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

[arttk]

TBH, Id rather throw 5x5 at Chandler Stephenson than Lindolm and use his him as our 3C.
Dudes a monster.

Miller 1C
EP40 2C
CS 3C

Insane talent and depth. Chandler adds a bit more grit and weight/seize too which I like

i think Stephenson is going to get much better offers than that

 

[Bobby9]

i think Stephenson is going to get much better offers than that

I think youre most likely correct, but I wonder if he can handle the responsibilities of a 2C over his current 3C role.

Would be a fantastic pick up for us.

 

[Josepho]

I'd be very cautious about giving term to any more guys on the wrong side of 30

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

There's basically two UFAs I'd be comfortable throwing more than 2 years at: Alex Carrier and Jake DeBrusk.

Maybe Daniel Sprong, but that's it.

 

[vancityluongo]

no thanks to 34 year old chris tanev at $4m+ (don't think that's what he ends up at).

if we're spending that money, shoot for dylan demelo. pretty sure he will end up staying in winnipeg, but he should be the #1 target in free agency. would look terrific next to soucy and would absolutely round out our top-4 perfectly.

 

[ChilliBilly]

The more I think about it, the better I like it.

We have, for years, Petey, Miller, Hughes Demko and Garland tied up. Hopefully we sign Hronek and Zadorov for a few years.

But I don't think there is a better core in the entire league. Yeah, McD and Drai, or McKinnon, are the best, but for the first time in 10 years I think we can compete with anyone.


DISCUSS

 

[theguardianII]

I get your arguments, but in what world is debrusk getting 6m a yr? And the debate they don't have capspace, u are right. But its the same as crouse. U are trading a prospect that has no value against cap and taking in cap without relieving said spot, so the choice of using the debate that adding one is diff than adding the other based on your thoughts is moot. They both are coming in on your logic with nothing outgoing in terms of dollars so regardless, someone off roster has to move to accommodate.

Also saying debrusks play and stats could be seen as the result of playing for a top team, you gotta also look at crouse being on a shit team and being given all the opportunity in the world to shine. It can be a 2 way street. Debrusk doesn't get all the playtime or advantage to mess up without consequences, crouse on other hand due to such a shallow depth team, would have every opportunity given to him in all scenarios with no worries about him f***ing up as they aren't a team that was every battling competitively.

Beyond that I agree there is a window of opportunity for this team to challenge, but Imo a prospective top dman given this teams depth isn't something I'd trade away for a crouse. You've seen how hard it is to find good dmen, let alone affordable ones. Getting one in on an Elc that would do the same job as a vet top 4 dman costing the team say 4m+ multi year is huge. Wingers are much more plug n play imo, but the backend u got 6 spots and the top 4 u want to eat 2/3ds of the game.

in what world is debrusk getting 6m a yr?
In what world does he not ask or get that amount?
At least 35 players with the same point totals and less get that much or more now, by the end of the season with the additional 5 mil there will be more.
Not all are stars either.

the result of playing for a top team, you gotta also look at crouse being on a shit team and being given all the opportunity in the world to shine.

That could have been true but a quick look at a comparison shows almost the exact same opportunities if anything it is obvious DeBrusk got a lot more PP time

Jake DeBrusk vs. Lawson Crouse:​

Regular Season

			Goals	Assists	Shots	Ice Time
Rk	Player	Age	From	To	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	EV	PP	SH	GWG	EV	PP	SH	SOG	SPCT	TOI	ATOI
1	Lawson Crouse	19-26	2016-17	2023-24	487	100	88	188	-46	320	81	14	5	14	76	11	1	833	12.0	7242:26	14:52
2	Jake DeBrusk	21-27	2017-18	2023-24	449	134	125	259	60	95	102	30	2	31	94	30	1	1069	12.5	7064:09	15:44

Playoffs

			Goals	Assists	Shots	Ice Time
Rk	Player	Age	From	To	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	EV	PP	SH	GWG	EV	PP	SH	SOG	SPCT	TOI	ATOI
1	Lawson Crouse	22	2019-20	2019-20	9	2	0	2	1	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	15.4	131:02	14:34
2	Jake DeBrusk	21-26	2017-18	2022-23	73	22	14	36	-11	34	15	6	1	3	7	6	1	146	15.1	1125:24	15:25

It is sometimes hard to "debate" with some posters.
They take supporting a point of view as an attack on some aspect of the team.

I don't dis your opinion but will try to support my reasoning.

So many fans aren't really looking in depth or at the future. So many are the new generation of people who live attached to the screen on their phone making it so they never really need to think for themselves. they an just look it up and read someone else's words and if that person has enough likes, then it must be true and further thought isn't required.
I wonder if any know what phonetics are/is? Or why that word exists?
Just an example of shallow thinking. 128 character thinking.

Anyway not an attack on your thoughts just more supporting the logic behind mine.

 

[theguardianII]

The more I think about it, the better I like it.

We have, for years, Petey, Miller, Hughes Demko and Garland tied up. Hopefully we sign Hronek and Zadorov for a few years.

