Breakdown: Canucks prospect graduations – youth/rookie NHL performances thus far.

[oldnews]

 

 

The franchise has done a great job the past two seasons with their young, emerging NHL ready players – integrating a considerable amount of youth into their lineup in short order. 

 

 

 

Here in no particular order is a look at the context and outcomes of each to date.

 

 

 

 

Sven Baertschi: WD brought him along slowly for the first few months of the season as he regained confidence and improved his play in the harder areas - and now he's looking like he'll fall on the higher side of projections, holding onto his roster spot and in all likelihood excelling moving forward.  Sven, after being sheltered early in the season, has underlying numbers that would not reflect that fact, as overall he's not only faced strong quality of competition, but has had less than 50% offensive zone starts (46.9).  With his (Horvat's) line playing above their calling without Sutter in the lineup, they've turned early season struggles into a 2nd half of the season that has been quite impressive.  Sven's 25 points thus far are pretty good considering that situational challenge (overall, his line has also faced solid quality competition), and the eye test certainly shows a vast improvement for people who have been watching him throughout the season.

 

 

 

 

Bo Horvat is as was advertised - a cornerstone player that has a couple solid years of NHL development in his back pocket. He has played (even) harder minutes than Baerstchi - the second strongest quality of competition among forwards (next to Hansen) and only 41.9% offensive zone starts (2nd lowest) - Horvat is handling the kind of minutes elite second and third line shutdown centers handle.  Isolated +/- statistics don't mean much in that context unless you integrate other facts - he's scored 29 points in that deployment, at 20 years of age (also a +6 takeaway/turnover differential) - with a primary linemate in Baertschi who is also just getting his footing in the NHL (they’ve shared 93% of each other’s 5on5 ice time).   Just recently Horvat has been getting a look with Gaunce (and Dorsett) – perhaps enabling Bo to continue to handle hard minutes, while perhaps separating Baertshi into more opportune situations.  Horat has also managed to maintain a 49.7% clip in the faceoff circle – something that is more impressive than it appears at first glance when you consider the rule changes to defensive zone starts, advantaging the attacking center, as well as the volume of D zone draws Horvat has taken against strong competition.

 

 

 

 

Ben Hutton has flourished quickly under WD – coming to camp with his future trajectory relatively in question, he seized and has owned a significant role, playing consistently well all season.  To come in and score 22 points as a rookie and handle the volume of minutes he has – nearly 20 a night (19.39) – not much needs to be said about Hutton.  He’s not only very slick in his puck carrying and movement (21 assists), but is also a capable young defensive blueliner who will only continue to improve the own zone aspects of his game, which are probably more developed at this point than Canucks fans could have reasonably hoped.  In addition to the offensive upside he brings, he’s contributed 78 blocked shots and 15 of his points have come at even strength.  Among all the solid young forward prospects, Hutton has added a very important young presence to the blueline, one it looks like he can quite comfortably be considered part of moving forward.

 

 

 

 

Linden Vey, by all accounts, has improved rapidly – and while some folks get fixed on negatives regarding size, speed or grit, Vey brings less tangible qualities - hockey intelligence, good hands, hard work, and responsible two way play.   Had he not had a previous stint with the club, the different responses to his recent play would be interesting had this been fans’ first extended look at the player. A lot of complaints over these two seasons about his minutes, questioning what WD saw in him, whether he was an unworthy coaches’ favorite – concerns put to sleep when the team assigned him to Utica and risked passing him thorough waivers.   If you look at what Vey has done this year since his recall, any complaints regarding having spent a 2^nd round pick to acquire him have a hard time standing up.  Vey has produced 14 pts in 29 games, but he’s managed to do so with only 43.1% offensive zone starts against some pretty decent quality of competition.  He also has the third highest relative corsi on the team at +10.2.  Vey has earned his 16 minutes a night and the trust WD has shown in him – and by any objective account is exceeding any reasonable expectations.  Lower offensive zone starts combined some tough matchups and a challenging 46.9% in the faceoff circle make those possession numbers seem quite impressive – as is the fact that he has produced 52.9% offensive zone finishes (nearly a 10% territorial gain).  He definitely deserves a fair measure of credit, as do his principle linemates Burrows and Etem.   Vey (like those two) plays an intelligent brand of hockey, he’s grown stronger on the puck, and he’s becoming quite a solid possession player that seems to thrive in tight areas and has a way of not only sustaining possession, but crafting high percentages of completions in his puck movement.  Vey appears to be growing fast, and growing on fans – and has quite a realistic chance of commanding a roster spot moving forward.

