WWYDW: State of the Blog

The hockey world has come to a grinding halt, so we’ll turn our attention to goings-on at CanucksArmy for this week. As most of you are aware, J.D. Burke stepped down as managing editor last week. In his stead steps Ryan Biech, who wrote about the state of the blog in this post yesterday morning.

We’re all very sad to see J.D. go, but every time an editor leaves us it opens the door to new opportunities. Some new contributors will be arriving in short order, but in the meantime, we’re still looking to bring new people into the team. So now seems as good a time to ask the readers who help make CanucksArmy the resource it is today how they feel about the state of the blog. What changes or additional content would you like to see at CanucksArmy?

Last week I asked: Where would you like to see Juolevi start the season, and how would you go about making room for him?

He should be in Utica until it’s clear that his conditioning and play force the issue. It would be fine if he spends the entire year down there. He’ll get his callup(s).

I think it is inevitable he starts in Utica. If in preseason, he plays as good, or even better than most our current roster, like Stetcher before, he will go to Utica to start, this doesn’t feel fair, but seems inevitable. Roster players (especially bottom of the roster guys) are hard to move at this time of year with so many FAs having just been acquired, prospects graduating, and buy low FAs still out there to consider at the cost of nothing but $ spent. Point is, everyone wants roster space to be made for him if he earns it (me too), but that is easier said than done. If he waives a player and he gets claimed, everyone will scream bloody murder about asset management, picks they could have gotten in a trade, and so on. Unless he comes into camp and makes them look like fools not to have him in the opening night lineup, he will go down, be and injury call up and buy JB some time to manage assets. I’m ok with that. Maybe Hutton, pouliot, MDZ will really pick it up this season and get us some better trade value, which furthers the rebuild too.

It entirely depends on his pre-season performance. If he looks like he belongs on the big club, he should be there. If he looks like last year, where he struggled to keep up with the pace of an NHL game, he should go down to Utica, and brought up once he looks like he’s adjusted to the North American game.

If he is good enough to make the team then he should be there. If that’s the case, the only way I would send him down is if they are playing the other d to make trades as the season progresses. I would like to see the Canucks trade a lot of players for picks before or at the deadline to make room for more kids moving forward. I can line with a plan to send Juolevi to develop in Utica to allow the Canucks to increase the value and trade other d men.

Sautner and McEneny have to clear waiver this year as well. They should also get spots in camp if they out play any of the signed 8 d men. I like what Biega brings as a part time guy, but with his age, I would rather lose him than Sautner or McEneny.

I can’t see how Juolevi doesn’t beat out at least one of Hutton, Pouliot or Biega to be carried early in the season as an extra D. Scratched for a game or two in Green’s fashion (you’re in the NHL, but you start at the bottom and earn your way up the ranks), and Juolevi will make his debut.

Whether or not there is room on opening night, the 2019-20 D-core will look different with Edler, MDZ, Pouliot and Hutton on expiring contracts, the Canucks will likely need Juolevi in the lineup next season regardless. I think Edler re-signs, and MDZ is gone at the TDL. If Hutton or Pouliot shows poorly at camp and during the pre-season waive him. $2.8 million in the minors is better than an unwatchable product likely costing much much more. If Hutton or Pouliot show good form then unfortunately Biega is the odd man out. Of course injuries will likely render all of this meaningless.

Trade the kid. He’s already a depreciating asset. Although in light of the way Benning continuously waits too long to do anything regarding asset value, I dont forsee the team doing anything other than letting him play it out in the A

Like the other prospects, its not about 2018-2019. We need OJ to become a top 3 defensemen 20 minute guy, 2-3 years down the road, He CANNOT become a 4-7 as this will set the rebuild back. Play him where he’s going to develop. My view is this is Utica until he’s got all the fundamentals in place and clearly needs to be in the NHL.

Just like anyone else, camp/preseason/a handful of games should determine that. If he’s good enough he should be in the NHL. Period. I hope he comes in, has a great camp and whoever doesn’t play as well as he does and doesn’t “fit” gets sent down, traded, or simply released if they have no value.

If he doesn’t play well enough then obviously he should go to Utica and try to make it back up.

I think a better question would be how should the canucks try to motivate a guy like Oli to be the best player he can be.

I’d like to see him start in the NHL if he’s healthy and in shape, otherwise Utica, but he was playing 22 minutes a game in the playoffs in a league that is if not a step up then certainly level with the AHL, so I don’t want to see any young player go sideways at 21 years old. To make room, you’ve got to be prepared to expose Hutton or Biega if you can’t get a trade done for Hutton, Del Zotto or Tanev that brings back the return you want.