Canucks News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | Playoffs Approaching

[Nick Lang]

This is the priority list given Hronek and Podkolzin are RFAs and should get signed. I only put C above D because Raty is developing and Suter can hold it down for a year to buy time if we need it. Joshua needs to get done because if not were immediately looking for a player like him. He's a priority over 3C and Zadorov for me

____A____ Miller Boeser
Hoglander Pettersson Mikhayev
____C____ ____D____ Garland
Bains Suter Podkolzin
DiGuiseppe

Hughes Hronek
Soucy _____B____
____E_____ Juulsen
____G_____

Demko
____F____

How do you plan on doing that and improving the top6?

Perfect ... this is exactly what makes sense to me too. I find A and B really close as we could fill that A position like we did this year (albeit poorly) but we absolutely need a 2RD. We have no other options at all. In this area I don't see how some people prioritize a 3LD above a 2 RD. Obviously your second line guys should be more important than 3trd liners.

I also agree on Joshua, he adds an element that transcends position and we do have Suter. Signing Zadorov eliminates the opportunity to upgrade at more important parts of the line-up. I'm just hoping that somehow we can dump Mikheyev cheaply. It all won't be easy that's for sure.

 

[sting101]

Our PP sucks in part because we dont have a down low presence that can finish. Makes it easier when you just have to defend the umbrella. Boeser has done a good job but he's not that great at quick in tight passes and we need that extra guy who can help him get it done down low. Given recent play it does make you wonder why Joshua hasn't been tapped on the shoulder for this he certainly fits the profile even if his shot at range isn't that great he gives teams fits around the net

I mean he has 8 goals in his last 26 games or something and scored 3 times in 12 games in March. He has 17 points in his last 26 games, but the goal scoring hasn’t been near earlier levels.

He’s basically been on an offensive downtrend since November. Obviously it’s not realistic to assume he’d stay around the scoring leaders, but he’s been more of a 25-30 goal guy back-half of the year.

Boesers scoring.....%of team....team total goals (goals per game)

oct-9-6-4-10.........28%.......36 (4.00)
nov-15-11-6-17.......30%.......56 (3.73)
dec-12-7-3-10.......23%........44 (3.67)
jan-13-6-8-14....... 28%........50 (3.85)
feb-13-5-5-10....... 28%........36 (2.77)
mar-12-3-4-7......... 21%........33 (2.75)

not that much of a drop off...games are lower scoring and our PP is struggling

 

[Vector]

It will be interesting because they were ruthless with guy like Dickinson and OEL but it's an entirely different thing to punt the signings of the dumb ex-GM vs. doing it to your own first big UFA signing.

Kuzmenko is a pretty good example of them being ruthless with their biggest acquisition.

 

[MS]

Kuzmenko is a pretty good example of them being ruthless with their biggest acquisition.

Fair, but that was heavily driven by the coach who clearly wasn't going to play the player.

Tocchet likes Mikheyev and Mikheyev is a responsible player, and the easy thing to do would just be to keep going forward and hope he rebounds next year. And he probably will ... but even with a rebound he won't be as good/important as Joshua.

 

[Vector]

Been working on figuring out what the off-season cap space landscape will look like. Not just for the Canucks but the entire league. All the below numbers are taken from CapFriendly and I used AFPAnalytics NHL Extension Projections for RFA numbers. The cap space section doesn't include RFA deals while Functional Cap Space does. When presented with a short or long term contract, I always took the long term contract. Not all RFAs are accounted for (ex: Podkolzin didn't have a prediction). These numbers aren't perfect as I don't think they include bonuses. Oilers, as an example, owe Connor Brown a significant bonus that will carry over into next season and it's not taken into account by capfriendly until the conclusion of this season. I also think there's an error around players on NHL deals buried in the minors. It seems like it's not giving the teams the 1.1m in cap space gained by burying the player.

