Recalled/Assigned: Frank Corrado (AHL), Zach Hamill (AHL), and Brendan Gaunce (OHL) sent down

Bleach Clean

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Aug 9, 2006
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Alberts' peripherals were terrible. He's an offensive non-entity with lousy gap control who gives opponents tons of time to make plays. Despite the occasional big hit, he's actually a ridiculously soft defender who is extremely easy to play against for skill players.

And he only played 24 games + 4 playoff games.

And if Corrado is kept up but not receiving icetime, he can be sent down after a few games as well. It's not like they're forced to keep him for the year if they keep him now.

If Alberts is cut too, I'll be slightly more OK with this. Edit - no, he won't be. He's now the #7, of course. They'd better claim somebody on waivers.


So is it because Corrado wasn't kept up in the same fashion of Horvat and Shinkaruk what is really bothering you here? The 5-9 games they will actually play, before being sent down?

Unlike Horvat and Shinkaruk being placeholders for Schroeder and Kassian, Corrado actually knocks a Dman off the roster. Likely, either Alberts/Weber doesn't get picked up on waivers, but it's a bit different than waiting for injured players to return. So I understand why he wasn't treated the same as Horvat/Shinkaruk.
 

MS

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Mar 18, 2002
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Vancouver, BC
We have more to gain with Corrado in Utica playing 25 mins than we have to lose having Weber as our sixth dman playing marginal even strength minutes and playing as a PP specialist.

Losing Alberts to waivers, roster flexibility, etc are all factors here. Plus I gotta say Frankie isn't the 2nd coming of Bobby Orr...MS is acting like he is a top-4, 20 minute a night quality dman. He's young and he's going to make mistakes when he goes up against proven NHLers nightly. Just maybe he's not quite as ready as you think??

WHEN a dman gets hurt, he'll be the first callup, and get more minutes than Weber and Alberts since he's better suited to even strength.

You call it gutless. I call it sound, prudent, and long-term. The slightest of short term pain for long term gain.

I'm a strong believer in preserving the integrity of what a training camp is supposed to be - building a roster through legitimate competition for spots, and keeping the best players. Obviously, a Sedin isn't getting cut, but the bottom 5 spots on a roster should e a dogfight.

I can't stand when teams have set rosters, and tell guys they can win a spot when in reality it's already been decided in July who will be on the team on October 1.

Plus we're keeping a terrible player and a marginal player instead of a guy who looked legitimately good. This decreases our chances of winning games when the season starts next week.


What do you guys think of Shinkaruk and Horvat making the team? I am pretty excited to see some

rookies but I wanted to see Corrado. Corrado still counts as a rookie right?

If he does I was thinking he could have been a darkhorse candidate for rookie of the year if none of

star forwards lights it up like many of us are expecting.


I personally think it will be good for Bo and Hunter to get 9 games in anyways. Im sure they will take

that confidence back to Junior or maybe one of them plays the full season...

Neither belongs. Which is again what drives me nuts. These guys don't look remotely ready, but the organization is telling us how good they've looked and how they've won spots.

Shinkaruk will be an excellent player, but he simply isn't generating shots or chances in dirty areas or scoring areas of the ice. He's weak and being forced to the perimeter, and both his goals were non-chances from along the boards.

Gaunce is fundamentally solid enough and a good enough skater to tread water and not hurt the team, but he isn't ready to be a contributor, and I don't see the value of having him skate on a 4th line in limited minutes.
 

DRich82

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Sep 30, 2009
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I'm a strong believer in preserving the integrity of what a training camp is supposed to be - building a roster through legitimate competition for spots, and keeping the best players. Obviously, a Sedin isn't getting cut, but the bottom 5 spots on a roster should e a dogfight.

I can't stand when teams have set rosters, and tell guys they can win a spot when in reality it's already been decided in July who will be on the team on October 1.

Plus we're keeping a terrible player and a marginal player instead of a guy who looked legitimately good. This decreases our chances of winning games when the season starts next week.




Neither belongs. Which is again what drives me nuts. These guys don't look remotely ready, but the organization is telling us how good they've looked and how they've won spots.

Shinkaruk will be an excellent player, but he simply isn't generating shots or chances in dirty areas or scoring areas of the ice. He's weak and being forced to the perimeter, and both his goals were non-chances from along the boards.