 

 

 

 

Emerson Etem may be the most under-rated of their current group of young players.  Etem’s production may not jump out at you – 5 points in 23 games since arriving – but he’s been playing very uncharacteristically high defensive zone starts for a young player – 34.4% ozone starts is by far the lowest on the Canucks, and consistent with his minutes in NY – with absolutely no powerplay time.   Etem has shown good instincts without the puck, to go with an impressive combination of size, speed and physicality.   The rate at which he is scoring is not bad at all for 12/13 minutes a night starting primarily in his own end of the ice.  His relative corsi of only -1.0 is very respectable, in fact it’s quite impressive, as he and linemates have generated positive territory, and he’s had a positive turnover differential each of his NHL seasons (+3 this year).  If you focus your eye test on Emerson Etem, he’s a player with some real finer points to his young game without the puck, and in addition, one thing Etem has shown at each level is that he’s capable of scoring when he has the opportunities.  All things indicate that Etem is developing into a solid two way NHL player whose production in context doesn’t necessarily evidence his potential.

 

 

 

 

Jake Virtanen - returned from the WJC surrounded by a storm of troll noise, but WD/JB stuck with him and his confidence remained intact.  He’s shown that it was a ‘real good’ move to keep him at the NHL level.   He has scored 6 goals and 12 pts playing 11 minutes/game.   His hits/minutes put him in among the top 30 regulars in the NHL (97 hits).   He has an outstanding 18 takeaways and +11 turnover differential, something he also evidenced at the World Junior’s – that he has a solid nose for the puck when not in possession - as well as managing the Canuck’s second strongest corsi on and fourth best relative corsi to this point in the season.  He has fared very well in the kind of minutes you’d expect to see with a young player breaking into the NHL.  Jake has exceeded my personal expectations in virtually all forms – he’s faster and more physical at this level than I’d anticipated – he’s more mindful with better instincts without the puck than I’d expected, and moreover appears to have an excellent perspective with a firm handle on being a team-first player.  Very easy to like this player and his trajectory.  What he’s already shown at the NHL level – in terms of the ability to blow by NHL defensemen, run NHL veterans over, and play relatively consistent hockey – the sky is the limit for Virtanen.

 

 

 

 

Jared McCann has perhaps had the most difficult track of the young group - being a 19 year old center - in a lineup that has had key injuries to Sutter and now Hank, where each of the young centers has had to handle tougher matchups than would probably be ideal at this stage of their development.  McCann has also had the simultaneous task of building strength to support his 6’, 179lb frame.  The Canucks have been cautious not to over-expose McCann, but he's looked good nevertheless as a young center having to handle more bottom six assignments than perhaps ideal, but with veteran linemates.  Imo he'll be a better player as a result of this season than he would have been playing another year of junior and the team has done a good job of  playing him in as appropriate situations as possible.  Jared has managed a very impressive 24 takeaways playing just 12 minutes/game, and his 15 pts this season, playing primarily with Dorsett, is not bad rookie production at all.  Like Virtanen, he has both excellent speed/skating and a dangerous, NHL level release, as well as thinking the game very well for such a young player – with a lot of potential for two way growth.  McCann may have the least footing thus far among the young players, but certainly has a tremendous amount of potential and a drive that is obvious when you witness the way he approaches the game. 