Spoiler: Cap Space

Cap Space	Roster Spots
1)	Coyotes	41.44m	13/23
2)	Blackhawks	39.38m	13/23
3)	Sharks	39.11m	14/23
4)	Ducks	34.88m	15/23
5)	Hurricanes	31.67m	12/23
6)	Red Wings	29.07m	13/23
7)	Canucks	28.23m (LTIR)	13/23
8)	Blue Jackets	24.42m	15/23
9)	Kings	22.75m	12/23
10)	Sabres	22.29m	14/23
11)	Devils	21.51m	16/23
12)	Bruins	21.02m	18/23
13)	Kraken	20.65m	18/23
14)	Panthers	19.72m	14/23
15)	Maple Leafs	19.40m	15/23
16)	Flames	18.90m	20/23
17)	Stars	18.54m	13/23
18)	Predators	18.37m	17/23
19)	Avalanche	17.69m (LTIR)	13/23
20)	Capitals	17.26 (LTIR)	18/23
21)	Blues	15.64m	17/23
22)	Golden Knights	14.94m (LTIR)	17/23
23)	Jets	14.13m	16/23
24)	Oilers	13.28m	14/23
25)	Senators	13.01m	17/23
26)	Penguins	12.94m	17/23
27)	Rangers	12.66m	17/23
28)	Lightning	12.58m	16/23
29)	Canadiens	11.95m	18/23
30)	Wild	10.69m	17/23
31)	Islanders	7.07m	17/23
32)	Flyers	5.17m	18/23

Spoiler: Functional Cap Space

Functional Cap Space	Roster Spots
1)	Sharks	35.79m	16/23
2)	Blackhawks	34.64m	14/23
3)	Ducks	33.23m	16/23
4)	Canucks	19.86m (LTIR)	14/23
5)	Coyotes	19.67m	17/23
6)	Flames	18.90m	20/23
7)	Maple Leafs	16.06m	16/23
8)	Predators	15.73m	18/23
9)	Blues	15.64m	17/23
10)	Golden Knights	14.94m (LTIR)	17/23
11)	Devils	14.81m	17/23
12)	Capitals	14.74m (LTIR)	19/23
13)	Bruins	14.11m	19/23
14)	Stars	13.54m	14/23
15)	Hurricanes	13.48m	15/23
16)	Oilers	13.28m	14/23
17)	Panthers	13.27m	16/23
18)	Lightning	12.58m	16/23
19)	Red Wings	12.34m	16/23
20)	Sabres	12.18m	17/23
21)	Avalanche	11.82m (LTIR)	14/23
22)	Penguins	11.09m	18/23
23)	Wild	10.69m	17/23
24)	Senators	10.49m	18/23
25)	Canadiens	9.03m	20/23
26)	Kraken	8.98m	21/23
27)	Jets	7.73m	17/23
28)	Blue Jackets	7.4m	21/23
29)	Islanders	7.07m	17/23
30)	Kings	6.41m	16/23
31)	Flyers	2.92m	19/23
32)	Rangers	2.35m	20/23

 

[Vector]

So taken what I did above, sign Joshua and Hronek to those AFP contracts. Re-sign Podkolzin to the same contract as Hoglander from this past summer. That leaves the team like this:

Joshua-Miller-Garland
Hoglander-Pettersson-Boeser
Mikheyev-Suter-Podkolzin
Bains-Aman-XXX
PDG

Hughes-Hronek
Soucy-XXX
XXX-Juulsen
XXX/XXX

Demko
XXX

Roster Spots: 17/23

Cap Space: 14.94m

Signings:
Hronek @ 7y/8.369083m
Podkolzin @ 2y/1.1m
Joshua @ 3y/3.001979

If you assume the last three roster spots are taken up by near-league minimum contracts that puts the team at around 12.6m for a top-4 right side defenceman, 3rd pairing left side defenceman, and a back-up goalie.

So, to me, Canucks are actually in a pretty good position going into this off-season.

 

[sting101]

That Hronek contract is disgusting and will age like milk at 40 degrees C

If he wants more than Hughes he can XXXX right off as far as i'm concerned

I would rather eat the shit of losing him for a 1st round pick than sign that anchor.

Joshua and Pod done and done. In fact that would seem a little on the cheap if we got Joshua for that

 

[sting101]

Hronek for Byram..... get it done

 

[credulous]

So, to me, Canucks are actually in a pretty good position going into this off-season.

really? to me that team looks incredibly weak on wing. joshua AND garland AND hoglander in the top 6? podkolzin and mikheyev on the 3rd line? i also think there's no way they'll want to run suter and aman as their bottom 6 centers

someone has to go if they want to upgrade this roster

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

I just dont get how moving Boeser does anything for us.

