BanTSN Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Good to see him finally getting a goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanleycanucks Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 It's interesting that you are labelling that 2nd lw slot as (Kassian trade) when all we could get for him at this point is a player like Burrows or Higgins, who you're also describing as a need in that slot. Sounds like a bad move, considering Kassian's value is low, but potential is still high, and considering we already have Burrows and Higgins. I disagree that we could not parlay Kassian into a top 6 forward in a trade today. It might involve some prospects, but we need a roster player to fill that LW on the 2 line. It's ok to disagree. Higgins is definitely not a top 6 forward, and would be great on the 3rd, imo. Don't think I suggested otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanleycanucks Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 How about Matthias up with Bonino & Vrbata? Good size, with wheels. 3rd line: Higgins-Richardson-Kassian Not a bad call. It would be worth the look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CroSen Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Considering Kesler didn't give the Canucks many trade options, I think the trade was solid. I guess another way to look at maybe that the Canucks are 10th overall in league standings and at present are a playoff team. Sure, the Sedins have slowed down, as has Bonino, however all still must be contributing something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldnews Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Higgins and Bonino are facing the strongest quality of competition on the team, Bonino has the lowest offensive zone starts on the team, and Higgins is right there with Richardson and Burrows - so these two are handling the hardest minutes bar none on the team - even Tanev and Edler have lower qoc and dzone starts. Essentially, the second line is playing what can be seen as a pure shutdown role. Meanwhile Higgins has the third best corsi among forwards behind the Sedins, and all things considered, better underlying numbers than they have, while Bonino is a few spots behind Burrows and Kassian. So stop your complaining folks. If you understood what WD is doing there, he is using his extremely adept two way veterans to enable the fourth line, centered by a rookie, to receive primarily offensive zone starts. Dorsett (54.5%) and Horvat (51.6%) are getting uncharacteristically high ozone starts for a fourth line - for good reason - so that the team is not overexposing the outstanding, but still young Horvat. Horvat's relative corsi (-17) and corsi on (-19.34) are nevertheless the lowest on the team - but that is to be expected and is perfectly fine - Horvat is a 19 yr old - and few people around here are daft enough to be ripping into his game. I personally think he's been excellent. But let's keep it all in context and give some kudos where they are due - and those kudos belong to the second line - which is playing an outstanding dual role - in bigger minutes than a typical shutdown line is expected to handle - and is expected to produce like a typical 2nd line at the same time. Well newsflash - Bonino is fourth on the team in scoring and Higgins is 6th, combining for 39 points in 38 games. And nevertheless, CDC complains about the two guys, earning a combined 4.4 million, and contributing easily twice what could be expected of players with those cap hits, and with that situational use. What this mirrors is the dumbass perspective of the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans, who don't have any concept of two way hockey, or who their best two way players are. Ours this year are Higgins, Bonino and Burrows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlanB Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Canucks lack at least 2 top 6 forwards... But that's been the story for years. Imagine how scary kesler would have been with at least 1 legit top 6 winger? He managed 40 goals with 3rd liners and PP time with sedins. No wonder he wanted out. Regards G Nice logic. He's got legit top 6 wingers right now and Kesler is on pace to score less points than he did with the Canucks in '10 and '11. But what's your excuse for him, according to your argument, since he has legit wingers, he should be equalling or bettering what he did here? 41 g's was an abberation - they happen all the time around the league - one-hit-wonders if you will. Kesler was never projected to be a ppg player nor will he likely ever attain close to that level ever again. His prime days were in Van, he's a decent checker now and can chip in offensively here/there, that's it. Guess he's going to want out of Ana too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cuporbust2 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Kass. A little positive reenforcement by giving him a chance ( more than a game or two) like like have done keeping Horvat up and playing him in some key situations might actually bring out the best in the kid. They seem to be pretty loyal to some guys letting them play without the fear of demotion , and keep others from reaching their potential by never letting them settle. Some guys play better when they are played with confidence in them even before they earn it , some guys need to chase it. Kass plays well for a game or two when pressured , see s his effort is pointless and trails off. U have o deal with each player differently. Every players potential has a combination lock. U have to learn the combo by trial and error. Sometimes personal feelings and pride get in the way and teams never bother trying to figure some guys out. That what seems to be happening with kassian. He's not a 3d line talent. That's not his ceiling by watching him play. They are making mistakes with this kid IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabcakes Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Plan B - Kesler had a legit top 6 RW in Samuelsson in 2010-11. LW was Raymond (trying). Since then, top 6 depth has been wanting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyCuddles Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I'm starting to think he'd be better served as a winger. Too bad we have no other player ready to slide into that 2nd line centre position though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormriders Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Another poor night. 42% on the dot, 1 shot, -2. He may be playing ok defensively, although not tonight, but as our #2 centre he is simply not driving offense. He has skills but just doesn't seem to be dynamic enough to create high quality chances. A #2 centre should look dangerous and he just doesn't. Even having Vrbata on the line , who is dynamic and offensive, didn't seem to help, although we need to give that a few games. I know we don't really have anyone better at present, just frustrating and continuing to put more pressure on the Sedin line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabcakes Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Bonino is 26, this is his first year as a top 6 C, he has no help on wing, whoever slots in is pretty much 3rd line quality (Higgins, Burrows, Hansen), Vey has 2nd line skill but is a rookie and plays small...... would he be better served playing with a larger power forward like Kassian (who isn't ready) or Matthias (who doesn't have top 6 skill)? Jake Virtanen......maybe in 2 years I don't like evaluating a guy who's success appears to depend on the players he is paired with.....does this mean that he is not truly ready to be 2C? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EV604 Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 He was a 4th center for the ducks, that got pp time with getzlaf and Perry... Seriously I would rather have Derek Roy then bonino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoneypuckOverlord Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Move BoHo to t he second line. Now it's the time. See what Boho can do on the second line, half his shifts (Bo Horvat) play is in the enemy zone, lets see what he can do with increased minutes and with better players. Bonino is not cutting it as a 2c. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancaster Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Move BoHo to t he second line. Now it's the time. See what Boho can do on the second line, half his shifts (Bo Horvat) play is in the enemy zone, lets see what he can do with increased minutes and with better players. Bonino is not cutting it as a 2c. I wouldn't move him up for regular top-6 duty, but perhaps make him centre the 2nd PP unit? Slowly ease him into a more offensive role and playing with a man-advantage would make things safer... and the 2nd PP unit can't play any worse than it is now anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lethunder Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Sedin-Sedin-Burrows Vrbata-Bonino-Kassian Higgins-Horvat-Matthias Dorsett-Richardson-Hansen We all know Burrows and the twins have chemistry and play well together. With the change to the second line we have two experiments going on. First, we see if placing more offensive talent with Bonino will get him going a bit more. Second we see if Kassian can handle a top six role. Third line gives Horvat two solid complimentary wingers to continue his development. Able to deploy this line at both ends of the ice. Fourth line gives you exactly what any team would want from one. I'd really low to see this version given a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86Viking Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 we need a quality top 6 winger/scorer for him to play with. It is a good question if bonino can play wing or not though. Would be interesting to try bonino horvat burrows as a 2nd line. I think we need to see more of a shakeup to that 2nd line. Hansen/higgins/dorsett are all good bottom 6 players. kassian could get a shot on 2nd line with another solid game or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabcakes Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 We haven't actually seen Higgins - Bonino - Vrbata since WD decided to give it a try. Each winger has taken a turn at being sick. I'd like to see these 3 together (and well) for 3 games before they are evaluated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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