Canucks will be the most improved team next year - Benning GM of the Year?
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Just A Bit Outside
Playoffs??!
- Mar 6, 2010
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I’ll bet money he doesn’t get anywhere close to a vote for GM of the Year let alone win it.
logan5
Registered User
If the nightmare scenario that I posted comes true, you don't think he gets some votes?
Remember when the Canucks were already terrible when they got COVID, and many of us here joked at the time about how that would be applied retroactively as an excuse anyway? Good times.
Just A Bit Outside
Playoffs??!
- Mar 6, 2010
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I 100% don’t believe it will come true.
The nightmare scenario already happened: Benning is still here
Baby Pettersson
Moderator
As crazy as it sounds I think in some twisted Fate this will come true.
Side note... I love the optimism around here. I'm going to be cheering hard for the Canucks this year. Let's have some fun doing it!
Side note... I love the optimism around here. I'm going to be cheering hard for the Canucks this year. Let's have some fun doing it!
Most improved team?
Possibly. It will be one of the bottom feeders for sure and the Canucks fit that category. But there was a lot of optimism after the playoff run and we know how that turned out. I have to say that I’m cautiously optimistic that we should compete for a playoff spot.
Possibly. It will be one of the bottom feeders for sure and the Canucks fit that category. But there was a lot of optimism after the playoff run and we know how that turned out. I have to say that I’m cautiously optimistic that we should compete for a playoff spot.
Canucks have made a lot of changes.....and on paper, they should be better. But there are still a lot more 'ifs' than 'guarantees'.
"If' OEL can recover the form he showed four seasons ago now; 'if' Demko can replicate the form he showed basically in the last 30 games; 'if' Hoglander doesn't suffer through a sophomore let down; 'If' Hughes can be a lot better than he was last season; 'if' Pettersson can stay healthy; and if guys like Garland, Podkolzin, Pearson, Highmore and Motte can produce a better bottom six; 'if' their right side of 30-plus guys like Schenn, Myers and Hamonic can hold up; and 'if' one of Poolman, Hamonic or Schenn can be an effective partner for Quinn Hughes.
Some of those 'ifs' might work out....but history shows that some of them won't. I guess the silver lining is that the reconstituted Pacific Division is shaping up as one of the NHL's weakest. They'll really have to implode not to make the playoffs.
"If' OEL can recover the form he showed four seasons ago now; 'if' Demko can replicate the form he showed basically in the last 30 games; 'if' Hoglander doesn't suffer through a sophomore let down; 'If' Hughes can be a lot better than he was last season; 'if' Pettersson can stay healthy; and if guys like Garland, Podkolzin, Pearson, Highmore and Motte can produce a better bottom six; 'if' their right side of 30-plus guys like Schenn, Myers and Hamonic can hold up; and 'if' one of Poolman, Hamonic or Schenn can be an effective partner for Quinn Hughes.
Some of those 'ifs' might work out....but history shows that some of them won't. I guess the silver lining is that the reconstituted Pacific Division is shaping up as one of the NHL's weakest. They'll really have to implode not to make the playoffs.
Reverend Mayhem
Lowly Serf/Reluctant Cuckold
Covid was one of many reasons why we were bad last year. I don't think this scenario is out of the realm of possibilities. I think Calgary and us will be competing for the last spot in the Pacific.
People really underestimate how having a bunch of anchors in your forward group drags on your d corps. The improvement on forward will translate on both sides of the ice.
geebaan
7th round busted
- Oct 27, 2012
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I hope he does. I hope it means I’m wrong.
It is too early.
If Pettersson and Hughes end up with stupid deals, the odds are much lower.
Also, GM Armstrong in Arizona has a mile lead on every one IMO.
If Pettersson and Hughes end up with stupid deals, the odds are much lower.
Also, GM Armstrong in Arizona has a mile lead on every one IMO.
Peen
Rejoicing in a Benning-free world
- Oct 6, 2013
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Reminder that the Canucks had a worse regulation record pre-covid than they did after the break.
strattonius
Registered User
No, he really doesn't. This has historically been a very results orientated reward - no one cares that Armstrong is building a team that might be really good in 5 years.
For sure though, hf boards would anoint Armstrong as GM of the year carrying a long standing tradition of completely over-rating draft picks. Sarcasm aside I do like what Armstrong's committing to moving forward
When I was in college, everyone in the class bombed an electronics controls midterm. We got a chance to take our midterms home, correct our own mistakes and hand it in. For this, we got half credit. So if you had 50%, got all the corrections right, the maximum 'corrected midterm' mark would be 75%. Some students still made mistakes on the take-home corrections anyway.
JB bombed while out on the job, not as a student, yet he still got a chance to correct his mistakes. If they all work out, he gets 'half credit' too, since he is only correcting his own mistakes. Like, that's nice, but why were you signing these bad deals in the first place? You had to flush picks and eat dead cap (the 25% left on the table) to correct your mistakes. Yeah, hopefully he has learned and it all works out, but it would be pretty hard to reward him for this. His reward for everything working out is not getting fired in May 2022.
Let’s also not forget the Canucks had a brutal schedule last year. If I recall correctly, they played the most games up until the schedule break they got. When the break finished was when covid spread around the team making them sit out for weeks. After which they played another condensed schedule of games to finish off the season.
Half of their opponents are on the other side of the country and 3 hours ahead. And even Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton are not that close.
Not too mention, playing a significant portion of the season without the best player.
I think this team would improve this season even if we iced the same team we iced last year.
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LickTheEnvelope
Time to Retool... again...
I mean a lot is riding on Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Thatcher Demko.
Love
Registered User
- Feb 29, 2012
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If Demko is the best goalie in the NHL this season then yeah we could see Benning win GM of the year. But if Demko only plays good but not elite, then we’re in big trouble and I don’t see us making the playoffs.
Would be amazing to see him catch up to Mike Gillis. Are you also predicting that Benning will deliver a President's Trophy and Stanley Cup final?
Here's the past 10 year GM of the Year award winners. Unlike the coach of the year it doesn't just go to the team that made the biggest improvement. The only real outlier I can see is the 2010 award to Don Maloney of Phoenix. So I think Benning has almost no chance unless the team wins its division. Travis Green could however get coach of the year if the Canucks are the most improved team as that is often how that award is determined.
- 2021: Lou Lamoriello, New York Islanders
- 2020: Lou Lamoriello, New York Islanders
- 2019: Don Sweeney, Boston Bruins
- 2018: George McPhee, Vegas Golden Knights
- 2017: David Poile, Nashville Predators
- 2016: Jim Rutherford, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2015: Steve Yzerman, Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2014: Bob Murray, Anaheim Ducks
- 2013: Ray Shero, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2012: Doug Armstrong, St. Louis Blues
- 2011: Mike Gillis, Vancouver Canucks
- 2010: Don Maloney, Phoenix Coyotes
RobertKron
Registered User
- Sep 1, 2007
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December5th
Registered User
if they do its like when they give the special needs person a job at the grocery store
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