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

[pgj98m3]

Just think about it. Jussi gets here and his career is on life support. Team after team having written him off, the Canucks looked like the end of the road when he got here as a deadline salary dump and was inserted in the box upstairs to sit out his final days. And then only after injuries hit and Green has exhausted all other roster options is Jussi inserted into the lineup and only then does a funny thing happen at the rink.

Against all odds, Jussi suddenly channels the Jokinen of halcyon days and actually contributes on the ice, even providing modest offense. Only the hardest bitten hockey curmudgeon went unmoved by what they saw. And I believe the Canucks brass were no different. In fact I think the hard bitten old school WHL types like Linden, Benning and Green are sentimentalists; easy marks for a feel good underdog story. I believe the record bears this out and fully I expect them to swallow hook line and sinker if Jokinen delivers at camp.

And while we're on the subject of potential feel good Canucklehead camp stories, what about a final run for Hansen and Burrows? Doubling down on the nostalgia might make for a semi effective diversion tactic as the team craters in the standings?

I kinda like this narrative...carry on smoking.

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

I kinda like this narrative...carry on smoking.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of bringing Burrows and Hansen back as distractions for one final lap for what is shaping up to be an historically bad Canucks team. And they can't hurt any. Even if they're completely spent as useful hockey players, which no doubt they are, they can at least pitch in and help Guddy and Sutts carry some culture.

I think the fans would eat it up.

 

[CanaFan]

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of bringing Burrows and Hansen back as distractions for one final lap for what is shaping up to be an historically bad Canucks team. And they can't hurt any. Even if they're completely spent as useful hockey players, which no doubt they are, they can at least pitch in and help Guddy and Sutts carry some culture.

I think the fans would eat it up.

Maybe, though I tend to think not. I think fans (generally) want to look forward, not back.

 

[Serac]

Whoever we try to sign I hope we push for 1 year deals. Vanek was a great signing, and I had zero issue with the signings of Burmistrov and Weircioch even though they didn't pay off. Those are the kind of signings we need to be making, instead of dishing out term.

 

[DonnyNucker]

If all that's realistically available is veteran 4th line centers to fill their need, don't go after the flavour of the week. Nash and Beagle are going to get paid and probably get term. One's coming off a career year and the other off a Stanley Cup win. I hope the Canucks have learned their lesson with Gagner.

If they're targeting a veteran center, find player's who are undervalued and coming off down/injury plauged years. Go after guys like Brad Richardson or Mark Letestu and sign them to "show me" one year deals. Hedge your bets, sign a few of these guys and hope one works out. They have the cap space to buyout or bury the one's that don't work out in the minors.

On the topic of value pickups coming off down years, I wouldn't mind bringing back Jannik Hansen either.

I agree with your whole post until you brought up Hansen. The last thing this team needs is bringing back old trash from the past. It’s time to move on from Burrows, Hansen etc. Let’s try the kids out and change the culture a bit.

 

[DonnyNucker]

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of bringing Burrows and Hansen back as distractions for one final lap for what is shaping up to be an historically bad Canucks team. And they can't hurt any. Even if they're completely spent as useful hockey players, which no doubt they are, they can at least pitch in and help Guddy and Sutts carry some culture.

I think the fans would eat it up.

Let the past go. It’s not 2011

 

[F A N]

I agree with your whole post until you brought up Hansen. The last thing this team needs is bringing back old trash from the past. It’s time to move on from Burrows, Hansen etc. Let’s try the kids out and change the culture a bit.

Old trash? Hansen was in his prime when he left here and isn't that old. Burrows has gotten old and not likely to be a contributor.

 

[biturbo19]

Tyler Bozak is the literal definition of a bad contract about to happen.

A 40-50 point player in his early 30s who has been fairly effective but is incredibly unlikely to continue to be that effective on his new contact as the majority of players fall off at this age. Exact same thing as the Backes/Ladd/Nielsen/Eriksson/Brouwer disasters of 2016.

Yeah. I'm glad that the Bozak thing has simmered down and doesn't sound like it's happening. It's just exactly the wrong sort of player to target, because he will have options with significant money + term. He's going to get in excess of that Nick Bonino deal Nashville handed out.

And the kicker is, he's never even been as good as most of those guys in his prime. That mushy secondary market is where a lot of the worst UFA money gets spent every year. And more than that...it's where the ugly term gets handed out.

Won’t happen but offering 1 yr deals to Nash and Neal for 7-8mil each and then retaining salary on a deadline deal would prob net a good return.

Assuming that's Rick Nash and James Neal...there's basically zero chance either guy would accept that. They're both going to have multiple suitors lining up to pay them way past their "best before" date. Neal especially. But we're not part of that conversation, they wouldn't come here even if we offered it.

