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sting

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Everything posted by sting

  1. In my viewing. The first few games he looked like he was laboring with his left leg. Definitely had a hitch in his stride. Shifts were short, looked tentative. Could be why as a right shot he wasn't attempting to step into any shots either. Just an observation. If anyone was at the games or is closer to the team they could maybe shed some light on it? Oh and I'm not making excuses for him. I just noticed a big uptick in his play as the series went on.
  2. sting

    Ben Hutton | #27 | D

    ^^^ yes I agree. Bieksa has been the ultimate teammate and Canuck. A true warrior that elevated his game come playoffs, played hurt, trained and worked to improve throughout his career and is one of the best character's to wear the uniform. His future should be interesting.....If he will take a discount he probably will be kept as a character veteran to mentor the young guys, if not we'll he certainly could make a lot more on the open market. I think Kevin is smart enough to realize that although he may make less short term there's a good chance long term he could make more as a part of the organization. I don't think Hutton's future effects Bieksa as much as Hamhuis. At this point that discussion is along ways away....Any reports on his game last night?
  3. No.....it's not a bad comparison in the fact you have two players that have a huge amount of raw untapped potential, both are shoot first fast powerful guys that love to hit and are a pain in the ass to play against.....in fact Kesler was a really good winger when he played there. Midfield???.....lol
  4. ^^^ works for Jeff Carter. It seems a lot of posters think that Jake should be doing button hooks tight turns and skating east west darting through players threading sauce all over. Jake is a NorthSouth power forward.......no? His speed, shot and size and strength are 100% NHL transferable. He won't have a problem getting to the net where most goals in the NHL are scored. He's the compliment to a skilled center and a much more desirable player than an undersized skilled euro IMO. He must improve his puck protection if he wants to be a top 6 NHLer. I would rather say that than....he's gotta get a lot stronger to get to the scoring areas or improve his skating enough to be effective. I would caution against comparing junior production to NHL production. Or judging a junior player on a few weeks or few games of play.....it's a fools game. Bo Horvat was being picked apart last year (based on a disappointing finish to his season and World Juniors) How is Mitch Holmberg's pro career going or Dane Fox or Hodgson or Filatov If you look at Virtanen's accomplishments it's actually very impressive....was Canada's best forward at the u18's, Drafted 6th overall, recovered from shoulder surgery, came back with an attention to better defensive play and puck distribution. Had an impressive performance as one of the youngest players at the World Juniors. Gold Medal.....physically dominant, huge bone crushing hits, blowing past defenseman and catching players with ease on the back check. I like the pick and would do it today if we had a re draft. Glad to have Benning.
  5. if we wait its possible that Seabrook could replace Bieksa's contract spot. Yes the right side is really soft. Tanev, Clendening, Corrado and Subban dont exactly strike fear
  6. Yes a monkey could have made better decisions for this team. Let's move Gagner and bring in a 19 yr old rookie C to anchor our 2nd line? If I was an Oiler fan (which I'm not) you would have to hope that this was a ploy to get McDavid or Eichel. Considering this is the team that Drafted Yakupov when they clearly needed other components I wouldn't be so sure. Add the Draisaitl world junior fiasco and there you have it folks.....Lowe, McTavish, Howson are Larry, Curly and Moe. End Rant. Back to Jake a** kickin Virtanen. Love this pick
  7. I never called anyone stupid. I referred to saying "we should have taken X " as stupid because it proves nothing and furthermore makes it seem like some fan is smarter than Benning, Linden and a professional scouting staff. Teams draft players based on the attributes they find most valuable to suit their team. They don't always want centers that put up points. I think it's a nice thing to have a team that has a local identity....BC, Prairie boy or Canadian. At the end of the day I just want really good hockey players that want to bring Vancouver a Cup and could care less about where the're from. All things being equal I want my boys to bleed Red and White.
