TheGuardian Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 (edited) It really is a new forum. But how different? Some fans project the playoffs. Other's don't Some hope the last 30 games in the last two years will carry over, some see those games as meaningless because the writing was on the wall already. EP is a player of great speculation if he re-signs. Hughes might be too young to carry the pressure of being the mouth piece on a struggling team. The cap will play a role, how much isn't certain but it is a surety it will Does Myers start with the Canucks? Are more draft picks going to be traded away to make cap space. Prospects may be the talk of the town again especially if the team stumbles If the team does stumble how much leeway to fans have left? Will Hronek be the opposite of what Detroit has been saying about him being a defensive liability? And then there is his next contract. Oodles of questions. Will Vancouver be better than LA, Edmonton, Seattle, Calgary and Vegas? Is their hope for the #2 WC spot realistic? Or needing another team to stumble? Loads of questions. Edited December 15, 2023 by TheGuardian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounce000 Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 My expectation is the 12 overall pick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slegr Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 Playoffs for us this year, plus we finish with more points than the Leafs. I’m never wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baratheon Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 We’re making the playoffs this year. Too many things would have to go wrong for us to miss. The team may have made some short term moves but this year IS the short term! Buckle up everyone! For the first time in a long time, this year really matters!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanSeanBean Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 Playoffs. That's my expectation and anything short of playoffs in my eyes is a failure. No more of this meaningful games in March bullshit. It's time for things to start coming together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGuardian Posted September 16, 2023 Author Share Posted September 16, 2023 For those that are optimistic, how? Why? and who do they surpass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJockitch Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 Could go either way. Wouldn’t be surprised if bottom ten in league or top 10, though certainly more surprised if we were top 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jester13 Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 (edited) 7 minutes ago, TheGuardian said: For those that are optimistic, how? Why? and who do they surpass? I'm very optimistic. Why? Because this new coaching staff will introduced actual structure, the GM brought in a legit RHDman (Hronek) and balanced out the back end, as well as bringing in 4+ new and legit pkers, and Demko is healthy to start the season. Plus, the entire team is actually in shape and ready to start the season. Who do we surpass? Seattle, LA, Calgary, Winnipeg... well, everyone but Edmonton and Vegas, although I believe we'll surprise a ton of pundits this year and give those two teams a run for their money as well. Edited September 16, 2023 by Jester13 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Blue Green Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 It has to be playoffs for sure this season. Anything less will be a drastic failure for this team. We all know so much can go wrong and so much has to go right to make the show but I do believe we have the team that should be competing for a playoff spot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimito Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 (edited) A decent start is a must. Can't go 0-7. Rough schedule to start, so they better be ready. And so far even before the preseason starts, the players and coaches seem to be more focused and prepared. Achilles heel last season was PK. Got new players for that's and a new staff. Demko needs to be a difference maker, and stay healthy. They blew away so many leads last yr, it was comical. If they can clean that up, they have enough offense to win. I expect them to get in this season. Edited September 16, 2023 by Jaimito Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogs and Podz Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 It's tough because teams around them have a good chance to improve this year. I expect the Pacific division as a whole becoming more competitive. However... Like the previous 3 seasons lol!!!... I believe they'll make the playoffs. Not sure as a top seed or wc. Regardless... If we do make the show... Watch out!! I could see this team get to conference final! As per usual, It will all come down to key injuries. If we are healthy enough within our core players we'll be a very tough out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truefan99 Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 We’ve improved on defence a lot, Demko staying healthy and resurgent play by some players should be enough to push us into the playoffs. it’s been more than a decade since a legitimate playoff team. Everyone is just tired of losing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGuardian Posted September 16, 2023 Author Share Posted September 16, 2023 Just now, Truefan99 said: We’ve improved on defence a lot, Demko staying healthy and resurgent play by some players should be enough to push us into the playoffs. it’s been more than a decade since a legitimate playoff team. Everyone is just tired of losing. IMO Demko is sketchy. 