 

 

 

Marcus Granlund’s addition enables the team to continue to maintain reasonable limits for their young centers, despite the absence of Sutter (and Henrik).  With Vey, Horvat, Granlund and McCann they are able to match Granlund with Baertschi (and Virtanen) while playing Gaunce with Horvat (and Dorsett), giving them a pair of lines they can use in different situations.  This may be a look was see moving forward, as Bo’s line could handle harder minutes, with Baertschi potentially being freed to play more opportune offensive situations as Baertschi appears to also share a measure of chemistry with Granlund. Still only 22 years old, Granlund also displays a well-developed two way sense for the game, with an impressive 19 takeaways and +10 turnover diferential – as well as 5 goals and 9 pts in 39 games.   What appears evident since his arrival in Vancouver are his excellent vision and (playmaking) abilities, delivering the puck consistently to team-mates in scoring areas, as well as his puck hounding instincts, the pressure he applies when not in possession, and his drive to compete.  Granlund has had impressive production at each level in terms of both setting up and finishing opportunities (in the Finnish liiga, on the international level, and in the AHL) to add to his balanced two way game – he’s looking like another good, versatile young addition.  The wealth of young center talent also gives the team the option of converting centers to wingers or running lines with a pair of natural centers – like the abundance of two way players, not a ‘problem’ in the least imo – in fact the kind of ‘problem’ you’re looking to have.  Like his young team-mates, I think there’s little doubt that Granlund represents solid NHL talent.

 

 

 

I’m not going to grade these players – I’ll leave that to the professors of CDC – nor am I going to try to fix a ceiling (or floor) to any of them – I’ll leave that to CDC’s fortune-tellers – but I would consider each and every one of them capable of becoming important contributing players to the success of their franchise.   Each to them, when you consider the content and context of their performances thus far shows a great deal of promise.  And needless to say, WD, Green et al deserve a great deal of credit - from a Calder Cup Final to graduating an impressive volume of players to the NHL level.

 

 

If that’s not enough, if the next wave of youth – Boeser, Demko, Gaunce, Cassels, Pedan, Tryamkin (Brisebois, Grenier) – can provide as much reason for optimism, the ‘accelerated retool/rebuild’ will be looking pretty solidly footed. 

 

 Brendan Gaunce has definitely looked like a player with some well-built bases – his skating has developed very well, his play without the puck is quite strong, and he has the frame and the hockey intelligence to excel.  Arguably Utica’s best forward this year, he put up 33 pts in 43 games – very good production for a 21 yr old two way forward.  He will take more time to develop and transition, but the eye test has provided signs of a solid NHL talent.

 

Andrej Pedan’s  upside has emerged as a pleasant surprise – his size and grit were known quantities, but the finer points of his game are coming along nicely, producing .5ppg at Utica, with by far a team best +19 .  His 6’5”, 213lb frame, alongside fellow 6’7” Russian blueliner gives the Canucks quite a different potential look moving forward, a pair of acquisitions that cost them a couple 3^rd round picks – if either or both of them turn out to be NHL defenseman, they, along with Hutton, give a facelift to the general pessimism of the past few years regarding the future blueliners in the system.   A high pick in this draft and the high level upside of a young Jordan Subban could also enhance the depth and quality of their defense of the future.

 

 

 

First up:

 

Nikita Tryamkin:

 

I'm not sure the degree of  Tryamkin’s NHL readiness matters a great deal at this point - who knows how rapidly each player adjusts and transitions to the move - but I respect the quality of the KHL enough to consider a player that has played/competed well at that level to be certainly ready for a chance.

 

What gives me confidence that Tryamkin will be treated/developed properly is the approach of this franchise - imo they gauge players well in terms of getting them into the lineup to develop, but not over-exposing them in the process - and here they have an opportunity with 16 games left for the team to take advantage of, as a result of a season that has been sabotaged by injured reserve, to get the player some experience in the NHL without the pressure of those games being crucial potential points in a playoff run.  They then have the summer and training camp to further prepare Tryamkin for next season.  If all the youth already in the lineup haven’t quenched the thirst for change, well, here’s another opportunity to see whether there’s a bright future in the works.

