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

[MS]

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...

Big difference between Poolman and Mikheyev.

Poolman is completely dead cap that we can still mostly hide on LTIR. Mikheyev is a useful player who is still going to score 30-35 points this year coming back from a serious injury - he's basically what Beauvillier was last year.

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.

Blueger's recent offensive struggles might have a silver lining in that they might have pulled him back into an affordable-resign range at numbers not hugely different from what he is making this year. When he was tracking for 40 points and his line was on fire he was probably going to get $3 million somewhere.

If Podkolzin keeps playing the way he has and keeps doing the right things I think he can mostly replace Lafferty.

 

[arttk]

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.

His projection also has like 15M left to spend. I think you can get 2 D and a backup with that much money.

 

[credulous]

His projection also has like 15M left to spend. I think you can get 2 D and a backup with that much money.

they definitely can but can they improve the forward group at the same time?

 

[arttk]

they definitely can but can they improve the forward group at the same time?

Probably need to get rid of Mik, bring up Sasson and Raty to run a cheap 3rd and 4th line.

 

[Vector]

they definitely can but can they improve the forward group at the same time?

Yeah, that is going to be the question. Can choose either forward or defence without moving a body.

They aren’t forced to make a move, though. They probably should but there’s at least some depth there while nothing on defence.

 

[bandwagonesque]

If Podkolzin keeps playing the way he has and keeps doing the right things I think he can mostly replace Lafferty.

I think most people are depending on Podkolzin to keep pushing up to counteract some of the attrition higher in the lineup, especially if Mikheyev and/or Boeser leave. He's not a 2nd liner and probably never will be but he'll get spot time there on a team where Joshua is thought to have a place in the top 6. Quality depth is the biggest difference between the current team and the teams of the last ten years or so with old, limited depth forwards who were doing well if they weren't pinned in their zone 90 percent of the time.

 

[DimitriL07]

I don’t think Podz will be a top 6er but what he’s doing right now is valuable and I’m perfectly content wt him in that role for our team.

 

[sting101]

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.

So what are you using Boesers cap space for then?

 

[LemonSauceD]

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.

I think it was PDG or Aman I said could be replaced with MacEwen (when he went on waivers) but I wasn’t high on Joshua for sure.

Looked like he had some sort of identity crisis of trying to be a skilled forward than a physical player that originally got him in the league. He was coasting a lot, was terribly slow due to a bad training camp/poor fitness, and was genuinely playing like waiver fodder. In fairness I’ve always been impressed with his hands and puck skills. He was healthy scratched for that 10-1 Sharks game. He comes back and has been our most important depth piece who’s established himself as an integral part of our roster.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

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

I don't think it's as bad once you consider the 12M additions. Depending on the asking price, I think we have a realistic shot at signing Tanev and Toffoli. I'd offer them longer term to keep the dollar amount down. Toffoli outright admitted that's why he chose the Habs over several teams. He wanted a fourth year.

So I think that will be how we can bring in UFAs while also retaining guys like Joshua and possibly Blueger or Cole. Hell, even DeSmith. Although, I wouldn't offer much in terms of a raise for him.

That all said, I do think moving on from Mikheyev would be best. That extra 5M could definitely be better spread around, especially if we can't convince Joshua or Hronek to take more reasonable contracts. Speaking of, I really don't see management wanting to sign Hronek over what Hughes makes. Not when they started as low as 6.8M, supposedly.

 

[TruGr1t]

they definitely can but can they improve the forward group at the same time?

No, probably not. I also find the prospect of replacing three 17-18 mins per game defensemen, including a right-hander, on a rather tight budget a bit dubious.

 

[arttk]

No, probably not.

That was what most posters, if not all the posters said this last offseason…

 

[sting101]

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.

I agree I'm just getting triggered by Saravelli and that clown Sekeras who keep saying 8-8.5

Vince Dunn has superior ES and PP numbers in almost every category. All with a lesser partner in Larsson. Dunn is a massively better goal scorer his shot is a legit weapon. Hroneks shot can't hit the broad side of a barn.

Seattle got 4 yrs at 8.8%. That is 7.7m at next years cap.

Hronek like you said should be really happy if his agent is getting him around 7 million. Hope they don't go more than 5-6yrs

 

[bossram]

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-Blueger-Aman
PDG

Hughes-Hronek
Soucy-Demelo
Cole-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.

Agreed. The Canucks situation this offseason is not dire. And they have space to ugrade the RD2 spot and the 3C slot (or bring back Blueger). The depth options will be filled out with cheap players. Not much of an issue for next season. Candidates at RD2 in free agency include Matt Roy, Dylan Demelo, and Tanev obviously. Pesce is out there, though I am not interested. Bring back Blueger and Cole (at basically the same deal) and I think the team is well-rounded again. Say:

Dylan Demelo: 4 x $5M
Teddy Blueger: 3 x $2.2M
Ian Cole: 1 x $3M

Leaves $4.7M across two extra defenseman slots and the backup goalie (which will likely be Silovs on a very cheap deal). Way more than enough room. Gives a lot of flexibility to bank cap space and make in-season additions.

