WTF is up with Sulzer?

[Zamboni Driver]

So we traded CoHo (the better player) for Kassian, a gritty winger with toughness & MAG, a puck-moving D with some defensive issues. Sulzer was just supposed to be a throw-in, he was about #9 on our depth chart.

Now in Buffalo he's a top 6 D-man, playing with Erhoff (team Deutchland ), he's playing 16 - 19 min a night, and has a goal & 2 assists in the last 5 games.

Where was this play in Vancouver?
But we still have Rome & Alberts....

[dhabums]

So we traded CoHo (the better player) for Kassian, a gritty winger with toughness & MAG, a puck-moving D with some defensive issues. Sulzer was just supposed to be a throw-in, he was about #9 on our depth chart.

Now in Buffalo he's a top 6 D-man, playing with Erhoff (team Deutchland ), he's playing 16 - 19 min a night, and has a goal & 2 assists in the last 5 games.

Where was this play in Vancouver?
But we still have Rome & Alberts....

If you look at the standings you will find your answer.

[Hockey Widow]

Sulzer is another one that AV never trusted for some reason. The few chances I got to see him play I thought he was better than both Alberts and Rome but he doesn't have that "tough" streak AV likes in D men. As for MAGS, I would be surprised if he sees the playoffs unless there are injuries. He is not an AV type of player.

[Island Nucklehead]

So we traded CoHo (the better player) for Kassian, a gritty winger with toughness & MAG, a puck-moving D with some defensive issues. Sulzer was just supposed to be a throw-in, he was about #9 on our depth chart.

Now in Buffalo he's a top 6 D-man, playing with Erhoff (team Deutchland ), he's playing 16 - 19 min a night, and has a goal & 2 assists in the last 5 games.

Where was this play in Vancouver?
But we still have Rome & Alberts....

If you look at the standings you will find your answer.

The best part is Sulzer, like Sturm, was free. Didn't cost us anything but Aquaman's money and we traded him in a package for an asset that was drafted.

[Zamboni Driver]

Sulzer is another one that AV never trusted for some reason. The few chances I got to see him play I thought he was better than both Alberts and Rome but he doesn't have that "tough" streak AV likes in D men. As for MAGS, I would be surprised if he sees the playoffs unless there are injuries. He is not an AV type of player.

I think I'd rather have the smart streak than a tough streak, watching Rome make bonehead plays can be just exasperating.

[Fred]

Sulzer is another one that AV never trusted for some reason. The few chances I got to see him play I thought he was better than both Alberts and Rome but he doesn't have that "tough" streak AV likes in D men. As for MAGS, I would be surprised if he sees the playoffs unless there are injuries. He is not an AV type of player.

Should folks start questioning AV choices ?

[dhabums]

Sulzer is another one that AV never trusted for some reason. The few chances I got to see him play I thought he was better than both Alberts and Rome but he doesn't have that "tough" streak AV likes in D men. As for MAGS, I would be surprised if he sees the playoffs unless there are injuries. He is not an AV type of player.

Should folks start questioning AV choices ?

I'd love to, but then I keep looking at the standings. Like every other NHL coach, he isnt perfect. However, the second we have a better option i hope we take it.

[Reefer2]

I'd love to, but then I keep looking at the standings. Like every other NHL coach, he isnt perfect. However, the second we have a better option i hope we take it.

Me - If I coached now I could do the same, if I was the GM back in the WCE days I would have made a trade for a REAL GOALIE and by now I would have 2 - 3 SC rings.

Or....

I would be a straight jacket down in a little room being feed food through a straw because they don't trust me with a knife and fork.

I like AV but nothing drives me nuts when coaches (all coaches) plays head games with the players and does not put the best team on the ice because he wants his favorites to play.

[Hockey Widow]

Sulzer is another one that AV never trusted for some reason. The few chances I got to see him play I thought he was better than both Alberts and Rome but he doesn't have that "tough" streak AV likes in D men. As for MAGS, I would be surprised if he sees the playoffs unless there are injuries. He is not an AV type of player.

Should folks start questioning AV choices ?

We do it all the time. There is no question that the team has had a tremendous amount of success with him at the helm. He is a former Coach of the Year award winner. But that doesn't mean I, or anyone else, cannot question some of his decisions. Does that mean I think I am smarter than him or better equipped to coach the Canucks, no.

But to deny that he has a style that becomes so obvious and that style can cost us is to take the George Bush approach to the world. You are with us or against us.

I don't like how AV had utilized Ballard or Sulzer and at times coHo and I am sure their are a list of other players we can add to that. His preference for Rome has been talked to death. I think AV has done a fine job for the Canucks but I don't like all of his decisions.

[CrzyCanuck]

quick, who can list our AV's favoured players since the day he took over Canucks?

Rypien, Cowan, Green, Rome, anyone else?

[Todd Bersnoozi]

Nice to see Coho warming up too (Got like a goal + assist tonite). That's like 3 goals + 1 assist this week, not bad, not bad. The kid is stepping up once again when the games count by being a catylist to help the Sabres make the playoffs. He's showing the signs of a big game player, and we saw glimpses of it when he wore a Canucks uni.

[Todd Bersnoozi]

I dunno about cowan and green, cuz they didn't really last that long here. rome is pretty obvious. he seemed to really like higgy and lapdawg right away. u can make a case for burr too, the guy was nothing when AV came here, now he's like a top 6 forward. kess too i guess, but he was a 1st round pick and would of gotten a good chance by anyone.

quick, who can list our AV's favoured players since the day he took over Canucks?

Rypien, Cowan, Green, Rome, anyone else?

[Hockey Widow]

quick, who can list our AV's favoured players since the day he took over Canucks?

Rypien, Cowan, Green, Rome, anyone else?

Johnson, the original shut down 3rd line centre. Glass game 7 of the SCF. Luongo on a bad night instead of, well, anyone. Hordichuck.

[Farhan Lalji]

Me - If I coached now I could do the same, if I was the GM back in the WCE days I would have made a trade for a REAL GOALIE and by now I would have 2 - 3 SC rings.

Ugggggh.

Why don't some of you NOT get the fact that it was almost impossible for Burke to trade for a top notch goalie?!? Teams knew that the Nucks were a goalie away from being a legit threat like Detroit, Colorado, and New Jersey........and so teams weren't exactly willing to give that piece. Trading for a goalie would have cost us the Sedin twins, or Jovanovski + picks.