But I don't think there is a better core in the entire league. Yeah, McD and Drai, or McKinnon, are the best, but for the first time in 10 years I think we can compete with anyone.


DISCUSS

IMO.
IF none aged at all then the idea of "years" might be more validated.
Petey and Hughes will be potent for years yet, Miller has maybe another 2 1/2 years after this one. It is a worrisome thought that at 34 yrs old he is still the #2 center. He is 31 THIS season, in just a few days in fact.
Demko is showing symptoms of over playing. Multiple surgeries will take it's toll. Schneider fell off a cliff and Demko has had the same surgeries.
Hronek might be redundant with the team already having Hughes. I am sure there are many good defensive players much cheaper and the cap is the most important asset the team has.
Zadorov will be cheap by comparison especially in 3 years.

This core is nothing special IMO. The entire team THIS year appears to be, no, is an outlier. An outlier until playoffs happen more than once.

I see this season a reverse of the last couple where the team excelled after they were eliminated.

Time will tell.
They are in the playoffs this year. The first most of this core have had in 5 years. One in five is a start.

We'll see.

 

[alternate]

I'm ok with re-signing Lindholm to a longish term deal. Obviously not the rumored $9m x 8 he was offered. He's not that guy and I'd hope he realizes it (personally I don't actually believe he was offered that -- pretty big blunder to turn it down if so, but I guess what's a few extra million when you're stuck living in Cal and Gary's basement).

Also wouldn't offer him 6@$6m just due to...well you know.

But something starting with a 6 for 4-6 years, I'd be okay with. In a previous post I mentioned Malhotra, and how important he was to that core. Lindholm can be similar but brings way more offense, even if the 40g80p season is an outlier.

Strength down the middle is so important. Having Lindholm as a capable #2 let's JTM transition to EP's LW, or Lindholm does the heavy lifting defensively, freeing up JTM and EP for prime offensive minutes.

I realize EL23 didn't exactly hit the ground running here in Van, but we are starting to see how this three headed monster down the middle can work. Wouldn't break the bank for Lindholm, and wouldn't be making offers just yet. But another 10 games of constant improvement like the last 3-4, and I put an offer on the table.

 

[Jerry the great]

I think youre most likely correct, but I wonder if he can handle the responsibilities of a 2C over his current 3C role.

Would be a fantastic pick up for us.

On what planet is he a 3rd line centre currently?

He has averaged 18.5 minutes per game for 5 seasons.....and he's logged more minutes beside Mark Stone than he has with anyone else. how much of his production is a product of playing one of the leagues premiere play driving wingers?

He's also not particularly big (6ft 209) and he absolutely doesn't play big (Pettersson has thrown almost 3x as many hits this season.....even Boeser throws more hits than he does). His 5v5 scoring isn't particularly good either.


Blueger is a solid third line centre for us and will probably cost half as much for not nearly as long while offering similar production (ESP/g is better this season) and killing penalties.

 

[credulous]

pencilling in lekkerimaki and willander as top line/pairing guys seems way premature. they're good prospects but you'd think this market would have learned not to bank on prospects too early after hodgson/virtanan/mccann/juolevi/podkolzin/etc

 

[credulous]

i have knights season tickets so i've seen stephenson a ton and while he's a good player he's going to disappoint whoever signs him in free agency. he's never gonna be the best player on his line. he's a worse version of lindholm in basically every respect (except maybe forechecking, stephenson is a great forechecker)

 

[alternate]

no thanks to 34 year old chris tanev at $4m+ (don't think that's what he ends up at).

if we're spending that money, shoot for dylan demelo. pretty sure he will end up staying in winnipeg, but he should be the #1 target in free agency. would look terrific next to soucy and would absolutely round out our top-4 perfectly.

Agreed. I'm okay with signing Tanev, but like 2 years @ $2.5m. Wouldn't go much beyond that personally.

 

[Jerry the great]

I'm ok with re-signing Lindholm to a longish term deal. Obviously not the rumored $9m x 8 he was offered. He's not that guy and I'd hope he realizes it (personally I don't actually believe he was offered that -- pretty big blunder to turn it down if so, but I guess what's a few extra million when you're stuck living in Cal and Gary's basement).

Also wouldn't offer him 6@$6m just due to...well you know.

But something starting with a 6 for 4-6 years, I'd be okay with. In a previous post I mentioned Malhotra, and how important he was to that core. Lindholm can be similar but brings way more offense, even if the 40g80p season is an outlier.

Strength down the middle is so important. Having Lindholm as a capable #2 let's JTM transition to EP's LW, or Lindholm does the heavy lifting defensively, freeing up JTM and EP for prime offensive minutes.

I realize EL23 didn't exactly hit the ground running here in Van, but we are starting to see how this three headed monster down the middle can work. Wouldn't break the bank for Lindholm, and wouldn't be making offers just yet. But another 10 games of constant improvement like the last 3-4, and I put an offer on the table.

