[Discussion] Are the Canucks now a legitimate playoff team?

[Alflives]

Pacific:

 

Us 

Soilers

Ugly Yellows

Cow Pies

Karlsson’s retirement club

Krackheads

Quackers

“That Team” 

 

[PuckYa]

20 hours ago, kilgore said:

Its just kinda funny watching a GM who came in as a great build-through-the-draft specialist, something the Canucks have been aching for, almost from day one, try to perpetually build the team with high priced FAs, or dishing out picks and prospects in trade deals, with stated goals of contending in the playoffs every year.  Just not what I expected from him. But that is the road he's chosen.

Pettersson (one of the best young C in the NHL)
Boeser (top goal scoring winger in the NHL)

Hughes (one of the best young upcoming D in NHL)

Hoglander (Calder candidate last season)

Podzkolzin (seeing Hogs play, can't wait to see what this beast can do)

Juolevi (5-7 guy or top 4 guy in future?)

Rathbone (high end talent, steal)

Gadjovich (just a matter of time before we see a lot more of this tough as nails guy)

Demko (one of the best upcoming goalies in the NHL)

Macewan (never drafted but JB new this kid could bring something to the table)

Horvat (not drafted by JB but new he was the kid to build around. Captain)

 

10 +. Show me a list of another team with that many draft prospects playing for there respected drafted teams in the past 6-7 years.

That's as good or better than any GM that I'm aware of.

 

[Maddogy]

I predict that the 2 way play of all 4 lines will conceal many of the shortcomings of the Canucks D. I expect Canucks D to overperform this season. 

[De Grasse is greener]

Voted 'yes,' but then again, I thought we were a playoff team last season. Really excited to see Podkolzin and Garland.

 

I like our roster depth. I think we're deep enough to try different looks, depending on matchups or if we need to shake things up, and still be successful. We could go 2 scoring lines and a checking line. Or 3 scoring lines by moving Miller to C. We could line match, or just roll our lines like Vegas. Our fourth liners are useful players that bring leadership, can PK, and can move up the lineup if necessary. Even on D, I'm interested in how the pairings turn out since there are a lot of combinations that could be viable.

[Maddogy]

4 minutes ago, kawhi so serious? said:

Voted 'yes,' but then again, I thought we were a playoff team last season. Really excited to see Podkolzin and Garland.

 

I like our roster depth. I think we're deep enough to try different looks, depending on matchups or if we need to shake things up, and still be successful. We could go 2 scoring lines and a checking line. Or 3 scoring lines by moving Miller to C. We could line match, or just roll our lines like Vegas. Our fourth liners are useful players that bring leadership, can PK, and can move up the lineup if necessary. Even on D, I'm interested in how the pairings turn out since there are a lot of combinations that could be viable.

Last season, with poor forward depth, I thought Canucks could sneak into playoffs if they were healthy. This season, I expect them to be a top 3 team in a weak division and get into the playoffs comfortably down the stretch. 

Edited July 30, 2021 by Maddogy

[DownUndaCanuck]

All the good teams got worse, the bad teams got a bit better and Seattle look average.

 

I think we'll end up top-3 with a good off-season and our young stars hopefully better rested and ready to go.

[MikeyD]

It's hindered on two things: our team defense, and whether or not that ridiculous defensive collapse system finally gets put into a trash can and set on fire the way it deserves to. That style of play should never be played at the level of the NHL. 

[MikeyD]

50 minutes ago, DownUndaCanuck said:

All the good teams got worse, the bad teams got a bit better and Seattle look average.

 

I think we'll end up top-3 with a good off-season and our young stars hopefully better rested and ready to go.

That's a bit generous of you to say Seattle looks average. They look like utter dog$&!# lol. 

[MikeyD]

2 hours ago, CoolCanucklehead said:

Pettersson (one of the best young C in the NHL)
Boeser (top goal scoring winger in the NHL)

Hughes (one of the best young upcoming D in NHL)

Hoglander (Calder candidate last season)

Podzkolzin (seeing Hogs play, can't wait to see what this beast can do)

Juolevi (5-7 guy or top 4 guy in future?)

