GDT: 2018 Free Agency: Jay Beagle 4 x 3M, Antoine Roussel 4 x 3.25M, both w/ limited NTCs

[Buresflyingelbow]

But instead of replacing them with other 4th liners maybe Benning should try and replace them with good or young players. No one is saying that we should ice Chaput, Down or Megna. I just dont think replacing them with Roussel, Beagle and Shaller is a good idea. This team has no talent, thats why guys like Goldobin, Pettersson and Gaudette should replace those guys.

If Benning wanted to add bottom 6 grit he should replace the soft bottom six players in Granlund, Gagner and Sutter. Or if he wanted to insulate the youth he could have try to overpay guys like Stasny and Neal instead, you know guys who can score more than 30 pts and not be useless.

So you want top 6 projected forwards to play the gritty fourth line game? You think Pettersson, Goldobin, Gaudette, Granlund and Gagner should be answering the bell when players get run or out on the PK killing penalty’s blocking shots?
Pettersson and Goldobin etc need more then 7 min a game to develope properly and are better off in Utica for a year.

 

[brokenhole]

Virtanen will not be on the fourth line he will play third and up so that point is moot as he will be there.
Leipsic/Gaunce/Archibald will have to battle and earn his spot and if they do they will be on the team. If they aren’t they will be flipped for pics and if they can’t get picks they have zero value around the league and are considered redundant at that point and dime a dozen.

Benning flip guys for picks? i think you got that backwards.

 

[Buresflyingelbow]

Benning flip guys for picks? i think you got that backwards.

You need the depth in order to flip the guys that deserve to be traded for pics not waiver wire guys.
Adding three more guys pushes other guys to perform here or get shipped out for picks.

We finally have some player’s with value that will be forced off the roster.

 

[DomY]

I like all these signings.

The CAP keeps going up and these are the types of players that give your team character and direction for all the young talent we have coming up.
I disagree with the idea that we should be penciling in young, unproven players on our roster. That never helps development for a young roster. Also, there will be a myriad of injuries to deal with as the season progresses. We need NHL depth. Sure, Leipsic had flashes of great offensive play, but hes also a tire fire in the neutral zone with turnovers. We can't just gift these players ice time - there will be lots of opportunities for our young talent to make an impact. Insulating that talent with veteran role players goes a long way for development.

No one is expecting huge seasons from these guys, but try to understand that their presence isnt only paid for on the ice.

This is exactly how I feel about the signings. The lazy rebuttal is that you can draft these type of players, even in the mid-to-late rounds. Unfortunately, the Canucks have been unlucky in that regard as they have not been able to hit on very many of this type since Ruutu and Cooke. McCann seems to be panning out in a bottom six role, but I would rather the Canucks use their late-firsts or high seconds on high upside, boom or bust players. Virtanen may very well carve out a career as a grinder, but that is not why he was drafted so high. I think we've learned our lesson in that regard as well.

 

[Wilch]

The guys getting demoted or replaced are the ones who actually played well and out-performed their contracts last year, while junk like Granlund/Gagner/Pouliot/Gudbransen get big raises and keep getting rolled out there.

The beauty of an anti-meritocratic system. I also like that these new plugs are brought in just to protect the trash you listed. It's like spending $500 on a rusty, half broken padlock to protect a pile of steaming shit you spent $1,000 on.

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

So this season plays out like so

First line is set with Bo Bae and Boe
Second line is pretty fluid with anyone Pettersen ( hopefully ) Erickson and Goldobin/Gagner
Third line is Virtanen, Sutter and Leipsic
4th line is Beagle, Roussel and what’s his face

Granlund should be gone cause he won’t push anybody out, Dahlen, Gaudette and the rest of the kids are AHL unless there are some injuries. Goldobin and Leipsic NEED to establish themselves early otherwise they are gone and Goldy was a slow starter last year.

The internal battles will make for an interesting story and even at the AHL level first call up will be competitive with the rookies, Lind and Gad battling AHL savvy Boucher

 

[ddawg1950]

I'm all for competition within the team...and blah, blah, blah.

I just don't believe that the competition on the Canucks is an honest one. Anyone believe that the new or recent (or within the last two years) signees are in danger of demotion or losing their jobs by being outplayed by a younger player in pre season?

Merit based promotion does not seem to exist on this present version of the Canucks.

 

[Jyrki21]

Signing a checker from a Cup winner (and assuming he has ipso facto "character" or "leadership" or whatever) in order to unleash Brandon Sutter's offense might be the single most Benning thing that Benning has Benninged to date.

