CanucksJay

They owe us a solid for the OEL debacle

Boeser has put up 18 pts in his last 19 games. He has done this without looking particularly good until last game. Im not a points guy. I could care less that Miller put up 99 pts last year. I was on the trade him bandwagon because he was getting his pts the wrong way. I would have said the same about Boeser's current 18 pts in 19 game streak. The only thing that made me stop and rethink this was his last game. Its honestly the first game this year where I watched him play and thought, wow he's playing really well without the puck. No liability plays. Making the correct plays. Deadline is March 3. Canucks have 9 games until then. If he can string together 9 straight games where he plays the right way, i think you have to consider keeping him. His age would fit with brass' 2-3 year retool. If I was currently negotiating with the canucks on a Boeser trade and have been holding out for canucks to retain more of his salary, I would be sweating... This is when I would give the canucks my best offer and say take it or leave it because I know that if Boeser's last game is an indicitive of how he's going to play until tdl, his price will 100% go up. If anything, I know I just missed a chance to buy low on Boeser squabbling over a 1m retainment.

I think most that observe the canucks closely would have seen that last game, Boeser played in a similar manner to the bubble +1 year where he led the team. Like @Kenny Powerssaid, it might be his hands finally healed... Im more in the camp that he might have just been in a really long funk after his dad passed away Maybe he's finally playing like the 6.65 player we expected when we signed him this off season. Boeser came into the season saying he was ready to score 30. Maybe the heart and mind didn't line up with physical results until now. The guys dad passed away less than a year ago. I gave him a pass last season because playing through while dad is on the verge of dying is really hard. Maybe I underestimated the time it takes to grieve a loved one's death before you can put it behind you and go on with life. But if you throw in an injury on top of that, it might even take longer. Im in the camp that you REALLLY need to pay attention to Boeser this month. I mean like watch everything under a microscope in slow mo What does his skating stride look like. How is he turning his body when going into the board for puck battle How is he moving his feet when away from the puck Personally, I think if Boeser is putting up a point a game pace until TDL (throw out last 4 PT game), we really need to look at how he is playing the game (from a value play) perspective. Is he making the right plays? Is he going into the hard areas? Is he skating hard without the puck? Like really look at his consistency in how he is playing the game If he's doing those things, I think we need to consider keeping him. Why sell low and risk the chance that he may finally be breaking out? We have him for 2 more seasons under contract. I would rather kick the can down the road than to give him up early and do something like retain on his salary while getting a 2nd round pick only to have him go to another team and put up 30g/75 pts...

Such a good point. The allure of draft spot says yes but practically speaking, if he can't put up points with McDrai and he can't stick on the team as a good 2 way player in bottom 6 on a defensively weak team, what would he do any differently here? I don't know his game enough to say claim him or not but just thinking abiut the opportunity he's been given playing with 2 of the best players in the league and getting waived sounds like bad news.

Im not talking just points. Im talking about the way he was skating yesterday. The way he was in all the right zones coverage wise. More about him playing the right way. Canucks need players like Podz and EP. Guys that play the right way. That's why I wasn't a fan of Miller or Boeser. They put up points but don't make the "value plays" as RT coins it. If they start playing the right way... Could it be something that lasts? Call me naive but I don't see lack of effort being this team's weakness. I actually think it's lack of structure and proper directions and being coached to make the correct "value plays"

If Boeser goes on a tear until tdl... What do you do... If he consistently looks like the player we saw yesterday for the next month, do you keep him or trade him? Maverick's Re-engaging?

But the thing with Miller is, I thought he just lacked hockey intelligence and just didn't realize blind back handed cross ice passes are a bad idea. Or he didn't have the IQ to realize the puck will probably turnover with a transition going the other way so he better check player "x" I thought he just didn't process the game smart enough. If he is capable of playing like this when there's "motivation" what the hell is that? If that comes back to lack of effort, he needs to gtfo. However, if we give him the benefit of the doubt and believe he is truly learning under RT, (glass half full), then this is great and there's optimism and hope. Are you saying that he plays crappy because he doesn't care to play the right way most nights? I somehow don't see that in Miller. I see him as a guy that cares.

Also Bear was so solid again yesterday except for that one play that cost us a goal. If he can keep playing like that, he's a keeper. Lastly Miller. One of his best complete games. He was at the right spots defensively, made good decisions with and without the puck and made some key blocks along with Petey at the end. Really rooting for this guy because frankly, if he doesn't play well, we're really screwed.

Boeser's best game as a Canuck. He was moving his feet, anticipating well defensively and creating on offense... How do we get him to do this more consistently? Does he have it in him? I have flip flopped on Boeser soooo many times. I loved him as a rookie After he got injured, he played like crap. I wanted to drive him out before the bubble year. The bubble playoffs and the year after, he was one of our best players. I acknowledged I jumped the gun and apologized for wanting to get rid of him I realized he hadn't recovered from his back injury fully but now he's back and was the best player on the team in the bubble+1 year. He then sucked last year but having learned my lesson on writing him off previously, I defended him and said the poor kid's dad died and to write off the year and give him a break. He then sucked again this year and I went back to let's get rid of him He then puts in a performance like yesterday and I'm like wtf? Who the hell is Brock Boeser? Is he an all star or a guy that got injured and then gained muscle mass, lost foot speed and snipe abilities and now just a liability? Lol This guy drives me crazy.

I can't believe so many ppl were thinking he was going to bust last year...

Perfect outcome tonight would be Miller and Beauvillier scoring goals while we lose in an entertaining game. I was gonna say keeping Horvat pointless but that's not what I want either. I like Horvat and he's signed a big contract... I'd rather he start with his new team on the right foot. My hope as a Canucks fan is that Miller outplays Horvat and signal that we kept the right guy...

