Jyrki21 wrote:
I strongly dislike everything this management team has done so far.
I'm incredibly pessimistic as well.
Things I dislike
1. The situation looks pretty bleak and I've been pretty clear that I think now is a good time to sell off anyone who wants out. I just don't want to spend the next four years lingering on either edge of the playoffs with zero chance of a cup ala Calgary from 2008-2013. The fan base understands this for the most part and will accept a rebuild but the message we're getting is that the team is focused on making the playoffs......sounds too much like the the Flames Feaster famine years for my liking.
2. The drafts today are mystifying, 'meat and potatoes' in the first round when there was significantly more talented players available. Add to that a 6'4", 6'5" and 6'7" player, two of which have nothing else that can redeem themselves as hockey players and I think we have a pretty good idea that they value size over the skill that maintains high possession. And if there is an analytics team within the Canuck's they obviously have little influence. I expect Gilman will be looking to leave.
3. Shinkaruk is the only prospect that is likely to be a star. The prospect pool is still incredibly weak. As Charron pointed out today, the pool could have been Shinkaruk, Valeri Nichushkin, Ho-Sang and William Nylander. That would be a group I would be turned on about.
On the positive side.
1. The trades were good. Didn't like the Kesler trade but since Anaheim was the only option allowed and it sounds like Kesler was a large negative to the team he had to go. The other trades were really solid and it's nice that they seem to be able to deal with other teams where Gillis was pretty restricted in partners for whatever reason.
2. I actually really like both the Benning and Desjardin choices. Bennings draft history is superb, so hopefully he see's something with McCann and Virtanen that the stats don't.
3. Thomas Gradin still has influence, the 5th round choice of Gustav Forsling looks really promising.
Right now I'm just in wait and see mode for free agency. I suspect they will try and spend the $17 mil in cap space (rumour is they want Miller) and make the playoffs, exact opposite of what I want to see. However if they choose to hang onto the cash, and be open with the fans about their intentions of rebuilding I'll be quite pleased.