Confirmed with Link: Canucks sign D Tucker Poolman to 4-Year, $10M Deal ($2.5M AAV)

[canuckking1]

Me personally? No. Poolman was my #1 target in free agency. I like him a lot as a player, and I realize he's been deployed as a bottom pairing guy, but I think he has top four potential as a Tanev-esque defensive d-man, providing stability to a guy like Hughes.

With Hamonic signing, it's likely Poolman starts on the third pair. But still. I like this player a lot and I'm happy we got him. I think the AAV is fair. IMO.

Myers will likely start on the bottom pair. Green had him there past 2 years and then juggles him around to get more minutes.

 

[Dominance]

Hughes-Hamonic
OEL-Myers
Edler-Poolman
Schenn? Juolevi?

Shocking that Benning managed to downgrade last year’s defense. Why would he not have taken the money he pushed at Poolman and Hamonic and signed someone like Savard? Poor Hughes.

 

[Pastor Of Muppetz]

Me personally? No. Poolman was my #1 target in free agency. I like him a lot as a player, and I realize he's been deployed as a bottom pairing guy, but I think he has top four potential as a Tanev-esque defensive d-man, providing stability to a guy like Hughes.

With Hamonic signing, it's likely Poolman starts on the third pair. But still. I like this player a lot and I'm happy we got him. I think the AAV is fair. IMO.

Good to know...hopefully Poolman can be the solid unspectacular D man this team desperately needs (guys who can play when they don't have the puck)....Ceci was obviously the bigger name out there...and we are looking at UFA prices.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Myer will likely start on the bottom pair. Green had him there past 2 years and then juggles him around to get more minutes.

Yeah, the Canucks' D deployment under Green/Baumgartner has always been...interesting.

Myers will get top minutes, IMO. And in fairness, Hamonic seemed to settle in on Hughes' flank as the year went on. So I can't see Poolman leapfrogging either of them at the start. But if/when injuries hit, he could get a chance to prove himself, and I really feel he will. I'm probably guilty of rose coloured glasses on this one because I really like him as a player and I'm stoked we got him, but yeah - I feel he has top four upside.

 

[GCn07]

Jets fan chiming in. Poolman is a jeckyl and hyde type defenceman. He is prone to awful games but at times can have really good ones. A very frustrating player to watch. Still relatively young though..
If he is paired with a puck moving defence partner that will help him significantly because you never, EVER, want the puck on his stick in your own zone. Just awful brain cramps all the time...he panics. However, he is decent defensively and if he becomes more physical could develop into a 5 D type player. Your GM must be banking on his youth and upside...no other way to interpret 2.5 mil per. He played decent minutes on the bottom pairing and his stat line was totally obscured when he played a part of last season with Morrissey on the top line where he was completely and thoroughly overmatched.

 

[vancityluongo]

4 years is just insane.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Hughes-Hamonic
OEL-Myers
Edler-Poolman
Schenn? Juolevi?

Shocking that Benning managed to downgrade last year’s defense. Why would he not have taken the money he pushed at Poolman and Hamonic and signed someone like Savard? Poor Hughes.

I hate to say this but
Savard has been rumoured with MTL for at least 2 weeks

 

[m9]

He just turned 28.

I'm aware. He will be in his 30s for half the contract, hence the "entering" part.

 

[strattonius]

worked out great with Tyler Myers

Not defending signing Myers the contract sucks but he was never signed for being a stay at home defenseman. He's always been regarded as a two way guy. Jordie Benn is a better example.

 

[GCn07]

Yeah, the Canucks' D deployment under Green/Baumgartner has always been...interesting.

Myers will get top minutes, IMO. And in fairness, Hamonic seemed to settle in on Hughes' flank as the year went on. So I can't see Poolman leapfrogging either of them at the start. But if/when injuries hit, he could get a chance to prove himself, and I really feel he will. I'm probably guilty of rose coloured glasses on this one because I really like him as a player and I'm stoked we got him, but yeah - I feel he has top four upside.

The chances of Poolman being top 4 are remote imo. Unless he improves his abilities with the puck on his stick he is a liability that high in the lineup....and by improve...I mean a LOT.

 

[ekimbo]

Oh really? I guess you should be a GM in the NHL since you seem to be the smartest guy in the room. Why didn't Tampa or Montreal figure this out earlie that size as a defenceman doesn't matter.

true, bringing this back to the canucks, i remember troy stecher getting destroyed in the playoffs last year whereas myers was exceptional because of his height

 

[Peen]

Jets fan chiming in. Poolman is a jeckyl and hyde type defenceman. He is prone to awful games but at times can have really good ones. A very frustrating player to watch. Still relatively young though..
If he is paired with a puck moving defence partner that will help him significantly because you never, EVER, want the puck on his stick in your own zone. Just awful brain cramps all the time...he panics. However, he is decent defensively and if he becomes more physical could develop into a 5 D type player. Your GM must be banking on his youth and upside...no other way to interpret 2.5 mil per. He played decent minutes on the bottom pairing and his stat line was totally obscured when he played a part of last season with Morrissey on the top line where he was completely and thoroughly overmatched.

we are running three right side defensemen who were killed in the matchups they played last season.

the only defenseman we have who played well in their matchups last year was f***ing rookie jack rathbone

 

[Kearns]

Here’s a WILD take:

i could care less about the physical attributes. All i care about is if this man can play defense relative to cap hit.

full stop. Nothing else matters. I would have a 5 foot 1 inch guy on my blueline if he can strip the puck from the opposing forwards. Size is the biggest meme in the NHL. Only thing that matters is skill

Yes, I agree - it is a wild take. Please see any playoff in living memory.

