Calgary didn't get better, at best they're as good as they were last year. Even though LA added Fiala, they have a handful of X-factors that could break wrong for them. Edmonton looks strong, but their blueline is still suspect, and we can't be entirely sure what version of Jack Campbell they're getting. Vegas obviously got weaker

..

Mediocre basically means average or nothing special.

Vancouver's defense isn't even mediocre at best.

They're 20th-30th best, depending on how they play.

No, they're between 14th-19th best, and I know what mediocre is

Are you saying Vancouver's defense in 14th-19th best in the NHL?

Will you list 13 teams that this defense is clearly better than?


Ekman Larsson - Tyler Myers
Quinn Hughes - Luke Schenn
Trav Dermott - Tuck Poolman
Brady Keeper - Kyle Buroughs
--------------------------------------------
Defense Cap Hit = $28,000,000


I left out Rathbone + Juulsen + Wolanin.

None of them played 10 games last year.

I voted yes because he's a star player, and 8 million for a star player isn't that bad. I would much rather have Miller than the typical fringe top 6 players with 5-6 million contracts.

Miller skates well, and has hardly missed any time- very durable player. Now if it was Boeser....then you have a point- Boeser doesnt play physical at all- and cant stay healthy. While the comparison for Miller is often Kesler, in many ways Linden would be more accurate.

Jamie Benn hardly missed any time before his hip injury. He only missed 10 games in 6 years. Father time comes for everyone. Bigger guys that play a gritty game are his favorite.

Of course, I'll list 13 teams with better bluelines than Vancouver just for you:

Carolina, Calgary, Toronto, New Jersey, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Vegas, Nashville, Los Angeles, Colorado, Minnesota, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals

All right, that's actually 15, but it still fits within my projection

You forgot Boston, Buffalo and Edmonton

They were a 102-point team, even if you ignore half the 8-game winning streak.

They had the 8th BEST Goals Against last season. You can't put that all on Demko.

What teams around them got better?

Calgary remains the same IF AND ONLY IF the new parts gel with the team.
Edmonton got worse. Campbell was good in October, GODLY in November, good in December, then below .900 save percentage for the next three months. His overall Saves Above Expected was NEGATIVE for the year. Smith was positive.
Los Angeles got some key parts, but they are relying on a 36-year old goaltender who had his best season in four years. That's unlikely to last.
Vegas is a mess and will be missing several key pieces for weeks, if not months.
The other three teams in the Pacific are so far back that they won't matter.

The biggest new signing for Dallas was Marchment, which isn't a great deal, while the lost Klingberg.
Nashville got better.

I was looking at Edmonton/Calgary/Vegas as part of that statement because I think they're leaps and bounds better than the other teams in the division.

LA is sort of the in same situation as Anaheim, tons of young stars and up and comers that could all have breakout years. Byfield/Kaliyev/Kupari/Vilardi.

Ahhh, they were a 92-point team.
Game is not played on 'paper'...

He's extrapolating their winning percentage specifically under Bruce Boudreau

Edmonton's blueline isn't better than Vancouver's. Buffalo's blueline is still relatively unproven, but it certainly could be better

*cough* *cough* Ondrej Palat *cough*

Hughes = Bouchard . Nurse is better than any other Dman Vancouver has, same with Kulak

Hughes is better than both Bouchard and Nurse. Ekman-Larsson > Kulak, Myers = Kulak

Myers is not better than Kulak, he is a pylon

You have no idea what you're talking about if you think Myers is a pylon. You're only making yourself look stupid

Myers might have the lowest IQ among defenseman in the league

That's still a dumb take

And two of those three teams got worse and the other stayed the same.

Of the teams the Canucks are competing with, only Nashville got better.