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

[opendoor]

Ya know something...

Eriksson might be the missing piece to enable Sutter to be a 2C.

The problem with Sutter is that he's not a playmaking center but he's a fast skater which, based on the 15-16 Canuck roster, makes him an overpaid 3C but a strong penalty killer.

Everything I've heard about Eriksson is that he's a smart all-around player as opposed to Vrbata who excels at just being a triggerman. So if Eriksson can adapt his game to become more of a playmaking winger then that takes the pressure off of Sutter to playmake and to be our 2C and we'd actually have a 2nd line.

I know everyone (including Eriksson) wants to see Eriksson with the Sedins but if the goal is still to be competitive than it's probably a good idea to try to make Sutter work as a 2nd line player anyway we can.

Sedin-Sedin-Hansen
Eriksson-Sutter-Burr
Bae-Horvat-Dorsett
Zalewski-Granlund-Virtanen

Good thinking. Sabotage Horvat's season by chaining him to Dorsett so he'll be cheaper to re-sign.

 

[mathonwy]

MUCH rather have Virt Horvat Bae line. Having Dorsett with Horvat is an act of treason.

We need to somehow resurrect the 2014-15 embodiment of Dorsett. If we start seeing the same type of chemistry we saw last season from BaeBo then I can not see Dorsett bagging it again.

 

[Nick Lang]

That CLEARLY WASN'T WHAT YOU POSTED. YOU SAID LEGITIMATE PLAYER which is clearly something different.

Burrows in his prime was close to elite defensively. VERY solid winger he can play on either the 2nd or 3rd line of ANY NHL team (in his prime).

Guy didn't just leech power play goals (again, when in his prime) - as he didn't receive alot of power play time with the Twins during that period of his career.

Right now, he's probably just a 4th liner - still a legit NHLer (only his contract stinks). Much like Sbisa - who I think is still a legit NHLer (only his contract stinks).

Yeah my bad, didn't communicate that clearly.

 

[Hit the post]

Yeah my bad, didn't communicate that clearly.

Sorry for overreacting to your post as well. This past season has set me in edge.

As you've probably figured it out long ago, I tend to fly off the handle to easily....

 

[mathonwy]

Good thinking. Sabotage Horvat's season by chaining him to Dorsett so he'll be cheaper to re-sign.

Yep. The 15-16 Dorsett was a goddamn unmotivated boat anchor.

Yep. The 14-15 Dorsett had a career high in points.

So what's the difference? Could it be that Dorsett doesn't drive play and plays his best hockey when he's playing with other half decent players?

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

Dorsett is garbage and deserves to be nowhere near Bo Horvat's line.

 

[Nick Lang]

Sorry for overreacting to your post as well. This past season has set me in edge.

As you've probably figured it out long ago, I tend to fly off the handle to easily....

No worries ... I've noticed lol. I actually enjoy your candid and somewhat grounding remarks even though I often find myself at odds defending basic hockey in general. I get the sense that at least we can move on with day to day activities unlike some.

 

[Fa Ci La]

Yep. The 15-16 Dorsett was a goddamn unmotivated boat anchor.

Yep. The 14-15 Dorsett had a career high in points.

So what's the difference? Could it be that Dorsett doesn't drive play and plays his best hockey when he's playing with other half decent players?

well in 14/15 bo and dd had a GF% of 60.9 together despite a CF of 39.3% together, so I'm guessing lucky percentages played their part.

(http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=997&withagainst=true&season=2014-15&sit=5v5)

meanwhile, in 15/16 they had a GF% of 29.12 together, with a CF of 43.0% together. what fun. tbf, their Goals For per 60 mins did stay fairly similar over the two years though. it's just in 15/16 they had a goals against per 60 minutes of 6.23 (!!!), so unlucky percentages played their part there. but one key constant remains: they get their butts kicked in terms of shot attempts for and against when together.

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=997&withagainst=true&season=2015-16&sit=5v5

 

[valkynax]

We need to somehow resurrect the 2014-15 embodiment of Dorsett. If we start seeing the same type of chemistry we saw last season from BaeBo then I can not see Dorsett bagging it again.

Then it is up to Dorsett to earn his chance. Said chance to play with Horv and Bae should not be given to him without seeing him trying and improving from a 4th wing position.

