GDT: Training Camp 2021

[bandwagonesque]

And the combos for Group A;



At the moment - looks like Eriksson as the 13th F, with MacEwen on the outside looking in.

Also, Rafferty being the 7th D is interesting - although he will get bumped down the chart when Hamonic arrives.

Looks like Hoglander is definitely making the team.

One reason EP got so much attention as a rookie is that he's exciting to watch. Even when earlier Canucks teams played effectively, they were never exciting, apart from the occasional flourish from Boeser. I think Hoglander will be another player that actually makes exciting, unexpected plays. I can't wait to watch him.

 

[Josepho]

i have no idea why we're not trying hughes-myers again.

 

[4Twenty]

Yeah 2008-2009 Bieksa was awesome with Mitchell and reliable as a shutdown defender. 2009-2011 Bieksa was a legitimate top 3 dman. What we saw after was one of the steepest declines which probably clouds peoples memories.

Willie tying him to Sbisa sped up that decline considerably.

 

[4Twenty]

i have no idea why we're not trying hughes-myers again.

I think because they know it can work. But also doesn’t work that well vs top competition.

 

[4Twenty]

People forget Bieksa had a lot of haters when he played here. He had a tendency to be nonchalant defensively and lose his assignments. I do not understand the hate Myers gets from the fanbase - he is a more than capable 2nd pairing guy at this point and has been a very consistent 30 point per year guy throughout his career. Stecher got exposed badly in the playoffs when Myers went down and had to increase his minutes.

Also, Hamonic is 1 year removed from being a top pairing shutdown defenseman (Tanev mold). He battled injuries last year, which is a very good thing for the Canucks because it's the only reason he was available for us.

Myers is the teams highest paid defensman. Is the least suitable to top 4 matchups and was a liability in the playoffs. Couldn’t keep up and took an incredible amount of penalties. I want to say he had 10 or more before he hurt his shoulder.

 

[Shareefruck]

Yeah 2008-2009 Bieksa was awesome with Mitchell and reliable as a shutdown defender. 2009-2011 Bieksa was a legitimate top 3 dman. What we saw after was one of the steepest declines which probably clouds peoples memories.

Yeah, for a while, Bieksa basically alternated year to year between looking incredible and looking awful, until he fell off a cliff.

 

[4Twenty]

We’ll find out early how well hoglander can defend as Bo tends to get the McDavid matchup vs Edmonton.

Kid has to be happier than a pig in shit with the opportunity and lack of competition for the spot.

 

[I am toxic]

We've hardly hung out since the pandemic. I thought describing things in ways that are technically true but also kind of absurd and hysterical might be something we could do together.

I know, right?

Like, what is more absurd than breakfast over brunch?

Well, other than seeing a $6m aging UFA on your bottom pairing.

Ah, who am I kidding? That's totally non absurd compared to a $6m aging UFA who doesn't even crack a mediocre bottom 6.

 

[krutovsdonut]

green generally respects seniority to a fault at the beginning of the season. for eriksson not to be on the roster on opening day is a statement.

 

[canuckking1]

Holtby in the starters net? Never change Green

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Ok you put Hughes with a player who is a) new to the team and b) hasn't seen NHL action in nearly a year?

Also Holtby as the starter over the guy that was here who showed well in the 2nd round?

f*** you Green.

You know Hoglander will be off the roster in favour of Eriksson after he makes 1 mistake.

 

[M2Beezy]

People forget Bieksa had a lot of haters when he played here. He had a tendency to be nonchalant defensively and lose his assignments. I do not understand the hate Myers gets from the fanbase - he is a more than capable 2nd pairing guy at this point and has been a very consistent 30 point per year guy throughout his career. Stecher got exposed badly in the playoffs when Myers went down and had to increase his minutes.

Also, Hamonic is 1 year removed from being a top pairing shutdown defenseman (Tanev mold). He battled injuries last year, which is a very good thing for the Canucks because it's the only reason he was available for us.

Stecher did NOT get exposed. He performed quite well actually after a couple a tough games he got up to speed QUICKLY. He was the last guy anyone could complain about in the playoffs imo

 

[4Twenty]

Holtby in the starters net? Never change Green

It’s obviously an organizational choice. Demko isn’t Benning’s starter either.

