<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hobey Baker winners has produced some incredible talent in the last 5 years. How does Gaudette stack up against them at the time of their awards?</p>
<p>&mdash; Silver (@DannyH_52) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyH_52/status/1021148941767737349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Compared to recent Hobey Baker award winners, a trophy awarded to the best player in NCAA Div. 1 hockey, Adam Gaudette&#8217;s production is alright. It&#8217;s better than the last forward who won it, New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey, and it bests Will Butcher, though he&#8217;s a defenceman. The above mentioned Johnny Gaudreau put up better numbers, and so too did Jack Eichel.</p>
<p>When you expand the field beyond the last five years, though, Gaudette&#8217;s production is better than most Hobey Baker winners.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Would you do ben hutton for nic petan</p>
<p>&mdash; John Puck (@johnpuck1992) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnpuck1992/status/1021152224301346816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I&#8217;d like to think that the Canucks can do better for Ben Hutton, but that doesn&#8217;t appear to be the case. With that in mind, I&#8217;d think a Hutton-for-Nic Petan sweep would be a good haul for the Canucks. The only problem is that it exacerbates the problem of having far too many bodies up front.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who are the top ten defensive prospects not playing in NHL? Does Juolevi make list? Is Hughes above Maker? Heiskanen?</p>
<p>&mdash; GreenGoat (@greensgoat) <a href="https://twitter.com/greensgoat/status/1021157684698001408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I&#8217;m not certain of the top ten defensive prospects in the NHL off the top of my head. Such an exercise would take a fair amount of time and work. I know that Olli Juolevi is on the low end of that list and that Cale Makar and Miro Heiskanen are on it, too.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who stays and who goes on the blue line? Best predictions!</p>
<p>&mdash; FantasyHockeyAmateur (@HockeyAmatuer) <a href="https://twitter.com/HockeyAmatuer/status/1021182241492238341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I suspect the blue line for this season is going to look an awful lot like last year&#8217;s group. I&#8217;d just sub out Hutton and put Quinn Hughes in there, and you&#8217;re set.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Will Hughes make a decision already?</p>
<p>&mdash; Howard Ng (@howardng02) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardng02/status/1021180888128688133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>My intuition is that you&#8217;re not <em>really</em> upset with how long Quinn Hughes is taking to decide on whether he&#8217;ll sign with the Canucks or return to the University of Michigan next season because you shouldn&#8217;t be. This is a major decision for Hughes to make, and I think he deserves all the time necessary to make it. It&#8217;s not like Hughes is going to make or break the Canucks next season.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Do you think the media affects and/or contributes to sports teams it covers? If so, in what ways?</p>
<p>&mdash; Veronica Xia (@VhockeySugar) <a href="https://twitter.com/VhockeySugar/status/1021178063999119362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I doubt that the media has any real impact on the way the team performs on a night-to-night, game-to-game basis. That said, they play a significant role, good and bad, in dictating the tone around the team, I would like to think.</p>
<p>We at CanucksArmy can get a bad rep, perhaps deservedly at times, for pushing negative narratives. I&#8217;ll often find people in the Canucks&#8217; fan base repeating points we make about certain players or decisions, which sometimes aren&#8217;t terribly flattering. That said, we do a lot of work to dispel ugly myths, too. Think about the Mason Raymond-thing from way back, or the way we pushed back against all the negativity about Hutton last season.</p>
<p>Generally, a lot in the media, and certainly us at CanucksArmy, will report or provide analysis based on what we believe to be true, and provide evidence for those opinions. Sometimes, those opinions catch on in public. In that way, we have an impact on the discourse; I tend to think.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Will one of Benning or Green lose their job if this season is an utter failure?</p>
<p>&mdash; Brewji (@Brewji) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brewji/status/1021171180320055296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I could see Canucks general manager Jim Benning losing his job if the Canucks&#8217; season is as bad as I think it will be, which is to say, very. Perhaps Green finds himself in the crosshairs, too, though I find that far more unlikely.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">How close do you think Dhalen is to being NHL ready ? Odds of Hughes signing ?</p>
<p>&mdash; kris wilson (@kriswilson6) <a href="https://twitter.com/kriswilson6/status/1021165811900141575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Jonathan Dahlen is probably one year out from being an everyday NHL&#8217;er. That said, I hope he gets to sip a cup of coffee at the NHL level this season, and I think that will happen in time.</p>
<p>As for Hughes, I think there&#8217;s a 50/50 chance that he signs with the Canucks.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who will be the next person not named Sedin to enter the hall of fame in w Canucks jersey?</p>
<p>&mdash; Parry Malm (@ParryMalm) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParryMalm/status/1021165239956631553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Roberto Luongo is a surefire Hall of Famer, as far as I&#8217;m concerned, but I&#8217;m not sure whether that counts. If not Luongo, let&#8217;s go with Boeser.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What number will trymkin have for the 2018-19 season?</p>
