Canucks News, Rumours, & Fantasy GM | Winter is Coming

[bossram]

Nylander is going to want, and will get, $10m+. How will we fit him in?

The only way for that to happen is if Petey doesn't extend here. I guess if you are sold that this 2023-24 version of Nylander is the one you will get going forward, trading Petey for a huge haul and signing Nylander might not be a bad idea... But if Petey is willing to stay, I rather just extend him. Nylander has been a pretty good playoff performer in his career, which is a plus.

Playing around on capfriendly, it's possible to fit in Nylander at 10.5, Petey at 12, and Hronek at close to 8. They just have to be efficient elsewhere on the roster.

The club definitely needs more 5v5 scoring. To be a real contender they need another top-line calibre player. I'd be open to signing Nylander.

 

[arttk]

I wonder what the cost would be to get Tanev now from Flames instead of signing Bear. We could put Tanev back with Hughes or leave Hronek and Hughes together and have a shutdown pair with Zadorov and Tanev together.

whatever the price is it's not worth it considering Tanev would only be around for like 2 years. He is only worth grabbing if the acquisiton price is super cheap or if he is free in FA.

If you're adding a high end talent like Buchnevich, you can't be picky about position IMO. Buchnevich-Pettersson-Mikheyev, Kuzmenko-Miller-Boeser is a strong top 6.

yeah, ideally we should add another C so we can compete with LA's center depth but all reasonably good centers are locked up to long term contracts and centers with like 1-2 year left are either old as shit or just not really good.

So the only real way to improve is to pay for a high level winger like Buchnevich if he is available. That would be a better use of assets. Don't use 1st rounders on like short term guys that won't move the needle. Pay a little bit more and get a guy that can make an impact.

 

[TruGr1t]

Pettersson sure doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry. Sounds like not much will happen on that file until this coming offseason. Coincidentally, when the league expects a big salary cap increase.

 

[m9]

Pettersson sure doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry. Sounds like not much will happen on that file until this coming offseason. Coincidentally, when the league expects a big salary cap increase.

.. and when he is really close to being an UFA.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

Playing around on capfriendly, it's possible to fit in Nylander at 10.5, Petey at 12, and Hronek at close to 8. They just have to be efficient elsewhere on the roster.

Yup, it's totally possible. They'd probably have to move on from a winger - ideally Garland, but more realistically Kuzmenko, as seen in the attachment.

If this avenue is open to the Canucks, it's probably represents the best path forward for them to meaningfully improve the team.

It leaves about $6M to add a bottom pairing dman, top 9 winger, and a top-4 right side dman. Those first two can be found for ~$1M or so, but adding another defenseman would be difficult, though not impossible. Maybe Tanev takes a discount, maybe you cheap out there with like, Ethan Bear, or maybe you pay heavily to add a guy like Whitecloud from Vegas (would cost a 1st+, but would be worth it).

 

[sandwichbird2023]

Playing around on capfriendly, it's possible to fit in Nylander at 10.5, Petey at 12, and Hronek at close to 8. They just have to be efficient elsewhere on the roster.

The club definitely needs more 5v5 scoring. To be a real contender they need another top-line calibre player. I'd be open to signing Nylander.

I haven't check capfriendly but I assume if we sign the 3 above named players to the numbers you listed, we will have to essentially fill out the rest of the roster openings with near min-salary players? We would be a very top heavy team with very little quality/proven depth. It hasn't work for the Leafs, Oilers, Pens (recently), but it has worked for the Avs and Lightning. Either way, should be fun to watch that roster play.

 

[bossram]

I haven't check capfriendly but I assume if we sign the 3 above named players to the numbers you listed, we will have to essentially fill out the rest of the roster openings with near min-salary players? We would be a very top heavy team with very little quality/proven depth. It hasn't work for the Leafs, Oilers, Pens (recently), but it has worked for the Avs and Lightning. Either way, should be fun to watch that roster play.

IIRC I still had Garland on the roster, Soucy, and brought back Cole (I don't want Zadorov back anyway).

Letting go of Myers and Beau frees up a lot of space.

Plus guys like Podz, Bains, and Aman are likely expected to be on the roster next season anyway.

There was not room to really upgrade the blueline though.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

I haven't check capfriendly but I assume if we sign the 3 above named players to the numbers you listed, we will have to essentially fill out the rest of the roster openings with near min-salary players? We would be a very top heavy team with very little quality/proven depth. It hasn't work for the Leafs, Oilers, Pens (recently), but it has worked for the Avs and Lightning. Either way, should be fun to watch that roster play.

It hasn't worked for Leafs, Oilers and Pens because they don't have dmen as good as Hughes (or Hronek tbh) or a goaltender as good as Demko.

Top heavy is a totally reasonable way build a team. Top heavy *forwards* only is what doesn't work.

 

[bossram]

Yup, it's totally possible. They'd probably have to move on from a winger - ideally Garland, but more realistically Kuzmenko, as seen in the attachment.

If this avenue is open to the Canucks, it's probably represents the best path forward for them to meaningfully improve the team.