They only have back to backs in the first six weeks.

I can’t imagine they’ve decided to bring in a big name starter to not be the starter.

 

[4Twenty]

Stecher did NOT get exposed. He performed quite well actually after a couple a tough games he got up to speed QUICKLY. He was the last guy anyone could complain about in the playoffs imo

Stecher had the best GF% of all Canucks Dmen in the playoffs. What peoples eyes (and biases of small players) told them doesn’t line up with the results.

 

[Bettman Returnz]

I am still holding on to hope that eriksson gets sent down! This would make me very happy. Maybe it will speed up his retirement!

 

[VanillaCoke]

Imagine Hamonic signs with Edmonton after his PTO

 

[canuckking1]

Worse line in Hockey is back

 

[iceburg]

Provided Hamonic signs, this D is better than last year, IMO. When you factor in that they didn't get into a longer term contract with Tanev, it's even better. I really liked Tanev but conventional wisdom would say that he has 2 to 3 years left more likely on a bottom pairing. I would have preferred Stecher in the mix instead of Benn but, as a group, this D is better.

Imagine it was two years ago total ice time among D-men in order was as follows:
Stecher
Hutton
Edler
Tanev
Pouliot
Gudbranson
Biega
Del Zotto
Schenn

 

[krutovsdonut]

Worse line in Hockey is back

worse comparative stat in hockey is back.

here we have two defensive face off specialist centres with 69% and 77% dzone starts, respectively, last season. so lets compare their icetime performance to other hockey players without adjusting for score effect, deployment and dzone starts and just to make it totally ridiculous lets focus on the times they were both on the ice to make sure we emphasize all the key defensive faceoffs where both of them were put out there in case on was waived out.

 

[4Twenty]

Worse line in Hockey is back

Somehow Motte escapes mention here, but he's equally if not worse than those guys.

 

[4Twenty]

worse comparative stat in hockey is back.

here we have two defensive face off specialist centres with 69% and 77% dzone starts, respectively, last season. so lets compare their icetime performance to other hockey players without adjusting for score effect, deployment and dzone starts and just to make it totally ridiculous lets focus on the times they were both on the ice to make sure we emphasize all the key defensive faceoffs where both of them were put out there in case on was waived out.

So then how would you evaluate if those minutes are being played well? I'll hang up and listen. I'm sure you've answered this for me in the past, but I cant recall your reasoning.

edit, and now that I looked it up that combo is the only combo Beagle broke even on the goals share. Maybe it's not that bad.

There's a reason these two are singled out (because most fans like shiny new or younger/cheaper things) and a guy like Motte isn't, when the reality is he's equally owned in his icetime.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Jasek arriving at camp. No surprise on Eliot, didn't think he was going to factor into anything anyway.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Don't really have a problem with any of the deployments thus far other than Eriksson even being an extra forward (he should be Utica or taxi squad bound), and Holtby being in the starter's net bothers me. I know with the schedule being how it is we're going to see close to a 50/50 split of games regardless, but Demko should really be our guy to start...IMO.

 

[VanJack]

Had a feeling this would probably happen with the bottom six.....Green doesn't yet have contract and he's going to go with the veterans he trusts, although for what reasons is anyone's guess. Any line centered by Jay Beagle won't score a goal a month....and last year the fourth line was getting buried in terms of zone possession. And while Sutter can still win a few faceoffs and kill penalties, he's an offensive black hole on whatever line he plays on.

But if the coach isn't going to use some of the newcomers or benches them if they make a single mistake, then they're probably better off in Utica. Although some of them may have trouble finding ice time down there, with two sets of NHL prospects vying for playing time.

Unfortunately most of these debilitating contracts are going to have to expire before they make any changes in the bottom six.

 

[Blue and Green]

Don't really have a problem with any of the deployments thus far other than Eriksson even being an extra forward (he should be Utica or taxi squad bound), and Holtby being in the starter's net bothers me. I know with the schedule being how it is we're going to see close to a 50/50 split of games regardless, but Demko should really be our guy to start...IMO.

Taxi squad should be for guys on 2-way contracts, and as of last summer Loui still had enough defensive ability both at even strength and on the PK to be a spare forward in the NHL. I don't see a case for sending him to Utica unless he is absolutely atrocious during camp and looks like he's completely done.