<p>&mdash; Jordan D,    T.C. (@Jdconservative) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jdconservative/status/1021164865086373888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>88.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">How many goals does eriksson score next year?</p>
<p>&mdash; Drew Lee (@kpl94) <a href="https://twitter.com/kpl94/status/1021162381982937088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I&#8217;m going to offer a little optimism, and go with 15 goals for Eriksson next season.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What do you think may be the  biggest surprise for the Canucks this coming season? One Positive and one negative surprise</p>
<p>&mdash; Vancity_Dunner (@number_1_dunner) <a href="https://twitter.com/number_1_dunner/status/1021162177271508992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Positive surprise: Olli Juolevi forces his way onto the roster in a full-time capacity by the end of the season, and plays well at that.</p>
<p>Negative surprise: Erik Gudbranson plays on the top pair with Alexander Edler.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who is Hughes partner assuming he makes the team</p>
<p>&mdash; jackson (@JacksonCanucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacksonCanucks/status/1021162165498073088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Chris Tanev.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What are harder to find a no 1 center or a 1 d? And why do you think they are difficult to find ? Talent training coaching?</p>
<p>&mdash; mike higashi (@hirokidude) <a href="https://twitter.com/hirokidude/status/1021194778141167617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I lean towards a number one defenceman being the more difficult asset to find. One of the big reasons why is that I find there is so much division among NHL analysts and talent evaluators on what makes a good defenceman. Throw coaches into that mix, too.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your thoughts on the Trouba contract? Is he overrated?</p>
<p>&mdash; ابو Am&#39;mar (@taizzzz5) <a href="https://twitter.com/taizzzz5/status/1021198199703212032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Jets are getting an absolute steal on Jacob Trouba after the arbitrator awarded him a one-year deal valued at $5.5-million. Trouba&#8217;s 24 points don&#8217;t jump off the page, but he produced primary points at 5-on-5 like a first pair defenceman and was just on the outside of first pair results for play-driving.</p>
<p>If anything, I think Trouba is underrated, and I suspect the Jets are going to greatly regret not signing him to a long-term deal when they had the chance.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Do you see the Canucks expressing serious interest in Jacob Trouba and if so what pieces would you see being offered ? (Tanev maybe)</p>
<p>&mdash; Stein (@VancouverGent) <a href="https://twitter.com/VancouverGent/status/1021213391883341824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I could definitely see the Canucks having interest in Trouba. Whether they have the pieces to make such a trade happen or not is another story entirely. Tanev makes <em>some</em> sense in that he&#8217;s a right-shot defenceman, but I think there&#8217;s a significant gap in the quality of those two as assets, and covering that is where the Canucks are going to struggle.</p>
<p>The Jets could use a couple of depth forwards, but I&#8217;m not sure the Canucks have depth forwards of the calibre to make a trade like this happen. This is a first-pair, young, right-shot defenceman we&#8217;re talking about after all.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What rookies do you see being in the lineup from October</p>
<p>&mdash; Canuck fan (@Logansm94383253) <a href="https://twitter.com/Logansm94383253/status/1021231610178359296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Why can every other team sign their rookies to EL deals and make room for youngsters when the canucks cannot?</p>
<p>&mdash; ToddHeintz (@ToddHeintz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ToddHeintz/status/1021231409988431872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The debacle of the Nikita Tryamkin contract aside, I&#8217;m not sure I see eye-to-eye with you on the Canucks&#8217; apparent struggles to sign rookie to entry-level deals.</p>
<p>That second point is valid. They&#8217;ve done a lot to ensure there&#8217;s almost no room for their youngsters this season. But they&#8217;re not alone in that regard.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Headed for the hypothetical, but would Jets want to move a Trouba and his uncertain cap situation for a bit more stable C.Tanev contract, especially if Canucks could retain some of Tanev&#39;s salary to help Jets&#39; cap situation even more?</p>
<p>&mdash; Michael Paweska (@mrpaweska) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrpaweska/status/1021235322506498048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>In the worst-case scenario, the Jets retain the rights to Trouba for the next two seasons. That&#8217;s precisely as many years as are left on Tanev&#8217;s contract. The salary retention point is a good one, but again, I&#8217;m just not sure that makes up the difference in the quality of asset between the two.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Do you see any want to trade sutter?</p>
<p>&mdash; Brant (@drchill49) <a href="https://twitter.com/drchill49/status/1021240946497806336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>From the Canucks? No, not at all. Other teams called on Sutter, apparently around the clock, and the Canucks balked at their offers. It&#8217;s not happening any time soon I don&#8217;t think.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What is the most likely Defenseman to get traded.</p>
<p>&mdash; Brant (@drchill49) <a href="https://twitter.com/drchill49/status/1021240857196867584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Hutton.</p>


