They never were going to have the time. I honestly felt it was apparent going into the season that he had to figure it out quickly. There wasn't time to let him grow -- he had to hit the ground running. Him and Forbort were the only $1m+ salaries on the backend w/o trade protection. They were always going to be the main fall guys if something wasn't working. DD hasn't gotten any better. Halfway to the TDL.
It had to happen quickly. Yeah the environment sucked with all the injuries we've had, and that they've been trying to change how we play. I don't think the signing made any sense. We all know Myers should ideally be on a 3rd pairing come playoff time, and that they need to allocate the salary towards a top four guy. They're also, as you mentioned, trying to adjust how we play to be more high tempo and offensive to create rush chances, and VD makes that impossible when he's on the ice.
It's not even bitching. It's the reality, and it's been coming for a few weeks now. Not every signing works out, and that's fine to have some misses. It's just recognizing where we are. I'm not even mad about how it played out.. just curious to see what happens in the next week or two.
Good take. It seemed like the way they sold it him needing time was inevitable. That said I expected (given the contract not his reputation) a slightly higher baseline - not costing us goals
every game he's in the lineup.
I agree the signing was never good, but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt given their record of finding undervalue guys & how much a bigger blue-line did help us last season, but we're on the same page that I never liked it either & had doubts like you.
His skating isn't great but he's big enough that he covers space, its just his inability to handle the puck (Gudbranson flashbacks) & misreading the play costing the team goals is too much for a guy like him.
Fingers crossed they can figure something out, I'm sure they'll find a way.
We just played the Stanley Cup champions. We look good sadly I didn’t see a minute of it being that I’m in Mexico and getting a ton of dental work done it. Anyhow, the bitching about VD is about standard. We are playing great, but there’s always gonna be one guy or maybe two, that her not making the grade. This will be the standard pitching by Canuck fans for the next hundred years. I mean, how can we not take this win and celebrate. yes we miss Hronek he would make us look even better. And everyone keeps mentioning that we need another top 40 man without suggesting how we take care of the cap implications.
The issue with VD is totally contract related. If he was a <1M guy it would be totally fine, nice depth even having a huge guy that's a very good PKer as your 8/9D. But they made a bet.
I'm not trying to be negative, I'm feeling very positive about the team right now, but his situation is one that would be better to resolve if possible for both sides. And also that's part of the cap implications.
Hoglander + Desharnais is 3M+ this season, 5M+ next season. There's a window to add a larger salary player with retention and/or cap accrual
