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

[iceburg]

Management has done a good job of improving organizational depth in all areas with one exception. They have good depth in the bottom 6 with a couple of guys that can do ok in the top 6 in certain situations. Boeser, DeBrusk, Garland, and the young sniper Lekkerimaki is fine as long as they deal with attrition such as the loss of Boeser. Hoglander could yet be a decent 2nd line winger, especially if chemistry with EP can be developed further. If the trajectories of D-Petey, Marino, Willander, Kudryavtsev, and Mynio continue on the same curve they will have finally solved the D conundrum after so many years. A healthy Demko/Lankinen would be among the top tandems in the league. In all of these areas it really just is a job of maintenance, making sure they have enough quality coming in as it inevitably leaves.

Of course the one exception is centre ice. It's kinda shocking going from Miller, 100 pt Petey, and Horvat to a slumping 60pt Petey, Chytil and Suter. It's arguable that without Suter they actually wouldn't be in any position to think about playoffs.

They will need to spend the next three years drafting the centre ice position as early and often as possible. Unless there is clearly a better choice at another position, pick centres with high skill and hockey sense. To me, size at centre in the top 6 is a nice to have but it should not come at the expense of skill, otherwise you end up with a bunch of big 3Cs and no true top line guys. They will still likely have to trade from a position of strength or sign a UFA to acquire an interim 2C but that ain't going to be cheap.

If, in three years, they don't have 2 or 3 highly skilled centre prospects 22 or under, it will be a problem of their own making.

 

[krutovsdonut]

Is he though?

Depends how you want to structure the lineup i guess. For example we are slow and weak. Good player or not having Joshua Boeser and Suter in the top 3 lines if they bring both back with even Blueger/Raty Karlsson on the 4th line is a slow plodding team and will result in another year without providing the speed for us to drive play off the rush and put too much reliance on structure and Hughes Gking to bail us out.

Even if he looks like a no brainer due to Chytil and his unreliability you still have to be adding a 40-55pts C or we are in deep trouble against the top tier teams

i don't know how many more ufa rabbits this management group can pull out of a hat to magically inject both competence at the level of suter plus the speed you think we need and there is no speed waiting patiently in the minors as you note. there is thus something to be said for sticking with what works as opposed to fantasy. the issue of course is cap.

 

[F A N]

So with Chychrun getting an 8yr X $9 million contract, does that pretty much guarantee that Hughes' next contract will have a FLOOR of $13-14 million/yr? Boy howdy, he's gonna get $PAID$

Marcus Pettersson would get 7-7.5 per on the open market. His contract is an absolute steal.

I don't think Hughes, Chychrun, and M-Petey are comparables. Hughes's next contract should make him the highest paid or very close to highest paid defenseman alongside Makar.

I think we signed M-Petey to a good contract but M-Petey doesn't bring the type of offensive production that Chychrun does. In comparison, Pesce got $5.5M, Orlov got $7.75 (2 year deal), Skjei got $7M, Hanifin got $7.35. Theodore $7.425M. Both Skjei and Hanifin have put up 10+ goal 35+ point seasons. Theodore even more so. M-Petey doesn't bring that type of offense. I think M-Petey could have gotten $6M-$6.25M AAV on the open market. I think teams are looking to spend this summer and there aren't that many top 4 D options this summer.

 

[strattonius]

I guess I'm just in the minority but no interest in re-signing Suter. I think his CAP is going to be pretty ugly moving forward - guessing a 4x4 type deal. It's not him he's a good utility player it's just our top 6 is terrible; and so if an opportunity to get a big fish is lost because we invested in a player like Suter, it would be a massive misstep.

 

[arttk]

I don't think Hughes, Chychrun, and M-Petey are comparables. Hughes's next contract should make him the highest paid or very close to highest paid defenseman alongside Makar.

I think we signed M-Petey to a good contract but M-Petey doesn't bring the type of offensive production that Chychrun does. In comparison, Pesce got $5.5M, Orlov got $7.75 (2 year deal), Skjei got $7M, Hanifin got $7.35. Theodore $7.425M. Both Skjei and Hanifin have put up 10+ goal 35+ point seasons. Theodore even more so. M-Petey doesn't bring that type of offense. I think M-Petey could have gotten $6M-$6.25M AAV on the open market. I think teams are looking to spend this summer and there aren't that many top 4 D options this summer.