Thats if he is infact injured lol. If he's not... We're screwed

I think he's injured too. I can't see how skating would regress this badly so quickly. He's like Juulsen foot speed now. Only his intelligence, taking the correct angles/lanes and stickwork is keeping him in the game.

Man. Your post is great... Zone and Tbone. That needs to stick

I somewhat agree. I used to feel like you regarding OEL. He's virtually a 3-4m D man. So is there a point in buying him out or retaining for 4 years to only pay another guy 3-4m to do the same job? The ones thing I'm noticing lately howvwer is that even his strong trait (skating) isn't good anymore. He's lost like 2 steps and barely able to keep forwards to the outside. I can't believe how quickly they gain ground on him now. If he continues to lose his skating abilities, he may become unplayable... So far, I only see players skate faster but he hasn't gotten beat outside. When that starts happening, it's prob time to find a way to get rid of his contract.

Some other takes. Garland is now 2g 3A in 5 games under Tocchet. He's really elevated his game and playing like the guy we had hoped he would be when we acquired him. I haven't seen much from Beauvillier. He's being given every chance to succeed but haven't grabbed the bull by the horns. It's early and virtually no team practices yet but he's gotta bring more to the table if he's playing with Petey. He's only played 2 games with us (no points) but he's 1 PT in his last 7. Unacceptable for a first line winger. If he doesn't pick it up by deadline, I'd be ok to trade him if there's a taker. Petey is 7 pts in his last 7 by contrast. OEL is worrying me. I keep saying he's a smooth skating D with a good stick but lately, he looks really slow. He doesn't even appear to be a good skater anymore. We might need to actually get him off our books now when he's still serviceable and retain some cap. Its happened actually a few times in the past few games. I don't know if he's playing possum but he's letting guys take him outside where he looks 2 steps slower but he's just there in time to keep them outside. Like he doesn't get beat but the forwards gain on their strides are night and day which is worrisome.

The defence and goalie lost us the game yesterday I have no idea what OEL was doing on that one goal where he went to the net as the shot was taken from the point leading to a 2 on 1 (almost 2 on 0). Like how the hell do you do that as a pro? Too many poor plays on D. Bear stood out in a good way I don't get it. That guy has no inbetween. He's either really good or really bad.

Really like Tocchet and how he approaches the game and how he communicates. He called out 4-5 guys without embarrassing them. Everything he said was bang on. I like BB as well but I can see why JR said the things he said about lack of structure and wanted to get RT in here. We definitely lack the "value" plays. Too soft on the puck resulting in turnovers or inability to clear the puck. Is that however a coaching issue or a player issue? Can RT fix this or do we need new personnel? I wonder to what extent this can be fixed with better coaching vs having players that will just win puck battles because that's what they do.

Petterson is not too old to build around. It would take 4-5 years which would mean he'd be 28-29 which is actually ideal from a leadership perspective. That means our 2 firsts and our first next year needs to be playing meaningful minutes in 4 years and we have guys graduating from farm to the big club (raty, klim, Hogz, Karlsson) within 1-2 years The problem is more the middle aged guys currently and what we do with them like Miller Mik Kuz if we go that route)

Agreed. I think we all care about this team and maybe for some, the way they are handling the losses is a coping mechanism. I am team tank as well but I would like to see a hard fought game. I also want the guys we are invested in to do well. Great to see Podz playing so well since the call up. Good to see Miller settle down and play a much better 2 way game. Good to see Petey score and Hughes put up points. On the other hand, i dont see guys like Stillman, Boeser, Myers as part of the future team. In my mind, they are gone within 2 years so if they are the reason we are losing, then so be it. Not gonna be upset about that. They're helping the team achieve their tank this year and then they will soon leave the club. Although, I thought Boeser had a decent game tonight. kuz looked off his game and there was a play in our own zone where he was running around and didn't take anyone. Pretty sure that's what led to Boeser taking his ice.

Well can we make it happen please? Start posting people

Luc Bourdon Poor guys life was taken at such a young age...

Wow yeah i dont see that many D men drafted in the 10-20 range. The hit rate is actually really good. Most will see nhl action by draft +3 but there are quite a few that contribute sooner. Maybe @stawnsmeans 4 years to play a big minute key top 4 role? To be honest though, that's when I see the canucks actually start looking like contenders if they build through the draft. 28 year old Petey, 27 year old Hughes being the leaders while guys like Raty, Klim Hogz, Podz Karlsson, Lekkermaki along with our 2 first rounders this year and our next year's first playing big roles. This is more of a reason we should be selling Miller this tdl (as he'll be 34 at that point) and consider selling Demko as well. Mikheyev, Kuz will be over 30 at that point. So will Garland. I honestly think the Canucks have a big decision to make right now. They have a lot of key guys in the 26-29 age (Boeser, Demko, Garland, Mikheyev, Kuzmenko, Miller). Petey and Hughes are ahead of their age curve. The real big disappointments have been Myers and OEL. Had they been playing to their paycheque (2 bonafide top 4 D) , we would have re-signed Horvat and probably be buyers this deadline. Basically the team Benning assembled failed because of the defense... Do they double down now and improve the D and go for it or admit failure and rebuild for 4 years later? That means they absolutely need to trade Miller now before the contract kicks in. Having guys like Kuz and Mik at 30-31 will be ok

Thats why we send them cost controlled Ohio native JT miller.

Totally Norton through the glass was another favorite memory Totally accurate assessment on Bieksa being the only 94 / 82 type guy. Everyone else were just agitators. Burrows pulling Keith's hair, Lapierre biting Bergeron's finger...