Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | The Morning After

[Jerry the great]

Just unfortunate as McTavish is the ideal centre we lack with Miller now gone. Get him and sign Rantenan this off season with the cap space we have now, and we are back in business.

I’m really hesitant to blow our remaining resources on Norris, Cozens etc. Wish we could really put in the work and win a deal for more of a guaranteed difference maker.

what about McTavish make him ideal?

 

[Curm]

Soucy might still carry a bit of value around the league. He's big, can play the pk, and has a history of being a steady 16-17+ minutes guy, and as much as he's had a bad year here playing too high in the lineup averaging 19 minutes, a lot of teams could still view that as an aberration. He's also started in the DZ 66% of the time, up from 60.7% last season.

Wonder if a Boeser/Soucy package could get anything worthwhile?

 

[Vector]

Maybe to replace Vatrano who’s also a UFA If we take him back, and add Lekkerimaki to the deal?

Or see if 1st and Lekk + is enough?

They re-signed Vatrano to an extension.

 

[ephmrl]

Don't know what it would take but I need to see a Forsberg-Pettersson-Sherwood line

 

[Bures Elbow]

what about McTavish make him ideal?

Age, skill, size.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

Thinking more about Utah, wonder if they’d look at moving Mattias Maccelli? He’s down to 10th amongst their forwards in TOI/g.

The Canucks can probably cobble together enough to largely replace Miller’s ES contributions, but his elite playmaking on the PP will be sorely missed. Amongst forwards with 300+ PP minutes since 22/23, Miller is third in primary assists/60 behind only McDavid and Kucherov.

The top players in that regard are basically elite offensive talent (including Marner and Ehlers) plus Maccelli who is at 10th, (basically tied with Kaprizov for 9th). He’s also getting PDO’d hard this year with a 40% GF% on a 50% xGF / 53% CF share.

Not sure if you could pry him out for Boeser plus something (assuming they’re interested in him as a long term fit).

Love Maccelli as a buy-low (or medium) candidate. Having a bad year, but his vision and touch in terms of playmaking really pops.

an ex-player who played with a few current canucks

It checks to me.

Miller was a "big personality in the dressing room" and has shown himself to be petulant and quit at times.

I do wonder if part of our team seeming to be so mercurial from year to year is in part because of how big his swings are.

I think history will show that we picked a good time to get away from that contract and personality, even if I know people became really emotionally attached to him.

Yeah, exactly.

Assuming MP signs, there is literally zero reason for the team to keep Soucy when you could fill that spot with EP2 at $2.5 million less plus retain Forbort at $1.5 or less as the 7D.

He doesn't fit anymore. And I like Soucy, liked that signing ... but he's become a miscast piece. He's currently the 4th-best LD we have, and maybe the 5th-best the way EP2 is going.

It will also be interesting to see what happens with the rookie defenders. Competing teams virtually never will put two rookie D in their top 6. Creates all kinds of matchup issues, PK issues, etc.

I'd assumed that Willander would walk straight into that 3RD spot which is now *wide* open with the trade of Desharnais and the hapless Juulsen currently playing the role. And that made perfect sense - the other two guys (Myers & Hronek) can PK, put Willander with a reliable partner, and you're sorted. I didn't think any of the other prospect D were really going to be in the mix for next year. But now EP2 is overtly in the mix for next year and might be closer than Willander actually. How does that work? You can't put a two-rookie third pairing on the ice. You don't really want rookies on the ice >50% of the time. Can EP2 PK at the NHL level right away, or does Hughes get forced back into that role?

This is the same math I have been doing with our D.
-

I'd like to add that I REALLY wish people would wait until they know the players before having their freakouts.

Reading people panicking about how Chytil sucks and O'Connor and Pettersson aren't very good, and then feeling comforted after watching them and discovering a bit about who they are was like the most predictable thing on the planet. Why not just skip the histrionics step and express concern along with a desire to learn more/watch the player?