The reality is we need ANOTHER top forward not rob peter to pay paul. I mean sure if you can pull a rabbit out your ass and come away with a couple top6 studs and then he's traded sure but that's a huge ask for a team with Hronek Lindholm Myers Zadorov Joshua Lafferty Blueger Cole DeSmith all Free agents. Could you imagine our former GM having this off season i would be mortified at the prospect of it

It's gonna be really tough without locking down some cost certainty soon after the season is over to look at moving the good signed players you have

Depends on whether or not Lekkerimaki can come in and put up 20+ goals on an ELC.

 

[VanillaCoke]

Associating brock and mik in the same context is full benning, never go full benning.

Unless it's to Minnesota they're not trading brock, ever, not even thinking about it, he’s an integral core player.
The garbage contract on the roster is obvious and if they could move it they would.
(It’s not myers either he's hundred percent getting an extension)

 

[JT Milker]

Hronek is not signing here for more than Hughes, and Joshua will get more than 3.

I actually don’t have an issue with Joshua Miller Garland as a top 6 line, I think that has potential. I would also trade Boeser for cap space before I go into next season with Suter and Aman as our bottom 6 Cs; that’s a recipe for zero secondary scoring.

 

[TruGr1t]

Our PP sucks in part because we dont have a down low presence that can finish. Makes it easier when you just have to defend the umbrella. Boeser has done a good job but he's not that great at quick in tight passes and we need that extra guy who can help him get it done down low. Given recent play it does make you wonder why Joshua hasn't been tapped on the shoulder for this he certainly fits the profile even if his shot at range isn't that great he gives teams fits around the net

Boesers scoring.....%of team....team total goals (goals per game)

oct-9-6-4-10.........28%.......36 (4.00)
nov-15-11-6-17.......30%.......56 (3.73)
dec-12-7-3-10.......23%........44 (3.67)
jan-13-6-8-14....... 28%........50 (3.85)
feb-13-5-5-10....... 28%........36 (2.77)
mar-12-3-4-7......... 21%........33 (2.75)

not that much of a drop off...games are lower scoring and our PP is struggling

Well yes, the team as whole has also been bottom third of the league offensively since the all-star break and it obviously isn’t just Boeser. They haven’t really been able to find a suitable top-six configuration.

 

[Vector]

really? to me that team looks incredibly weak on wing. joshua AND garland AND hoglander in the top 6? podkolzin and mikheyev on the 3rd line? i also think there's no way they'll want to run suter and aman as their bottom 6 centers

someone has to go if they want to upgrade this roster

It's the same roster that they've run out this year to sustained success with cap space to add an impact player in either the top-6 or on defence. There's quite a bit of cap room to play around with. Adjusting the bottom-6 isn't going to chew into the capspace too much.

There's real cap room and roster flexibility. Many avenues they can take and aren't locked into one scenario nor do I see why they'd be forced to move someone out.

 

[LemonSauceD]

I

That Hronek contract is disgusting and will age like milk at 40 degrees C

If he wants more than Hughes he can XXXX right off as far as i'm concerned

I would rather eat the shit of losing him for a 1st round pick than sign that anchor.

Joshua and Pod done and done. In fact that would seem a little on the cheap if we got Joshua for that

Id rather use Hronek’s cap hit to sign Tanev + one of Roy, Walker, or DeMelo.

Joshua I have no problem spending up to $4M for him. He is just much too valuable and brings a ton of qualities this team sorely lacks. He’s also proving to be quite literally our best defensive forward AINEC.

Podkolzin 2x1M

 

[Pastor Of Muppetz]

I

Id rather use Hronek’s cap hit to sign Tanev + one of Roy, Walker, or DeMelo.

Joshua I have no problem spending up to $4M for him. He is just much too valuable and brings a ton of qualities this team sorely lacks. He’s also proving to be quite literally our best defensive forward AINEC.

Podkolzin 2x1M

Nice to see that you've come around to Joshua (you were claiming he could be replaced by Zack MacEwan earlier in the season).

In all fairness he did have a shitty start to the season, and was out of shape..but the player is no one dimensional tough guy.

