Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | Much Ado About Nothing

[arttk]

Mittelstadt is an ok softish middling (mittling?) 2C but I was baffled by the reactions that Colorado won that trade last year and it's interesting to see the perceptions of him regressing back to his actual level of performances.

Probably another case of the 'age 25 and younger : UNLIMITED POTENTIAL!' to 'turns 26, he is what he is' phenomenon in effect.

i think people just expect a young center traded out of Buffalo will end up like reinhart

 

[Bleach Clean]

Personally, if everything else were equal and I had to choose between those three players, I think I'd take a chance on Chytil over Mittelstadt and Kotkaniemi....concussion risk and all, I think he has the highest upside since he's played behind Trocheck and Zibanejad and still put up reasonable numbers and makes significantly less money, and he can LTIRetire if the concussions become an issue...either way, none of them are great options IMO.

In fairness, Mittlestadt was in a 3 centre rotation with Thompson and Cozens as well. Since 2020-21, Mittlestadt has achieved a higher EVP/G rate than Chytil while leaving him behind on the PP. For upside, it's Mitts imo.

The PP utility is especially pertinent when losing Miller and potentially Boeser.

It matter less to me that he is small, slow or soft, so long as he can hold his own defensively here. Tocchet won't play him otherwise.

 

[JT Milker]

I don’t like Mittelstadt defensively but would roll the dice on him if he came with a good asset that we could flip for something immediately useful or that could contribute to the roster in the next couple of years.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

It is very funny(exhausting) how it flips between Miller & Pettersson day-to-day.

I'm really starting to wonder if it's actually been Pettersson all along they wanted to trade, but just haven't gotten the offer they want either because of the drama or just his lackluster play.

Miller just fits everything Rutherford wants to build on this team, especially with Tocchet;s coaching style.

 

[Nuckles]

The thing I remember most about Mittelstadt was his draft combine pictures

 

[Jerry the great]

It is very funny(exhausting) how it flips between Miller & Pettersson day-to-day.

It's the only card they have to play

 

[SnapIt]

The thing I remember most about Mittelstadt was his draft combine pictures

Looks like a new season of the Swedish version of Severance.

 

[Orr4Norris]

I'm really starting to wonder if it's actually been Pettersson all along they wanted to trade, but just haven't gotten the offer they want either because of the drama or just his lackluster play.

Miller just fits everything Rutherford wants to build on this team, especially with Tocchet;s coaching style.

I can’t make sense of the situation at all. And then there is all the talk about Petey not preparing, not doing the work, definitely not first on last off at practice, not accountable, immature - but this is going to be the person you build around? At 11.6 mil…

Seems like he wasn’t at the morning skate the day after Rutherford’s article. Miller was and faced the music even if it was a ‘no comment’.

Like Petey scares me. It’s a huge risk to trade him as he is certainly going to rebound. But I’m definitely not convinced he won’t go through more spells like this one. He’s no QH when it comes to his off ice preparation and at 11.6 that scares me. Some guys do put it together at a later date so I guess Canucks’ management just have to make the call on if they think he can get it together. The fact they had a trade in place with Carolina suggests they are not convinced.

 

[John Belushi]

Yes, I had the same take before and at t he time he was traded from Buffalo. But I've never really liked him ever since watching him at the WJCs. Just not a fan of undersized, soft and slow centres.

EDIT: EXCECPT KYLE WELLWOOD. I loved him, but he was a pretty uniquely skilled player.

Wellwood had incredible hands, was FANTASTIC on the draw and from what I recall surprisingly decent defensively where the puck didn't often end up in his own net.

Seguing to Malhotra was obviously a good call, but I thought they should've kept the guy.

 

[andora]

It is very funny(exhausting) how it flips between Miller & Pettersson day-to-day.

