The Official 2013/2014 Canucks & NHL Thread

[OGCStrike]

got this off hfboards. basically sums up todays game

[DanHibiki]

[AzNightmare]

Originally Posted by Nodnarb

You get the goalie moving side to side. Works.

No one on the team have the hands to do anything with it...

Cannot raise the puck 11"


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[Harvey Specter]

It's getting tougher to sit through a entire Canucks game without falling asleep.

[rsx]

I always wanted to see Edler with the Sedins a la Brent Burns...

[pastarocket]

-quite evident that this team has difficulty scoring goals, especially with their lack of offense from their wingers. The power play is powerless.

CAn MG make any bold moves to bolster this team's offence?

We really need a sniper that scores goals and is successful in shootouts.

The problem is that MG has no players of significant trade value to use in a trade without subtracting valuable components from the roster. Addition would involve subtraction.

Will there ever be a Bure v2.0 in Vancouver?

[Acura604]

**soo...are we going to respect the blue jackets? lol**


John Tortorella rips Canucks for losing to Panthers

http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hoc...1346533/recap/

John Tortorella has been on his best behaviour since
taking over as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.

His team's worst performance of the season brought some of the
old temper bubbling to the surface Tuesday.

"We sucked," Tortorella said after Vancouver dropped a 3-2
shootout decision to the lowly Florida Panthers. "It was easily our
worst game of the year. We didn't deserve a point."

Having already lost four in a row, the Canucks came out flat
against an opponent that has already fired a coach and endured a
nine-game losing streak this season.

And while Tortorella didn't have one of the post-game explosions
he made famous during stints with the Tampa Bay Lightning and New
York Rangers, he was clearly disgusted with the effort, especially
in a first period that saw Florida carry the play and take a 1-0
lead.

"It's lack of respect and we have no business (showing) a lack
of respect to any hockey team," Tortorella continued. "In the
situation we're in going into tonight's game, I just don't know what
we're thinking as far as how we started the game.

"I can't explain it."

Jonathan Huberdeau scored the only goal of the shootout, beating
Vancouver netminder Roberto Luongo with a nice backhand-forehand
deke on Florida's first attempt. Chris Higgins came closest to
scoring for the Canucks, hitting the post behind Tim Thomas on
Vancouver's final shot.

Like their coach, the Canucks were at a loss to explain the
performance.

"They're never easy. It doesn't matter who you play," said
Luongo, who finished with 34 saves through regulation and overtime.
"As soon as you start thinking that, it's game over for us. There's
no easy points in this league. You've got to perform every night,
every team's going to give you a challenge.

"Especially given the fact that we lost four in a row, I don't
understand why we would think it would be easy."

Shawn Matthias and Brad Boyes scored in regulation for Florida
(6-12-4), which got 27 saves from Thomas and has now won three of
its last four.

The 39-year-old Thomas, who took last season off to spend time
with his family and clear his head, was back at Rogers Arena for the
first time since leading the Boston Bruins to a their Game 7 victory
over Vancouver in the 2011 Stanley Cup.

He signed with a Panthers team in the pre-season that prior to
Tuesday had not won a game in Vancouver since 1994.

"That's why he's won before, he's won a Stanley Cup before, he's
won a Vezina and that's why," Panthers interim head coach Peter
Horachek said of Thomas. "He's confident (and) he's got a smile on
his face when he is doing it.

"He gives our guys confidence."

Jannek Hansen and Higgins replied for Vancouver (11-8-4), which
has just six goals total during its five-game slide.

"I don't think anybody played well. We looked lethargic at
times," said Tortorella. "It's disappointing and it starts from
the beginning. You need to respect your opponent. We didn't."

The Canucks killed off a full two-minute penalty in overtime,
with Luongo making a huge pad stop on Huberdeau.

Vancouver then poured it on in the final minute of the extra
period, but couldn't find a way past Thomas.

Playing in just his second game back after a long absence with a
lower-body injury, Hansen jumped on a bad clearing attempt and wired
a shot past Thomas for his third of the season at 2:35 of the final
period to tie snap a 1-1 tie.