Not sure you can compare MP with previous D signing in a lower cap environment. MP's new contract starts when the cap is at 97M.

Chychrun and MP are the only 20m+ D signed as a UFA so far so thats why they are being compared. Chychrun is a 20M+ D that puts up 40ish points, MP is a 20M+ D that puts up 25ish points, one is more offensive and one is pure defense. The question really is the extra 15ish more points and less defense worth 3.5M more?

 

[andora]

Yes he is leagues better than Domi/Laughton. Vastly better defensively than both, and arguably better offensively too (certainly more than Laughton). Also an elite PKer, which Laughton is bad at and Domi can't do. Domi/Laughton are also less effective centers than Suter - Laughton's already been demoted to 4LW on TOR, and mostly played wing in Philly this season. Would TO swap them for Suter? I dunno, but that's more because Treliving is a bad GM - the Laughton trade was horrible in the first place.

WSH has a good thing going on. I don't think they would rock the boat just because. But Suter is a better all-around player than Eller/Dowd, who it sounds like you agree are more suited to pure defensive deployment. McMichael/Protas aren't centers and don't play center at the NHL level.

This is truth

Those two are useless
Domi is a winger
Laughton is a 4c

 

[arttk]

This is truth

Those two are useless
Domi is a winger
Laughton is a 4c

Isn't Tavares the 2C for the leafs? Why are we talking about Domi as if he is the 2C?

 

[bossram]

Isn't Tavares the 2C for the leafs? Why are we talking about Domi as if he is the 2C?

The question was at hand was, is "Suter better than Domi?" One poster here seems to disagree.

 

[bossram]

I guess I'm just in the minority but no interest in re-signing Suter. I think his CAP is going to be pretty ugly moving forward - guessing a 4x4 type deal. It's not him he's a good utility player it's just our top 6 is terrible; and so if an opportunity to get a big fish is lost because we invested in a player like Suter, it would be a massive misstep.

If the "big fish" is Sam Bennett at like $8M x 8, I'm taking Suter $4M x 4 every time.

 

[Vector]

Is .5 ppg enough from a 2c in today's NHL?

Looking at the top 8 teams in the league second highest scoring center.

Potras 63
Vilardi 61
W Johnson 63
Hertl 59
Jarvis 53
Necas 51
Barkov 64 (Reinhardt 75)
Tavares 61

If we want to be a good team Suter has to be our very good 3c.

Interestingly, Jarvis and Suter have the same total of 5v5 points with 24 each.

Suter: 24
Protas: 48
Johnston: 33
Hertl: 29
Jarvis: 24
Necas: 35
Barkov: 28
Tavares: 34

 

[arttk]

The question was at hand was, is "Suter better than Domi?" One poster here seems to disagree.

Suter > Domi

 

[F A N]

Not sure you can compare MP with previous D signing in a lower cap environment. MP's new contract starts when the cap is at 97M.

I think the contracts that were signed last summer to present were signed based on projections even if those projections fell short of where the cap is heading.

Chychrun and MP are the only 20m+ D signed as a UFA so far so thats why they are being compared. Chychrun is a 20M+ D that puts up 40ish points, MP is a 20M+ D that puts up 25ish points, one is more offensive and one is pure defense. The question really is the extra 15ish more points and less defense worth 3.5M more?

It's not just points but goals as well. Chychrun is scoring at a 23-24 goal 54 point pace (high shooting %) and this isn't his career high pace. Last season he had 14 goals 41 points in a down season. If Hronek put up M-Petey type offensive numbers, is he worth $7.25M if he was an LD? Pure defensive defensemen command less money on the open market so "worth" is influenced by this fact. I think with Chychrun he has the tools to be a #1 Dman even though he doesn't always play like one.

