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BTW former Abby spare part Marc Gatcomb has two goals in the Ovechkin game.

I mean, this guy was a mediocre AHLer like, last year.

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdi ... pid=217777

Interesting take Megs.

Physicality aside.

WCE genre defensive group.

EP2 = Ohlund

TW = Jovo

I want to talk about the management team and this off season. I have not been happy with the direction this team has taken since the last SC run and I know that it has a lot to be because of ownership and their short sightedness of chasing the “playoff’ revenue.

The Canucks have squandered draft picks which is why they have a very depleted prospect pool even though they sucked for so long. They are always chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I do think current management is the best we have had for the past 10 years.

Canucks will not win the SC next year, there I said it. They need to keep their first round pick this year unless it involves a real #2 centre coming back. The current team is set at D, goaltending is still an issue depending on Demko’s health. The bottom 6 is set but the top 6 needs some work. EP, Debrusk, Garland (middle 6) and Lekk are legit but each come with their warts. Players like Suter and Sherwood always concern me as they have had great years but will they do it again? Lucky Sherwood has a longer contract but will the Canucks management get overly excited about Suter’s 22 goals and now think he is always a 20 goal scorer and over pay him?

I have left Boeser off as I am not sold on him as well, 1 – 40 goal season does not make him a top goal scorer. This year he will be lucky to hit 30 and as many noted the game is getting faster and he isn’t the best skater out there. He will want a 7-8 year deal in the~ $8M range (which I am hearing) but that is too long and too much cap hit.

For sure everything hinges on EP and will he come back stronger next season? If he shits the bed then this team is doomed again to be mediocre for the next while as his cap hit will cripple the team’s ability to make deals or sign FA.

Even with the cap going up, the Canucks have to deal with the buyouts. Also each player’s agent will be asking for that $500k to $1.0M more when it comes time to negotiate a new deal for their clients. That increase will disappear quickly just to keep the players they have. The Canucks do not have a history of using ELC efficiently mainly because they keep trading their draft picks away and this has to change starting now.

So where does that leave the team? It badly needs EP to be back and then it needs another top winger and centre. They need the cap space Chytil is taken and I have made my feelings clear on Demko (want him but not his injuries and next contract). Management need to look more than just next season and plan longer term for once, quit trying to do the quick fixes. On wing I am a little less concerned about that as FA and trades are usually lower cost to get a middle six player back.

None of us are NHL GM’s so obviously it is easy to say what is needed but a lot harder to actually deliver. This is why they make the $$$ they do and they really are the only ones who knows what goes on in the NHL. If the team has to concentrate on one thing this off season it is a centre and I expect them to actively address this but if they can’t pull it off because the asking price is too high (either through a trade or FA) then I am ok with them waiting.

Hopefully I did not meander in my post and I am clear on where I stand with the team as of today.

Good post Reef.

Lots to discuss there moving into the off season.

Just like last year though.

EP and TD are key components to team success.

Anything like this past year and we're likely in trouble again.

^^^Great analysis right there Reef.

I dig it.

Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 12:28 pm I dig it.

Comments like this always make me think of The Warriors.




***(released 46 years ago February btw...put that in your pipe and smoke it)

I can definitely dig it Donny

I agree with Megs on Willander. What I have seen at the WJrC the past two seasons is a mature all round D. Because of his nationality, I'd point to Ohlund, in the current lineup, Hronek. He can control the game when he's on the ice.

I don't like or have faith in the current management. Start with "retiring" the geriatric, bring in a new President, give him a year to find his guy for a new GM.

We already know, RoboSwede doesn't call his own shots but is just a ventriloquist dummy of the geriatric.

2Fingers wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:41 am Canucks will not win the SC next year, there I said it. They need to keep their first round pick this year unless it involves a real #2 #1 centre coming back. The current team is set at D, goaltending is still an issue depending on Demko’s health. The bottom 6 is set but the top 6 needs some work. EP, Debrusk, Garland (middle 6) and Lekk are legit but each come with their warts. Players like Suter and Sherwood always concern me as they have had great years but will they do it again? Lucky Sherwood has a longer contract but will the Canucks management get overly excited about Suter’s 22 goals and now think he is always a 20 goal scorer and over pay him?