After the teams exchanged chances, Matthias brought the Panthers
back to level terms by ripping his third of the season past Luongo
from the slot at 8:34.

Down 1-0 after that lacklustre first period, the Canucks came out
with some renewed intensity in the second and were rewarded when
Higgins beat Thomas through a maze of legs for his seventh goal of
the season at 3:26.

Thomas, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with Boston
back in 2011, then made a big stop on Canucks forward Alexandre
Burrows before Daniel Sedin sent a shot just wide.

Florida opened the scoring at 3:43 of the first against the NHL's
No. 1 penalty killing unit. With Hansen off in the box for
goaltender interference, Aleksander Barkov's shot off the post
bounced right to Boyes, who beat a down-and-out Luongo for his
eighth of the season.

Burrows, who has yet to score this season in 11 games, had
Vancouver's best chance of the period but he hit the post on a
Florida power play with about five minutes to go.

"This clunker here, it just makes no sense to me," said
Tortorella. "I think a team should be chomping on the bit to get
into a win column but it was a total lack of respect. There are no
easy games in this game. It's a lesson learned and I hope we do
learn from it."

[TjAlmeida]

How about Colorado over Chicago 5-1.
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[spoon.ek9]

good, I'm glad he called the team out. that should have been a win last night.

[fsy82]

I use to watch every game without missing a minute but since the stanley cup loss it doesnt matter to me if i miss a game. yesterday just summed up how the canucks have been playing for the last two season. lack luster and no respect to their opponent. MG needs to grow some balls and make a good trade. the coach can only do so much with his current set up players.

[SkinnyPupp]

Apathy is far worse than hating on the team.. Interesting reading the reactions here

[pastarocket]

Originally Posted by fsy82

I use to watch every game without missing a minute but since the stanley cup loss it doesnt matter to me if i miss a game. yesterday just summed up how the canucks have been playing for the last two season. lack luster and no respect to their opponent. MG needs to grow some balls and make a good trade. the coach can only do so much with his current set up players.

C'mon Gillis, make a bold trade to inject more offence and grit into this team!!

-definitely agree that Torts can only do so much with the current roster.

[Gumby]

Well, the Canucks are known to play to the level of their opponent. So there is a possibility that Friday's game against CBJ will be another no-show, but hopefully they will elevate their game on Saturday against CHI.

[m3thods]

Originally Posted by pastarocket

C'mon Gillis, make a bold trade to inject more offence and grit into this team!!

-definitely agree that Torts can only do so much with the current roster.

There are not that many players who will give you both. And they are likely a rare-enough commodity that teams will either just say no to any trades, or ask for the sun, moon, and stars. Even someone like Andrew Ladd, who imo is far from a superstar on the level of Sid/JT/Ovie/Stamkos, is untouchable. I'm thinking you're asking for a player along those lines.

People in this city (not specifically you, but a lot of casual fans) beg MG to trade for someone. Last time I checked the other team will likely ask for something in return. So what I ask is this:

For everyone who is demanding a trade, who would you realistically give up? NTCs plague the team, so that leaves you with a bunch of 3rd/4th liners, Booth included. I'm interested in seeing what people are expecting for certain players on the Canucks in potential trades.

Personally, no one without a NTC on the Canucks is going to fetch what the Canucks need- a top 6 forward, preferably a 2nd line center. Hunter and Bo are pretty much untouchable, so that leaves their bare cupboard of prospects and their draft picks. Given MG's previous dealings regarding picks, I doubt he's willing to give those up unless he's getting someone younger than 27 and is a bonafide top 3/6 player.

[pastarocket]

I think Gillis gave away NTC's like candy to many of our players in order to get them to sign with the team at a salary less than NHL "market value". It's MG's way of keeping our payroll down.

However, these no trade clauses can work against a team. If you're a player with a no trade clause, you've got control over your job security, which team you want to play for.

Doesn't that breed complacency within a team knowing that you won't get traded unless you waive your NTC?

Florida has six wins in twenty two games played so far this season. This is a team that we should have beaten up on the scoreboard last night!!

