completely disagree about Cassels he wasn't given much ice time and in the limited time he had he made very smart plays he sees the ice so well and has very tricky hands. I would like him to stay with the team.. He is way better than Vey
LW is actually weaker than what you have listed. Kenins is likely starting in Utica, Virtanen may only get his 9 games and Baertschi is still a question mark to play a full season in the top 6. So you're left with:
LW: Sedin and Higgins, one of which is already injured. Gaunce has played better than Kenins so far. And Baertschi likely makes the team based on Utica playoffs.
Meanwhile at center, Gaunce needs to compete with:
Henrik Sedin
Brandon Sutter
Bo Horvat
These 3 are a lock to make the team.
Then you have Vey who isn't waiver eligible, but has 1 NHL season already, and McCann who is showing a lot of promise to play this year as well.
Seeing how Gaunce has adjusted really well on the wing and hasn't taken regular faceoffs at the pro-level, I'd be hesitant to put him at center now. I think he has a better chance making the team as a winger, this year.
I wouldn't worry much about this loss. There seems to be a lot of overreactions based on this games. I think games like this are harder for the veteran team to win because veterans use camp/pre-season games to get their timing and get into game shape, often their goal is to simply not get injured. The veterans don't have the intensity that they would in the regular season, whereas kids fighting for roster spots have not only been playing a week longer in many cases but they actually have something to play for (roster spots).
I think you guys will be right in the thick of a playoff race.
I wouldn't worry much about this loss. There seems to be a lot of overreactions based on this games. I think games like this are harder for the veteran team to win because veterans use camp/pre-season games to get their timing and get into game shape, often their goal is to simply not get injured. The veterans don't have the intensity that they would in the regular season, whereas kids fighting for roster spots have not only been playing a week longer in many cases but they actually have something to play for (roster spots).
I think you guys will be right in the thick of a playoff race.
Gaunce has worked harder than anyone to make this team. It would be so disappointing to see this kid sent down.
Pretty decisively outplayed a bad Flames roster but somehow lost. Outside of our goalie, though, not a bad effort with some good individual performances. Team is more fun to watch without the likes of Sbisa/Prust/Vey.
- Sedins are coasting but still had some dazzling moments of puck movement. Grenier didn't fit with them at all and that experiment was rightfully scrapped.
- Horvat was the best player on the ice. Should be surprising to nobody that Vrbata looked better with him than Sutter. Guy is ready to break out big-time and needs the line mates and opportunity to do it. Better than Sutter by a laughable amount.
- Gaunce was excellent and looks like he could play now. What a shame he's not playing C because he'd be the perfect guy for the #4 center spot. So much better than Vey.
- I didn't think McCann had the best game generally but he had two ridiculous moments of absolute class. There probably isn't room for him this year (don't want him playing with Dorsett and Prust) but he's putting in a fine showing and should be here next year.
- Cracknell can't skate but knows where to be and does little things well. Will be a handy call up. Friesen worked hard but will plateau as an AHLer.
- Cassels needs to go to Utica and keep working on his skating. Isn't getting the separation he needs to use his playmaking skills.
- Jensen worked his ass off tonight even if he didn't get results. If he can do that for 80 games in the AHL maybe he can rebuild his career. Not holding my breath.
- great showing for Hutton, even beyond the 3 assists. Obviously Tanev makes everyone look good but that pair was on the front foot all night. Didn't have to defend much. Might have passed Corrado.
- Hamhuis had a bit of a howler handling the pick but not too worried. Bartkowski looked great moving the puck up ice but his down low coverage is weak. Still more positive than negative from him.
- thought Biega was terrific until making a bit of an iffy clear on the late goal. Did everything well, skated miles, finished every check. At this point, if Corrado can't improve, I waive Corrado and keep Biega as the #7 guy.
- Miller stunk. Goaltending loss. Get ready for lots of these.
Oh, and 3-on-3 OT sucks. Gong show is right.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but this team sure seems to be LACKing something.
