It was another 400KM drive and it was about 3.5 hours until puck drop. In retrospect I wish I would have toughed it out to Quebec City even if the that's where the worst of the traffic was.

The city is beautiful, great place. I recommend a trip there for anyone that reads this if you've never been.
- golfingsince

Absolutely beautiful city, lived in Valcartier for years, have attended several company conferences in QC. When living in Ottawa I rented a car and drove from Ottawa to Ste. Foy on Chemin du Roy (Kings Rd). Highly recommend this route if you have several extra hours to spare.

Absolutely beautiful city, lived in Valcartier for years, have attended several company conferences in QC. When living in Ottawa I rented a car and drove from Ottawa to Ste. Foy on Chemin du Roy (Kings Rd). Highly recommend this route if you have several extra hours to spare.
- Makita

Thanks brother that's a great suggestion. I travel that route frequently enough that I should have done it by now. I could take 3 days to get where I'm going and enjoy it much more.

There's so much beautiful country, I really like the lower St-Lawrence.

Oh I know he’s Finnish/russian. Just was wondering how that factors into the conversation about Canadians being so important.
- neem55

It's really interesting to see which European/American player's experience stacks up to the generational advantage that Canadians have had. Barkov, Draistail, Tkachuk... such a mystery.

It's really interesting to see which European/American player's experience stacks up to the generational advantage that Canadians have had. Barkov, Draistail, Tkachuk... such a mystery.
- NewYorkNuck

You pretty much named the top player from each country, arguably. Meanwhile, 40 year old Perry has 7 goals, McDavid leads in points.......Bennett goals.

Marchand, Reinhardt, Verhege, Bouchard, Hyman, Kane, do I really need to go on?

You pretty much named the top player from each country, arguably. Meanwhile, 40 year old Perry has 7 goals, McDavid leads in points.......Bennett goals.

Marchand, Reinhardt, Verhege, Bouchard, Hyman, Kane, do I really need to go on?
- golfingsince

Right after Bennet in goals is Rantenan, Svechnikov, Draistail, Aho. It's a skill/will thing, not a nationality thing.

Right after Bennet in goals is Rantenan, Svechnikov, Draistail, Aho. It's a skill/will thing, not a nationality thing.
- NewYorkNuck

There are good players from all nationalities, what takes over in the playoffs is will.

I stand by my comment that most Canadian kids playing hockey grow up dreaming of winning the cup and that it makes a difference when push comes to shove. Again, there are no analytics for heart.

Desnoyer is a top 5 player in this draft, could end up being the best at the end of the day. I'd move up for him.

Desnoyer is a top 5 player in this draft, could end up being the best at the end of the day. I'd move up for him.
- golfingsince

I hope he falls to the Flyers. Him or Hagens, but the Islanders might take the hometown boy 1st overall (Hagens).

I hope he falls to the Flyers. Him or Hagens, but the Islanders might take the hometown boy 1st overall (Hagens).
- Pacificgem

Schaffer and Misa are the top 2 players in the draft. They could trade down and take Hagens.

I hope he falls to the Flyers. Him or Hagens, but the Islanders might take the hometown boy 1st overall (Hagens).
- Pacificgem

I think at worst Desnoyers is like Couturier.

Alvin needs to find out what QH is doing right now , and if he's leaning to going UFA , then you trade him this summer for your best returns of high value draft picks and burgoning prospects that we can chill in abby for another season .
Also aggressively pursue best value deals for Hronek, Demko, and Ep40 .
Try to tank for McKenna and either way set the team up with talented depth to build a contender for a decade to come .

Right after Bennet in goals is Rantenan, Svechnikov, Draistail, Aho. It's a skill/will thing, not a nationality thing.
- NewYorkNuck

You realize that 3 of the 4 you mention are out of the playoffs now , and Draistail played in PG in junior didn't he? So he had hardcore small town Canadian training

I think at worst Desnoyers is like Couturier.
- golfingsince

Bold take!

You realize that 3 of the 4 you mention are out of the playoffs now , and Draistail played in PG in junior didn't he? So he had hardcore small town Canadian training
- onesmallleap

He played in the "beautiful" city of Prince Albert

Alvin needs to find out what QH is doing right now , and if he's leaning to going UFA , then you trade him this summer for your best returns of high value draft picks and burgoning prospects that we can chill in abby for another season .
Also aggressively pursue best value deals for Hronek, Demko, and Ep40 .
Try to tank for McKenna and either way set the team up with talented depth to build a contender for a decade to come .
- onesmallleap

Yes he does. However don't think trading your best ever franchise defenceman is the right move at present. Management needs to show Hughes that they are committed to keeping him here long term and to winning. Move Pettersson to NYI for Horvat and Barzal then go after Marner if you need to. Or, give Pettersson the chance to rebound and the support he needs. Either way it's all risk from this point forward.

I think at worst Desnoyers is like Couturier.
- golfingsince

Not exactly sexy but also not the worst thing in the world.

