Mike Vanderhoek

I think if they show up Tuesday it will be too late

You just have to put this game behind you and focus in game 7. Vancouver positioned themselves to have a cushion if they didn't bring their A game or couldn't meet Edmonton's level in game 6. Now the Canucks are positioned to win game 7 at home. Full confidence in our Canucks and believe Monday will be a great game between two hungry teams. Its been stated before, the fans have been insanely awesome and the team has fed off that. Game 7, edge Vancouver. No need to focus on the white noise of it all. Edmonton has elite top of the lineup talent, we can appreciate that. Vancouver has the better overall team with better depth. So while media can focus on some of the best talent the league has and yes to be frank most media are on the Oilers bandwagon. Means nothing. I thought the Canucks were and are the better team and it will show on Monday. Silovs has been amazing, 23 year old stepping in like he has there is no doubt regardless of Demko's health that this is his net right now. Reset, focus, and enjoy Monday!!!

I believe a vote was in place and up for around 24 to 48 hours to determine if the majority supported expansion is all. At that time I believe there was a suggested rule for roster requirements which was later adjusted so as a GM I would have a concern if I voted one way after gathering the information at hand then seeing it be adjusted afterwards may change how a team was going to vote. It is 2024, nobody votes for the greater good sadly wish I was joking, every GM would be looking at how it affects them or they are not doing their job. I didn't get a vote as I missed the window to do so, I would have voted against expansion had I not been off the site for a couple days missing the voting window because I feel the league cannot yet support it and we need to fix or sort some issues with respect to communication and activity here firstly. Thanks

No time like the present then to be better right ? here's rooting for him to have a solid non-eventful ( unless annihilating an Oiler with a hit ) game.

I don't see it.

did they announce the lines, is that actually happening if so then holy hell have I been waiting for that.

How many games is considered a season ? I have some players with two seasons of 41+ games played and a 3rd season with under 30 games played. Is this considered 2 or fewer seasons or not ? thanks

Yeah I am a little confused. Perhaps we can get a post of what the rules are for exposure requirements as well as protected requirements. I am concerned there is not going to be ample time to figure this out in terms of ensuring thresholds are met through a number of trades. Thanks

Correction, the Casey chant didn't start well. He was more than fine when he has been in the net since that moment. Yes chants came after certain players did something amazing sure, as fans, the people who cheer their team and players on it is completely the right thing to do to get behind players. We know Pettersson is not playing the way he can, nothing more fan-like than cheering him on and chanting his name hoping he does well and maybe giving him something extra to feed off of. I find there is far too much negativity around this club and some players regularly even after the season we have and continue to witness and its so very lame and disappointing. I mean come on, rally behind our players, not a hard concept. Let's also not try to trade players after losses while we are at it. Let's also remember the series is tied 2 - 2, the Canucks or the fans should have zero negativity as they now buckle down on a best of three with home ice advantage against a team that has only won twice against us in 8 meetings this year.

Yet I would not be surprised at all to see him pot a goal and get an assist tonight!

Sorry, you just don't add a top pair right handed defenseman who can produce 40+ points a season and is overall a solid defenseman to flip him after one full season. It is no secret he has been dealing with nagging upper body injuries thus not being able to get his shot off or passing off. Yet he still hits and battles hard. You will see him extend in Vancouver. His value on a longer term deal still sits at around $7m per. They will get there. The team will still be positioned to bring back around half of these guys while we see a few youngsters get a shot. Lindholm Joshua Blueger Lafferty Zadorov Myers Cole Friedman DeSmith

Frankly we don't know what is up, we have no idea and you'd think if the guy just signed a long term deal to be a Canuck and is in the middle of the Playoffs I really don't think it is a choice that he is responding this way or his body language or interactions look less than heavily invested in what is at stake. He is clearly not a forward that will drive the play, thats ok. He is clearly not a forward that gaurantee will make those around him better or elevate their games, again thats ok. This needs to be acknowledged and understood, he needs to play in a duo situation like he had with Kuzmenko last year. His best bet for most of the season has been Mikheyev and to be honest that is a damn shame and not even fair. I doubt it happens now but he needs to be wing on Lindholm's line and bring back in Hoglander or even Podkolzin as the third on the line. He can finish, he can make sick plays but he needs that player who can sneak him the puck ( Lindholm ) and the other linemate to get those pucks out of the dirty areas ( Hoglander, Podklozin ? was supposed to Mikheyev but.... ). All that other stuff the reaction or facing the media he is a Swede and has always had that nature about him, its not indifference about the whole situation.

