Just A Few Thoughts

[VIC_CITY]

Burrows is back. That's about all there is to say there lol. I was starting to have my doubts!

Jensen looks like a beauty in the making, proving me wrong about him (I have no problem admitting I was wrong ). If he finishes the year strong, he could save a couple jobs! (coaching/front office).

This team would benefit from a Kesler trade. I honestly believe we can be better without him. Other GMs are salivating over him right now. Yes, there are other UFA options available at C but it sounds like Kesler at $5.0M takes the cake. If Phili offers Couturier and Simmonds, I'd jump all over that. Even if we had to add a little.

Also...it seems like I'm the only one enjoying this rollercoaster ride. Personally, President trophies mean nothing to me. I don't think this team (constructed like it is) is a contender. I'm 29, been a fan since 93 so this ain't my 1st rodeo. But I enjoy seeing the next wave of talent start to make their mark in the NHL and the thought of this offseason really intrigues me (especially if we don't make the playoffs).

My point is change is good for this team. Whether it's Gillis, Naslund or Bill Nye as GM, we have the pieces to be able to complete an overnight rebuild like Tampa Bay or Colorado did. This isn't a complete Calgary overhaul. With the emergence of our prospects this past year and a potential top 10 pick coming, the future is bright.

I also really like Matthias. Too bad we don't have Malholtra to help him with the draws...But if we sign Santo our C's will be:

Sedin

Kesler or acquired C

Santorelli

Matthias

Richardson

Horvat

Schroeder

Dalpe

Gaunce

Welsh

Not bad!

And the last thing I want to ask is how old are you?

There seems to be a lot of negativity surrounding the Canucks this year. Burrows, Edler, both Sedins, Hansen, Booth (warranted!), coach and GM. So I'm just curious what age group dominates these boards...whether they've lived through the ups and downs of our team's history and/or if they're just pissed at this generation of Canucks management.

[Shamu101]

Young guns will bring this team home the cup and Jets kicking the Stars' @$$ 7-2

[VIC_CITY]

Young guns will bring this team home the cup and Jets kicking the Stars' @$$ 7-2

I actually started typing this in the scoreboard watch thread but my post got so long that I just started a new thread...sue me!

Part of me thinks Dallas has a shot at collapsing but I've already come to terms with the idea of Vancouver not making the playoffs. I think the time is right for Dallas. Jamie Benn has proved me wrong. I thought his offseason partying would effect his play more but he just keeps progressing, getting better and better. Benn and Seguin are a young Perry and Getzlaf.

[fanfor42]

I agree with a lot of what you have said but...OP you've been a fan since 1993...In 1993 you were 8. You have been an adult fan of the Canucks since 2004. Not a very long time frame to be asking whether fans have been through ups and downs with the team. Lol.

[VIC_CITY]

I agree with a lot of what you have said but...OP you've been a fan since 1993...In 1993 you were 8. You have been an adult fan of the Canucks since 2004. Not a very long time frame to be asking whether fans have been through ups and downs with the team. Lol.

To be fair, the Canucks were my first interest/hobby (besides Ghost Busters, GI Joe and Ninja Turtles of course!). I started following them during their run in 94' and have been hooked ever since. Every week I spent my allowance on hockey cards and eventually sold my collection of 500 different Pavel Bure cards when I was 16. The money was used towards my 1st car, a 1985 Honda Prelude with 200,000 miles! I've lived through the Rangers series, the Mogilny and Messier eras, I even remember listening to Martin Gelinas score 3 or 4 goals on the radio broadcast one game. Then he beat us in OT as a flame, eliminating us from the playoffs. Plus there's the westcoast express and obviously everything since.

I may have missed the 70s/80s teams but I'd say I'm still pretty invested! Don't make me start talking about people like Jason King and Josh Holden Lol

For some reason I still have their rookie cards laying around in hard plastic sleeves like they're worth a penny!

[CB007]

After living through the ups and downs since the early 90's, the current era is a bit of a low.

I like Gillis' methodology. Compared to Burke, Nonis and Quinn, I prefer Gillis. Messier, Mogilny and Mike Ridley were far bigger problems than Hodgson, Booth and Ballard. I blame much of the team's current problems on Tortorella and by extension Aqualini.

[fanfor42]

Ok. I'll let you off the hook. 70's Canucks were pretty brutal, we were largely happy to just have a team. Mercifully the majority of games weren't televised - radio only. You'd look forward to a game coming up on hockey night in Canada only to get pounded 6-1 by the Habs. 80's had the Cinderella 82 team but aside from that year the story in the 80's in Canada was mostly the Oilers, Habs or even the Flames. So joining for the 94 run and the years since then have been a much more positive experience for Canuck fans. Where the team is at today is no big deal. They will rebound given some time to develop some young talent. Holden and King eh? Haha. I'll raise you Nedved and Antoski. In 1990 the Canucks drafted Petr Nedved ahead of Jaromir Jagr and took Shawn Antoski instead of either Keith Tkachuk or Martin Brodeur. Lol!! Anyway, GCG

[BanTSN]

I liked Ridley. But he was done when we got him.

[nuck nit]

Here are a few more:

In the early 70's there was no internet.

There was no sports talk on tv nor on radio.

You read about the Canucks in the Province or Sun or Hockey News or you listened to CKNW.

HNIC rarely broadcasted a Canucks game.

Vancouver papers arrived a day later in most of the province-if they got on the bus.

Hockey fans listened to radios and read newspapers. That is what some of us still do because we did it for decades before coverage made being a fan easy.

Seeing how the Canucks are realistically out of the playoffs I am following Dallas-B.C. ownership,former Canuck running the show,four B.C. boys on the roster and Connauton playing a role. Should be an exciting year for them.

[CB007]

Ok. I'll let you off the hook. 70's Canucks were pretty brutal, we were largely happy to just have a team. Mercifully the majority of games weren't televised - radio only. You'd look forward to a game coming up on hockey night in Canada only to get pounded 6-1 by the Habs. 80's had the Cinderella 82 team but aside from that year the story in the 80's in Canada was mostly the Oilers, Habs or even the Flames. So joining for the 94 run and the years since then have been a much more positive experience for Canuck fans. Where the team is at today is no big deal. They will rebound given some time to develop some young talent. Holden and King eh? Haha. I'll raise you Nedved and Antoski. In 1990 the Canucks drafted Petr Nedved ahead of Jaromir Jagr and took Shawn Antoski instead of either Keith Tkachuk or Martin Brodeur. Lol!! Anyway, GCG

Ah - at least Nedved did something, and went on to become a star player.

[RUPERTKBD]

I'm 53 and I've been a Canuck fan since day #1. I remeber a lot of the things that nuck nit writes about.

I remember the '82 run quite well. In fact, I had a bunch of the boys from my beer league team over to the house when Colin Campbell scored in OT to beat the Kings. It was a great run, but we all knew that the Canucks had no chance against the Islanders in the Cup final.

Re Kesler: I agree that this is the time to move him. He's easily the team's best bargaining chip and he won't be around when the team is ready to contend once again. I'd like to see a blue-chip scoring winger or PMD prospect coming back as part of the package.

Finally, I'm surprised that anyone would have considered Jensen a bust at this point. He still has a lot of developing to do, but he certainly looks like a player right now.