Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | You incurred Vector's wrath and broke the site.

[Reverend Mayhem]

This is a good point that I don't see brought up often enough.

I think there was for a long time due to shifting economics in the league and hockey development, not that many touted role players and too many tweeners who couldn’t decide what role to take and how to play it…

The fundamental skills of the game in terms of development far outpaced the level of hockey IQ from probably being over coached. I don’t know I’m having a hard time picking my words but with more jobs available due to expansion I’m beginning to see far more players who don’t have great skill, but with a defined role they are finding success.

That was my favourite part as a kid, diving into the lore, and a lot guys from the 70s and 80s weren’t super skilled but the variety of players and personalities was very intriguing. Like Probert who could crack 30 but was a heavyweight. Bit of a unicorn example, though. 29 career high ya ya I got it

 

[andora]

I think there was for a long time due to shifting economics in the league and hockey development, not that many touted role players and too many tweeners who couldn’t decide what role to take and how to play it…

The fundamental skills of the game in terms of development far outpaced the level of hockey IQ from probably being over coached. I don’t know I’m having a hard time picking my words but with more jobs available due to expansion I’m beginning to see far more players who don’t have great skill, but with a defined role they are finding success.

That was my favourite part as a kid, diving into the lore, and a lot guys from the 70s and 80s weren’t super skilled but the variety of players and personalities was very intriguing.

You're going in the right direction and if I follow it along with you then that says you did a good job explaining

True scouting has become more important than ever with how diluted so to speak the pool is but at the same time it's coinciding with this Analytics dive bomb which don't really do anything to scout kids in my opinion

One thing I've been wanting to do but of course time permitting is actually start looking back maybe 10 years of useful draft results so say starting in 2011 or 12:00 up until 2021-2022 and start to look at who's got this thing nailed down

Outside of the first round which is when you should essentially be drafting on talent and getting your game Breakers everything else should just be focused on whether or not they can play the goddamn game

 

[lawrence]

this free agent pool is a little weaker than Usual.

Biggest names are

Ehlers,
Bennet,
Boeser
Ekblad
Tavares
Patrick Kane
Duchene
Cychrun
Jamie Benn

I really hope we don't screw this up. I am happier with making no major signings. Maybe a top 6 guys who is willing to sign a contract as place holder until we get reinforcements or they are ready.

 

[arttk]

The oft-forgotten aspect is there were a lot of the same questions around that group pre-Sundin (and to some extent Demitra and I'd argue Samuelsson), where they did not really demonstrate that type of engagement. I'd argue one place management has failed is they've never really brought in quality vets to similar effect.

No cap, Gillis had a ton of cap since Nonis didn’t do shit.
Benning left behind like a bunch of cap anchors and no anything.

 

[LemonSauceD]

this free agent pool is a little weaker than Usual.

Biggest names are

Ehlers,
Bennet,
Boeser
Ekblad
Tavares
Patrick Kane
Duchene
Cychrun
Jamie Benn

I really hope we don't screw this up. I am happier with making no major signings. Maybe a top 6 guys who is willing to sign a contract as place holder until we get reinforcements or they are ready.

Ehlers would be someone I’d target. $7x8M. One of the most efficient goal scorers and point producers in the league while averaging 16 minutes of ice time over the last 3 years.

On the Jets the last 2.5 years he’s:
- 1st in CF%
- 1st SF%
- 2nd in GF/60 (behind Vilardi)
- 1st in GF%
- 1st in xGF/60
- 3rd in xGF% (behind Nino and Lowry)
- 2nd in SCF% (behind Nino)
- 4th in high danger chances/60

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

Ehlers would be someone I’d target. $7x8M. One of the most efficient goal scorers and point producers in the league while averaging 16 minutes of ice time over the last 3 years.

I'll be shocked if Ehlers gets below $9M, given the crap market. I'd still do that for him, though.

