Canucks News, Rumours, & Fantasy GM | The Russians are Going!?

[Skirbs1110]

Honestly looking at the Canucks roster, obviously any team would like to pick up another Dman, they have a tendency to get injured during the much more physical post season. However I think if there is something other than the extra dman, we could really use a LW/C that can play on the Pettersson line and allow Suter to move back to C on the 4th line. I don't honestly trust Aman there right now for a post season run. I think this would truly make the Canucks a very strong 4 line team.

Someone I might consider would be an Adam Henrique. He's got a 200ft game and is very strong on faceoffs. He's not overly physical, but he does play a 200ft game. On a very poor ducks team, he's managing to not be negative on the +/-.

Could just as easily move Lafferty back to 4C and put PDG on the wing.

I don't mind Suter on the wing with Boeser and Miller, IMO the glaring hole on our offense is Mikheyev. Much rather shed him and his term and take on a Duclair or Mantha for playoffs and free up even more cap for the off season.

 

[andora]

Could just as easily move Lafferty back to 4C and put PDG on the wing.

I don't mind Suter on the wing with Boeser and Miller, IMO the glaring hole on our offense is Mikheyev. Much rather shed him and his term and take on a Duclair or Mantha for playoffs and free up even more cap for the off season.

But that is simply swapping at worst at 200 ft capable player that is responsible for guys that aren't known for their prowess on their own side of Center on a team that has the most goals in the NHL

 

[oceanchild]

seems a massive overpayment for a rental and Anderson just is not worth that much. I mean, really sell off the last of our decent draft picks, Hoglander (who is playing great and on a good contract) and Raty? In summary, give up a top 4 D man, a great player and contract, a decent prospect and a 1st for a rental and an ok D man. NO thanks.

Andersson is a top 2 dman and a smokin contract, I believe we have a difference of opinion on the quality of that player. Acquiring a player of that quality would be somewhat transformative to our d group as it would allow him or Hronek to significantly upgrade the second pair, who a pick mover and his contract is long enough to cover the hard part of the OEL buyout and represents a tone of value. I also will wonder out loud why Hoglander can’t seem to win over any coaches and move up the line up.. even when Kuzmenko was clearly not performing.

 

[biturbo19]

Could just as easily move Lafferty back to 4C and put PDG on the wing.

I don't mind Suter on the wing with Boeser and Miller, IMO the glaring hole on our offense is Mikheyev. Much rather shed him and his term and take on a Duclair or Mantha for playoffs and free up even more cap for the off season.

This is so ass backwards to me. Guys like Duclair and Mantha are losers. They've got more offensive touch than Mikheyev (by a little bit) but they're so much massively worse in every single other aspect of the game. The fixation some Canucks fans seem to have with ditching Mikheyev is truly bizarre to me.

He's a rock solid two-way Top-9 Winger who is plenty capable in the right complementary Top-6 situation at 5v5. Who kills penalties, takes care of his own end, doesn't usually get in the way too badly offensively. He's basically...Chris Higgins, but Russian. That's absolutely the exact sort of useful, dependable player you want on a deep playoff team. A ~20G 40-45pt two-way winger is exactly what he was supposed to be, and it's exactly what he's been. With decent size and plenty of speed as well. He's a good player, that people seem to hate because he's not very great on the Powerplay.


People think Tocchet was hard on Kuzmenko...lmao...just imagining Duclair/Mantha here is hilarious. The antithesis of a "playoff player".

 

[biturbo19]

which defenseman or two would you want the canucks to target? plus another forward who can bang and crash. i thought of the name trent yenin. big hits like a truck would be useful for forth line if needed

Who the deuce is Trent Yenin?

Is that like a real lazy pseudonym that Yakov Trenin goes by when he's pretending to be an American out on Broadway in Nashville?

 

[StickShift]

The Canucks went "all in" with the Lindholm trade. What would "ALL IN" mean and look like to you?

 

[Skirbs1110]

This is so ass backwards to me. Guys like Duclair and Mantha are losers. They've got more offensive touch than Mikheyev (by a little bit) but they're so much massively worse in every single other aspect of the game. The fixation some Canucks fans seem to have with ditching Mikheyev is truly bizarre to me.

He's a rock solid two-way Top-9 Winger who is plenty capable in the right complementary Top-6 situation at 5v5. Who kills penalties, takes care of his own end, doesn't usually get in the way too badly offensively. He's basically...Chris Higgins, but Russian. That's absolutely the exact sort of useful, dependable player you want on a deep playoff team. A ~20G 40-45pt two-way winger is exactly what he was supposed to be, and it's exactly what he's been. With decent size and plenty of speed as well. He's a good player, that people seem to hate because he's not very great on the Powerplay.