On the Canucks, I'll probably say that M-Petey is a better fit. A big part of that is that we have Hughes so an elite level defensive Dman who can kill penalties is a strong complement to Hughes on the left side. If we don't have Hughes and Hronek we're looking at Myers being the best offensive Dman and Kudryavtsev/Mynio/Willander being the hopefuls.

I maintain that you need some offensive production from the back end to win a Cup.

 

[arttk]

I think the contracts that were signed last summer to present were signed based on projections even if those projections fell short of where the cap is heading.

they signed when it wasn't clear that the league would jump to like 115M cap in like 3 years also the 1st year of those contracts are within the 88M cap era, you could see it as that 1 year along with the later years dragging down the AAV.

It's not just points but goals as well. Chychrun is scoring at a 23-24 goal 54 point pace (high shooting %) and this isn't his career high pace. Last season he had 14 goals 41 points in a down season. If Hronek put up M-Petey type offensive numbers, is he worth $7.25M if he was an LD? Pure defensive defensemen command less money on the open market so "worth" is influenced by this fact. I think with Chychrun he has the tools to be a #1 Dman even though he doesn't always play like one.

On the Canucks, I'll probably say that M-Petey is a better fit. A big part of that is that we have Hughes so an elite level defensive Dman who can kill penalties is a strong complement to Hughes on the left side. If we don't have Hughes and Hronek we're looking at Myers being the best offensive Dman and Kudryavtsev/Mynio/Willander being the hopefuls.

I maintain that you need some offensive production from the back end to win a Cup.

Yes Chychrun is a better offensive D and usually those are paid more, I think my question is, is he so good that he's worth 3.5M X 3 more. If we assume that Chychrun's contract is fair and moving forward it's how 40ish point offensive D are valued, then there are only 2 conclusion for MP's contract, either defensive dman aren't valued anywhere close and what MP took is fair and the market rate for defensive D or MP is actually underpaid and he should be valued closer to 6-7M.

I think a bunch of us are arguing it's the latter.

 

[Baby Pettersson]

I know Allvin said he plans to address the centre position this off season but honest to god how is that even going to be possible? It takes 2 to tango and I can't see any centres being available.

 

[credulous]

I know Allvin said he plans to address the centre position this off season but honest to god how is that even going to be possible? It takes 2 to tango and I can't see any centres being available.

yeah i've mostly checked out on speculating about what this team could or should look like next year. there's too many unanswered questions to even get started. i'm just gonna check in after the summer before i start speculating. hopefully allvin can pull a rabbit out of his hat

 

[iceburg]

I know Allvin said he plans to address the centre position this off season but honest to god how is that even going to be possible? It takes 2 to tango and I can't see any centres being available.

As I said above, they need to draft, draft, draft centres. It won't help in the short term. But it would be an unforgivable error if they didn't focus on getting top skill at centre in the next 2 to 3 drafts. In the meantime, they need to get lucky in free agency, hope EP regains form, hope they can find a trade to bring in a 2C that can fill the gap. They might have to go "old" for the next 2 to 3 years until they can develop from within. Like Giroux or Marchand. Maybe Jamie Benn wants to come home. Not ideal but I don't know what options they have.

 

[arttk]

I know Allvin said he plans to address the centre position this off season but honest to god how is that even going to be possible? It takes 2 to tango and I can't see any centres being available.

If we make a trade, it’s going to be one of those, huh didnt see that coming, kind of trade.

 

[DimitriL07]

We gunna trade the pick at the draft for someone who wasn't rumoured, hate the trade then he’s gunna end up being a stud for us. Obviously, what else is gunna happen?

 

[Nick Lang]

yeah i've mostly checked out on speculating about what this team could or should look like next year. there's too many unanswered questions to even get started. i'm just gonna check in after the summer before i start speculating. hopefully allvin can pull a rabbit out of his hat

Yup, they could and should be looking at literally everything.

 

[Kickassguy]

Mentioned this in an earlier post, but the Canucks could make a pretty effective pitch to any NCAA or international free agents simply by pointing to the giant middle C vacancy in their lineup rn. Only problem is this year's NCAA FA class looks like dreck.

