Darius

I think that Edler has much more potential than Hamhuis. Also in light of the pacific division rivals they need a big guy back there that can hit. Edler has it all - hits and can get you near 50 points when he is on. I think that Hamhuis can fetch more and with Tanev emerging and Corrado coming up they can give him up to get a significant piece up front...

YES! I dont know why everyone is willing to cough up Edler when Hamhuis is also an option. Hamhuis seems to be on a downslide. He has made bad mistakes during critical points in many big games this year. Bad pinches, he seems to trip over his own skates which has lead to many outmanned rushes, has scored on his own net multiple times....I think its hamhuis they should be shopping while he still has "Team Canada" prestige.... Canucks will have to give up a significant core player to get a significant piece in return. Think of the future if Kassian actually develops into a good player...Kassian O'Reilly Horvat Tanev Edler and Shinkaruk can be a great core to build around...

Would you agree that the NTC makes the player far more difficult to trade, especially to a team that has a worse record than the team he currently plays for (or the team is in an undesireable city to live in)? Do you think that a player like Hamhuis would agree to be traded to Buffalo or Winnipeg? I think that the NTC significantly narrows the pool of teams that Gillis can deal with.

Hamhuis has been a big disappointment this year and I am astounded he was chosen for team Canada. He has cost the team critical goals during critical times against all the California teams. His boneheaded pinches, tripping over his own skates allowing odd man rushes, and is pretty much useless from the point. I know that he plays alot of minutes but maybe its time to consider moving him while he still has a good reputation, you need to give up something good to get something good in return - a top 6 forward. But oh wait, Gillis gave him a NTC....

If I were the GM this is the guy I would move for a good forward while he still has a good reputation. I thought his trip that allowed Stoll to score the series ending goal a couple of years ago was an aberration...but if you watch him carefully he makes big blatant mistakes at the worst times. He has cost them several games this year. Not blaming him for the loss, but he is a core player that is very underwhelming this year.

It would be interesting to see if there has ever been a 7 minute 5 on 3 in NHL history. Canucks lost the game, it wasnt the penalties...but the clown devorski calling one sided multiple 7 minute penalties with an already lopsided score with less than 10 minutes to go is an absolute joke. The fact that he couldnt even call a 2 minute penalty against the Ducks in that whole scrum is a joke.

Sounds like the purgatory that Calgary has been stuck in for the better part of 2 decades. The other thing that I think needs to be considered is that its possible that the Sedins are tired. Perhaps Torts hasnt factored in the travel in the west coast when piling on the minutes? Also, Burrows might mean more to this team than many people think. I think he is the cog that makes the Sedins elite players.

At least Boudreau showed class and didnt send out his top pp unit out on the 7 minute 5 on 3. There are some douche coaches that would have done that. I hope this team can retool like Anaheim did. They won the cup, they went on a bit of a downslide after they lost some siginficant pieces, missed the playoffs in the meantime...but with shrewd management, some good draft picks, trades and signings they look like they will win a cup again soon. Does anyone think that Gillis has the ability to turn this ship around?

Ok, how does Dalpe get time with the Sedins when hes done absolutely nothing and guys like Booth ride the chair in the press box and Kassian doesnt get any time on the top line... The team has gone from a top pp unit to having Bieksa in front of the net and weber on the point. They cant beat any of the the California big dogs in a 7 game series. Gillis traded good assets for long term projects, dont expect much for the next couple of years.

Why has Booth been up in the press box while guys like Weise, Dalpe etc can continue to do basically nothing for long stretches? Anyhow, lucky for them that Boudreau showed some class and didnt put Getzlaf and Perry on the ice for the last 7 minutes or else we would have been looking at double digits. In over 3 decades of NHL watching ive never seen a 7 minute 2 man advantage. Ok Gillis, your team cant run with the big dogs anymore. They cant beat the california teams and have been swept for two years in a row...what more proof does he need that the core is done. Ball is in your court, please dont make us relive a messier style era again.

