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Chapter 1: What players are the Canucks taking to dinners at the combine?
Thank you.
Canuck Central on a Wednesday coming to you live from the Kintec studio. Step strong with orthotics and footwear from Kintec. It's Satyar Shah with Bik Nizar. Producers Josh, Arash, and we also have intern Nico hanging around. We always want to hear from you on the show, so get your thoughts in, especially on an overrated... underrated Wednesday on Canuck Central.
650-650 Dunbar Lumber, trusted by contractors and DIY champions across Metro Vancouver for generations. Find them at three convenient locations or visit Dunbar Lumber online today. Wednesdays also means Kevin Woodley is going to be dropping by in the next segment. And this hour of the program is brought to you by your Lower Mainland Boston Pizza. The playoffs are here and BP is ready.
So skip the couch, catch every hit, every goal, every save, every playoff beard. This is how you watch playoff hockey. And all I could think about, Bic, was you likening this series to the one back in the early 2000s. And you mentioned the first game of that series was a 7-3 game. There were 10 goals. Last night, there were nine goals. Is that going to be the highest scoring game of the series?
And we're going to see a bunch of 1-0, 2-1, 3-1 games from this point on.
yeah maybe i guess because the first period was tough for vegas yeah second period was tough for carolina yeah and i thought okay like there's stretches here maybe we'll get that defensive game but yeah boy oh boy goals open game goals galore so tell us more about that series that you're likening it to well yeah like it started seven three and then and like the year the teams oh it was the stars devils series right late 90s um
Just because we all thought that this would be like a very tight-checking series. Right, but the first game of that series was... It was Devils 7-3, and then here, I just brought it up. It was 2-1 Stars, 2-1 Devils, 3-1 Devils, 1-0 Stars in overtime, and then 2... Oh, sorry, triple overtime, and then 2-1 Devils in double overtime, and that's your series.
Yeah, and... I would not be surprised if it turns out to be pretty similar where it locks up quite a bit after the first game. I would love to see more of these 5-4 games because last night was an exhilarating, fun hockey game. Great way to kick off the Stanley Cup Final in Game 1.
Might be easier in the modern era. That's like peak dead puck era.
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Chapter 2: How does dinner with prospects impact the Canucks' draft strategy?
True that.
Where we're years away from a lockout.
It's like, hey, we can't keep doing this.
But that's all I could think about last night was I'm like, Vic, he cited the perfect series.
Well, yeah, we'll see. But it also, it started off very offensive. Yeah, it did. We'll see how much it reverses course here the rest of the way. Yeah, but a fun game one. I enjoyed it. I really did enjoy it. Well, just because it was like the back and forth too, right? It just...
There was moments, certainly right out of the gate, you're looking at Carolina, you're like, hey, look, they... Both teams threw haymakers. Yeah.
It was great to see.
But it, you know, Carolina comes out so hot with the crowd behind them, everything. And, you know, look, it's a credit to A, Vegas. Also, I think it's a huge credit to Shea Theodore, right? Like, huge fans of him on this show, certainly. And in this market, everyone's... pulling for him to be able to rebound that way and kind of lead by example to get it going.
But even just like the punch-counterpunch the rest of the way with Vegas taking leads and Caroline able to respond, but... They cracked near the end.
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Chapter 3: What are the implications of the Stanley Cup Final for the Canucks?
That's what we're talking about today. We're talking about dinner. The Canucks are having dinner with prospects.
Not about brunches, not about lunches. We're talking about dinners. Yeah, we're talking about dinners.
Not the most important meal of the day, breakfast. No, we're not talking about protein intake. We're talking about dinners. And the dinners the Canucks are going to be having with the top prospects in this year's draft, as confirmed by Rick Dalywald today, Chase Reed, Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Caleb Malhotra. So...
You can essentially surmise those are the top four players on the Canucks list for all intents and purposes. And now that doesn't mean they haven't met with more players. It doesn't mean they haven't discussed with other players. But I think based on everything that we know and understand, these four players will be very high on that list.
Now, the thing that was interesting is Shang Peng mentioned this on social media who covers the San Jose Sharks, that the Sharks nor... the Leafs are meeting with Gavin McKenna. McKenna's only visit dinner is with the Vancouver Canucks. Now, that may not mean anything. It could mean everything. We're at that point of the year where you can kind of try to surmise whatever you want. Yes.
But we know the quartet of players, at the very least, the Canucks are going to be sitting down and talking to. And I don't think there's any surprise in those four names.
No, not at all. I guess I'd be more surprised than, like, Who hasn't? But you would certainly expect those three in particular. Sorry, those four in particular should be high on the list. I guess the two, the ones that would be surprising would be Verhoff and Bjork.