We have nine players with NTC: Luongo, Sedins, Kesler, Edler, Garrison, Bieksa, Burrows, and Higgins. That's awfully higher than most teams in the league.

There goes MG's flexibility in making roster changes when you give you so many NTCs to players.

[Jmac]

How many of them are full NTCs? Being able to provide a list of 4 teams you won't accept a trade to is hardly limiting ...

Luongo is untradeable, anyways.
The Sedins make or break our team.
Edler, Garrison, and Bieksa are all 30-40 point defensemen who can log 20-25 minutes/night and play in any situation. All are $5M or less and in their primes.
Burrows, while not producing right now, is our top goal scorer over the past few years.
Higgins is a very solid 2nd/3rd line winger for $2.5M.

The only guy I could see maybe wanting to trade is Kesler, simply because he has difficulty finding chemistry with seemingly everyone. But he's also a Selke-winning 2nd line center who can score 25-40 goals/season while shutting down the opposition's best player. Trade Kesler for a goal scoring winger and who replaces Kesler in all the other aspects of the game?

[spideyv2]

Burrows: Age - 33, salary - $4.5 million, goals - 0, points - 3

Player comparison: David Booth
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[UFO]

Originally Posted by pastarocket

Doesn't that breed complacency within a team knowing that you won't get traded unless you waive your NTC?

Florida has six wins in twenty two games played so far this season. This is a team that we should have beaten up on the scoreboard last night!!

complacency--yeah, if its you or me or any other regular joe. These are high end ultra competitive athletes, playing to want to win. I'm assuming, hoping rightfully, that the players' characters and willingness to perform and win is properly assessed by the GM's and coaches prior to offering any multi-year multi-million dollar contract with a NTC--at the end of the day its still a business for the ownership and they are the ones to write the cheques, and the guys handing out the contracts do need to be accountable to their bosses as well.

Originally Posted by jayare604

Burrows: Age - 33, salary - $4.5 million, goals - 0, points - 3

Player comparison: David Booth
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lol. Except David booth actually has a goal this season and +3, vs Burrows -6. But i digress

Even without scoring a goal, anyone watching can safely say Burrows offers more than Booth does currently. Burrows SHOULD have a handful of goals by now, just been snake bitten by bad luck--but I have no doubt his touch will come around, he's had cold streaks like this in the past. Booth while having his own share of bad luck, is a bit more single dimensional. I'm still holding out that Booth can find his game, not ready to write him off yet.

[Mike Oxbig]

It's all bad luck for the Canucks, we definitely don't need to bring any clutch and legit performer on this team.

[pastarocket]

If you look at our team now, can you honestly say that we have the players to be legitimate Stanley Cup contenders? Wait, can this team even win one, or two playoff rounds this season?

The Pacific Division is infested with the deadly Sharks, and those annoying Ducks.
Chicago is a team with the most depth in the West.

I'm just saying that Gillis better come up with a trade that gives this team a legitimate shot at a championship or this team will be in for a short post season.

This team isn't even close to being Cup contenders right now compared to other Western Conference teams.

[m3thods]

Originally Posted by pastarocket

If you look at our team now, can you honestly say that we have the players to be legitimate Stanley Cup contenders?

No they're not.

As it stands now, there's no playoffs for the Canucks. If they were able to make it, getting by one of the top Pacific/Central teams in the first round is going to be near impossible given the past playoff performances and how the current team is constructed (i.e. nothing has really changed compared to the last 2 years).

Originally Posted by pastarocket

I'm just saying that Gillis better come up with a trade that gives this team a legitimate shot at a championship or this team will be in for a short post season.

Again, I ask who is available, and for who on the current roster. I'm not trying to be combative, but it's rather funny seeing all these "MG needs to make a trade to shake this team up" comments without any actual ideas.

Personally I think it's more worthwhile to start the rebuilding process now. People here hate hearing that given the fairweather fans we have in the city. But the attitude that "we can retool without rebuilding" is what got Edmonton and Calgary in their current positions (Edmonton way before Calgary, but both teams were holding on to their previous Cup appearance thinking they were close). The only teams I can think of off the top of my head that have retool successfully is SJ (this year), and Detroit (up until Lidstrom retired).

