GDT: SEASON FINALE: Canucks @ Blues, 1:00 p.m. PST

[geebaan]

If you have higher odds you automatically get a top 3 pick? Goof

Omg. Its not just about the damn lottery! 8 is better than 9. Why does this have to be explained.

 

[mriswith]

People aren't talking enough in here about Boeser's play to end the year. He started off slow, as players usually do when they miss training in the offseason to injury, and really picked it up by the end.

Pretty much the same time that Petey fell off dramatically, around the all star break/KK injury, Boeser picked his game up by about the same amount. He put together a nice set of games to end the season playing with confidence and driving play, playing better defense, getting a bit unlucky with goals and carrying Pettersson a bit which is basically the opposite of the start the season.

Looking forward to seeing him after a proper offseason of training.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

Give the team credit for pushing right to the bitter end but there has to be disappointment that again these late season surges do nothing to provide any long term good for the team. We, and others, have a had these and they have zero effect in the future. But they do hurt in terms of chances of getting the major help this team needs. Might get lucky in the draft but its a damn site better not to depend on luck.

Know this is a controversy we seem to struggle thru each year in terms of tanking and it seems to come down to the type of perspective or gratification one is seeking. Can appreciate the Carpe Diem (live for the moment) sentiment but also recognize the need for delaying gratification in order to achieve long term success.

Good

Hughes - was excellent. Skating, passing and vision were superb. Guy is a player and even right now the best player on the team in terms of talent. Probable that, like Pettersson, the league wears him down next year but long term there is so much to work with here.

Demko - not always text book but was stopping the puck. Season has been broken up but there is promise here.

Pearson - another nice goal. Looks like a top 6 forward moving ahead. Does seem the Benning stumbled into something here.

Schenn - must be re-signed but difficulty becomes what term he is willing to accept. I fear any kind of long term deal.

Stecher - with Tanev out ends the season as our second best overall defense man. That rush in the third suggests he has more offensive upside than he is usually credited with. Big hope is that he comes in to his own next season

Beagle - that was a strong defensive effort by Beagle in this game. However someone needs to get him a decent set of gloves.

Not Good

Virtanen - a promising start to the season has been overturned by a very sketchy end. Again in this game seemed unfocused and, at times, lost. Effort in his own end was very poor and there were times when he seemed unprepared when the puck came to him. Often did not move to the puck but instead let the puck play him. Back on his heels and reactive rather than proactive. And this has been the story on this player for far too long. At this point, the Canucks have to consider a trade. Maybe he becomes something somewhere else but it is just as likely he remains a player with great wheels and no hockey IQ. One problem with our present draft position is that we are in the area where we likely get someone with a deficiency somewhere in his game - like Virtanen. You then hope that somehow this problem can be overcome.

Others

Rafferty - got tied up in his end too much but also showed some very positive signs. Thought his positioning was good and also his puck movement very good at times. Made a couple of good set ups (especially on the ones to Boeser) which showed good vision and anticipation.

Granlund - Granlund has made a late season push for a contract and may end up back here. Amount of game time he is getting suggests Canucks are kicking the tires still on this player. Not sure of what to think about this. Best scenario probably is that Granlund comes back, plays ok and the Canucks are able to get something for him. But you do worry about wasted cap space that might be critical to signing better players.

Gaudette - still has ways to go before establishing he is a bona vide NHL player. Think that he has been a disappointment overall and not sure he starts next year in Vancouver. Play in this game was repeat of the sort of nondescript play he has shown during last third of the season.

Spooner - always the flashes of superior speed and good passing. But never results in anything. Do wonder that, if he had been given the third line center role over Gaudette, whether he could have shown more. Don't think playing Gaudette was the wrong move but maybe playing Spooner there might have allowed Spooner to have better established a role on the team. As it is Spooner future with the the team remains cloudy.

Pettersson - nice to see him finish it off with a goal. Him running out of gas (or whatever happened - injury?) took away much chance of the Canucks actually making the playoffs.

Anyhow done for another year and hopefully we have a good off season and get some luck in the draft and in free agency. Don't trust Jimbo but we live in hope. At least we have some interesting players and situations to look forward to for next year.

Thanks for all the updates this season @orcatown. I live in Nova Scotia and don't always get a chance to watch the Canucks play, especially when they're at home. It's nice to be able to get a real feel for how the game went and how guys are playing.

 

[Fatass]

People aren't talking enough in here about Boeser's play to end the year. He started off slow, as players usually do when they miss training in the offseason to injury, and really picked it up by the end.

Pretty much the same time that Petey fell off dramatically, around the all star break/KK injury, Boeser picked his game up by about the same amount. He put together a nice set of games to end the season playing with confidence and driving play, playing better defense, getting a bit unlucky with goals and carrying Pettersson a bit which is basically the opposite of the start the season.