 

[ChilliBilly]

So not sure where to post this. I made a negative comment about our friends to the south exalted tangerine leader ... i.e. we should chant negatively about him in our last home game. I got censured or something.

So a general comment. Apparently political posts are unacceptable, but what is and isn't acceptable seems to be all over the map. I suspect some of it depends on the individual moderator and their beliefs.

Anyhow, the point is that I enjoy the banter and input of my fellow forum dwellers, and like the many opinions that are offered. Occasionally we stray off hockey. But we have just been threatened as a country. I find it sad that we as group are unable to comment on this.

I enjoy many of the responses and input of my fellow posters, and find it a little sad that this subject is taboo. I value the responses (well admittedly the saner ones, and those that reflect my own position.), and accept we should not post those in the many threads that are actually hockey.

Anyhow, again, I highly respect many of you, and your input. Like many, there are also quite a few that I think are a total waste of time, and just come in here to bait and annoy.

And I am happy with the recent changes that the Canucks have made and think we are going to trend upwards.

 

[Hyzer]

So not sure where to post this. I made a negative comment about our friends to the south exalted tangerine leader ... i.e. we should chant negatively about him in our last home game. I got censured or something.

So a general comment. Apparently political posts are unacceptable, but what is and isn't acceptable seems to be all over the map. I suspect some of it depends on the individual moderator and their beliefs.

Anyhow, the point is that I enjoy the banter and input of my fellow forum dwellers, and like the many opinions that are offered. Occasionally we stray off hockey. But we have just been threatened as a country. I find it sad that we as group are unable to comment on this.

I enjoy many of the responses and input of my fellow posters, and find it a little sad that this subject is taboo. I value the responses (well admittedly the saner ones, and those that reflect my own position.), and accept we should not post those in the many threads that are actually hockey.

Anyhow, again, I highly respect many of you, and your input. Like many, there are also quite a few that I think are a total waste of time, and just come in here to bait and annoy.

And I am happy with the recent changes that the Canucks have made and think we are going to trend upwards.

I hate just politics in a place where politics shouldn't have a say. The entire internet is polarized with a bunch of political BS everywhere and frankly, I'm so tired of it. I just want to have a fandom/hobby not get taken over by politics and have a safe place just to unwind. Like reddit is nigh unuseable nowadays lol. But I digress and for fear of going more offtopic...

MPetey is the real deal. With Willander hopefully stepping in later this year, it really helps round everything out and keep things solid on our defensive end. Hoping Mpetey can get signed to 6.5m or less for 5-6 years.

 

[WTG]

MPetey is the real deal. With Willander hopefully stepping in later this year, it really helps round everything out and keep things solid on our defensive end. Hoping Mpetey can get signed to 6.5m or less for 5-6 years.

Getting Marcus Pettersson at under 7 would be amazing. It helps that Hughes is paid so little that they kind have a reason to have an internal defenseman cap. M-Pettersson has played at a top pairing level for the last few seasons and is an analytical darling.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

(Warning, long post):

So taking a look at possible 'young core players' the Canucks could potentially acquire (on differing levels of 'young' and 'core) I see:

Anaheim: Troy Terry or Trevor Zegras

Zegras is such a strange case and probably not what we need. I do think he'll come good for someone once he gets through his malaise, but not a bet we should be making.

Terry: If he's even remotely affordable, I'm all over this one. Can create offense out of nothing and manages to be a creative and useful player in the absolute suck that is Anaheim over the last 7 years.

Buffalo: Dylan Cozens, maaaybe Alex Tuch (if they don't think he will re-sign).

Cozens: I'm not big on him. He has a cute nickname and he's projectable as a big, right handed guy who has scored 30. I would take him for sure as a distressed asset, but wouldn't pay a premium.

Tuch: doubt very much he is available, but would be a great add.