2/3 years in a row with injuries or surgeries. Fans tired of not trying to do what is needed to win. Bungling the cap year after year. Passive use of rules that might help tomorrow for a little added pain today. Being told what we want regardless of the messages sent by a fanbase. We can't know, we are JUST fans and expect instant gratification but then they operate like they are expecting instant and unrealistic gratification. Then are surprised when the bill shows up and have a ready made excuse. "The job is hard because of the cap" If that hard for them then get out of the kitchen and get someone, like maybe the monkey, to run the thing. 5 minutes ago, Hogs and Podz said: It's tough because teams around them have a good chance to improve this year. I expect the Pacific division as a whole becoming more competitive. However... Like the previous 3 seasons lol!!!... I believe they'll make the playoffs. Not sure as a top seed or wc. Regardless... If we do make the show... Watch out!! I could see this team get to conference final! As per usual, It will all come down to key injuries. If we are healthy enough within our core players we'll be a very tough out. All teams have injuries, some like Vegas 2 years ago are devastating in number. Man games lost often count those on LTIR so Vancouver places a player on LTIR immediately at the beginning or the season, usually a SOIR then gets Poolman for 82 man games lost. So they start the season with almost 100 man games lost and then injuries are an excuse. Pacific division will be hotly contested, it looks like Allvin just might have decided to wait out the other teams to get older. There is no way the Canucks can match up to a McDavid/Draisatl center combination or the four centers/lines Vegas has now. Both those groups are bloodied teams now and are getting larger on the back end. Calgary still have a stout defence and if Marky plays to his usual level they only have to check EP into the ground. They missed the playoffs by only two points. Even without Toffoli they have many other players that if they have half the resurgence expected from Canuck fans for their team they will be formattable Seattle is something the Canucks might be trying to do but again they added to a whole that knew what they were, they are relentless in their checking loaded still with large veteran defencemen that can be nasty at times. LA have veteran leadership, cup and playoff experience, many young players and depth but might need a stud goalie although they have managed for tow years without one. Anaheim has been on the outside looking in for 5 years now, loaded with good to great potential prospects, cap space and draft picks to augment the line up as the season progresses, they could make it difficult for the Canucks, SJ, they seem to be doing a Canuck thing right now or maybe doing a tank for Celibrini this year. The Central division has Colorado, they might still make a move to replace Landenskog or use Nishushkin in a trade but are a powerhouse even without Landeskog, Minnesota is surprising considering the cap issues they have but good scouting has them with a pretty decent team despite 14+ mil in dead cap space and they have improved every year since covid. Dallas is another team with good scouting but might face a bigger decline in some of their high priced talent. They have enough youth to step up and those higher priced guys could fit well in reduced roles. Their defence have good vets and very good young, under 25, players, also not bad size, Nashville might be hard to figure, it appears they have added to a fairly strongly bonded team with the right kind of "team" players, they missed the show by 4 wins last year so are close. Winnipeg could be dropping out of the race early to go for more cap controlled good players and the next couple of drafts have some decent players in the tp 3 or 4, if they go that route. IMO it will be more of a retooling, right now they could go either way. They have the cap space to take on a big ticket player at the TDL and enough draft picks and prospects to make that kind of retooling move, they could go either way. They could change the NHL with only two trades. Arizona look like they made they move to be a playoff spot contender this year, they added veteran defence and forwards combined with a few highly ranked prospects that could make the line up. Again loads of cap space and an embarrassing number of draft picks, I think it might just be possible they push Winnipeg out. Chicago, they have Bedard and who knows for sure how he will work in the NHL. But Chicago does have the experience getting to the cup in short order after drafting star players or at least a playoff spot. For all that they traded away good players they still have a stable of enviable youth, draft picks and cap space. A 20+ point increase is not out of the realm of possibility. They have a very large play sized defence but not a challenge to bypass the Canucks I don't think, Chicago likes to get two back to back top picks or did in the past. An issue for the Canucks is they are more a collection of players with little or few close ties. 