It just shows two different things. The first thing is that nobody really knows what the hell is going on in Vancouver at the end of the day, and the second thing is they don't know what's going on around the league or they'd be reporting on more stuff

Maybe they should start actually doing more work and finding out more interesting things than running something for weeks until it bleeds and then jump in on the next new hot story

 

[Bleach Clean]

I'm really starting to wonder if it's actually been Pettersson all along they wanted to trade, but just haven't gotten the offer they want either because of the drama or just his lackluster play.

Miller just fits everything Rutherford wants to build on this team, especially with Tocchet;s coaching style.

In sequence:

- Rift behind the scenes, Miller leaves (or was sent home)
- Comes back, and the two principles are still playing badly.
- Rumours flying everywhere. Both on the block.
- Pettersson asks to stay, rumours die down on him. Miller moves to the forefront.
- NYR deal almost happens, but Drury asks for retention.
- Then nothing for a little bit.
- Then, you start hearing about CAR and Pettersson or Miller.
- CAR trades for Rantanen. "Chose" him over a cost controlled 1C.
- CAR still looking for a centre...?
- JR press conference to bid for time.

BUF has been there for a while for Pettersson, and yet nothing?

I think the primary reason we hear about Pettersson at all is because Miller has not been dealt yet.

 

[Curm]

Go get a defenceman who can consistently play 2nd pairing minutes, and shut down the rest of the BS.

Myers is looking good with Hughes, Forbort is giving them solid minutes with Hronek and on the PK, and I'm not sure how sustainable both situations are, so get another half decent guy, and it pushes Soucy further down the lineup and guys like Juulsen and Desharnais out completely. Then you integrate Willander in comfortably later on as it make sense and give EP25 another look here and there.

Demko was very good last night and if that's an indication he's getting his game back, him and Lank provide them with a formidable tandem.

Get everybody healthy and back on the same page and ride it into the playoffs. They can still make a lot of noise.

 

[iceburg]

FWIW
After letting this sit in my brain for a couple of days, I think a possible take on JR's interview is this (which is speculation based on what we know):
-Rift between Miller and EP is dragging the team down. Might not be as serious as everybody thinks it is post interview but it's there and management is sick of it, knowing that unless it's fixed the team will have a hard time competing as a contender.
-Club has tried to communicate with the parties to basically get past it but their efforts to date have failed.
-Because they feel they have limited options and know this has to be fixed if this team is going to contend, management decides to escalate the pressure by going public.
-JR shines a light on the situation basically saying we've tried to work with the players and nothing has worked. Time to break up the core.

All this we know. But is this really what his message was to the players. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that JR was being more cunning than that. Knowing how players think and respond, what if his real message to the players was "prove me wrong". He is appealing to their pride/ego in the hope they respond, now with the weight of public perception on their shoulders, with "oh yeah, watch this". EP and Miller then play better, get along, and the core returns to being leaders instead of whiners.

Ok, I know, perhaps wishful thinking. But I don't think it's entirely unreasonable.

 

[TruGr1t]

Go get a defenceman who can consistently play 2nd pairing minutes, and shut down the rest of the BS.

Myers is looking good with Hughes, Forbort is giving them solid minutes with Hronek and on the PK, and I'm not sure how sustainable both situations are, so get another half decent guy, and it pushes Soucy further down the lineup and guys like Juulsen and Desharnais out completely. Then you integrate Willander in comfortably later on as it make sense and give EP25 another look here and there.

Demko was very good last night and if that's an indication he's getting his game back, him and Lank provide them with a formidable tandem.

Get everybody healthy and back on the same page and ride it into the playoffs. They can still make a lot of noise.

They’ve been trying to do this basically all year and everyone just keeps asking for Willander+.

 

[Bgav]

FWIW
After letting this sit in my brain for a couple of days, I think a possible take on JR's interview is this (which is speculation based on what we know):
-Riff between Miller and EP is dragging the team down. Might not be as serious as everybody thinks it is post interview but it's there and management is sick of it, knowing that unless it's fixed the team will have a hard time competing as a contender.
-Club has tried to communicate with the parties to basically get past it but their efforts to date have failed.
-Because they feel they have limited options and know this has to be fixed if this team is going to contend, management decides to escalate the pressure by going public.
-JR shines a light on the situation basically saying we've tried to work with the players and nothing has worked. Time to break up the core.