People think Tocchet was hard on Kuzmenko...lmao...just imagining Duclair/Mantha here is hilarious. The antithesis of a "playoff player".

I'm not saying those 2 guys are a forever answer but getting Mikheyvs 4.7 off the books for next is year a big deal, and if one of those guys has to be a replacement for half a season I think it's fine.

Unless you move out Garland and move Mik to the 3rd line, result is still the same that they are both 3rd line wingers being paid to be a top 6 winger and not producing like they should.

I just think finding a potential taker might be easier at the deadline opposed to the off season.

 

[JT Milker]

Garland and Mikheyev both skated circles around Pettersson last night.

 

[LemonSauceD]

This is so ass backwards to me. Guys like Duclair and Mantha are losers. They've got more offensive touch than Mikheyev (by a little bit) but they're so much massively worse in every single other aspect of the game. The fixation some Canucks fans seem to have with ditching Mikheyev is truly bizarre to me.

He's a rock solid two-way Top-9 Winger who is plenty capable in the right complementary Top-6 situation at 5v5. Who kills penalties, takes care of his own end, doesn't usually get in the way too badly offensively. He's basically...Chris Higgins, but Russian. That's absolutely the exact sort of useful, dependable player you want on a deep playoff team. A ~20G 40-45pt two-way winger is exactly what he was supposed to be, and it's exactly what he's been. With decent size and plenty of speed as well. He's a good player, that people seem to hate because he's not very great on the Powerplay.


People think Tocchet was hard on Kuzmenko...lmao...just imagining Duclair/Mantha here is hilarious. The antithesis of a "playoff player".

I don’t really see this amazing two way winger that PK’s like you’re seeing with him.

He’s very vanilla, low energy, and has trouble keeping up with skilled linemates. He’s basically an Andreas Athanasiou with slightly better production.

He’s not physical, he’s not a good board battler, he doesn’t retrieve pucks, he can’t carry the puck, they’ve reduced the amount of minutes he plays on the PK, doesn’t block shots, he’s not good on the PP, I can list many different reasons as to why Mikheyev isn’t really good despite his point totals.

Sure he knows how to make the safe play and sometimes uses his speed to get in behind the defense, but he doesn’t do that nearly enough and quite frankly there’s more that goes into being a two way player than just being able to make the safe play 90% of the time. He doesn’t tilt the ice like Joshua, Blueger, and Garland can which is due to their amazing forechecking and two way play at all ends of the ice. He also hasn’t been an effective shutdown player in the times they’ve tried to use him as one. He doesn’t even play when there’s an empty net.

For $4.75M, he brings very minimal value on the ice. The way he puts up points is also a different discussion. To me, he benefits off the hard work of his center.

Pettersson has played some of his best hockey away from Mikheyev and Kuzmenko.

 

[biturbo19]

I'm not saying those 2 guys are a forever answer but getting Mikheyvs 4.7 off the books for next is year a big deal, and if one of those guys has to be a replacement for half a season I think it's fine.

Unless you move out Garland and move Mik to the 3rd line, result is still the same that they are both 3rd line wingers being paid to be a top 6 winger and not producing like they should.

I just think finding a potential taker might be easier at the deadline opposed to the off season.

Why the heck are you concerned about next season right now? This team is at the top of the league, making big moves and loading up for a playoff run this year. And guys like Duclair and Mantha are flakey awful one-way player garbage that would be justifiably benched in an instant by Tocchet.

Mikheyev really isn't what you're characterizing him as either.

The guy is tied for 4th on one of the top scoring teams (with Garland) for Even Strength Points. He's more than holding up his end there. He's also comfortably within the Top-120 leaguewide for Even Strength Points. Which is very much Top-6 scoring level.

So f***ing what if he's bad on the Powerplay? He's rock solid everywhere else, including the PK.


I swear to Jeebus, people who want to trade away Mikheyev have completely and thoroughly missed the entire point of what has made the Canucks team so good this year.

 

[biturbo19]

I don’t really see this amazing two way winger that PK’s like you’re seeing with him.

He’s very vanilla, low energy, and has trouble keeping up with skilled linemates. He’s basically an Andreas Athanasiou with slightly better production.

He’s not physical, he’s not a good board battler, he doesn’t retrieve pucks, he can’t carry the puck, they’ve reduced the amount of minutes he plays on the PK, doesn’t block shots, he’s not good on the PP, I can list many different reasons as to why Mikheyev isn’t really good despite his point totals.