For me, after watching LA push them around for the better part of three seasons, the fact that they went out and instigated taking the game to the gutter instead of waiting for LA to run them was highly rewarding. THe very first time the Kings played the Canucks with sutter as coach he tried to get his team to go after our good players. Its a strategy he has used successfully in the playoffs and in the regular season. The canucks showed they are physically equipped to deal with teams that try and take the game to the gutter. I am pretty sure that this will give them a big mental boost. I blame Gillis for not doing something to get this team immediate top 6 scoring help - he had assets like Schnieder and Hodgson and he turned them into long term projects instead of getting immediate help. They have a legit window here to do something and he trades for 5 years into the future. (This is a side rant though...nothing to do with our original discussion)

This loss doesnt hurt as much because at least they did not lose AND get physically humiliated. A few points: 1. This team needs a legit pp QB and a 30+ goal scorer. Edler may be able to fill in the QB role but they do not have a game breaker. A guy that can float for 58 minutes but get you the goal when you most need it. 2. Good on them for gooning it up tonight. They lost with pride and they humiliated a guy like Brown on his own ice. First he chickens out with Kassian - he knew why Kassian was challenging him and he didnt answer the bell. Then Kesler fed him his lunch in front of his fans. They stood up for Luongo and Sedin. A great way to build team Chemistry and to build confidence in themselves. 3. Diving. I thought the Canucks were supposed to be the diving champs? Brown dove to draw that initial penalty and then Quick acted like he got shot when Weise went through his crease. 4. LA is big, but they are not that tough. Goon Sutter has them playing a 5 man box and he knows how to use their size to wear teams down in the o zone. I mean they have willie mitchel and dana regher murzyn on their D - slow and slower. 5. Bieksa in front of the net and Weber on the point is not a very good first line unit, Torts makes some genius moves sometimes but tonight's pp looked like a desperation move. Why not put Kassian in front of the net?

yeah, toughness doesnt matter. Let Brown run your goalie, let the goon Nolan keep running the sedins...have no pride...just try and play a skill game against a team whose whole strategy is based on taking the game to the gutter when they play you. some of you guys need to start watching the oilers - all finesse, all skill and all bottom of the barrel.

This team needs a legit PP qb and/or a legit 30+ goal scorer. They have practically everything else to get the job done... When Weber is on your top line PP and you have Zac Dalpe on your 1st line you know that you have some issues. Glad they actually pushed them around - the best part was seeing Brown and Nolan chickening out and then seeing Brown get his lunch fed to him for the first time against the canucks. This is the team toughness everyone has been asking for since 2011. Do they have any pure goal scorers in their system? Shinkaruk? then what? Gillis needs to address this - its hard watching a team of third liners + sedins and Kesler trying to get it done every night.

Kesler feeding Brown his lunch while his shirt was pulled over his head was worth the two points. That rat bag has been cheap shotting the Canucks for years. That LA team is a team of third liners + Kopitar, Carter and Doughboy - that goon coach sutter has them playing a 5 man box to perfection - add quick standing on his head and that is how they won the cup. This is the team toughness canuck fans have been calling for since 2011. Now they need a bona fide goal scorer and they need Burrows on the number 1 line. IMHO they should be shopping a combo of Hamhuis + prospect to get a decent return - a guy that can get 30+ goals and has a contract that wont expire in 2014. Why Weber is on the 1st unit PP and why Bieksa was chosen to stand in front of the net is beyond me - you have kassian on the bench, i think he would be a better choice in front of the net - he is a forward.

LA isnt tough, they have a bunch of big lugs that can play in the corners and play D. Sutters 5 man box around the net. Couple that with Quick's ability to stand on his head and that is how they won the cup. Sad part is a lot of teams are going to try and emulate them - say goodbye to the old days of speed and skill a la detroit. Glad Kesler fed that rat Brown his lunch. And their tough guy Nolan looked real tough chickening out with Sestito. They dont dress that goon for games and then they put him in against the Canucks so that he can run the Sedins. When Weise didnt fight Thornton even Hockey Night in Canada portrayed Weise as a coward - I doubt Nolan will be treated the same way. Canucks need a bonafied goal scorer - thats the bottom line. If all they can cup up with is Dalpe on the first line they have some serious issues in the offence department. Its time they part with a core piece to get a significant asset back. If I were them I would be shopping Hamhuis around - throw in one of their 3rd line center at best prospects (Gaunce? Schroeder?) and see if they can get a legit 30- 40 goal man.