Looking forward to seeing him after a proper offseason of training.

Alex Auld on the 650 radio post game show commented on how impressed, and pleasantly surprised, he’s been by Boeser’s ability to hold the puck and make plays. We should sign Boeser to at least 6 years and 7 to 7.5 million. I think he’s an excellent player.

 

[Pavel96]

If you have higher odds you automatically get a top 3 pick? Goof

Why pretend that math doesn't exist?

 

[Boeser Fan]

Omg. Its not just about the damn lottery! 8 is better than 9. Why does this have to be explained.

Why does it have to be explained that pro athletes are not going to try and lose games to increase the lottery odds?

 

[Steely Van]

We are all Canucks....now.

or We all Can suck.....now.

 

[geebaan]

Why does it have to be explained that pro athletes are not going to try and lose games to increase the lottery odds?

Way to avoid the question lol. Have fun in your reality

 

[TryamkinPleaseReturn]

Give the team credit for pushing right to the bitter end but there has to be disappointment that again these late season surges do nothing to provide any long term good for the team. We, and others, have a had these and they have zero effect in the future. But they do hurt in terms of chances of getting the major help this team needs. Might get lucky in the draft but its a damn site better not to depend on luck.

Know this is a controversy we seem to struggle thru each year in terms of tanking and it seems to come down to the type of perspective or gratification one is seeking. Can appreciate the Carpe Diem (live for the moment) sentiment but also recognize the need for delaying gratification in order to achieve long term success.

Good

Hughes - was excellent. Skating, passing and vision were superb. Guy is a player and even right now the best player on the team in terms of talent. Probable that, like Pettersson, the league wears him down next year but long term there is so much to work with here.

Demko - not always text book but was stopping the puck. Season has been broken up but there is promise here.

Pearson - another nice goal. Looks like a top 6 forward moving ahead. Does seem the Benning stumbled into something here.

Schenn - must be re-signed but difficulty becomes what term he is willing to accept. I fear any kind of long term deal.

Stecher - with Tanev out ends the season as our second best overall defense man. That rush in the third suggests he has more offensive upside than he is usually credited with. Big hope is that he comes in to his own next season

Beagle - that was a strong defensive effort by Beagle in this game. However someone needs to get him a decent set of gloves.

Not Good

Virtanen - a promising start to the season has been overturned by a very sketchy end. Again in this game seemed unfocused and, at times, lost. Effort in his own end was very poor and there were times when he seemed unprepared when the puck came to him. Often did not move to the puck but instead let the puck play him. Back on his heels and reactive rather than proactive. And this has been the story on this player for far too long. At this point, the Canucks have to consider a trade. Maybe he becomes something somewhere else but it is just as likely he remains a player with great wheels and no hockey IQ. One problem with our present draft position is that we are in the area where we likely get someone with a deficiency somewhere in his game - like Virtanen. You then hope that somehow this problem can be overcome.

Others

Rafferty - got tied up in his end too much but also showed some very positive signs. Thought his positioning was good and also his puck movement very good at times. Made a couple of good set ups (especially on the ones to Boeser) which showed good vision and anticipation.

Granlund - Granlund has made a late season push for a contract and may end up back here. Amount of game time he is getting suggests Canucks are kicking the tires still on this player. Not sure of what to think about this. Best scenario probably is that Granlund comes back, plays ok and the Canucks are able to get something for him. But you do worry about wasted cap space that might be critical to signing better players.

Gaudette - still has ways to go before establishing he is a bona vide NHL player. Think that he has been a disappointment overall and not sure he starts next year in Vancouver. Play in this game was repeat of the sort of nondescript play he has shown during last third of the season.

Spooner - always the flashes of superior speed and good passing. But never results in anything. Do wonder that, if he had been given the third line center role over Gaudette, whether he could have shown more. Don't think playing Gaudette was the wrong move but maybe playing Spooner there might have allowed Spooner to have better established a role on the team. As it is Spooner future with the the team remains cloudy.

Pettersson - nice to see him finish it off with a goal. Him running out of gas (or whatever happened - injury?) took away much chance of the Canucks actually making the playoffs.

Anyhow done for another year and hopefully we have a good off season and get some luck in the draft and in free agency. Don't trust Jimbo but we live in hope. At least we have some interesting players and situations to look forward to for next year.

As others have mentioned, these reviews are deeply appreciated, Orca. Especially for those of us unable to watch many of the games.

 

[Boeser Fan]

Way to avoid the question lol. Have fun in your reality

What question did I avoid? I've seen you clowns get all upset when the team wins or they score, as if pro athletes with contracts to play for are going to try to lose to get better draft odds