The Official 2016 WJC Thread | 2 (CAN: Virtanen, USA: Boeser)

[me2]

Or perhaps this tourny means nothing for players' development

And?

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

And?

And Detroit fans know that so they don't overreact to it?

 

[HankNDank]

Next year, team Canada will be in a pool with Latvia, Slovakia, and the bronze and silver medal winners. My prediction is that will be US and Sweden.

Wrong already, US lost to Russia and will play for bronze vs Sweden, so they cannot finish in the silver and bronze.

 

[me2]

And Detroit fans know that so they don't overreact to it?

And they didn't spend a 6th overall pick either or watch him struggle for the last 18 months. Different expectations/development path.

 

[Pip]

Or perhaps this tourny means nothing for players' development

It certainly doesn't mean everything, but performing at a high level in this tournament is a very good sign for any prospect. I don't think it means nothing. Regardless, it's not like Jake was doing really well and then had a bad tournament. It just showed his lack of development and his faults that we've all noticed, on a big stage against his peers.

 

[WonderTwinsUnite]

And Detroit fans know that so they don't overreact to it?

And if Virtanen had produced like Svenchnikov has the past two seasons (or better, since he was drafted 13 spots higher), I have a feeling that the Vancouver media and this board would be a lot more forgiving.

But, you go ahead and fixate on the WJC as the main point of contention, rather than it being just the latest disappointment in a thoroughly disappointing development trajectory.

 

[Tinhorn1]

Benning intended to be there. I read an article the other day that implied Benning was starting to be under the microscope and had to deal with issues surrounding the team. Also that ownership accompanied the team on the latest road trip.

Link? Wouldn't mind reading that. Thanks.

 

[Jay Cee]

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Willes+Benning+steering+Canucks+through+storm/11620203/story.html

This week, the Canucks GM had hoped to fly to Finland on a scouting mission at the world juniors. Instead, he finds himself in Vancouver, sorting through a grotesque series of injuries while determining the next round of call-ups from the farm team in Utica, N.Y.

Those injuries, coupled with the aforementioned youth movement, have also left the Canucks in a mighty bind.

Yes, they’ve proven to be resilient this season and, yes, they should start getting some bodies back in the next couple of weeks. But there have also been too many losses like Monday night’s, and that has started to take its toll on the players, the coaches and the fans.

He also had ample opportunity to explain the master plan to Francesco Aquilini when the Canucks chairman accompanied the team on its most recent road trip. Interesting bit of timing that.

 

[me2]

Guy just wants to be a scout but still holding the role/title of a GM... Absolute mistake not to hire a qualified president to do the actual boring GM work if this is how Benning wants to operate.

 

[Tinhorn1]

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Willes+Benning+steering+Canucks+through+storm/11620203/story.html

Interesting. Thanks. So much for totally hands off.

 

[tantalum]

Botchford mentioned on the radio (last week I think) that Aquilini was in the room after the Tampa game talking to the players about what's wrong etc etc. It was apparently an odd situation. Something team ownership around the league just don't do. There is no question that Aquilini is expecting playoffs and has given that mandate.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Willes+Benning+steering+Canucks+through+storm/11620203/story.html

Comments are interesting... Canuck fans seem to be talking like the Canucks have been a competitive team for the last 3 years...

 

[Seattle Totems]

Jim Benning is like Darryl Sutter in Calgary. A legitimate hockey guy miscast as a GM.

 

[Tinhorn1]

Botchford mentioned on the radio (last week I think) that Aquilini was in the room after the Tampa game talking to the players about what's wrong etc etc. It was apparently an odd situation. Something team ownership around the league just don't do. There is no question that Aquilini is expecting playoffs and has given that mandate.

Brutal. Brutal, brutal. I used to like this ownership (as owners of the team, not as condo developers) because they spend money like it means nothing, but stuff like this makes me sick. Imagine the arrogance of a money man thinking he can inspire better performances from professional hockey players and coaches. Just who does he think he is? And that isn't even mentioning the warped notions he must have about where this team is in its life cycle if he expects them to actually be competing in a serious way this year.

 

[Bad News Benning]

Brutal. Brutal, brutal. I used to like this ownership (as owners of the team, not as condo developers) because they spend money like it means nothing, but stuff like this makes me sick. Imagine the arrogance of a money man thinking he can inspire better performances from professional hockey players and coaches. Just who does he think he is? And that isn't even mentioning the warped notions he must have about where this team is in its life cycle if he expects them to actually be competing in a serious way this year.

This team clearly needs a dinner with Tom Brady

 

[CherryToke]

Maybe I'm being a homer but Boeser didn't seem to have much of an opportunity. not much ice time and no PP time. I would expect more opportunity for a guy with his shot..

 

[VanJack]

Maybe I'm being a homer but Boeser didn't seem to have much of an opportunity. not much ice time and no PP time. I would expect more opportunity for a guy with his shot..

From all accounts, Boeser didn't do much in this tournament either, but unlike Virtanen, posters aren't yet ready to throw him under the bus...ah yes the virtues of flying under the radar screen in a tournament that really means bumpkis in terms of a player's NHL development.

 

[WonderTwinsUnite]

From all accounts, Boeser didn't do much in this tournament either, but unlike Virtanen, posters aren't yet ready to throw him under the bus...ah yes the virtues of flying under the radar screen in a tournament that really means bumpkis in terms of a player's NHL development.

Boeser is a year younger, wasn't spoon fed top-6 minutes, and still outproduced Virtanen. Also, his production outside of the WJC actually tracks like that of a scoring-calibre NHL prospect, so he tends to get the benefit of the doubt. When Virtanen starts to track like a top-6 prospect, I'll be glad to cut him some slack.

 

[thepuckmonster]

Jim Benning is like Darryl Sutter in Calgary. A legitimate hockey guy miscast as a GM.

Maybe if we make Benning the coach instead we will be the new LA

 

[VanJack]

Botchford mentioned on the radio (last week I think) that Aquilini was in the room after the Tampa game talking to the players about what's wrong etc etc. It was apparently an odd situation. Something team ownership around the league just don't do. There is no question that Aquilini is expecting playoffs and has given that mandate.

Man, if this is true, I'm really hoping this team tanks hard....doesn't speak volumes about the job security for either Benning or Desjardins if the owner is crashing the dressing-room at the tail-end of a bad roadtrip....not even sure Jerry Jones with the Cowboys would pull a stunt like that.

 

[Skriko]

Benning intended to be there. I read an article the other day that implied Benning was starting to be under the microscope and had to deal with issues surrounding the team.

Benning wasn't hear now (he was here u18 2014), but John Weisbrod is. Hopefully he can see tomorrow
how high-quality players Finland has

 

[Knight53]

Things that I was looking forward to:

1)WJC
2)Trade deadline
3)Draft

Number 1 was a complete DUD, lets see how the other two go.

 

[Ace101]

Things that I was looking forward to:

1)WJC
2)Trade deadline
3)Draft

Number 1 was a complete DUD, lets see how the other two go.

When we get Drouin at the trade deadline and Mathews at the draft

 

[CanaFan]

Things that I was looking forward to:

1)WJC
2)Trade deadline
3)Draft

Number 1 was a complete DUD, lets see how the other two go.

Pretty much how I feel too. Was looking forward to WJC as a break from this gross season and that wound up being a complete nightmare. Which makes me nervous about how the TDL and draft are going to go. Seems I can't have anything nice that is hockey related this season.

 

[Jay Cee]

Guy just wants to be a scout but still holding the role/title of a GM... Absolute mistake not to hire a qualified president to do the actual boring GM work if this is how Benning wants to operate.

Well, I like the concept, but when the team has issues it needs to deal with and you oh lose to an inferior opponent in a 7 game series it just looks bad. Even if it made no difference and super Trev there who is the real boss, you just have to have the sense to protect yourself from those types of criticisms. I am sure since his bosses hired him to be in part a good scout he is confused how this is now a problem because the team sucks.