naslund.is.king Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 http://thehockeywriters.com/will-youth-finally-be-served-for-the-vancouver-canucks/ There is an old saying that youth is wasted on the young. Fans of the Vancouver Canucks may feel that youth has been wasted on their hockey team. The Canucks have not seen a young player take on an important role for them for quite some time now, something that may have to change. With a less than an exciting free agency haul and very few trade chips to play, the Canucks are most likely going to be forced into injecting youth into their lineup this coming season. The Canucks are an aging team to a point and many people blamed the lack of youth on former coach Alain Vigneault. The thought was that Vigneault did not trust young players and was hesitant to give them any meaningful playing time. This may be an unfair critique of the former bench boss as he gave a young Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows good minutes when he first came to Vancouver and helped develop them into the players they are today. Over his tenure he found himself behind the bench of a talented team with players in their prime. It’s hard to blame him for riding those guys. Times have changed for the Canucks however. The Canucks did not have the cap space to make major free agent moves this summer and don’t have a lot of good trading chips. With a number of holes in their lineup this may be the year a young player steps up. Can you win with youth? There is a school of thought that you need a veteran team to win in the NHL. The Chicago Blackhawks have shown us that this simply isn’t true. They got big contributions from Andrew Shaw and Brandon Saad last year – both players are under 22 years old. Not to mention that Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are younger than all but one or two players that suited up regularly for Vancouver last year. It is still very much a young mans game. The Canucks have good veteran players, players who might benefit from having a sprinkling of youth. If the Canucks wish to get past the first round of the playoffs this upcoming season they may have to rely on young players to step up. Who are the candidates? Last year the Canucks youngest regular player was forward Zack Kassian. Kassian has yet to live up to the expectations that were placed on him by virtue of being traded for Cody Hodgson at the deadline in 2012. He is only 22 years old so it is way too early to label him a bust and if he can flourish under John Tortorella in ways he didn’t for Vigneault he could give the Canucks a much needed jolt. He has the tools. He is big, can play physical and with an edge but needs to do it more consistently. There has been some speculation that he might benefit from jumping up to the top line to play with Henrik and Daniel Sedin. This is something that was tinkered with a bit last season, with mixed results. The Canucks gave 2009 first round draft pick, and 22 year-old, Jordan Schroeder a shot at various times last season to solidify himself as an NHL center. The Canucks are still thin down the middle and Schroeder may get another shot in camp to impress, what is now, a new coaching staff. Last year he showed off his great speed but didn’t do enough to keep himself in the lineup on a regular basis. Schroeder was recently re-signed by the club indicating that he should have a shot at earning the third line center spot in camp. The most likely candidates to step up? 20 year-old Nicklas Jensen and 19 year-old Brendan Gaunce. Jensen and Gaunce are the Canucks 2011 and 2012 first round picks and one of them most likely will break camp with the club. Jensen got a brief look last year when Vancouver was desperate for forwards due to injuries. While Jensen may have an edge in age and experience over Ganuce, he plays on the wing – where Vancouver has less of a need. Gaunce is a center but is he ready to make the jump? After being drafted by Vancouver he returned to the Belleville Bulls last season and potted 33 goals. It will be interesting to see how he performs in training camp and if he shows that he is ready to make the jump to the NHL or not. After Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler the Canucks pool of centers is less than desirable – giving Gaunce a good shot at getting ice time. Horvat or Shinkaruk? For the first time since Mike Gillis has taken over the club the Canucks managed to draft two highly rated prospects this past June. Is there a chance that Bo Horvat or Hunter Shinkaruk end up in camp with the Canucks? It seems unlikely that either player will take the leap at only 18 years-old, but stranger things have happened. Horvat would seem to stand the best chance as he plays center and probably has the most well-rounded game between the two. Shinkaruk stated all year last year that his goal was to be in the NHL this season but sliding down in the draft the way he did makes it seem unlikely. Still, if he shows that he has the physical chops to handle the bigger players and can score in camp he might get a look. When the Canucks open their training camp later this summer it will be the first time in several years that a young player will have a legitimate chance to make the team. Not only will that player, whomever he ends up being, make the club – he will be asked to contribute. Can Kassian, Gaunce or Jensen take a step and give the Canucks a spark the way Chicago’s young players did this past year? For Vancouver to be successful, they may have to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
