Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | Playing out the stretch.

[MarkusNaslund19]

I have no problem with him staying but I don't agree with what he is doing. He should thank the stars that the canucks gave him a chance after Arizona because his HC career was going nowhere. You don't think Bruce would have gotten us to the 2nd round with last year's team? I think he would have gotten similar results.

Dude our team with Boudreau was entirely rudderless. Like Ruff in Buffalo, he was a good coach in his time but the game had passed him by.

We played in the playoffs last year and took the cup finalists to game seven playing a goaltender whom I'm not convinced will necessarily ever be an NHL regular. Of course we battened down the hatches and played a safe game.

Now, I'm not someone who think it's an irredeemable catastrophe if we can't retain Tocchet. I kind of think that if his inkling is to quit on the team because of a hard year, then begging him to stay isn't a good strategy, nor does it set a good tone. I'm not saying that's the context, but if it is, I'm not into begging.

But he came in and from day one set a culture of accountability that hasn't been remotely present since Vigneault and (perhaps more importantly) the Sedins.

Suggesting that Boudreau could have even sniffed a year like last year is remarkably out of touch.

And if Boudreau had this year's team going through the adversity that it did, we would be hovering around 5th pick overall.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

I remember having the 6th overall and very excited to be following the Canucks draft for such a high pick. Obviously we hadn't had a high pick in a long time besides surprise trade pick Bo the year before and not since social media forums had I became so interested in the off ice actions of the team. I remember very much wanting to draft Ehlers with Nylander second on my list.

The thing I remember most was that he was a guy who could play in any situation due to his speed. I was impressed not only that he was a Captain, he was a very good character guy. Not to mention he could PK, was fast as lightning, and put up insanely good numbers in both back to back seasons and the corresponding playoffs. He also spoke 6 languages so he's a dedicated and learned individual.

Ehlers also played pro in the Swiss league at 16. As a result of the 2012-13 lockout he became linemates with Patrick Kane and Tyler Seguin. Both had a huge impact and convinced him to come play junior in N.A. where he ripped it up for two years winning rookie of the year and personality of the year, finishing second in player of the year his second season.

He is known for his speed, skating, puck handling, and playmaking. Exactly what the doctor ordered. In addition his junior playoff performances were simply outstanding. I would argue his pro playoffs are more linked to poor team performance than simply being bad at playoffs. Very poor sample size and situation. This should be our top priority. I would give him Boeser's money plus throw in a mil or two for good measure. Can we trade for his rights? I think that extra year could be a valuable bargaining chip if so.

-from Wikipedia
Following another successful season, Ehlers and the Mooseheads qualified for the 2015 President's Cup playoffs where they met with the Shawinigan Cataractes in the first round. Ehlers scored the series-winning goal in overtime of Game 7 to lift the Mooseheads to the second round. In Game 1 of their second-round series against the Moncton Wildcats, Ehlers recorded four goals and an assist to help the Mooseheads take a 1–0 series lead. He finished the postseason with 31 points over 14 playoff games.

Ehlers and the Jets faced off against the St. Louis Blues in round one of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs but fell in six games. When their postseason concluded, it was revealed that Ehlers had fractured his leg after blocking a shot at the end of Game 5.

Nikolaj Ehlers - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

-a good read through of his career and playoff history

I agree he'd be a great compliment to Petey. 8x9 or am I crazy?

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I wanted Ehlers so badly in 2014 and still haven't entirely recovered from how choked I was at Benning for going after the moron with the godly athleticism instead.

If we're looking at offer sheets, I only see 8 forwards as a realistic possibility:

Sabres - Ryan McLeod, Jack Quinn, & J.J. Peterka
Wild - Marco Rossi
Islanders - Simon Holmstrom & Maxim Tsyplakov
Rangers - Will Cuylle
Stars - Mavrik Bourque

Both the Sabres and Islanders are only vulnerable to an offer sheet because they have so many RFAs expected to get large contracts.

Sabres: I haven't been that impressed with Quinn but it's hard to get a read on Sabres' players. I'm not a huge McLeod fan given his total lack of physicality despite his size and speed but would still be an excellent fit as a long-term 3rd line centre. Peterka is obviously the jewel of the entire list.

Wild: There's been rumbling dating back to last off-season, and they continued into the season and even as recently as last week, that the Wild aren't enamoured with Rossi. Given how tiny he is and the relationship Canucks' management has with Bill Guerin, I doubt an offer sheet would be on the table. I do like him as a 2nd line offensive spark plug, though. They have ample cap space, about 20.75m, and the key parts of their roster filled out. Biggest issues for them is re-signing Kaprizov and finding an actual #1 centre.

Islanders: I don't see Tsplakov as someone who'd be willing to sign an offer sheet with a Western Canadian team and no other Russians on the roster. Holmstrom is having something of a breakout year but isn't exciting.

Rangers: They don't have a lot of projected space (just over 12m) with Cuylle and K'Andre Miller requiring new contracts and holes throughout the roster. Only way I see Cuylle getting an offer sheet is if it's in the 6.87 to 9.16 range (1st, 2nd, & 3rd) and the cap hit is on the upper end of that.