Don't know much about available IFAs this year but McKeen's mentions the following candidates -- I've pulled out the Cs below:

Maxim Shabanov (RUS) - C/RW - 24 – 5-foot-8, 160 pounds - KHL​

If he were even three inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, then we’d talk about Shabanov as a surefire NHL addition this summer. There are skills and hockey sense here that are clearly above average, and you’ll want to do yourself a favor and catch some of his highlights because he’s been the author of some very impressive plays the past few seasons. He’s a player with splash-n-dash. If things get too physical, he’s nifty at finding other ways to get his stick on dangerous pucks. With 64 points in 62 games at the time of this article, he’s now set personal KHL highs after seasons of 31 and then 50 points. As with Tsyplakov last season at this time, Shabanov has cooled down in recent weeks, going 1-6-7 in his past ten games after starting the season with 14 points in his first 12 games. What we can say is that his size will likely not prevent a team from signing him and his agency works for a long list of predominantly Russian players who have been drafted by or later signed with NHL teams, including recent Russian UFA signings Nikita Gusev and Alexander Barabanov.

David Tomasek (CZE) - C - 29 - 6-foot-2, 187 pounds - SHL​

He led the Swedish SHL in regular season scoring last season with 25 goals and 45 points, albeit in 52 games. He had piqued interest. We know that teams were looking at him and he was in heavy consideration. Then he flopped with just one point in a horrific first round sweep in which his first-place club lost to the eighth seed. After that, he showed up at the Men’s WC for Czechia and was quite ok, going 1-3-4 and +3 in 10 games. He didn’t get signed by an NHL team. There were other interested parties around Europe, but Tomasek seemed to believe that he was already in the best place for his progress in Färjestad and this season has done nothing but back that up. At the moment, he’s leading the SHL - a league whose top scorer is often clipping at less than a PPG pace - with 57 points in 47 games. His team is gearing up for a long playoff run and yes, we know he’s getting some serious attention, despite his age. Tomasek has another year on his SHL contract but there’s an out clause should the NHL come knocking.

Matias Mäntykivi (FIN) - C - 22 - 5-foot-11, 165 pounds - Liiga
No longer a Boston Bruins prospect, Mäntykivi is once again having a career year with 52 points in 59 games after putting up 49 in 60 games last season. That makes him one of Liiga’s key contributors. Topping a +25 last year with a +27 this year doesn’t hurt either. However, size and skating are still his weakness, and the NHL will only see so many players of his ilk break the mold and become regulars over time. Then again, much of what we see and hear about Mäntykivi was originally thought about Mats Zuccarello once upon a time as well. He may just have to keep putting up the big numbers before he gets a shot.

Theo Rochette (SUI/CAN) - 23 - C/LW - 5-foot-11, 172 pounds - Swiss NL
Having just turned 23 in February, we’re going to continue to mention the young former Memorial Cup winner because he’s not only still young and improving, but the nation’s top U24 player whatsoever, imports included. He was impressive with his 30 points and +4 in 46 games last season (with another 9 in 19 playoff games), but he’s upped the ante this season with 31 points and +8 in all of 38 games to date, long flirting with a PPG pace. NHL scouts are fully aware of him after 317 points in 271 career QMJHL games and six in four Memorial Cup contests. What also needs to be said is that his Lausanne club lost in the seventh game of last year’s finals. He won the Memorial Cup the year before. Some players just find themselves playing for winners. As we mentioned last year, Rochette looks like he has everything necessary to be the next Swiss player to take the Pius Suter path to the NHL.

Eskild Bakke Olsen (NOR) - C/RW - 22 - 6-foot-0, 185 pounds - HockeyAllsvenskan
In general, it’s hard to imagine that an NHL team would be looking to add a slightly below-average skater like Bakke Olsen to its program at this stage, having not even seen what he could possibly do at i.e., the SHL level. Alas, the 22-year-old Norwegian already has four Norwegian league seasons under his belt and is in the midst of his second HockeyAllsvenskan season, one that has been an absolute revelation. Yes, some bells were already ringing last season when his 10-27-37 statline in the regular season was converted into 5-9-14 numbers in 12 games while playing together with St. Louis prospect Otto Stenberg. Now he’s been the go-to offensive player for his Karlskoga club, upping the ante to 9-44-53 in 48 games to date, coordinating most all attacks and running the power play. He’ll be in the playoffs again this season, so we’ll see what magic he can work with his Czech winger de choix Theodor Pistek - also 22 -, who himself is ready for bigger things next season. After successfully debuting with the Norwegian national team last season, expect budding playmaker Bakke Olsen to be a key figure at this spring’s Men’s WC.