 

[Canadian Canuck]

Not a sky is falling type deal but I really don’t like our right side. Myers/Hamonic/Poolman are all 3rd pairing guys, and two of them have to play in our top 4

 

[Ita]

Bad terms and AAV. Wtf is Benning doing.

 

[jokesondee]

One year more than I would have liked, but I'm fine with the cap hit. I feel like he can be a guy that plays in the top four. Right side, defensively responsible D that I think will fit in well.

You dont want Poolman anywhere near your top 4. He has flashes of offensive skill now and again, but his defensive play was brutal last season and his offensive flare vanished. He was severely overmatched when given top line minutes. Just a dogs breakfast in his own zone. Having said that he did have Covid to start the season so maybe that effected him? Possibly. If his ass is glued to the 3rd pairing he might be serviceable. Dont like the dollars or term but thats free agency for ya.

 

[bobbyb2009]

we are running three right side defensemen who were killed in the matchups they played last season.

the only defenseman we have who played well in their matchups last year was f***ing rookie jack rathbone

Genuine question, was Hamonic killed in his matchups last year?

Another, how much of those negative numbers had to do with our brutal forward group? Does that change with a better group up front?

 

[DS7]

another american. jesus christ. there are TOO MANY AMERICANS on the canucks

We can sign an entire roster of Hawaiians for all I care so long as it's the best possible one we can win with. That's all that matters.

 

[valkynax]

See? Does getting rid of Bealge Eriksson Rousell even matter, when you bring in contracts like this?

This is, again, a very Benning move. He's probably thinking he got eyes for a gem and is super afraid that other GM's will want a piece.

Benning does this again and again and again, it's hardly a surprise anymore.

 

[NYVanfan]

Jets fan chiming in. Poolman is a jeckyl and hyde type defenceman. He is prone to awful games but at times can have really good ones. A very frustrating player to watch. Still relatively young though..
If he is paired with a puck moving defence partner that will help him significantly because you never, EVER, want the puck on his stick in your own zone. Just awful brain cramps all the time...he panics. However, he is decent defensively and if he becomes more physical could develop into a 5 D type player. Your GM must be banking on his youth and upside...no other way to interpret 2.5 mil per. He played decent minutes on the bottom pairing and his stat line was totally obscured when he played a part of last season with Morrissey on the top line where he was completely and thoroughly overmatched.

Thanks, appreciate the insight from someone who’s actually watched him, vs the chicken littles that infest this place.
My question — how is his skating? He is clearly huge, but is he average skater, or slow? Hoping he has some speed. Thanks

 

[bobbyb2009]

You dont want Poolman anywhere near your top 4. He has flashes of offensive skill now and again but his defensive play was brutal last season. He was severely overmatched when given top line minutes. Just a dogs breakfast in his own zone. Having said that he did have Covid to start the season so maybe that effected him? Possibly. If his ass is glued to the 3rd pairing he might be serviceable. Dont like the dollars or term but thats free agency for ya.

It is for this reason that I hope they close the Schenn contract asap. Maybe pool man becomes another overpaid press box player if this continues as he plays with Rathbone.

But do you think he is a better option than Chatfield, contract aside?

 

[Peen]

Genuine question, was Hamonic killed in his matchups last year?

Another, how much of those negative numbers had to do with our brutal forward group? Does that change with a better group up front?

Hamonic doesn’t have the backskating and basic puck skills that Tanev had. It was a huge drop off. Hamonic is so slow.

To answer point two, yes. But the defense has worse players. You’d need a miraculous coaching improvement to get more out of a worse blueline and a total systems adjustment.

We have a bunch of guys who can get walked/can’t recover on odd man rushes.

 

[jokesondee]

Thanks, appreciate the insight from someone who’s actually watched him, vs the chicken littles that infest this place.
My question — how is his skating? He is clearly huge, but is he average skater, or slow? Hoping he has some speed. Thanks

He doesnt possess very good speed. Fairly sluggish.

 

[Peen]

It is for this reason that I hope they close the Schenn contract asap. Maybe pool man becomes another overpaid press box player if this continues as he plays with Rathbone.

But do you think he is a better option than Chatfield, contract aside?

Chatfield is terrible. Benning saying he believed so much in this player and then legitimately giving him an NHL shot proves he knows 0 about how to scout defensemen. He is a bottom pair AHL guy at best.

 

[Peen]

we gave a #6 D a four year deal at a decent cap hit like wtf lmfao