Carolina: Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Mikko Rantanen (when UFA):

Kotkaniemi isn't interesting to me. Especially because while Chytil maaaay be a good second line center, if you have Kotka and Chytil you're betting everything that one of them can fill that role long-term. I don't like the bet.

Rantanen: he'd be a great add and a good swing for the fences as a UFA. Doubt he comes to Vancouver.
Colorado: Casey Mittelstadt:

Mittelstadt: Didn't mind him along with a first in the Miller trade if that's all there was. He's not at all what we need. Soft, superlative playmaker when he's on, but can be completely invisible, and sucks on faceoffs. Stay away.

Florida: Sam Bennett (when UFA)

Bennett: I think he's exactly the guy NHL GM's fetishize and will be grossly overpaid and probably injured for long stretches of his next contract. I don't want him at the rate he will probably get.


L.A.: Kevin Fiala.

Fiala: Love his skillset and he has the tools to play well off of Petey. But he seems temperamental and like he's not to be counted on for a winning team. For me, stay away unless our braintrust knows something about his psychological profile that I don't.

Montreal: Patrick Laine, Alex Newhook.

Laine: toolsy and not a bad buy-low candidate, perhaps. But I don't think it's a fit and don't think Montreal is eager to move on.

Newhook: Hasn't shown enough for me to want to give up assets or use him up the lineup.

New Jersey: Dawson Mercer or Timo Meier.

Mercer: For me, not a big enough swing. Good middle six guy, but I think we can aim higher.

Meier: If New Jersey decides it just hasn't worked, they may be amenable to the cap space he would provide. I'm not sure he's fast enough or engaged consistently enough, but if you thought he could be the San Jose version you'd sure consider him as a distressed asset.

New York Islanders: Matt Barzal (really unlikely he's available).

Barzal: If we could get him as a distressed asset (like Lekkerimaki, Hoglander, and maybe our 1st) I would strongly consider it. Speed and puck transporting for days. Not sure he's exactly the right temperament for what we need. But think the Islanders will double down for the umpteenth millionth time and probably re-sign Nelson LOL.


New York Rangers: Alexis Lafreniere.

Lafrieniere: To me, he's not fast enough or dynamic enough to take a big swing on. But if our braintrust believes there's more there, especially with Castonguay's knowledge of him then I'm open to the idea he's part of the Rangers' youth malaise.

Ottawa: Josh Norris, maaaybe Drake Batherson (very unlikely).

Norris: I don't mind him as a distressed asset. He makes a lot of money, but he's got a serious weapon in his shot, he's faster than I give him credit for, and his development has been hampered by injuries but there's still potential there. If he's cheap (asset wise) and you have reason to believe he's over his injuries, I'm not dead set against it.

Batherson: I think very unlikely. Not good defensively and hasn't been part of a winning team, but I like his creativity and frame. Wouldn't. be against it.

Philadelphia: Owen Tippett

Tippett: Not for me. I think he lacks hockey sense. He's big and fast and weapon that can be deployed, but very much a boutique item. He's like what Virtanen would have been if he wasn't lazy, ignorant, waste of talent. Nope.


Pittsburgh: Rickard Rakell.

Rakell: I'd rather aim a lot higher. I think he will go somewhere and thrive, but I think we need more of a play creator than Rakell. Good player though.

St. Louis: Jordan Kyrou.

Kyrou: Flawed but seriously toolsy player. Sort of like a Necas if you squint. Very fast, can finish, and can stick handle. Should sort of be like a Kyle Connor type but contributes less because he seems immature and petulant. Probably not available, but if he is and you think you can fix him he's not a bad choice.


Seattle: Andrei Burakovsky.

Burakovsky: This will be unpopular but I don't mind him as a buy super low candidate. Hasn't worked in Seattle at all, but he's talented and toolsy and could work well off of Petey. But would need to be cheeeeap to the point of Seattle wanting a low pick and taking back cap we don't want.


Utah: Mattias Maccelli, Nick Schmaltz.

