Which Vancouver Canucks player in their prime are you taking?

[Canuck You]

6 minutes ago, Canuck You said:

I hope you get sick for one day and you have already used up your sick days and you don't get paid for that day.

That was kinda mean..I hope you make a quick recovery. @Elias Pettersson

Edited July 9 by Canuck You

[stawns]

35 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Most of his prime years were not with Vancouver. 

 

It dorsnt really ask that clearly.  However, he did have a 55 goal season in Van

[Pianoman]

What about Mats Sundin

[Elias Pettersson]

36 minutes ago, stawns said:

 

It dorsnt really ask that clearly.  However, he did have a 55 goal season in Van

 

Well in that case Mark Messier would need to be included as well, even Mats Sundin.  If that is the case, Messier by far is the best player ever in his prime and Sundin is probably second.

 

He did have a 55-goal season in Vancouver, which is why I said "most" of his prime years.  Bure had 3 50 goal seasons with us, so why would you pick Mogilny over Bure?

[stawns]

1 hour ago, Elias Pettersson said:

 

Well in that case Mark Messier would need to be included as well, even Mats Sundin.  If that is the case, Messier by far is the best player ever in his prime and Sundin is probably second.

 

He did have a 55-goal season in Vancouver, which is why I said "most" of his prime years.  Bure had 3 50 goal seasons with us, so why would you pick Mogilny over Bure?

 

I liked mogilys overall game and, though he might not have been as flashy as Bure, I think he made his teammates better than Bure did.

 

I loved Bure, but mogilny was sneaky dominant.  

[GrammaInTheTub]

Bure

Sedins

Hughes

Lou.. *ahem* Lu

Let us not forget Canucks legend and Mr. 8PointGame, Sam Gagner (if he could somehow bottle the magic from his 8pt game on Feb 2, 2012) 

 

Edited July 10 by GrammaInTheTub

[canuck73]

I would have voted for Bure except that if Hughes was dominating the puck possession game, Bure would never get the puck to work his magic.

[The Duke]

Hughes.  It’s gotta be Hughes.

 

Also, hot take, the Twins and Naslund - in their primes - were more effective than Bure.

[Odd.]

Sedins right now.

 

Crazy and scary at the same time that Hughes is still 24 years old and has hardly entered his prime. 
 

Quinn could go down as the greatest Canuck of all time. 

Edited July 10 by Odd.

[Bell]

On 7/9/2024 at 10:25 AM, Darius said:

When I watch videos from Bure's first few years, including games from the 94 run, its amazing how much interference, clutch and grab there was back then...well compared to today.  Watching back then it seemed normal. You cant go anywhere near McDavid nowadays like they used to go at star players.  Then there were the goons, guys like Churla, Todd Simpson (remember that game where the punk was going out of his way to basically injure bure)...the list goes on and on.   Today's stars have it easy compared to those guys.    Agree about Selanne too..that guy was amazing.  Had it all, speed, shot, stick handling...would be amazing to see him at his prime today...76 goals as a rookie...

I am sure Churla was a massive fan of Pavel

 

[Blue]

Brandon Ried 

[SilentSam]

Five years already ,

          Consistency Matters,.    and foot isn’t off the accelerator ..

 

 

[Barnstorm]

Have to go with Pavel Bure. He brought so much anticipation and excitement to every game for the fans.  You never knew what he would pull off next. So much skill and he got nasty when provoked. I was a lot younger and less cynical back then so Pavel brought real hope.

 

 

 

[Kevin Biestra]

On 7/9/2024 at 3:16 PM, IBatch said:

Pronger with EDM was unbelievable.   That team didn't have a lot other than him.   Ryan Smith was good but not that good, and Roloson was just a regular number one really.    ANA later in his career.   That team would have made Boston cry.    Leetch and Al Mac.    Chelios basically ruining our 94 follow up all on his own.   Won't even get into Borque and Coffey.   And deliberately not mentioning Lidstrom.   
 

As for the Sedins they worked out great but took so much time to even consider them on par with guys like Courtnall, Ronning and Adam's in the regular season, they did that and more,  the post season well that's actually a debate.     Had a few good post seasons that matched their regular seasons.    But nothing that amazing.     They were a much better line when Burrows clicked with them. 

 

I would say the Sedins never caught Ronning in the playoffs.  I still think Ronning's first series against LA is the best series any Canuck skater has ever had including Kesler against Nashville.  The Sedins passed his career playoff numbers but not by much, and had way more seasons and kicks at the can.  Ronning six seasons as a Canuck, the Sedins 17 each.