 

[swizzey]

I am pretty sure I didn't read any of this. But +1 for the organization and it definitely looks like it looks good and was well thought out!

 

Well put together.

[250Integra]

This is longer than most essays. I applaud your effort!

[oldnews]

30 minutes ago, swizzey said:

I am pretty sure I didn't read any of this. But +1 for the organization and it definitely looks like it looks good and was well thought out!

 

Well put together.

For some people, the situational stuff might be interesting - for others, the mere subject matter will invoke a beaten horse (Idc tbh)

[Gnarcore]

Well written and on point. Was a good read. Thanks! 

[swizzey]

50 minutes ago, oldnews said:

For some people, the situational stuff might be interesting - for others, the mere subject matter will invoke a beaten horse (Idc tbh)

Oldnews.

 

I want to apologize for my post. It was super inconsiderate considering how much time and thought you put into this post. I was fully serious in terms of the content, thought, and thoroughness of your post. Though I have read countless posts on all these young guns, I actually fully read through the post which I had every intention of doing.

Job well done sir.

[Dank dat hank]

Thumbs up if you read the whole thing!

 

 

good post

[oldnews]

Just now, swizzey said:

Oldnews.

 

I want to apologize for my post. It was super inconsiderate considering how much time and thought you put into this post. I was fully serious in terms of the content, thought, and thoroughness of your post. Though I have read countless posts on all these young guns, I actually fully read through the post which I had every intention of doing.

Job well done sir.

hey, I laughed and actually appreciated the first post, so no need for apologies but thanks in any event.

[CeeBee51]

Well done. thanks for taking  the time and putting in the effort to write it.  Since we don't have a thumbs up emoticon I'll give it a smiley

[swizzey]

16 minutes ago, oldnews said:

hey, I laughed and actually appreciated the first post, so no need for apologies but thanks in any event.

Go Canucks Go!

[KootNuck]

1 hour ago, oldnews said:

 

 

The franchise has done a great job the past two seasons with their young, emerging NHL ready players – integrating a considerable amount of youth into their lineup in short order. 

 

 

 

Here in no particular order is a look at the context and outcomes of each to date.

 

 

 

 

Sven Baertschi: WD brought him along slowly for the first few months of the season as he regained confidence and improved his play in the harder areas - and now he's looking like he'll fall on the higher side of projections, holding onto his roster spot and in all likelihood excelling moving forward.  Sven, after being sheltered early in the season, has underlying numbers that would not reflect that fact, as overall he's not only faced strong quality of competition, but has had less than 50% offensive zone starts (46.9).  With his (Horvat's) line playing above their calling without Sutter in the lineup, they've turned early season struggles into a 2nd half of the season that has been quite impressive.  Sven's 25 points thus far are pretty good considering that situational challenge (overall, his line has also faced solid quality competition), and the eye test certainly shows a vast improvement for people who have been watching him throughout the season.

 

 

 

 

Bo Horvat is as was advertised - a cornerstone player that has a couple solid years of NHL development in his back pocket. He has played (even) harder minutes than Baerstchi - the second strongest quality of competition among forwards (next to Hansen) and only 41.9% offensive zone starts (2nd lowest) - Horvat is handling the kind of minutes elite second and third line shutdown centers handle.  Isolated +/- statistics don't mean much in that context unless you integrate other facts - he's scored 29 points in that deployment, at 20 years of age (also a +6 takeaway/turnover differential) - with a primary linemate in Baertschi who is also just getting his footing in the NHL (they’ve shared 93% of each other’s 5on5 ice time).   Just recently Horvat has been getting a look with Gaunce (and Dorsett) – perhaps enabling Bo to continue to handle hard minutes, while perhaps separating Baertshi into more opportune situations.  Horat has also managed to maintain a 49.7% clip in the faceoff circle – something that is more impressive than it appears at first glance when you consider the rule changes to defensive zone starts, advantaging the attacking center, as well as the volume of D zone draws Horvat has taken against strong competition.

