir, meaner game if they are going to have the space and time to do their thing. It's not easy to find d those guys because every team wants them. Hopefully, we can develop our own, Virtanen being a strong candidate if he can re-directed his game.
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Much the way Stecher is a target now. Both play or have played with Edler who deos nothing to protect his more vulnerable partner. It's fine to have guys like that on your blue line but they need a partner like Guddy or Try to keep other teams from taking liberties. As for Tanev, hate to lose him but his injuries are taking a toll and it would be better to get a solid young asset for the future.
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WE have some good size now and coming true. How those players use that size is the most important thing and that remains to be seen. Boeser is a decent size but he doesn't play a "heavy " style of game. Like I said in an earlier post, having your physical presence on the 4th is of limited value. YOu need to have it throughout the line up to be effective. That is why Edmonton right now is effective with Lucic, Maroon and Kassian in the top 9. There is no opportunity to let your guard down or take liberties. Watching Edmonton the other night, the instant any scrum involved a skill player (McDavid) one of the big boys jumped right in the middle and the star player just skated away. That , is what we lack and it is what provides the time and space for the skilled guys to do their thing. FInding guys that can play that role and be effective in the top 9 is the challenge. On the back end, we should be okay as you point out. I have noticed Hutton using his size more and more as well. It is up front where we have no answer to physical teams.
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My brother played against Linden before Linden made the jump to the bigs. He hated playing him not because he was a goon but because he played a "heavy" game. He said, Linden's hits hurt and took a huge toll on you over the course of a game. Every time you got near him Linden would lean on you and make you work hard to find space and time. That is what we lack in our forward group. We have some guys who will throw hits now and then but we don't have "heavy" players who make the other team pay regularly just for being on the ice. Who wear teams down by constantly using size and aggression to make playing uncomfortable and tiring. Having those guys on your 4th line does no good as those guys are usually only out for 8-9 minutes and seldom face the top 6 of the other team, who are most likely to do damage. YOu need size and physical presence throughout your line up. ..not goons, just big, tough, physical players.
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You just had to watch Kassian, maroon and Lucic rushing a few sucks last night to see how effective it was at putting Anaheim off their game. Expecting to be hit hard every time you touch the puck o knowing you will have a if mean guy lean on you every play leads to turnovers, broken plays etc. This isn't ringette. Skill is needed but it either has to have size or it needs large and mean teammates to make space and time.
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Everything in balance. We lack offense and size/toughness. We are consistently out matched physically. Our skill players are targeted mercilessly because we have. I answer and won't stand up for eachother. The team needs to bring in talent but it has to also add size and a physical presence. Bette to have big rough guys that punish the other team than a bunch of tweeters like Chaput and megna who don't produce nor do they play physical.
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And how many games do you expect this Nuck team to win against the oilers, flames or jets? Yes those teams have more high end talent but they are all very physical compared to us and dominated in that area. It was adding Larsen, Kassian, maroon and Lucic that took the oilers to the next level every bit as much as McDavid and maybe moreso. The Sedins' are durable and to be respected for their compete level but they are "soft" when it comes to establishing a physical presence. The face punching incident was one of the most embarrassing episodes I have seen as a fan. I can't see how anyone would not be demoralized by watching their leaders allow themselvezs to be humiliated in that manner and that hasn't changed. The team still reflects that approach.