Daisy Jane
everything is gonna be okay!
- Jul 2, 2009
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Around the League thread: Phil in Pitt. And other NHL topics
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Semantics
PUBLIC ENEMY #1
It has dawned on me that Jim Benning is essentially the David Clarkson of GMs: He sort of knows what the job entails, but has no clue how to do it properly, so everything he does is comically bad. With Nonis, even though most of his moves were terrible, you could at least see what the goal was. Benning's moves just make no sense from any point of view. 
"Foundation piece going forward" - LOL
"Foundation piece going forward" - LOL
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Jimmy Firecracker
They Fired Sheldon!
Daisy Jane
everything is gonna be okay!
- Jul 2, 2009
- 70,377
- 9,634
they look like a team that wants to make the playoffs.
and we all know how that ends up.
Swervin81
Leaf fan | YYZ -> SEA
Jim Benning is ****ing stupid. Like... it's comical. Sure,let's acquire Sutter and a 3rd, and in return, let's trade the better C in Bonino along with a better pick in the 2nd and a decent project D to top it off. Like seriously, what is Benning's thought process here? Like, it's ****ing amazing how bad he is. You have actively try to be that bad, honestly.
Nithoniniel
Registered User
Bonino is quite comfortably a better player than Sutter, Clendening still has upside and they are also on the losing end of a pick switch.
I'm glad I'm not a Canucks fan right now.
I'm glad I'm not a Canucks fan right now.
theIceWookie
#LeafHysteriaAlert
It was a weird trade but I can sort of see what Benning was trying to do.
Bo Horvat is pushing for a spot in the top 6. He's too good not to be in it, and resigning him to third line duty is a waste. They need to make room for him. Cue in trading Bonino. Clear out Bonino and you have a spot for Horvat, and the player you bring in return is an accomplished 3C (or somewhat anyways. The Penguins have their beef with Sutter but whatever).
The thing I don't get is giving up a 2nd rounder, Clendening, and taking on EXTRA salary. That's not a cheap way to get Sutter. That's just helping out the Penguins honestly. They clear a little more salary, they grabbed an extra 2nd (which helps soften the blow of losing their 1st rounder) and they get a pretty decent prospect ready to make the jump ON TOP OF Bonino.
The Canucks are just a weird team right now. They have this aging core, which now includes Vrbata, the Sedins, Miller, Burrows, Prust, with a bunch of younger guys coming up in Virtanen/Horvat etc. It's a weird mix that I don't think is going to work well. I don't know what Benning is trying to do. He makes a good move, then makes a move that is hard to explain. It's odd.
theIceWookie
#LeafHysteriaAlert
It honestly reminds me of the Sutter days as a Flames fan. Though the Flames never had prospects like Virtanen or Horvat to work with (though at this point I'd be scared as a Canucks fan to see what Benning might do with them).
BertCorbeau
F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
Mess
Global Moderator
Sutter should be a Maple right now as he should have been the roster player instead of Spaling included in the Kessel trade. IMO
showtime8
Registered User
Yea, I get what you're saying about Horvat. That's a solid point. And it is the best time for him to learn getting 2nd line minutes and the Sedin's taking the heat off of him.
But, I'm not sure what Benning is doing either. It really seems like he's on the fence on what to do with his team.
I don't mind him trading Kassian because he was in and out of the line-up, but the return didn't make sense. And I'm a fan of Prust.
It really seems like he thinks that he has 1 last shot at a big playoff run.
Warden of the North
Ned Stark's head
Jimmy Firecracker
They Fired Sheldon!
I'm pretty positive Sutter had Toronto on his list of teams he wouldn't accept a trade to.
ULF_55
Moderator
Sutter was never going to be anything but a 3rd. line center on the Penguins, and neither will the older Bonino.
Obviously, the Canucks weren't high on Bonino and are taking a chance on Sutter showing more when he's not behind Malkin and Crosby. Bonino had his chance.
All in all, not what you'd call a major exchance of assets.
Just listened to the Fan960 talking about how Canucks got the best player and wondering if Rutherford is all there?
The talk was that Bonino really was a nonfactor in the series against the Flames and that you need to have some strength down the middle to play the teams like the Sharks, Ducks and Kings, and that Bonino wasn't a loss.
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As much inexplicable hostility as there is between the Leafs and Canucks, I kinda feel for Nucks fans. They've never won a Cup for about as long as we haven't, came so close in 2010, then just imploded over the course of a couple of seasons and now they have a guy who seems like a total incompetent trying in vain to steer them back into Stanley Cup contention.... or something. I'm not actually entirely sure what Benning is trying to do.
Sutter is basically a Jay McClement who can play on the third line rather than the fourth because he scores a bit more. That's not a bad guy to have on your team in a limited role, but I'm not sure Bonino isn't the better player.... and at a lower cap hit. Why would Vancouver have to add the better pick as well?
Sutter is basically a Jay McClement who can play on the third line rather than the fourth because he scores a bit more. That's not a bad guy to have on your team in a limited role, but I'm not sure Bonino isn't the better player.... and at a lower cap hit. Why would Vancouver have to add the better pick as well?
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showtime8
Registered User
I don't want my comment to be made into something bigger, but I think Sutter is in the same class with Tyler Bozak.
Both can take faceoffs above average, kill penalties and both are perfect for a 3rd line role.
When Sutter was with the Hurricanes, he was a 2nd line centreman behind Eric Staal and was max a 40 point guy.
Nithoniniel
Registered User
I'm honestly not sure that Sutter is better than Spaling. Statistically, Spaling seem to win out if only because he's a better PK guy.
showtime8
Registered User
All things considered, I'd take Spaling. Easier contract to handle because you aren't sure what Sutter will be asking for after this season and there isn't a significant drop off between the two.
In terms of points, the difference was power play time. For reference, Spaling had 27 points and Sutter had 33 points.
Spaling averaged 15 PP seconds a game, while Sutter averaged 1:31 a game. Sutter put up 4 more power play points which closes the gap significantly.
ULF_55
Moderator
There was some talk about Spaling would be a buy-out this year.
http://www.todaysslapshot.com/nhl-e...ins-buyout-candidates-and-cap-implications/4/
ULF_55
Moderator
"Realistically, Spaling will remain on the roster and most likely be traded at the deadline. He’s an adequate depth player, but not worth his current contract and a buyout does not make sense in this situation."
Semantics
PUBLIC ENEMY #1
Spaling is a marginally better player than Sutter, roughly the same age, and cheaper. Leafs made the smart move picking up the guy who isn't overrated due to blood lines.
Sutter:
Spaling:
And word on Canucks forums is that Sutter is going to get a 5 year extension at around $4.5M AAV.
Sutter is actually probably a worse player than Clarkson believe it or not in terms of effectiveness, he just happens to be able to take faceoffs and not fall all the time or look ridiculous. I've watched the Pens a fair bit, and the guy has no hockey sense and can't use his teammates at all.
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Nithoniniel
Registered User
Yeah that's my feeling too. Also can't believe that so many holds him as one of the premier defensive forwards in the league.
And word on Canucks forums is that Sutter is going to get a 5 year extension at around $4.5M AAV.
Ouch.
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