 

 

 

 

Ben Hutton has flourished quickly under WD – coming to camp with his future trajectory relatively in question, he seized and has owned a significant role, playing consistently well all season.  To come in and score 22 points as a rookie and handle the volume of minutes he has – nearly 20 a night (19.39) – not much needs to be said about Hutton.  He’s not only very slick in his puck carrying and movement (21 assists), but is also a capable young defensive blueliner who will only continue to improve the own zone aspects of his game, which are probably more developed at this point than Canucks fans could have reasonably hoped.  In addition to the offensive upside he brings, he’s contributed 78 blocked shots and 15 of his points have come at even strength.  Among all the solid young forward prospects, Hutton has added a very important young presence to the blueline, one it looks like he can quite comfortably be considered part of moving forward.

 

 

 

 

Linden Vey, by all accounts, has improved rapidly – and while some folks get fixed on negatives regarding size, speed or grit, Vey brings less tangible qualities - hockey intelligence, good hands, hard work, and responsible two way play.   Had he not had a previous stint with the club, the different responses to his recent play would be interesting had this been fans’ first extended look at the player. A lot of complaints over these two seasons about his minutes, questioning what WD saw in him, whether he was an unworthy coaches’ favorite – concerns put to sleep when the team assigned him to Utica and risked passing him thorough waivers.   If you look at what Vey has done this year since his recall, any complaints regarding having spent a 2^nd round pick to acquire him have a hard time standing up.  Vey has produced 14 pts in 29 games, but he’s managed to do so with only 43.1% offensive zone starts against some pretty decent quality of competition.  He also has the third highest relative corsi on the team at +10.2.  Vey has earned his 16 minutes a night and the trust WD has shown in him – and by any objective account is exceeding any reasonable expectations.  Lower offensive zone starts combined some tough matchups and a challenging 46.9% in the faceoff circle make those possession numbers seem quite impressive – as is the fact that he has produced 52.9% offensive zone finishes (nearly a 10% territorial gain).  He definitely deserves a fair measure of credit, as do his principle linemates Burrows and Etem.   Vey (like those two) plays an intelligent brand of hockey, he’s grown stronger on the puck, and he’s becoming quite a solid possession player that seems to thrive in tight areas and has a way of not only sustaining possession, but crafting high percentages of completions in his puck movement.  Vey appears to be growing fast, and growing on fans – and has quite a realistic chance of commanding a roster spot moving forward.

 

 

 

 

Emerson Etem may be the most under-rated of their current group of young players.  Etem’s production may not jump out at you – 5 points in 23 games since arriving – but he’s been playing very uncharacteristically high defensive zone starts for a young player – 34.4% ozone starts is by far the lowest on the Canucks, and consistent with his minutes in NY – with absolutely no powerplay time.   Etem has shown good instincts without the puck, to go with an impressive combination of size, speed and physicality.   The rate at which he is scoring is not bad at all for 12/13 minutes a night starting primarily in his own end of the ice.  His relative corsi of only -1.0 is very respectable, in fact it’s quite impressive, as he and linemates have generated positive territory, and he’s had a positive turnover differential each of his NHL seasons (+3 this year).  If you focus your eye test on Emerson Etem, he’s a player with some real finer points to his young game without the puck, and in addition, one thing Etem has shown at each level is that he’s capable of scoring when he has the opportunities.  All things indicate that Etem is developing into a solid two way NHL player whose production in context doesn’t necessarily evidence his potential.

