Random Hockey Shit

[Carl Yagro]

We got Debrusk and Kane... not exactly Canadian game-changers.

Myers is listed as an American.

Soon, we will be left with only one not real (French) Canadian.

Also, Americans are more than happy to play in Vancity... provided you aren't a mushyiocrity or a fuckin' lottery team year after year after year.

[donlever]

Or zero.

Yeah...I'm not buying into the don't draft/sign American narrative.

[2Fingers]

Or zero.

Yeah...I'm not buying into the don't draft/sign American narrative.

Same here, but the team has too many Europeans and not to sound like Cherry they don't always have the grit to win, of course there are exception just Canucks never seems to get those types. If Gavin McKenna is there and not selected then the team is dead for me, will I come probably but it won't be easy. Sure if they pick Verhoeff I guess that is a good consolation prize.

[Meds]

Never been a St. Louis fan.....until I saw that.

[Aaronp18]

The evidence is there and the narrative is pretty clear!

When was a kid playing street hockey with the crew we payed for the MF Stanley Cup cause that’s what my NHL team was trying to win. The ultimate prize!

I’d say most Americans going up playing hockey are likely in the same boat.

The number of European hockey players that come over and have successful NHL careers is relatively slim compared to those that stay home. There’s pro leagues all over the place, so I’d wager a guess and say kids that grow up in any specific European town generally are playing as kids for their local championship, or perhaps making a World Championship team and playing for gold.

It’s not an unfair assessment to think that kids that travel half way across the world do so thinking they can make the most out of their hockey career in the NHL should they make it. It’s the highest paying league in the world (sure some KHL teams will claim to pay more but will they actually pay you?).

So while I’m certain kids growing up in Canada and the US want to make their millions as well, their first love of the game is far more likely to be winning the Stanley Cup with their favorite childhood team! I know I did a few times in my culdesac.

This is why it’s so frustrating to see the Canucks seemingly avoid Western Canadian kids!

You can’t tell me that you’ll get the most out of guys who are playing for or damn best close to their favorite team when they were growing up.

I’m mean ffs the Canucks should at least try this strategy no? Nothing else has worked thus far.

Jettison these guys and bring in a proper strategic plan starting now!

[donlever]

Good post again.

We've talked before about how Quinn spoke towards BC Boys being part of the acquisition process in his team building upon arrival.

Gus and Cliffy for instance.

[Aaronp18]

Yup.

I mean it’s no surprise that guys will play better with friends, family, significant others in attendance.

Hell we talk about it with guys on my beer league team and how well they play with their GFs or wives/kids in attendance for games. This goes for me as well! Love it when the fam can come out.

And I watch my kids when their friends get to come out and watch games. That little extra motivation helps!

[BoS]

^ 100%

Just make sure the g/f doesn’t show up the same night as the wife.

[Aaronp18]

^ 100%

Just make sure the g/f doesn’t show up the same night as the wife.

Haha

Yeah just ask Ullmark how well that went.

[donlever]

Allegedly.

[Cousin Strawberry]

Aaron always stepping in it and wondering why he's getting served!

[Lancer]

Ask Bitch Marner how fun it was to play in his hometown.

That said, management should be prioritizing Western Canadian players. It’s no guaranteed thing, but you’re more likely to get players who will play for more than a contract or a personal legacy, unlike those from other countries who get decidedly mercenary in their attitude towards playing outside their home country.

[Per]

The evidence is there and the narrative is pretty clear!

When was a kid playing street hockey with the crew we payed for the MF Stanley Cup cause that’s what my NHL team was trying to win. The ultimate prize!

I’d say most Americans going up playing hockey are likely in the same boat.

The number of European hockey players that come over and have successful NHL careers is relatively slim compared to those that stay home. There’s pro leagues all over the place, so I’d wager a guess and say kids that grow up in any specific European town generally are playing as kids for their local championship, or perhaps making a World Championship team and playing for gold.

It’s not an unfair assessment to think that kids that travel half way across the world do so thinking they can make the most out of their hockey career in the NHL should they make it. It’s the highest paying league in the world (sure some KHL teams will claim to pay more but will they actually pay you?).

So while I’m certain kids growing up in Canada and the US want to make their millions as well, their first love of the game is far more likely to be winning the Stanley Cup with their favorite childhood team! I know I did a few times in my culdesac.

This is why it’s so frustrating to see the Canucks seemingly avoid Western Canadian kids!

You can’t tell me that you’ll get the most out of guys who are playing for or damn best close to their favorite team when they were growing up.

I’m mean ffs the Canucks should at least try this strategy no? Nothing else has worked thus far.

Jettison these guys and bring in a proper strategic plan starting now!

This is a huge problem with the draft system. I like a system like in Europe where each team has its own juniors that are raised within the team and then you can develop your own talent and hold on to it.

If I look at my other team, Björklöven, we have five players on the roster that had Björklöven as their first youth team, and one more that is at least from the same county. This helps build a local identity.

It used to be even more. Back when I started watching hockey in the 1970's, 80-90% of the players were local.
Players who switched teams more than once were frowned upon, considered hired guns with no heart.

Now, I know that North Americans tend to say that the draft is great because it helps achieve parity blah blah blah.
I disagree. Players are forced to play on teams they didn't choose. Teams are robbed of their local talent.
And the perverse system of rewarding failure leads to teams tanking on purpose.

Sure, there are only a handful of teams that compete for the title in La Liga, but half the players in Barcelona are born and raised locals from Catalunya. I think that's beautiful.

Let kids play for the team they grew up loving. It brings more heart to the game.

At least you could allow teams to draft kids from their own province/state one year before they are available for anyone else. So if there is a 17 yo kid from BC, you have dibs. If you don't pick him at 17, he's available for everyone else at age 18.

[dbr]

Hear hear, Per. It'll never happen here of course. But clubs like Athletic Bilbao (or to a lesser extent, Barcelona) are how sports should be, IMO.

And for the local fan base, even if they had down years or were never real contenders, how easy would it be to go out and support a team built around the best talent produced in BC?

[Aaronp18]

Would sure change the landscape of professional hockey in North America that’s for sure.

But not really logistically possible here. Some of our biggest markets produce pretty minimal hockey players in comparison.