Gaunce is fundamentally solid enough and a good enough skater to tread water and not hurt the team, but he isn't ready to be a contributor, and I don't see the value of having him skate on a 4th line in limited minutes.

First of all its Horvat staying, not Gaunce. Second of all, both will be down in 2 weeks once Kassian and Schroeder are back. The 2 youngsters played better than other veterans like Stuart and Hammil and deserve to make it in the short term.

As for how "terrible" Alberts is, he signed a 1 year deal worth 600k. Let him play a few REAL games and earn his spot. Preseason is not enough of a judge. You cannot discount Alberts' NHL experience, toughness, leadership, etc. If he continues to falter, you have Frankie ready to go.
 

opendoor

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Dec 12, 2006
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Not really surprised. This was the path of least resistance to get down to a 23 man roster. Every other player who is still on the roster either had to be sent down permanently (Horvat and Shinkaruk) or had to be waived.

I honestly wouldn't read all that much into it. He might be down for a while but it could also just be run of the mill roster shuffling and/or the team positioning itself to possibly make a waiver claim if something comes up.


Basically given the roster requirements as we come up to opening day the options after tonight were:

A) Send one of Horvat or Shinkaruk down for the year

B) Waive Alberts or Weber

C) Send Corrado down


Only one of those options can be reversed at the drop of a hat and that's likely why they went with option C. I don't blame the team for wanting to wait and see how the waiver wire and/or trade market shakes out prior to day 1 of the season before making final and irreversible decisions.
 

MS

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Mar 18, 2002
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You mean like occasionally leading all Canucks defensemen in hits? :sarcasm:

He's not what most people would ever call a 'soft defender' or 'easy to play against', you must be thinking of the Oilers depth players.

Yeah, he is.

His gap control is brutal. Because his skating is so poor, he cheats against getting burned wide and constantly gives opponents tons of time and space entering the zone. That time and space is a field day for skilled players.

And because his offensive game is so brutal, we end up constantly stuck in our zone with more chances to throw hits.

So is it because Corrado wasn't kept up in the same fashion of Horvat and Shinkaruk what is really bothering you here? The 5-9 games they will actually play, before being sent down?

Unlike Horvat and Shinkaruk being placeholders for Schroeder and Kassian, Corrado actually knocks a Dman off the roster. Likely, either Alberts/Weber doesn't get picked up on waivers, but it's a bit different than waiting for injured players to return. So I understand why he wasn't treated the same as Horvat/Shinkaruk.

And the defender that would have been knocked off the roster deserved to be knocked off the roster.

We aren't losing a valuable piece here, so the situation should have been the same.

In any case, there's no excuse for not grabbing somebody (anybody!) on waivers before the season to take that #7 spot and get Alberts the hell out of here.
 

MS

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Mar 18, 2002
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First of all its Horvat staying, not Gaunce. Second of all, both will be down in 2 weeks once Kassian and Schroeder are back. The 2 youngsters played better than other veterans like Stuart and Hammil and deserve to make it in the short term.

As for how "terrible" Alberts is, he signed a 1 year deal worth 600k. Let him play a few REAL games and earn his spot. Preseason is not enough of a judge. You cannot discount Alberts' NHL experience, toughness, leadership, etc. If he continues to falter, you have Frankie ready to go.

Sorry, meant Horvat obviously.

Alberts has always been terrible. He's been consistently unplayable in the playoffs, and even when he was allegedly 'playing well' last year goals were still pouring in while he was on the ice. He's a bad player who makes this team worse.
 

NoShowWilly

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Apr 4, 2010
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I know Alberts isn't much use but he is a large defenseman if we need it. Waiving a defenseman and potentially losing one to make space for a guy that can clear freely would be a mistake.

The defensemen are not going to remain healthy throughout the season. Corrado will be first call-up. Also, this team can waive either Weber or Alberts at any point if they are not doing their jobs or an upgrade becomes available.
 

Vankiller Whale

Fire Benning
May 12, 2012
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I know Alberts isn't much use but he is a large defenseman if we need it. Waiving a defenseman and potentially losing one to make space for a guy that can clear freely would be a mistake.

The defensemen are not going to remain healthy throughout the season. Corrado will be first call-up. Also, this team can waive either Weber or Alberts at any point if they are not doing their jobs or an upgrade becomes available.