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Chapter 4: Can the Vegas model of team building be replicated by the Canucks?
Right. Should they be part of that group? Carl's, right? Yeah.
But now because I do know now, I don't know if Verhoff is number one on the Canucks list of D-men, but he is very high. I do think there are prominent people within the organization who have Verhoff number one, but on their draft board, is it actually Verhoff or not? I think that's a question to be determined.
But as far as like those four, yeah, like I don't want to read too much into the Sharks Leafs thing. No, I think we've got to be careful with that.
Yeah. Because I think it's one of those things where it's like the Leafs maybe don't want to show their hand in any way, shape, or form. And the Sharks are looking at it and saying... Well, we want to get invested. Yeah, or whatever it is, right?
It could just kind of be one of those... We've seen that in the past in the NFL especially where the team that picked first didn't meet with the guy and all of a sudden they drafted him and the guy's like, I didn't think they're going to take me. Things like that do happen from time to time. It sounds like they don't respect him.
A lot of... A lot of gamesmanship now. There's a lot, yeah. Of, yeah, to your point, not wanting to tip your hand. But it is, it is just funny, especially the way you said it, of like, it could mean nothing. It could mean everything.
No, and the thing is, like we know, like for instance, I do know the Canucks at some point earlier this season met with Keaton Verhoff. Like the Canucks have met with players. I think they've met with other players and at least have some discussions. I know the Leafs have met with the top prospects. I'm pretty sure they did meet with McKenna at some point not too long ago as well.
So just because it's not happening at the combine doesn't mean that it's going to, they're not going to be drafted or they have had no discussions. It could just be gamesmanship. It just could be, hey, we've had our conversation already.
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Chapter 5: What makes the Carolina Hurricanes' approach to team building unique?
We're focusing on other things here today. So I wouldn't read too much into it. It's funny. I think we can have some fun with it. And it's one of those things that we can joke around about. But I don't I don't think you should take take that with too much seriousness. The fact that Gavin McKenna has not spoken to Toronto nor the San Jose Sharks.
But I would say this like it is a draft where I don't think we should assume with 100 percent certainty that McKenna is going first overall. I think it's most likely if I'm putting money down, I'm putting money on McKenna going first overall, but I don't think it's written in stone.
But that's more about like the... If this was just purely, hey, we're just drafting players and it's only about hockey. I think there's like a business component to it all of why...
McKenna is so thought of as number one and you know we had Sammy uh Cosentino on the show here recently yeah and he was talking with like I'm kind of at the same mind it's like what GM is going to have the courage to pass on Gavin McKenna just because like this was the McKenna draft and nothing has happened to dispute him being atop the draft board no and is Keith Pelley allowing the Leafs to draft anybody but the guy who's going to make them the most money
Potentially. Yeah, it's a huge boon to any franchise to get it. So that's why I kind of look at it and it's like, I'd be really, really surprised. If this was just... grab a guy and figure it out, maybe you get a different consideration. And in all honesty, it should be that way. Just draft who you think is the best player, who's the best fit for your organization, all of that.
But there's larger considerations of what leads into the decision-making criteria for these teams. So I look at that and it's like, I don't know if McKenna's going to slip.
Yeah, I would still be surprised, ultimately, based on everything that we mentioned. But I don't think it's one of those years either. We can sit here and say with certainty that this player is for sure going first overall. So that's the prospect side of things. And obviously, Caleb Malhotra is going to be the one that...
is the closest one to watch, especially after Manny was hired as a Canucks head coach. And it's interesting because, you know, I've been asking around about Caleb a lot last little while. And it's interesting to see what people are saying about him right now. And I don't know if this is one of those things where you're talking yourself into a certain player or it's,
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Chapter 6: How do the Canucks compare to the Carolina Hurricanes in terms of team strategy?
you've gone through the evaluation process more and the fact that he's a later bloomer and he showed a lot more success later in the season, that there are people that are reframing what they believe he can be in the National Hockey League.
I've seen more people mention now that they think he can be, we're not talking about him going top two or top three because we think he's a second line center. It's like the reason some teams have him so high is they truly believe he's going to be a first-line center who can score, put up a lot of points, and also be a great two-way player.
And I know Caleb himself compared himself, or he said a player he looks up to is Alex Barkov. And I think there are teams that are talking themselves into him being a Barkov type. And the interesting thing about Barkov, Bick, the year he was drafted second overall, McKinnon went first overall, there was a sense that Seth Jones should have been the second overall pick that year.
Yeah, that was a late push. And when Barkov ended up going second overall, there was some criticism. I remember certain media people saying, you know, they're going to regret not taking Seth Jones second overall, for instance. And a lot of draft analysts mentioned how, hey, it's a bit of a stretch to take Barkov a bit higher. So I've seen people around the... That was the Halifax draft, right?