It really is that simple. It is tiring seeing his linemates every game then seeing people rip on him for not producing. He had a very good game earlier in the series and Hoglander had him open in maybe 3 prime spots and looked him off. That was frustrating to see no doubt. Maybe Pettersson does not elevate everyone he plays with but there has to be some common sense in that regard as well when seeing who he lines up with. I get the coach wants the centre depth but we need to make adjustments to the top nine: Suter - Miller - Boeser Hoglander - Lindholm - Pettersson Joshua - Blueger - Garland Lindholm and Pettersson elevates that line immensely and Blueger up to his old line with Joshua and Garland elevates him and utilizes his defensive reliability and puck distribution making three solid lines. Aman has stepped in and played well. Karlsson has come in and provided speed, physicality and battle infront of the net, would be great to see him get some shots off. Podkolzin should be due to step back in. I would sit Mikheyev and likely Lafferty. All this being said, the Oilers are very beatable and the Canucks are right there, may have to go seven games but the Canucks will win out against Edmonton. Exciting times.

Its that simple. That have it in them. Just a reset at intermission and take it to Edmonton. Confidence not shaken. Canucks will win tonight!

And this is why I said it is not ok for Soucy to be hammered with a suspension and many people felt " meh it was worth it ". No every detail matters in the Playoffs and if it wasn't for the impending comeback and win in the third I'd have worried it was going to cost the Canucks.

Canucks got this. Win the third and come out on top. Going back to Vancouver 3-1

I think the Canucks like Cole more than the average fan and I know he is not popular right now but he may be the cheaper option to help round out the defense. That being said if there is some misses on bringing back some of the forwards, definitely see the team re-allocating to defense. Maybe a scenario exists where Myers comes back close to $4m per and Zadorov maxes out at around $5m per. Maybe make a strong push to land Matt Roy? he could be a solid piece for this club. Hughes - Hronek Zadorov - Roy Soucy - Myers Juulsen Sell the players on the two interchangeable pairings as second/third pairs kind of like this year has been.