 

[Jyrki21]

First line is set with Bo Bae and Boe
Second line is pretty fluid with anyone Pettersen ( hopefully ) Erickson and Goldobin/Gagner
Third line is Virtanen, Sutter and Leipsic
4th line is Beagle, Roussel and what’s his face

Here's what's actually going to happen... something like:

Bärtschi-Horvat-Boeser
Granlund-Sutter-Gagner
Leipsic-Beagle-Roussel
Motte-Schaller-Virtanen

Injured (generally): Eriksson
Pressbox: Pettersson (to start – someone will get injured and he will instantly be the team's best player)
Utica/waivers/traded: Goldobin

Icetime distribution: Sutter/Beagle: 85%
Everyone else: 15%

When the Canucks are bad, it's blamed on a lack of #tuffness and #pushback.

 

[ziploc]

Signing a checker from a Cup winner (and assuming he has ipso facto "character" or "leadership" or whatever) in order to unleash Brandon Sutter's offense might be the single most Benning thing that Benning has Benninged to date.

It's time to UNLEASH THE LEAST!

 

[Cupless44]

The difference between Roussel, Beagle and Schaller from Chaput, Dowd and Megna is massive. The difference between fringe AHL on a basement team and a 4th line center on a championship caliber team is immense.

Just like how the difference between Baertschi (1LW) and Ovechkin (1LW) is laughable to even speak about. I would say the 4C is probably your 7th or 8th most valuable forward anyway you construct it, and I would argue that the usage of Vancouver's 18-19 4th line would be more akin to a 3rd line in a shutdown role, with the "3rd line" being a 3rd scoring line but getting the fourth-most ice time.

Everyone is worried about these players blocking our prospects for ice time. The prospects that Beagle, Schaller, and Rousell would be blocking are not Pettersson, Goldobin or Dahlen; they would be blocking Gaunce, Motte, and Archibald, who are in turn blocking Gaudette, Gadjovich and Lind. If Pettersson and Dahlen show that they are ready, I am confident that management will find a way to make room for them.

You can be nervous about the return of the players they'd be trading though (Gagner, Baertschi, Goldobin, Leipsic, or even Virtanen), that seems to be fair game.

Why are people bringing up Megna? He didn’t even play here last year. It was 2 years ago.

 

[Cupless44]

Word is that JVR didn’t even get a NTC.

But these 4th liners did.

 

[Trelane]

So this season plays out like so

First line is set with Bo Bae and Boe
Second line is pretty fluid with anyone Pettersen ( hopefully ) Erickson and Goldobin/Gagner
Third line is Virtanen, Sutter and Leipsic
4th line is Beagle, Roussel and what’s his face

Granlund should be gone cause he won’t push anybody out, Dahlen, Gaudette and the rest of the kids are AHL unless there are some injuries. Goldobin and Leipsic NEED to establish themselves early otherwise they are gone and Goldy was a slow starter last year.

The internal battles will make for an interesting story and even at the AHL level first call up will be competitive with the rookies, Lind and Gad battling AHL savvy Boucher

Pretty much.

Except I have Granlund in lieu of Leipsic (who I rate as 13th forward, but who can say since Greene likes him) on that checking line, which may actually out minute the 2nd line. Sutter will get tons anyway. Erickson needs to score 20 alongside Pettersson or else be railroaded out of town. Not sure Gagner can hold on to that lofty position but on paper he remain the best offensive 2nd line centre option until displaced by EP. We're talking sweet soft Sedin minutes and Erickson-Gagner-Pettersson can scarcely be worse 5 on 5 than the twins in the same role.

Dahlin and Gaudette the likely callups depending on need, top6 v bottom 6 player. Expecting one forward to get shipped out if not in the summer than not long into the season.

More curious to see what happens on D. They need to pull a trigger on Hutton (get anything) and start looking at Edler or Tanev. Won't have a choice come trade deadline. Hopefully OJ shows something to expedite the matter.

 

[Melvin]

Anyone hear anything about Sbisa?

 

[MS]

The beauty of an anti-meritocratic system. I also like that these new plugs are brought in just to protect the trash you listed. It's like spending $500 on a rusty, half broken padlock to protect a pile of steaming **** you spent $1,000 on.

... and leaving your actual good working tools outside to rust or get stolen.

 

[Johnny Canucker]

Goldobin is finshed as a Canuck, after these signings. Literally no room for him now.

