cbdoubleu Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 I like the system and style he has us playing. We're actually a decent team offensively. Simple counter attacking team. There are skilled enough guys on 4 lines to get secondary scoring from. Our GF is proof. We trade chances a lot but when you're as bad on draws as we are it's rarely easy offence you're getting. Our D is suspect, and I don't think that's Willie's system. We are soft around our net and along the wall. Speed exposes our lack of it, and skilled players and teams have no fear of taking on our D one on one, beating us to the netball night. We really rely on goaltending to steal games. Our skill up front is only going to increase with the prospects we have, but there is nothing being done in the organization to address our lack of a number 1 D man, or what we're going to do in 2-3 years when all these guys are old. Maybe that's next off season. Hamhuis is one of the best 2nd pairing guys in the league. Right now he has to insulate Bieksa, who should be a 3rd pairing guy. I hope Juice retires as a Canuck but he is getting near reduced role status. If we had a top guy to play with Edler, Tanev is better suited to play with Hammer. We have lots of guys to fill that bottom pair role. Overall, we're too good of a team to finish last without some major injuries. It's not Benning's goal to pull a tank job. If we're mediocre we're at least entertainingly competitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kassians_fist Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 I was a huge Torts fan and was SO excited when he came here, but his style was so mismatched for our guys. I think Willie is a better fit by far, although I love the passion and brutal honesty that Torts has. I really did not like how overplayed the twins and others were under Torts, had he not done that I think the season could have ended much differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqua59 Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 I can't compare him to the other coaches only the results at the end of the season will tell part of the story . We all need to be patient. This team is in transition and people need to see that for what it's worth, a poor season will be alleviated by a strong draft class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrible.dee Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 If we're mediocre we're at least entertainingly competitive. EXACTLY! Plus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 As I'll say again, AV's "stubborn process" has taken two separate teams to the Cup Finals in 4 years. And 0 cup wins.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nashi Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Have to see if we make playoffs, Torts and the Canucks did well at the start of the season until the Christmas break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenny Jones Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 We are 8th in the League goals for-per-game, 26th goals against. 2nd in shots per game and 18th shots against per game. From what I see, based on those simple numbers and the games that I watched (which is all of them), the Canucks need to figure it out defensively. Learning a new system and having a significant change of players up front, i think both of those numbers could improve. We might stay in the top 10 for goals-for, but I think that, if we get more accountable and more hungry defensively, we could climb that goals-against ladder. I always find in the NHL it takes some time to get used to a new coach defensively, and often the offensive strategy clicks a lot sooner. Rolling 4 lines is awesome to see. I really hope that guys like Sbisa, Weber, Stanton and possibly Sanguinetti (3 points in 7 games in Utica) are able to put it together at the NHL level and round out our defensive depth. I feel like a trade later on in the season to bolster our depth on the blue line is what is needed to become a playoff team. We have young guys getting close in the AHL, so it's possible Benning will have to make some tough choices this season. If the team hasn't improved defensively by November... changes will need to be made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 We are 8th in the League goals for-per-game, 26th goals against. 2nd in shots per game and 18th shots against per game. From what I see, based on those simple numbers and the games that I watched (which is all of them), the Canucks need to figure it out defensively. Learning a new system and having a significant change of players up front, i think both of those numbers could improve. We might stay in the top 10 for goals-for, but I think that, if we get more accountable and more hungry defensively, we could climb that goals-against ladder. I always find in the NHL it takes some time to get used to a new coach defensively, and often the offensive strategy clicks a lot sooner. Rolling 4 lines is awesome to see. I really hope that guys like Sbisa, Weber, Stanton and possibly Sanguinetti (3 points in 7 games in Utica) are able to put it together at the NHL level and round out our defensive depth. I feel like a trade later on in the season to bolster our depth on the blue line is what is needed to become a playoff team. We have young guys getting close in the AHL, so it's possible Benning will have to make some tough choices this season. If the team hasn't improved defensively by November... changes will need to be made. the good news is that defensive zone system is one that can be taught and learned and takes time to get down. I'd be more worried if the offense was struggling because that's much more based on skill