* “No fewer than two scouts told TSN they now rate the Kingston Frontenacs’ hard-rock defenceman ahead of Fowler. And he wasn’t able to play in the CHL Prospects Game because of an enlarged spleen as a result of a bout of mononucleosis.” – Bob McKenzie (TSN)
* “Huge defender. Communicates on the ice well, supports his partner well, good shot, moves the puck with authority – crisp and hard passes. Has a long reach and uses it.” (THN Future Watch issue 2010)
* ” The more we at North American Central Scouting watch this kid, the more we are convinced he has the potential to become a franchise defenseman who can quarterback a power play. Although there are some concerns about his propensity to get hurt and the fact he still has a lot to learn about the defensive side of the game, his toughness, offensive sense and hockey IQ make him an attractive prospect” – Mark Seidel (THN)
* “Gudbranson to me is a guaranteed long-term NHLer. In my opinion, Gudbranson is another Chris Pronger-type, what he brings that (Pronger) really didn’t do much of, though, is he’ll fight. He is some kind of tough. Chris Pronger is mean and will hit you; Gudbranson will hit you and fight you. Pronger is three inches taller than Gudbranson, so maybe Dion Phaneuf would be an even better comparison.”
– E.J. McGuire, Director of Central Scouting

Chris Pronger-type/Dion Phaneuf LOL
that's a stretch

if he can be a younger Willie Mitchell without the concussion issues, i'd be pretty happy

Those are scouting statements from 2010. Obviously, most players don't hit the potential many scouts project, but that at least explains why he went 3rd overall.

The day the Canucks get a Chris Pronger-type in their top 4 is the day they become serious Cup contenders again

Hopefully it's just a matter of adjusting to a different system for Gudbranson.

Not gonna lie, Sbisa has actually looked pretty decent the past couple of games.

^Agreed. Sbisa hasn't thrown up any pizzas from what I've seen.

And most importantly, he looks to (still) be the Canucks' most physical defenseman while avoiding being a defensive liability. Time will tell, but it looks like all that time watching the world cup from the press box has done wonders for his game :D

how about virtanen? he's seemed pretty invisible to me. looks like he should be playing in the AHL.

Well he did this yesterday:

those kinda players are discontinued, canada dont produce them anymore

the next closest thing is drew dotty

im surpised virtanen "slamming" the guys head is getting so many complaints. was harmless especially compared to the cheap elbow lucic threw to okposo's head that went uncalled and unnoticed

Remember when played against Chicago and had trouble with big buff?

Remember when we had troubles against Lucic / Chara and the big bad bruins?

Kings and Brown?

How the Canucks defence can't fight back against players crashing the crease?

I'm kind of glad that we got Gudbranson and Tryamkin. Them with Sbisa gives us a defence line up that's grittier.

I'd say Virtanen's move was pretty damn dirty... if slamming a guy's head into the boards isn't dirty I don't know what is

and speaking of Virtanen, not sure what he's doing with the big club, he could obviously use a year in the AHL

wasnt even a slam. he had is hand on his back and as the guy fell it slid towards the head as he skated thru.

Either you're drunk, or you have your homer goggles strapped on extra tight. Virtanen CLEARLY pushes Nordstrom's head towards the boards.

lmao at sliding his hand towards his head

u can take the boy out of Abbotsford but you can't take Abbotsford out of the boy

I like the little gay move he had at the very end............ after his hand slid off the helmet. Gulolololol

Nordstrom is a pussy for allowing Virtanen to do that.
Seriously, Virtanen was limp wristed the whole way through. Nordstrom has been around the league for a lot of years, and still only pulls in $600k per year. Maybe a more manly workout regimen would help him to be a little stronger on the ice. You know, like a professional athlete should be.

Optics wise, it didn't look good.
But going at it game speed, it's really hard to say if Virtanen intentionally tried to slam Nordstrom's face into the boards.
If he was, why would he do it to such a plug.

fuck who cares! Virtanen got hit late by bouma then got hit from behind in the canes game....not surprised he was frustrated at both non calls...

Virtanen's shoulder check on Nordstrom was pretty good, but pushing his head towards the boards was unnecessary.

that didn't take long

Bring back Chris Levesque

http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/up...evesque_rr.jpg

A battle for the puck between two plugs.
Problem?

:troll:

in a situation like this couldn't Cloutier be the backup?

He can help the tank letting in a goal from center ice :troll:

because