Canucks Pre-Season Games (Semi-GDT thing)

[Hockey Widow]

Just caught the highlights too.

Lekkermaki has a wicked shot.

It’s a waiver numbers game from here on it. I think he has done enough to make the team especially now that the Hoglander injury creates an opportunity. But, it depends on asset management and whether the Canucks want to risk exposing someone else.

I don’t see a big future on this team for Bains but next season we may lose both Sherwood and Bluegar and the year after O’Conner. We have to rebuild our bottom six. But then again building a bottom six has been an Allvin strength.

How is Lekkermaki’s play other than on the PP? Haven’t been able to see any of the games so far. Would love to hear opinions, honest ones, on all the bubble players, pros and cons. Why or why not on the big club.

I’m in Toronto until Oct 15th. Staying about 1-2 blocks from both Roger’s Centre and Scotia Bank centre. It is absolutely nuts down here with Blue Jay fever and the Annual parade planning for the leaves.

[Picker of Cherries]

D-Petey, Willander, Sasson and anyone else that doesn’t need to clear waivers should be chosen from and sent to Abby to get down to their 23. Keep their depth over icing the best players on day one. Mancini has outplayed D-Petey and Willander so give him his props even though in the long term I think D-Petey and Willander will be better players. There will be a ton of injuries, and it’s better to have players coming up that can play in the NHL than not having enough players. Cootes has outplayed Chytil and should make the team to help fill the team’s biggest need at 2C. They could rotate Chytil and Raty at 3C until one of them claims the job. Cootes can’t clear waivers, so he should stay. Joseph hasn’t been impressive, but it’s better he sits in the press box than D-Petey and Willander.

Based on the preseason and waiver status, I think the 23 should be:

DeBrusk Pettersson Boeser
Kane Cootes Lekkermaki
O’Connor Chytil Garland
Bains Blueger Sherwood
Karlsson Raty

Hughes Hronek
M. Pettersson Myers
Forbert Mancini
Joseph

[Cornuck]

Wrapping up pre-season, I'd say it was a successful start to the year.

To me, the biggest surprise was Cootes making a splash - not sure we've had a fresh draft pick stand out like that for a while (someone with a better memory will correct me, I'm sure ).

Any takeaways from the pre-season - good or bad?

[Cornuck]

Cootes has outplayed Chytil and should make the team to help fill the team’s biggest need at 2C. They could rotate Chytil and Raty at 3C until one of them claims the job. Cootes can’t clear waivers, so he should stay.

I'd like to see Cootes get his 9 games and go back to Junior. Let him develop into a stronger player who can handle a long pro season.

[Chef Boi RD]

Cootes has earned enough to get his 9 games but should go back to junior after. Lekkerimaki has definitely earned his stripes. Especially with Hoglander down. Agree about Bains, he’s stuck in that no man’s lane between the AHL and NHL - to good for one not good enough for the other.

[theman]

I would give Cootes his 9 games too and then send him back to junior.

Did D Petey return after the hit by Podz last night?

[Hockey Widow]

I would give Cootes his 9 games too and then send him back to junior.

Did D Petey return after the hit by Podz last night?

My understanding is yes, he is fine. It was the spotters who pulled him and he didn’t want to go. But as Foote said, the spotters did their job and it was the right thing to do.

Prognosis, nothing to see here, he is fine.

[donlever]

Prognosis, nothing to see here, he is fine.

He's healthy and good to go.

Whether he is fine yet remains to be seen.

[Cousin Strawberry]

So Rutherford has basically one year to ice a team with enough promise and hope that will interest the best player in franchise history into sticking around.

That isn't happening with leadfoot Raty making the top 9...or a Pissed Off Joseph...or picking any other waiver wire weiners

That path forward will be to harness and ride the lightning that is this young group of promising kids.

This means that if Cootes is still the better option after 9 over Raty or Chytil even...he sticks. Who cares about burning an entry year if he's still the better player.

I still haven't seen any indication that he can't hold down that spot. He's a smart, tenacious C who is already showing well beyond his years. He's got some chemistry forming with this young Sniper Lekky too.

No I don't keep Karlsson or Bains around over Cootes just because of waivers. Or Joseph over Mancini. Bring on the youth

[Cousin Strawberry]

Prognosis, nothing to see here, he is fine.

He's healthy and good to go.

Whether he is fine yet remains to be seen.

I wonder if Tops has started to change his tune on the kid

[donlever]

He has not.

[Cousin Strawberry]

He has not.

Probably lol

He's avoiding this place til EP25 gets burned outside on a 1 on 1 then he'll be back "told ya so'ing"

[donlever]

No I don't keep Karlsson or Bains around over Cootes just because of waivers. Or Joseph over Mancini. Bring on the youth

Yeah, I am leaning towards your side of the equation here Cuz.

I am as (I won't say excited but interested for sure) likely to pay attention and maybe even go to an early game as I have been in 15 years.

The Cootes, DP, Mancini, Sushikid et al are why.

[5thhorseman]

Yeah Petey will get his points but he hasn't shown any franchise load carrying capabilities so far. Hopefully he was holding back during preseason.

[Cousin Strawberry]

That group looks fast and hungry. I took a minute to read through some comments from the Alberta side after last night. Other than the obligatory goaltending angst they thought Van was a much quicker group and that they had the faster team.

What a difference from tocket hockey