Canucks News N Notes 23-24

[Blob Mckenzie]

Why do we even need a whipping boy? Just make the playoffs.

Agreed. Onward and upward. This team has been so awful for so long and hopefully those days are in the rear view mirror. It’s been a team full of whipping boys. Let’s hope management is finally getting it right. Add another competent RH and some toughness and this team can be right in the mix.

[Madcombinepilot]

I would imagine that there is another pruning of the roster tomorrow after practice.

Heh.
Called it.

… but even I am surprised how much they cut!

[Carl Yagro]

… but even I am surprised how much they cut!

The Circumstance required precision cuts.

Speaking of prunes, the Raisin is eerily quiet.

[Megaterio Llamas]

A roundtable of knuckleheads discussing our 'Nuckleheads.

[Cousin Strawberry]

Greg Wyshynski from ESPN predicts Van to snag a WC spot:

My pick to snag the No. 4 spot in the Pacific are the Vancouver Canucks. Coach Rick Tocchet gets a full training camp to put his stamp on the team. The Canucks improved their defensive corps by adding Filip Hronek, Carson Soucy and Ian Cole in the offseason. Quinn Hughes, the team's new captain, was nearly a point-per-game player on D last season. Thatcher Demko is healthy, and the addition of Penguins backup Casey DeSmith moves the Canucks into the top 10 in goalie tandems.

But my prediction of a Canucks playoff berth hinges on Elias Pettersson being just as good -- and maybe even better -- than he was last season. Petey had 102 points, including 39 goals, in 80 games. That included a league-high five short-handed goals from a player that's fast becoming one of the best two-way talents on the planet. His contract status and future with the franchise has become a cottage industry in the Vancouver media. That's to be expected: He's a Hart Trophy-caliber talent, and one who I think is going to drag this team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

It's going to take a lot of things going right, including solid performances from their depth forwards and a penalty kill that isn't an abject embarrassment (32nd overall), but I think Vancouver is going to be just a little bit better than Seattle and Calgary and will get back into the postseason

[Megaterio Llamas]

Greg Wyshynski from ESPN predicts Van to snag a WC spot:

My pick to snag the No. 4 spot in the Pacific are the Vancouver Canucks. Coach Rick Tocchet gets a full training camp to put his stamp on the team. The Canucks improved their defensive corps by adding Filip Hronek, Carson Soucy and Ian Cole in the offseason. Quinn Hughes, the team's new captain, was nearly a point-per-game player on D last season. Thatcher Demko is healthy, and the addition of Penguins backup Casey DeSmith moves the Canucks into the top 10 in goalie tandems.

But my prediction of a Canucks playoff berth hinges on Elias Pettersson being just as good -- and maybe even better -- than he was last season. Petey had 102 points, including 39 goals, in 80 games. That included a league-high five short-handed goals from a player that's fast becoming one of the best two-way talents on the planet. His contract status and future with the franchise has become a cottage industry in the Vancouver media. That's to be expected: He's a Hart Trophy-caliber talent, and one who I think is going to drag this team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

It's going to take a lot of things going right, including solid performances from their depth forwards and a penalty kill that isn't an abject embarrassment (32nd overall), but I think Vancouver is going to be just a little bit better than Seattle and Calgary and will get back into the postseason

Ha! Frank Seravalli was talking up the Canucks on his Western Canada tour last week as well. We seem to be the flavor of the month

interviews:

Ian Cole 2:00 (interesting)
Thatcher Demko 14:30
Rick Tocchet 21:05

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/v ... 0629677198

[Blob Mckenzie]

I hope Allvin has something in the hopper. To let JBD and Sokolov go when they are better than a couple of your players currently on the roster is perplexing. Maybe a trade is in the works or they know of some other players who will be waived

[JelloPuddingPop]

I hope Allvin has something in the hopper. To let JBD and Sokolov go when they are better than a couple of your players currently on the roster is perplexing. Maybe a trade is in the works or they know of some other players who will be waived

Or maybe replacement level waiver-wire caliber players just aren't worth the paperwork?

[Tciso]

I hope Allvin has something in the hopper. To let JBD and Sokolov go when they are better than a couple of your players currently on the roster is perplexing. Maybe a trade is in the works or they know of some other players who will be waived

Or maybe replacement level waiver-wire caliber players just aren't worth the paperwork?

He can't be any worse than our current crop of #7-13 RHD that we have. Outside of our own McWardus, we don't have much on the right side at the moment. I mean, he's gotta be as good as Juulson, and 3 years younger.

[Blob Mckenzie]

Sometimes you walk into a good player like a Marschessault or St. louis, but sure maybe Juulsen and Droes eventually figure it out.

[JelloPuddingPop]

He can't be any worse than our current crop of #7-13 RHD that we have. Outside of our own McWardus, we don't have much on the right side at the moment. I mean, he's gotta be as good as Juulson, and 3 years younger.

Yep, but as they went unclaimed by 31 other GMs, it tells you something. And that something is they aren't NHL players. We already have a bunch of not NHL players like Juulsen. Why add more?

[JelloPuddingPop]

Sometimes you walk into a hood player like a Marschessault or St. louis, but sure maybe Juulsen and Droes eventually figure it out.

What the what?

[Carl Yagro]

Sounds like Stanley Steamer has stepped down from day-to-day operations. Will remain with the club in some capacity.

The only GM in franchise history to never lose a game.

[Blob Mckenzie]

Sounds like Stanley Steamer has stepped down from day-to-day operations. Will remain with the club in some capacity.

The only GM in franchise history to never lose a game.

He lost his wife though.

He along with Tochett and Foote could punch the piss out of anyone on the roster.

[Megaterio Llamas]

Steamer has shocked the hockey world by announcing that he is transitioning.

Best of luck to them: