nameless1
Registered User
- Apr 29, 2009
- 18,202
- 1,019
I will add in my 2 cents.
The players that AV are most comfortable with are defensively responsible players.
If one recalls his first season as coach, he is able to coax more than 100 points with a roster filled with the likes of Marc Chouinard and Lee Goren.
If AV is given a team filled with defensive players, he could probably get that team to the playoffs.
Defense had always been his priority.
That does not mean he does not know how to incorporate offense into his system.
The last couple of years had proven that.
Still, defense is what he values.
That is why the team is full of 2 way players now, and the players who gets the most ice time are those that are defensively responsible and is willing to play a 200 feet game.
I personally thinks AV knows how to develop young players.
The best examples are probably Hansen, Burrows, Kesler, Raymond, Bieksa and Edler.
When he first took over, Burrows and Hansen look to be destined as 3rd or 4th line checkers.
Eventually, he turned them into 2-way players with 20 goals potential annually.
Kesler went from a checking line forward to a Selke-level performer with one 40 goal season under him.
For Raymond, he was taught to be defensively responsible, and while his offense is inconsistent, he can be played in any situation, and he can slot in comfortably on any line.
Bieksa was let loose when AV became coach, and he gave him a 42 point season, while Edler looked to be the #1 Vancouver had been looking for.
Although there are not many examples, it was mainly due to the poor draft record by the front office.
Given what he got, AV was able to exceed the projections of many of the young prospects.
During their draft years, who would have thought Hansen could be a valuable 3rd liner who could score 20 goals, and who would have thought Kesler could be a second liner?
The players themselves worked hard, but AV deserves a lot of credit.
The biggest issue that he has are players who are one-dimensional offensive players, and are not that interested in playing a 200 feet game.
If he can not turn them into 2-way players quickly like Raymond, he really does not know what to do with a pure offensive type, than to cast them aside and play people who are more responsible defensively.
Grabner and Shirokov are the best examples.
Part of it could be due to the fact that the Canucks are perennial playoff, and eventually Cup contenders, which would make him lose patience with them.
I also think that the Canucks being one of the best team in the league also caused him to focus less attention on player development and play players he thinks will give him the best chance to win.
Oreskovich is probably the best example of that.
Still, if that is what it means to have an elite team, I don't think I have a problem with it.
The players that AV are most comfortable with are defensively responsible players.
If one recalls his first season as coach, he is able to coax more than 100 points with a roster filled with the likes of Marc Chouinard and Lee Goren.
If AV is given a team filled with defensive players, he could probably get that team to the playoffs.
Defense had always been his priority.
That does not mean he does not know how to incorporate offense into his system.
The last couple of years had proven that.
Still, defense is what he values.
That is why the team is full of 2 way players now, and the players who gets the most ice time are those that are defensively responsible and is willing to play a 200 feet game.
I personally thinks AV knows how to develop young players.
The best examples are probably Hansen, Burrows, Kesler, Raymond, Bieksa and Edler.
When he first took over, Burrows and Hansen look to be destined as 3rd or 4th line checkers.
Eventually, he turned them into 2-way players with 20 goals potential annually.
Kesler went from a checking line forward to a Selke-level performer with one 40 goal season under him.
For Raymond, he was taught to be defensively responsible, and while his offense is inconsistent, he can be played in any situation, and he can slot in comfortably on any line.
Bieksa was let loose when AV became coach, and he gave him a 42 point season, while Edler looked to be the #1 Vancouver had been looking for.
Although there are not many examples, it was mainly due to the poor draft record by the front office.
Given what he got, AV was able to exceed the projections of many of the young prospects.
During their draft years, who would have thought Hansen could be a valuable 3rd liner who could score 20 goals, and who would have thought Kesler could be a second liner?
The players themselves worked hard, but AV deserves a lot of credit.
The biggest issue that he has are players who are one-dimensional offensive players, and are not that interested in playing a 200 feet game.
If he can not turn them into 2-way players quickly like Raymond, he really does not know what to do with a pure offensive type, than to cast them aside and play people who are more responsible defensively.
Grabner and Shirokov are the best examples.
Part of it could be due to the fact that the Canucks are perennial playoff, and eventually Cup contenders, which would make him lose patience with them.
I also think that the Canucks being one of the best team in the league also caused him to focus less attention on player development and play players he thinks will give him the best chance to win.
Oreskovich is probably the best example of that.
Still, if that is what it means to have an elite team, I don't think I have a problem with it.