Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Chris.Quigley]

Canucks are now #1 in the National Hockey League. Who thinks they have what it takes to finally take home the Cup this year?

If so why?

If not why?

[LGSakers]

No.

They aren't gritty enough and Luongo is not the elite tender he could have been. It just won't happen.

[Skyblue]

Are there any Canadians on the team?

[jvalmer]

As long as the Canucks have the Sedin twins, they'll never win the cup. Since 2004, the Sedin twins just aren't willing to pay the price (physically) to win a cup. Canucks will do the usual, win a round, or even two, then lose to a team with more grit.

I still think it was a mistake for them to draft the twins together. Those two borderline incestuous packers come as a package. If one leaves, the other goes too. Throw on top of that, if you look at all the Stanley Cup winners, the teams always have a least one North American in their core group of players. The Canucks have two Swedes. I think cultural differences make it so that European players don't desire the cup as much as a kid born in Moose Jaw.

And Luongo seems he can't regain his form from a few years back. During the Olympics he looked pretty weak. I don't think he's a clutch goalie. And the Canucks need him to steal a few games in the playoffs, since the Canucks just don't have enough scoring power to overcome questionable goaltending.

[LGSakers]

[Louis VI]

The Canucks have a superstar scorer on a great first line and a bona fide star goaltender, so given they have responsible defensive play and a decent coach, they HAVE A SHOT at the cup.

But: Is it a one-line team offensively? Secondary scoring, some clutch secondary offensive talent, is needed, otherwise... "Shutdown the Sedin line" will be the key to each series and one team will likely do just that. Philly has a lot of offensive talent depth, and used it to march to the finals.

Vancouver has 2 of the top-5 scorers so far in the season, and only one more in the top-100 (Kesler).

San Jose has 7 scorers in the top-100 including a defenseman;
Detroit has 6 scorers in the top-100 including TWO defensemen! (with Kronwall not far behind)
Chicago's secondary scoring has dried up this season with just 3 of the top-100 scorers in the NHL, but Keith and Seabrook aren't far off the pace and could return to form;
Anaheim has 5 of the top-57 scorers, including a blueliner. Consider them a dark horse to go all the way!

Philly has 6 forwards in the top-100 scorers and when Pronger comes back healthy, look out!
Pittsburgh has only 4 in the top 100, though one is a dman, with underperforming secondary scoring (talented but dipped production);
Washington too has just 4 in the top 100, no dmen though (will Green turn it up?)

Vancouver is sitting with 3 of the top-100, no dmen, not far from Pens and Caps by this analysis - not bad - but both Pitts and Washington, like Chicago, have had DROPS in secondary scoring whereas VACOUVER HASNT THE 2NDARY HORSES IN THE FIRST PLACE! If Vancouver is serious about making a cup run then a trade for a powerplay quarterback blueliner and a veteran scoring forward would be in order.

[Chris.Quigley]

I don't know if you noticed... But one Sedin down last season didn't stop the other from posting a league best 112 points.

Also, with the way Chicago is playing... Doesn't look like the Canucks will run into them this season anyway. Can't be a force in the playoffs if you don't even make the playoffs.

San Jose? Anaheim? I don't think they have anything on the Canucks in a 7 game series. They don't have defense good enough to shut down the Canucks' offense.

Detroit... That will be the contest. I see it as Canucks V. Redwings in the 3rd round. LA is more likely than Anaheim or San Jose to go far.

You are right on a few things... Grit... and players capable of laying down the big hits. Lou could also be a liability. I don't really like the guy(as a goaltender) and I think he is overpaid. (His cap hit compared to his contribution = pretty crappy). But he has played well in his last couple of games and usually gets better as the season progresses.

I sense one thing from you guys... A little bit of jealousy... The truth is, unless you are a fan of an American team or Les Habs.. Then you really have nothing but an embarrassment to look at this season. I understand the bitterness. Sadly... Doesn't look like there is an upside anytime in the future for the Sens, Oilers, Flames or Leafs. And the even Canadiens may soon be added to that group. I look forward to another decade of under-performance from them...

[jvalmer]

The Canucks do remind me of the Flames in the early 90's. Great regular season team, classic playoff chokers. Lots of talent but couldn't get it done.

So if the Canucks don't win a cup this year, do you still keep the same team next year?

[Chris.Quigley]

I just don't see what the rationale is behind thinking the Canucks don't even have a chance in the playoffs. I mean... basically what I am hearing is that the top team in the NHL has a 0% chance of even making it past the second round.

I am a believer that they are a top 4 contender. That's all. The Cup is never won until the final. Could they lose in the first round? Of course, it happens to teams all the time. Look at what happened to Pittsburgh and Washington last season. Montreal upset them both!

BTW: Tonight I witnessed the Canucks downing San Jose. 4-3. It was a close game. Canucks looked like midgets out there compared to guys like Thorton. But they still got it done.

[YLWRocketMan]

Of course they have a chance, and a very good one too. They were picked by most experts to be there or thereabouts. I think they have all the ingredients to win it. The playoffs are a crapshoot though, and really good teams dont always make it through to the final. That said, it's about time they had a decent team, 40 years and that organization has not had much to be proud of.

[jvalmer]

Canucks have a chance, a 1 in 16 chance of winning it. Like RocketMan said, the playoffs is all about the present, the past don't mean jack.

Interesting tidbit, in much of the 80's the first round was a best out of 5 until 1987 (I believe). The reason they switched to 7 games is because the higher seeded team would often complain about losing those first 2 games and there wasn't enough games left to recover.

[schwa]

[mises]

Whatever team Crosby is on will win.

[LGSakers]

[schwa]