Alflives Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 3 minutes ago, Smashian Kassian said: This guy looks like a potential 'diamond in the rough' to me. Not that I think he'll be any kind of superstar, or even a top 4D, but looks like a guy who can play a regular shift. He's had his poor moments this pre-season, but also good moments, & those combined with a strong showing at the end of last year.... I think he's on track to the NHL atleast. He'll play games this season & I'm excited to see where his development goes. If he's on our roster as a #5-6 in a year or two, that's a big success. He’s a full grown man and almost 25. How much more can he improve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 I wouldn't be shocked to see him start the year with us. Benninghas always rewarded guys for their good play and will make the room if need be. I think he's almost a lock at this point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 13 minutes ago, Alflives said: He’s a full grown man and almost 25. How much more can he improve? Well he can become a refined NHLer. Maybe one that can help a winning team. Like I said not expecting him to be a star or top 4D but he could become a good player that fills a bottom pair role well. Just being an NHLer is any role is hard. Getting a legit player out of a FA signing is big. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 1 minute ago, Smashian Kassian said: Well he can become a refined NHLer. Maybe one that can help a winning team. Like I said not expecting him to be a star or top 4D but he could become a good player that fills a bottom pair role well. Just being an NHLer is any role is hard. Getting a legit player out of a FA signing is big. Yup, he came free. Totally agree that’s good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Where would you have Raf on the depth chart as of now?? 1) Edler 2) Tanev 3) Myers 4) Hughes 5) Stecher 6) Benn --- Depth--- Beiga Fantenberg ---- Rafferty Brisebois Sautner Teves Juolevi Chatfield 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogersTowell Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Rafferty continues to make a case for himself. He's made a few mistakes in game, but seems to be getting better day by day. Even if he doesn't get a spot out of camp, he's marching up the depth chart quite nicely. He can move the puck, has a good shot and plays well in his own end. Lots of effort and no quit. I like it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 (edited) 12 hours ago, Brock Botanen said: I wouldn't be shocked to see him start the year with us. Benninghas always rewarded guys for their good play and will make the room if need be. I think he's almost a lock at this point Does him little good sitting in the press box here over a guy like Biega or Fantenburg. He needs to, and will, play a tonne in Utica. He (along with the likes of Brisbois, Sautner etc) might make it easier to move Tanev sooner than later though. Edited September 20, 2019 by aGENT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanless Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 5 minutes ago, aGENT said: Does him little good sitting in the press box here over a guy like Biega or Fantenburg. He needs to and will play a tonne in Utica. He (along with the likes of Brisbois, Sautner etc) might make it easier to move Tanev sooner than later though. Nice to see professionals refer to the d as a tough one to make for a change. Having players worth an extended look being sent down is having our cake and eating it too 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48MPHSlapShot Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 13 hours ago, Alflives said: He’s a full grown man and almost 25. How much more can he improve? Virtanen's only a year younger. Is he done improving? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EternalCanuckFan Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Rafferty should play with Utica in a top-role to show just how well he can do. He's probably a better overall player than Biega or Fantenberg are right now but that alone shouldn't determine if he makes the NHL team. He's not super young but if he's going to make hay in the NHL, then he should get a chance to develop and show that he's at least a guy who clearly doesn't belong in the AHL. I agree with those that might see him as a potential successor to Tanev. It makes the most sense. Tanev is in the final year of his contract so we're either trading him by this deadline or we're keeping him for a run with a good chance of losing or walking away from him in UFA. Who knows, maybe he'll sign with the Leafs next summer with whatever cap space they'll have. As others have already pointed out, if succeeding Tanev is the plan for Rafferty, then it makes way more sense to let him marinate in the AHL in the one year he will remain waiver exempt while keeping him as the first call-up. I can't see the Canucks being confident in trading Tanev now based on Rafferty's performance so far, so this seems to make the most sense. Will be nice to see if Rafferty (and Teves for that matter) can make the jump in the near future. Have to give credit to GMJB and the management team. This is the most genuine depth for the Canucks that I can recall seeing in a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 28 minutes ago, 48MPHSlapShot said: Virtanen's only a year younger. Is he done improving? Maybe they are both what they are right now, and not much more? How may guys, not goalies, make huge strides in their physical gifts after age 25? Yes, guys improve their mental understanding of the game, but physically, 25 is pretty much the peak of those skills, no? Rafferty is not going to get any stronger, or quicker, or faster than he is right now. He's already a very good thinker of the game. Jake (on the other hand) will definitely mature how he thinks the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48MPHSlapShot Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 9 minutes ago, Alflives said: Maybe they are both what they are right now, and not much more? How may guys, not goalies, make huge strides in their physical gifts after age 25? Yes, guys improve their mental understanding of the game, but physically, 25 is pretty much the peak of those skills, no? Rafferty is not going to get any stronger, or quicker, or faster than he is right now. He's already a very good thinker of the game. Jake (on the other hand) will definitely mature how he thinks the game. Defensemen can be pretty unpredictable though. In recent times we've seen a number of defensemen take their games to new levels as late as their late 30's. Hell, our own Alex Edler had the best season he's had in years. Even a lesser known defenseman like Alex Biega was able to crush his previous offensive totals this last season. At this point, I really don't think capping defensemen because they've hit a certain age is something that anyone can do with any level of certainty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Just now, 48MPHSlapShot said: Defensemen can be pretty unpredictable though. In recent times we've seen a number of defensemen take their games to new levels as late as their late 30's. Hell, our own Alex Edler had the best season he's had in years. Even a lesser known defenseman like Alex Biega was able to crush his previous offensive totals this last season. At this point, I really don't think capping defensemen because they've hit a certain age is something that anyone can do with any level of certainty. Accepted. I was just thinking of Gio in Calgary too, who is the most recent Norris winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Cathode Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 14 hours ago, Alflives said: He’s a full grown man and almost 25. How much more can he improve? Smart players can improve just from playing with better players. Competition can bring out the best in us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Cathode Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 14 hours ago, Alflives said: Yup, he came free. Totally agree that’s good. And we have an experience with this: Tanev and Stetcher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyLow_ Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Kids had a good camp, improved quite a bit every game. Needs to refine his game a bit but certainly the first RHD call up, that's a huge win considering he's a college signing. The organization continues to do very well in that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenAlien Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucker 67 Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Utica could have a very good team this year. Goldobin - Gaudette - Lind Boucher - Graovac - Jasek Perron - Hamilton - MacEwen Gadjovich - Arseneau - Bailey Juolevi - Biega Brisebois - Rafferty Sautner - Chatfield Teves - Eliot Bachman/McIntyre DiPietro/Kielly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasCanuck Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 (edited) Awesome to have defensive options... If there's an opportunity, I'm sure Winnipeg could use an option or two right now.... Edited September 20, 2019 by VegasCanuck 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted September 21, 2019 Share Posted September 21, 2019 Rafferty played a lot better this game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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