[spideyv2]

It's the GM's job to make things happen. Did we honestly think Richards and Carter were available at the time they got traded?

This team's shitty drafting history is finally catching up to them.

Edit - not sure if I want MG to attempt any more "bold moves". The last real bold move he made landed us a potential career 3rd liner for someone who would look good on the 2nd line right now.
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[pastarocket]

If I'm in Aquilini's shoes, I would think about what direction he wants his team, his franchise, to go in the next 3 to 5 years in terms of the general manager and management personnel.

If this team doesn't perform to his expectations, especially in the post season, I would say it's time to clean house starting with a new GM.

Now that would be a bold move, and the right move!

Hire a general manager who actually has experience in the NHL as a GM instead of a player agent learning on the job to be a GM.

A GM who has a good track record in terms of drafting players, managing salary cap, trading players if necessary, and a clear vision on how to build a championship contending franchise is what the Canucks really need.

[Mike Oxbig]

Since 2012 we needed better scoring, we haven't got that and we still cant score on TT. Higgins 0pts in 9 playoff games in the past 2 yrs. Yes slot him in our 2nd line, he's clutch and legit.

I wonder what can we get for Edler, Hansen, Kassian, Booth, Burrows, Schroeder, 1st round pick for potential upgrade for 1 final push before blowing it up.

"fire MG if he trades our 1st round pick" - if not now then when?

[m3thods]

Originally Posted by jayare604

It's the GM's job to make things happen. Did we honestly think Richards and Carter were available at the time they got traded?

This team's shitty drafting history is finally catching up to them.

Edit - not sure if I want MG to attempt any more "bold moves". The last real bold move he made landed us a potential career 3rd liner for someone who would look good on the 2nd line right now.
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Yes you're right it's MG's job to make things happen. It'd be naive to think that he's not working the phones to try and get something done. He's a bright person so I doubt he's sitting on his executive chair twiddling his thumbs. I'm sure he learns from his mistakes, and won't be as patient as he was with the goalie situation.

That said, he's hamstrung by a number of things, including a lack of assets, and the appearance of desperation. If he were to make a desperate move to please the fans, the inevitable outcome is more MG hate. A bold move would be to get rid of one of the top 4 D/top 6 Forwards. Unfortunately, almost all of them have NTCs. Yes this is his fault, but that's the hand he's dealt to himself.

Originally Posted by pastarocket

If I'm in Aquilini's shoes, I would think about what direction he wants his team, his franchise, to go in the next 3 to 5 years in terms of the general manager and management personnel.

If this team doesn't perform to his expectations, especially in the post season, I would say it's time to clean house starting with a new GM.

Now that would be a bold move, and the right move!

Hire a general manager who actually has experience in the NHL as a GM instead of a player agent learning on the job to be a GM.

A GM who has a good track record in terms of drafting players, managing salary cap, trading players if necessary, and a clear vision on how to build a championship contending franchise is what the Canucks really need.

GMs typically get 5 years when they're new to put their stamp on the team. In the first 5 years MG has countered the Sundin fiasco and countless fuck-ups with the best run the Canucks have ever had in their history, and to within another game of the Stanley Cup. If you're asking for a new GM who "has NHL experience as a GM"- well again, these guys don't grow on trees. The talent was already stretched thin with teams like TB and Dallas having to go to uncharted territory hiring the people they did.

Francesco is a shrewd businessman- I don't think he would've extended MG without an extensive debate as to whether he's the right guy. I'm sure MG is on his last life, but you can't think he's going to expedite that by making terrible moves just for the sake of making moves.


Just for the record: I'm all for a rebuild if at all possible, but for those thinking the Canucks still have a shot- you can't just make a deal for the sake of making a deal. It has to make sense to both parties. They are having trouble scoring, but are "playing the right way". A desirable deal is for a top 6 forward, or a Manny Malholtra-type player to release Hank and Kes from defensive duties. With no worthwhile assets on the current roster to deal, are you willing to part with 1st/2nd rounders again? Bo and Hunter for at shot at the Cup? Would that be bold enough?