Alberts isn't doing his job now, and there is an upgrade available in Corrado.
 

me2

Go ahead foot
Jun 28, 2002
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You guys are completely overreacting.

* Gillis/Gilman always seem to do these types of player shuffles just before a season.

* Corrado hasn't missed a single game yet. He may be back very soon, even in the first few games of the season.

* Gillis/Gilman have said they are looking to see if they can use some of their capspace to pick up players before the season.

* Moving Corrado creates an open spot to move a new addition into. If the successfully acquired one, they can then test them and waive one of Alberts/Weber.

So lets all hold back on cutting our wrists until this has played out.
 

David71

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corrado gets to play more mins in utica/ than getting third pairing duty. but he'll be the first call-up once injuries occur. yes he's been very excellent this training camp.
 

Pip

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Feb 2, 2012
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I don't hate the decision to send Corrado down, but what irks me is that the coaching staff and management went back on what they were saying. "We need youth" "they have to earn a spot" etc

If I'm Corrado, I see that as a true oppertunity to make the team full time. He bulked up over the summer, destroyed the Youngstars, and then outplayed his compitition at training camp. He have them the oppertunity to put deserving youth on the team. As much of a nice guy Corrado is, you have to think that this pisses him off. You do everything right and were told spots were earned based on merit, but obviously that's not true.

I have to ask, did he have a chance to make the team at all?
 

me2

Go ahead foot
Jun 28, 2002
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Make my day.
Alberts isn't doing his job now, and there is an upgrade available in Corrado.

And it will be there tomorrow, and the day after and the day after that and .... well you get the idea considering we aren't playing on any other those.

Lets give it a week or two and if the teams sticks with a terrible Weber/Alberts over Corrado then get angry.
 

Spectrefire

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Jan 3, 2013
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I don't hate the decision to send Corrado down, but what irks me is that the coaching staff and management went back on what they were saying. "We need youth" "they have to earn a spot" etc

If I'm Corrado, I see that as a true oppertunity to make the team full time. He bulked up over the summer, destroyed the Youngstars, and then outplayed his compitition at training camp. He have them the oppertunity to put deserving youth on the team. As much of a nice guy Corrado is, you have to think that this pisses him off. You do everything right and were told spots were earned based on merit, but obviously that's not true.

I have to ask, did he have a chance to make the team at all?
Corrado understands that Hockey is a business and that certain things take precedence. Like for example, the fact that the Canucks are carrying only 8 NHL defenseman this season (including Corrado), and losing one of either Weber or Alberts to waivers just keep up would be absolutely insane, especially given this team's history with injuries on the back end.

Everyone saying that we should've waived one of Alberts or Weber to keep Corrado up is essentially saying that we should go into the season carrying 7 NHL defensemen in our ENTIRE system. I'm sure the Canucks would've absolutely kept Corrado up based on merit. But this isn't a merit based decision, this is a decision to not lose assets at a position we're not at all deep in.
 

dbaz

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Jan 29, 2010
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needing youth and wasting development/possibly regressing a player are completely different and management knows it. saying that the team said they needed youth is a weak complaint. yes, the team wants youth, but only want it if it doesnt impede the players growth. a full year in the ahl is better suited for a young dman with upside like corrado than the 6th/7th spot. torts also noted that the spot will only be around 8mins a game and a revolving roster spot. i dont see why people are arguing this, not only was it obvious from the start but the right choice.
 

MS

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Mar 18, 2002
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I don't hate the decision to send Corrado down, but what irks me is that the coaching staff and management went back on what they were saying. "We need youth" "they have to earn a spot" etc

If I'm Corrado, I see that as a true oppertunity to make the team full time. He bulked up over the summer, destroyed the Youngstars, and then outplayed his compitition at training camp. He have them the oppertunity to put deserving youth on the team. As much of a nice guy Corrado is, you have to think that this pisses him off. You do everything right and were told spots were earned based on merit, but obviously that's not true.

I have to ask, did he have a chance to make the team at all?

Exactly.

And no, he didn't. The 7 defenders on our opening night squad were set during the summer. 'Competition for spots' was a farce.