Stars: Will be in a bit of cap crunch this summer. Pretty much the only team that expects to be. Have less than 6.5m in projected space on 15/23 roster. Don't really have the draft picks to move out contracts either. Will be interesting to see how they navigate the summer.

Edit: Completely forgot Mavrik Bourque!

I like, many, like Peterka.

But I think a good buy-low candidate and one who could replace Boeser if we don't re-sign him is Jack Quinn. Guy is a serious finisher, has an unreal shot, his hands don't shake in offensive situations, and he's creative.

But he's young, been embroiled in the awful dysfunction of that team, and seems like his focus has waned this year to the point where Buffalo isn't sure of him (though I think he's been better the last couple of weeks?).

I would want to do a bit of a psychological profile, but if you think getting him away from the suck could allow him to bloom, I think he'd be a fantastic buy-low candidate.

After the embarrassment Edmonton has gone through where they weakly let their players get raided and then watched them blow up elsewhere, I suspect the odds that any team lets any U25 player leave via offer sheet this summer are somewhere between slim and none.

There's truth to that, but I also think that in the dinosaur copycat league the is the NHL, the Blues doing that and completely jumpstarting a reload means that GMs will actually give themselves permission to attempt offersheets instead of the 'soft' collusion we saw for the last several decades.

I actually think we'll see more attempts than we have in the past. But whether they will be matched or not (or the players accepting so we even hear about it) remains to be seen.

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

I wanted Ehlers so badly in 2014 and still haven't entirely recovered from how choked I was at Benning for going after the moron with the godly athleticism instead.

I wanted Nylander, still to this day one of the best U-18 performances ever. I remember around the market it was seen as Ritchie vs Virtanen for the Canucks. And then there was the rumour they were trying to trade up. Sucks that unlike the NFL draft we really never see teams trade up.

 

[Ernie]

Marco Rossi is a potential offer sheet option if the Canucks don’t have what the Wild are looking for in a trade. It sounds like the Wild may move on from him and assuming that’s the plan they probably do it before he hits RFA, but if he hits RFA then you probably have decent odds to get him if you can get him to sign since Minnesota presumably won’t want to be tied to him for a year.

The Canucks would have to re-acquire their 2026 3rd round pick if they want to play this game.

 

[arttk]

The Canucks would have to re-acquire their 2026 3rd round pick if they want to play this game.

Do it

 

[Szechwan]

Samoskevich at that $$ would be a massive risk IMO. his numbers are very similar to what Hoglander and Podkolzin put up in their rookie seasons, and they were both younger at the time.

Samoskevich is quite a bit more skilled than either of those guys imo.

Unfortunately that's the rough statistical profile that is going to be available in these types of deals. If they were more productive they wouldn't be available, and if they were less productive you wouldn't bother. You're making little more than an informed bet.

 

[LemonSauceD]

I like, many, like Peterka.

But I think a good buy-low candidate and one who could replace Boeser if we don't re-sign him is Jack Quinn. Guy is a serious finisher, has an unreal shot, his hands don't shake in offensive situations, and he's creative.

But he's young, been embroiled in the awful dysfunction of that team, and seems like his focus has waned this year to the point where Buffalo isn't sure of him (though I think he's been better the last couple of weeks?).

I would want to do a bit of a psychological profile, but if you think getting him away from the suck could allow him to bloom, I think he'd be a fantastic buy-low candidate.

Jack Quinn had a very slow start but he's finishing the year very strong and is on pace to break his previous career totals in every department in less games. Had a couple back to back 3 point nights recently. Would be a nice target for sure.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

Jack Quinn had a very slow start but he's finishing the year very strong and is on pace to break his previous career totals in every department in less games. Had a couple back to back 3 point nights recently. Would be a nice target for sure.

I'd be concerned with how many board battles he wins...

I don't know much of the player, but a winger provides his NHL value by being at least a 50-50 battle player. Not many can be below that on a good day and survive. Boeser on a good can be trusted to win 2/3rds I'd say of his value. I can live with the days he's 1/3 so long as he has more days at 50-50. Not so sure about ol Jack there.

I'm more interested in poaching Zach Benson as a reclamation project.

 

[David71]

I’m not sure coaching is the problem here… we have no offensive forwards and when we did, we had a weak D. Management needs to do a better job filling out the roster. We also need grittier players who are tough to play against. The roster they’re giving Tocchet doesn’t match up with the way he what’s the team to play.

then find another coach and its up to mangement to fix the offense in the offseason.

 

[Qwijibo]

Do it

If I'm Calgary i make Vancouver pay an unreasonable price to get that pick back. I can't see them doing Vancouver any favours

 

[Qwijibo]

I'd be concerned with how many board battles he wins...

I don't know much of the player, but a winger provides his NHL value by being at least a 50-50 battle player. Not many can be below that on a good day and survive. Boeser on a good can be trusted to win 2/3rds I'd say of his value. I can live with the days he's 1/3 so long as he has more days at 50-50. Not so sure about ol Jack there.

I'm more interested in poaching Zach Benson as a reclamation project.

