Canucks power play units

[jimbo2006]

I think the tell all about Carter is in his stats....relatively few assists. But he does have a knack with Sedins at knowing how to get the puck in the net. So I can understand why other GMs would be reluctanct to pick him up for that price. And Carter would probably return to his lack lustre stats without the Twins.

Agree. He isn't a signing priority for any team right now, although the Leafs would probably jump right in if they had a few more bucks left over. Not sure what the Carter camp is smoking, but they might be holding out as long as possible in the hopes that some desperate team comes knocking.

Carter will cave as the start of the season nears.

 

[Evan]

The Nucks will definitely be a different team than the last few years. Let's remember something though, the team we had did nothing in the playoffs with all that so called talent. I like the direction NoNuts is going; however, we are all going to have to wait to see how the new players turn out. I think at least one of the new forwards will have a break-out year. They are young talent looking for an opportunity. With Luongo in net, we will be a much more defensive minded team ... not to worry though, I do not foresee a trap style game forming. We can expect less goals from the new team, then again maybe not. I also think we can expect fewer goals against. What the Nucks will have going for them is that they should have 3 and perhaps 4 solid lines. It's the 3rd and 4th line that will do the damage to other teams. Visiting teams will not be able to walk into GM place and float around hoping to steal a game. I think games should be a lot more entertaining even if the goal production is lower. The only thing in question is the new dynamic of the team. Will the team gel? Time will tell.

 

[bartendr]

The Nucks will definitely be a different team than the last few years. Let's remember something though, the team we had did nothing in the playoffs with all that so called talent. I like the direction NoNuts is going; however, we are all going to have to wait to see how the new players turn out. I think at least one of the new forwards will have a break-out year. They are young talent looking for an opportunity. With Luongo in net, we will be a much more defensive minded team ... not to worry though, I do not foresee a trap style game forming. We can expect less goals from the new team, then again maybe not. I also think we can expect fewer goals against. What the Nucks will have going for them is that they should have 3 and perhaps 4 solid lines. It's the 3rd and 4th line that will do the damage to other teams. Visiting teams will not be able to walk into GM place and float around hoping to steal a game. I think games should be a lot more entertaining even if the goal production is lower. The only thing in question is the new dynamic of the team. Will the team gel? Time will tell.

Remember Nonis' promise to not make changes to the team if they managed to do some thing with the season-they puttered along to not make the play-offs,and look, oh, guess what happened. Nonis made some major changes. Albiet some by nessesity

 

[massageseeker]

you will see

Morrison, Naslund, Cooke/Bulis Ohlund , Salo

or

Morrison, Ohlund on point Sedins with Naslund

 

[LonelyGhost]

you will see

Morrison, Naslund, Cooke/Bulis Ohlund , Salo

or

Morrison, Ohlund on point Sedins with Naslund

they will need to put someone like Chouinard out to set-up in front of
the net and then Morrison/Naslund or the Sedins can cycle and shoot ...

otherwise, guys like Morrison and Naslund will just get pushed out of
the way by some 6' 200+lbs d-man.

and Cooke has become some a primadonna that he won't stay in
front of the net long enough to make any difference.

 

[Marvin]

and Cooke has become some a primadonna

Has become?? He's always been a pussy and a shitty NHLer ... shitty hands, shitty skater and bad puck sense. Fuck, I'd rather see Jim Sandlak back in a Canucks jersey before having see this idiot another season. Can someone tell me how this ass makes $1.5 million US a year?

Hey Nonis, if you are reading this, please trade the bastard or at least waive him and call it a brain fart when you signed him last year.

 

[bartendr]

Fuck, I'd rather see Jim Sandlak back in a Canucks jersey before having see this idiot another season.

Bring back the HOUSE!
At least then you know there is going to be someone who is not afraid to hit!

 

[Marvin]

Oh, did I mention that I REALLY FUCKING HATE MATT COOKE, that over-paid piece of crap!

