Harvey Specter Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 We never drafted Ballard? True, but we acquired Ballard and Oreskovich in exchange for that #25 o/a pick (became Quinton Howden) along with Grabner and Bernier, so in a sense, two drink minimum used that year slot to list the player we acquired from that draft's 1st round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 I'm not on the anti-Benning bandwagon whatsoever but his drafting skills doesn't necessarily make him a good GM. If anything, it'd make him a perfect head scout. IMO, he's been on the losing side of all his trades. And the Sbisa/Dorsett contract extensions were pretty bad to say the least. I repeat, good drafting skills doesn't not = good GM. There's more to a General Manager than drafting. Of course, Benning could very well turn out to be a good GM but I'm still in wait and see mode. Virtanen, the highest first round pick we've had in years, has not impressed me very much either. At the end of the day; the number one factor in a GM's longevity will be his drafting. And the barometer his handle on contracts. Ahem, cough. But like I said, if you draft well, inexpensive ELC contracts, young legs, athleticism and exuberance for matchups makes up for many contract mistakes. I will say this. Even though I am on the fence for some of his decisions. He has made a line in the sand and determined who are his players. And who is going to cut ties with. Regardless whether you cut ties because issues surface, or cap realities force you. Like in Chicago, if you can keep your core (JB obviously determined KB3 was no longer), and have then a ready supply of those ELC contracts you have a decent chance at success. As such I will live with some decisions I see as questionable, if we start and maintain that youth stream. I am anxiously, , very anxiously actually, waiting for a ready supply of young D. I know Clendenning is a kick start. But not a 1D or 2D upside in his future IMO. Someone challenged me on this. And I said I am happy to be proven wrong, but am supportive of the acquisition even if Adam never projects as a top pairing D. We cannot survive long term if we develop a steady stream only of D men capable of filling the 4 to 7 roster spots in drafting. We also need to invest, draft and develop some premium D. A 2knd and 3rd round pick every year or so wont cut it unless we get lucky. What I am saying is start drafting some top end D when they are on the table in early rounds! Then I will be confident in this youth stream program of Bennings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmonberries Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messier's_elbow Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Jim Benning is a great evaluator of talent, better than you think. How many of us would have picked Boeser with our first pick? Or Briebois with the third? Well, I did my homework on those guys and they are something special. But I was most impressed with Tate Olsen, his last pick - this guy probably isn't better than Boeser, but for his postition he's a Hakan Andersson steal. Benning's weakness I think is the trading table - I honestly think he could have done better with trading Eddie Lack, getting more for his return. Or Kevin Bieksa. This Canucks team, I think will win the Cup. After maybe seven years - long after the Sedins retire. They can win sooner, only if Benning gets better at trading.I like the Boeser pick but you can't say they are something special yet. They haven't done anything lol Some of you guys are hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabcakes Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 What was Gillis' undoing? I mean in a word or two. Gillis was brought in at a certain point in the Canucks life cycle to make a push for the cup. He was supposed to be a forward thinking guy with great skills with contracts. He knew the league and players well and had negotiated successfully with most GM's in the league and as a result was not well liked. But he had the genesis of a cup contender and he wasn't there to team build. He was there to make the final push, acquire some depth and to somehow fit all the talent under the cap. He was successful enough at what he was brought in to accomplish. Two Presidents Trophies and the 7th game in the cup final. After that, his skill set wasn't suited to rebuilding. Enter Jim Benning. Benning's skill set is drafting, talent evaluation, team building. He's going to do just fine until the final push for the cup. Whether he is around for the final push depends on whether he can have the support staff necessary to fit the contracts for the deep team that is required to win the cup, under the cap. The job of rebuilding the Canucks is difficult for reasons that I don't want to get into here. Suffice to say that this is early days and Benning's drafting looks just fine. The picks he has made have been conservative and have conformed with conventional wisdom in general. Specifically, if his picks have been off the radar of local media, that can only be to his credit. Players like Boeser, McCann, Briesbois and others have stood up to the careful scrutiny of CDC. Benning is the right guy for this period in the development of the Canucks. We will see if he is a great GM and can excel at the next stage. Gillis could not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 He plays nothing like roenick but ok then Really? Same body style. Both kinda burly but not actually big. That long blonde hair! They do look the same. Good speed, but a gear off the real blazers. Take the puck to the net. They get there sometimes, but get knocked off trying sometimes without either elite speed, or size. But no fear. Trying creates lanes for team mates. Their snipers shot, quick, deadly, accurate. Hot pistols, both, easily their best asset! Read and release guys who get the puck and move it quickly. Slick passing and vision. Then back cut, rotate, move... Get to the slot for the return pass. Movement is also a staple of both their games. And it stays on their stick for only a fraction of a second when they get it there. Classic wingers, both. I don't see it being a big leap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honky Cat Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 What was Gillis' undoing? I mean in a word or two. Gillis was brought in at a certain point in the Canucks life cycle to make a push for the cup. He was supposed to be a forward thinking guy with great skills with contracts. He knew the league and players well and had negotiated successfully with most GM's in the league and as a result was not well liked. But he had the genesis of a cup contender and he wasn't there to team build. He was there to make the final push, acquire some depth and to somehow fit all the talent under the cap. He was successful enough at what he was brought in to accomplish. Two Presidents Trophies and the 7th game in the cup final. After that, his skill set wasn't suited to rebuilding. Enter Jim Benning. Benning's skill set is drafting, talent evaluation, team building. He's going to do just fine until the final push for the cup. Whether he is around for the final push depends on whether he can have the support staff necessary to fit the contracts for the deep team that is required to win the cup, under the cap. The job of rebuilding the Canucks is difficult for reasons that I don't want to get into here. Suffice to say that this is early days and Benning's drafting looks just fine. The picks he has made have been conservative and have conformed with conventional wisdom in general. Specifically, if his picks have been off the radar of local media, that can only be to his credit. Players like Boeser, McCann, Briesbois and others have stood up to the careful scrutiny of CDC. Benning is the right guy for this period in the development of the Canucks. We will see if he is a great GM and can excel at the next stage. Gillis could not. Good post....For the Canucks to become a cup contender again,its all going to hinge on the drafting and development of players...Benning has kept his word on not moving top picks/prospects...Lots of complaining about 'bleeding assets',or not getting good returns on certain players,but its just a general housecleaning...IMO.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amish Rake Fighter Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 How good? Real good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 How good? Real good.Really good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li'l Fra Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Well...I guess we'll see how the Sbisa contract looks in three years. Obviously they believe in his "talent". This is basically Benning vs the stats guys. Are the stats the be all and end all...is it even possible for a player to have terrible stats and be a good player in the NHL? I like most of his drafting. Still wondering about Pettit and Stewart, but...what do I know? It'll be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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