 

 

 

 

Jake Virtanen - returned from the WJC surrounded by a storm of troll noise, but WD/JB stuck with him and his confidence remained intact.  He’s shown that it was a ‘real good’ move to keep him at the NHL level.   He has scored 6 goals and 12 pts playing 11 minutes/game.   His hits/minutes put him in among the top 30 regulars in the NHL (97 hits).   He has an outstanding 18 takeaways and +11 turnover differential, something he also evidenced at the World Junior’s – that he has a solid nose for the puck when not in possession - as well as managing the Canuck’s second strongest corsi on and fourth best relative corsi to this point in the season.  He has fared very well in the kind of minutes you’d expect to see with a young player breaking into the NHL.  Jake has exceeded my personal expectations in virtually all forms – he’s faster and more physical at this level than I’d anticipated – he’s more mindful with better instincts without the puck than I’d expected, and moreover appears to have an excellent perspective with a firm handle on being a team-first player.  Very easy to like this player and his trajectory.  What he’s already shown at the NHL level – in terms of the ability to blow by NHL defensemen, run NHL veterans over, and play relatively consistent hockey – the sky is the limit for Virtanen.

 

 

 

 

Jared McCann has perhaps had the most difficult track of the young group - being a 19 year old center - in a lineup that has had key injuries to Sutter and now Hank, where each of the young centers has had to handle tougher matchups than would probably be ideal at this stage of their development.  McCann has also had the simultaneous task of building strength to support his 6’, 179lb frame.  The Canucks have been cautious not to over-expose McCann, but he's looked good nevertheless as a young center having to handle more bottom six assignments than perhaps ideal, but with veteran linemates.  Imo he'll be a better player as a result of this season than he would have been playing another year of junior and the team has done a good job of  playing him in as appropriate situations as possible.  Jared has managed a very impressive 24 takeaways playing just 12 minutes/game, and his 15 pts this season, playing primarily with Dorsett, is not bad rookie production at all.  Like Virtanen, he has both excellent speed/skating and a dangerous, NHL level release, as well as thinking the game very well for such a young player – with a lot of potential for two way growth.  McCann may have the least footing thus far among the young players, but certainly has a tremendous amount of potential and a drive that is obvious when you witness the way he approaches the game. 

 

 

 

Marcus Granlund’s addition enables the team to continue to maintain reasonable limits for their young centers, despite the absence of Sutter (and Henrik).  With Vey, Horvat, Granlund and McCann they are able to match Granlund with Baertschi (and Virtanen) while playing Gaunce with Horvat (and Dorsett), giving them a pair of lines they can use in different situations.  This may be a look was see moving forward, as Bo’s line could handle harder minutes, with Baertschi potentially being freed to play more opportune offensive situations as Baertschi appears to also share a measure of chemistry with Granlund. Still only 22 years old, Granlund also displays a well-developed two way sense for the game, with an impressive 19 takeaways and +10 turnover diferential – as well as 5 goals and 9 pts in 39 games.   What appears evident since his arrival in Vancouver are his excellent vision and (playmaking) abilities, delivering the puck consistently to team-mates in scoring areas, as well as his puck hounding instincts, the pressure he applies when not in possession, and his drive to compete.  Granlund has had impressive production at each level in terms of both setting up and finishing opportunities (in the Finnish liiga, on the international level, and in the AHL) to add to his balanced two way game – he’s looking like another good, versatile young addition.  The wealth of young center talent also gives the team the option of converting centers to wingers or running lines with a pair of natural centers – like the abundance of two way players, not a ‘problem’ in the least imo – in fact the kind of ‘problem’ you’re looking to have.  Like his young team-mates, I think there’s little doubt that Granlund represents solid NHL talent.

 

 

 

I’m not going to grade these players – I’ll leave that to the professors of CDC – nor am I going to try to fix a ceiling (or floor) to any of them – I’ll leave that to CDC’s fortune-tellers – but I would consider each and every one of them capable of becoming important contributing players to the success of their franchise.   Each to them, when you consider the content and context of their performances thus far shows a great deal of promise.  And needless to say, WD, Green et al deserve a great deal of credit - from a Calder Cup Final to graduating an impressive volume of players to the NHL level.

