There was a tweet in the post replied to that had the Canucks looking for another Derek Dorsett type.
I have a bit of trouble understanding, if that is the case, why the Canucks haven't given Archibald a try. He was injured earlier in the season, but is back and reportedly playing well on a hard-hitting line for the Comets. He is bigger than Dorsett, probably tougher than Dorsett, can be an intimidating presence, provides pushback and had a breakthrough (by tough guy standards) offensive year last season in Utica under Green. He probably fights less than Dorsett but can be an intimidating presence and showed really well in preseason, lasting until almost the very end despite not being signed to an NHL contract and the Canucks already being committed to Dorsett as their tough-guy winger. The decision at the time seemed to be between keeping the younger Virtanen and Archibald.
If they really want some pushback I'd have expected them to sign Archibald to a 2-way at the NHL minimum and give him a try. If he doesn't work out they could send him back down and the only thing lost is the Comets not having Archibald available while Archibald gets his tryout.
Can one of the Utica posters say whether there's some obvious defect so that he's just not good enough to be a 4th liner in the NHL? Obviously we Canuck fans haven's seen much of him for about four seasons.
I think the concern from WTG is valid. I don't have a great problem with the third rounder for Dorsett, though extending him for four years at $2.65 mill per was ludicrous, but the trades for Gudbranson and Prust worked out horribly. I'd really rather not see Benning give up more young assets for whatever aging toughness some other team doesn't want at this time of year, particularly if he may have at least a fill-in available with no acquisition cost that wouldn't put much of a dent in the salary cap.