Fixed for accuracy.

I realize I'm a squeaky wheel on this subject, but if you're spending our 1st rounder, and/or Willander, the return has to be a 1C. You can't build with the assumption that Pettersson is going to bounce back and become that 1C and target a 2C. There are far too many question marks about his physique and character. If you acquire that 1C and Scooter does bounce back, then we have a 1A/1B situation similar to Pittsburgh, and that is a good dilemma to have.

The team is no "set" at D. I see Topper's concerns regarding D-Petey, the guy has really good north/south wheels, but regular NHL defensemen need to be able to defend against speed to the outside. If the Canucks are somehow able to make off-season moves that flips this past season on its head and turns the team into some sort of miraculous contender by October, then the only way an inexperienced defenseman is taking a regular shift is if his partner is a veteran who can cover mistakes and mentor the kid along. If next year's team is "more of the same" then who really cares, D-Petey on the bottom pairing is not going to be a difference maker one way or the other, and perhaps regular NHL reps see's him develop faster.

Sherwood's "longer contract" is only one more season. Advantageous right now considering he would probably command $3.5M on the open market, but still a tough thing next year if he has another season like this one.

At this point Mëds I think we can safely say:

Physique
Character

...annnddd...

Injury history (this is what, the third miss game/hamper performance issue in his relatively young career, (discounting hurt feelings of course), wrist, knee and whatever the fuck it is this time)....

Indeed. I was factoring injury history into physique. With few exceptions the two are hand in glove when it comes to contact sports.

Yes, Willander (+ 1st?) for a young top-6 centre seems to look like the way to go.

Thank God for Mancini and EPJr!

Hockey Talk Too?

Great idea. So much to discuss about this team that is once again at the crossroads.

Keep it up. I know what the dozen or so posters here are capable of... even with divergent opinions.

Hope this place remains a sanctuary. Make CC Grate Great Again!

Good to see you Carl…

Mëds wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 5:30 pm
Fixed for accuracy.

I realize I'm a squeaky wheel on this subject, but if you're spending our 1st rounder, and/or Willander, the return has to be a 1C. You can't build with the assumption that Pettersson is going to bounce back and become that 1C and target a 2C. There are far too many question marks about his physique and character. If you acquire that 1C and Scooter does bounce back, then we have a 1A/1B situation similar to Pittsburgh, and that is a good dilemma to have.

The team is no "set" at D. I see Topper's concerns regarding D-Petey, the guy has really good north/south wheels, but regular NHL defensemen need to be able to defend against speed to the outside. If the Canucks are somehow able to make off-season moves that flips this past season on its head and turns the team into some sort of miraculous contender by October, then the only way an inexperienced defenseman is taking a regular shift is if his partner is a veteran who can cover mistakes and mentor the kid along. If next year's team is "more of the same" then who really cares, D-Petey on the bottom pairing is not going to be a difference maker one way or the other, and perhaps regular NHL reps see's him develop faster.

Sherwood's "longer contract" is only one more season. Advantageous right now considering he would probably command $3.5M on the open market, but still a tough thing next year if he has another season like this one.

I agree with you on EP, but we have discussed that enough.

On D I do disagree with your assessment on the current Canucks D, with QH, Hronek, MP and the "less chaos" Myers they can hold their own. I also do not see all the warts that others see in EP2, the kid has played a total of 23 NHL games and has shown calmness and some smarts. He can work in the areas he needs to in the off season with a skating coach or other support. That leaves #6 - #8 which can be addressed in the off season with a vet but again cap space is limited so I prefer not to see a lot of $$ spent on D.

I knew Sherwood only had 1 year but I should have explained that it gives them time to see how he does in the next season, no rush to give him an extension.

The management this off season (IMHO) needs to really concentrate on #2 C and another winger and I should have added they need some freaking toughness. If that means moving someone like Hoglander then so be it.