[Kevin Biestra]

On 7/9/2024 at 12:04 PM, IBatch said:

Yes me too.   Let's see him Orr his way first.    By game 3-4 versus NSH, he stopped skating with the puck out of self preservation.    Sure made great quick passes, he's not Bobby Orr.   Orr would kill an entire penalty with the puck on his stick.   QHs doesn't do first unit PK.  

 

Unique.   And I love him as a Captain.    Well spoken.   And didn't sneak into a Norris either, he dominated his way into it.    So get where you're going with this.   He's only 24-25.    EK at the same age won two (and without Cooke, a third certainly).   I've seen this story before.   Let's see how the next couple seasons go before we get too far ahead of ourselves.   Half the season he was dominant.   The other half was very good.    Playoffs just good. 

 

Hughes is great but he is only now just maybe setting himself a hair above peak Phil Housley.  He hasn't come close yet to MacInnis or Leetch or Chelios, never mind Potvin or Coffey or Bourque.  And you have to get past them before anyone starts thinking the word Orr.

[Kevin Biestra]

Talent wise this one is Bure...and Quinn Hughes has to put up about five more straight years like last year and even improve a bit before there's any competition there.

 

Now as to the big picture and winning in the playoffs as a team...I think there are four names...Trevor Linden, Stan Smyl, Kirk McLean and Richard Brodeur.  Luongo was the Hall of Famer but Captain Kirk and The King had ice water in their veins.  McLean was the better playoff goalie than Luongo and Brodeur got to the championships wherever he went...Stanley Cup Final, AVCO Cup in the WHA, another AVCO Cup final in the WHA, and the Memorial Cup as the first ever tournament MVP.  In his major pro career (NHL and WHA) Brodeur got his team to the Cup final three times and won it once.  That is on par with pretty much any non-dynasty Hall of Fame goalie.  He is not so famous...but he backstops his teams to Cup finals.

 

And as for building a team around someone who can score but more importantly wills everyone around them to be more than they otherwise would be...it's Linden and Smyl and nobody else.

 

Edited July 11 by Kevin Biestra

[IBatch]

9 hours ago, Kevin Biestra said:

 

Hughes is great but he is only now just maybe setting himself a hair above peak Phil Housley.  He hasn't come close yet to MacInnis or Leetch or Chelios, never mind Potvin or Coffey or Bourque.  And you have to get past them before anyone starts thinking the word Orr.

Wasn't a fan of how overrrated Lidstrom became, but add him  to the list too, and Pronger.    Blake had a couple monster playoffs too,  immediately became the best hitter in the league once Steven's retired, and wasn't much behind him anyways, the way he stood guys up on the blue line a young kid was something.   Used to say he looks like a potatoe farmer out there, one that will knock you on your ass.   Steven's never won a Norris, yet was listed as one of the 100 greatest all-time go figure.    QHs is unique like Bure in his own way that he controls the pace of the game from the defensive zone without having to use any blunt force.   Borque and Potvin could pile on the goals and assists, and apply blunt force trauma (one thing that wasn't part of Lidstrom's game).    Robinson is another guy that deserves props.   Coffey but that goes without saying.   Could fight, hit, get dirty and destroy teams  by scoring goals on the rush and setting others up at an entirely different level only Orr could duplicate.   No shock here that Coffey arrives and the EDM team goes into high gear, and Bouchard finds a new level (he's been working with him now for a couple years, taken a personal interest in helping him...Bouchard did outplay QHs that's undeniable in our series). 

 

Shore and Harvey probably too.    If QHs ends up having an equal or better career then say Duncan Keith, another small PMD,  sure wouldn't be sad about that.     EK would have had 3 and instead had 2 by 24.    It's awesome that we have our Norris D now.   There are a lot of guys who've come before him, i'd rather have come playoff time, and that's no slight to him.   Bure isn't Gretzky or Mario either.   Or Jagr.    Not many forwards better at scoring goals then him though.   Like a couple that's it.  Only Mario, Bossy and Gretzky scored more goals in as many games as Bure did.   Bure also happens to be, the only Canuck listed as one of the leagues 100 greatest players.    He was special.   It's possible QHs will bump someone out with a re-do.    It sure won't be easy.   Counted 21.  Most of them icons (and one played forward and defense) of the guys listed.   Duncan Keith is probably the lowest bar of the guys ranked, or Serge Savard.  8 cups is hard to argue against though, in any era. 

