Jeremy Hronek

1 minute ago, Pears said:

You really don't think the captain of that team was aware of what was going on when it's been widely reported everyone in that locker room knew? Please. 

If there is evidence of this then I’m certainly open to hearing about it. I’m only going by the Jenner and Block findings that did a thorough investigation of the situation. Their report doesn’t mention anything about the players.  

1 minute ago, Toni Zamboni said:

if it aint broke, dont try to fix it imo.  

 

 This is also one thing that I’m willing to accept. Despite the inefficiencies of our 2nd line, we are still getting consistent secondary scoring.  The Lotto line, along with our bottom 6, and teeing off on opponents with no end in sight.   

16 minutes ago, Pears said:

At the expense of our morals and everything that goes against the culture that's been put in place over the last year? I want to win as much as the next fan but under no circumstances do we or should we bring this dickhead in. 

As much as I disliked Toews and Kane during the rivalry, I don’t think they knew what was happening to Kyle Beach at that time.  Jenner and Block (law firm that conducted the internal investigation) concluded that senior officials, the GM, and the head coach of Chicago all knew about the incident but did not mention anything about the players. 
 

Toews and Kane themselves were interviewed and expressed sadness and horror over the incident (and perhaps I’m wrong, but I believe they were being genuine).

2 hours ago, Pears said:

Washed Captain Coverup? The hardest of hard passes. 

Even if he was a free asset that would sign with us for $1 million?  

With restricted ice-time to keep him fresh, I think he could still be similar to the 'Toews of old' in defensive situations, PK, and in face-offs.  

That plethora of successful playoff experience would come in handy.  

3 minutes ago, -AJ- said:

I liked Toews back in the day, but it's hard to accept the captain of the team where Beach was abused and he stayed silent. People can change, I'll grant him that, but he's also not very good anymore.

I won't get into the Beach stuff as I believe it's still very unclear as to how much the players actually knew the full details.  I'm more upset with Quennville, Bowman, and the owners on that one, but again, I don' want to get into this. 

Toews isn't what he once was but I think he can still 'bring it' defensively and with face-offs.  If you keep him well rested and save him more for defensive deployments and the PK, I think he could really help.  Having won 3 cups, I think his experience and insight could be a valuable addition for guys like Pettersson, Hughes, Demko, Boeser, and Miller.  Toews has lost a step but I think his defensive game and intangibles (and potentially low signing costs without having to give up any assets).   

 Pettersson-Miller-Boeser

Mikheyev-Toews-Kuzmenko

Joshua-Bluegar-Garland

Hoglander-Suter-Lafferty

PDG

Hughes-Hronek

Soucy-Myers

Cole-Zadorov

Juulsen

Demko

DeSmith

8 minutes ago, Miss Korea said:

 

We barely beat them in 2010.  One loss, one win.  14 years later and their team is full of superstars now.  It won't be an easy matchup.

 

Just look at us.  We just sent 4 Americans to the all-star game.  Do you hear the bald eagles?

We also completely dominated them in 2014.  The U.S. were shut-out if I recall correctly and most of their shots were perimeter shots.  

Three of the best four players in today's game are still Canadian (McDavid, Makar, MacKinnon).  Marner, Stone, Crosby, and Marchand are all still up there.  And then there's that Conor Bedard kid.  

Only thing that team Canada is really missing is a superstar goalie (MAF is long in the tooth, while Carter Hart is 'whatever').  

1 minute ago, Miss Korea said:

 

LOL I just crunched the numbers and you still the same outcome but in reverse:

 

29 guys on North America and 15 guys on World

Lol, damn, yikes.    

23 minutes ago, Curmudgeon said:

 

You want a list? Seriously, if he were healthy enough he'd be playing in Chicago. He is done whether he cares to admit it or not. Besides I doubt whether Vancouver or Toews is even remotely interested in each other.

Sorry I should clarify.  I meant, "who better" in terms of cap accommodation, attainable acquisition (signing), and filling a need.  Obviously, guys like Lindholm and Eriksson EK would be way better but we'd have to give up significant assets.  With Toews, maybe you could turn it into a mini-Mats Sundin situation, essentially signing him for the 2nd half / playoffs.

Toews, Canadian, had his biggest non-Stanley Cup moment in Vancouver with the 2010 Olympics.  There is a loose connection to the city of Vancouver here for Toews.  Yes, the Canucks and Hawks were fierce rivals from 2009-2011 but there was also a mutual respect there.   

I have no idea what the league rules are, and if signing Toews would even be an option, but if it is, I'd definitely have a talk with the guy if I'm Jim Rutherford/Patrik Alvin.

So let me get this straight:

The Canucks need a two-way defensive minded 2nd line center that can help on the PK, potentially help a 2nd line chip in some offense, and bring some championship pedigree to the lockerroom……….all for a very cheap cost?

Who better than Jonathan Toews?

Would it still be possible to sign him?  Get him training and then officially sign him at the trade deadline for league minimum to $1M.  
 

I know Toews has said that he wants to take this year off to focus on his health, but if he ever had one last shot of helping a team go on a cup run, this could be his chance right here.