  8. I'm saying that your top players are your leaders and the identity of your team. Nylander is not the type of guy that management wants. (I agree) If they did they would've picked him. JB was quoted as saying after the Virtanen pick that they are changing the identity. Nylander will be fine. He's gonna score at the NHL level I'm certain. It's not that he's Swedish. I just don't think he will have the intestinal fortitude to be great player come playoffs nor be a good guy to lead the next group. I watched his dad play and so did our management.....played his career on the perimeter, wizard with the puck, great skater, excellent on the PP...sound familiar? I think your confusing my statement about it not working with Naslund and the Sedins as some slight against them. It's not a personal thing ( I love those guys ) they were some of the best Canucks and NHLers and tremendous human beings in every way. We didn't win a Cup and it isn't on them......it's just time to go a different direction. I
  9. Where do I disrespect Swedish players? I couldn't care less where someone's from what I care about is what there all about. The Canucks have had two Swedish captains and close to 20 years of our top offensive players being Swedes and it hasn't worked. It's not a Swedish thing it's a change in philosophy on who will be driving the bus and be the poster child on Benning and Linden's Canucks of the future. Most people get it.....but some have to keep pulling out this stupid......"I would have preferred we drafted ?????" Don't confuse my support for Virtanen and Benning for anything else other than I am happy they are going this direction and I really like the pick.
  10. The only one embarrassing themselves is you and every other idiot still parroting about our GM not knowing what he's doing. You go on about Nylander and his scoring prowess like it's the only thing that matters in building a team. Jake has attributes in his game that Nylander can only dream about and likewise for Virtanen. Until your boy can be an effective NHL playoff player why don't you just shut up about how pretty he looks. It's the World Juniors?? Schroeder, Rodin, Paajarvi, B.Schenn, Hodgson, Reway, Forsling....do these names mean anything to you? Or how about Dal Colle, Fleury..? JB wants to build a big strong, fast in your face type playoff type team and all you can seem to see is Nylander his skill, his points (mostly pp) and his pretty hair. The way it's looking maybe Carolina should have drafted Forsling instead of Fleury? TL and JB don't want there hopes of winning a cup pinned on a player like Nylander. His dad was a point producing puss and it's most likely the beauty queen is going to be the same. Virtanen was the better pick, it's our guy and I'm certain watching him that he will effect a playoff series more than your figure skater.
  11. I'm with Ban TSN. Can you imagine having to play against this bad a55 in a 7 game series? Every game he destroys 3 or 4 guys, catches players with seemingly ease on the back check and has a few rushes where he has defenseman in desperation trying to deal with his speed and strength. His cycle game and puck protection needs work for sure. Before we all go and rip the pants off Virtanen after every game....consider the fact that even the two next superstars in the league (Eichel and McDavid) have been wildly inconsistent and McDavid in particular has been off. Missing passes, falling down, losing face-offs, tunnel vision at times. Watching the juniors year after year it really is a tournament that 19 year olds dominate. It's incredible the difference it can make in some players. I'm not really a fan of Jake on the left side on his line. I would have deployed him on the right with Petan and moved Fabbri up. Seems Lazar is a lock for top 6 and rightly so as he has the resume and experience along with being our captain. Petan and Virtanen on the third would be deadly. On the bright side the 3rd period showed well for the current trio. Missed 3 or 4 really good chances and chemistry improved as did McDavid's and Virtanen's games. Gonna be exciting going forward. Go Canada Go!
  12. Recorded and watched the game today as I had to work last night. Gotta say I'm extremely impressed again. Physical in your face play. Some great back checks where he caught the play with ease. One of the best hits of the game and caps it off with a highlight reel goal top shelf showing off great power, speed and hands. I have to agree that his line mates are holding him back. It makes us a better and deeper team having Lazar, but selfishly it would have been cool watching Jake ripping one timers from McDavid. As things stand I'm really hoping that Jake can find his way onto Petan's wing with Fabbri or Paul.
  13. Thanks LK Guy's like you are the reason i read these forums. Your insight on his play in London was appreciated. Not to often you see a 19yr old push aside men. Kids a beaut.
