Recalled/Assigned: UPD: Canucks assign D Frank Corrado to Utica (Oct 10)

[Canucker]

Who?

Hansen, Raymond, Higgins, Burrows, Kassian, Booth, Torres, Malhotra.

 

[Jimson Hogarth*]

Hansen, Raymond, Higgins, Burrows, Kassian, Booth, Torres, Malhotra.

Hansen doesn't have good size, can't fight and can't play center, Raymond doesn't have the size and doesn't play Center, Higgins lacks the size, doesn't play center, Kassian doesn't play center, Burrows doesn't play center, Booth was trash, Torres doesn't play center and Malholtra was a special defensive player.

Not a single comparable.

 

[Bleach Clean]

Is he your 3LW right now? He isn't mine.

He could be depending on how they work the line-up. If Kassian or Burrows switches to 3RW and Hansen is pushed down to 4RW, Matthias moves up.

If he's a 4LW, he doesn't reach those numbers (20-25 points)IMO, and you don't renew that guy for that role when hopefully kids are coming to fill that spot next year.

He's got the eye catching size and skating ability, it's a tantalizing combination, but for me, this guy has had plenty of time to realize what he is and for me it doesn't seem to be clicking.

I liked that he was pissed off at somebody talking to his goalie, but again, that's not enough for me. That size/skating combo should be looking to drag the puck to the net everytime he gets it. Sadly, he likes the outside.

He will have a tough time reaching those numbers if he is only a 4LW, true. But I do expect him to see time at 3LW this year so there will be opportunity.

I think guys like Richardson and Sestito walk before him. That's two spots coupled with 14th forward spot to offer the rookies.

 

[arsmaster*]

Rushing him? He's 22! When is he going to get a legitimate shot on this team?

This is laughable. As in all years there is no youth movement. Oh well. Enjoy the frustrating no-scoring nights that come along when you ice a team of third liners.

I don't agree with that posters "rushing him" phrase, but Jensen needs more polish. Have no problem sending him down to start. He's got A LOT of issues to iron out in his game. He's got an NHL skill set, he needs to develop his game.

Even his hot streak down in Utica consisted of 17 points in 31 games, 3 of those being assists. I think you and I both know he's got some things to work on, namely playing team based offense.

 

[arsmaster*]

He could be depending on how they work the line-up. If Kassian or Burrows switches to 3RW and Hansen is pushed down to 4RW, Matthias moves up.





He will have a tough time reaching those numbers if he is only a 4LW, true. But I do expect him to see time at 3LW this year so there will be opportunity.

I think guys like Richardson and Sestito walk before him. That's two spots coupled with 14th forward spot to offer the rookies.

So there is our difference.

I don't see Richardson moving first, because he can play center and win faceoffs. Size doesn't factor in for me, because Richardson IMO has proven his utility.

Sestito obviously leaves first.

Sedin-Sedin-Vrbata
Burrows-Bonino-Vey
Higgins-Horvat-Hansen (can swap with Vey)
Matthias-Richardson-Dorsett

Would be my lineup to start, obviously injuries have thrown a wrench into that equation though.

 

[MS]

Matthias is an OK space filler and good versatile depth, but brings little of note to the roster. I'm guessing he'll play the season, score a fairly anonymous 20 points and then move on as a UFA. Or gets dealt for a mid-round pick if we're well out of it at the deadline.

 

[Get North]

I agree with sending Jensen down. He wasn't better than anyone on our top 9 even in pre-season when vets were going 70-80%, he has all the tools and I think with more skill in the AHL he'll start putting up good numbers and we will see him in November.

 

[Canucker]

Hansen doesn't have good size, can't fight and can't play center, Raymond doesn't have the size and doesn't play Center, Higgins lacks the size, doesn't play center, Kassian doesn't play center, Burrows doesn't play center, Booth was trash, Torres doesn't play center and Malholtra was a special defensive player.

Not a single comparable.

I wasn't speaking about Matthias as a 3rd line center so much as I was about having legit 3rd liners in general...so not actually looking for comparable players to Matthias, looking for capable 3rd liners...I do however find it amusing that you regard Malhotra as a "special defensive player", yet he's not someone we've had who was capable of filling the role as a center.

 

[Sharpshooter]

Matthias is an OK space filler and good versatile depth, but brings little of note to the roster. I'm guessing he'll play the season, score a fairly anonymous 20 points and then move on as a UFA. Or gets dealt for a mid-round pick if we're well out of it at the deadline.

Isn't depth and a space/role filler bringing something to the roster? At least in the context of a dependable, veteran, situationally available/dependable player?

Do we need a player that makes the line, team 'smaller'?

 

[Bleach Clean]

So there is our difference.

I don't see Richardson moving first, because he can play center and win faceoffs. Size doesn't factor in for me, because Richardson IMO has proven his utility.

Sestito obviously leaves first.