Quite frankly I am sick and tired of these garbage players such as Vey Sbisa Bart and Dorsett being showered with golden opportunities when they clearly did not deserve them.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Holy **** people are dumb.
Dorsett is a 4th liner, you play him on 4th line with other 4th liners.
The only reason he played well through 14-15 season is because it was his contract year

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Virtanen needs to grow the **** up and learn how to be a good bottom 6 player before getting a sniff at top 6 let alone top 3 minutes.

Zalewski is a hell of a 4th liner. He's strong as an ox and works the offensive boards like nobody's business. Zalewski also works a heck of a lot harder than Virtanen so putting them on the same line would create some big time competition and do Virtanen some good.

I can't stop my self from laughing.
Let's teach a youngster how to be a grinder so he can become a top 6 player one day.
When you are developing a youngster, you put him in a role where he can success. Not with plugs again, he had enough of it last season

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Yep. The 15-16 Dorsett was a goddamn unmotivated boat anchor.

Yep. The 14-15 Dorsett had a career high in points.

So what's the difference? Could it be that Dorsett doesn't drive play and plays his best hockey when he's playing with other half decent players?

What's the difference?
He got a 4 years contract, there was no need for him to tried as hard as he did in 14-15.
Typical situation when you signed a plug long term.
Same thing would happen with Matt Martin in Toronto.

 

[mathonwy]

Then it is up to Dorsett to earn his chance. Said chance to play with Horv and Bae should not be given to him without seeing him trying and improving from a 4th wing position.

Quite frankly I am sick and tired of these garbage players such as Vey Sbisa Bart and Dorsett being showered with golden opportunities when they clearly did not deserve them.

Remember, all of this discussion is predicated on the possibility that Eriksson can play the role of a playmaking winger so that Sutter can play the role of a 2C.

In this scenario, Bae and Bo are in the bottom 6 so there is no earning of anything and in the ideal scenario, the two would be playing protected minutes hopefully for another couple years to develop properly.

Thanks for sharing the fact that you are sick and tired of garbage players given golden opportunities. I think everyone here is sick and tired of garbage players being given golden opportunities. But thank you again for reinforcing your opinion that you are sick and tired of garbage players given golden opportunities.

Your opinion, however, doesn't change the fact that Dorsett is still on this roster as well as the fact that Dorsett did have one very good year and one very bad year with us.

 

[Verviticus]

dorsett got kinda lucky, had a good year with some good players, and then got a year older, a year slower, and had a normal, expected year because he is a ******, nhl-replacement (or worse) level boat anchor that i hope ****s off and never plays another game for us

 

[mathonwy]

Holy **** people are dumb.
Dorsett is a 4th liner, you play him on 4th line with other 4th liners.
The only reason he played well through 14-15 season is because it was his contract year

You really should refrain from insulting other posters. It's rather rude and only reflects poorly on you. As well, I haven't presented any illogical arguments so far.

Derek Dorsett is a 3rd/4th line tweener and his ATOI and point production proves this.

 

[valkynax]

Remember, all of this discussion is predicated on the possibility that Eriksson can play the role of a playmaking winger so that Sutter can play the role of a 2C.

In this scenario, Bae and Bo are in the bottom 6 so there is no earning of anything and in the ideal scenario, the two would be playing protected minutes hopefully for another couple years to develop properly.

Thanks for sharing the fact that you are sick and tired of garbage players given golden opportunities. I think everyone here is sick and tired of garbage players being given golden opportunities. But thank you again for reinforcing your opinion that you are sick and tired of garbage players given golden opportunities.

Your opinion, however, doesn't change the fact that Dorsett is still on this roster as well as the fact that Dorsett did have one very good year and one very bad year with us.

I had not said anything about Horvat and Bae being moved up, I'm fine with them in 3rd line, but why is Dorsett is given priority for 3W duty over Virtanen?

And what exactly does Dorsett being on the roster have to do with this? He had a good year and a bad year, so? If he plays like a 4W, he will stay as a 4W. Based on his horrendous performance last year I wouldn't even think of putting him anywhere but 4W.

 

[Verviticus]

I had not said anything about Horvat and Bae being moved up, I'm fine with them in 3rd line, but why is Dorsett is given priority for 3W duty over Virtanen?