We'll see if there's any improvement down the stretch, but based on what i've seen over the 17 games he's played for us, absolutely not. I don't think he does anything better than Blueger other than faceoffs and that doesn't justify paying him 2x the money. Happy to have him for the playoff run, but if someone is going to give this guy $6MM i sure as hell hope it isn't us. Pretty sure we can sign Blueger and Joshua for close to that and that is WAY better value IMO.

 

[Quinning]

I think our window relies on two factors:

1) Our continued ability to bargain-hunt and retain players at below market value.
2) Lekkerimaki and Willander being early contributors on ELCs during the bad OEL years.

 

[arttk]

I'd be very cautious about giving term to any more guys on the wrong side of 30

I would worry giving term to players with injury history.

 

[krutovsdonut]

i kind of hope lindholm plays like a $9m centre. i don't think we can afford him so he may as well absolutely blow the doors off.

 

[theguardianII]

Hopefully it's just a few games. On the plus side this forces the team to get him some rest as well.

This should be a big red flag.

Why can't folks read between the lines.

"We have no idea what is wrong BUT it isn't anything about previous injuries"

Doesn't that statement scream information to the public. On so many levels!

Haven't got a clue but not .... a list of possibilities. How stupid are fans to drink this koolaid.

How can anyone possibly say they don't know what's wrong but at the same time give a list of things it isn't?

Especially from a person that gets inside info. That sells an opinion to fans.

Hip! hip tweeked IMO

I figured at first he just had the flu, stomach issues as the flu bug is making it's rounds in the hockey world.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

This should be a big red flag.

Why can't folks read between the lines.

"We have no idea what is wrong BUT it isn't anything about previous injuries"

Doesn't that statement scream information to the public. On so many levels!

Haven't got a clue but not .... a list of possibilities. How stupid are fans to drink this koolaid.

How can anyone possibly say they don't know what's wrong but at the same time give a list of things it isn't?
If is breathing then they know something, if it illness then they know something, if can't walk, if he is dizzy, if he can't see......

BUT absolutely for sure they know is isn't groin, hips, knees, head, concussions, fingers, wrists, constipation, dehydration, hair growth, personal, mostly though that it isn't anything he has EVER had issues (they covered up) before.

How did you come up with all this on a Monday morning

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

We don’t play a lot this month and assuming they were planned to star DeSmith a bit more prior to Demko’s injiry

so realistically Demko only misses 3-4 games

 

[theguardianII]

How did you come up with all this on a Monday morning

We don’t play a lot this month so realistically Demko only misses 3-4 games

Experience.

The last two surgeries I posted here for weeks about what the injury was. It just looking very hard for hints. Which way a push is a little out of control, too much, too little, not quite the same bend at the knee or hip, which leg is favored getting up, speed of getting up, how fast going down onto his face. Lots of little things BUT IT TAKES TIME to look at just one player at a time during a game.

Most folks can't watch more than one thing at a time or process what they are seeing. They get overwhelmed with what's going on.

The "curse" of coaching, scouting and playing. Seeing more than just the puck or the "now". Observation, not seeing just the obvious.

Having a replay makes it so much easier. PVR

I guess that's why I have a real hard time blaming a single player or play for a loss where 6 goals are scored against.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Experience.

The last two surgeries I posted here for weeks about what the injury was. It just looking very hard for hints. Which way a push is a little out of control, too much, too little, not quite the same bend at the knee or hip, which leg is favored getting up, speed of getting up, how fast going down onto his face. Lots of little things BUT IT TAKES TIME to look at just one player at a time during a game.

Most folks can't watch more than one thing at a time or process what they are seeing. They get overwhelmed with what's going on.

The "curse" of coaching, scouting and playing. Seeing more than just the puck or the "now". Observation, not seeing just the obvious.

Having a replay makes it so much easier. PVR

I guess that's why I have a real hard time blaming a single player for a loss where 6 goals are scored against.

It’s lunch time

 

[Bobby9]

Knee injury for Demko?

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Pettersson is 26 yrs old, Miller 31 yrs old, Demko 28 yrs old, Boeser 29 yrs old, the majority of the team will be over 26 yr old next year. Seven years from now that makes them 33+ yrs old.

Pettersson is 25 but will turn 26 next season (11/12/98)
Miller will be 31 in three days
Demko just turned 28 in December
Boeser turned 27 in February

Outside of Miller our core are all in their mid to late twenties, which is the ideal age for a decently long window. Demko being the oldest (outside Miller) benefits us because goalies usually have a longer shelf life. Even if he does falter, goaltender is generally an easier position to fix.

I'm also a lot less concerned about Miller than I would be say Kesler. While a physical player, JT doesn't actually use his body nearly to the same extent players of his style usually do. Which very likely will help in his longevity. He may not be putting up 100 points in three years but we don't need him to. If he's putting up Tavares numbers, we're fine.

The whole point of getting guys like Lekkerimaki and Willander on the roster is to, hopefully, have another surprise akin to Joshua or Juulsen where you're not expecting much and they exceed said expectation. That way we can ride out the OEL buyout.

 

[TruGr1t]

Knee injury for Demko?

Saw some doctors reviewing the tape speculating some sort of hamstring thing.