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Off season moves will be a wash this season, two to three years down the road Vancouver will be laughing at Calgary.

Going into this season with it's shortened schedule and inter division play, depth will be critical. There will be a playoff grudge match mentality to teams playing each other as often as they do. That will increase injuries with little recovery time in schedule.

Getting off the blocks fast and creating space in the standings will be key because as injuries mount a fall from grace could be fatal.

Say game 20, your #1 goaltender suffers a groin injury and forced to miss 10-12 games or three of your top nine forwards are out for 6+ games or two of your top 4 defenders suffer foot/ankle injuries.

Weathering storms will be key.

1) I liked Tanev and I think we tend to underestimate what Stecher brought, but the aquisition of Schmidt is great news and I hope that Joulevi is ready to step up. If he isn't there are many other players on the farm - Rafferty, Rathbone, whoever - that could be ready to move into the big league. I don't think the D will be worse than last year. If anything, this is probably a slight upgrade.

2) Toffoli was great to have on the team, and Leivo wasn't bad either, but they are not the key pieces that make or break this team. There will be other players coming along to fill their shoes. Nothing to worry about.

3) Goaltending will be worse, but not dramatically. Demko has the skills and the mindset necessary to become a fantastic goalie. We saw glimpses in the playoffs of what's to come, but I'm not convinced he can carry the team for a full season. Maybe this shortened season is a godsend? Getting Holtby was a great move. I think it's a step down from Markström, but he is a very good competent goalie, will be a great mentor for Demko, and hopefully the change of setting gets his juices flowing. I don't think we need to worry about this department either, and I do believe two or three years down the line Demko will be a top ten goalie in the NHL.

4) I have great expectations. Hughes and Pettersson will continue to improve and Boeser will be back on track. These kids are true gems and a wondrous sight to behold. Having all three on the ice at once is a luxury and a feast for the eye. So smart. So skilled. So unpredictable.
And hopefully there is more in the pipeline!

Tanev was very good, but in decline. He was coughing up the puck more last season than previous years, and with his injury susceptibility, it was time to move on. If either Juolevi or Rathbone can play competently paired with either Myers or Schmidt in the top four, the defense will be a strength the other Canadian teams (except maybe Montreal) won’t be able to match. It would be a great season for Edler to move to the bottom six and pair with another young player to focus on the PK.
I’m confident the goalies will be solid.
The young Canuck forwards gained a lot of experience playing tight defensive games during their playoff run. The team should be competing with Montreal for fewest goals against in the Canadian division. As well, there will be very little drop off in scoring if everyone can stay healthy. The Canucks had one or the other of Toffoli and Boeser on the ice in each game because of injuries. They had both in the lineup for very few games. Losing Toffoli hurts but if Boeser stays healthy the team should score just as many goals.
The Toronto centric media seems to see the Canucks out of the playoffs. If healthy they should surprise as their young players continue to mature.

Edler is a ways away from the bottom pair.

UWSaint wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:46 am He will average 2 and a half minutes per power play ...

So, you assume a very large portion of penalties will be five minute ones... ? Or do we clone him?

Tanev isn’t very durable. Combine that with his age it’s a dangerous contract to sign. Demko made it possible to lose Markstrom, a cost savings plus Marky is 30+. I was hoping we could re-sign Toffoli but our RW is stacked. We got the Pod coming. Stecher the second coming of loved by the Community a la Trevor Linden whatevs. Good guy, the city overrated him big time.

There was an article floating around talking about Quinn being the best dman in the Canadian conference, what a bunch of the dummies in media don’t realize yet is we got the second best dman as well in Nate schmidt. He’s gonna be a massive eye opener for people in Vancouver, and Canadian media in general.

I suspect that Demko is going to suprise the hell out of us this year. Going from backing up a starter who was looking to land his "career" contract, to a guy who is older, albeit by only a year, who has had career success, and taking a pay cut on a shorter term deal, should only serve to motivate Demko all the more to step further into that starting role.

He really responded to, what I think, was that playoff rivalry mentality when you are playing the same team night in and out.....here's hoping that having a limited number of opponents in a Canadian only division will have similar effect when you see the same team more often.

I really don't think we're going to miss Markstrom at all.....his demeanor in the room and his team-guy attitude may be missed, but on the ice I think we're just as good, and I don't think that Holtby is at all a step backwards, I see it as a lateral move in the individual position and a step forward in terms of future of the Canuck crease.

Richardstroker69 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:07 am There was an article floating around talking about Quinn being the best dman in the Canadian conference, what a bunch of the dummies in media don’t realize yet is we got the second best dman as well in Nate schmidt. He’s gonna be a massive eye opener for people in Vancouver, and Canadian media in general.

You are correct sir.