Sure he knows how to make the safe play and sometimes uses his speed to get in behind the defense, but he doesn’t do that nearly enough and quite frankly there’s more that goes into being a two way player than just being able to make the safe play 90% of the time. He doesn’t tilt the ice like Joshua, Blueger, and Garland can which is due to their amazing forechecking and two way play at all ends of the ice. He also hasn’t been an effective shutdown player. He doesn’t even play when there’s an empty net.

For $4.75M, he brings very minimal value on the ice. The way he puts up points is also a different discussion. To me, he benefits off the hard work of his center.

I think calling him "Vanilla" and "Low Energy" is really the crux of it. I don't know what you're watching, but he's absolutely fine. He's just not a flashy offensive dangler or big physical crash 'n bang rattle the boards guy. He's just an effective, positionally sound and responsible player who can fill a complementary role and not get in the way.

Guys like Duclair are "flashy" and spurts of "high energy" but kind of useless. He just runs around and does whatever trying to score. Gets a big jump in his step when he thinks there's a scoring opportunity, that dematerializes when it comes to just making sure he's in the right spot defensively to support the play and play his role in the system. It's pathetic hot dog hockey. That's not how you win. That's especially not how this Tocchet coached team wins.

 

[LemonSauceD]

The guy is tied for 4th on one of the top scoring teams (with Garland) for Even Strength Points. He's more than holding up his end there. He's also comfortably within the Top-120 leaguewide for Even Strength Points. Which is very much Top-6 scoring level.

our team as a whole has been scoring a ton 5 on 5. I wonder how far behind Lafferty and Hoglander are.

The only difference is that they don’t get nearly the same amount of minutes as Mikheyev. It’s a skewed way of looking up how many even strength points he has when you consider quality of linemates + ice time and deployment.

 

[LemonSauceD]

I think calling him "Vanilla" and "Low Energy" is really the crux of it. I don't know what you're watching, but he's absolutely fine. He's just not a flashy offensive dangler or big physical crash 'n bang rattle the boards guy. He's just an effective, positionally sound and responsible player who can fill a complementary role and not get in the way.

Guys like Duclair are "flashy" and spurts of "high energy" but kind of useless. He just runs around and does whatever trying to score. Gets a big jump in his step when he thinks there's a scoring opportunity, that dematerializes when it comes to just making sure he's in the right spot defensively to support the play and play his role in the system. It's pathetic hot dog hockey. That's not how you win. That's especially not how this Tocchet coached team wins.

I agree Duclair and Mantha suck.

Tocchet wants guys that can skate, keep an uptempo pace, play the body, hard on the forecheck, and can backcheck and be able to play a systems game.

Does that describe Mikheyev to you the last 15-20 games? Because judging by Tocchet’s comments, it doesn’t appear to be the case. The eye test certainly seems to support his latest comments.

 

[biturbo19]

our team as a whole has been scoring a ton 5 on 5. I wonder how far behind Lafferty and Hoglander are.

The only difference is that they don’t get nearly the same amount of minutes as Mikheyev. It’s a skewed way of looking up how many even strength points he has when you consider quality of linemates + ice time and deployment.

It's not skewed at all. It's comparing straight across, Mikheyev's general deployment...vs the league. Where he comes out strong. You may not like the way it looks, ~stylistically~ but the results say your eyes are misleading you. It's a guy playing a lot of Top-6 minutes at Even Strength, producing like a Top-6 Forward while doing it. Full stop.

But you're still completely missing the point. That depth of solid even strength contribution from things like the Hoggy+Laffy duo hot on his heels, and guys like Garland and Joshua, among others...is exactly why this team has been so successful this year. Everyone just chipping in. Getting results at Even Strength.



What on earth would be the reason to swap that out for far weaker Even Strength performers like Duclair or Mantha? Who are both massive liabilities defensively. Often difficult to play with if the chemistry isn't right. And guys who wouldn't be getting any prime powerplay minutes, and wouldn't be trusted alongside either of the top lines in any kind of matchup minutes defensively? That's a straight up massive downgrade from Mikheyev, period.

That $4.75M contract is not even bad. It's basically right on par for UFA "market value" and about to get a lot better as the cap rises. But it seems to live rent free in a lot of fans heads because he's not "flashy" and "fun". He just does his job.

If it's a problem in the summer, you deal with it in the summer. But in the meantime, it's insane that people keep wanting to trade him away in the middle of the push for the playoffs.

 

[Canucker]

I don't dislike Mikheyev, he's not terrible in any way really...but i don't believe he provides good value for his contract...if we're looking for savings on inefficient contracts he's one of the top targets IMO.

 

[biturbo19]

I agree Duclair and Mantha suck.