 

[LonelyGhost]

Oh, did I mention that I REALLY FUCKING HATE MATT COOKE, that over-paid piece of crap!

maybe he'll piss off butoozi when he comes to town and
gets bitch-slapped like he deserves!

 

[massageseeker]

you watch ...

but I think everyone can concur that this will be year that is difficult to predict. Canucks have never been a infront of goalie team ... they cycle and shoot from top of circle or D -man Salo - Morrison shot .. with the new rules they will not get a Cam Neely type infront of net.. even Bertuzzi didnt do it last year

 

[LonelyGhost]

you watch ...

but I think everyone can concur that this will be year that is difficult to predict. Canucks have never been a infront of goalie team ... they cycle and shoot from top of circle or D -man Salo - Morrison shot .. with the new rules they will not get a Cam Neely type infront of net.. even Bertuzzi didnt do it last year

buttoozi didn't do it in the season before the new rules came into effect ...
that's why his production went down ... when he was in front of the net
he got lots of assists and some garbage goals, but then he decided he
was 'wayne' and set up in the 'office' behind the net, leaving nazzie and mo
to go to the net to try to score ... didn't work.

there's no reason that someone like Chouinard can't park his fat ass
in front of a goalie on a PP and let mo and naz or the bros try some shots.

 

[KYG]

There is a rumour in Philly, a trade for Simon Gagne for Naslund. Stats are very similar. Gagne has good speed. Might not be a bad trade for the Canucks if Naslund waives his no trade clause. It would be good for Philly as Forsberg and Naslund would be a great line.

 

[bartendr]

There is a rumour in Philly, a trade for Simon Gagne for Naslund. Stats are very similar. Gagne has good speed. Might not be a bad trade for the Canucks if Naslund waives his no trade clause. It would be good for Philly as Forsberg and Naslund would be a great line.

I would love this trade if it would happen. I think Naslund has lost his passion in the room and would benefit from a change in scenery. Give Trevor the C for his last year. He may not put up numbers as some other people think a captain should, but undeniably his HEART & SOUL is here with not just the Canucks, but Vancouver as a whole. And is still one of the great leaders in the game.

 

[hugedman]

Hi guys, with all the worries about the Canucks' performance in the upcoming season.., I think ppl should worry more about the Leafs, they will not make the playoff again...my prediction...how can they sign Belak??

 

[KYG]

Bad deal for the Canucks. Gagne is a product of Forsberg(think Cheechoo of the East), and would have a hard time scoring 47 goals alongside Morrison.

Gagne has never scored 80 plus points in his career

BTW, this rumour is from the Team1040..enough said

Assuming there was some truth to this rumour, Gagne did well before Philly signed Forsberg and is 5 years younger. When Naslund's contract is up in two years, I doubt he'll return to Vancouver.

 

[The Lizard King]

I think ppl should worry more about the Leafs, they will not make the playoff again

I'll get right on that! lol. I'm real worried for them.

 

[jimbo2006]

Any thoughts about David Tanabe? The bruins cut him loose because of all that back line depth. At only $1.2 mil, perhaps the Nucks can add him as a PP specialist

Right now it looks like the B's have the deepest blueline in the East, and the Ducks in the West.

btw, looks like only 1 more post until 100...will try to make it a good one

 

[Hardatwork]

We've lost arguably our best forward and one of the top 2 or 3 power forwards in the league (Bert)

Hmmm, let me see, what was the problem last year? Was it bad goaltending? No. It was lack of SCORING from the number one line.

No offence (pun intended) but doesn't your own argument shoot down your own theory? If Bert is one of the best power forwards in the league why was scoring a problem on the first line? I think he used to be one of the best power forwards, but he hasn't been for a few years. Maybe with proper motivation (Keenan's foot up his ass/ playing for a new contract) he can be that top power forward again, but I don't think it would have happened here.

