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Everything posted by canucklehead44
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We signed Garrison as a free agent, it cost us no assets. Got two years out of him, flipped him for a 2nd round pick. Even if Vey doesn't pan out 1. Only 1/5 2nd liners do and 2. We traded an asset we got for free to acquire him. The only player picked in the 2009 2nd round pick that would make me lose any sleep if we missed out on is Ryan O'Reilly, although Gelinas or Tatar would also be awesome players to have (interestingly Tatar was my first choice for our pick, Gelinas was 2nd). We selected Rodin, the 50th pick was Kenny Ryan. Between 1999-2011 Milan Lucic and Chris Thoburn are the only 50th picks to become full-time players. Vey isn't done yet. He has some encouraging signs last year, even if his season was a flop overall. Tatar is about a year ahead in development. He played FOUR full seasons in the AHL with only 8 points in 27 NHL games to that point. The idea that Vey could score 19 goals, 39 points next season isn't far fetched. IF he can do that, I think he develops into a 2nd line player. If he repeats this season his NHL career is done. Baertschi is in a very different boat. Unlike Tatar who made it because of great development, Baertschi hasn't made it because of poor development. This year he looks much better in the blue and green, and is a clear step-up from our other offensive prospects like Jensen and Shinkaruk.
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I think we will end up trading Lack. Miller is harder to move, and it makes sense to have Markstrom develop as a backup behind a vet like Miller then take over the starting job once Miller's contract is up.
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Sure would! Mason Raymond has more NHL points than any Canuck 2nd round pick drafted in the last 21 years.
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I wish the AHL tracked faceoff stats. I know Gaunce played a lot of wing this year, but it would be interesting to see how he did in the circle. Being a 52% in faceoffs vs 42% could make the difference in whether he gets called-up.
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PP/60 is interesting. Kassian lead our team last year. This year looked a little more "normal", other than Richardson finishing 3rd. That said, we should probably re-sign Richardson.
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Don't get me wrong, I love the pick. I am a huge fan of power forward types - Bertuzzi is my favourite Canuck of all time, and I was probably the biggest David Booth supporter on these boards because I like the game he played. I was one of the rare few excited to get Kassian back in the Hodgson deal. Which makes me ever the more frustrated that it seems like he isn't in the right situation, injuries, downtrend in production etc.
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I am blaming Virtanen. The whole situation is disappointing, including coaching, injuries etc. Why is Virtanen, by far the most highly touted player on the team, not getting top line minutes?
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Virtanen's Hitman team also scored 45% more goals. If Virtanen scored 30 goals, 71 points in 51 games that would have been a solid campaign (or at least, what we would have expected). And the Hurricanes probably were a bit disappointed with Ladd. They traded him as a 21/22 year old. At the end of the day Virtanen wasn't the "wrong" pick, and there are a number of reasons for making the selection. Regardless of how he pans out I won't feel angry about it - unlike the Patrick White pick for example.
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Good example. I thought about pointing out Getzlaf, but he did put up 75 in 49 in his +1 draft year. One that I missed is Andrew Ladd. Eerily similar stats to Virtanen both in draft year and +1 year. Also looking at Getzlaf, even though he had 54 points he lead the team that year. So both a drop in Ladd and Getzlaf's production could indicate a huge drop in scoring for their team overall. New system? Not really sure. This doesn't exactly apply to Virtanen, who lead his team by 10 goals in his draft year and finished fourth on the team the following, 26 behind the leader (he did miss a good chunk of games, 21). Tambellini, Rankin, Sanheim and Lang all had big jumps. In fact, Sanheim, the 17th pick of the same draft and a DEFENSEMAN had close to the same ppg as Virtanen. I am not trying to be negative, and Virtanen could still very well be a 40 goal scorer for us one day. Where things stand right now it sucks to see, and as a result I wouldn't pencil him into the NHL lineup so soon. Would I be surprised if he scored 50 next year? Not really, I think he can do it. All I am saying is it is disappointing to see his numbers drop so far.
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Yea, unfortunately I have a job and can't fly around sitting in stands scouting our prospects, and other prospects we could have potentially drafted. I do watch video, and read reports - but you only get a small sample anyway. I actually spent about 20-30 hours watching video and reading scouting reports leading up to the draft. I love Virtanen's speed and power. Nick Ritchie reminds me a lot of Rick Nash, the way he is great at holding onto the puck and using his body to protect the puck and while he skates well for his size, he isn't a speedster. His ability to play like that in the NHL might not pan out. Ehlers is an explosive skater, with great vision who can score off the rush or cycle the puck. At this stage I don't care - the draft has happened. Numbers are still a good indication on progression. Success in junior doesn't mean a player will become a good NHL, a lot of factors come into play. However, rare do you find an NHL player, in the top 6, who was not able to be an offensive force in junior hockey. There are maybe a few exceptions. Logan Couture didn't score a lot in his +1 year, but even he is a two-way centre.