Tocchet wants guys that can skate, keep an uptempo pace, play the body, hard on the forecheck, and can backcheck and be able to play a systems game.

Does that describe Mikheyev to you the last 15-20 games? Because judging by Tocchet’s comments, it doesn’t appear to be the case. The eye test certainly seems to support his latest comments.

This isn't anything new with Tocchet. When he sees someone isn't going 110%, he tends to play it like this. Think about the way he's very carefully managed almost every single forward on the team at some point by putting them on notice if things slip a tiny bit.

The point is...Mikheyev is absolutely capable and has proven that he's capable of playing exactly the way Tocchet wants. 15 games out of a way too long season of maybe sliding a tiny little bit, is an absolutely insane reason to want to get rid of the guy.

If that's the case...Petey has had far more than some little stretches of play where he's looked nothing like what you're describing. Should we get rid of him because his contract is gonna be too big? It's wild outlandish reasoning.

 

[arttk]

I agree Duclair and Mantha suck.

Tocchet wants guys that can skate, keep an uptempo pace, play the body, hard on the forecheck, and can backcheck and be able to play a systems game.

Does that describe Mikheyev to you the last 15-20 games? Because judging by Tocchet’s comments, it doesn’t appear to be the case. The eye test certainly seems to support his latest comments.

Mik is not playing great offensively but he is still doing all the staples so I don't think Toc has that many issues with him. Yeah if he gets going offensively that will be great and maybe Toc is just trying to light a fire and get him going just before the playoffs and that's really it.

 

[Skirbs1110]

Why the heck are you concerned about next season right now? This team is at the top of the league, making big moves and loading up for a playoff run this year. And guys like Duclair and Mantha are flakey awful one-way player garbage that would be justifiably benched in an instant by Tocchet.

Mikheyev really isn't what you're characterizing him as either.

The guy is tied for 4th on one of the top scoring teams (with Garland) for Even Strength Points. He's more than holding up his end there. He's also comfortably within the Top-120 leaguewide for Even Strength Points. Which is very much Top-6 scoring level.

So f***ing what if he's bad on the Powerplay? He's rock solid everywhere else, including the PK.


I swear to Jeebus, people who want to trade away Mikheyev have completely and thoroughly missed the entire point of what has made the Canucks team so good this year.

Because if you don't worry about the future you end up like Jim Benning with Loui Eriksson and Tyler Myers being a hinderence to your roster for 6 years. Most people understand Petterson, Hughes, Hronek, Miller, Boeser and Demko all taking steps has caused us to be good this year.

Everything you described Mikheyev to be, other teams are getting the same value from players that cost 50% less.

 

[Tact]

I’m ready to move on from Mikheyev. He isn’t good enough for top 6 and is too expensive for bottom 6. Which is why everyone was scratching their head at 4.75M especially when we were tight at the cap and had winger depth. It was a luxury signing.

 

[krutovsdonut]

i have zero interest in moving mikhaeyev. he's basically a higgins and i think his knee is going to get better not worse.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Mikheyev, Pettersson, and Lindholm is the type of line you win with in the playoffs when the checking gets tight. Can match up well against the big guns like McDavid, MacKinnon and Eichel and still contribute offensively. Plus Mikheyev should be fully recovered by then.
The offense will likely start to come once the line has some more time to gel.

 

[Diversification]

There’s always a danger when a buyer picks up new players because the you don’t want to mess up what’s going well. And what’s going well with this team is strong systems play, pressure on both sides of the puck. That’s why Kuzmenko out and Lindholm in makes sense and why I’m optimistic that it will work out. The same can’t be said for Duclair or Mantha for Mik. In fact, I would go as far as to say that there really isn’t a weak link with respect to systems play remaining on the team except maybe Aman. So adding depth at forward and defense is probably all that’s needed.

 

[Angry Little Elf]

this is just my speculation but I think there might be a surprise deal at the deadline ala Filip Hronek

 

[krutovsdonut]

so does anyone know where to find out the time the canucks have spent leading, tied, within 1 or trailing and how we rank against other teams?

also are there stats comparing shots for and against by team when leading, tied or trailing?

i'd ideally like to compare our shooting for and against rates in different situations to other good teams to see how much score effect is influencing our outlier stats, including the fact we allow more shots against and more high danger chances than other good teams. it does not take much imagination to conclude that score effect when leading will result in more shots against and will also increase team shooting% because of shot selection when leading.

 

[Vector]

this is just my speculation but I think there might be a surprise deal at the deadline ala Filip Hronek

The only way I could see this happening is if they are happy flipping someone from the roster (and I don't think they actually are) or Soucy gets LTIRed.