I basically see 5 UFAs I'd have any interest in:
F Mitch Marner (7 x ~13)
F Nikolaj Ehlers (7 x ~9)
F Matt Duchene (3 x ~6)
F Jack Roslovic (3 x ~4)
F Alex Iaffalo (3 by ~4)

 

[andora]

Ehlers would be someone I’d target. $7x8M. One of the most efficient goal scorers and point producers in the league while averaging 16 minutes of ice time over the last 3 years.

On the Jets the last 2.5 years he’s:
- 1st in CF%
- 1st SF%
- 2nd in GF/60 (behind Vilardi)
- 1st in GF%
- 1st in xGF/60
- 3rd in xGF% (behind Nino and Lowry)
- 2nd in SCF% (behind Nino)
- 4th in high danger chances/60

And then his next contract will get him more ice time which is likely to yield the same or very similar results and it will be

What happened

 

[vancityluongo]

I'll be shocked if Ehlers gets below $9M, given the crap market. I'd still do that for him, though.

I basically see 5 UFAs I'd have any interest in:
F Mitch Marner (7 x ~13)
F Nikolaj Ehlers (7 x ~9)
F Matt Duchene (3 x ~6)
F Jack Roslovic (3 x ~4)
F Alex Iaffalo (3 by ~4)

like all of these names. would be surprised if the canucks didn't make a push for roslovic given previously speculated interest. haven't put much thought into duchene (assume he will stay in dallas, but they are tight cap wise so maybe not an option).

would add sam bennett to the list too. he will probably get overpaid and too much term, but in the short term, i think he could have a transformative ryan o'reilly to stl like effect with our forward group.

starting to sound like a dinosaur, but there's some additional value in having a guy like that when your franchise player is 5'9

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

Sam Bennet has never crested 50 points in his career and is going to get >$8M contract. It'll be Bobby Holik Pt II. Want no part of that.

I'll also be very surprised if he comes back to Canada after his experience with the Flames. Even if he doesn't stick in Florida I expect him to land in some low-tax sun belt franchise.

 

[Nuckles]

Francesco Aquilini ranked the 2nd worst owner in the NHL by the Athletic (only ahead of Buffalo's Terry Pegula)

NHL owner rankings: Grading every team, from Tampa Bay to Buffalo

Introducing The Athletic's first NHL owner rankings, based 50 percent on a fan survey and 50 percent on expert accounting.

www.nytimes.com

^ Link that's hard to see in dark mode ^

One of the most intense fan bases in all of pro sports, Canucks supporters have had to deal with a lot in recent years. Vancouver has missed the playoffs in seven of the past nine years, and the GM tenure of Jim Benning (2014-21) was one of the most disastrous in NHL history.

Even with more stability in place now and the front office cleaning up a lot of the mess, the fan base hasn’t forgiven or forgotten, ranking ownership 30th in franchise stability and 31st in treatment of the fan base. It’s likely going to take a period of sustained success for Aquilini to win over the market.

Fan perspective: “He’s a fine owner when the team is winning but needs to stop meddling and let his GMs work when the team is rebuilding. Or at least let them rebuild instead of retool.”

“If I could erase the eight years of Benning hell that Aquilini directly caused, this would be a very different survey, as (former GM) Mike Gillis took us to the finals and (new president) Jim Rutherford is killing it. But alas, those scars run too deep.”

 

[pitseleh]

Sam Bennet has never crested 50 points in his career and is going to get >$8M contract. It'll be Bobby Holik Pt II. Want no part of that.

I'll also be very surprised if he comes back to Canada after his experience with the Flames. Even if he doesn't stick in Florida I expect him to land in some low-tax sun belt franchise.

His numbers also dramatically drop off when not playing Tkachuk. Feels like a landmine.

Marner, Ehlers, Tavares, and Duchene seem like the only real needle movers based on their play this year. The latter two are old so you have to think some team gives them term the Canucks can’t give them. Marner will be tough to afford. Really feels like Ehlers or bust.

 

[bossram]

DPetey was drafted in 2022 which is a far worse draft. So he likely still isn't top ten, but it's a way different claim than it would be if it was referring to 2023.