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The Virtanen pick isn't looking very good right now. The Canucks had probably the hardest pick in the draft. The top 5 was consensus, and things got a little weird after that. We had the supremely talented Ehlers and Nylander (Ehlers was probably the right pick), the potential beast power forward in Ritchie, the highest ranked defender (Fleury), and a bunch of other decent players. There is a huge gap between Bennett and Virtanen two spots apart, but comparing Perlini (11th pick, power forward type) who scored 33 goals in in 54 games to Virtanen's 26 in 64 and it looks like there isn't really much talent drop (I'd still take Virtanen over Perlini, but it is close). People bash Ritchie but taken 4 spots after he had 42 goals in 61 games and is an intimidating physical presence. At the time Virtanen seemed like a solid pick. Despite shortcomings overall he has speed, size, plays physical and scored 41 goals in 71 games. His major drop in goal totals in his +1 draft year is disappointing. I am not writing him off but he will take some time to develop, and I don't think he is ready for the NHL. Horvat saw a nice bump up in points after we drafted him, and had so many intangibles that made him a can't miss. Virtanen has huge potential, but there are some alarm bells. McCann on the other hand is looking like an awesome pick.
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For sure - at the end of the first round you are either taking gambles or picking bottom 6 players. I am more confident in him having an NHL career over Shinkaruk, but if Shinkaruk does make it he will be a top six guy.
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That would be nice, I can't imagine it happening though. I am expecting more Boyd Gordon or Jay McClement. Smart, bottom 6 players who are good defensively and while not nearly skilled enough for a top 6 spot can contribute some offensive on the 3rd and 4th lines. Gordon was a 1st round pick, McClement a 2nd so it is no insult to Gaunce to compare him to these two players.
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Legit 2nd line centres are hard to come by. Not many better options than Bones. Most either would cost an arm and a leg to acquire or would cost too much money. We might have a chance at signing Soderberg if we can dump some salary. Brad Richards and Mike Fisher are our other two options but they are old. Soderberg fits perfectly into that not too young, not to old category.
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I hope so, that would be amazing. I am not going to hold my breath though. Benn would be 2nd overall in a hindsight draft. It is harder to say with Perry, as that draft had so many great players. The only forwards of a Benn / Perry calibre picked 6th overall since Peter Forsberg (22 years) is Sean Monahan and arguably Mikko Koivu and Ryan Smyth. There are some other solid NHLers in the mix - Scott Hartnell, Cory Stillman, Milan Michalek, Derek Brassard - all of which are similar calibre to Booth when he was at his peak (first line player, but not a star or franchise calibre). Milan Michalek is another possible comparable (big winger who caps out at around 30G 60PTS). Virtanen hasn't exactly lit the world on fire in his +1 draft year. He has had injuries, but even then it is a big concerning (Perry at 113 pts in his +1 year). I don't think saying Virtanen is going cap out as a 30 goal scorer is labelling him a "bust" by any means. On the flip side, I strongly believe he is a "can't miss" in terms of being able to contribute in the NHL at some capacity. At wost he turns into Brett Connolly instead of Gilbert Brule, Steve Kelly, Daniel Tkaczuk or Rico Fata. Fans here obviously have a bad bias, but anybody who has followed the game closely the past 10 years knows that Booth had developed into an awesome power forward who fans here would have given their left nut to acquire at the time. Wasn't the same after the Richards hit. I hope that Virtanen hasn't already experience his "Richards hit" as 21 goals in 50 games as a goal scoring winger in junior is absolute garbage. Heck even Booth was on pace for 23 goals his first season in Vancouver, and it is a lot harder to score goals in the NHL. I am sure he will bounce back next year.
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I think Virtanen's high end, and low end, potential is David Booth. Similar size, speed, shot first power players. Physical but not "nasty". If he pans out I can see him being a 30 goal, 30 assist first-liner, but not a franchise player or superstar in his prime (pre-concussion Booth). If he doesn't pan out, I can see him being a speedy third liner who can drive to the net and chip in 10-20 goals (post-concussion David Booth).
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Interesting to see how he does, another great "prospect signing" by Mike Gillis. Most underrated prospect in the Canucks system IMO.