  14. It's not really about division it's about being able to compete against the best teams. Even the Pens with two generational talents can't get back to the finals because their supporting cast is substandard. Dean Lombardi gets it. Benning and Linden get it. I disagree with the notion of just draft BPA. If there's a drop off after your pick sure....otherwise i think its essential to fill your team with components of need. In a cap world it's imperative you have ELC contributors. Toffoli and Pearson were huge for LA.
  15. Not to mention JB might of had a hand in Boston's success story. Gotta be able to win puck battles to win in the playoffs. Virtanen will be our faster D.Brown. One more piece in a contender going forward.
  16. i agree Matthias has never been good on faceoffs or defensive coverage at Center. He chases the play alot and is burned by quick puck movement. Better as a winger using his speed and size along the walls. Vey I'm having a hard time getting a read on. Extremely smart and creative but not a great shooter and his defense so far has been lackluster. Horvat should stay. If he struggles in the 9 game window then sure send him down. I think it's rediculous that he cant develop from the lower lines. Worked fine for the Sedin's and Kesler. The last couple games Horvat has looked amazing, but preseason is just that. The suggestion of Bonino and Vey together makes a ton of sense.
  17. I'm on side with this. Were not tanking for McDavid folks. Benning will just keep adding pieces and we will get our Weber or Getzlaf while making the playoffs or at least trying everything to do so.
  18. Im hoping for Lemieux or Cornel big time at 36.
  19. I love this pick.....might not have the ceiling of a Nylander but this guy will lead blue and has a Brett Hull like shot.
  20. I dont get the logic if its Reinhart. Ekblad makes more sense.....what would Weber cost??
  21. I agree with the top players needing some new names but the Calgary Flames analogy is only valid if we cant draft anything of value for years on end. A pipeline of Kassian, Horvat, Shinkaruk, Jensen, Markstrom, Cassels, #6 2014, #36 2014, Gaunce and the 2015 1st is miles better than anything the Flames cultivated for almost 10 seasons......im not worried about being like Calgary.
  22. Not to mention Nylander has had an extremely impressive Combine. After crushing all the Cardio components he banged out 11 pull-ups.........take that Sam Bennett. Of the four most likely candidates Nylander has the lowest bust potential IMO. Really comes down to an identity thing.
  23. "Upper level NHL team"??? We were starving for someone to step up last season and aside from Santorelli and Jensen for a short burst no one did. Schroeder plays a passive game.....He needs to have his RPM's on high and be switched to wing because he is a matchup dream for the opposition and is not good enough offensively yet to drive a top 6 line. When Raymond left it seemed that Schroeder would be an excellent line mate for Kesler ala Bergeron and Marchand but for whatever reason he has no intensity/pace. Drifting through games is not gonna secure him as a NHL regular. This is the last camp as a Canuck for JS unless he steps up huge......Horvat, Shinkaruk, Cassels, Gaunce, Jensen and this years pick are breathing down his neck. Worth a contract? Yes. A roster spot? We'll see.....I'm not holding my breath.
  24. I'm big on Eric Cornel, Sanheim and Lemieux if he slips. I highly doubt Lemieux and Sanheim would make it to 36 though.
  25. This is rediculous!! You do realize that Ritchie's SIZE and skill and speed is at a level that professional scouts are projecting him as a productive NHL power forward. His SIZE is such that he will be a force in the corners in front of the net and in wearing down your opponents. His SIZE will allow him to get to scoring areas and his SIZE will create space for his line mates.... How do you know that Ehlers development will be any better than Oleg Saprykin (11) Sven Baertschi (13) Andrei Kostytsin (10) or Aalexander Daigle (1) for that matter. Are you sure that one will not develop more than the other?? Have you been watching?.......Who's game is more suited to the playoffs? I was one of the guys hyping Ehlers after a couple of viewings and this guy does have some sick potential but you are making yourself look foolish by thinking that these guys will be the same players in the NHL that they are in junior. They will have to raise there game to new levels and that translation may leave a lot less desirable player than they currently are. Ehlers will have no problems skating with the very best but can he get to the scoring areas and can he snipe on NHL goalies. Will his slight frame hold up to the punishment will he process the game at an elite level?????.....see Ehlers has some growing and discovery yet.......can he do it???
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