You're right. I was actually combing through his draft year (2022) to take a look at the draft class, I just typed 2023 for some reason. Still wouldn't be top-10.

 

[Vector]

What’s all this D-Petey talk? Why are some clamouring to trade him and others claiming he’s a top-10 player on his draft?

Is there another type of poster claiming he’s trash?

As it stands he’s tracking excellently with all the traits that make him more valuable to the Canucks than anyone else. He hasn’t separated himself from the pack but would be a 1st round pick in a redraft and should be within the top-20. Where he’d fall would be entirely about one’s own preferences and biases.

 

[CanucksMJL]

Imo the move is Hronek plus and an over priced FA. That's the only way to get something that works.

 

[Agent007]

His numbers also dramatically drop off when not playing Tkachuk. Feels like a landmine.

Marner, Ehlers, Tavares, and Duchene seem like the only real needle movers based on their play this year. The latter two are old so you have to think some team gives them term the Canucks can’t give them. Marner will be tough to afford. Really feels like Ehlers or bust.

In a market like this with limited needle movers available and a lot of teams with cap space you got to get aggressive and trade for Ehlers rights as early as you can. Just too many teams out there that’ll over pay if it gets to July 1st so got to hope you can sell him on the market and get him signed at a reasonable deal before July 1.

 

[604]

Took a week off after the bust of a trade deadline. I’m back and on to the next thing to be let down by.

NCAA free agents!

I want Quinn Hutson. Has anyone heard of anyone actually tied to the Canucks?

Let’s just go and sign Luke Hughes for $11.5m x 5 years.

Sign Marner for $13.5m x 6 years.

Trade Lankanen/Demko (keep Demer if healthy) for Marner’s rights + pick. Trade M Pettersson for picks + prospects.

All our problems (keeping Quinn Hughes and scoring issues) are solved. If Chilytil is LTIR, then we re-sign Suter and promote from the farm.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

What’s all this D-Petey talk? Why are some clamouring to trade him and others claiming he’s a top-10 player on his draft?

Is there another type of poster claiming he’s trash?

As it stands he’s tracking excellently with all the traits that make him more valuable to the Canucks than anyone else. He hasn’t separated himself from the pack but would be a 1st round pick in a redraft and should be within the top-20. Where he’d fall would be entirely about one’s own preferences and biases.

He's enough of a foil to Hughes where I'd like to play him out.

Also he reminds me so much o Ohlund in a smartness sense. He's way beyond his age maturity-wise.

 

[theguardianII]

theguardianII believing this and taking a victory lap is hilarious.

I simply posted what I had heard and from the numerous sources as you requested but were not interested enough of the team to bother finding for yourself. What is your source of information? The staff reporters of the Canucks? IMac and Murphy? The team's employee's?

If that rumor and sources makes you worried that I think that is what is going to happen then you must be very easily led or don't bother searching for yourself. Also not a regular forum member and possibly one of the team's marketer's, influencers. When faced with multiple outside sources then attack the messenger.

Now a victory lap is answering your question?
You asked for sources and I did your work, I looked and listened and posted WHERE that rumor was being circulated.

 

[Bgav]

 

[theguardianII]

An odd end of year.
No contracts signed for Suter, Boeser or Tocchet.

JUST wondering if this points to a really big change coming.
If Tocchet goes then Allvin will want to get players the next coach thinks will fit his system.

Pretty sure Tocchet has an agent to negotiate and if not the Canucks will know what they want to offer long before now and would have made an offer.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

No to Bennett. That contract is going to look horrendous and does not address the need for speed/scoring.

Yes to Ehlers but it's going to take a massive offer for him to even consider coming here.

Again, there's no quick fixes to this team's needs int the Top 6 through FA.

There are trades but given the increased space of all teams and the Nucks limited pool of assets, I don't see much of a path there either.

Mgmt has their work cut out for them and I'm not super optimistic atm.

Best case is to trade for younger players who have yet to fully establish themselves, require waivers and might get squeezed out due to depth at their position. I'm ok with a couple lotto picks like this to see if it works out. Should be cheaper too.