 

[Diversification]

So taken what I did above, sign Joshua and Hronek to those AFP contracts. Re-sign Podkolzin to the same contract as Hoglander from this past summer. That leaves the team like this:

Joshua-Miller-Garland
Hoglander-Pettersson-Boeser
Mikheyev-Suter-Podkolzin
Bains-Aman-XXX
PDG

Hughes-Hronek
Soucy-XXX
XXX-Juulsen
XXX/XXX

Demko
XXX

Roster Spots: 17/23

Cap Space: 14.94m

Signings:
Hronek @ 7y/8.369083m
Podkolzin @ 2y/1.1m
Joshua @ 3y/3.001979

If you assume the last three roster spots are taken up by near-league minimum contracts that puts the team at around 12.6m for a top-4 right side defenceman, 3rd pairing left side defenceman, and a back-up goalie.

So, to me, Canucks are actually in a pretty good position going into this off-season.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to sign Hronek to 8x7.35M? Same total dollar amount on the contract.

 

[credulous]

It's the same roster that they've run out this year to sustained success with cap space to add an impact player in either the top-6 or on defence. There's quite a bit of cap room to play around with. Adjusting the bottom-6 isn't going to chew into the capspace too much.

There's real cap room and roster flexibility. Many avenues they can take and aren't locked into one scenario nor do I see why they'd be forced to move someone out.

it's minus myers, cole, zadorov, blueger, lindholm/kuzmenko, lafferty, pdg and desmith. i'm not saying you can't replace those guys for ~15m or whatever they have to spend but it's a long way from the same roster just with more caproom

 

[Vector]

it's minus myers, cole, zadorov, blueger, lindholm/kuzmenko, lafferty, pdg and desmith. i'm not saying you can't replace those guys for ~15m or whatever they have to spend but it's a long way from the same roster just with more caproom

You listed a bunch of bottom-6/pairing guys and a back-up goalie. The only one of signifance is Myers.

Also, I have PDG on the roster as the 13th forward. He makes league minimum, replacing him is the easiest thing in the world.

 

[Vector]

Wouldn’t it make more sense to sign Hronek to 8x7.35M? Same total dollar amount on the contract.

As I said in my posts, I’m using AFP’s contraction prediction tool. That’s what they had Hronek at on a long term contract.

 

[MS]

Hronek simply isn't getting more than Hughes and the recent Dunn/Forsling extensions pretty clearly put his value in the $7 million range. I'm not overly worried about this one, regardless of how much noise the agent feels like making.

 

[TruGr1t]

You listed a bunch of bottom-6/pairing guys and a back-up goalie. The only one of signifance is Myers.

Also, I have PDG on the roster as the 13th forward. He makes league minimum, replacing him is the easiest thing in the world.

Forwards don’t matter, but you listed three defensemen playing 17+ minutes per night, including two (Cole and Myers) who are averaging over 18 mins per game.

 

[Vector]

Forwards don’t matter, but you listed three defensemen playing 17+ minutes per night, including two (Cole and Myers) who are averaging over 18 mins per game.

As I also said, they need one top-4 defenceman and a 3rd pairing left-side defenceman. They have the capspace to replace them.

 

[racerjoe]

I'm sure they like Mikheyev and *want* to give him another year (and I theoretically agree with that) but if it comes down to a choice between keeping Mikheyev and retaining Joshua, Mikheyev has to be gone and if they don't make that tough decision they deserve to be harshly criticized for it.

Teams like Vegas or TB would not be keeping Mikheyev in that situation. To compete you have to be ruthless and this isn't the Make Friends League.

It will be interesting because they were ruthless with guy like Dickinson and OEL but it's an entirely different thing to punt the signings of the dumb ex-GM vs. doing it to your own first big UFA signing.

Like Kuze?

I think this management team has the balls to do it... I do wonder about the cost... much like they tried to move Poolman, but at some point it becomes too costly...

 

[bandwagonesque]

You listed a bunch of bottom-6/pairing guys and a back-up goalie. The only one of signifance is Myers.

Also, I have PDG on the roster as the 13th forward. He makes league minimum, replacing him is the easiest thing in the world.

Blueger and Lafferty won the team a few games earlier in the season and have been fairly solid all year, I don't think they can be replaced easily. I consider Myers less important than either, he's been fine for stretches but still makes crazy game-processing mistakes that lead directly to goals 1-3 seconds later.