Have you changed your mind on this season? (Discussion)

[aGENT]

34 minutes ago, Jimmy McGill said:

we certainly do. I like our chances. 

 

I really can't think of anything about Green that bothers me, other than maybe giving Newell Brown too much rope on the PP but I really don't see who else we'd put in? maybe move Hutton out but then for who? 

 

7 minutes ago, spook007 said:

Edler 

Eventually, I actually wouldn't mind seeing Virtanen fire bombs from the point on the 2nd PP opposite a good passer (Dman). With his skating and size he could move down in to the play when suitable, help battle to keep pucks in along the boards and be able to back check when it goes the wrong way. 

[VegasCanuck]

2 hours ago, Alflives said:

Would Henrik play one more season if Daniel retired?  

I think they are both in or both out.

 

I could be completely wrong, this is just my opinion, based off what I read from Benning and Linden's management style.

 

They have been the cornerstones of this organization for almost 15 years, I think they will be given the decision on when to call it a career.

[Canuck Surfer]

10 minutes ago, aGENT said:

 

Eventually, I actually wouldn't mind seeing Virtanen fire bombs from the point on the 2nd PP opposite a good passer (Dman). With his skating and size he could move down in to the play when suitable, help battle to keep pucks in along the boards and be able to back check when it goes the wrong way. 

From the point?

 

Be great to see him in alley by the top of the LHS circle where Stamkos, Ovechkin & Laine ply their trade... But it would be new to his game. He does have a wicked wrister.  I haven't seen much of the one timer though. 

 

Boeser?

[coolboarder]

This road trip in California and the eastern trip will determine the season.  It is just too bad that we are playing a slightly below.500 hockey at home.   I'd be happy with a 2-1 record in California which would be 3-1 on the road trip.   This will solidify our spot as a top 3 in the division in the playoff position.  It seems that every year in this decade that we are forced to visit Californian teams first before they visit us.   No wonder that they have had our number as it's a confidence factor when they come and visit us in related to match-up.  Had they visited us first and we beat them, it's confidence that we can go in and beat them in their backyard.  

[aGENT]

5 minutes ago, Canuck Surfer said:

From the point?

 

Be great to see him in alley by the top of the LHS circle where Stamkos, Ovechkin & Laine ply their trade... But it would be new to his game. He does have a wicked wrister.  I haven't seen much of the one timer though. 

 

Boeser?

Yup. 

 

PP2 - Play makers on the 1/2 boards (Sedins), shooter roving around the crease (Vanek), solid passing D on the left point (MDZ or Pouliot) and Virtanen on the right point. Call me crazy, but I think it'd work.

 

Virtanen has a heavy wrist and slap shot opposition would have to respect, the forwards would have to be very fluid moving around 1/2 boards, corners, crease and behind net. As longs as the Sedins/left D are responsible for the large part of play making and setting him and Vanek up and Virt can keep things simple (shoot the puck, make simple passes to the play makers when there's no shot, chip it deep when he doesn't have another play, pinch/battle on the board when it makes sense, skate like the wind if it goes the wrong way).

[Canuck Surfer]

3 minutes ago, aGENT said:

Yup. 

 

Call me crazy...

 

[Psycho_Path]

Well considering I bet a coworker that the Canucks would make the playoffs, we're on track with what I was thinking was quite possible. Boeser, however, is certainly surpassing my expectations.

[IBatch]

I won't be fooled again... especially so late in the Sedins career ( unlike last time we changed coaches and bounced back into an early exit).

 

But I am always happy when the club's winning, it makes it fun to watch.  Bennings UFA boonanza turned this team into the land of the Misfit toys, not unlike Vegas, and under Green and the four line attack and solid goaltending so far we've been in almost every game.  

 

However I don't think we are done rebuilding and need some more high picks OR Boeser like picks if we are to contend with this core in the future.  At least that's my guy feeling, with the Sedins set to retire and still no permanent replacements and a top four that doesn't have any star power it's hard to say Bennings done and we are already back in the game.

 

The smartest thing he could do is sell as many vets as possible come the trade deadline, especially given if we continue this trajectory their stock will be inflated, regardless of where we are in the standings, or at the very least don't become buyers.  I ticked all the trade boxes given the entire team with the exception of Boeser and Horvat are expendable, and if a trade could improve our future we should pull the trigger.  There's enough depth to still ice an exciting product, and by adding another youth movement behind the emerging one it would only help things two or three years down the road.  Obviously we have to keep some of the vets, but we can always do the same UFA signings again, it costs us nothing but cap.

[CeeBee51]

It's way to early to answer any of those questions.

[Toni Zamboni]

i am cautiously optimistic.

i think Benning and Green are doing a fine job and it feels like we have a bright future.

[-DLC-]

I haven't changed my opinion at all, so none of the above.

 

I felt that an infusion of youth would invigorate the team and a fresh slate would lead to some exciting hockey.   I don't expect miracles but I do hold hope and always felt we could vie for the playoffs while rebuilding.  I don't buy into a tank because I always feel you play to win.  I don't think it helps a team to try to lose so they can try to win later?  Why not try all along and see where it goes?

 

I keep it on an even keel, as I don't get too high or low with winning or losing streaks.  It can turn in an instant. 