It leaves about $6M to add a bottom pairing dman, top 9 winger, and a top-4 right side dman. Those first two can be found for ~$1M or so, but adding another defenseman would be difficult, though not impossible. Maybe Tanev takes a discount, maybe you cheap out there with like, Ethan Bear, or maybe you pay heavily to add a guy like Whitecloud from Vegas (would cost a 1st+, but would be worth it).

Yeah, this is roughly what I had mapped out as well.

 

[sandwichbird2023]

Yup, it's totally possible. They'd probably have to move on from a winger - ideally Garland, but more realistically Kuzmenko, as seen in the attachment.

If this avenue is open to the Canucks, it's probably represents the best path forward for them to meaningfully improve the team.

It leaves about $6M to add a bottom pairing dman, top 9 winger, and a top-4 right side dman. Those first two can be found for ~$1M or so, but adding another defenseman would be difficult, though not impossible. Maybe Tanev takes a discount, maybe you cheap out there with like, Ethan Bear, or maybe you pay heavily to add a guy like Whitecloud from Vegas (would cost a 1st+, but would be worth it).

Forwards look great, but the D looks really thin. Even if you find an adequate #6D for $1m and an ok #4 RSD for $4m, you are still dressing a Friedman (or somebody his level) as a regular, and Juulsen is the depth. Would be risky to go into next season on such a shallow D core. Would help immensely if Woo takes the #6 spot next season as a depending defensive player on a cheap contract.

 

[TruGr1t]

Yup, it's totally possible. They'd probably have to move on from a winger - ideally Garland, but more realistically Kuzmenko, as seen in the attachment.

If this avenue is open to the Canucks, it's probably represents the best path forward for them to meaningfully improve the team.

It leaves about $6M to add a bottom pairing dman, top 9 winger, and a top-4 right side dman. Those first two can be found for ~$1M or so, but adding another defenseman would be difficult, though not impossible. Maybe Tanev takes a discount, maybe you cheap out there with like, Ethan Bear, or maybe you pay heavily to add a guy like Whitecloud from Vegas (would cost a 1st+, but would be worth it).

This assumes both Pettersson and Hronek sign for what increasingly looks like overly optimistic cap hits. That $6M available declines materially if they play hardball.

Like Pettersson at $11M, no way. We'll see how many points Hronek finishes the season with.

I don't doubt they can make $11M in space for Nylander, but the quality of the remainder of the roster will decline materially. Especially if you're looking at $12M+ AAV for Pettersson and $8Mish AAV for Hronek.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

Forwards look great, but the D looks really thin. Even if you find an adequate #6D for $1m and an ok #4 RSD for $4m, you are still dressing a Friedman (or somebody his level) as a regular, and Juulsen is the depth. Would be risky to go into next season on such a shallow D core. Would help immensely if Woo takes the #6 spot next season as a depending defensive player on a cheap contract.

Forget the actual names - you can get bottom pair and depth D for close to league minimum. Guys like Derek Forbort, Matt Grzelyk, Dmitri Kulikov, Ilya Lybushkin, Nick Seeler, etc.

It probably commits you to adding some dmen at the trade deadline when the cap hit is less, but that still makes it worthwhile.

 

[krutovsdonut]

it seems like bear's agent is working the rumour phones hard and not just with dhaliwal. i am not sure if this is the natural build-up to ensure he gets buzz before he signs, or if it is perhaps a change in approach as a reaction to the zadorov move and the way the bear camp now reads that move in terms of icetime and available cap leftover for bear on the canucks.

i also have never understood why bear would be happy with the rumoured prorated near league minimum salary this season unless it is for the flexibility to sign in the best spot. he bargained hard in carolina. i understand he needs to sign somewhere and play to rebuild his value but if that is his priority then you'd assume he would target the best 3 month and playoffs situation in the league not necessarily the canucks.

because if he is really going to sign for minimum, nearly every team can add a league minimum dman by sending someone down. so surely he goes to the place that gives him the best shot to play as a regular.

on that point, canucks already have six nhl regulars on the roster when soucy is healthy. at the very least bear is going to be under pressure if he joins in that situation.

so if the canucks want to be sure to get bear and if soucy is coming back this year, then i think they have to trade myers soon so the spot is clearly there for bear.

 

[andora]

it seems like bear's agent is working the rumour phones hard and not just with dhaliwal. i am not sure if this is the natural build-up to ensure he gets buzz before he signs, or if it is perhaps a change in approach as a reaction to the zadorov move and the way the bear camp now reads that move in terms of icetime and available cap leftover for bear on the canucks.

i also have never understood why bear would be happy with the rumoured prorated near league minimum salary this season unless it is for the flexibility to sign in the best spot. he bargained hard in carolina. i understand he needs to sign somewhere and play to rebuild his value but if that is his priority then you'd assume he would target the best 3 month and playoffs situation in the league not necessarily the canucks.

because if he is really going to sign for minimum, nearly every team can add a league minimum dman by sending someone down. so surely he goes to the place that gives him the best shot to play as a regular.

on that point, canucks already have six nhl regulars on the roster when soucy is healthy. at the very least bear is going to be under pressure if he joins in that situation.

so if the canucks want to be sure to get bear and if soucy is coming back this year, then i think they have to trade myers soon so the spot is clearly there for bear.