He was a huge part of one of the top western conference teams' top pairings and whats the bet the Knights take a step back despite adding Petro.

Mëds wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:48 am I suspect that Demko is going to suprise the hell out of us this year. Going from backing up a starter who was looking to land his "career" contract, to a guy who is older, albeit by only a year, who has had career success, and taking a pay cut on a shorter term deal, should only serve to motivate Demko all the more to step further into that starting role.

He really responded to, what I think, was that playoff rivalry mentality when you are playing the same team night in and out.....here's hoping that having a limited number of opponents in a Canadian only division will have similar effect when you see the same team more often.

I really don't think we're going to miss Markstrom at all.....his demeanor in the room and his team-guy attitude may be missed, but on the ice I think we're just as good, and I don't think that Holtby is at all a step backwards, I see it as a lateral move in the individual position and a step forward in terms of future of the Canuck crease.

Giggity

Richardstroker69 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:07 am There was an article floating around talking about Quinn being the best dman in the Canadian conference, what a bunch of the dummies in media don’t realize yet is we got the second best dman as well in Nate schmidt. He’s gonna be a massive eye opener for people in Vancouver, and Canadian media in general.

Personally I hate this kind of hype article on Hughes; nothing good comes from proclaiming a guy with 1 years experience, the best D man in the country. WTF. The hockey gods do not like this stuff.
It wouldn't surprise me if he's not as good in his second year...it happens often to rookies. More media, more attention, more pressure and they struggle.

Agree fully on Nate - he's going to be great. How did he fall into our laps? What a steal.

The Brown Wizard wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:26 am

Richardstroker69 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:07 am There was an article floating around talking about Quinn being the best dman in the Canadian conference, what a bunch of the dummies in media don’t realize yet is we got the second best dman as well in Nate schmidt. He’s gonna be a massive eye opener for people in Vancouver, and Canadian media in general.

You are correct sir.

He was a huge part of one of the top western conference teams' top pairings and whats the bet the Knights take a step back despite adding Petro.

Lol I think the Knights did ok with Pietrangelo

Doyle Hargraves wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:12 am

The Brown Wizard wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:26 am

Richardstroker69 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:07 am There was an article floating around talking about Quinn being the best dman in the Canadian conference, what a bunch of the dummies in media don’t realize yet is we got the second best dman as well in Nate schmidt. He’s gonna be a massive eye opener for people in Vancouver, and Canadian media in general.

You are correct sir.

He was a huge part of one of the top western conference teams' top pairings and whats the bet the Knights take a step back despite adding Petro.

Lol I think the Knights did ok with Pietrangelo

You are right in they did just ok.

Petro is a damn good offensive dman but is not the fleetest of foot. Last year the VGK moved pucks out of danger faster than any other team I got to watch and this year they will lose a step from that back end.

Then there is the whole double stud issue...how are Karlsson and Chewbacca looking these days?

The Brown Wizard wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:16 am

Doyle Hargraves wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:12 am

The Brown Wizard wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:26 am

Richardstroker69 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:07 am There was an article floating around talking about Quinn being the best dman in the Canadian conference, what a bunch of the dummies in media don’t realize yet is we got the second best dman as well in Nate schmidt. He’s gonna be a massive eye opener for people in Vancouver, and Canadian media in general.

You are correct sir.

He was a huge part of one of the top western conference teams' top pairings and whats the bet the Knights take a step back despite adding Petro.

Lol I think the Knights did ok with Pietrangelo

You are right in they did just ok.

Petro is a damn good offensive dman but is not the fleetest of foot. Last year the VGK moved pucks out of danger faster than any other team I got to watch and this year they will lose a step from that back end.

Then there is the whole double stud issue...how are Karlsson and Chewbacca looking these days?

Who's the other stud in Vegas?

Mëds wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:23 am

The Brown Wizard wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:16 am

Doyle Hargraves wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:12 am

The Brown Wizard wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:26 am

Richardstroker69 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:07 am There was an article floating around talking about Quinn being the best dman in the Canadian conference, what a bunch of the dummies in media don’t realize yet is we got the second best dman as well in Nate schmidt. He’s gonna be a massive eye opener for people in Vancouver, and Canadian media in general.

You are correct sir.

He was a huge part of one of the top western conference teams' top pairings and whats the bet the Knights take a step back despite adding Petro.

Lol I think the Knights did ok with Pietrangelo

You are right in they did just ok.

Petro is a damn good offensive dman but is not the fleetest of foot. Last year the VGK moved pucks out of danger faster than any other team I got to watch and this year they will lose a step from that back end.

Then there is the whole double stud issue...how are Karlsson and Chewbacca looking these days?

Who's the other stud in Vegas?

Shea Theodore