 

[theguardianII]

Agreed. The Canucks situation this offseason is not dire. And they have space to ugrade the RD2 spot and the 3C slot (or bring back Blueger). The depth options will be filled out with cheap players. Not much of an issue for next season. Candidates at RD2 in free agency include Matt Roy, Dylan Demelo, and Tanev obviously. Pesce is out there, though I am not interested. Bring back Blueger and Cole (at basically the same deal) and I think the team is well-rounded again. Say:

Dylan Demelo: 4 x $5M
Teddy Blueger: 3 x $2.2M
Ian Cole: 1 x $3M

Leaves $4.7M across two extra defenseman slots and the backup goalie (which will likely be Silovs on a very cheap deal). Way more than enough room. Gives a lot of flexibility to bank cap space and make in-season additions.

They haven't won anything. The only part of the team to keep intact should be most of the defence.

If they do trade Hronek hopefully Columbus is the trade partner, they need to WIN NOW and need good off season news so they might give up Jireck and a forward and IF the team can swing it they have a few young forwards under cap control.

With Myers, Zadorov, Hughes, Cole they could take Jireck and ease him into the lineup.

Hronek and Boeser to Columbus for Jireck, with Marchenko and Voronkov or Johnson and Laine The first two forwards would be my choice but Jireck and Johnson have been in the doghouse. Too young on a win now team with that many injuries.

 

[JT Milker]

So what are you using Boesers cap space for then?

Re-sign Blueger and Zadorov. Sign or trade for a top 4 RHD. Sign or trade for a higher motor middle 6 winger (perhaps even in the Boeser trade) or hope Mikheyev bounces back next year 1.5 years post op.

 

[PavelBure10]

I wouldn't mind signing Brendan Dillon over Tyler Myers. Give the Canucks more size and grit in the backend. The hometown player adds toughness and bolsters the PK.

 

[bossram]

They haven't won anything. The only part of the team to keep intact should be most of the defence.

If they do trade Hronek hopefully Columbus is the trade partner, they need to WIN NOW and need good off season news so they might give up Jireck and a forward and IF the team can swing it they have a few young forwards under cap control.

With Myers, Zadorov, Hughes, Cole they could take Jireck and ease him into the lineup.

Hronek and Boeser to Columbus for Jireck, with Marchenko and Voronkov or Johnson and Laine The first two forwards would be my choice but Jireck and Johnson have been in the doghouse. Too young on a win now team with that many injuries.

The Canucks haven't won anything, so you want to swap out established players for players that haven't won anything on a WIN NOW club like *checks notes* Columbus?

What?

Conceptually I think something like Hronek for Jiricek or Boeser for Marchenko is interesting as a window-extending move for the Canucks. But it's completely unrealistic and CBJ will never make those kinds of swaps.

I wouldn't mind signing Brendan Dillon over Tyler Myers. Give the Canucks more size and grit in the backend. The hometown player adds toughness and bolsters the PK.

If Dillon wanted to re-sign at an Ian Cole-esque deal for the 3LD spot, then sure. He will likely command more though, and Cole is ideal for that spot.

The priority on the blueline should be upgrading RD2. Not another LHD that will be ensconced as the 3rd pair guy, or be forced to the off-side.

 

[iceburg]

NVM...it's already been discussed above. I was just too lazy to look.

 

[sandwichbird2023]

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.

I'm glad there are some cap space to work with, we desperately need another forward for the PP1 bumper spot. If we want to legit compete for the cup we cannot have Suter out there and run a bottom 3rd PP1 next season. They either have to find a player that can shoot like Horvat in the bumper slot, or move Petey there and find somebody on the other side.

One thing I don't understand is why Petey doesn't take one-timer anymore, or take shots on the PP period. If you look around the league, all the top PP has a one-timer threat. If he won't shoot (maybe his wrist is injured again?), maybe we should swap Petey and JTM and let Miller shoot. But either way, get Suter off PP1!

Not sure if these two players will make it to UFA, but signing Guentzel and Matt Roy to fill out the 1LW and 2RD slots would greatly improve the team in the short term (on top of your proposed Hronek/Podkolzin/Joshua extensions). I think 14m should be able to do it? The depth is going to suck most likely with mostly league minimum guys, but the top 6 forward and top 4 D will look pretty stacked.

 

[SopelFanThe3rd]

I think Blueger is a fantastic utility player who should be brought back for sure.

 

[arttk]

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.

Joshua-Miller-Garland
Hoglander-Pettersson-Boeser Guentzel
Suter Mikheyev-Suter Bluegar-Podkolzin
Bains-Sasson-Aman
PDG

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

 

[strattonius]

I've said it before but anything more than 5 yrs for Hronek is idiotic. He's a decent player and someone we absolutely need to pony up a bit for but he's not a core guy you want till he's 35 - he's just not max term good.

This management proved they are good. This offseason will show how good they really are with some huge decisions and lots of CAP to play with. What they do with Hronek's new contract will say a lot.

 

[TruGr1t]

I think Blueger is a fantastic utility player who should be brought back for sure.

I expect he will be. It should be pretty straightforward to sign him, I'm not sure he'll even demand much of a raise (more term certainly). His numbers don't leap off the page, and he hasn't scored in like 40 games.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I've said it before but anything more than 5 yrs for Hronek is idiotic. He's a decent player and someone we absolutely need to pony up a bit for but he's not a core guy you want till he's 35 - he's just not max term good.

This management proved they are good. This offseason will show how good they really are with some huge decisions and lots of CAP to play with. What they do with Hronek's new contract will say a lot.

Depends, really.

If he wants 7-8 years then he has to take 7ish million. Basically, I'd be willing to go up in years if he's willing to come down in dollars. If he's pushing for 8M and still wants 7-8 years, then we take him to arbitration and trade him.