Article content continued

For a team wanting to build for the future, whether its inactivity at the deadline due to bad assets or inability to make a trade, both will be seen as, well…

Decidedly average.

You just kind of want to see them hit one out of the park once in a while, you know?

BEST RETORT

BEST PART OF THE DEADLINE

Watching James Duthie slowly die inside as he tries to have fun while zero trades are made.

Every year a part of his soul slowly fades away before our very eyes as the fun of doing trade deadline shows seems like a distant memory for him.

I just want him to start openly drinking and start screaming for more monkeys at one point, after they’ve broken down a depth player traded for a 5th rounder.

“So what do you think the impact this 7th d-man will have for the Bruins? Let’s bring in our panel of 28 people to break this down.”

“Why don’t we just bring out the monkeys.”

“But James, we only use that for playoff predictions-”

“I SAID BRING OUT SOME GOD DAMN MONKEYS.”

WORST PR MOVE

I bet Canucks claim Chris Stewart on waivers — Dirk Diggler (@pragmaticbabble) February 26, 2018

Had that discussion with someone today. Jim Benning type of winger. Could soften the PR blow of an inactive deadline. https://t.co/uvzkq4mclI — Matthew Sekeres (@mattsekeres) February 26, 2018

I know the fan base is divided at the best of times lately, where even a discussion on the best player based hat design can cause fights in the streets (it was Sutter’s by the way, his was the best, don’t @ me).

But surely the main takeaway from a potential presser where the Canucks have limited activity and only pick up a 30 year old on waivers, would not soften any sort of blow.

I’m not saying the Canucks wouldn’t do this, but I can only imagine the comment section on a Canucks tweet talking about this kind of deadline.

It would have more fights than a Jeremy Davis Canucks Army comment section.

How do you frame picking up a 30 year old on waivers as any sort of positive move for a franchise trying to re-build?

“Hey, he’s younger than Archibald?” doesn’t exactly feel like a great slogan.

Though I mean, “Compete is in our nature” is the bar, so maybe it is.

Seriously, though, using waiver wire pick ups as a shield at a presser is like walking into an outhouse that has no toiler paper and thinking “well hey, socks can do in a pinch.”

BEST STUDENT BECOMES THE MASTER

Vanek has taken young Boeser under his wing thus far, so it's now time for Boeser to spread his wings and unleash the breakaway clapper and make papa Vanek proud before he departs. — ChaQumbo (@ChaQumbo) February 26, 2018

If the only thing Vanek teaches to Brock Boeser is the clapper on the breakaway, then he should be up for one of the top free agent signings in Canucks history.

Long live the breakaway clapper.

BEST POWER PLAY ARTICLE

Janik Biechler, who is fast becoming one of my favorite writers, if for no other reason it feels like he might be Ryan Biech using an alias, has a great breakdown of the Canucks power play up on Canucks Army this week.

Janik, if you don’t remember, also had a great article debunking the idea that Gudbranson made life miserable for people in front of the Canucks net.

I like Janik because he uses a good doses of stats and visuals to try and show the point he is making, which makes for a good read.

Go ahead and read his power play article (especially because he utilizes the “Royal Road” term which always makes me think of a Mario Kart track) and revel in the Canucks power play breakdown.

I won’t ruin the article, but it is very interesting how little the Canucks have relied on using the Royal Road to score their PP goals this year and instead rely on crashing the net a lot.

BEST FEUD

My lifelong nemesis Dan Murphy was in my sights once again tonight, but since I’m a gentleman, I gave him a heads up.

We have rules and we aren’t monsters, after all.

He deserves to know I am gunning for him.

The suit, tie and pocket square are untouchable tonight. The face and hair, well, don’t bully me. — Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) February 26, 2018

Suit, tie and pocket square are untouchable?

Too bad that wasn’t true, because then maybe you wouldn’t have been able to touch them and put them on tonight.

Boom.

That’s right Dan, it’s on.

We haven’t seen this much heat since Cheech roasted the Coyotes.

GIFs of @sportsnetmurph suit jacket matching arena paint job to elevate the feud! — Roxy Flu (@TheRoxyFlu) February 26, 2018

Look at Dan, blending into the background!

You some kind of….some kind of shadow Dan?

You like being a shadow??

OK, I’ve run out of gas.

But how intense has the feud gotten?

Our dogs have become embroiled in it.

Dan’s newest furry addition Peach has been battling it out with my dog Sherlock as of late.

Well it appears Peach runs with a gang now.

And Peach has a crew tonight. So tread lightly. pic.twitter.com/McyCzSJeP1 — Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) February 26, 2018

You thought media feuds couldn’t get this intense?

Our dogs are involved, people.

This is as intense as it gets.

As for my dog, sadly Sherlock doesn’t care much for this feud.

Still, I’d like to think he’s contemplating making fun of Murph’s pocket square.