Sedin-Sedin-Vrbata
Burrows-Bonino-Vey
Higgins-Horvat-Hansen (can swap with Vey)
Matthias-Richardson-Dorsett

Would be my lineup to start, obviously injuries have thrown a wrench into that equation though.

Matthias can play centre. Faceoffs are an issue, just like it is with Vey and Bonino, but all can play centre. I too like Richardson more at centre, but long term, he is the more limited asset overall.

Matthias can compliment lines 2-4 with his skillset while Richardson's utility is more focused. More narrow. That's why I think Richardson goes first. Horvat/Gaunce are primed to take his spot. While Matthias can shift to wing and remain until be figures it out.

They are not going to replace Bonino and Vey with Richardson. And so, he's got one spot until someone takes it from him. That's the way I think about it anyway.

 

[y2kcanucks]

Isn't depth and a space/role filler bringing something to the roster? At least in the context of a dependable, veteran, situationally available/dependable player?

Do we need a player that makes the line, team 'smaller'?

Sure, on a team that has an average or above average first and second lines, and a solid third line. On a team that has a below average first line, a below average second line, and an average or solid third line, Matthias doesn't really help us.

 

[CherryToke]

Rushing him? He's 22! When is he going to get a legitimate shot on this team?

maybe when he makes a legitimate push to make the team.

he can start by putting up better than .38 PPG in the AHL and go from there.

 

[Sharpshooter]

Sure, on a team that has an average or above average first and second lines, and a solid third line. On a team that has a below average first line, a below average second line, and an average or solid third line, Matthias doesn't really help us.

I would put the production of the Nucks 1st line on par with the average of any 1st line in the league, this upcoming season. We will see who's correct down the road.

Matthias may become the 4th line center for all we know. And I don't think there are many teams who wouldn't be pleased to have someone of his ilk in that role, especially if you're rolling 4 lines, as WD has alluded to.

Sedin
Bonino
Vey/Matthias
Matthias/Richardson

That looks like solid center depth to me.

Not sure what you're complaints would be considering our centers.

 

[JuniorNelson]

I would put the production of the Nucks 1st line on par with the average of any 1st line in the league, this upcoming season. We will see who's correct down the road.

You mean in the over thirty category, right?

 

[iFan]

Matthias can play centre. Faceoffs are an issue, just like it is with Vey and Bonino, but all can play centre. I too like Richardson more at centre, but long term, he is the more limited asset overall.

Matthias can compliment lines 2-4 with his skillset while Richardson's utility is more focused. More narrow. That's why I think Richardson goes first. Horvat/Gaunce are primed to take his spot. While Matthias can shift to wing and remain until be figures it out.

They are not going to replace Bonino and Vey with Richardson. And so, he's got one spot until someone takes it from him. That's the way I think about it anyway.

They may play center but they can't win faceoffs all that great... Richardson isn't leaving, he's pretty solid for the 4th line center job, we'll be relying on Richardson pretty heavly for defensive zone faceoff wins,

 

[arsmaster*]

Hansen doesn't have good size, can't fight and can't play center, Raymond doesn't have the size and doesn't play Center, Higgins lacks the size, doesn't play center, Kassian doesn't play center, Burrows doesn't play center, Booth was trash, Torres doesn't play center and Malholtra was a special defensive player.

Not a single comparable.

Shawn Matthias is a horrible center.

Malhotra reinvented himself because very much like Matthias he was no monster getting by on his size and drsft pedigree. He figured it out.

Maybe Shawn still can. I don't expect it.

 

[arsmaster*]

Matthias can play centre. Faceoffs are an issue, just like it is with Vey and Bonino, but all can play centre. I too like Richardson more at centre, but long term, he is the more limited asset overall.

Matthias can compliment lines 2-4 with his skillset while Richardson's utility is more focused. More narrow. That's why I think Richardson goes first. Horvat/Gaunce are primed to take his spot. While Matthias can shift to wing and remain until be figures it out.

They are not going to replace Bonino and Vey with Richardson. And so, he's got one spot until someone takes it from him. That's the way I think about it anyway.

I think Richardson has had more success in his career as a winger with la and Colorado than Matthias has had here or in Florida.

If Matthias is on our 2nd line. That's a very bad sign.

Richardson is a better C and is also effective at wing.

They're both probably gone by next summer anyways.

Matthias probably returns more through trade based on his size.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Rushing him? He's 22! When is he going to get a legitimate shot on this team?

This is laughable. As in all years there is no youth movement. Oh well. Enjoy the frustrating no-scoring nights that come along when you ice a team of third liners.

Because Jensen or Shinkaruk were suddenly going to make us score in buckets. This team's success has always been linked to the Sedins. Our season is determined on the season they have.