And what exactly does Dorsett being on the roster have to do with this? He had a good year and a bad year, so? If he plays like a 4W, he will stay as a 4W. Based on his horrendous performance last year I wouldn't even think of putting him anywhere but 4W.

dumpster, garbage can, the sun, the bottom of the ocean, on a mountain, the centre of the earth, on the oilers

i can think of a lot of good places to put him that arent the 4w

 

[mathonwy]

I can't stop my self from laughing.
Let's teach a youngster how to be a grinder so he can become a top 6 player one day.
When you are developing a youngster, you put him in a role where he can success. Not with plugs again, he had enough of it last season

Or....

Let's give a youngster some protected minutes as well as a top 6 goal to try to achieve.

Sort of like... oh... I dunno...

Bo Horvat in 2014-15 maybe?

But I'm just spitballing here as you seem to know exactly how to develop Virtanen...

 

[Verviticus]

virtanen is and was (for all of last year) a substantially better hockey player than derek dorsett

 

[Rotting Corpse*]

dumpster, garbage can, the sun, the bottom of the ocean, on a mountain, the centre of the earth, on the oilers

i can think of a lot of good places to put him that arent the 4w

Las Vegas will do.

 

[Verviticus]

also seriously, hockey isnt a ****ing rpg. players develop by A: getting older and B: playing hockey while getting older. thats it. put him in the hockey games and watch him improve

you dont get combo bonuses and increased rates of improvement because you found the secret best spot and linemates for them to develop

 

[mathonwy]

I had not said anything about Horvat and Bae being moved up, I'm fine with them in 3rd line, but why is Dorsett is given priority for 3W duty over Virtanen?

And what exactly does Dorsett being on the roster have to do with this? He had a good year and a bad year, so? If he plays like a 4W, he will stay as a 4W. Based on his horrendous performance last year I wouldn't even think of putting him anywhere but 4W.

I think Dorsett is the most effective when he was playing with other skilled players because he's useless in stupid dump and chase plays because he's too light. I didn't see Dorsett cause any turnovers last season and when he DID get to the puck I saw him just bounce off the opposing D-man.

Versus playing with players like Bo and Bae who have a some modicum of puck possession in their play?

As well, putting Dorsett with Bae and Bo could be a mentor / safe environment type of situation where Dorsett is kind of responsible for the kids.

Last season showed that he's horrible at stupid dump and chase and after awhile of failing at that, he pretty much just quit and coasted for the season. Just trying to mitigate that from happening again.

 

[Grub]

Dorsett is a servicable player good on a fourth line. Unfortunately we are using him in roles that he should not be in.

 

[mathonwy]

also seriously, hockey isnt a ****ing rpg. players develop by A: getting older and B: playing hockey while getting older. thats it. put him in the hockey games and watch him improve

you dont get combo bonuses and increased rates of improvement because you found the secret best spot and linemates for them to develop

Actually.. you kinda do.

That's why we talk about left shot D-men and right shot d-men.... and who should be on the PP1 and PP2... and who's a playmaking center and who's a playmaking winger...

Or do you think things just happen for no reason?

 

[valkynax]

I think Dorsett is the most effective when he was playing with other skilled players because he's useless in stupid dump and chase plays because he's too light. I didn't see Dorsett cause any turnovers last season and when he DID get to the puck I saw him just bounce off the opposing D-man.

Versus playing with players like Bo and Bae who have a some modicum of puck possession in their play?

As well, putting Dorsett with Bae and Bo could be a mentor / safe environment type of situation where Dorsett is kind of responsible for the kids.

Last season showed that he's horrible at stupid dump and chase and after awhile of failing at that, he pretty much just quit and coasted for the season. Just trying to mitigate that from happening again.

He needs to SHOW willingness to improve. Sitting him in 4W is a tough situation he put himself in, in a tough situation good players rise to the challenge, make the best of it and take advantage of limited opportunities given to them. If he shows that kind of poise and determination, even if he doesn't succeed the coach and team will still see him as a valuable player no matter which line he is in.

Not like he wasn't given repeated chance to succeed - he was once on the same line as the Sedins.

He is a 4W, an overpaid 4W. Barring a super natural miracle I don't see him doing anything more.

And no, he will not make a good mentor to the kids. A good mentor leads by example, Dorsett doesn't do that, he pretty much mailed it in after this undeserving contract was inked.