Canucks News N Notes 25-26

[donlever]

Well, it sounds like you're getting that. It's easier to cheer for a team if you respect the character.

No, not really.

You read me wrong or don't glean my overall posting intent here.

I don't care enough that what you imply matters.

Nor do I particularily cheer for them any more (since around 2011 if you haven't been paying attention....)...

On the other hand I do not cheer against them most certainly and think it would be nice in an "aw shucks they finally did it, glad for my posse" kind of way if the second coming of a miracle on ice were to occur.

I'm just stating a fact as I see it.

Under tough circumstances, perhaps as tough as any all things considered, the on ice group has manned up and shown to have a set.

Overall I find that somewhat surprising as well as relatively impressive.

[Lancer]

Cootes - I think you are under estimating him, or probably I am over estimating him.

Kyle Connor was drafted 17th, and look where he is now?

Not saying Cootes will be a play-driving 1C in time, but we can’t say he won’t.

The challenge is whether he can be a top-6 Centre soon enough for it to matter, given the age of the ‘core’.

The top-4 outside of Quinn is getting grey, but Willander, Mancini and D-Petey may be able to replace them when they age out without much drop off.

With some exceptions, the forward is young and has potential.

If Medvedev comes as advertised, then management can let go of Demko on-schedule without much drop off.

If management can get Hughes signed, there’s reason for hope they can break out of the mushy middle. Not contender status, but more than just a one-and-done if they’re lucky.

Absent a tear-down, that’s not bad. For all the rants of the tear-down crowd, Edmonton hasn’t won a Cup and Buffalo still sucks.

We’re not in a great place as fans, but we could be a helluva lot worse.

…and we still have yet to see what Höglander and Lekkerimäki can do this season either.

[Meds]

Cootes - I think you are under estimating him, or probably I am over estimating him.

Kyle Connor was drafted 17th, and look where he is now?

Now, or in the playoffs?

[Ronning's Ghost]

Cootes - I think you are under estimating him, or probably I am over estimating him.

Kyle Connor was drafted 17th, and look where he is now?

Not saying Cootes will be a play-driving 1C in time, but we can’t say he won’t.

The challenge is whether he can be a top-6 Centre soon enough for it to matter, given the age of the ‘core’.

The top-4 outside of Quinn is getting grey, but Willander, Mancini and D-Petey may be able to replace them when they age out without much drop off.

With some exceptions, the forward is young and has potential.

If Medvedev comes as advertised, then management can let go of Demko on-schedule without much drop off.

If management can get Hughes signed, there’s reason for hope they can break out of the mushy middle. Not contender status, but more than just a one-and-done if they’re lucky.

Absent a tear-down, that’s not bad. For all the rants of the tear-down crowd, Edmonton hasn’t won a Cup and Buffalo still sucks.

We’re not in a great place as fans, but we could be a helluva lot worse.

The Canucks entered the season with a lot of "ifs"; I don't think it's odd than many remain.

From a different thread:

They need a couple top end fowards. Full stop. Maybe Cootes steps up next year and a guy like Raty takes another step. If it's Hughes or one of the kids + they deal for a true impact forward it could drastically change the complexion of the team.

I agree that a couple of top-end forwards would immediately turn around the prospects of this team.

And I agree with Lancer that it's a question of whether they can acquire them before the older parts of the core drop off too much. Given what I said above, I don't think they have very long.

So, in series with all the other ifs, if Cootes can become one of those forwards soon enough, that gets them half way there. It's asking a lot of even a generational talent to make a huge impact in the first year after his draft, so that leaves a trade, or a free agent signing.

Do you see anyone on the UFA list who could move the needle enough, and whom the Canucks could attract and fit under the cap?

https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-agents ... f/type/ufa

Would you be willing to gamble that Cootes becomes one of those forwards soon enough, and parlay that into parting with the 2026 first, if it returned a top-end forward ?

…and we still have yet to see what Höglander and Lekkerimäki can do this season either.

Personally, I'm not willing to invest very much hope there. Or was a joke that went over my head ?

that’s not bad

And the core of my point was I'm not sure that's a good thing.

I think the most positive thing I can say about the current roster construction is that they are poised to take advantage of some fantastic luck, if it should fall their way.