theguardianII
Registered User
- Jan 30, 2020
- 3,236
- 1,666
Well it is evident that this team is no where near ready to take on the good teams.
First lets put to rest last years fluke and illegal appearance in the playoffs.
Fluke because the NHL allowed 24 teams into the try outs.
Illegal because the Canucks were allowed to circumnavigate NHL rules on the cap for playin games allowing them a 14 million dollar advantage and not losing any players through the waivers.
All the players got older but the elders on the team lost more faster, they did not improve, they declined and the majority of the team fit in that category.
The players this team are leaning on are the youngest, Edmonton did this for a decade and did it work? Is it necessary to try it here?
One of the issues is over valuating player values and skills.
Hughes is especially a player that will sell tickets and provide entertainment in the regular season IF they an get a super defensive player to play with him although it seems he get a pass after pass for bad plays, being out of position and not being able to win battles in the dzone, he is fun to watch when he skates with the puck all over the place, but too individual and the rest of the team get lost trying to figure out what he is going to do and try to cover up for him.
Pettersson is what he is, a very good forward, how good is yet to be seen but not up to the level of the super stars of the league so far, a team players though.
Boeser has improved his game becoming more a 200' player, his injuries could come back to haunt him in 5 years or so though but right now there are teams in WIN NOW that could give the Canucks a big push in improvement as long as fans realize that instant gratification isn't on the shelf.
Horvat has been a warrior, improving year after year but losing is starting to become the norm for him, again another player that could get multiple players of his level that are younger.
Miller is a hot commodity and another player that could fetch a key piece for a decade team plan.
Demko is on the cusp of being a goalie for 8 years or so that will be a Vezina canditate.
If there is a blow up it isn't a matter of winning every trade
It isn't about spending to the cap or over.
It will be about a plan with targeted players to create a long term core.
If the plan has Pettersson and Demko as the main parts to build around then the next part is who to target to get the other four key parts.
I would want a stud defenceman that can play both
Dahlin is probably the most available believe it or not. Buffalo will be capped soon, they already have decent defense without him. A Hughes for Dahlin is some form can be made. IMO
Sergachev, a step down from Hughes in offence but improvements in size and defence.
Any deal for another defenceman should be for a top tier player in their early 20's
That's all the examples I care to give.
The main thing is that the team is married to any of these assets and if any are dealt they should be for players that are well vetted, the team can't be trading away McCanns' for Gudbranson's or picks for cap relief in Miller or Schmidt. Those are loser trades that help other teams rather than the Canucks.
Teams to try to trade with
Buffalo - Dahlin, Cozens, Eichel, Rienhart
Arizona -Ekman-Larsson with 50% retention and pick/prospect, Chychrun
Detroit - They would want Hughes +, Larkin or Mantha
NJD -
Carolina - Svechnikov - because of cap, they have to sign Hamilton
Seattle -
Edmonton - win now - TDL, help load them up for top picks
Another aspect
Let all the FA's go, trade them
Use retention to improve returns for expiring contracts.
Ignore division rivalries for trades, ie; Sutter/Pearson/Edler/Holtby to Edmonton/Calgary/Ottawa/Toronto with 50% retention but top end returns.
Acknowledge that there are no marriage contracts ie; Hughes, if he can get a top 3 forward or used to get the right defenceman.
Think about player desires within limits, this goes towards league wide reputation. ie; Horvat, a great warrior here for 8/9 years but maybe time for him to get a chance at a cup before he is 27 yrs old
Buy out Roussel or Beagle and maybe resign for less money like Stone did in Calgary.
Make as much room as possible for the expansion draft, there will be a chance for quick depth improvement for the bottom six.
Cap space goal of 40 million at the end of this season barring early trades for studs and 1rst round picks.
Use cap space to buy picks via a bad contract, Detroit, Toronto and Chicago have all given up top picks and players to make cap space, Benning has been giving up top picks and prospects to help other cup winning teams make cap space for players those teams deemed expendable.
Eriksson may be able to be bought out and save money next year but carry a 1 year 4 mil cap hit.
Ferland for sure should be bought out as his contract is not insured so money savings is up front.
This is not trading away all nor is it doing it all at once but surely over two years max, this year and next.