 

[Nucker101]

Fowards who are "too good" to be in the AHL should be around PPG in that league, so if either him or Shinkaruk, or both can produce at that rate then I'm sure they'll be called up. Our prospect depth has been so weak for years that we freak out when a guy like Jensen gets sent down when in reality, it's quite common for a prospect with his pedigree this far.

 

[Sharpshooter]

You mean in the over thirty category, right?

No. In the total points for a line category.

 

[denkiteki]

Matthias can play centre. Faceoffs are an issue, just like it is with Vey and Bonino, but all can play centre. I too like Richardson more at centre, but long term, he is the more limited asset overall.

Matthias can compliment lines 2-4 with his skillset while Richardson's utility is more focused. More narrow. That's why I think Richardson goes first. Horvat/Gaunce are primed to take his spot. While Matthias can shift to wing and remain until be figures it out.

They are not going to replace Bonino and Vey with Richardson. And so, he's got one spot until someone takes it from him. That's the way I think about it anyway.

Cap hit and willingness to sign here could make a difference. Richardson likely will have a smaller cap hit than Matthias... if nothing else because he fits a bigger range like you said. The other thing is we will need a 4C period... would Matthias be willing to take that role or would he want a bigger role. Richardson seems to be willing to take the role of 4C and PK specialist.

BG/Horvat, when/if they are in the line-up would compete for the same spot as Matthias. Sure they could also play Richardson's role but realistically, the longer term plan would have them (at the very least) be on the 3rd line if not higher. Horvat would likely be ready for that next season. If he is, the value and need for Matthias drops... on top of what you want to spend on him. Also his willingness to sign here decreases because he probably could get a lock 3rd line spot on some other team (with less depth) and earn more money in the process.

Also note that shifting to the wing is not an asset Matthias has over Richardson because... guess what Richardson can shift to the wing too and has played wing quite a bit in his career. The reason he's a C right now is because we need him there and he's by far the best in the circle (unless Horvat makes the team).

Note i'm not arguing that Richardson is a better player than Matthias... instead i'm arguing who might go first. Of course realistically, both of them could stay or both of them could go too. Trades could happen that open up spot for both BG and Horvat. Dorsett is also a pending UFA and he could go too.

 

[TheWanderer]

I think Matthias had a much worse camp than what he is capable of. People have been spouting off a lot of negativity about him all throughout camp, but seem to fail to recall what we had in him down the stretch last year.

If Matthias remains a 4th liner for us throughout the year, that's a good thing, IMO.



Anyways, Jensen wasn't ready. I agree with him not being up here. He has problems in his game that can and should be solved in the AHL.

 

[B-rock]

I think Matthias had a much worse camp than what he is capable of. People have been spouting off a lot of negativity about him all throughout camp, but seem to fail to recall what we had in him down the stretch last year.

If Matthias remains a 4th liner for us throughout the year, that's a good thing, IMO.



Anyways, Jensen wasn't ready. I agree with him not being up here. He has problems in his game that can and should be solved in the AHL.

I agree with you - Matthias was good last year. As opposed to what someone mentioned above, he DID drive the puck to the net consistently. He wasn't lurking around on the perimeter. This preseason, he hasn't impressed, save for a couple of periods. However, it's very early days, and he's got time to get in gear.

Jensen is going to have to earn it. This was definitely his best preseason, but he clearly wasn't forcing anyone's hand. I don't understand the sentiment that a guy should win a spot because he has an inkling of offence. Let's wait until he sets the world on fire in Utica and then bring him up. What on earth is the rush? This team isn't winning anything this year - why ruin a kid by playing him and then sitting him and then playing him, and then sending him down etc etc...

Tatar played 4 years in the AHL, Nyquist 2 and a bit. They earned it by putting up points in the AHL.
Jensen is a low first. He's not a sure-fire blue chipper that should have been playing at 18.
Let him get good and seasoned in the AHL. That's why we have our own farm team.

 

[biturbo19]

I really don't have any issue with Jensen going down. Pretty well expected i thought.

It's clear that he's right on the cusp of being able to play in the NHL, it's really just a question of how well he would be able to play and how consistently. A bit more seasoning shouldn't really hurt at all, and if he's doing well down there and we happen to need some more scoring punch (seems a likely scenario), he'll get his opportunity. Especially when injuries start to crop up.

I do wish Jensen had been given a game alongside the Sedins in the preseason just to see what happens if you give him the absolute best possible opportunity to succeed. But i get that they were pretty zeroed in on building chemistry with Vrbata and the Twins, but it still would've been nice to see Jensen out there with them and whether or not there's some natural chemistry there in case we want to go to it at some point in the season. Oh well.

 

[Vandalay Industries]

Jensen's biggest mistake in his career was going to Sweden. He lost a year of learning to play the North American rinks and has had trouble ever since.

It was fine sending him back now. He needs to learn to play without the puck and in his own zone. He sure is dangerous in the slot, but barely a game changer right now.