Either way some difficult decisions have to be made and likely one or more unpopular ones in the process. Dakota Joshua, if he is demanding more than $ 3m per he is very likely not returning and its not so much just Vancouver wanting to bring him back. There will be a suitor ready to overpay for his services. He is at a point in his career where he will be very tempted to make some real money as to this point he has not and he is getting older. Teddy Blueger, I think this is a player you see back in Vancouver on a multi year deal around $ 2m per season. Very important player for the team moving forward. Sam Lafferty, he has been fine but is someone who most likely moves on during Free Agency. He has good wheels and can play physical but he will be a casualty of the numbers game. Elias Lindholm, such a luxury to have him and his game really elevated come Playoff time. Problem is he can be a top six C or even top line one on several teams, thus he will see some lucrative offers I just don't think the Canucks can come close to. I also think as much as he may have a blast here on the Canucks run and find success here, his game is not that of a third line C and being placed in that role while great for the team is not an ideal for him, if he's a third line C here he gets underpaid in Free Agency so as much as I would love to see him return I think at best its 60/40 in favor of him moving on. At forward the Canucks will have multiple players pushing for spots out of camp, the likes of Raty, Bains, Sasson, Nielsen, Karlsson, and Podkolzin. Not sure Lekkerimaki is ready to make that jump but we shall see. On defense the team will be extremely thin to start Free Agency, Nikita Zadorov, regardless of the Playoff run and what some suggest he is still a 4/5 defenseman. He will not be offered a clear cut top four role and would need to be ok coming back as a defenseman who can play under 20 mins and some games be third pair or second pair. Vancouver needs to sell potential defensemen on their makeup being a top pair and 2 x second pairs essentially. I think quality of life is big and Vancouver is ideal for he and his family. I could see a return no less than $5m per however. Tyler Myers, another dman who wants to stay here, he would need to be sold on taking a paycut and it could happen but he could also do quite well in Free Agency. Ian Cole, is showing his age a little these Playoffs, a string of bad luck and bounces have gone off him sure but he is very dependable and a great mentor for the club to have. I could see him returning at a reduced rate more in line with a $ 2m per season cap. Filip Hronek, he should extend and project as another 40+ point season. He is not everyone's favorite right now but still see a deal coming in at best case scenario a sliver under $7m per. He has shown to be a valuable member of the defense regardless of a dry post season and end of regular season. Mark Friedman, was a good player to slot into the lineup short term but was losing the confidence of the coaching staff as his tenure has gone on. Likely move on in Free Agency. Another club could give him more opportunity. I would like to see if Brisebois can make the club out of camp as an extra D. He was providing some reliable minutes on previous recalls. Not much cooking on defense with a few long shots so the expectation I have is maybe 2 of the three pending UFAs return and another couple adds out of Free Agency. Goal I dont see Silovs as a backup so think he will continue his growth as the fulltime starter in Abby next year. DeSmith has been great but may simply command more than can be justified at his position. If you can find a backup for Thatcher around $ 1m per range you do that and slide that extra million DeSmith would require and invest into making a run at say keeping Joshua?

Holy crap have I missed a lot! welcome back @Rush, welcome to GML @Snapshot85.

The one thing very noticeable with this management group and coaching staff is they are extremely professional and respectful or at the least know their place. Not to be taken as a sign of weakness and believe me I would have loved to see the club advocate for their players more or not stand for missed calls publicly too but end of the day the right approach is being civil and professional. Tocchet has played this tune all year and he is essentially killing them with kindness re: Sutherland's performance and Tocchet's response " tough job ". Being he is an old school former tough NHL player that has seen it all his words do carry weight. During his media availability when asked about Canucks fines and possible suspensions he ever so subtly mentioned an Oilers missed call that could very well have been as much a suspension as Soucy's. Putting it out there, the league and officials can know the Canucks know the deal, the coach knows what is going on. It was a brilliant display and at some point karma and Vancouver putting their heads down and working harder is going to pay off more and more.

But it is a very big detail the Canucks just got screwed on and the cost of doing business with the Oilers was winning against them and Soucy responding to McDavid going after him at the whistle. Its not ok for the team to just lose a top four dman, its a joke. There should be no cost of doing business is the point.

nobody will entertain that discussion, it will be swept under the rug everytime when brought up. At most you will hear it was a McDavid on the receiving end versus Zadorov. And this is where I would love to see Juice just call it as it is on the panel and see them all squirm and clench lol. Funny as Hyman had intent to hit the face and Soucy hit the face unintentionally but who cares right ?

don't read them. I have confidence in Juulsen, there will likely be more than one moment where he is out of position and if he is against some of that Oilers top end speed it could very well be costly.

I like this approach as well, the appearance of stability and respect. Problem is as a fan I am seeing multiple situations now where the Canucks are getting ripped off by the on ice officials and just took a hit by the league with the loss of Soucy. I would like to see a degree of pushback by the organization even if it is an acknowledgement that they don't agree or question why other situations fell on blind officiating or deaf ears. Nobody is saying the Canucks are saints at all, but there have been a good few incidents now that are disappointing to say the least as a fan of hockey and a lack of accountability. Either way the Canucks will push forward and take the series this round.

I believe Tocchet referenced it as something the league is looking at or did I read that wrong ? either way, how is that not even a discussion anywhere ?