https://twitter.com/DannyH_52/status/1021148941767737349

Compared to recent Hobey Baker award winners, a trophy awarded to the best player in NCAA Div. 1 hockey, Adam Gaudette's production is alright. It's better than the last forward who won it, New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey, and it bests Will Butcher, though he's a defenceman. The above mentioned Johnny Gaudreau put up better numbers, and so too did Jack Eichel.

When you expand the field beyond the last five years, though, Gaudette's production is better than most Hobey Baker winners.

https://twitter.com/johnpuck1992/status/1021152224301346816

I'd like to think that the Canucks can do better for Ben Hutton, but that doesn't appear to be the case. With that in mind, I'd think a Hutton-for-Nic Petan sweep would be a good haul for the Canucks. The only problem is that it exacerbates the problem of having far too many bodies up front.

https://twitter.com/greensgoat/status/1021157684698001408

I'm not certain of the top ten defensive prospects in the NHL off the top of my head. Such an exercise would take a fair amount of time and work. I know that Olli Juolevi is on the low end of that list and that Cale Makar and Miro Heiskanen are on it, too.

https://twitter.com/HockeyAmatuer/status/1021182241492238341

I suspect the blue line for this season is going to look an awful lot like last year's group. I'd just sub out Hutton and put Quinn Hughes in there, and you're set.

https://twitter.com/howardng02/status/1021180888128688133

My intuition is that you're not <em>really</em> upset with how long Quinn Hughes is taking to decide on whether he'll sign with the Canucks or return to the University of Michigan next season because you shouldn't be. This is a major decision for Hughes to make, and I think he deserves all the time necessary to make it. It's not like Hughes is going to make or break the Canucks next season.

https://twitter.com/VhockeySugar/status/1021178063999119362

I doubt that the media has any real impact on the way the team performs on a night-to-night, game-to-game basis. That said, they play a significant role, good and bad, in dictating the tone around the team, I would like to think.

We at CanucksArmy can get a bad rep, perhaps deservedly at times, for pushing negative narratives. I'll often find people in the Canucks' fan base repeating points we make about certain players or decisions, which sometimes aren't terribly flattering. That said, we do a lot of work to dispel ugly myths, too. Think about the Mason Raymond-thing from way back, or the way we pushed back against all the negativity about Hutton last season.

