Post-Game Talk: The Curious Case of Benjamin Hutton -- Canucks win 1-0 (Yes we McCann.) -- Part Deux

[absolute garbage]

Not original but this is how I see it. Doubt we'll see all or any of Bennings guys at the back of the bus though.

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows
(Higgins) Gaunce - Horvat - Vrbata
Hansen - Sutter - Doresett
Baertschi - McCann - Kenins
Vey - Prust

Edler - Tanev
Hamhuis - Weber
Bartowski - Hutton
Sbisa

Markstrom
Miller

How is Baertschi expected to do anything in that spot? Sure he hasn't been very good here but it makes no sense to put him there now. Give him a proper chance to score first, far away from Sutter, and then if he sucks put him in the fourth.

My opening night lineup would be:

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows
Baertschi - Horvat - Vrbata
*Kenins - Sutter - Hansen
Gaunce - McCann - Dorsett
Vey/Prust
*Higgins (when he's healthy put Kenins to Gaunce's spot in the 4th, switch Gaunce to center and send McCann back to junior unless he's amazing)

Agreed 100% on defense and goaltending.

 

[vanuck]

If guys have lost their spot, I'd rather keep the more versatile Higgins than Prust for the thirteenth forward.

The way Prust has played it looks like he is not a top twelve player any more. So, do you keep him for leadership or keep somebody useful on the ice?

Higgins is a much much better player. If anybody has to be scratched it would be Prust, no question. Deal him for a pick if we can.

 

[vanuck]

How is Baertschi expected to do anything in that spot? Sure he hasn't been very good here but it makes no sense to put him there now. Give him a proper chance to score first, far away from Sutter, and then if he sucks put him in the fourth.

My opening night lineup would be:

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows
Baertschi - Horvat - Vrbata
*Kenins - Sutter - Hansen
Gaunce - McCann - Dorsett
Vey/Prust
*Higgins (when he's healthy put Kenins to Gaunce's spot in the 4th, switch Gaunce to center and send McCann back to junior unless he's amazing)

Agreed 100% on defense and goaltending.

Yeah I think this lineup makes a lot of sense in terms of what sort of players we have and whereabouts they should be slotted in the lineup. Though when Higgins comes back I actually wouldn't mind having Gaunce-McCann-Kenins as the 4th line. They experimented with Ronnies Hockeys at RW and to me that might actually be a young but very strong 4th line.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

I take it everyone forgot with willie lines 1-4 will be getting an equal amount of ice time at even strength?

 

[Bad News Benning]

I take it everyone forgot with willie lines 1-4 will be getting an equal amount of ice time at even strength?

not sure how anyone could forget after the Sedins got 15 minutes a game in the playoffs. I can't wait to watch Prust, Dorsett, Vey, etc out there for a quarter of the hockey game. It's a good strategy when you actually have 12 forwards deserving of ice time but is counter productive when it raises the ice time of Dorsett/Prust at the expense of Sedins/Horvat/Vrbata etc.

 

[Mudshark50]

How is Baertschi expected to do anything in that spot? Sure he hasn't been very good here but it makes no sense to put him there now. Give him a proper chance to score first, far away from Sutter, and then if he sucks put him in the fourth.

My opening night lineup would be:

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows
Baertschi - Horvat - Vrbata
*Kenins - Sutter - Hansen
Gaunce - McCann - Dorsett
Vey/Prust
*Higgins (when he's healthy put Kenins to Gaunce's spot in the 4th, switch Gaunce to center and send McCann back to junior unless he's amazing)

Agreed 100% on defense and goaltending.

That lineup makes the most sense.

Does no one think Virtanen is going to get his 9 game look?

 

[Reign Nateo]

I agree with the last couple reviews of the game, except I think people are a bit hard on Virtanen. Threw 6-8 hits and showed great speed while trying to fit in with a disinterested twin line mates. Probably threw double the amount of hits as anyone on either team. Honestly, I think that was the type of game that will actually make the coaching staff think they should keep Jake.

Keep in mind, for his first season they're going to be looking for a 4th liner that can lay wood and use his speed to create turnovers and fore-check over 10-12 minutes a night. They're not looking for a 1st line RW PP specialist out of him year one from Virtanen. If he makes the team it will be as a banger, and he did that well last night.

 

[Grumbler]

5 games into preseason...1/5 game we get shutout, 3/5 games we score 1 goal. Our offence is looking great. Definitely has a high percentage of scoring at most 1 goal in a game. We need more of that. It is all about winning those 1-0 games in the playoffs like what we have been trying to do the last couple of years.

 

[Bad News Benning]

5 games into preseason...1/5 game we get shutout, 3/5 games we score 1 goal. Our offence is looking great. Definitely has a high percentage of scoring at most 1 goal in a game. We need more of that.

On the bright side it's mostly our young players scoring or setting up the goals and Markstrom has played well.

