Robongo Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Love seeing this kind of candid behind the scenes stuff, gives you a different perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'm Your Huckleberry Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Always enjoy things like this. Wonder who it was on Sarnia that Trev had to go see and who the Krejci comparison was. Also their definition of soft is spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robongo Posted February 3, 2015 Author Share Posted February 3, 2015 Always enjoy things like this. Wonder who it was on Sarnia that Trev had to go see and who the Krejci comparison was. Also their definition of soft is spot on. I don't think the guy Weisbrod was referring to is on Sarnia. Only guy on Sarnia that is drawing a lot of attention for this years draft is Nikita Korostelev - a dynamic winger - and he doesn't really compare to Krejci at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Weisbrod's comments on what makes a player soft or not is debatable. I don't think it's the ability to take a beating or even having so-called 'mental toughness' (almost all players have this, as they wouldn't be in the NHL otherwise) that makes a player 'tough'. It's aggressiveness. We saw loads of that vs. Boston, for example. Not just face-punching aggressiveness, but playing style, standing up for teammates, initiating contact, going to the hard areas, playing the right way and whatever tried and true hockey cliche you want to use. The example being discussed as 'what makes a player soft' in a clip here was Mike Bossy. As in Mike Bossy wasn't actually soft. He was one of the best players ever to play the game, so calling him soft isn't fair, BUT he was a fragile, physical non-factor and a fairly one-dimensional scoring force who could score bucket-loads in the 80's with his a-rated shot. Does that make him 'tough'? No. That just makes him a great scorer. And lucky for him he was put on a team already loaded with toughness and defensive aptitude. Does a place for Bossy still exist today? Yes of course, but you had better make sure your team is already loaded with toughness and defensive aptitude, not to mention star two-way center. Today's commonly-used argument is the Patrick Kane argument, where any small skilled player can become the next Patrick Kane for their team. This is false. Not even Patrick Kane could become the Patrick Kane we know today if he landed on a weaker team than the Hawks. He was the final scoring element of their rebuild. All the other pieces, such as defense, goaltending, toughness, etc. were all in place. If he was the first element of their rebuild, then chances are he would be regarded as lowly as Phil Kessel, a similar player, but often regarded as lazy, overpaid and unable to lead their team to anything substantial. Paul Kariya also comes to mind. Being all alone as a scoring threat in Anaheim, he was targeted and eventually destroyed. The second aspect to the every small skilled prospect can become Kane argument is that people understate Patrick Kane's skill level. His draft year production makes even Mitch Marner's production look tame. When you're thinking that this type of player can be your final piece, then it's fairly important that he has actual game-breaking skill. If he doesn't, then disappointment will follow. The point is that the Canucks aren't quite ready to forego actual toughness and defense yet to seek out the soft one-dimensional scoring star, so I hope Weisbrod isn't pushing us to go that way, even though they're probably talking about later rounds in that clip anyway. Our defense is paper-thin and doesn't have enough offensive ability combined with size and defensive ability, and addressing this should be our main concern in this draft, outside of a lottery win. Afterall, it's not like we currently have a Toews or a Trottier to feed this type of player. Both the Hawks and the Isles built their teams the right way. Good character guys, star defensemen, star two-way centers, THEN star one-dimensional scoring star. So by the time the scoring star comes along, the other guys are ready for prime time. Sure they had to be lucky, but this formula or a close version of it has worked over and over again. I think we're at stage 2 right now. We have some good character guys and some two-way centers, but no star defensemen or star two-way centers comparable to a Toews or Trottier. Like I point out here, http://forum.canucks.com/blog/751/entry-1867-2015-draft-mid-term-preview-defensemen/ I think this deep draft presents an opportunity for us to get a potential star defenseman, even in the mid-first, as a lot of other teams will be selecting scoring forwards. There are a few defensemen with this star potential available this year, not just Hanifin. Next year features Jakob Chychrun and Sean Day and they would both be better options, but unless we're in the lottery that will not happen. If we are, then that's a whole new ballgame. My hope is that the rebuild goes well. There's a big opportunity to do something fantastic here and it would be a real shame to squander it on a player type that won't really succeed with the group assembled like it is now. But if we can land the next Mike Bossy regardless of my concerns above, go for it. Mike Bossy scored 53 NHL goals as a 20yr old rookie. Mark Jankowski's 4 goals in Providence as a 20yr old college guy? Not quite as good. Real Bossy please. Not pretend Bossy. lul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliewud Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 /\ Nice post. I think it would be wiser to acquire another 1st and draft a potential star defenseman like you said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 I was waiting to watch these as I didn't get around to seeing them on TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missioncanucksfan Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 I don't think the guy Weisbrod was referring to is on Sarnia. Only guy on Sarnia that is drawing a lot of attention for this years draft is Nikita Korostelev - a dynamic winger - and he doesn't really compare to Krejci at all.ya....Pavel Zacha plays there too and im sure has helped Korostelev's numbers. Zacha is a 6'3" 210lb LW/C that could provide us sweet offense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggs Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 I think this deep draft presents an opportunity for us to get a potential star defenseman, even in the mid-first, as a lot of other teams will be selecting scoring forwards. There are a few defensemen with this star potential available this year, not just Hanifin. Next year features Jakob Chychrun and Sean Day and they would both be better options, but unless we're in the lottery that will not happen. If we are, then that's a whole new ballgame. Well, they do have Gustav Forsling and he's going to be ... oh wait. Too soon, too soon. ya....Pavel Zacha plays there too and im sure has helped Korostelev's numbers. Zacha is a 6'3" 210lb LW/C that could provide us sweet offense I drafted Zacha in NHL15 GM Mode. I'll just rush him to the Canucks to whoop some ass against the big Pacific Division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sting Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 ^^^Really good insight to the inner workings of management......thanks OP. The Krecji comparison? Ethan Szypula of Owen Sound possibly. OHL 1st rounder (17th). They really wanted TL to see Sarnia.......probably trying to get a consensus on Zacha and Korostelev. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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