French Toast Mafia Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 If some of the young guns (Gaunce, Horvat, and Shinkaruk) are ready to play NHL hockey, then I am excited to see them in the lineup next year. What I don't want to see is players who are not ready for the NHL ruining their development while playing with the Canucks. Send them back to Junior if they are not ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drouin Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 If some of the young guns (Gaunce, Horvat, and Shinkaruk) are ready to play NHL hockey, then I am excited to see them in the lineup next year. What I don't want to see is players who are not ready for the NHL ruining their development while playing with the Canucks. Send them back to Junior if they are not ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoolander Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Schroeder is on a one way contract, and I think he'll have a breakout year. I just finished watching videos of us drafting him back in 2009......memories I think we'll see Kass (obviously), Schroeder, Gaunce and Jensen (if he can out perform Booth)...which I don't think will be a problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stexx Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Shinkaruk is probably the least ready, I think a year or 2 in the Juniors would be good for him. Jensen is likely the most ready, followed by Gaunce. Corrado will likely make the team and not sure about Horvat just yet. I guess if he impressed at the camp we would've sign him to an ELC by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Line Juggler Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 There doesn't seem to be much room for young guys: Sedin Sedin Burrows Booth Kesler Kassian Higgins Schroeder Hansen Weiss Richardson Sestito I think it would be interesting to see Schroeder on the 2nd line and maybe Richardson on the 3rd and Gaunce on the 4th line. Sedin Sedin Burrows Booth Schroeder Kesler Higgins Richardson Hansen Weiss Gaunce Kassian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
people please Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Stopped reading at "Kassian has yet to live up to expectations" like wtf has hodgson done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magician Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Who's most ready: Gaunce>Jensen>Horvat>Shinkaruk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 This article was rivetting. Anyways, whether it's sooner or a little later, nice to feel we finally have legitimate youth in the pipeline. Seems most successful teams of late, have had fast, abrasive NA fwds; as well as excellent young tenders from Scandinavia/States. Well look what we've got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpop45 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 have a feeling jensen will be the only one to make the team, but if anyone else were to make the cut it would be gaunce. it doesnt really bother me though as i cant wait to see what horvat and shinkaruk do in juniors next year. think about it, if all goes a certain way the canucks should have four prospects (gaunce, horvat, shinkaruk, and subban) on this years world junior team. as a side note, it never hurts to be paient with prospects, and having success as well as playing big minutes in important games is the best way to develop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pears Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I don't think Horvat and Shinkaruk will be ready this year, but if they are I would be happily surprised. Now if they did make the team along with Gaunce and Jensen here's the line up I can see Sedin - Sedin - Kassian Shinkaruk - Kesler - Burrows Schroeder - Horvat - Jensen/Booth Higgins - Gaunce - Hansen The only way those four can make it is if Booth is traded for cap space. God I can't wait for this season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugar baby watermelon Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Kass is still so young too, I want to see some more cheeky plays from him, like almost converting on that dropping the puck back and kicking it forward to try and score!!!!! Whatttttttttttttt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckClown Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I don't think Horvat and Shinkaruk will be ready this year, but if they are I would be happily surprised. Now if they did make the team along with Gaunce and Jensen here's the line up I can see Sedin - Sedin - Kassian Shinkaruk - Kesler - Burrows Schroeder - Horvat - Jensen/Booth Higgins - Gaunce - Hansen The only way those four can make it is if Booth is traded for cap space. God I can't wait for this season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicklas Bo Hunter Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Only see jensen and schroeder making it Sedin Sedin Kassian Jensen kesler burrows Higgins Schroeder hansen Booth richardson weise Booth will pretty much be bought out or traded at the end of the year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrik Kesler Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I think Schroeder and Jensen make the team. Having said that, not sure where Jensen fits with Kassian and Booth in the top-6. Jensen has the size to play in the bottom six and I think he'd be good on the third line getting 13-15 per night plus PP time, I just don't see how you could justify having either Higgins or Hansen on the 4th line though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jester13 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Only see jensen and schroeder making it Sedin Sedin Kassian Jensen kesler burrows Higgins Schroeder hansen Booth richardson weise Booth will pretty much be bought out or traded at the end of the year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKESLER17 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 With Booth injured Im sure Jensen and Jordan will make the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuck nit Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 IMO,Booth will