I'd be fine with 1 goal a game many nights in the regular season as it gives us a good chance at Matthews or Chychrun. I just hope it's Bo, McCann, or another young player scoring that 1 goal.

 

[Mudshark50]

I agree with the last couple reviews of the game, except I think people are a bit hard on Virtanen. Threw 6-8 hits and showed great speed while trying to fit in with a disinterested twin line mates. Probably threw double the amount of hits as anyone on either team. Honestly, I think that was the type of game that will actually make the coaching staff think they should keep Jake.

Keep in mind, for his first season they're going to be looking for a 4th liner that can lay wood and use his speed to create turnovers and fore-check over 10-12 minutes a night. They're not looking for a 1st line RW PP specialist out of him year one from Virtanen. If he makes the team it will be as a banger, and he did that well last night.

He could make the club in that role. Learn the defensive side of the game and get mixed into the odd PP and up to the third line when he's picking his game up. Back down when he falters.

 

[brokenhole]

I agree with the last couple reviews of the game, except I think people are a bit hard on Virtanen. Threw 6-8 hits and showed great speed while trying to fit in with a disinterested twin line mates. Probably threw double the amount of hits as anyone on either team. Honestly, I think that was the type of game that will actually make the coaching staff think they should keep Jake.

Keep in mind, for his first season they're going to be looking for a 4th liner that can lay wood and use his speed to create turnovers and fore-check over 10-12 minutes a night. They're not looking for a 1st line RW PP specialist out of him year one from Virtanen. If he makes the team it will be as a banger, and he did that well last night.

Maybe if Virtanen cycled the puck with the Sedins they wouldn't look so disinterested instead of chasing hits in the o-zone. When Virtanen asked Hank how to play with them he said cycle the puck with us.

 

[Huggy]

Maybe if Virtanen cycled the puck with the Sedins they wouldn't look so disinterested instead of chasing hits in the o-zone. When Virtanen asked Hank how to play with them he said cycle the puck with us.

Yes jake virtanen should click and have chemistry with two elite players the second he plays with them. He looks a little nervous but he isnt out of place.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

It's so nice to finally have some young players worth getting excited about.

 

[fancouver]

Yes jake virtanen should click and have chemistry with two elite players the second he plays with them. He looks a little nervous but he isnt out of place.

Never saw Virtanen as a guy who can click with the Sedins. It makes as much sense as putting Booth or Raymond in that position.

Different styles of play. By the time Virtanen is in the o-zone, Sedins are just barely pass the blueline.

And when they cycle, you're asking Virtanen to slow the game down, which negates his best asset: speed.

 

[absolute garbage]

Yeah I think this lineup makes a lot of sense in terms of what sort of players we have and whereabouts they should be slotted in the lineup. Though when Higgins comes back I actually wouldn't mind having Gaunce-McCann-Kenins as the 4th line. They experimented with Ronnies Hockeys at RW and to me that might actually be a young but very strong 4th line.

Yeah and of course it's all hypothetical. Injuries always keep happening, and it's very much possible (likely even) that a player like Gaunce, McCann or Hutton is not ready full time. These guys are game-by-game evaluations to determine whether they stay in the lineup or not.

But right now that would be my opening night lineup.

Does no one think Virtanen is going to get his 9 game look?

He has been outplayed by Gaunce, McCann and Kenins, so no I don't think he has earned that. He has plenty left to prove at the junior level.

 

[shortshorts]

I have no problem starting 5 million dollar Sutter on the fourth line to keep McCann in an offensive role.

Sedin Sedin Burrows
Kenins Horvat Hansen
Baertschi - McCann - Vrbata
Gaunce - Sutter - Dorsett
Prust

Edler Tanev
Hamhuis Weber
Hutton anyonebutsbisa
Bartkowski

All 4 lines will get equal playing time anyways.

 

[MS]

I would say, no, it's not time to waive Corrado.

I get the sentiment...but at this point...i guess just keep him here, let him sit and practice and he's the spare. "Overcooking" in the AHL hasn't done anything for him it seems...just keep him around and if he can't hack it as a fill-in, start calling guys up.

The guy is beyond tentative and clearly has zero confidence.

I don't see what keeping him around to stick in the pressbox does for that, or how it helps him or the team. It sucks we burned a year of his ELC early and would have to waive him ... but to me all you can do is hope his play has been so poor that he sneaks through, and hope a good consistent season in Utica rebuilds him a bit.

Right now I'd keep Biega as the #7 guy. Looks good, looks like the sort of guy who'd be fine playing intermittently as a depth player.

Does no one think Virtanen is going to get his 9 game look?

I think he's going to get it, and that it was pre-determined that he was going to get it before training camp started.

I don't think he deserves it or it does anything really for the team or his development. He doesn't look ready.

 

[Vtownfan]

Hansen with the Sedin's never works out.