Maccelli: I don't know if he's a big swing but I like this player a lot and suspect he's heavily undervalued. Would love to get this player.

Schmaltz: Nah. Fast and skilled, but soft and low-calorie for my liking. Useful somewhere but not here.


Toronto: Mitch Marner (as UFA).

Marner: I know the memes, but if we could get him as a UFA we absolutely should. Top 8 creator in the game, kills penalties, does everything and plays a lot of minutes. I know the memes about him in the playoffs, but there's a weird curse on that team that has entered the mentality of the players and it's his home town.

Winnipeg: Nikolaj Ehlers.

Would loooove to get Ehlers via UFA. I think we need to, unfortunately, move on from Boeser unless he's exceedingly reasonable in his ask. Ehlers is very creative, a zone entry demon, and would thrive with Petey. High priority for me.

-

Of those options I like Troy Terry, Matt Barzal, Maccelli, Marner, Rantanen and Ehlers and don't hate Norris or Burakovsky as buy-low candidates (Bura to buy way lower than Norris). I think Barzal and Rantanen are really unlikely and Marner is quite unlikely.

So give me Maccelli and/or Terry and then sign Ehlers in the off season.

What say you?

 

[arttk]

Like military intelligence, two words combined that dont make sense

Man we can’t joke around here with <profession that shall not be named>. Feels like anytime we mention it it will trigger discussion around legitimacy of <profession that shall not be named>

Just unfortunate as McTavish is the ideal centre we lack with Miller now gone. Get him and sign Rantenan this off season with the cap space we have now, and we are back in business.

I’m really hesitant to blow our remaining resources on Norris, Cozens etc. Wish we could really put in the work and win a deal for more of a guaranteed difference maker.

do you want unicorns too?

 

[rypper]

I'd like to dig into your post a little deeper but just had a thought, Allvin has the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever:

Acquire Lafreniere as part of another deal with NYR, in which Pettersson goes back the other way.

 

[Yossarian54]

(Warning, long post):

So taking a look at possible 'young core players' the Canucks could potentially acquire (on differing levels of 'young' and 'core) I see:

Anaheim: Troy Terry or Trevor Zegras

Zegras is such a strange case and probably not what we need. I do think he'll come good for someone once he gets through his malaise, but not a bet we should be making.

Terry: If he's even remotely affordable, I'm all over this one. Can create offense out of nothing and manages to be a creative and useful player in the absolute suck that is Anaheim over the last 7 years.

Buffalo: Dylan Cozens, maaaybe Alex Tuch (if they don't think he will re-sign).

Cozens: I'm not big on him. He has a cute nickname and he's projectable as a big, right handed guy who has scored 30. I would take him for sure as a distressed asset, but wouldn't pay a premium.

Tuch: doubt very much he is available, but would be a great add.

Carolina: Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Mikko Rantanen (when UFA):

Kotkaniemi isn't interesting to me. Especially because while Chytil maaaay be a good second line center, if you have Kotka and Chytil you're betting everything that one of them can fill that role long-term. I don't like the bet.

Rantanen: he'd be a great add and a good swing for the fences as a UFA. Doubt he comes to Vancouver.
Colorado: Casey Mittelstadt:

Mittelstadt: Didn't mind him along with a first in the Miller trade if that's all there was. He's not at all what we need. Soft, superlative playmaker when he's on, but can be completely invisible, and sucks on faceoffs. Stay away.

Florida: Sam Bennett (when UFA)

Bennett: I think he's exactly the guy NHL GM's fetishize and will be grossly overpaid and probably injured for long stretches of his next contract. I don't want him at the rate he will probably get.


L.A.: Kevin Fiala.

Fiala: Love his skillset and he has the tools to play well off of Petey. But he seems temperamental and like he's not to be counted on for a winning team. For me, stay away unless our braintrust knows something about his psychological profile that I don't.

Montreal: Patrick Laine, Alex Newhook.

Laine: toolsy and not a bad buy-low candidate, perhaps. But I don't think it's a fit and don't think Montreal is eager to move on.