Because that was... Exactly. McKinnon, Drew, and Jones was very much thought to be... the trio going. And then, Drouin slipping, and then Jones going fourth, obviously. But, yeah, that was very much a big three, and Barkov kind of pierced it late.
Yeah, and that's kind of what some people have been telling me around the league about him. It's like, hey, they're seeing a lot of Barkov vibes, and they're saying, like, because we truly believe he's going to be like that. So don't be surprised if he goes higher than anticipated. Now, do I think San Jose's taking him second overall? I'd be surprised.
Do I think Toronto's taking him first overall? Again, I would be surprised.
But if you're now talking about a spot of this guy's got a small percentage chance of being a first line center.
Yeah.
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Chapter 7: What are the prospects' potential roles in the Canucks' future?
Yeah.
Very, very strong second line center. for a long time in this league. That is such a big thing to find in your organization. But that's why we talk about, hey, go for one of the wings because those guys look like first-line, regular, 75-point wings. At least. For Stenberg, that's a floor high end for McKenna could be 110. But that's why there's a nice little push-pull.
If there's a thought across the league that, hey, this guy's got... Barkov vibes. That is the prototype as much as like McDavid and right now, like the guy who's winning back-to-back cup championships, the guy who goes over to the world championships without even playing an NHL season wins that and People want to find winners, right? 6'3", 220 centers down the middle of the ice.
Yeah, and I think that's where a lot of that momentum is around Caleb Malhotra. I think that's something to obviously keep an eye on here over the next little while. We're going to find out soon. We're three weeks away, essentially, from the NHL draft. Our Whitehorse Insider is texting, and Jesse and Whitehorse, Leafs met with Gavin McKenna and the fam in Whitehorse last week.
Now, I did see that on social media as well. And as we were mentioning, the Leafs have met with McKenna, It was in Whitehorse last week as well. So it's not one of those things where you should be overly concerned or think, oh, the Toronto Maple Leafs don't want Gavin McKenna. But it's one of those things we can have some fun with and joke around about.
But Jesse in Whitehorse confirms Gavin McKenna was meeting with the Leafs in Whitehorse last week, which is, of course, where Gavin McKenna is from.
Todd, what's the point of gamesmanship if you're picking first and definitely not moving the pick? Sounds like drama. For attention's sake. Yeah. The Leafs have never... Sorry, the city of Toronto has never been accused of unnecessary drama. No, exactly.
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Chapter 8: What are the key factors influencing the Canucks' draft decisions this year?
I mean, if anybody does unnecessary drama, it's Toronto, right? Jamie and Chilliwack. In the long run, Florida got both Barkov and Seth Jones. Absolutely. They did. They did. So it worked out for them in that way and they did win another Stanley Cup with Seth Jones in the fold as well. Now, I want to tie this in because one thing that's been talked about quite a bit is the...
the Vegas model or the Carolina Hurricanes model in terms of how to win the Stanley Cup. I know on the 32 Thoughts podcast today, Elliot Friedman kind of mentioned, he wonders with the success Vegas is having and Carolina is having, are teams going to emulate these teams?
I don't think there's any way you can earnestly or realistically emulate Vegas because of how the expansion draft unfolded, how they're a destination that people want to go to in Vegas in and of itself.
So unless you are Vegas, unless you were an expansion franchise that had the opportunities they had to build their franchise in the first place, it's not really something you can point to and say, this is replicable. Especially unless you have like a top five destination, then you can say, well, if you're a top five destination, here's what you can kind of do if you're like Vegas.
But for most teams, the Carolina one would be the one that's probably more attainable in the idea of... Carolina is not considered a hockey hotbed, not only. And number two, it's also not considered a great market for people to live in. I don't think it's a bad market. I do think there are nicer parts of Raleigh, Carolina than people do know about.
But it's not considered one of the top destinations. They have a hard time attracting free agents sometimes. I know Ehlers signed there and whatnot. But...
St. Louis is thought of as a good family market, as much as that's surprising to people. But there's a lot of players that they end up in St. Louis, and they're like, you know what, this is actually pretty great.
Yeah, so the Carolina model is a bit more replicable in that sense. Obviously, you still have to hit on your decisions, but what is it about Carolina you think that teams could try to emulate, and perhaps even a team like Vancouver could?
Well, look, there's a... Big brain element to Carolina, which I think a lot of teams can just copy. Now, there's the application of using data, of course. But the big thing is, you know, for the analytics trend that everyone wants, and I certainly want as well, for teams to start adopting, it's more important of, like, what not to do than it is, oh, how to achieve all the success. You know...
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