 

 

If that’s not enough, if the next wave of youth – Boeser, Demko, Gaunce, Cassels, Pedan, Tryamkin (Brisebois, Grenier) – can provide as much reason for optimism, the ‘accelerated retool/rebuild’ will be looking pretty solidly footed. 

 

 Brendan Gaunce has definitely looked like a player with some well-built bases – his skating has developed very well, his play without the puck is quite strong, and he has the frame and the hockey intelligence to excel.  Arguably Utica’s best forward this year, he put up 33 pts in 43 games – very good production for a 21 yr old two way forward.  He will take more time to develop and transition, but the eye test has provided signs of a solid NHL talent.

 

Andrej Pedan’s  upside has emerged as a pleasant surprise – his size and grit were known quantities, but the finer points of his game are coming along nicely, producing .5ppg at Utica, with by far a team best +19 .  His 6’5”, 213lb frame, alongside fellow 6’7” Russian blueliner gives the Canucks quite a different potential look moving forward, a pair of acquisitions that cost them a couple 3^rd round picks – if either or both of them turn out to be NHL defenseman, they, along with Hutton, give a facelift to the general pessimism of the past few years regarding the future blueliners in the system.   A high pick in this draft and the high level upside of a young Jordan Subban could also enhance the depth and quality of their defense of the future.

 

 

 

First up:

 

Nikita Tryamkin:

 

I'm not sure the degree of  Tryamkin’s NHL readiness matters a great deal at this point - who knows how rapidly each player adjusts and transitions to the move - but I respect the quality of the KHL enough to consider a player that has played/competed well at that level to be certainly ready for a chance.

 

What gives me confidence that Tryamkin will be treated/developed properly is the approach of this franchise - imo they gauge players well in terms of getting them into the lineup to develop, but not over-exposing them in the process - and here they have an opportunity with 16 games left for the team to take advantage of, as a result of a season that has been sabotaged by injured reserve, to get the player some experience in the NHL without the pressure of those games being crucial potential points in a playoff run.  They then have the summer and training camp to further prepare Tryamkin for next season.  If all the youth already in the lineup haven’t quenched the thirst for change, well, here’s another opportunity to see whether there’s a bright future in the works.

 

like it and read it all. great summary of where our young players are at and what our management has done with them, especially with all doom and gloom about management, this team is going to look great in a couple years 

[bigbadcanucks]

Hands down, best post of 2016 for me.  Watch out for Pratt the plagiarist, oldnews.  

[jdatb]

Great post. I will pay you to write my class essays for me.

[teomor]

I actually logged in to comment, this was very well written. +1

[48MPHSlapShot]

Great post.

[MikeyD]

Quick and concise. Just the way I like it. I'm sure I agree. 

[LaBamba]

3 hours ago, oldnews said:

 

 

The franchise has done a great job the past two seasons with their young, emerging NHL ready players – integrating a considerable amount of youth into their lineup in short order. 

Why don't you put some thought into your threads. 

 

 

[Wise Owl]

Much too thoughtful and balanced for this site.

[mooby]

Great read, thanks!

[Fateless]

For me the two stand-out young players have been Baer and Hutton. Baer has quieted the doubters and shown that with some confidence he can fly around the rink on a nightly basis. There was a lot of criticism on Benning when we gave up a 2nd for Baer, but now its looking like a steal. Hutton has problem been the biggest surprise of the season when you consider how much of an unknown he was before training camp - did anyone on these forums ACTUALLY think he'd make the team? I doubt it.

 

Overall I've been really happy with our young players - I'm really excited for the future. I think with a few more solid picks in this draft, we will solidify a future core for us that we haven't had for quite a while. 

 

As far as up and coming players not yet in the NHL or AHL - Boeser has been remarkable. Scratch that - unbelievable. I don't even know where to begin with this kid, but Benning has shown us that his drafting accolades were not exaggerated. On top of that we have the goalie of the future coming in Demko who has also been turning heads.

 

Quite frankly, this team excites me and it will fill seats in Rogers within the next couple years.