“Colorado is all offense and no defense”

More like all grit, some decent defense, mediocre offense and suspect goaltending.

Not that that’s any better but…

Might want to keep in mind that you posted that poll before the Bernier trade. Also, Gillis has indicated that he has other moves on the go (see today’s Vancouver Sun article).

The bandwagon appears to have broken a wheel, lots of casualties… but give the poor shmuck a chance, at least. As far as I know, the season doesn’t start until October.

Screw Fin, keep him up in the box was Pam Anderson.

Let’s just ship in a real Orca and plop him down on the ice with the Sedins. Sure he wouldn’t be effective but Vigneault won’t be able to do much with this crew anyway so let’s just put a whale out there and see what happens.

Or does the NHL have some silly by-law about ONLY humans can play? Typical bureaucracy.

I meant WITH Pam. Sorry, I get all crazy eyed when thinking of her

Shane - Just give us Ryan Smyth and I’ll ship back any non- top-4 defenseman in our stable. Deal?

Nick - Fair point about that poll… I did indeed post it shortly before the Bernier trade.

For people who are interested, the poll had registered about 75% “The Canucks are Screwed” before the trade, and then leveled out to where it is now—hovering around 63%—afterwards. (So Bernier does appear to have improved some fans’ outlook drastically!)

As for bandwagon jumping, have no fear Nick. Gillis is in the line of fire right now, but I agree that the guy can’t be fairly measured for a while.  I’ve just had some difficulties with his decisions thus far—but I also realize there is still much to be judged.

Mike -- The Canucks have no such by-law. For godsakes, Messier was allowed to play on this team for three years…

He wouldn’t be the first player to realize that he had to commit more seriously to his profession after getting passed around a few times.  It’s a good sign that he realizes he has to be more solid from one game to the next instead of playing so inconsistently.  If he didn’t realize it was because of him and blamed the teams he played for, that would be a very bad sign.

He’s young yet. It takes some kids a little longer than others to grow up.

Perhaps the Vancol Canuckalanche could be a good team?

At least a band, anyway. 

Maybe ship in a whale to play goal.  That might work - just make sure no one tripped over his flukes, or he would get an interference penalty - or maybe diving.

With all the player movement still going on, I don’t think too many teams will have set rosters before training camp - I’m actually still expecting Tampa to pick up a few more forwards just for the heck of it, and Los Angeles may have to get some expensive players just to reach the salary floor.

Baroque - you’re very concerned about Tampa the O-Team, aren’t you?

I am, too, actually, particularly after that Boyle trade. Maybe the Movie People Owners in Tampa have a brilliant d-man idea in mind that we don’t know yet? (Or a lot of d-men...)

Meanwhile, Mike and I have been debating the issue of how offer sheets and arbitration rules shake out today.  He’s written some stuff on the issue that should kill Canucks fan dreams about Filppula and Vermette, since those names keep coming up.

Anyway, if anyone has more to add about the rules of this, we’d be happy to hear it.

Bouwmeester and Vermette just filed for salary arbitration, according to TSN, so both are out of play for RFA offer sheets for the next month until the arbitration hearings.

That still leaves Meszaros and Filppula, though…

Oops, looks like TSN and Sportsnet were out of sync, Sportsnet has Filppula on the arbitration list too.

Thanks Nick—and here’s the Sportsnet link for anyone keeping track.

He did no harm in S.J.

We should be trading one of our dmen for Gange
Philly needs D we need O

Baroque - you’re very concerned about Tampa the O-Team, aren’t you?

‘Tis an odd fixation, to be sure.  I always liked St. Louis and Lecavalier, so by extension I’m curious about what happens with their team.

I mean, Barry Melrose?  Seriously?  Taking a personality out of the broadcasting booth has the potential to go horribly/entertainingly wrong. (It sure did with the Detroit Lions and Matt Millen. How many other people have commenters on blogs wonder if they can just hide in the bushes outside his house and beat his brains out, or if they have to have a more complicated plan to eliminate him?)

I despise reality television, but in the case of Tampa I’ll make an exception. If they actually turn out to have a boringly competent but non-flashy defense and don’t score more than three goals in any of their games I will be crushed.

Just an example, but Brad Boyes was passed around a few times as well…

It takes some kids a little longer than others to grow up.

If Bernier turns his career around the way Dan Cleary turned his career around, the Canucks might not suck this year. Hey, it’s possible.

WHy are people panicing and scared this is what Gillis was supposed to do Build a NEW team.

Not re-sign the ones thta didnt work.

He is properly re-building with youth. He isn’t bandaided this team with junk UFA’s the NONIS, BURKE plans where they would sign 3 or 4 junk players to fill holes instead of let the system flourish and let young players fill those wholes.

This is been a greta start to MG career here and he is setting us up to become a contender a REAL contender over the next few seasons.

PLEASE VANCOUVER FANs and BLOGGERS BE PAITENT

This is how a team is properly re-built slow and steady.

PLEASE VANCOUVER FANs and BLOGGERS BE PAITENT

Has anyone ever seen one of these ‘patient’ Canucks fans? 

If we were patient, and didn’t speculate, opinionate, and blaspheme-ate, C&B;- or the whole bloody internet for that matter - wouldn’t exist!