VanJack
Registered User
- Jul 11, 2014
- 21,342
- 14,579
I think many Canuck fans, myself included, have a tendency towards an abundance of caution in pumping the tires on incoming prospects. Too many disappointments over the years.
But Hughes broke out of the mold last season; and I have a sense that Rathbone might be cut from the same cloth. I know you can point to all kinds of reasons why it'll be tough for Rathbone to replicate what Fox and Marino did, coming out of the Harvard program. But in my limited viewing of the Crimson games, Rathbone has better basic tools than either of those guys. All he lacks is an extra season of NCAA hockey.
Besides, the likelihood of Edler staying healthy on the left side for an entire season is basically 'zero' imo. So Rathbone's competition for a job is Benn and Juolevi. And his skating is already light years ahead of either of those guys.
I think the Canucks walking away from Tanev, Stecher and Tanev in the off-season tells me they're counting on at least one of their young -men, and possibly two, breaking down the doors at training camp. And given the Canucks injury history on the blueline, Rathbone, Rafferty and Juolevi will probably see lots of playing time anyway.
But Hughes broke out of the mold last season; and I have a sense that Rathbone might be cut from the same cloth. I know you can point to all kinds of reasons why it'll be tough for Rathbone to replicate what Fox and Marino did, coming out of the Harvard program. But in my limited viewing of the Crimson games, Rathbone has better basic tools than either of those guys. All he lacks is an extra season of NCAA hockey.
Besides, the likelihood of Edler staying healthy on the left side for an entire season is basically 'zero' imo. So Rathbone's competition for a job is Benn and Juolevi. And his skating is already light years ahead of either of those guys.
I think the Canucks walking away from Tanev, Stecher and Tanev in the off-season tells me they're counting on at least one of their young -men, and possibly two, breaking down the doors at training camp. And given the Canucks injury history on the blueline, Rathbone, Rafferty and Juolevi will probably see lots of playing time anyway.