Michal Kovarcik - (CZE) - C/RW - 28 - 6-foot-0, 176 pounds - Liiga
Truth be told, it’s hard to imagine that a 28-year-old Kovarcik who is scheduled to return to his hometown Trinec team in the Czech Republic wouldn’t want to see if his late-blooming offensive explosion - which already began last season - isn’t something he couldn’t turn into a shot at North American glory. A bit of a lightweight who isn’t always great on the eye, Kovarcik is in essence a highly skilled puckmover and a very fast point A-to-B skater. When he gets the wheels going, there haven’t been a lot of players in the Finnish Liiga in recent years who can keep up. Despite having suffered what may be a season-ending injury on March 5th, Kovarcik will end this season with the top PPG clip in the league, if not as the top scorer overall, should the aforementioned Leppanen not surpass him in the final two outings. Having never scored more than 30 points in a pro league campaign, Kovarcik popped last season with 15-30-45 numbers for surprise Jukurit. Jumping to Kärpät, he’s taken things to a whole new level with 13-49-62 in 52 contests, often setting up teammates in a manner that left opponents with little opportunity to react. Teams lacking in the playmaking department have tried taking less exciting routes in the past, so Kovarcik definitely presents a joker-in-waiting possibility.

Sebastian Cederle (SVK) - C - 25 - 6-foot-2, 190 pounds - Slovakia
There are players out there who can probably do more than their stats indicate but their coaches know they’re needed for other important tasks while certain other teammates have to be given the offensive roles for a lack of versatility. Cederle falls into this category. Now in his mid-20s, the two-way center knows how to dog and rag the puck as well as what his tasks are in his zone. After showing this incrementally in recent years, his role was pivotal in the playoffs last season, turning a 20-point season (41 games) into an 11-point playoff run (21 games). All he’s done this season is double down on his progress, scoring a career high 15 goals and 24 points in 34 games while being a key player in all important situations. His ice time is rarely under 18 minutes a night and when it is, his team is firmly in control of the game, meaning the coach can spread the ice time wealth. When things are tight, Cederle is on the ice. There will be astute hockey people who have seen the qualities he brings to the table and envision that there’s more in the tank moving forward.

Filip Prikryl (CZE) - C/LW - 23 - 6-foot-1, 179 pounds - Czechia
The numbers (12-15-27 in 50 regular season games and +7) won’t jump out at you, but the former Saint John Sea Dog has spent the past three seasons turning into a more responsible, all-round player whose creativity is really starting to blossom. The fans love him in Budejovice and his playing time has swayed between 14-20 minutes in recent weeks, even getting in a good 18 and half minutes of play in two playoff games in which his team was shut out. What we’re seeing here is a player who looks like he could already make some nifty plays at the AHL level while showing his newfound understanding for three-zone responsibility. Some teams seem to operate with a mindset that they can add players like this and do the rest with their development group. Prikryl would be a nice case study.

Josh Samanski (GER/CAN) - C/LW - 22 - 6-foot-6, 190 pounds - DEL
Former OHLer and 2-time WJC contestant Samanski is a player we continue to keep our sites on and this season, it hasn’t been hard to do as he’s been pure eye candy for his Straubing Tigers. We already thought he’d be a player the NHL would take into consideration last summer after he arrived as a bonafide middle six forward at the ripe age of 21. Now he’s taken things to a whole new level. A very big boy who uses his size well to gain, protect, and battle for pucks, Samanski has done nothing but show continual bursts of speed, silky mitts, and a keen sense of creating and finishing all season long. Yes, he’s got a contract with DEL powerhouse Berlin next season, but if he continues on this pace, he’ll be putting up numbers we haven’t really seen from a youngster his age since Dominik Kahun earned himself an NHL contract. And Kahun was older and smaller when he did. Wearing an A on his jersey, Samanski already has a career high 40 points in 52 games as his team holds the prime spot for the upcoming wild card round. At this rate, you shouldn’t be surprised to see him suiting up for Team Germany at the upcoming Worlds either. SIDENOTE: His younger brother Noah is currently playing for the Powell River Kings in the BCHL.