and creativity and can only be taught and learned to a certain extent. The defensive system will evolve and improve, and it starts and ends with the d corp which is really struggling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Barzal Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 I have to admit, I was probably the biggest complainer of the second line but now that they're starting to build chemistry I can see what WD was hoping for. Higgins and Boner have something going. If Burr can find his game and tie the knot on that line we'll have something special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Kneel Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Oh man the 2nd line!Bonino stirs their drink for sure but Higgy is a tireless worker out there for sure he'll get his 20 and Burr almost had one of his tip ins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownUndaCanuck Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Canucks get blasted 7 goals by a team that has struggled to score all season long. Next game, they shutdown one of the league's best offences and a pretty good team to 2 goals and 22 shots. I know Washington played the night before and looked a bit tired (as we did against Colorado), but that's some pretty swift coaching. We played very well defensively and looked scary with the powerplay. WD is making his mark felt, although it's not as obvious as when Torts did. Whatever he's doing, it's working. He's got the Sedins back to over a point per game players (which I quite frankly did not think would ever happen again), he's got Edler to calm his game down and play big, reliable minutes, he's gotten Burrows' career back on track and his systems are benefiting Miller greatly. The one thing I said we needed last season was for our stars to play like stars, and now they are. Our only problem now is depth, but bringing youth up into the lineup (Shinkaruk/Jensen/Horvat/Sanguetti/Corrado) or making some deadline moves could address that easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry Goose Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 such coach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallstreetamigo Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 You forgot to include that AV has taken 2 seperate teams to the Stanley Cup finals in a 4 year span. And torts has a cup ring. He was talking about their styles and personalities rather than their results. And the list of weaknesses for av are a big reason he is also 0 for 2 in cup finals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ugli Fruit Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 He gives everyone ice time so nobody thinks about their level of play as much, and tries to move on for their next shift; doesn't necessarily always work, but it's probably necessary for a team with weird mental issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoast Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 He seems to have a lot of nervous habits while bench coaching.Or he's chewing sunflower seeds not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollo Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 He's been great. My only issue with him though, has been him not using time outs when needed. During the stars game, he surely should have taken one either on the 2nd goal... If not after the 4th. Then again in the avs game... He could have used it in many occasions. I'm nitpicking though. I've been happy so far with his work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixteen W's Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 4 line Willie looking good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklehead44 Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Huge fan. It is VERY early but at this stage but he is a 9/10 in my books. Crawford was an 8/10, AV a soft 7, Torts a hard 2 and Keenan a 1. This team has pretty lame to watch after losing in the cup final, and HORRIBLE last season. We roll four lines, get contribution throughout the lineup, our PK is 5th, PP is 7th, and we're 6th in goals. Plus he just seems like a genuine dude with an honest moustache. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sockeye Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I really like Willie's attitude and how he is willing to give his bottom 6 forwards more playing time. The bottom 6 is taking advantage of the extra playing time and they are getting better. The fact that he took the time to visit the core players in the off season was also a classy move. He's a nice calm influence which we lacked last year. I also think he's proving to be a smart coach too. I like how he's put together two good power play units and good PKers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springer Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I'm sure liking this season a LOT better than the last one! Seem to be steadily improving. Game against Montreal was good, they checked the speedy Habs very well and took their game away from them. Also like that he's not constantly juggling lines, allowing players to get familiar with their line mates. And look at the Sedins, getting right back into the kind of form we've become used to seeing. Best thing, IMHO, is that he has them playing a puck control game at both ends of the ice. It's got to be the difference between night and day for players compared to last year, and it's starting to show across all four lines. Sure, there'll be off nights, always are for every team. But this team is showing steady improvement almost every game now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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