Generally, a lot in the media, and certainly us at CanucksArmy, will report or provide analysis based on what we believe to be true, and provide evidence for those opinions. Sometimes, those opinions catch on in public. In that way, we have an impact on the discourse; I tend to think.

https://twitter.com/Brewji/status/1021171180320055296

I could see Canucks general manager Jim Benning losing his job if the Canucks' season is as bad as I think it will be, which is to say, very. Perhaps Green finds himself in the crosshairs, too, though I find that far more unlikely.

https://twitter.com/kriswilson6/status/1021165811900141575

Jonathan Dahlen is probably one year out from being an everyday NHL'er. That said, I hope he gets to sip a cup of coffee at the NHL level this season, and I think that will happen in time.

As for Hughes, I think there's a 50/50 chance that he signs with the Canucks.

https://twitter.com/ParryMalm/status/1021165239956631553

Roberto Luongo is a surefire Hall of Famer, as far as I'm concerned, but I'm not sure whether that counts. If not Luongo, let's go with Boeser.

https://twitter.com/Jdconservative/status/1021164865086373888

88.

https://twitter.com/kpl94/status/1021162381982937088

I'm going to offer a little optimism, and go with 15 goals for Eriksson next season.

https://twitter.com/number_1_dunner/status/1021162177271508992

Positive surprise: Olli Juolevi forces his way onto the roster in a full-time capacity by the end of the season, and plays well at that.

Negative surprise: Erik Gudbranson plays on the top pair with Alexander Edler.

https://twitter.com/JacksonCanucks/status/1021162165498073088

Chris Tanev.

https://twitter.com/hirokidude/status/1021194778141167617

I lean towards a number one defenceman being the more difficult asset to find. One of the big reasons why is that I find there is so much division among NHL analysts and talent evaluators on what makes a good defenceman. Throw coaches into that mix, too.

https://twitter.com/taizzzz5/status/1021198199703212032

The Jets are getting an absolute steal on Jacob Trouba after the arbitrator awarded him a one-year deal valued at $5.5-million. Trouba's 24 points don't jump off the page, but he produced primary points at 5-on-5 like a first pair defenceman and was just on the outside of first pair results for play-driving.

If anything, I think Trouba is underrated, and I suspect the Jets are going to greatly regret not signing him to a long-term deal when they had the chance.

https://twitter.com/VancouverGent/status/1021213391883341824

I could definitely see the Canucks having interest in Trouba. Whether they have the pieces to make such a trade happen or not is another story entirely. Tanev makes <em>some</em> sense in that he's a right-shot defenceman, but I think there's a significant gap in the quality of those two as assets, and covering that is where the Canucks are going to struggle.

The Jets could use a couple of depth forwards, but I'm not sure the Canucks have depth forwards of the calibre to make a trade like this happen. This is a first-pair, young, right-shot defenceman we're talking about after all.

https://twitter.com/Logansm94383253/status/1021231610178359296

Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes.

https://twitter.com/ToddHeintz/status/1021231409988431872

The debacle of the Nikita Tryamkin contract aside, I'm not sure I see eye-to-eye with you on the Canucks' apparent struggles to sign rookie to entry-level deals.

That second point is valid. They've done a lot to ensure there's almost no room for their youngsters this season. But they're not alone in that regard.

https://twitter.com/mrpaweska/status/1021235322506498048

In the worst-case scenario, the Jets retain the rights to Trouba for the next two seasons. That's precisely as many years as are left on Tanev's contract. The salary retention point is a good one, but again, I'm just not sure that makes up the difference in the quality of asset between the two.

https://twitter.com/drchill49/status/1021240946497806336

From the Canucks? No, not at all. Other teams called on Sutter, apparently around the clock, and the Canucks balked at their offers. It's not happening any time soon I don't think.

https://twitter.com/drchill49/status/1021240857196867584

Hutton.

CanucksArmy Monday Mailbag: Jacob Trouba, Chris Tanev and the Opening Night Roster

Jeff Paterson's weekly Vancouver Canucks mailbag.

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