Sorry if the formatting is shitty, trying to do this from mobile. Link here if anyone's interested in other positions aside from center.

NHL: 2025 European Free Agent Frenzy - 26 Players you may see with an NHL franchise next season

McKeen's Chapin Landvogt profiles 26 potential free agents from Europe that NHL teams could be targetting.

www.mckeenshockey.com

 

[valkynax]

Very unpopular opinion but I wish management knew in hindsight about Miller and could have traded him earlier and then resigned Lindholm. Context is I'm probably a bigger Lindholm fan than most here. He would be fine as our 2C.

Not much details are known about the situation at the time, but given how Lindholm is doing this season I don't think the price tag would've been justifiable.

I do think that how the team handled the whole situation was WILDLY awful.

Pius Suter I wonder if we can keep, with a somewhat reasonable contract.

 

[Hansen]

Lindholm would have been a disaster signing. He was good in playoffs but third liner in the regular season. Not worth the money

 

[F A N]

they signed when it wasn't clear that the league would jump to like 115M cap in like 3 years also the 1st year of those contracts are within the 88M cap era, you could see it as that 1 year along with the later years dragging down the AAV.

I get that. But this is what you said in response to a posters say 7X$7.5M for M-Petey:

man you guys are aggressive, that's Skjei money. I am not sure he is the comparable.

Your post was made AFTER NHL's cap announcement. So it's like we didn't disagree but now we do?

Yes Chychrun is a better offensive D and usually those are paid more, I think my question is, is he so good that he's worth 3.5M X 3 more. If we assume that Chychrun's contract is fair and moving forward it's how 40ish point offensive D are valued, then there are only 2 conclusion for MP's contract, either defensive dman aren't valued anywhere close and what MP took is fair and the market rate for defensive D or MP is actually underpaid and he should be valued closer to 6-7M.

I think a bunch of us are arguing it's the latter.

I get that. I'm not taking some strong or unreasonable position here. You agree that teams do pay more for the type of offensive production that Chychrun has put up. Heck, using your argument above, had we known the cap was going to jump to like $115M in 3 years, do you think Hronek would have gotten close to $9M AAV? And would he be worth much more than M-Petey contract?

I don't see why we have to choose between the 2 conclusions you proposed. I don't see why we can't conclude that pure defensive Dman aren't valued anywhere close to offensive Dmen with Chychrun's production while at the same time conclude that M-Petey could have gotten more as a UFA than what we signed him for. I along with many others thought M-Petey had all the leverage to squeeze Canucks' management so I am one of many who were surprised at the contract M-Petey ultimately signed.

And again, you keep describing Chychrun as a 40ish point offensive Dman when he has 18 goals and 43 points (23-24 goal 54 point pace). A defenseman's ability to regularly put up goal totals in the teens adds to their market value. Always has. As mentioend, most of us think we signed M-Petey to a good contract. Above I said that I think he could get $6-6.25M AAV.

At the end of the day if we're talking about what the players can command as a UFA, Chychrun's age, size, toolset, and offensive production should get him offers at higher AAV than M-Petey. Similarly, if Ekblad hits UFA, he's going to get paid similar to Chychrun (albeit he is M-Petey's age and is a RHD).

 

[Hughes Clues]

Suter is leagues better than Domi/Laughton as a center option. He would be a massive upgrade for TOR.

He would be a better all-around 3C option than Eller or Dowd too, who are more suited more of a 4th line role with mostly pure defensive deployment.

The original argument started as Suter as a 2c. Would you rather him over Tavares this year? End discussion.

 

[andora]

The original argument started as Suter as a 2c. Would you rather him over Tavares this year? End discussion.

re-open discussion
there were some questions asked based on your 'post' and 'list'