attempt to light it up to get on to that US Olympic squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etsen3 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Stopped reading at "Kassian has yet to live up to expectations" like wtf has hodgson done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqua59 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 http://thehockeywrit...couver-canucks/ There is an old saying that youth is wasted on the young. Fans of the Vancouver Canucks may feel that youth has been wasted on their hockey team. The Canucks have not seen a young player take on an important role for them for quite some time now, something that may have to change. With a less than an exciting free agency haul and very few trade chips to play, the Canucks are most likely going to be forced into injecting youth into their lineup this coming season. The Canucks are an aging team to a point and many people blamed the lack of youth on former coach Alain Vigneault. The thought was that Vigneault did not trust young players and was hesitant to give them any meaningful playing time. This may be an unfair critique of the former bench boss as he gave a young Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows good minutes when he first came to Vancouver and helped develop them into the players they are today. Over his tenure he found himself behind the bench of a talented team with players in their prime. It's hard to blame him for riding those guys. Times have changed for the Canucks however. The Canucks did not have the cap space to make major free agent moves this summer and don't have a lot of good trading chips. With a number of holes in their lineup this may be the year a young player steps up. Can you win with youth? There is a school of thought that you need a veteran team to win in the NHL. The Chicago Blackhawks have shown us that this simply isn't true. They got big contributions from Andrew Shaw and Brandon Saad last year – both players are under 22 years old. Not to mention that Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are younger than all but one or two players that suited up regularly for Vancouver last year. It is still very much a young mans game. The Canucks have good veteran players, players who might benefit from having a sprinkling of youth. If the Canucks wish to get past the first round of the playoffs this upcoming season they may have to rely on young players to step up. Who are the candidates? Last year the Canucks youngest regular player was forward Zack Kassian. Kassian has yet to live up to the expectations that were placed on him by virtue of being traded for Cody Hodgson at the deadline in 2012. He is only 22 years old so it is way too early to label him a bust and if he can flourish under John Tortorella in ways he didn't for Vigneault he could give the Canucks a much needed jolt. He has the tools. He is big, can play physical and with an edge but needs to do it more consistently. There has been some speculation that he might benefit from jumping up to the top line to play with Henrik and Daniel Sedin. This is something that was tinkered with a bit last season, with mixed results. The Canucks gave 2009 first round draft pick, and 22 year-old, Jordan Schroeder a shot at various times last season to solidify himself as an NHL center. The Canucks are still thin down the middle and Schroeder may get another shot in camp to impress, what is now, a new coaching staff. Last year he showed off his great speed but didn't do enough to keep himself in the lineup on a regular basis. Schroeder was recently re-signed by the club indicating that he should have a shot at earning the third line center spot in camp. The most likely candidates to step up? 20 year-old Nicklas Jensen and 19 year-old Brendan Gaunce. Jensen and Gaunce are the Canucks 2011 and 2012 first round picks and one of them most likely will break camp with the club. Jensen got a brief look last year when Vancouver was desperate for forwards due to injuries. While Jensen may have an edge in age and experience over Ganuce, he plays on the wing – where Vancouver has less of a need. Gaunce is a center but is he ready to make the jump? After being drafted by Vancouver he returned to the Belleville Bulls last season and potted 33 goals. It will be interesting to see how he performs in training camp and if he shows that he is ready to make the jump to the NHL or not. After Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler the Canucks pool of centers is less than desirable – giving Gaunce a good shot at getting ice time. Horvat or Shinkaruk? For the first time since Mike Gillis has taken over the club the Canucks managed to draft two highly rated prospects this past June. Is there a chance that Bo Horvat or Hunter Shinkaruk end up in camp with the Canucks? It seems unlikely that either player will take the leap at only 18 years-old, but stranger things have happened. Horvat would seem to stand the best chance as he plays center and probably has the most well-rounded game between the two. Shinkaruk stated all year last year that his goal was to be in the NHL this season but sliding down in the draft the way he did makes it seem unlikely. Still, if he shows that he has the physical chops to handle the bigger players and can score in camp he might get a look. When the Canucks open their training camp later this summer it will be the first time in several years that a young player will have a legitimate chance to make the team. Not only will that player, whomever he ends up being, make the club – he will be asked to contribute. Can Kassian, Gaunce or Jensen take a step and give the Canucks a spark the way Chicago's young players did this past year? For Vancouver to be successful, they may have to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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