A few points: 1. This team needs a face off man of Malhotra's calibre. I think most of the games they have lost in the last minute are due to losing possession of the puck right from the draw. 2. Not blaming the refs but if they had called 2 blatant Pittsburgh penalties in the last two minutes the game would have been over. NHL reffing is a joke, its the only pro league in the world where a penalty changes its definition depending on the team playing, the time of the infraction, and previous circumstances in the game. A penalty that is called in the first should be called in the third period too. 3. Kassian - if he can string together games like that he will be a force.

Kassian has been putting it together for a few weeks now. You could see glimpses of his passing abilities and his talent for reading the play on the fly. People who call him a goon or claim that he has no hockey IQ dont know what they are watching. Other than the Sedins I think this guy has the best ability to find the open man or to make a rink wide tape to tape pass. Goons and/or 4th liners do not have the talent to score the goal he scored last night. He put it all together last night, and he was given top 6 minutes. If he can manage to string together similar performances nobody is going to bring up the small and slow Hodgson again. Who would you want in a 7 game series against those big strong pacific division teams? Hodgson would be pushed around like a rag doll. Hopefully he can keep it up.

A few points: -This has to be one of the softest Defences to play against. Bieksa aside this is what we have: Tanev, Hamhuis, Garrison, Weber, Corrado - no wonder they are running Lu all night. All those guys have strengths but intimidation is not one of them. -That goon Sutter has figured out the Sedins - its easy...just do what Boston did. Play them tough and break the cycle on the boards and you pretty much neutralize them. It would be nice to see them score off of the rush. -Other than Sestito and Bieksa there was very little physical push back. Its a shame guys like Wiese, Kassian, Booth, Kesler dont punish their D. - Its frustrating to watch Kassian - he has the speed and the size to hit, but he doesnt. The guy is trying to be a playmaker and not a power forward....maybe thats what he is destined for....problem is Gillis thought he was getting a power forward when he traded hodgson. -The league is heading towards low skill goon hockey. Assemble the biggest and heaviest guys you can, put a 5 man box around the net, dump and try and kill the opposition on the boards. Have a couple of snipers and tada - you have a cup contender. The current canuck roster cannot counter this in a 7 game series. In 2011 they had the skill akin to Chicago and could out skill the opposition (until Boston ran them through the rink and they were all playing injured). The Edmonton oilers are polar opposite of what type of team is a contender today - all skill and all soft....

Yep, that guy just got owned.

Scrivens shut the door ...luongo did not when it really counted. However luongo would not be under the microscope if the canucks scored another goal. Too many third line guys playing over their heads. Most of the second pp unit are third liners. And hamhuis on the first pp.? Come on. These guys are a hard working team and they are a tough team but... A top 3 dman needs to be moved for a legit top 6 forward. I don't see any way out of it without sucking for a few years and building up the talent pool with draft picks.

Lou is a good goalie but he seems to have trouble making the key save at key times. If someone potted a goal on one of the other 7 power plays chances are Lou's save percentage would not be under the microscope. This team really needs a top 6 forward with hands. The only way, as I see it, to get a guy like that without compromising the future is moving one of the long standing top 3 dmen. Gillis can't wait around like Calgary management did for the team to hit rock bottom before moving some of the corner stones. This division is way to tough to get involved in a prolonged rebuild.

After they lost the scf in 2011 Gillis and the fanbase thought they had to build a team to beat Boston style teams. As shown tonight the team can handle any situation when the opponents try and take the game to the gutter. Unfortunately aside from the sedins and maybe Kesler the high end talent is not there. The only way they can improve the team this season is to trade a top 4 D for a legit top 6 goal scorer. I think that one of bieksa, ham hamhuis or edler can fetch a decent return. Tanev is showing he can step up and be at least as reliable as those three. Luongo seems to have an inability to make key saves at key moments. This is magnified by the lack of scoring. If someone managed to score one more goal on one of the other 7 pps the magnifying glass on Lou would go away.