Canucks Best UFA Signing

[ontheDB]

With another UFA season in full swing (and likely dying down), let's do another review of what you think the Canucks best UFA signing ever has been.

IMHO,

1. Ryan Miller
2. Mats Sundin
3. Mark Messier


Obviously the last two were less good signings but rather just prominent ones.
They had less positive impact in their play but rather how much attention and $$$ it brought the franchise (who still has a Messier or Sundin jersey?)

Any UFAs I'm obviously overlooking ? My long-term memory seems to have failed me.

Click to read more...

 

[kanucks25]

Hamhuis > the ones you listed.

 

[John Bender*]

With another UFA season in full swing (and likely dying down), let's do another review of what you think the Canucks best UFA signing ever has been.

IMHO,

1. Ryan Miller
2. Mats Sundin
3. Mark Messier


Obviously the last two were less good signings but rather just prominent ones.
They had less positive impact in their play but rather how much attention and $$$ it brought the franchise (who still has a Messier or Sundin jersey?)

Any UFAs I'm obviously overlooking ? My long-term memory seems to have failed me.

Why bother listing messier? That's like listing bill laforge as one of three suggestions for top Canuck coach of all time.

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

Kinda like "What's your favorite type of weather?"

1) Rain
2) Sleet with freezing temperatures
3) Fire tornadoes


There's literally half a dozen FA signings that have been better than all of the above.

 

[Zarpan]

I'd rank Tanner Glass above Messier...

 

[PhilMick]

Kinda like "What's your favorite type of weather?"

1) Rain
2) Sleet with freezing temperatures
3) Fire tornadoes


There's literally half a dozen FA signings that have been better than all of the above.

Awesome.

You know what's really painful is less than a year ago, we'd probably be talking about Garrison as being somewhere on such a list.

 

[MrShift4]

I don't think you guys are understanding the OPs question (or maybe I am not seeing it properly as he has Miller at number 1). But I see it as him asking what was the biggest name we landed in the relative free agent year, not how they worked out.

 

[whuttheeperson]

I don't think you guys are understanding the OPs question (or maybe I am not seeing he has Miller at number 1). But I see it as him asking what was the biggest name we landed in the relative free agent year, not how they worked out.

I don't think that's our fault, it's a terribly worded post.

As far as best UFA signing? In the last 20 years you'd have to think Hamhuis is up there. We would have won the cup if he didn't get injured throwing one of the most epic hip checks of all time.

 

[ontheDB]

yet they remain unnamed.

A UFA signing is more than just about stats and on-ice performance.
Veterans offer lockerroom leadership and literally tutoring the younger players.

The Messier signing (while probably the worst UFA signing in most respects), but Vancouver on the map. Especially after the failed Gretzky signing.

Kinda like "What's your favorite type of weather?"

1) Rain
2) Sleet with freezing temperatures
3) Fire tornadoes


There's literally half a dozen FA signings that have been better than all of the above.

 

[Free Edler]

Messier signing put Vancouver on the map? Did I just have a stroke?

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Veterans offer lockerroom leadership and literally tutoring the younger players.

The Messier signing (while probably the worst UFA signing in most respects), but Vancouver on the map.

i condemn you...to hell

 

[MrShift4]

I don't think that's our fault, it's a terribly worded post.

As far as best UFA signing? In the last 20 years you'd have to think Hamhuis is up there. We would have won the cup if he didn't get injured throwing one of the most epic hip checks of all time.

I agree. He has some work to do. Dear OP: try the edit function.

Hamhuis was still one of the biggest names that year too. Can't remember who else was in that year though.

 

[Fat Tony]

[I agree with Messier. He helped position the Canucks to draft the Sedins.

 

[Fat Tony]

yet they remain unnamed.

Why name them? Messier is the worst UFA signing in team history.

A UFA signing is more than just about stats and on-ice performance.
Veterans offer lockerroom leadership and literally tutoring the younger players.

The Keenan/Messier tagteam destroyed that locker room.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

guys, i know we all hate messier but you weren't in the locker room. maybe he was pivotal behind the scenes. let's give credit where credit is due and consider that maybe:

messier groomed naslund into the chokey disappointment and poor leader he became. under messier's leadership bertuzzi really found himself. i don't think he consistently sabotages the team and his own career without those valuable locker room lessons from watching the moose.

 

[ontheDB]

I agree. He has some work to do. Dear OP: try the edit function.

Hamhuis was still one of the biggest names that year too. Can't remember who else was in that year though.

Fair point.

I left it at "best signing" to leave it up to people's interpretations, though I should not have.
A very defined question is too easy to answer...and has been answered multiple times in the past.

Hamhuis was a quality signing as he's been a solid defensive d-men. But I don't think he was any more integral than the top players on those teams.
They could've gotten another D-men like Paul Martin or just kept Willie Mitchell

 

[ontheDB]

I agree Messier was a huge disappointment on the ice and was generally bad as a teammate and captain.

But it is without a doubt the most prominent Canuck signing. This doesn't necessary translate to a good signing, but it does give the franchise some respect even though it turned out disastrous for the most part.

 

[Canadian Canuck]

Hamhuis
Miller
Samuelsson

 

[Barney Gumble]

They could've gotten another D-men like Paul Martin or just kept Willie Mitchell

Where the team is NOW - yeah sure that could've been an option. But back then, there's no way the Canucks could've afforded to wait around to see when Mitchell would get better.

I'll give honorable mention to Mats Sundin. Looked absolutely horrible initially but he easily proved his worth when it counted - the playoffs (that had the effect he had on Kesler).

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

If the question is "who is the biggest named UFA we have signed", then yes, Mark Messier tops the list quite easily. Mats Sundin is a logical second choice.

The best free agent signings are probably more recent. Willie Mitchell and Dan Hamhuis were two excellent ones.