Same with Gaudette.

So you kinda just countered your own point.

So you want top 6 projected forwards to play the gritty fourth line game? You think Pettersson, Goldobin, Gaudette, Granlund and Gagner should be answering the bell when players get run or out on the PK killing penalty’s blocking shots?
Pettersson and Goldobin etc need more then 7 min a game to develope properly and are better off in Utica for a year.

 

[Lindgren]

I'm feeling less bitter and twisted about the acquisitions this morning. If Benning makes no further roster moves, well, what he's done is terrible. But if the new UFA trio ends up replacing Gagner, Granlund, and Sutter by the end of the season, then I've got much less of a problem. I could see that happening: Sutter traded, Granlund waived, Gagner ... something ...

 

[MS]

I'm feeling less bitter and twisted about the acquisitions this morning. If Benning makes no further roster moves, well, what he's done is terrible. But if the new UFA trio ends up replacing Gagner, Granlund, and Sutter by the end of the season, then I've got much less of a problem. I could see that happening: Sutter traded, Granlund waived, Gagner ... something ...

Those aren't the guys who'll end up moved or out of luck. It's the younger, cheaper, more effective guys that are screwed.

And again, Sutter is going nowhere. The Beagle signing was literally done to facilitate a promotion for him.

 

[coastal_nuck]

IF Benning is able to sell off some vets for prospects and picks at the end of the season, that would be ideal. I have doubts about that but he was able to do it with Burrows and Bieksa. He needs to commit to doing so with the Gagner's, Granlund's, and Sutter's on this team. What was mind boggling about the signings yesterday was the term/cap hit and limited no trade clauses that will only put him at a disadvantage if he wanted to sell these players off.

Get more picks / Draft very high. This should be the mandate for this team going forward. Signing these 4th line players will not make this team better (long or short term).

 

[Melvin]

IF Benning is able to sell off some vets for prospects and picks at the end of the season, that would be ideal. I have doubts about that but he was able to do it with Burrows and Bieksa. He needs to commit to doing so with the Gagner's, Granlund's, and Sutter's on this team. What was mind boggling about the signings yesterday was the term/cap hit and limited no trade clauses that will only put him at a disadvantage if he wanted to sell these players off.

Get more picks / Draft very high. This should be the mandate for this team going forward. Signing these 4th line players will not make this team better (long or short term).

He has literally never done this with players he acquired.

 

[brokenhole]

You need the depth in order to flip the guys that deserve to be traded for pics not waiver wire guys.
Adding three more guys pushes other guys to perform here or get shipped out for picks.

We finally have some player’s with value that will be forced off the roster.

I think you missed everything in my post, Benning hasn't shown any capability in turning players into picks. He goes after age gap players that have worn out their welcome in other org's. Trading for picks doesn't fit this org's timeline to try and make the playoffs. There is no rebuild with these guys just a retool on the fly that has crapped the bed on these arrogant fools.

 

[coastal_nuck]

He has literally never done this with players he acquired.

Which is another reason for concern unfortunately. Benning's evaluation of pro talent has been abysmal.

 

[strattonius]

Goldobin is finshed as a Canuck, after these signings. Literally no room for him now.

Same with Gaudette.

So you kinda just countered your own point.

Stop being so dramatic. Gaudette will have many opportunities to show his value. I'd be surprised If he wasn't on the opening day roster.

And big whoop about Goldobin. Guy is literally gifted minutes and only shows tiny blips of promise. His game is incomplete and hes unlikely to ever hit the projections he was originally given.

 

[Hit the post]

That or Utica is going to be full of vets.

Good thing we've got an owner that doesn't have a problem shoving NHL contracts to the AHL.

 

[Cupless44]

IF Benning is able to sell off some vets for prospects and picks at the end of the season, that would be ideal. I have doubts about that but he was able to do it with Burrows and Bieksa. He needs to commit to doing so with the Gagner's, Granlund's, and Sutter's on this team. What was mind boggling about the signings yesterday was the term/cap hit and limited no trade clauses that will only put him at a disadvantage if he wanted to sell these players off.

Get more picks / Draft very high. This should be the mandate for this team going forward. Signing these 4th line players will not make this team better (long or short term).

You have to start planning that in advance like the Leafs did in their rebuild. You sign useful veterans to SHORT TERM deals that can be flipped at the deadline.

Exactly what Canucks will be attractive to contenders at the deadline that Benning is willing to move?