Ownership and Management

[Cornuck]

Nice summary, and the last line is what it's all about.

They have most of a core, and sobe decent talent on the rise, but still a lot of question marks.

[donlever]

Comparing our approach or ability to build to Florida is a stretch imo.

They drafted Barkov and Ekblad 2 and 1 in consecutive years.

And Huberdeau 3rd overall 2 years prior which was the base body that got them Tkachuk.

Canucks don't have near that amount of capital to trade nor have they been lucky enough to have a 3, 3, 2 and 1 overall draft pick over a 5 year span (like the Panthers).

Or maybe they did have the capital (EP) and didn't have the nuts to do it when the opportunity presented itself.

Like Todd's other comparable Vegas does each and every chance they have.

Or the owner veto'd it as we have discussed ad nauseum.

[Chef Boi RD]

2009 - 14th OA - Dimitri Kulikov
2010 - 3rd OA - Gudbranson (Mcann and picks)
2011 - 3rd OA - Huberdeau (Tkachuk)
2012 - 23rd OA - Mike Matheson (Petry & Poehling)
2013 - 2nd OA - Barkov
2014 - 1st OA - Ekblad
2015 - 11th OA - Lawson Crouse (traded for picks)
2016 - 23rd OA - Henrik Borgstrom
2017 - 10th OA - Owen Tippett (Claude Giroux)
2018 - 15th OA - Denisenko
2019 - 13th OA - 13th OA Spencer Knight (Seth Jones)

Panthers full tank years from 2010 to 2015 definitely played an important roll in the them winning the last two Stanley Cups

[Todd Bersnoozi]

Comparing our approach or ability to build to Florida is a stretch imo.

They drafted Barkov and Ekblad 2 and 1 in consecutive years.

And Huberdeau 3rd overall 2 years prior which was the base body that got them Tkachuk.

Yah, that's a fair comment, but what I meant is that they didn't tank to get that elite talent like Mackinnon, McDavid, Crosby, Malkin, Bedard, Celebrini, etc.

Those guys are good players, if not great players. Barkov might be the best 2-way forward in the league, but not sure he's elite. Ekblad is a great D-man, but not sure he's Norris calibre. Same with Tkachuk, I would say he's a gritty, skillled & clutch player, but wouldn't say he's elite skilled.

Florida didn't really win by their drafting. They won by building around there core (I guess Huberdau & Ekblad) with solid depth in every position. Basically a bunch of skilled, gritty guys who are hard to play against.

[JelloPuddingPop]

Yah, that's a fair comment, but what I meant is that they didn't tank to get that elite talent like Mackinnon, McDavid, Crosby, Malkin, Bedard, Celebrini, etc.

Those guys are good players, if not great players. Barkov might be the best 2-way forward in the league, but not sure he's elite. Ekblad is a great D-man, but not sure he's Norris calibre. Same with Tkachuk, I would say he's a gritty, skillled & clutch player, but wouldn't say he's elite skilled.

Florida didn't really win by their drafting. They won by building around there core (I guess Huberdau & Ekblad) with solid depth in every position. Basically a bunch of skilled, gritty guys who are hard to play against.

That last comment is bang on, depth rules the day for sure. And having key contributors to those positions is certainly a big reason they've been back to back champs.

That being said, they do have elite talent too: I certainly think that Barkov deserves "elite" status. Health has just been his kryptonite. His only full season, he got 96 pts. And is very close to PPG in his career, while being the dominant 2-way center in the league. I'd take him over a few guys on your elite list to build around.

Same goes for Ekblad, was nominated for the Norris in 2021. Their depth on the blueline allows them to not have to play one guy 28 mins a night like some teams. Those are usually the defensemen that get nominated, as they stand out - because they have such an overall effect on their team. Ekblad has battled health issues his whole career too.

Having key core players, and legitimately star roster construction has created a wagon - no players that are 5ft 2" tall, and 120lbs. No players that don't hit, score and fight, core guys like Reinhart, Tkachuk, Bennett, along with the aforementioned elite bus drivers - then surrounded by really key depth positions like Verhaeghe, Rodrigues, Marchand, Jones etc. etc. And Goalie Bob playing on top of his game helps.

Van's current roster construction, to Topper's much belabored point - has too many midgets, you can't have that many on one team - as it snow balls through the lineup. Even if they play "tough" like Hogs, they still can be muscled off the puck, or in front of the net by a bigger defensemen. You have a bunch of those players - it makes for an easy night for the opposition, just by virtue of a poor roster construction, no matter how hard they play. Rolling out Garland, Hogs, Petey, and Hughes then next shift Letterkenny, Reichel and Boeser... as Blobby likes to say: Yawn, Fart. Easy night for Ekblad and Barkov.

[Chef Boi RD]

Florida didn't really win by their drafting. They won by building around there core (I guess Huberdau & Ekblad) with solid depth in every position. Basically a bunch of skilled, gritty guys who are hard to play against.

Todd, gotta disagree there. Barkov is a playoff stud my friend drafted 2nd overall. Their 3rd overall pick previous to drafting Barkov - Huberdeau led them to Tkachuk. You ain’t getting Tkachuk for Huberdeau if Huberdeau didn’t have the year he had prior to the trade. This tank phase of theirs was the major key to them winning the cup. Give me Barkov 8 days a week my friend, the guy is a beast, a winner, your perfect centre. He makes everyone stars, those who have had the luxury of playing with him.

[donlever]

JPP'S offering to the masses...

Really good post Jello.

Full agreement on most every comment made.

And yes, Dude and Jello, Barkov is the best 2 way center in the NHL imo.

Would take him over a lot of players presumed to be his better.

Dude is a Beast.

[Cousin Strawberry]

A massively underappreciated player on that team is Lundell. He's a fantastic 3c who would be our 1c