Benson is 19 and was drafted 13th OA less than 2 years ago. In what world is he a reclamation project? Lol

 

[Jerry the great]

Samoskevich is quite a bit more skilled than either of those guys imo.

Unfortunately that's the rough statistical profile that is going to be available in these types of deals. If they were more productive they wouldn't be available, and if they were less productive you wouldn't bother. You're making little more than an informed bet.

Samoskevich is a speedy undersized winger who plays with a lot of pace and more snarl than one would expect given his stature. I get why people like him, hell, I'd love to have him on our team. I just think the risk reward if you're paying a 1st, 2nd and 3rd to get him at a $7MM cap hit is massively out of whack; it's asymmetrical in all the wrong ways.

IMO all this offer sheet talk is kind of nuts, but not unexpected given the disappointment of the season and our limited ability to plug holes via trade/UFA signings.

 

[Vector]

FYI, it's April Fools day so be extra cautious when browsing the internet. The usual Canucks pranksters are up to their shenanigans.

 

[theguardianII]

Man the marketers must be getting overtime spreading panic and stupid ideas.
They spread unattainable ideas and then fans start to think Allvin couldn't do any better or accept trading away multiple future draft picks for "hope".

ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO KEEP HUGHES

So they sell out the next 5 years for 2 years of Hughes and then say "WE THOUGHT", it is his fault, he lied to us, he led us on, we thought his comments about moving were just negotiating tactics, or some other way to avoid blame for being cowards.

Now it is ignore the cap and that other team don't have to trade top prospects off to make it under the cap, ignore that the Canucks have already spent 5.5 mil of the next cap increase.

Just as a funny OEL will be the 7/8th highest paid player next year, but not on the team.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Man the marketers must be getting overtime spreading panic and stupid ideas.
They spread unattainable ideas and then fans start to think Allvin couldn't do any better or accept trading away multiple future draft picks for "hope".

ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO KEEP HUGHES

So they sell out the next 5 years for 2 years of Hughes and then say "WE THOUGHT", it is his fault, he lied to us, he led us on, we thought his comments about moving were just negotiating tactics, or some other way to avoid blame for being cowards.

Now it is ignore the cap and that other team don't have to trade top prospects off to make it under the cap, ignore that the Canucks have already spent 5.5 mil of the next cap increase.

Just as a funny OEL will be the 7/8th highest paid player next year, but not on the team.

Wat

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

FYI, it's April Fools day so be extra cautious when browsing the internet. The usual Canucks pranksters are up to their shenanigans.

Congrats to veteran posters M2Beezy and SopelFanThe3rd for being named new moderators of HF Canucks!

Thanks to Vector for his 18 years of service who will be retiring at years end to focus on his bee farming ventures.

 

[theguardianII]

Wat

Just a lot of really fantasy ideas without much thought, sort of like video game trade ideas.

 

[Jerry the great]

Congrats to veteran posters M2Beezy and SopelFanThe3rd for being named new moderators of HF Canucks!

Thanks to Vector for his 18 years of service who will be retiring at years end to focus on his bee farming ventures.

bee keeping.

 

[I am toxic]

Media availability today, Toccs will address EP40's passing

 

[Jerry the great]

Media availability today, Toccs will address EP40's passing

sounds tragic

 

[604]

I wanted Nylander, still to this day one of the best U-18 performances ever. I remember around the market it was seen as Ritchie vs Virtanen for the Canucks. And then there was the rumour they were trying to trade up. Sucks that unlike the NFL draft we really never see teams trade up.

Yep, the size kings wanted Ritchie or Virtanen. The skill lovers wanted Nylander or Ehlers.

Unless it’s first overall or a guy has dropped, go for skill above all else.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Media availability today, Toccs will address EP40's passing

U f***ed me

 

[pitseleh]

Yep, the size kings wanted Ritchie or Virtanen. The skill lovers wanted Nylander or Ehlers.

Unless it’s first overall or a guy has dropped, go for skill above all else.

With Ritchie there was at least a bit of a case for offensive upside - he scored at a much lower rate than Ehlers, but he led his team in scoring by 20%, whereas Ehlers got to play with D+1 Jonathan Drouin. (In hindsight, if anything Drouin benefitted from playing with Ehlers.)

With Virtanen you were betting that his draft year goal total wasn’t a SH% mirage (it probably was) and that his tools would play up as he progressed (they didn’t).

 

[timw33]

With Virtanen you were betting that his draft year goal total wasn’t a SH% mirage (it probably was) and that his tools would play up as he progressed (they didn’t).

I think what compounds the bad decision making was that Virtanen had major shoulder surgery a month before the draft.

 

[Jerry the great]

With Ritchie there was at least a bit of a case for offensive upside - he scored at a much lower rate than Ehlers, but he led his team in scoring by 20%, whereas Ehlers got to play D+1 Jonathan Drouin. (In hindsight, if anything Drouin benefitted from playing with Ehlers.)

With Virtanen you were betting that his draft year goal total wasn’t a SH% mirage (it probably was) and that his tools would play up as he progressed (they didn’t).

Virtanen's biggest issue IMO was his work ethic and mental aptitude for the game. He was a dummy and a lazy one at that.