All this we know. But is this really what his message was to the players. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that JR was being more cunning than that. Knowing how players think and respond, what if his real message to the players was "prove me wrong". He is appealing to their pride/ego in the hope they respond, now with the weight of public perception on their shoulders, with "oh yeah, watch this". EP and Miller then play better, get along, and the core returns to being leaders instead of whiners.

Ok, I know, perhaps wishful thinking. But I don't think it's entirely unreasonable.

Too much smoke about miller wanting to move on IMO

 

[sting101]

I think the whole thing is hilarious. Because obviously Mason got the scoop on the big story with JR, but after those two big stories, all of the rumours just kind of seem dumb and pointless. Like, everyone knows what management is thinking, and unless the rumours are going to get into the nitty gritty about actual player targets, who cares? Like, you've got a rumour that Miller or Pettersson might be traded? No shit, the president just came out and said that already. You better come up with something better than that.

insiders.....

 

[brock hughes007]

The thing I remember most about Mittelstadt was his draft combine pictures

Looks like my ex gfs son that I could not stand..that's a pass for me big time

 

[sting101]

Mittlestadt is barf. So is Kotkaniemi

Low end 2/3 Cs...might as well run with Suter than eat those crap contracts and blow the chance at assets. Would rather just have cap space

 

[Curm]

They’ve been trying to do this basically all year and everyone just keeps asking for Willander+.

I hear you, but despite everything, they're not yielding a lot of shots, and up to now, haven't been getting the goaltending aside from Lank, the offense and PP haven't been clicking, had Hronek out for an extended period, and are still in the hunt.

Settle things down, get the offense going, rattle off a few wins, remain in a playoff spot, don't appear downright desperate, and still offer something of value starting with their 1st rounder, and see where it goes.

 

[iceburg]

Too much smoke about miller wanting to move on IMO

There's certainly that.

 

[sting101]

For me any trade will have to include Mercer Cozens Lafreniere Necas.....quite frankly Carolina has made their big move and Kotka is a laughable return piece.

 

[MS]

FWIW
After letting this sit in my brain for a couple of days, I think a possible take on JR's interview is this (which is speculation based on what we know):
-Riff between Miller and EP is dragging the team down. Might not be as serious as everybody thinks it is post interview but it's there and management is sick of it, knowing that unless it's fixed the team will have a hard time competing as a contender.
-Club has tried to communicate with the parties to basically get past it but their efforts to date have failed.
-Because they feel they have limited options and know this has to be fixed if this team is going to contend, management decides to escalate the pressure by going public.
-JR shines a light on the situation basically saying we've tried to work with the players and nothing has worked. Time to break up the core.

All this we know. But is this really what his message was to the players. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that JR was being more cunning than that. Knowing how players think and respond, what if his real message to the players was "prove me wrong". He is appealing to their pride/ego in the hope they respond, now with the weight of public perception on their shoulders, with "oh yeah, watch this". EP and Miller then play better, get along, and the core returns to being leaders instead of whiners.

Ok, I know, perhaps wishful thinking. But I don't think it's entirely unreasonable.

I think that's basically exactly what he was doing.

Everything is basically already out there so you're in a stronger position acknowledging it and kicking it back to the players as a challenge than just continuing to not comment and let things fester and let the media continue to speculate.

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

 

[Nuckles]

Also Dreger said he was told it's unlikely salary cap will climb above 96M next season

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

i think people just expect a young center traded out of Buffalo will end up like reinhart

i never really associated mittlestadt with reinhart or eichel

saw him more like jordan eberle, a guy we all remember killing it at the world juniors who because of his physical limitations ended up as a good but limited player at the NHL level