Sedin - Sedin - Kenins
Baertschi - Horvat - Vrbata
Burrows - Sutter - Dorsett
Gaunce - McCann - Hansen
Prust

No way they're gonna sit Prust, though... and Virtanen probably also makes the team despite an underwhelming pre-season.

Actually as PITB pointed out last week, Hansen with the Twins is a solid even strength line. Sample size is smaller for sure, but despite a much less favorable zone start Hansen+Sedins has a higher GF/60 and equal GA/60 and identical corsi as with Burrows.

http://www.vancourier.com/pass-it-to-bulis/just-put-jannik-hansen-with-the-sedins-1.2062521

 

[VanCity Millionaires]

McCann... dat wrist shot bro!

 

[604]

How is Baertschi expected to do anything in that spot? Sure he hasn't been very good here but it makes no sense to put him there now. Give him a proper chance to score first, far away from Sutter, and then if he sucks put him in the fourth.

My opening night lineup would be:

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows
Baertschi - Horvat - Vrbata
*Kenins - Sutter - Hansen
Gaunce - McCann - Dorsett
Vey/Prust
*Higgins (when he's healthy put Kenins to Gaunce's spot in the 4th, switch Gaunce to center and send McCann back to junior unless he's amazing)

Agreed 100% on defense and goaltending.

My thoughts on Bea on the 4th was to give McCann someone to play with.

All lines get the same ES ice-time anyways.

I think if you play McCann on the 4th you need to turn that into a scoring line.

 

[Dissonance]

The guy is beyond tentative and clearly has zero confidence.

I don't see what keeping him around to stick in the pressbox does for that, or how it helps him or the team. It sucks we burned a year of his ELC early and would have to waive him ... but to me all you can do is hope his play has been so poor that he sneaks through, and hope a good consistent season in Utica rebuilds him a bit.

Right now I'd keep Biega as the #7 guy. Looks good, looks like the sort of guy who'd be fine playing intermittently as a depth player.

I'd really been hoping Corrado could rebound but it's hard to disagree with this. He's not even close to ready to play regularly in the NHL and looks worse than Sbisa half the time (no easy feat). We should've never gifted him a spot.

If we waived him early (i.e., right this second) there's probably a 95% chance he'd sneak through, with other teams still figuring out their rosters. Guys like this slip through waivers every year. Let him play in the top four in Utica and try to get his head on straight.

-----

Biega looked decent in the NHL last year, and wouldn't be a bad #7, though I also wouldn't mind signing a cheap vet like Schlemko for additional depth. (I mean, ideally we'd waive Sbisa and replace him as well, but that's obviously not happening.)

 

[fancouver]

I'd been really hoping Corrado could rebound but it's hard to disagree with this. He's not even close to ready to play regularly in the NHL and looks worse than Sbisa half the time (no easy feat). We should've never gifted him a spot.

If we waived him early (i.e., right this second) there's probably a 95% chance he'd sneak through, with other teams still figuring out their rosters. Let him play in the top four in Utica and try to get his head on straight.

Biega looked decent in the NHL last year, though I aso wouldn't mind signing a cheap vet like Schlemko for the #7d spot. (I mean, ideally we'd waive Sbisa and replace him as well, but that's obviously not happening.)

Could it be a case of "imposter syndrome" where he doesn't believe he can become that player since he was drafted in the 5th round?

 

[crazyforhockey]

sj tonight

thorton,marleau,pavelski,couture,wingels,hertle,ward,neito,terinney,torres,goldobon,goodrow

burns,martin,vlasic,braun,dillion,micro mueller,dehaleo

jones,stalock


looks like a starting roster tonight for SJ

 

[crazyforhockey]

Horvat,Bear,grenier,McCann,Virtanen,Gaunce,cracknell,dorsett,prust,vey,kenins,hansen

edler,tanev,hutton,biega,Bart,corrado

mark,miller

looks like our roster....no particular order to either lineups



as per sj beat guy ben guerrero twitter

 

[Powder]

Horvat,Bear,grenier,McCann,Virtanen,Gaunce,cracknell,dorsett,prust,vey,kenins,hansen

edler,tanev,hutton,biega,Bart,corrado

mark,miller

looks like our roster....no particular order to either lineups

Here's a wild stab at it...

Baertschi - Horvat - Virtanen
Prust - Vey - Dorsett
Gaunce - McCann - Hansen
Kenins - Cracknell - Grenier

Edler - Tanev
Bartkowski - Corrado
Hutton - Biega

Miller
Markstrom

If Vey is on this roster, that will be his most likely line-up, so he has to make it work. Baertschi with an opportunity to make some chemistry with Horvat. Ditto goes for Virtanen, who you can't switch with Hansen since that leaves 3 rookies on one line, which won't realistically happen. That leaves you with your fourth line.

On defense, I was tempted to play Hutton with Tanev, but you need that top shutdown pairing. If Corrado is to outplay Hutton, it'll be on a line with Bartkowski or Sbisa, so that fills the rest out.