Edited July 11 by IBatch

[IBatch]

8 hours ago, Kevin Biestra said:

Talent wise this one is Bure...and Quinn Hughes has to put up about five more straight years like last year and even improve a bit before there's any competition there.

 

Now as to the big picture and winning in the playoffs as a team...I think there are four names...Trevor Linden, Stan Smyl, Kirk McLean and Richard Brodeur.  Luongo was the Hall of Famer but Captain Kirk and The King had ice water in their veins.  McLean was the better playoff goalie than Luongo and Brodeur got to the championships wherever he went...Stanley Cup Final, AVCO Cup in the WHA, another AVCO Cup final in the WHA, and the Memorial Cup as the first ever tournament MVP.  In his major pro career (NHL and WHA) Brodeur got his team to the Cup final three times and won it once.  That is on par with pretty much any non-dynasty Hall of Fame goalie.  He is not so famous...but he backstops his teams to Cup finals.

 

And as for building a team around someone who can score but more importantly wills everyone around them to be more than they otherwise would be...it's Linden and Smyl and nobody else.

 

Yes big picture have to go with only one, it's Linden.   Mentioned this above.   For a decade plus, having Linden meant we'd see a second round and the includes late in his career, lost a step, the Turco series was his last epic outing.   Nobody seemed able to score on him (or Luongo, the best series by far he's ever had).   Linden applied his will and we won.   Playing with plugs low down the lineup.   94 was also a great showing, and he was 24 at the time.   As was his rookie season against Vernon.   He started at 18 playing against what THN ranked as the 14th greatest team all-time.     That CAL team was absolutely loaded with future and fringe HHOFers, and nobody gave them the hardships we did.    That was actually the last chance the remnants of the 82 team had,  one of the best series in club history we've lost.  94 is the only other one (NYR) that competes with it really.  Linden had some epic series against some epic teams.   In the mid 90's, there was a debate whether Linden should have gone first and Modano second.    Because of his playoff and all around game. 

Edited July 11 by IBatch

[IBatch]

10 hours ago, Kevin Biestra said:

 

Hughes is great but he is only now just maybe setting himself a hair above peak Phil Housley.  He hasn't come close yet to MacInnis or Leetch or Chelios, never mind Potvin or Coffey or Bourque.  And you have to get past them before anyone starts thinking the word Orr.

As an aside, when we drafted QHs, felt absolute best case, we drafted Phil Housley 2.0.    In the bubble,  Babych brought up how the Canucks decided to play Housley, who had just had his career  year and was considered at the time, a lethal deadly star.    "Hudson Bay Rules", they deliberately dished the puck in his corner and just started pounding away.    Got so bad the WNP press put a front page bulletin out to locate Housley.   Because he disappeared.    It wasn't meant as a slight (Babych), but as a warning to the fans to temper expectations with our rookie phenom.  QHs and the team did fine until Vegas.    Then, well,  Vegas did exactly the same thing to both QHs and Stetcher.    NSH started with this tactic.    Actually think they played QHs and us harder physically then EDM.    Zadarov had to start taking shifts with QHs at times.   Hronek was neutered too.     Food for thought.    Desharnais and Soucy might be used to pair with these guys going forward.   QHs definitely had a better defensive game than Housely last year.   
 

Out of all the little D's NHL has, all-time, it's very possible we are seeing what the best of that best looks like.     Getting the puck out of the zone, it just happens either by skating or using his teammates.     Keeping the blue line, it's unique and fun to watch.    Do think, and try not to armchair coach,  that the team would be better served in the post season anyways, splitting Hronek and QHs up, and considering just for familiarity, doing it in the regular season too.    QHs output will be affected, but it likely would be better for the team.   Scott Steven's said this year, that he gave up as did his teammates (other then Neidermayer who was free to roam/rove) a lot of personal stats to commit to winning a cup(s).   That wasn't dead puck era for him.   He was told and did, become the defensive conscious of that team.   

 

Made it a lot harder for him to win a Norris.   Went from 78 points and an eye popping plus 53 in 93-94,  for years regularly scoring 60-78 points ... to mid 20's.   Only scored over 30 one more time.   That's commitment.    Lidstrom got a few cast off votes that year,  Steven's lost to Borque.   Arguably the most complete D all-time.  

