Seems likely that both Anan and probably Karlsson as well will need some time in Abbotsford. But there's a couple of Russian wingers hitting free agency, who the Canucks should be all over.
Obviously Valeri Nichushkin won't come cheap, but is rapidly becoming a force out there. And Ilya Mikheyev in TO is definitely an 'under the radar' UFA who looks poised to be a perennial 20-30 goal guy. Line-mates for Podkiolzin?
Nichushkin has definitely priced himself out.
While I agree that his numbers would drop significantly on another team, he offers a lot of help in more ways than just his point scoring.
But, he could get the dreaded 6x6 Louie Eriksson contract, and I wouldn’t want to commit that type of money to a guy that’s had 1 season that would justify that type of contract.
I love Mikheyev as a player. He’s got good size and his wheels are about as good as you’ll get in the the league. He’s a great forechecker and hounds the puck.
I don’t think he’s a 30 goal scorer. I think he could be in tough to be a consistent 20 goal scorer because he doesn’t have great hands, but he does so much else right, that I think he changes the the look fo our forward group considerably (we instantly become faster and harder to play against for opposing d-men).
I expect he gets way overpaid though. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a contract in the 4.5-5 million range.
At 5 million, I wonder if it’s better to trade for Kasperi Kapanen. He’s got decent size, is also an elite skater who can get in on the forecheck and you are buying low on him after he just had a miserable season.
Over the 3 seasons preceding this last one KK, he’s a 48 point player based on PPG. I believe his QO is 3.7 million, and that could be 1 mill/yr less than Mikheyev, and there’s a good chance KK is the better player next season.
Depending on what kind of stupid money GM’s start throwing at Mikheyev, KK may be the better option.
I’d actually love to have both of those players though.