 

[dbaz]

Theres going to be a lot of bad signings with this UFA crop.
Cap drastically raising, and theres teams with a lot of cap to play with.
Chicago for example will have 30mil cap is going to go hard after top 6 forward or top 4 d talent to try to keep Bedard happy, meaning they will overpay


more than likely we see the canucks move picks and prospects for those who are signed longer term

 

[TruGr1t]

No to Bennett. That contract is going to look horrendous and does not address the need for speed/scoring.

Yes to Ehlers but it's going to take a massive offer for him to even consider coming here.

Again, there's no quick fixes to this team's needs int the Top 6 through FA.

There are trades but given the increased space of all teams and the Nucks limited pool of assets, I don't see much of a path there either.

Mgmt has their work cut out for them and I'm not super optimistic atm.

Best case is to trade for younger players who have yet to fully establish themselves, require waivers and might get squeezed out due to depth at their position. I'm ok with a couple lotto picks like this to see if it works out. Should be cheaper too.

Sounds like Bennett is working on a new deal with Florida, anyways, and nobody can really compete with their contract structures and tax benefits. Friedman said on Saturday he'd handicap it that there's a new contract before July 1. If Bennett makes it, I think you need to pursue because of a scarcity at the centre position and a lack of trade assets. Ehlers is interesting because it looks like he'll actually reach free agency, and I definitely would expect the Canucks to pursue him.

 

[sting101]

I would say our defense and goaltending until we decide what to do between Demko/Lankinen looks really really good.....the balance of ages and contracts and a couple young studs on ELCs in DPettersson and Willander could open up some options and in the meantime is contender worthy.

Ultimately we need a impact forward who can form a trio with Hughes Pettersson and then upgrades to Hoglander Suter Boeser with the 2 remaining positions. Living in a cap world it's probable that we can only replace 1 and then let Hoglander and Lekkerimaki fill spots as they hopefully grow and get better

Obviously team speed is a concern and it's why i believe this management is not that concerned about Boeser and Suter walking and with just 13 million to work with the goal would be to get 2 players with that. Hopefully one of which who is a 1st line scorer. Marner is the only player who you could justify blowing it all on. We dont really have a lot of good trade options outside of the 1st roster player B prospect type deals that come with expensive contracts or expiring one's. I think we really messed up not outpaying Ott for Cozens but back to the drawing board for a Kesler type player in a ideal world

Suter - Bennett Duchene Nelson Tavares - Necas McCann Mercer Sillinger Norris Rasmussen
Boeser - Marner Ehlers - Necas Kempe Tuch Kyrou McCann Schwartz Burakovsky

Marner McCann would be a pretty slick combo if they could pull it off somehow

 

[theguardianII]

No to Bennett. That contract is going to look horrendous and does not address the need for speed/scoring.

Yes to Ehlers but it's going to take a massive offer for him to even consider coming here.

Again, there's no quick fixes to this team's needs int the Top 6 through FA.

There are trades but given the increased space of all teams and the Nucks limited pool of assets, I don't see much of a path there either.

Mgmt has their work cut out for them and I'm not super optimistic atm.

Best case is to trade for younger players who have yet to fully establish themselves, require waivers and might get squeezed out due to depth at their position. I'm ok with a couple lotto picks like this to see if it works out. Should be cheaper too.

So many times forum posters assume FAs want to come here. Benning had to over pay to get players, he admitted that. And that was when they already had Hughes, Pettersson, Boeser, Demko playing and Horvat.

Bennett will not be coming unless it is to retire. With the new cap increases he can accept 8+ mil for 8 years and Florida could easily pay that, for the Canucks that would be 10 mil a season. Tax rates.

You are correct, it is a very short term bandage with long term pain.

Yes, the draft is where the really, really good players come from.

Another thought, what is the message to the team's depth players in the AHL with regards to trading for other team's depth players and giving them contracts and starting roles? A confidence builder for those players? The fans that all is good on the farm? Management's possible lack of confidence in the team's own prospects?