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If there was a redraft, Jake would probably go around 15th. That said, he is still an awesome prospect! Most players picked in the top 10 would of course drop. Looking at tools, potential, and production Jake had two for certain. At the draft his point total was great but 45 goals in 71 games is VERY solid, plus being one of the youngest in the draft. He also lead his team by 10. This year his goal totals are WAY down. While junior production is somewhat indicative of skills and potential it can be completely meaningless. Dane Fox for example. Even worse is Mitch Holmberg - 118 points including 62 goals in the WHL and yet he has only 6 goals 14 assists in 34 games in the ECHL. AHL production is a much better measure (when prospects get there). Ekblad is the undisputed #1 at this point. Risers: #2 would have to go to David Pastrnak. Ho hum production in the second division Swedish league yet he absolutely killed it in the AHL and is doing very well in the NHL. Anthony DeAngelo had good numbers on a bad team. Once he got traded to a contender his stats blew out of the stratosphere. This does't mean he will come into the NHL as a 50 point defenseman (like Ellis) but I think he will eventually be a good offensive contribute from the backend (like Ellis this season) . Jared McCann had the tools, potential, but his production wasn't amazing. Now he has the production (not to mention he is a beast defensively). I am a huge fan of Virtanen, but at this stage I would put him on par with McCann in terms of value perhaps even a bit lower. Christian Dvorak was an incredible pick. To be honest if we selected him in even the third round last year I would have shaken my head. Below average size, and only 14 points in 33 games and injuries. He has blown it out of the water this year with 109 points. Dylan Larkin, another steal for the Red Wings scouting staff. Fall: Haydn Fleury. Huge drops in production, for an offensive dman go from 46 points in his draft year down to 28 is alarming.
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Haha Horvat is no Seguin, for both good and bad reasons. I think the best comparable would be Mike Fisher or Jordan Staal. Maybe not quite in the league of Bergeron, but essentially a 1B centre who plays big minutes, puts up around 50 points (with high goal to assist ratios for a centre), and checks against a team's top line.
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His 25 points in 62 games are pretty close to Jensen's 21 points in 54 as a rookie. The big thing separating the two is Gaunce's versatility. I think he is probably a shoe-in to be at least a 4th line player, which is upside as maybe a 2nd line centre. Out of Gaunce / Shinkaruk / Jensen I think Gaunce is my favourite prospect. Interestingly Grenier is outscoring them all, and is massive at 6'5, yet is probably going to be released this summer. Too bad his game is lacking defensively, as he obviously has offensive talent along with great size.
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And Schroeder is far from a liability. He has 7 points, and is +9 in 10 games on Minnesota's third line. Unfortunately for him he lost a spot on the roster because of the deadline, but it was not due to lack of production or skill. They would have had to break up other lines, and he was the "easiest" player to scratch because of it.
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Out of our prospects I'd say McCann is the closest to Kesler. In some ways Kesler and Virtanen are similar. Great skaters, shooters (vs playmakers), physical, and good size. But overall their styles are quite different. I would say Virtanen's comparable is a pre-concussion David Booth. Eerily similar in terms of size, skating, shot, and overall style of play. Like Booth, I think coaching will play a big part in whether Virtanen is successful, as will injuries (moreso than a typical offensive player due to the way he plays).
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Another good free prospect by Gillis. Mceneny had a lot of potential but missing his draft year due to injury dropped him to last in the rankings. Had he not been injured, based on his performance, Mcneny would have likely been drafted 3rd or 4th round. Seems to play a well-rounded game, a nice depth prospect. Here is a good article on him, a bit old though: http://www.thewhig.com/2014/09/23/mceneny-in-steele-out " McEneny had 41 points last season, one less than Frontenacs star defenceman Roland McKeown. McEneny also was plus 14 and was the team’s most physical defenceman at times." --> Keep in mind he played 14 less games "Evan gives us a little more composure on the back end,” McFarland said. “He is a top-two defenceman on any team in the league probably. He’s one of the more dynamic D in the league. Defends well, moves the puck well. His kind of experience to a young blue-line is going to be crucial for us.”
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He is a step up on Jensen. Same draft, higher pick, more NHL games, better NHL production, better AHL production. The shine has worn off his star. He was super hyped-up (more than say Virtanen or Horvat) after being drafted. I would consider him "A" top prospect, but not "The" top prospect. http://flamesnation.ca/2015/3/3/when-did-the-flames-go-wrong-with-sven-baertschi
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While his 4 NHL points in 15 games this year in the NHL are disappointing, a did a bit of digging: 10 out of 15 games he played less than 10 minutes his season high was 13:17 he scored all 4 of his points in the 5 games where he played 10+ minutes In 2012-2013 he had just 1 point in 13 games before scoring in each of his next 7 games (9 points) I think Sven can contribute in our top 9, but he will be streaky. VERY intriguing pickup.