 

I'd like to see QHs win more trophies,  but even be happier to see us have success in the playoffs and his body hold up long term.   EKs body wore down (some intent to injure) by his mid 20's.    What could have been something special, never happened as a result.    Don't want that for QHs.    Want him to lead us to a cup.      Best case (Housley) appears to be a low bar for QHs.    What a season he just had.    He's only 24, without many playoff miles on him.    Best years for blue chip D's, usually in that 28-34 range I'd be doing everything I could as a GM and coach to keep him safe. 

 

Edited July 11 by IBatch

[NewbieCanuckFan]

5 hours ago, IBatch said:

Yes big picture have to go with only one, it's Linden.   Mentioned this above.   For a decade plus, having Linden meant we'd see a second round and the includes late in his career, lost a step, the Turco series was his last epic outing.   Nobody seemed able to score on him (or Luongo, the best series by far he's ever had).   Linden applied his will and we won.   Playing with plugs low down the lineup.   94 was also a great showing, and he was 24 at the time.   As was his rookie season against Vernon.   He started at 18 playing against what THN ranked as the 14th greatest team all-time.     That CAL team was absolutely loaded with future and fringe HHOFers, and nobody gave them the hardships we did.    That was actually the last chance the remnants of the 82 team had,  one of the best series in club history we've lost.  94 is the only other one (NYR) that competes with it really.  Linden had some epic series against some epic teams.   In the mid 90's, there was a debate whether Linden should have gone first and Modano second.    Because of his playoff and all around game. 

Playing for a good chunk of his career as a center (where he was a natural winger in his pre-draft days) was also amazing.  Sure JT Miller more than matched that feat but he only shifting to that position full-time after a number of years as a legit NHLer.

Edited July 11 by NewbieCanuckFan

[Kevin Biestra]

8 hours ago, IBatch said:

Yes big picture have to go with only one, it's Linden.   Mentioned this above.   For a decade plus, having Linden meant we'd see a second round and the includes late in his career, lost a step, the Turco series was his last epic outing.   Nobody seemed able to score on him (or Luongo, the best series by far he's ever had).   Linden applied his will and we won.   Playing with plugs low down the lineup.   94 was also a great showing, and he was 24 at the time.   As was his rookie season against Vernon.   He started at 18 playing against what THN ranked as the 14th greatest team all-time.     That CAL team was absolutely loaded with future and fringe HHOFers, and nobody gave them the hardships we did.    That was actually the last chance the remnants of the 82 team had,  one of the best series in club history we've lost.  94 is the only other one (NYR) that competes with it really.  Linden had some epic series against some epic teams.   In the mid 90's, there was a debate whether Linden should have gone first and Modano second.    Because of his playoff and all around game. 

 

Yeah 1989 vs CGY and 1994 vs NYR are up there all time with my favorite series that we have won.  1989 is kind of a forgotten one now but anyone who was watching that one remembers it.  Crazy how much turnover there was between 1989 and 1994 for the Canucks...maybe nobody left on the team after a few years except Linden, McLean and Adams.

 

Glad Smyl and Snepsts etc. got to go out with one last big hurrah though...kind of like King Richard the year before in Hartford after we traded him.  And the guy we got for King Richard (journeyman Steve Weeks) actually won one of the games against Calgary for us.

[nux_win]

Taking for what?  Even hypothetically context is important.  GCG!

[NewbieCanuckFan]

44 minutes ago, Kevin Biestra said:

 

Yeah 1989 vs CGY and 1994 vs NYR are up there all time with my favorite series that we have won.  1989 is kind of a forgotten one now but anyone who was watching that one remembers it.  Crazy how much turnover there was between 1989 and 1994 for the Canucks...maybe nobody left on the team after a few years except Linden, McLean and Adams.

 

Glad Smyl and Snepsts etc. got to go out with one last big hurrah though...kind of like King Richard the year before in Hartford after we traded him.  And the guy we got for King Richard (journeyman Steve Weeks) actually won one of the games against Calgary for us.

We should've won in 1989 as Otto kicked in the winning goal.

[Kevin Biestra]

13 minutes ago, NewbieCanuckFan said:

We should've won in 1989 as Otto kicked in the winning goal.

 

Yep could easily have been the Canucks advancing in that series and then who knows...I think they had the stuff to at least get to the final against Montreal.

[Spoosh]

On 7/9/2024 at 7:20 AM, King Heffy said:

Voted for Bure.  Mogilny was even better in his prime though, although his best years were in Buffalo.

This.

 

Mogilny wasn’t on the list here, or Hall of Fame.