Newhook: Hasn't shown enough for me to want to give up assets or use him up the lineup.

New Jersey: Dawson Mercer or Timo Meier.

Mercer: For me, not a big enough swing. Good middle six guy, but I think we can aim higher.

Meier: If New Jersey decides it just hasn't worked, they may be amenable to the cap space he would provide. I'm not sure he's fast enough or engaged consistently enough, but if you thought he could be the San Jose version you'd sure consider him as a distressed asset.

New York Islanders: Matt Barzal (really unlikely he's available).

Barzal: If we could get him as a distressed asset (like Lekkerimaki, Hoglander, and maybe our 1st) I would strongly consider it. Speed and puck transporting for days. Not sure he's exactly the right temperament for what we need. But think the Islanders will double down for the umpteenth millionth time and probably re-sign Nelson LOL.


New York Rangers: Alexis Lafreniere.

Lafrieniere: To me, he's not fast enough or dynamic enough to take a big swing on. But if our braintrust believes there's more there, especially with Castonguay's knowledge of him then I'm open to the idea he's part of the Rangers' youth malaise.

Ottawa: Josh Norris, maaaybe Drake Batherson (very unlikely).

Norris: I don't mind him as a distressed asset. He makes a lot of money, but he's got a serious weapon in his shot, he's faster than I give him credit for, and his development has been hampered by injuries but there's still potential there. If he's cheap (asset wise) and you have reason to believe he's over his injuries, I'm not dead set against it.

Batherson: I think very unlikely. Not good defensively and hasn't been part of a winning team, but I like his creativity and frame. Wouldn't. be against it.

Philadelphia: Owen Tippett

Tippett: Not for me. I think he lacks hockey sense. He's big and fast and weapon that can be deployed, but very much a boutique item. He's like what Virtanen would have been if he wasn't lazy, ignorant, waste of talent. Nope.


Pittsburgh: Rickard Rakell.

Rakell: I'd rather aim a lot higher. I think he will go somewhere and thrive, but I think we need more of a play creator than Rakell. Good player though.

St. Louis: Jordan Kyrou.

Kyrou: Flawed but seriously toolsy player. Sort of like a Necas if you squint. Very fast, can finish, and can stick handle. Should sort of be like a Kyle Connor type but contributes less because he seems immature and petulant. Probably not available, but if he is and you think you can fix him he's not a bad choice.


Seattle: Andrei Burakovsky.

Burakovsky: This will be unpopular but I don't mind him as a buy super low candidate. Hasn't worked in Seattle at all, but he's talented and toolsy and could work well off of Petey. But would need to be cheeeeap to the point of Seattle wanting a low pick and taking back cap we don't want.


Utah: Mattias Maccelli, Nick Schmaltz.

Maccelli: I don't know if he's a big swing but I like this player a lot and suspect he's heavily undervalued. Would love to get this player.

Schmaltz: Nah. Fast and skilled, but soft and low-calorie for my liking. Useful somewhere but not here.


Toronto: Mitch Marner (as UFA).

Marner: I know the memes, but if we could get him as a UFA we absolutely should. Top 8 creator in the game, kills penalties, does everything and plays a lot of minutes. I know the memes about him in the playoffs, but there's a weird curse on that team that has entered the mentality of the players and it's his home town.

Winnipeg: Nikolaj Ehlers.

Would loooove to get Ehlers via UFA. I think we need to, unfortunately, move on from Boeser unless he's exceedingly reasonable in his ask. Ehlers is very creative, a zone entry demon, and would thrive with Petey. High priority for me.

-

Of those options I like Troy Terry, Matt Barzal, Maccelli, Marner, Rantanen and Ehlers and don't hate Norris or Burakovsky as buy-low candidates (Bura to buy way lower than Norris). I think Barzal and Rantanen are really unlikely and Marner is quite unlikely.

