Confirmed with Link: Canucks sign RW Loui Eriksson to 6-year, $36m deal ($6m AAV w/ NMC)

[TraderJim]

I remember when signing a 30 goal scorer got Canucks fans excited. We got spoiled and now we are spoiled brats.

Another person blaming fans for being upset over moronic management. Always the fans fault.

 

[Icebreakers]

The last few years of this contract doesn't matter if he gives us 4 solid years.

However. If Sedins retire before eriksson contract it might be awk. Maybe Sedins will sign 1 year deals like jagr with a slightly lower cap hit for us to sign other players

 

[absolute garbage]

Acknowledging ownership is the primary source of "Playoffs or bust" is not an exoneration of Benning's performance as GM. The two have nothing to do with one another, really, save as to illustrate an obvious chain of cause and effect when it comes to certain patterns of decision making.

Realistically, if you think Benning is the wrong man for the job, as many do, then it's STILL ownership that should draw your ire. They hired him.

And the ownership gets a lot of **** for that idiotic decision. For a good reason.

The point here is that it's so incredibly wrong to say "the ownership wants playoffs" because it implies that they are forcing Benning's hand here making all these moves.

If Benning didn't straight up pitch this plan of his to the ownership in order to GET THE JOB, then he bought ownership's plan 100% and has been on it ever since. Those are the only 2 options here. Benning is absolutely fully on board with everything they are doing.

Next time, instead of saying "it is what it is, the ownership wants the playoffs", say "it is what it is, the management and ownership wants the playoffs", and we're fine. After that the arguments can start about whether the moves were correct or not.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

What an obscene argument.

If ownership hired a GM to rebuild the team and then said GM flubbed on every draft pick he makes, is that the owner's fault?

The ire is not necessarily drawn from the direction of the team (ie. pushing for the playoffs over a rebuild). That's all the owner is in control of. There are some who are pissed about it and would rather see a rebuild, yes. But as many said when Gillis was fired and Benning was hired, there are merits to not going for a scorched earth approach and instead looking towards the Detroit/SJ model of creating a competitive playoff roster every year. If that's what Benning was executing, there wouldn't be nearly this much anger, even if the result was the Minnesota Wild rather than a Detroit or San Jose.

Problem is, the execution by Benning has been so bloody awful that the Canucks are nowhere near being the Minnesota Wild, let alone the cup finalist Sharks. That's where Benning's performance as a GM has been such a bloody tire fire, especially given the team he inherited which was much, much better than the current rendition of the Minnesota Wild.

Obscene, even! Why not "an abomination"! Really jack it up.

I don't know what forums you've been reading, chum, but the ire is most definitely driven by the direction chosen. If the direction chosen was "rebuild" we'd still be wondering how the draft picks might turn out and preaching patience.

I don't know how many times I need to re-affirm that I am not a "Benning supporter" so the jackanapes that patrol these forums to howl in unison at anyone who doesn't join their whiny cult are appeased. I've openly called for the guy to be fired/demoted. That I believe the actual cancer afflicting the team starts above him doesn't mean I think he's doing a bang up job. If you have a knee jerk, reactionary owner who meddles in hockey operations and plays at being an assistant GM you're going to have problems. I don't care who he hires.

 

[Pip]

The last few years of this contract doesn't matter if he gives us 4 solid years.

However. If Sedins retire before eriksson contract it might be awk. Maybe Sedins will sign 1 year deals like jagr with a slightly lower cap hit for us to sign other players

we are not going to be competitive in the next 2-3 years. By the time we are on the upswing Eriksson will be nearing the end of his contract.

 

[Intangibos]

The last few years of this contract doesn't matter if he gives us 4 solid years.

However. If Sedins retire before eriksson contract it might be awk. Maybe Sedins will sign 1 year deals like jagr with a slightly lower cap hit for us to sign other players

I'd argue the last few years are the most important. We're not competing right now, we likely wont be for 4 years in a best case scenario. Eriksson will be falling off with a big contract around the time players like Horvat are becoming big pieces and Tanev is getting up there in age.

The first few years of the deal, Eriksson is just going to help stop us from being a bottom 5 team.