Rathbone (high end talent, steal)

Gadjovich (just a matter of time before we see a lot more of this tough as nails guy)

Demko (one of the best upcoming goalies in the NHL)

Macewan (never drafted but JB new this kid could bring something to the table)

Horvat (not drafted by JB but new he was the kid to build around. Captain)

 

10 +. Show me a list of another team with that many draft prospects playing for there respected drafted teams in the past 6-7 years.

That's as good or better than any GM that I'm aware of.

 

I can't remember which teams but there were only 2 other teams with a higher percentage of draftees playing on their roster. Wanna say it was Carolina for one of them and can't remember the other. 

[cdgraham]

On 7/29/2021 at 8:53 AM, Lil B From The Pack said:

Just my thoughts. We're all unique and different on how we think.

But what if everything else went perfectly? What if pettersson put up 100 points, boeser 40 goals, Hughes 70 points, horvat 70 points, podkolzin comes in and pops 40 points as a rookie, Shaw our assistant helps improve overall defense for all our other defenseman, Dickinson kills it as a third line center, Sutter stays healthy the whole year, demko puts up a .925 save percentage in 65 starts... and then ya Ekman Larsson isn't good. 

 

I think we still make the playoffs if all those other things happen. To say it hinges entirely on him just doesn't make sense (I know this all probably won't happen but it's just to show my point) 

Edited July 31, 2021 by cdgraham

[IBatch]

4 hours ago, CoolCanucklehead said:

Pettersson (one of the best young C in the NHL)
Boeser (top goal scoring winger in the NHL)

Hughes (one of the best young upcoming D in NHL)

Hoglander (Calder candidate last season)

Podzkolzin (seeing Hogs play, can't wait to see what this beast can do)

Juolevi (5-7 guy or top 4 guy in future?)

Rathbone (high end talent, steal)

Gadjovich (just a matter of time before we see a lot more of this tough as nails guy)

Demko (one of the best upcoming goalies in the NHL)

Macewan (never drafted but JB new this kid could bring something to the table)

Horvat (not drafted by JB but new he was the kid to build around. Captain)

 

10 +. Show me a list of another team with that many draft prospects playing for there respected drafted teams in the past 6-7 years.

That's as good or better than any GM that I'm aware of.

 

I won't show you but will say OTT.   They've done pretty darn good since Chabot.  

[IBatch]

1 hour ago, MikeyD said:

I can't remember which teams but there were only 2 other teams with a higher percentage of draftees playing on their roster. Wanna say it was Carolina for one of them and can't remember the other. 

OTT.   Both the current team and their last core.  

[IBatch]

1 hour ago, MikeyD said:

That's a bit generous of you to say Seattle looks average. They look like utter dog$&!# lol. 

Yes aside from Grueber who was obvious their ED day (going to get him), have to say i'm a little underwhelmed with all this cap they've saved.   Francis screwed up with his pricing - saved all this money (so far at least) to weaponize his cap - or at least get some big names come UFA time ... think he priced himself out of the market.   Best thing he could do now is go with what he's got, suck and get a top four pick and try and add next year.     We kind of dodged a bullet there really.   

[Lil B From The Pack]

47 minutes ago, cdgraham said:

But what if everything else went perfectly? What if pettersson put up 100 points, boeser 40 goals, Hughes 70 points, horvat 70 points, podkolzin comes in and pops 40 points as a rookie, Shaw our assistant helps improve overall defense for all our other defenseman, Dickinson kills it as a third line center, Sutter stays healthy the whole year, demko puts up a .925 save percentage in 65 starts... and then ya Ekman Larsson isn't good. 

 

I think we still make the playoffs if all those other things happen. To say it hinges entirely on him just doesn't make sense (I know this all probably won't happen but it's just to show my point) 

If he isn't good that just means his contract is terrible.

 

But you do raise a good point. Respect

[Toyotasfan]

I like the roster, my biggest concern is Our defensive strategy employed by Nolan Baumgartner. You’ve got to slow entry at the blueline, not the face off circles.