1 hour ago, Miss Korea said:

 This is 2024 not 1974

 

12 of the initial 32 all-stars were Canadian.  3 out of the 12 voted all-stars were Canadian.  So that's 15 guys on team Canada and 29 guys on team world.

Fair enough.

Do Team North America against Team World again then 

1 hour ago, King Heffy said:

Calgary was not good that great, electing to ice a top line without anyone who belonged in a men's league.  Beating that joke of a team wasn't impressive.  Bottom line is that the only actual NHLer on Edmonton's blueline is Ekholm.  That's not a recipe for success, especially when their captain is a locker room cancer.

Didn’t Calgary have Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk as their first line that year?  
 

As far as Edmonton goes, while Nurse is significantly overpaid, he’s still a bonafide 2nd pairing calibre defenseman that wouldn’t look completely out of place on a top pairing.  
 

McDavid is a lockerroom cancer?  
 

Sorry man but I think we might have to agree to disagree with the above. I’m not seeing it.  

2 hours ago, BigTramFan said:

There's no replacing Hughes. The team will just need to adapt if he is injured in the playoffs.

 

It will take more than Myers + late 1st + prospect to get Chychrun out of OTT. They will want at least what they paid, which is a 12OA pick + two 2nd round picks.

There is no replacing Hughes but having that #3 calibre dman to step up and play with Hronek (Chychrun or not) would help mitigate that to a very large degree.  This would not be the case if Soucy, Zadorov, Myers, or Cole were put in that spot.

I wanted Ovie to break the record but the dude is washed in my opinion.  Having said that, my hats off to Ovie.  Him and Crosby were the two generational talents that defined this past era.  McDavid has now taken that mantle obviously but Ovie, along with Crosby, were clearly the alphas of their time.  

On 1/13/2024 at 1:59 AM, PhillipBlunt said:

Quebec needs to step it up. 

Or, we could turn Quinn Hughes into a Canadian and make him a goalie?

2 hours ago, King Heffy said:

Not unless McDiver and Crysaitl decide they actually care about winning, start backchecking, and cut the diving and tantrums out.  Neither of those gutless cowards are winners.  The Oilers simply are not a good hockey team and will get exposed in the playoffs, same as they do every year.

I can’t remember how they did last year but they made the 3rd round in 2022 and absolutely dismantled Calgary. Although they got swept by Colorado, I remember the Avs talking about how difficult each game was.  
 

I don’t like the Oilers much either but that offense is absolutely scary when clicking.  Calgary’s defense was razor sharp in 2022 and they got absolutely dismantled.  The Oilers broke Markstrom.

7 minutes ago, BigTramFan said:

Cheers.

 

I don't want to see Friedman, Hirose, McWard playing for us in the playoffs. Adding Lauzon gives us a full complement of 8 Dmen who are capable of playing in the top 6 on an NHL team. This will help to cover injuries in the playoffs.

 

I'd love to add a top 3 guy. The difficulty with adding a top 3 Dman is that it needs to fit our cap now AND be cost effective for next season. We'd need to move out Myers for cap space, plus it's going to cost us Lekkerimaki or Willander + a 1st round pick in a trade. Also it is probably unaffordable next season unless their cap hit is less than $4m. I think Myers is playing well this season, an upgrade is not going to be worth the cost, and he either walks this off season or we resign him for $3m x 2 years to continue playing a similar role.  

I hear ya.

As well as Myers is playing this season, you wouldn’t be able to play him on a top pairing (to form an elite top pairing) just in case we lost Hughes for the entire season (or extended period of time). 
 

Could you play Soucy, Cole, Zadorov, or Myers with one of Hughes or Hronek and get away with it?  Absolutely.  Would you be able to “tilt the ice” in the same manner that Hughes/Hronek are currently doing?  No, you would not. 
 

Hence, for me, I would absolutely be willing to package Myers, 2024 1st, + a top prospect for someone like Chychrun to help insure us just in case we lost someone like Hughes to injury.

The Canucks are insured for the most part up front.  Mikheyev or Kuzmenko could replace Boeser on the top line in case someone from the lotto line got hurt.  Suter could replace someone on the Garland line if someone there got hurt.  Miller and Pettersson could be split up if we wanted to go in that direction.
 

Hoglander + Raty and Podkolzin can play anywhere on lines 2-4 in case of injury.

DeSmith would fill in admirably for Demko incase of injury while Silovs could fill in admirably as a back-up.

What’s my main point here?  My argument is that the Canucks are insured against injury in every single area for the most part *except* if one of Hughes or Hronek went down with injury.

1 hour ago, BigTramFan said:

Trade 1

To CHI: Kuzmenko + Mikheyev

To VAN: Kurashev + Raddysh + 2024 2nd (VAN)

 

Chicago does this to give their top 6 some real talent next season

Kurashev is a 24 year old versatile player putting up 0.66 pts/gm this season and has a bright future.

Raddysh is a big framed 25 year old RW who scored 20 goals last season. Struggling this year but has very good potential.