So give me Maccelli and/or Terry and then sign Ehlers in the off season.

What say you?

I think based on the trades we've just done and where the team is lining up - completely agree with trading everything excluding Willander, EP MK2 and maybe Lekk for a 2C then throwing the kitchen sink at Ehlers in UFA.

 

[MS]

I'd like to add that I REALLY wish people would wait until they know the players before having their freakouts.

Reading people panicking about how Chytil sucks and O'Connor and Pettersson aren't very good, and then feeling comforted after watching them and discovering a bit about who they are was like the most predictable thing on the planet. Why not just skip the histrionics step and express concern along with a desire to learn more/watch the player?

There is always the initial visceral reaction to trades (and draft picks) and then a mixture of Stockholm Syndrome and sober second thought seeps in.

For the record, I'm someone who is not a big fan of Chytil at all, regardless of his performance last night. This is a guy I've been following pretty closely for 4 seasons now since he was a part of the initial JT Miller rumours back in 2022. He's big and fast and it lends itself to a great eye test impression on good nights (like last night) but he's also a Debruskian streak scorer who will get 10 points in 12 games and then 5 in his next 25. He's also nominally a 'center' but he's a 'weird center' in that he's not really a distributor who makes linemates better, doesn't really track the play well defensively and needs to play sheltered minutes, and sucks at faceoffs. And that's before the injury issues, which are pretty huge. Having said all that, watching him play last night was eye-opening in terms of how badly we were lacking guys who could skate the puck through the neutral zone with speed, and that trait should play well if he can stay healthy.

Pettersson and O'Connor I've always liked in Pittsburgh, and my initial concern with that deal was the fact we were trading a high pick for two pending UFAs, and the recent reports about negotiations with Pettersson have mostly assuaged that.

 

[TruGr1t]

Where is the Marcus Pettersson extension. Snap, snap.

 

[Snatcher Demko]

I've always liked Ehlers but hasn't he been a ghost in the playoffs. Macelli is having an awful year - I did not notice. Maybe we can swap Hogs for him.

Soucy could be a decent add for a trade (e.g. with Boeser) to get a better return. Big vet D has some value.

 

[arttk]

Don't know what it would take but I need to see a Forsberg-Pettersson-Sherwood line

Nashville is denial about where they are at so probably won’t trade Forsberg until like 3 more years later

 

[andora]

Some of these names

Why the flying duckballs am i reading zegras

 

[arttk]

Some of these names

Why the flying duckballs am i reading zegras

Skilled, need a change in scenery and maybe Tocchet can change him, a stretch but yeah.

 

[andora]

Skilled, need a change in scenery and maybe Tocchet can change him, a stretch but yeah.

I think we are past shooting for maybes.. especially maybes that would hire ep40 as a bodyguard to go clubbing

 

[MS]

As someone who is about the biggest Zegras critic there is, his remaining contract is small enough and his value potentially distressed enough that he’s almost interesting.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

Some of these names

Why the flying duckballs am i reading zegras

If you're referring to my long list I'm assuming you noticed my list was ultra inclusive and landed on a resounding NO on Zegras?

 

[Yossarian54]

Some of these names

Why the flying duckballs am i reading zegras

Ultimately I think - how the fk else can you reasonably rescue the forward group especially if Boeser is asking for the moon?

It's UFA and trading for players with caveats.

But yeah it could backfire.

 

[Another Empty Netter]

There’s a 1C in Pittsburgh on an expiring deal that Alvin and Rutherford seem to know pretty well. Even congratulated them on their recent trade.

I honestly can’t believe Sid is 37 years old.

 

[Kryten]

There’s a 1C in Pittsburgh on an expiring deal that Alvin and Rutherford seem to know pretty well. Even congratulated them on their recent trade.

I honestly can’t believe Sid is 37 years old.

Thatd be the dream. I would bet that Sid has a handshake agreement with Mario for part ownership of the org. Heres hoping he finishes the year over ppg once again