[jason10009]

Based on his past decisions which defies logic or business acumen, I suspect that there is something seriously mentally wrong with Benning.  Also, funny how he kept stating that there is no Nate Schmidt situation.  i wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't even realize he is a pathological liar. As for the team, they will certainly do better than last year which was an anomaly that would best be forgotten.  The million dollar question is, will this new roster be able to develop chemistry and play for each other like last summer?   If so, the sky is the limit!  Go Canucks!

[Devron]

12 minutes ago, jason10009 said:

Based on his past decisions which defies logic or business acumen, I suspect that there is something seriously mentally wrong with Benning.  Also, funny how he kept stating that there is no Nate Schmidt situation.  i wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't even realize he is a pathological liar. As for the team, they will certainly do better than last year which was an anomaly that would best be forgotten.  The million dollar question is, will this new roster be able to develop chemistry and play for each other like last summer?   If so, the sky is the limit!  Go Canucks!

Let me get this straight. The team is run by a mentally ill person but the sky it the limit? The team this person put together? 
 

Mentally ill as in what. Special needs? Don’t even reply I won’t respond but maybe think about what you say before you post. Mental illness is nothing to joke about.

[KingRaj91]

58 minutes ago, jason10009 said:

Based on his past decisions which defies logic or business acumen, I suspect that there is something seriously mentally wrong with Benning.  Also, funny how he kept stating that there is no Nate Schmidt situation.  i wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't even realize he is a pathological liar. As for the team, they will certainly do better than last year which was an anomaly that would best be forgotten.  The million dollar question is, will this new roster be able to develop chemistry and play for each other like last summer?   If so, the sky is the limit!  Go Canucks!

... What is he supposed to say? Schmidt wants out and we wanna trade him? You don't publicly come out and say a player wants out, you want to deal from a position of power. At the time there were only a few local reports saying Schmidt wanted out so Benning was smart to deny it. I don't love Benning as a GM but I'm sick of this Benning slander, this off season has been great and I'm excited for the season to begin. 

[cdgraham]

3 hours ago, Lil B From The Pack said:

If he isn't good that just means his contract is terrible.

 

But you do raise a good point. Respect

Ya totally fair. That would mean the contract sucks so hopefully he is pretty good. 

 

And wow I'm shocked at how civil this was that almost never happens lol 

 

Also respect!

[Alienhuggyflow]

On 7/28/2021 at 6:31 PM, King Heffy said:

HF boards aren't exactly filled with mensa candidates, and anyone who trusts advanced analytics over the eye test is an absolute moron.

I'll also add that asking fans to give an honest opinion on a player that left via free agency probably isn't the best place to get credible opinions.

I went and looked at how Jets fans viewed him during the season and many of the opinions on him were very different. 

When he was on the top pairing with Morrisey many people felt Morrisey was the weak link who had been struggling since last season.

I'm not saying Tucker is better but unless him and Quinn have some serious chemistry (in which who cares how he was viewed by salty jets fans) he will most likely be paired on the bottom pair facing easier competition where he has already shown to effective.

What I kind of hope happens is Hamonic can be what Tanev was to Edler and Tucker can slide in with Hughes on the middle pair allowing Rathbone\Joulevi to play with Myers which should make a 3rd pairing that can play actual meaningful minutes. Admittedly the right-side of the top four isn't a juggernaut but it gives 3 balanced pairs.

 

That being said the wildcard is OEL, if he can regain his form and granted I'm a fan of Myers,but I could see them forming a good top pairing which bumps Hamonic down to Quinn which from the eye test and analytics show was an excellent fit considering Quinn was a minus 22 away from him but only a minus 1 with Hamonic during a season that saw the whole team struggle defensively.

Either way in reality with the forward depth, goaltending all being well above average (hopefully) we really only need middle of the pack defending with some depth in case of injuries in which I think is quite plausible given our 7-9th defenders of Joulevi\Rathbone, Schenn and hunt to me looks a lot better than Benn, Chatfield and Joulevi.