- You guys are gonna miss Eddie Lack. Wow. Haha.
I think there are a number of good reasons for putting Gaunce at 4th line center.
1. I think it will keep him more in the play. One thing I think Gaunce showed in previous seasons was a good ability to channel the puck carrier out of the middle of the ice in the neutral zone. He did the same thing in Junior. I saw it as one of the real strengths in his game. More than this Gaunce is big enough to take up space in the middle of the ice and force the play to outside in the offensive zone allowing you to cut off players along the boards. I watched Gaunce all year in Utica and you could see that he was effective in angling the forecheck when he was in the slot. I believe that if you free him up from doing the grunt work along the boards, you let him use his smarts to direct the play and cut off passes in the offensive zone. I would say that Gaunce has good chance of becoming a good inside to outside player and this he can do better at center.
2. Gaunce is not that nimble. He needs to play more of a flow game and he can do that better from the center position.
3. it has also been my observation from watching him in Utica that Gaunce has very good and heavy shot from the deep slot. I think he can score better from the middle than from coming off the wing.
4. Gaunce is heady player. I rather see him in a position where he can use his smarts rather than being jammed up against the wall.
5. Gaunce hasn't got a great first step. Good when he gets moving. I just don't see him as very good stop and start player which is an essential aspect of playing wing.
6. Right now the team is crying out for a 4th line center. I don't think you put McCann in that position. His strength is not grinding it out in the defensive zone. McCann is no doubt the best long term player but he is not suitable now or in the future to be a defensive player. McCann's strength are passing, play making and shooting and I don't see him compatible with players like Prust or Dorsett. However, I see Gaunce being the type of player that can really add to the forechecking those players can provide.
Team recognizes this, to an extent, by saying that the idea of moving Gaunce to the wing was to get him to play a more involved and in your face type of hockey and this would serve him well when he moved back to center.
As it is the Canucks have Sedin, Baertschi, Kenins, Higgins, Virtanen, and Prust who can all play on the left side so there is no real shortage as you stated. Where the team is in real need is on the 4th line at center (so desperate they are considering using Vey there).
To me, Gaunce has played ok on the wing this pre-season but not much better than that. Moreover, I think Gaunce eventual position will be center and I don't see much reason, especially given the present needs of the team, why this isn't, at least, tried now.
I wouldn't worry much about this loss. There seems to be a lot of overreactions based on this games. I think games like this are harder for the veteran team to win because veterans use camp/pre-season games to get their timing and get into game shape, often their goal is to simply not get injured. The veterans don't have the intensity that they would in the regular season, whereas kids fighting for roster spots have not only been playing a week longer in many cases but they actually have something to play for (roster spots).
I think you guys will be right in the thick of a playoff race.
Then they should have shown a lot more on Friday night. I"m generally a glass 1/2 full guy with this team but it"s looking a bit glum so far
While there's no reason to worry about the loss, I'll have to disagree on the state of the team. The management is in love with their ideas and are extremely stubborn about it.
The Canucks will ice a roster that has: Vey, Prust, Dorsett, Sbisa and Miller, and pretty much all of those players will be asked to play minutes they're not capable of playing. Along with that, we're most likely going to see Sutter given a very very long look on the second line, and that's going to completely gut the secondary scoring.
That simply isn't promising.
Keep mccann /gaunce waive vey. Does anyone honestly think vey would get claimed anyway? There are no re-entry waivers anymore so he's a call up if injuries mount.
Oh, and it's clear we're likely in for another season of the "our back-up is better than our starter" show.
Some GM will take a shot at Vey, especially a team like Toronto.
I think Vey will get claimed.
Some GM will take a shot at Vey, especially a team like Toronto.
Willie also wants 15 goals minimum out of Vey this season.
He's going to fall out of favor quick this season.
I think Vey will get claimed.
Some GM will take a shot at Vey, especially a team like Toronto.
Willie might go with Markstrom. It's his second year as a coach and he might be willing to stray from towing the company line a little bit more.