 

I hope we stay healthy and keep progressing.  That's my expectation.

 

I like how the Sedins are transitioning with class and taking a lesser role.  Last night showed us that they still contribute and that doing this gradually is the best way overall.

[Father Ryan]

Pleasantly surprised, but I did think the team was better than a bottom feeder. I've been thinking around 80 points, +/- 5 points. However, given the results so far, and that with rolling four lines, no one is getting tired (thereby making it more sustainable), I believe we could be chasing the #7-8 seed, at best. Call it 90 points, +/- 5 points.

 

As far as trading, I checked off Edler and Vanek. Most of our young stars are 2 years away or more. That being said, the team is playing well in Edler absence, giving more credence to the opinion that we could live without him. Vanek, I have been saying all along, is keeping a place warm for Goldobin at the trade deadline. He is playing better than I thought he would, but that just gives him more value, maybe a 2nd rounder instead of a 3rd. Edler, I'd like to see traded in a package with Subban, to get a 1st and a 3rd (maybe more).

[TimberWolf]

We're overachieving but it's nice to see the change in coaching style. I expected to have a hot start

 

We should make trades at the deadline and that entire list is expendable but I think that about almost every player. No one is bigger than the team.

[Dr. Crossbar]

Before the season started, I simply remained open-minded. I didn't make any definitive absolutes about where we'll finish. With so many changes, new faces, and better depth options, this team isn't the same as last season. 

 

Can't say my mind is changed because I stay in the here and now. And right now, Green has this team playing well, guys are buying in, we're finally finding the net, Sedins are being used differently, Markstrom/Nilsson are keeping us in games, and we're winning despite injuries. 

 

Can we maintain all of this? Maybe, maybe not. Will we make the playoffs? I want to say no, but you never know. If we're doing this well without Stecher and Edler, even Eriksson, that's a good sign.

 

I do think injuries over the past two seasons really killed us and made things worse. We just couldn't fill those holes. If we can stay relatively healthy this year, and things go more right then wrong, I think we'll surprise a lot of people. Even still, right now we're in better shape to ride out injuries.

 

The additions of Del Zotto, Vanek, Birmistrov, Pouliot, the emergence of Boeser,  Sutter's shutdown role, Dorsett's comeback, Virtanen's confidence, reduced minutes for the Sedins, the Killer B line, and Green's impact behind the bench makes us a different team than the last two seasons.

 

Anything can change but I'm taking this game by game, week by week, in the now, and enjoying what may be a turn the corner season. 

 

[cripplereh]

things are close near us so there are 5 teams fighting to stay ahead of the rest

 

I think this team will be better at the end then people think

 

I have said this is the best team I have seen in many years and we shall only get better

[VegasCanuck]

Further to my earlier post, and my belief that the Sedins will be given the choice of saying when to retire, there was this article from Sportsnet (sorry if someone already posted it, wasn't going to go through all pages).

 

Aquaman says in there, that the Sedins are not currently thinking retirement: Sportsnet article

 

I will go on record and say again, I don't think this is their retirement season, I think they will likely be back next year, I think they find the youth movement rejuvenating, they just need to adapt their game to fit the new direction.

[Davathor]

Too early... the wheels could fall off, and there's teams in our division severely UNDERperforming, which could bite us hard later in the season. Pretty much, we should stand pat for now, unless an opportunity to trade Edler or Eriksson comes up.. or Vanek/Gagne at the TDL. 

[oldnews]

Not at all.

 

Expected them to be competitive.

 

But still don't necessarily expect them to make the playoffs - although there is no point writing them off - they are capable of remaining in the race if they're reasonably healthy - and this year they have the added advantage of not relying so heavily on the Sedins - who have become secondary, or even third tier scoring on this team.  If they manage to turn it up in more limited minutes, the team may be able to sustain what it's doing.

 

But the principal goal is to improve - and to play the game the right way - which they are doing - and when you play the game the right way you don't necessarily have to be loaded with talent - so for me it's enjoy the ride, don't dwell to deeply on the short term results, but expect them to put the kind of effort they have been onto the ice.    If they do that, who knows, but it's at the very least entertaining hockey with a promising future.

[Nuxfanabroad]

Time capsule thread, had'em at 89 pts(20th OA), which seems pretty reasonable today. Also said our 'tending would be stellar..let's hope that continues.

 

Roster 'book-ends'. How different will it look from the season's start(early Oct), with our roster in April? We could go vet-heavy for another yr, or pivot to youth on a dime.

 

Fortunately with our cap opening & relative depth, JB will have a wealth of options in determining direction. For fans, that makes for a pretty compelling/intriguing team to follow.

Too conditional on health & performance, so can't speculate on the poll questions just yet.

[bobbyg43]

It’s a nice start which will be needed if team is gonna run with big dogs in western conference. 

Up to January it is always easier to grab points an wins . Come dog days of season January,February it is real difficult to steal games as teams dial in for position.I really would like to see the Sedins retire aft this year. I cannot see 2-4$ million signings it is apparent that it is now the time to move on . I would prefer to continue an pluck UFA middle tier players off market. As JB has started to do mind you it would be nice if they could cut LE adrift or trade him but unlikely that will happen .

If we suffer no more injuries up to TDL I would say team could be a bubble playoff team.