Yes he does. However don't think trading your best ever franchise defenceman is the right move at present. Management needs to show Hughes that they are committed to keeping him here long term and to winning. Move Pettersson to NYI for Horvat and Barzal then go after Marner if you need to. Or, give Pettersson the chance to rebound and the support he needs. Either way it's all risk from this point forward.
- ScotlandVonRickens

Nobody with any value wants to play in Vancouver, in terms of free agents, only fringe players. You're not going to attract a guy like Marner no matter how much money you throw at him. Players around the league know what a poop show the Canucks organization is.

Allvin is going to have to pull off some magnificent trades for quality NHL players, something he's never done in the off-season, or he's going to have to trade away his best players and start over through the draft. Next season is not looking promising at this point.

Nobody with any value wants to play in Vancouver, in terms of free agents, only fringe players. You're not going to attract a guy like Marner no matter how much money you throw at him. Players around the league know what a poop show the Canucks organization is.

Allvin is going to have to pull off some magnificent trades for quality NHL players, something he's never done in the off-season, or he's going to have to trade away his best players and start over through the draft. Next season is not looking promising at this point.
- Pacificgem

Not sure I buy that fully but I do get the dysfunction of the franchise turns people away. It's a top Hockey market in the country. You throw enough cash at Marner and he'll consider coming here. Especially if he knows Hughes is staying. I'm not down on Pettersson like most and think he will rebound. I don't see ownership letting a fresh start happening at the draft. But we'll see. Like I said move Pettersson for Horvat/Barzal (or both) and bring in Marner and you have basically replaced all the points lost with JTM (and Petey) potentially gone. It can all be done, just requires some creative thinking. Foote will replace Tocchet quite well in my opinion. Similar lines of thinking there. It's all workable. Unless the haul for Hughes is absolutely massive, Keep him here.

Not sure I buy that fully but I do get the dysfunction of the franchise turns people away. It's a top Hockey market in the country. You throw enough cash at Marner and he'll consider coming here. Especially if he knows Hughes is staying. I'm not down on Pettersson like most and think he will rebound. I don't see ownership letting a fresh start happening at the draft. But we'll see. Like I said move Pettersson for Horvat/Barzal (or both) and bring in Marner and you have basically replaced all the points lost with JTM (and Petey) potentially gone. It can all be done, just requires some creative thinking. Foote will replace Tocchet quite well in my opinion. Similar lines of thinking there. It's all workable. Unless the haul for Hughes is absolutely massive, Keep him here.
- ScotlandVonRickens

In their history the Canucks have NEVER, EVER, signed the biggest free agent on the unrestricted market...ever. Dan Hamhuis is probably the biggest UFA they've ever signed in their 50+ year history. Honorable mention to Ryan Miller.

I know Canucks fans want that to be a reality, that players of Marner's caliber want to play in Vancouver, but that's just not the reality of it and it never has been.

If the Canucks are ever going to have Cup success, it's going to be a result of the draft and then some additions to support that group.

Not exactly sexy but also not the worst thing in the world.
- Pacificgem

That's a good floor, his ceiling is much higher IMO.

In their history the Canucks have NEVER, EVER, signed the biggest free agent on the unrestricted market...ever. Dan Hamhuis is probably the biggest UFA they've ever signed in their 50+ year history. Honorable mention to Ryan Miller.

I know Canucks fans want that to be a reality, that players of Marner's caliber want to play in Vancouver, but that's just not the reality of it and it never has been.

If the Canucks are ever going to have Cup success, it's going to be a result of the draft and then some additions to support that group.
- Pacificgem

Sundin.

There are good players from all nationalities, what takes over in the playoffs is will.

I stand by my comment that most Canadian kids playing hockey grow up dreaming of winning the cup and that it makes a difference when push comes to shove. Again, there are no analytics for heart.
- golfingsince

You just can't explain it to someone who hasn't experienced it playing or sat in a room and seen how 20 guys interact throughout a season. I tried for about 10 pages over the last few months. But apparently 1 or 2 Canadians are enough to succeed in the Stanley Cup playoffs, even though there isn't a stitch of historical data in over 100 years to back that up.

When I look at the Canucks lineup, it's disheartening, it's full of small, soft, slow, mush, they are in tuff if they don't make significant changes at the forward position. The defence is actually not looking too bad, the forwards though...
- Pacificgem

Ya, pretty imposing, what is it now, 4 defenders at 190 or less? That is going to be a fun to play against group.

Ya, pretty imposing, what is it now, 4 defenders at 190 or less? That is going to be a fun to play against group.
- Nuckerwhatever

Yeah, but they're mobile and can transition the puck quickly. Just completely ignore all the heavy board battles and net clearing you're gonna see in the finals. They don't matter.

Yeah, but they're mobile and can transition the puck quickly. Just completely ignore all the heavy board battles and net clearing you're gonna see in the finals. They don't matter.
- Load Management

Canuck fans have never been known as being very smart.