 

Trade 2

To ANA: Kurashev + Raddysh

To VAN: Vatrano

 

Anaheim gets 2 younger players for their rebuild, Vatrano is a dynamic proven playoff performer, scored 22 goals last season, has already scored 20 so far this season. Signed for $3.65m through next season. The kind of cost effective player we need in our top 6 until Lekkerimaki is ready.

 

Trade 3

To ARI: Raty + 2025 1st round pick (VAN)

To VAN: Crouse

 

Crouse is the power forward we need in our top 6 for the playoffs and for 3 more seasons at $4.3m.

 

Trade 4

To MTL: 2024 2nd round pick (VAN)

To VAN: Monahan

 

Monahan fills a need at 2C for the playoffs. Maybe resigned next season in VAN or perhaps just a rental.

 

Trade 5

To NSH: Woo + 2024 3rd round pick (VAN)

To VAN: Lauzon

 

Great top 6 Dman with grit and fight. VAN needs to have 8 Dmen they can trust for the playoffs. Lauzon is signed for cheap next season too, which will be critical.

 

Lineup til the playoffs:

 

Lotto Line

Crouse Monahan Vatrano

Joshua Blueger Garland

Hoglander Suter Lafferty

 

Hughes Hronek

Soucy Myers

Zadorov Cole

Lauzon Juulsen

 

Demko, DeSmith

Very creative proposal.

That 2nd line would definitely turn some heads if brought together, and would definitely be a second line that could strike fear into an opposing team.

It’s a very solid end result but I can’t see this actually playing out in real life.  On NHL 24 however, I could definitely see your Canucks sipping from Lord Stanley.
 

As far as that defense goes, Lauzon would be nice but the Canucks already have a lot of terrific depth for their #4-#7 defensemen in the form of Cole, Soucy, Myers, Zadorov, Juulsen, Friedman, Hirose, etc,

The Canucks biggest need on defense is a #3 guy that could help ensure that our top pairing stay elite even if one of Hughes or Hronek went down with injury.  
 

(for example - Soucy-Hronek as a top pairing would be doable but it probably wouldn’t be elite, whereas Chychrun-Hronek would still be elite even if we lost Hughes for the entire season).

For the All-Star Game, do Team Canada vs Team World.  
 

So on one side for example, you’d have McDavid, Crosby, Mackinnon, Makar, Marchand, etc,  
 

On the other team, you’d have Matthews, Quinn and Jack Hughes, Draisaitl, Panarin, Barkov, etc

56 minutes ago, King Heffy said:

You wouldn't like to play against an AHL blueline and goalie?

It’s that kind of thinking that got Calgary into trouble back in 2022.  Oilers will always be tough to play against as long as they have McDrai.

The only possible “logic” (and I use that term very loosely) in having Quinn as a center (lol) is that you, in “theory” (lol) still have great depth down the middle with Petey and Horvat, but also move Miller back to the wing on one of those lines.  Furthermore, you could then utilize OEL more by making him the primary PMD on the back end (giving him QH’s old #1 spot basically).   
 

But yeah, this was a bad idea.  Corky Thatcher from Life Goes On must have been working for the Canucks last year.

10 minutes ago, Dr. Crossbar said:

 

This is where people need to give JR, Allvin, and co. credit for what they've done in such a short amount of time. They did nothing other than assess and evaluate in their first year. They went all in on this core and look what they've done to build around the star pieces. 

 

We're seriously fortunate to have these guys come in and do exactly what we all knew needed to be done. 

 

This feels special.

It’s not unreasonable at all for one to believe that we have the best President, GM, and coaching staff in the entire league.  Alvin is on the same level as Joe Sakic as far as I’m concerned.

3-2 Columbus

Marchenko = GWG

I don’t mind the occasional quip from guys like Linden, Boudreau, Benning, Gillis, etc, but I take it with a grain of poo because none of these guys are relevant to the Canucks in 2024.

Rutherford, Alvin, Tocchet, Gonchar, Foote, and the twins have taken our core players, surrounded them with complementary pieces, and have turned this team into a championship caliber team.  While I personally don’t think we are at our 2011 level, I do think we are similar to our 2012 team……..which is still pretty damn good.  Unlike 2012 however, my hope is that we have a happier ending.

46 minutes ago, gwarrior said:

And I'm sure the rest of the league is looking at us and going "how the fuck are they doing this well?".

The Canucks’ core have always had a lot of the right pieces in the right places however.

-Franchise Center:  Pettersson

-Franchise Defenseman: Hughes

-Franchise Goalie: Demko

-1st line calibre winger: Boeser/Kuzmenko (switched spots basically)

-2nd line match-ups center: Miller/Horvat

I would argue that since the bubble, more teams should have been saying, “How the fuck are they doing so poorly?” (to which, the answers are any combination of poor management, misguided coaching, various core players battling through injuries/personal obstacles, etc). 
 

Long story short - We’ve had the right pieces in the right places for many years now and should and would have taken off after the surprise bubble playoffs if our current coaching and management had been here.

4 minutes ago, BCNeil said:

 

Now Oilers 1 point back.  Over the last 8 games, both the Oilers and Kraken have gained 12 points on the Kings.  

Would be nice if either of Seattle and Edmonton draw Colorado and Vegas in the first round.