But bear isnt good enough to 'make' a spot for and i hope he knows that

 

[LemonSauceD]

Proposal: - Tyson Barrie to Vancouver for Connor Garland

IMO opinion, the Canucks should trade for Barrie. 1. In this trade, the Canucks would free up about 500k cap space to add to their current cap space. 2. Canucks would also get off of Connor Garland's contract which has 2 more years after this season, Barrie's is expiring. 3. I like Barrie over...

forums.hfboards.com

Quite the overreaction here imo.

If you can get out of Garland’s contract without giving up any valuable assets for an expiring contract, even if it’s Tyson Barrie, that should be a no brainer move. While I hate Barrie play hockey, I have no issues with him being a filler defenseman/7th D that can play on PP2 (you ice 2 defenseman) for the rest of this season, if it means we have an extra $4.5M of cap space at the end of the year. The alternative would be f***ing Juulsen..

Not sure what the obsession with Garland is here lately. First off, he’s asked for a trade request. While he’s not a bad winger, he’s certainly not someone you ideally want on the third line at that cap hit and for what little else he brings outside of being a puck handler/decent board player. It also frees up space for one of the Abbotsford guys such as Bains, Podkolzin, or Sasson.

I highly doubt you’ll find a better option where we deal Garland without retaining or spending assets. This is quite literally the best possible outcome to get out of his term.

 

[krutovsdonut]

But bear isnt good enough to 'make' a spot for and i hope he knows that

even if you get no guarantees they will make a spot, some teams are a better bet to use you than others. there are also better complimentary fits for likely pairings. none of this necessarily correlates to cup winning potential but it's what you need to look for in bear's position.

look at luke schenn. he revived his career by getting traded into a tire fire and helping a rookie on a terrible team. he probably would not have signed with vancouver if asked.

if i am bear i am doing the math on whether tochett is going to sit him if everyone is healthy and they do not move myers and i am looking around the league at other possible situations to compare. canucks have four veteran left handed dmen all making over $3m and none of them in the doghouse of which 3 also play the right side, plus two veteran right hand dmen making over $5m. that's not an ideal situation for a right hand dman looking to take a paycut to sign for the minimum and make a mark.

 

[andora]

even if you get no guarantees they will make a spot, some teams are a better bet to use you than others. there are also better complimentary fits for likely pairings. none of this necessarily correlates to cup winning potential but it's what you need to look for in bear's position.

look at luke schenn. he revived his career by getting traded into a tire fire and helping a rookie on a terrible team. he probably would not have signed with vancouver if asked.

if i am bear i am doing the math on whether tochett is going to sit him if everyone is healthy and they do not move myers and i am looking around the league at other possible situations to compare. canucks have four veteran left handed dmen all making over $3m and none of them in the doghouse of which 3 also play the right side, plus two veteran right hand dmen making over $5m. that's not an ideal situation for a right hand dman looking to take a paycut to sign for the minimum and make a mark.

i get that, and basically agree - i just hope though that he also realizes he can play his way into this lineup quite quickly imo - provided the injury hangover/rust wear off is standard time or hopefully shorter..

i would be very surprised if he gets any high money offers - all should be hovering around the same totals. unless he's entertaining shit teams, the likelihood of him going into a top half teams defence and playing himself into a future contract is about the same anywhere.

 

[Izzy Goodenough]

Pesky Narrative Busters:

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

I've mentioned acquiring Buch several times.

But the cost is going to be a ton.

Especially with the cap needed to go back the other way.

 

[Bgav]

I've mentioned acquiring Buch several times.

But the cost is going to be a ton.

Especially with the cap needed to go back the other way.

Blais and a 2nd will get it done

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

I've mentioned acquiring Buch several times.

But the cost is going to be a ton.

Especially with the cap needed to go back the other way.

Love the player but you sense his body could crap out at any moment. He's incredibly injury prone and it does take him a bit to come back into form after injuries.

 

[Peter Griffin]

If a Garland for Barrie trade is on the table I think he you take that and then trade either him or Myers with 50% retention and target a more suitable winger. Getting out of the $5M AAV for Garland the next two seasons is vital for this team improving.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Garland + for Barrie and Novak

 

[wonton15]

I’d love to pry a winger like Buch or Farabee to add that different element to our top 6. Is Farabee attainable?

 

[arttk]

Yup, it's totally possible. They'd probably have to move on from a winger - ideally Garland, but more realistically Kuzmenko, as seen in the attachment.

If this avenue is open to the Canucks, it's probably represents the best path forward for them to meaningfully improve the team.

It leaves about $6M to add a bottom pairing dman, top 9 winger, and a top-4 right side dman. Those first two can be found for ~$1M or so, but adding another defenseman would be difficult, though not impossible. Maybe Tanev takes a discount, maybe you cheap out there with like, Ethan Bear, or maybe you pay heavily to add a guy like Whitecloud from Vegas (would cost a 1st+, but would be worth it).

probably better to get rid of Garland, the roster would be more balanced. We can afford to add Nylander at like 10 and extend Zadorov and still have around 3.3M for a backup and another RHD.