CanucksArmy Monday Mailbag: October 30th

 

In the absolute best case scenario where almost everything goes right for Jake Virtanen from this point onward, I could see him developing into a player similar to what David Booth was in his all-too-brief prime before injuries rendered him ineffective. That’s a compliment, by the way. That player was a play driving, shot generating offensive machine who could play in a team’s top six easily.

Not even close.

I don’t know if I’m willing to go there yet. Canucks general manager Jim Benning is a hell of an amateur talent evaluator, and a lot of his work with the Canucks in the mid-to-late rounds has been impressive enough to lend credence to that label.

The one thing that’s going to hold Benning back in this regard is his work in the top ten of the draft. He’s made progressively better picks with each visit to the top ten of the draft, but taking Virtanen ahead of William Nylander and Nikolaj Ehlers, among others, looms large. Even the Olli Juolevi pick, which was perfectly sensible, doesn’t look great in the context of Clayton Keller’s torrid scoring pace and Mikhail Sergachev’s instant success with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Elias Pettersson pick seems unimpeachable though, and that helps.

I’d expect that rate to improve, if only slightly, over the course of the season.

Way, way too early to make any conclusions one way or the other. Sorry.

In Coyotes general manager John Chayka’s defence, all those players were still playing really well when he added them. And they’ve mostly played well as Coyotes, too. And I’d think that Chayka is of the belief his team is fairly close to turning the corner, and adding players like that will help put him over the top. And that’s not unreasonable. They’ve just had a brutal start. Sportsbooks like Bodog didn’t expect them to be a playoff contender, but nobody thought they would be this poor.

If the Canucks are in a playoff spot, or even close to, at the deadline, I’d guess that they’re not going to sell off veterans. Remember the 2014-15 season? That’s the precedent for the Canucks. Speaking of, the Calgary Flames sold off assets left and right at that year’s deadline, still made the playoffs, and then handily beat the Canucks in the first round.

I swear, I get this question, or some variation of it, at least once or twice a week. Same answer as always: if the Canucks finish in the bottom three of the league again.

Well, if you’d just read Cory Hergott’s post-game Utica Comets recaps, you’d hear plenty about Reid Boucher. He’s on fire!

I said that Mikhail Sergachev was the best defenceman in his class at the time of the draft, and I think that his hot start with the Tampa Bay Lightning reaffirms what an absolute beast he’ll be in the NHL. So yeah, I’d have preferred Sergachev to Juolevi then, and definitely would now.

He’s pretty rad!

Nation Network Radio article went live two hours ago! That’s the future of the podcast.

Markus Granlund. He’s so, so smart.

Too early to say, but I’m comfortable with the notion that the difference in points won’t be that significant.

I watched a lot of Jett Woo last season. Good player. I could see him going late in the first round.

Not at all.

I have an article going live today on The Athletic Vancouver about this very topic!

I can’t see a Chris Tanev trade happening this season, no.

I would have to think so.

No, I think Canucks head coach Travis Green has always used his system. If it wasn’t high-flying in Utica last season, that was a byproduct of the available talent or lack thereof. I can’t speak to Utica Comets head coach Trent Cull’s system this season.

I’ve been mostly lukewarm on Derrick Pouliot. Has alright underlying results, but I’m not seeing a lot from him on a nightly basis. Check back in after about 20 games.

Yes.

I’m not quite sure I get this question? I mean, all due respect, couldn’t anyone look up how many former first-round picks are in the Canucks lineup? Is that the question?

I don’t think the ice will affect Olli Juolevi that much one way or the other. You have to remember, he’s playing in Liiga. In Liiga they use a hybrid ice surface that’s somewhere between international and NHL size. I think what will help Juolevi most is just getting used to his new frame.

I could see Adam Gaudette developing into a Craig Smith type of player. Perhaps a little bit better. William Lockwood, if everything goes right, can develop into a low-end Jannik Hansen-type player.

Petrus Palmu is pretty slick, let me tell yeah. And I’d honestly bet that he plays out his contract with TPS and at least starts his season there next year.

I’m handing out toothbrushes.

Yeah, you can find all the details here:

Yeah, I think so. You can find all the details by following this tweet!

Clayton Keller.

The Canucks should trade Erik Gudbranson as soon as they can find a suitor that’s ripe with futures. As for his value, I’d like to think that the Canucks can get a return package similar to what they originally gave up for Gudbranson.