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Huggy Bear Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 2 hours ago, Jester13 said: I'm very optimistic. Why? Because this new coaching staff will introduced actual structure, the GM brought in a legit RHDman (Hronek) and balanced out the back end, as well as bringing in 4+ new and legit pkers, and Demko is healthy to start the season. Plus, the entire team is actually in shape and ready to start the season. Who do we surpass? Seattle, LA, Calgary, Winnipeg... well, everyone but Edmonton and Vegas, although I believe we'll surprise a ton of pundits this year and give those two teams a run for their money as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGuardian Posted September 16, 2023 Author Share Posted September 16, 2023 1 hour ago, Truefan99 said: We’ve improved on defence a lot, Demko staying healthy and resurgent play by some players should be enough to push us into the playoffs. it’s been more than a decade since a legitimate playoff team. Everyone is just tired of losing. Improved defence, not too sure about that. Apart from the contracts OEL and Myers have/had played outside of their comfort zones but both were playing close to 20 minutes or more nightly. OEL never got that contract for playing like Edler he got it for playing more like Hughes, offence first. When he got here he was expected to play a game he really never had to play, defence first. It didn't help that he broke his foot before last season started either. Myers is similar except he is expected to play, or was, to play a 1/2 shutdown role, PK specialist and mentor for many different partners. IMO in a reduced role he would be a valuable player to have on the team especially as he is one of few that can win board battles. That said I don't think Hronek is a shut down defenceman either. Again young RFA defenceman with as few games as he had don't get contracts his size for being defensive minded, in fact his defence was often criticized in Detroit. And if they move Myers, the defence as a whole is one of the smallest in the league with only Soucy over 6'1" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucklifer Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 Healthy Demko is key Our defensive game/ and PK have to be better with Cole, Souci, Irwin ( the quiet signing) and 2 defensive centres. Myers is in a contract year and has more defensive coaching to push him. Expect he will stay until deadline or beyond Hogs and Pods will be really hungry to stick and we have great depth for wingers All signs point to a playoff bound team with Tochett cracking it when they slip up. what can go wrong???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 I predict the senior exec that made the decision to pull the plug on CDC will suffer the same fate as this dude from the Molson Canadian commercial in 1998... ("blue pass, red shoot") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SV. Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Probably a WC spot in the best conditions. VGK, EDM, and LAK are better than VAN at the moment. After that, it's anybody's guess how VAN squares up to CGY and SEA. Going to make the safe assumption that ANA is still a little bit off, ARZ and SJS many ways off. Of course, the quality of the other division plays a factor with the WC. On paper, I like this group better than many of the other groups we've trotted out in previous seasons, so I don't think shouts of playoffs are too outlandish this year. Still unlikely in my eyes, but not something that's a long shot or something that would be seen as delusional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 This team makes the playoffs, no question in my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 I already posted my predictions in this thread: In short though, I'm predicting the team to just barely miss the playoffs. Score less, but allow fewer goals as well. My brain says we're good enough, but after last year, I have a hard time believing my brain anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubik Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 (edited) just pls make the f-cking playoffs already. Btw, where do we stand on swearing here on new CDC? lol Bc I'm used to old CDC automatically censoring swear words, but nope, not here. At least not yet. Edited September 17, 2023 by Rubik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Aquaman Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 Let’s just hope for a good October, good first 25 games. No more starting slow….. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francesco Aquilini Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 We need playoff hockey. Badly. Really bad. That’s all I need. Best Regards, FA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFaithfulcap Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 My predictions: -overall: we become phoenix 2.0, better defensively but the focus on it makes our goal scoring decline -peterrson and kuz stay under 35 goals each but lead team - hughes scores 15 goals - Goals against goes down, demko/desmith have decent top 20 seasons. - pk gets a little better (not hard) but still in the bottom 10 teams. - we still narrowly miss playoffs - someone signs colliton away from abby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 I can see us being a bubble playoff team off the back off the 'core'. After what I've seen in the preseason to this point i actually don't think we make the playoffs tho unless they all have career years tho. Can see us around our usual spot but maybe only 3-4 points back of the wildcard this year. We are missing a true #2 D which is really going to hurt us and the right side is really weak after Hronek. Our skill wingers on big-money contracts have little in the way of skill or power and I can see goal-scoring being a huge problem this year unless the Core plays absolutely out of their skin. Outside of Kuzmenko not a single winger has stood out this camp for me. The Tochett brand of tough board battle forechecking hockey doesn't really suit our complement of wingers. I know that's a bit negative, and I'm gonna cheer like hell for us to make it - but that is the current reality of the situation based on what I've seen so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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