 

[vancityluongo]

Obscene, even! Why not "an abomination"! Really jack it up.

I don't know what forums you've been reading, chum, but the ire is most definitely driven by the direction chosen. If the direction chosen was "rebuild" we'd still be wondering how the draft picks might turn out and preaching patience.

I don't know how many times I need to re-affirm that I am not a "Benning supporter" so the jackanapes that patrol these forums to howl in unison at anyone who doesn't join their whiny cult are appeased. I've openly called for the guy to be fired/demoted. That I believe the actual cancer afflicting the team starts above him doesn't mean I think he's doing a bang up job. If you have a knee jerk, reactionary owner who meddles in hockey operations and plays at being an assistant GM you're going to have problems. I don't care who he hires.

Yes some of the ire is direction driven. People here were just as angry coming off of a 101 point season. But the negativity around here really beefed up after the 28th place finish, wouldn't you say? Did ownership push for them to have that season?

We can only speculate on what influence Aquilini actually has. He continually suggests Trevor Linden has all final say on hockey decisions, which Linden parrots. I stand by thinking it's crazy to absolve Benning of any blame, but given the FA instantly sacked the last two GM's to miss the playoffs, you might be right.

If that's the case, let's hope we both get our wish with a new GM who can mitigate the damage to the franchise and actually deliver on ownership's twisted goals. Direction wise, yes, I'd rather be in Toronto's current position as a franchise than Minnesota's, but if Minnesota is the only option provided by ownership then that is better than the current Canucks. Anything is.

(Apologies for getting off-topic in this thread.)

 

[Scygen]

I really don't think he'll be any better then Vrbata was. Personally think it's a lot of money to spend, for a very long contract.He'll be decent for the first year.. really after that I expect he'll go downhill fast, especially once the Sedins retire.

 

[tradervik]

we are not going to be competitive in the next 2-3 years. By the time we are on the upswing Eriksson will be nearing the end of his contract.

Realistic or not, the Canucks' philosophy appears to be to scrape into the playoffs and somehow overachieve in the draft to find players who will eventually put this team over the top. To that end, signing Eriksson makes perfect sense. Sadly, it is also the recipe for long term mediocrity.

 

[MS]

Obscene, even! Why not "an abomination"! Really jack it up.

I don't know what forums you've been reading, chum, but the ire is most definitely driven by the direction chosen. If the direction chosen was "rebuild" we'd still be wondering how the draft picks might turn out and preaching patience.

I don't know how many times I need to re-affirm that I am not a "Benning supporter" so the jackanapes that patrol these forums to howl in unison at anyone who doesn't join their whiny cult are appeased. I've openly called for the guy to be fired/demoted. That I believe the actual cancer afflicting the team starts above him doesn't mean I think he's doing a bang up job. If you have a knee jerk, reactionary owner who meddles in hockey operations and plays at being an assistant GM you're going to have problems. I don't care who he hires.

Most of the ire is with the terrible execution, not the direction. But they're very much linked.

I was on board and agreed with the direction, until the brutal execution made the team so bad that there is now basically no option but a complete rebuild.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Yes some of the ire is direction driven. People here were just as angry coming off of a 101 point season. But the negativity around here really beefed up after the 28th place finish, wouldn't you say? Did ownership push for them to have that season?

Depends on who we're talking about. Some of the ire actually started with the selection of Virtanen and never stopped. We had "meat and potatoes" and "The GM is a racist" going around with the McCann pick. Never underestimate the willingness and/or capability of some individuals to foment negativity.

We can only speculate on what influence Aquilini actually has.

Well, he's the owner. We know with ironclad certainty he has enormous influence. Whether he meddles as much as rumors suggest is speculation, but I'd say there is more than ample smoke there. The circumstances surrounding Gillis's departure alone seemed to be sufficient evidence.

If that's the case, let's hope we both get our wish with a new GM who can mitigate the damage to the franchise and actually deliver on ownership's twisted goals. Direction wise, yes, I'd rather be in Toronto's current position as a franchise than Minnesota's, but if Minnesota is the only option provided by ownership then that is better than the current Canucks. Anything is.