This "Core" had plenty of opportunity to get the job done and didn't so what was Nonis supposed to do? Why would you bring back a team that failed to make the playoffs last year?

 

[The Lizard King]

ok, not sure what planet you're on but.....

In the 5 years this "core" was together, after Messier left, they won all of ONE playoff series, and barely at that, and missed the playoffs once.

As much as I like Bertuzzi, and was quite okay with what he did to Moore, he's been living off two seasons. The year he whacked Moore he was having a shitty year and followed it up with another one (a career 3rd best in points!) this past year so that makes the last 1 2/3 years shitty seasons. Again, I actually like the guy, but he was done here and to get Luongo out of it is a bonus.

Carter was all but done until the Cancuks helped him off the scrap heap. He will sign somewhere for about $1.5 million and regret he didn't take the same or less here.

Last few years we were THAT close to making the leap to the top tier in the league but lacked maybe some leadership.

Your weed appears to be more potent than mine.....they weren't even close.

 

[aznboi9]

I'm no hockey expert, just a fan. However, I do have to disagree with some points

ok, not sure what planet you're on but.....Nonis has just destroyed this team. We've lost arguably our best forward and one of the top 2 or 3 power forwards in the league (Bert)

Bert had a good year; but he was way too inconsistent and his commitment to defense was not very good. Plus, he really did need to go and take his baggage with him. Even if he is able to regain the form that got him that 100+ point season, and I hope he does, people don't seem to realize that HE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT HERE.

our top offensive defenseman and our only Team Canada representative (Jovo) and Bryan Allen was coming off his best season so far, developing into a solid top 4 D-man

We lost one Team Canada rep but replaced him with another, Luongo. From what I keep hearing, he's considered to be one of the top goalies in the world and is perenially in contention as a Vezina canadidate. We will miss Jovo's skating ability from the backend; but that's trade-off that Nonis thought was worthwhile. Allen's loss is a shame, as I did like him; but don't forget that Nonis acquired Mitchell, who is a very solid and capable defenseman who is usually put out against the opposition's top line (I remember him always being paired up against Bert whenever we played Minnisota).

Hmmm, let me see, what was the problem last year? Was it bad goaltending? No.

I agree that I don't think goaltending was the problem. I think that Cloutier unfairly was made a scapegoat when expectations were too high and unrealistic and diverted attention from the main problem (at least as I saw it).

It was lack of SCORING from the number one line. How will that be better this year now??

I disagree, I don't think it was a lack of scoring (although scoring from the top line was an issue). I think it was a lack of team defense. I can remember how painful it was to watch the Canuck's coverage in their own end. It was so scrambly. It seemed to break down so easily so that the other team would end up with many quality scoring chances. Plus, how many leads did we lose during the season?

And what if the Sedins revert to how they played in previous years WITHOUT Carter to score the goals for them.

What if they don't? They may poorly; but they may not even lose a step. I think that the management's thinking is that the Sedins made Carter, not the other way around and that the Sedins will continue to play reasonably well provided they have someone who can skate with them.

And the other thing people are not factoring in, is that Naslund may very well be traded before the season begins. Rumour already has him going to Philly to play with his pal Forsberg. Its obvious his heart isnt with the team anymore and losing his best pal (Bert) isnt likely to help that.

I don't think any of us know what he's really thinking.

So, I agree with the posters who said that the Nucks likely wont make the playoffs this year. In fact I think this is the worst Canucks team since the Keenan era and even then we had a couple of superstars. If Nazzie leaves, we have zero.
Last few years we were THAT close to making the leap to the top tier in the league but lacked maybe some leadership. Now I dont see what we have left. For $41 million, its a very weak looking team.

All this " the sky is going to fall" thinking is a bit of an overreaction, IMHO. The Canucks have holes to fill (ie scoring); but they had holes to fill before (ie defensive responsiblity). So it seems they've made a shift in terms of where the holes are going to be. I'm fine with that.

Go 'Nucks!