The Vancouver Canucks just limped their way through a third consecutive shutout last night against the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg is no less hampered by injuries than the Canucks, but they have the added drawback of Ondrej Pavelec.

Nothing is working, but by that same token it’s not like the Canucks have anything to lose, either. It’s times like these where you can justify getting experimental. Think along the lines of Alexandre Grenier playing with the Sedin twins, except maybe not that exactly. There are other options, though, and I’m sure there’s more than one percolating upstairs in each of you.

So, I want to hear them. What are your thoughts on this lineup? If there are any improvements you’d like to make, I want to see them in writing. What does your ideal lineup look like?

Barring injuries, is Subban worth getting a good look at in the NHL? If even for a game or two? And, if not, do you have anyone from Utica ahead of him? If so, why?

Subban definitely has the highest upside of any of the prospects left in Utica (though not of all our remaining prospects, such as the guys we have in the NCAA).

If the coaches feel he’s ready, why not bring him up for a few games at the end? He had two full years of junior after his draft year and now a year in the AHL. If he’s going to make it to the NHL, he shouldn’t be all that far away. But let’s keep it to 9 games or under to preserve a year of the ELC. That could end up being worth something.

Bring Subban up, play him on a line with Tryamkin.

Players on opposing teams will take one look at the size differential and feign illness so they don’t have to play against a Russian who looks 10 feet tall by comparison.

Seriously though, I think they’d make a good pairing in a few years. Speedy, offensive, small + defensive, and huge. It would be a fun experiment if nothing else.

Frey:

“Wow. This site went from analytics destination to full 1040 in a big hurry, didn’t it?”

right on!

I don’t get the constant trashing of the Canucks. MSM wants them to lose and tank, and when they lose we hear the coach should be fired, when we win, there is something wrong with the direction of the club. and every trade or non trade is a disaster.

As per Subban, I’d like to see him in a game or two to give him a little taste of the NHL, but if he isn’t ready, according to Green or management, he likely won’t get a NHL game in this season. And I am okay with that. He has to play both ends of the rink, his offensive game is intriguing for the NHL but he can’t be a liability in his own end.

I shudder to think how CA will explode once Subban is traded to the Habs with a third round pick for Emelin at the draft, ending Hamhuis career with the Nucks. The whining of getting nothing for Hamhuis, asset management, Hunter Corrado/Frank Shinkaurak lost-love diatribes resulting in a subsequent headache will take lots of breakfast beers to dull the pain.

I think he will get his shot next year. Another guy not I this organization but in Calgary’s who was undersized was their Johnny Hockey. He seems to be doing ok size and all. I think Subban will be a top call up next year and the year after make a strong statement to stay with the big club.

Subban played in the preseason. He demonstrated composure, good decision-making, read the ice well, made crisp passes and in one instance, passed the puck up ice past a couple defenders and put on a burst of speed to retrieve the puck in the offensive zone himself.

At this juncture, Management doesn’t need to evaluate Subban as much as they need to evaluate Tryamkin and Pedan. Those two need as much playing time as they can handle so they can show what they can and cannot do right now.

If Subban’s career is simply to be your top defender in the minors and provide stability, mentoring and points it’s a good pick. If he gets another shot at camp and shows a wow factor then he may be a good specialized D for the team.

Would I play Subban over Weber and Bartowski? Absolutely. But at this point, there’s really no point to that exercise unless Groot and Pedan suddenly show NHL caliber D skills and then you could bring Subban up for some games in place of the other two.

Subban should be allowed to slow cook, especially with the crowd of waiver-eligible Canucks defencemen next year.

I can’t think of a single example of a prospect ruined by spending ‘too long’ in lower leagues, but I can think of many where it may have played a part when they came up too soon.