Everyone saying that we should've waived one of Alberts or Weber to keep Corrado up is essentially saying that we should go into the season carrying 7 NHL defensemen in our ENTIRE system. I'm sure the Canucks would've absolutely kept Corrado up based on merit. But this isn't a merit based decision, this is a decision to not lose assets at a position we're not at all deep in.

Alberts would have cleared waivers. He still would have been in the system.

And if he was lost, it would have been easy enough to find someone better. Pretty well anything is better.
 

Spectrefire

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Jan 3, 2013
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Alberts would have cleared waivers. He still would have been in the system.

And if he was lost, it would have been easy enough to find someone better. Pretty well anything is better.
You don't know either of that. You're letting emotions get ahead of cold hard logic. Putting any sort of trust into waivers is insane and irresponsible. The odds of anyone waiving a useful defenseman is low, the odds of us being able to pick him up is even lower. Why on earth would you take such a meaningless risk? All you're doing is putting the team in a bad position for no real reason.
 

Pyromaniac

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May 29, 2012
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As much of a nice guy Corrado is, you have to think that this pisses him off. You do everything right and were told spots were earned based on merit, but obviously that's not true.

I have to ask, did he have a chance to make the team at all?

Not really, they probably already explained to him why he got sent down and what he needs to work on while he is in the AHL.

I am not a Canucks fan but I am really liking Corrado as a prospect.
 

Vankiller Whale

Fire Benning
May 12, 2012
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I wouldn't mind Tommernes as the first call-up in the event of injuries. He should do okay as a 7th defenseman in the event of injuries. Better than having Alberts in our top-6.
 

Spectrefire

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Jan 3, 2013
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Pros of Corrado in Utica
- Plays on top PP
- Plays on top Pairing
- Plays on top PK
- Potentially earns a leadership role

At the end of the day, Corrado would be much better suited in the AHL as a top player instead of in the NHL as a bottom player.

I wouldn't mind Tommernes as the first call-up in the event of injuries. He should do okay as a 7th defenseman in the event of injuries. Better than having Alberts in our top-6.
He doesn't have any NA experience and I wouldn't trust him in a top-six role unless we absolutely have to use him.
 

Pip

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Feb 2, 2012
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You don't know either of that. You're letting emotions get ahead of cold hard logic. Putting any sort of trust into waivers is insane and irresponsible. The odds of anyone waiving a useful defenseman is low, the odds of us being able to pick him up is even lower. Why on earth would you take such a meaningless risk?

There are plenty of Alberts-level players on the waiver wire. I, for one, think we easily could have found a replacement.

Corrado understands that Hockey is a business and that certain things take precedence. Like for example, the fact that the Canucks are carrying only 8 NHL defenseman this season (including Corrado), and losing one of either Weber or Alberts to waivers just keep up would be absolutely insane, especially given this team's history with injuries on the back end.

Everyone saying that we should've waived one of Alberts or Weber to keep Corrado up is essentially saying that we should go into the season carrying 7 NHL defensemen in our ENTIRE system. I'm sure the Canucks would've absolutely kept Corrado up based on merit. But this isn't a merit based decision, this is a decision to not lose assets at a position we're not at all deep in.

If the decision was made in advance and the defense was set, then why do Gillis and Torts stressing the need for young players to come in and make an impact, and that trait camp and preseason would be a tryout for everyone. I know they're not going to openly say the roster is decided or something like that, it was just emphasized that the exact opposite was the case.
 

Pip

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Feb 2, 2012
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Not really, they probably already explained to him why he got sent down and what he needs to work on while he is in the AHL.

I am not a Canucks fan but I am really liking Corrado as a prospect.

This guy destroyed his compitition and then got shafted. I have to think he isn't at the very least fustrated by the whole situation.
 

Spectrefire

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Jan 3, 2013
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There are plenty of Alberts-level players on the waiver wire. I, for one, think we easily could have found a replacement.
But that doesn't solve anything, because we'd still be at 8 dman and we'd STILL have to send someone down.
 

me2

Go ahead foot
Jun 28, 2002
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Make my day.
Exactly.

And no, he didn't. The 7 defenders on our opening night squad were set during the summer. 'Competition for spots' was a farce.

Alberts would have cleared waivers. He still would have been in the system.

And if he was lost, it would have been easy enough to find someone better. Pretty well anything is better.

You aren't normally one to panic MS. Lets wait and see how it pans out over a week or so.
 

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