Free-agent center Riley Nash 'looking forward to talking' with Canucks

Looks like Riley Nash is interested in the Canucks.

He talks about how he’s okay with going to a rebuilding team and likes the Canuck’s future.

This one scares me. He's going to get paid based on what his statline looked at the end of the year, rather than what he actually is, and has been through his career. On a 1-2 year deal at reasonable money, sure...he can play up and down the lineup a bit and it wouldn't be terrible. But it has the feel of somebody paying him like they think he's a bonafide 40pt guy on an upward trajectory. Probably one i'd just stay away from.

 

[Cupless44]

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of bringing Burrows and Hansen back as distractions for one final lap for what is shaping up to be an historically bad Canucks team. And they can't hurt any. Even if they're completely spent as useful hockey players, which no doubt they are, they can at least pitch in and help Guddy and Sutts carry some culture.

I think the fans would eat it up.

Some of us left 2011 behind and want to move on. Really.

 

[biturbo19]

People don't want Nash.......people don't want Bozak...........yadda yadda yadda............I get neither one of them are ideal however having Sutter as your #2 center with a bunch of kids sorrounding him certainly isn't either.

We need some sort of skill that can play up and down the lineup and there isn't a ton of other options there.

I would prefer gross overpayments for 2 years rather than a more equitable 3 however I could live with that.

Why do I get the sense that no matter what Benning does he's going to get lambasted? Try to realize we just don't have a ton of options and we really need someone to help bridge the gap to the youngsters. We might be able to lure someone with 2 years and a gross overpayment. If not it will have to be 3. Any more than that is not a good move.

I agree, to an extent. I think this team needs to find a pseudo #2C to give Pettersson someone to play with. Doesn't have to be a world class Top-6 Center, but it needs to be someone who can think the game well enough offensively. Horvat can only play on one line. Sutter is fine as a guy who can bear the brunt of hard minutes and help "shelter" some kids that way, but he doesn't have the offensive wherewithal to play constructively with a creative kid like Pettersson. Gagner sucks and can't keep his head above water at Center. Nobody else is even really worth mentioning.

Need to find someone for that role...but it's tough, because everyone and their mother is looking for more depth down the middle.

Closest thing i can see out there as a UFA is maybe a guy like Valtteri Filppula. Seems to get overlooked a bit. He's not a world-beater, but in a "soft 2nd line minutes" type role, he could still be a ~40pt center who isn't a complete trainwreck defensively, and has the offensive vision to at least not suck young offensive forwards down into a black hole. Problem being...he reportedly nixed a trade to MTL before landing in Philly. So if that's a disinclination to deal with the hassles of playing in Canada or playing on a bad team...we're a non-starter. It'd be a nice opportunity for him to play as high up the lineup, with as talented of linemates as he's going to get anywhere else though. And if he gelled with a guy like Pettersson, he'd be a nice piece to sell off to a contender at the deadline as a faux Top-6 Center, and can play wing comfortably enough as well if needed for some reason.

I was on board with bringing Spezza here earlier, but not anymore. There are options out there that could be better such as Rask out of Carolina or Johnson out of TBay. Money is going to shift between teams. The Canucks are positioned well to take advantage. Spezza is not a priority they should be seeking out.

Or there's this potential avenue. I do still think Spezza would be a fine target for that role. Though with only the year left on his deal and a cheap young defence helping their cap situation, i don't know how desperate Dallas will be to move him unless they land Tavares or something. Especially with a new coach coming in, where it seems like at least a part of his struggles last year were in not jiving with Hitch in the slightest. He also holds that NTC and has indicated in the past that he doesn't altogether love the fishbowl Canadian market thing.

I do like the idea of Victor Rask though. It's hard to get a read on how intent Carolina might be to move him, but if they're looking to unload his contract, i'd be all over that for sure. I think he's a good candidate to bounce back a bit, especially in a situation where he can play back up the lineup a bit more. He'd be a solid fit with Pettersson on a "2nd line". Enough that it wouldn't bother me to have those extra years on his deal hanging around.



I also don't mind the idea of bringing a defenceman in...via UFA, or even taking them on as a cap dump for someone else going big game hunting or something. Really not concerned about our "logjam" if we were to bring a quality Top-4D and mentor like Dan Hamhuis back for a farewell tour. Don't think we really need more bottom-pairing clutter, but if the guy can be a stable partner for a younger defenceman or contribute something unique to the mix...i don't see a problem with that.

 

[JuniorNelson]

Really, there is no aspect of the Canucks that would be best left alone.