(Apologies for getting off-topic in this thread.)

Well, I'm just wishing for a fun hockey team. I'm following the Bill Watterson school of thought and wishing for something that, hopefully, is attainable in the short term. Wishing for a Stanley Cup contender in the next 2-3 years is just going to get me super let down. Eriksson with the Sedins could be fun. So I'll hope it is and try get revved up for a season of hockey. Best I can do, really.

 

[arttk]

we are not going to be competitive in the next 2-3 years. By the time we are on the upswing Eriksson will be nearing the end of his contract.

If that was the logic, why bother signing him?

 

[Rotting Corpse*]

If that was the logic, why bother signing him?

He's a previous connection to Benning AND Willie. It's basically irresistable. No player like that will be available again.

 

[TruGr1t]

If that was the logic, why bother signing him?

Out of respect for the Sedins, I'd imagine.

 

[Win One Before I Die]

Another person blaming fans for being upset over moronic management. Always the fans fault.

Where was I blaming the fans? Just getting really sick of armchair GMs over reacting.

Would you prefer to go into the season with the same team? Losing every year isn't the way to develop prospects.

 

[Hit the post]

If that was the logic, why bother signing him?

Have to tell season ticket holders something when asking them to renew - hey look who we signed!.

Where was I blaming the fans? Just getting really sick of armchair GMs over reacting.

Would you prefer to go into the season with the same team? Losing every year isn't the way to develop prospects.

We finished in 3rd LAST PLACE. Can't do much more losing than that.

Yippee! We finished ahead of the Oilers (like THAT is an accomplishment) and the Laffs (where THEIR goal was to finish in last).

 

[y2kcanucks]

If that was the logic, why bother signing him?

Good question.

 

[Icebreakers]

I'd argue the last few years are the most important. We're not competing right now, we likely wont be for 4 years in a best case scenario. Eriksson will be falling off with a big contract around the time players like Horvat are becoming big pieces and Tanev is getting up there in age.

The first few years of the deal, Eriksson is just going to help stop us from being a bottom 5 team.

Benning just wants to make the playoffs and this helps him do that.

The playoff year we had 2 years ago might have been a bit of an anomaly but this past year was too. We arent a bottom 5 team if everyone is healthy. That is reality.

 

[y2kcanucks]

Where was I blaming the fans? Just getting really sick of armchair GMs over reacting.

Would you prefer to go into the season with the same team? Losing every year isn't the way to develop prospects.

What prospects? We trade our prospects away for crappy waiver eligible players.

Id prefer if we signed Connolly, Marchessault, and Gagner. Instead we're saddled with yet another awful contract.

It's funny seeing some of the analysts mock the Canucks for this.

 

[TraderJim]

Where was I blaming the fans? Just getting really sick of armchair GMs over reacting.

Would you prefer to go into the season with the same team? Losing every year isn't the way to develop prospects.

You called Canuck fans spoiled brats. Which is about as absurd of a statement one can make. The last thing a Canuck fan has ever been is "spoiled".

 

[Nucker101]

I'm just hoping Eriksson is still worth something in the open market by the time this team finally rebuilds. I do like that they front loaded the deal, but if he's not producing like a top 6 forward during the final 3 years of this deal then he'll still be hard to move.

 

[Hit the post]

Benning just wants to make the playoffs and this helps him do that.

This deal more likely prevents us from finishing in the bottom five in the league again (for at least the next few seasons).

 

[TraderJim]

This deal more likely prevents us from finishing in the bottom five in the league again (for at least the next few seasons).

Yeah, we won't be out of the playoffs until February now instead of December. Rejoice!

 

[Hit the post]

Yeah, we won't be out of the playoffs until February now instead of December. Rejoice!

Benning doesn't have a guaranteed job for life. Tough to knock him for wanting to continue to be employed. I doubt Aquaman is on board for a tank.

 

[TraderJim]

Benning doesn't have a guaranteed job for life. Tough to knock him for wanting to continue to be employed.

So because he has a short shelf-life we are OK with him damaging the club for years and years? I couldn't give a **** about Bennings job security.