Canucks News N Notes 24-25

[dangler]

Perhaps this will force Allvin’s hand to bring in another defender.

Fair to say Allvin has been somewhat quietly hunting for a top-4 addition for at least a month. This latest may expedite whatever plans they may have brewing.

I don't know Lancer, every GM knows the Canucks predicament. I think the price for RHD just went way up for Allvin. It's too early to overpay for a necessary replacement. No one knows if this team is a contender yet and IMHO it's not worth parting with a Willander, Lekkerimaki or a 1st rd pick,which is what it would probably take to secure a top 4 RHD.

[Tciso]

Every team is looking for another RHD. JRs injury doesn't change that and it doesn't change the cost of getting another RHD. People here panic way too much over a few injuries.

[Hockey Widow]

Anyone know how McWard is doing? They were pretty high on him last year and thought he was knocking on the door.

Apparently the wonder Swede wanted to turn pro this year but the Canucks wanted him to cook for one more year. He will need easing in though but I would not be surprised to see him turn pro as soon as his season is done.

[Raile]

Anyone know how McWard is doing? They were pretty high on him last year and thought he was knocking on the door.

Apparently the wonder Swede wanted to turn pro this year but the Canucks wanted him to cook for one more year. He will need easing in though but I would not be surprised to see him turn pro as soon as his season is done.

Canucksarmy mentioned him last week or so, said he was playing as one of the top D in Abby, but the knock being that he hasn't been doing any penalty kill duties so might not be what the Canucks need right now. Just paraphrasing an article, maybe someone else actually watches the games and knows more.

[Megaterio Llamas]

McWard had a horrible game in the 7-4 loss in San Jose. Overall I don't think he's tracking very well, kind of treading water at the moment. He gets the plumb assignments on pp #1 even though young Kudryavtsev and veteran Wolanin are clearly superior in that role, Kudryavtsev and Nils Aman have formed the most effective duo for the Abby power play in that role but Manny moved back to McWard the last couple of games for some reason.

Obviously management loves McWard but I think the 20 year olds Kudryavtsev and Pettersson have probably already passed him though McWard would likely fair better than them in a callup situation right now due to maturity and experience.

[Raile]

McWard had a horrible game in the 7-4 loss in San Jose. Overall I don't think he's tracking very well, kind of treading water at the moment. He gets the plumb assignments on pp #1 even though young Kudryavtsev and veteran Wolanin are clearly superior in that role, Kudryavtsev and Nils Aman have formed the most effective duo for the Abby power play in that role but Manny moved back to McWard the last couple of games for some reason.

Obviously management loves McWard but I think the 20 year olds Kudryavtsev and Pettersson have probably already passed him though McWard would likely fair better than them in a callup situation right now due to maturity and experience.

thanks for that insight Megs. I'm curious why management seems so high on McWard then, although as you pointed out his maturity and experience - maybe those are factors. Wouldn't be out of line with what we've seen with most coaches.

[Megaterio Llamas]

McWard had a horrible game in the 7-4 loss in San Jose. Overall I don't think he's tracking very well, kind of treading water at the moment. He gets the plumb assignments on pp #1 even though young Kudryavtsev and veteran Wolanin are clearly superior in that role, Kudryavtsev and Nils Aman have formed the most effective duo for the Abby power play in that role but Manny moved back to McWard the last couple of games for some reason.

Obviously management loves McWard but I think the 20 year olds Kudryavtsev and Pettersson have probably already passed him though McWard would likely fair better than them in a callup situation right now due to maturity and experience.

thanks for that insight Megs. I'm curious why management seems so high on McWard then, although as you pointed out his maturity and experience - maybe those are factors. Wouldn't be out of line with what we've seen with most coaches.

Yeah no problem Raile. Management seems to like him, maybe as a ready-made depth guy on the blueline like you say. Unless he takes a couple of steps soon I think his upside is the Friedman-Juulsen hole.

[Cornuck]

Could it be that they're wanting to get a better look at him and see if he's able to fill in on the big club?

[UWSaint]

McWard had a horrible game in the 7-4 loss in San Jose. Overall I don't think he's tracking very well, kind of treading water at the moment. He gets the plumb assignments on pp #1 even though young Kudryavtsev and veteran Wolanin are clearly superior in that role, Kudryavtsev and Nils Aman have formed the most effective duo for the Abby power play in that role but Manny moved back to McWard the last couple of games for some reason.

Obviously management loves McWard but I think the 20 year olds Kudryavtsev and Pettersson have probably already passed him though McWard would likely fair better than them in a callup situation right now due to maturity and experience.

If you've been watching the AHL games, do you think KK is a real prospect? I was pleasantly surprised with how he looked in the preseason, but I was expecting nothing.

[Megaterio Llamas]

McWard had a horrible game in the 7-4 loss in San Jose. Overall I don't think he's tracking very well, kind of treading water at the moment. He gets the plumb assignments on pp #1 even though young Kudryavtsev and veteran Wolanin are clearly superior in that role, Kudryavtsev and Nils Aman have formed the most effective duo for the Abby power play in that role but Manny moved back to McWard the last couple of games for some reason.

Obviously management loves McWard but I think the 20 year olds Kudryavtsev and Pettersson have probably already passed him though McWard would likely fair better than them in a callup situation right now due to maturity and experience.

If you've been watching the AHL games, do you think KK is a real prospect? I was pleasantly surprised with how he looked in the preseason, but I was expecting nothing.

He was hailed as a sneaky good late pick in his draft year and he hasn't disappointed since. He has been outstanding this year, arguably the best as a 20 year old rookie on a stacked AHL blueline. He has been quarterbacking the power play lately, paired with Nild Aman on the firstunit points the duo has been deadly. He isn't very big but he is pretty stocky, given his skill level I think he has a real chance.

[5thhorseman]

[He isn't very big but he is pretty stocky, given his skill level I think he has a real chance.

Sites have him at 5'11" or 6' and 200 lbs which seems pretty average, certainly no Stecher or Brainstorm. Who would you liken his play to?

[Megaterio Llamas]

[He isn't very big but he is pretty stocky, given his skill level I think he has a real chance.

Sites have him at 5'11" or 6' and 200 lbs which seems pretty average, certainly no Stecher or Brainstorm. Who would you liken his play to?

Smart, sturdy mobile, versatile left shot puck mover who can play both sides. I cab see some Portland Buckaroos era Dennis Kearns there in the way he works the point on the power play and wheels the puck up the ice from the defensive zone. Excellent passer too. He can shoot it a little bit but he really excels in seeing the ice and distributing the puck. He's not great guns at net front and boxing out but he's working at it. And unlike Pettersson he gives off a convincing vibe in net front scrums that he's prepared to defend himself whereas I worry Pettersson is going to get sucker punched in a scrum one of these days. The three years in the OHL help him in that regard I'd day.

[donlever]

Played pick up with Kearns a few times up at Hollyburn as a teen.

Monahan too.

You think you know how good these guys are and then you step on the ice with them and it's an even different story.

[5thhorseman]

I sent my young teen with his friends to an Abby game earlier in the season and mentioned Kudryavtsev played excellent. He must've been impressed as I didn't know he even knew the player.

[Megaterio Llamas]

Played pick up with Kearns a few times up at Hollyburn as a teen.

Monahan too.

You think you know how good these guys are and then you step on the ice with them and it's an even different story.

Yeah wow, that would be quite an experience. That's a great one for the memories Donny.