 

[GBHockey]

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of bringing Burrows and Hansen back as distractions for one final lap for what is shaping up to be an historically bad Canucks team. And they can't hurt any. Even if they're completely spent as useful hockey players, which no doubt they are, they can at least pitch in and help Guddy and Sutts carry some culture.

I think the fans would eat it up.

I'd think about taking Burrows if he was available for under $1m and the contract was 1 year, maybe an even smaller contract but with bonuses for playing a certain amount of games. I hope he retires as a Canuck but I'd rather it was the standard one day contract type thing. I'd personally prefer to see fresh blood. Whether it be a rookie or the signing of a free agent. Burrows and co. deserve to be honoured for their contributions but it's time to move forward.

 

[jimmythescot]

I wouldn’t mind Burrows brought back as a way to provide the kids shelter from scorn. He also seems to be a coach in the making so I wouldn’t mind him providing some of that mentorship that we all love to discuss.

Hansen doesn’t interest me though, as I remember him saying that he didn’t see it as his job to mentor younger players and preferred if it was a team of vets.

Not really that bothered, though.

 

[Horse McHindu]

Only UFA I’m interested in is Anthony Duclair.

No to Burrows, Hansen, both Nash’s, etc.

 

[me2]

Really, there is no aspect of the Canucks that would be best left alone.

Which is why it should be left alone. Tank for 1C.

 

[me2]

Hansen works for me a cheap 2 year deal. Big upgrade on the 4th line.

No to Burrows, that era is just down to Edler and Tanev. Move on.

 

[me2]

I dont think we should be going the UFA route.Benning has collected a bunch of trash on this team,,its time for him to put on his big boy pants and trade off some of his crap first.

Or just do nothing but essential maintenance. The team would be terrible and get another great pick. Jim can hibernate in a cave for 12 months, come back and draft whoever Brackett tells him to and have his best year as GM.

 

[DFAC]

Would look into dumping Guddy and signing Ian Cole for something like a 2 year deal. An upgrade and lose some $$$

 

[BROCK HUGHES]

Or just do nothing but essential maintenance. The team would be terrible and get another great pick. Jim can hibernate in a cave for 12 months, come back and draft whoever Brackett tells him to and have his best year as GM.

Yeah about sums it up,Brackett should be running this team,and Jim should just stay in go stay in a cave some where.

 

[BerSTUzzi]

We should be targeting team like the Jets who will be in Cap Hell soon with Trouba/Morrisey up this year and Connor/Laine next. Take Perrault + 2nd for a 4th or 5 th.

At least moves like this

 

[PRNuck]

We should be targeting team like the Jets who will be in Cap Hell soon with Trouba/Morrisey up this year and Connor/Laine next. Take Perrault + 2nd for a 4th or 5 th.

At least moves like this

Absolutely, I'm ready to be the Jets and Lighting's new best friend.

 

[tantalum]

If Nash is the best they can acquire in terms of a center to fill in the #2/#3C spot then next season will be painful to watch (hopefully with a big reward).

I'll be unsurprised if they make a trade for a center if they strikeout on Free Agency.

Well good news on the Bozak front.

I suspect Nash is going to get a big pay day. On a decent one or two year deal I'd honestly be OK with him on the canucks. No doubt it'll be painful to watch but at least it's better than Sutter or Gagner playing top 6. But it has to only be a short term deal. I mentioned before but I'd be targetting him and even Ryan far before Bozak. (Ryan will likely end up in Calgary as Peeters loves him).

Thing is i don't think it will be. I honestly expect with the cap up and limited centers available we are going to see 5 yr/$20 mil deal for Nash from some team. I hope it's not the canucks.

I'd rather the caucks look to make a shrewd move/signing or two on the blueline. Get some guys who are actually top 6 material on 2-3 year deals and start jettisoning the dead weight. Just because the team is going to suck doesn't mean tangible improvements that can be in place for a few years shouldn't be made. Now I've used words/phrases like "shrewd" and "(blueline) improvements" which does not describe the job this management team has done so I'm not holding my breath.

My belief is they can get rid of Gudbranson, Pouliot, Biega and you know what even Hutton and Stecher sign 5 other guys for league min and be no worse off. There is ample room for improvement and it should be taken. That isn't to say I'd get rid of all 5 but I certainly would move Gudbranson, Pouliot and likely one other with very little hesitation.

 

[Fire Benning]

They're definitely going to try to address the team's team toughness in free agency. I'm scared of what they might do in that regard, I hope they just play it safe and re-sign Archibald for cheap.

 

[Hemty]

Rieder would be a nice signing.

 

[Fire Benning]

Rieder would be a nice signing.

He's pretty young by UFA standards too so he's one of the few guys I'd be ok with a deal longer than a year or two.