The expansion must be a priority to improve the depth of the team and maybe snag a late bloomer.
Not complete yet have to go
First lets put to rest last years fluke and illegal appearance in the playoffs.
Fluke because the NHL allowed 24 teams into the try outs.
Illegal because the Canucks were allowed to circumnavigate NHL rules on the cap for playin games allowing them a 14 million dollar advantage and not losing any players through the waivers.
All the players got older but the elders on the team lost more faster, they did not improve, they declined and the majority of the team fit in that category.
The players this team are leaning on are the youngest, Edmonton did this for a decade and did it work? Is it necessary to try it here?
One of the issues is over valuating player values and skills.
Hughes is especially a player that will sell tickets and provide entertainment in the regular season IF they an get a super defensive player to play with him although it seems he get a pass after pass for bad plays, being out of position and not being able to win battles in the dzone, he is fun to watch when he skates with the puck all over the place, but too individual and the rest of the team get lost trying to figure out what he is going to do and try to cover up for him.
Pettersson is what he is, a very good forward, how good is yet to be seen but not up to the level of the super stars of the league so far, a team players though.
Boeser has improved his game becoming more a 200' player, his injuries could come back to haunt him in 5 years or so though but right now there are teams in WIN NOW that could give the Canucks a big push in improvement as long as fans realize that instant gratification isn't on the shelf.
Horvat has been a warrior, improving year after year but losing is starting to become the norm for him, again another player that could get multiple players of his level that are younger.
Miller is a hot commodity and another player that could fetch a key piece for a decade team plan.
Demko is on the cusp of being a goalie for 8 years or so that will be a Vezina canditate.
If there is a blow up it isn't a matter of winning every trade
It isn't about spending to the cap or over.
It will be about a plan with targeted players to create a long term core.
If the plan has Pettersson and Demko as the main parts to build around then the next part is who to target to get the other four key parts.
I would want a stud defenceman that can play both
Dahlin is probably the most available believe it or not. Buffalo will be capped soon, they already have decent defense without him. A Hughes for Dahlin is some form can be made. IMO
Sergachev, a step down from Hughes in offence but improvements in size and defence.
Any deal for another defenceman should be for a top tier player in their early 20's
That's all the examples I care to give.
The main thing is that the team is married to any of these assets and if any are dealt they should be for players that are well vetted, the team can't be trading away McCanns' for Gudbranson's or picks for cap relief in Miller or Schmidt. Those are loser trades that help other teams rather than the Canucks.
Teams to try to trade with
Buffalo - Dahlin, Cozens, Eichel, Rienhart
Arizona -Ekman-Larsson with 50% retention and pick/prospect, Chychrun
Detroit - They would want Hughes +, Larkin or Mantha
NJD -
Carolina - Svechnikov - because of cap, they have to sign Hamilton
Seattle -
Edmonton - win now - TDL, help load them up for top picks
Another aspect
Let all the FA's go, trade them
Use retention to improve returns for expiring contracts.
Ignore division rivalries for trades, ie; Sutter/Pearson/Edler/Holtby to Edmonton/Calgary/Ottawa/Toronto with 50% retention but top end returns.
Acknowledge that there are no marriage contracts ie; Hughes, if he can get a top 3 forward or used to get the right defenceman.
Think about player desires within limits, this goes towards league wide reputation. ie; Horvat, a great warrior here for 8/9 years but maybe time for him to get a chance at a cup before he is 27 yrs old
Buy out Roussel or Beagle and maybe resign for less money like Stone did in Calgary.
Make as much room as possible for the expansion draft, there will be a chance for quick depth improvement for the bottom six.
Cap space goal of 40 million at the end of this season barring early trades for studs and 1rst round picks.
Use cap space to buy picks via a bad contract, Detroit, Toronto and Chicago have all given up top picks and players to make cap space, Benning has been giving up top picks and prospects to help other cup winning teams make cap space for players those teams deemed expendable.
Eriksson may be able to be bought out and save money next year but carry a 1 year 4 mil cap hit.
Ferland for sure should be bought out as his contract is not insured so money savings is up front.
This is not trading away all nor is it doing it all at once but surely over two years max, this year and next.
The expansion must be a priority to improve the depth of the team and maybe snag a late bloomer.
Not complete yet have to go