Grub's Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | Christmas Presents

[Nuckles]

• Looking to add a defenceman and a forward, at some point

Obviously this is alluding to Hoglander getting shipped out at some point, but saying they only want to add one D despite all their struggles (and injuries) on the back end makes me think they're saving a spot for Willander later this season.

Also I think all the D rumors they've been connected to are for LDs (excluding Jiricek, but he would have been a piece for the future)

 

[Vector]

Obviously this is alluding to Hoglander getting shipped out at some point, but saying they only want to add one D despite all their struggles (and injuries) on the back end makes me think they're saving a spot for Willander later this season.

Also I think all the D rumors they've been connected to are for LDs (excluding Jiricek)

I absolutely wouldn't be surprised if that's the plan. Get a left defencemen since they are more abundant. If something on the right side appears before Hronek is back then that could work but isn't necessarily the focus. The problem is if Willander shows up and isn't ready you're left with imperfect fits with Juulsen/Friedman/Brannstrom/Forbort.

 

[thecupismine]

Ignoring the careless invitation for more speculation from Friedman, I'm curious what kind of forward the team is looking to add.

My first guess is a Hoglander replacement, giving up his offensive upside for someone who can PK. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to go after a Noah Juulsen style of fourth liner - physical, strong PK, but very meh at ES.

Not sure if those guys exist/who's willing to deal them, but the team's forwards on the PK do need some work.

Other option I see closer to the deadline is a cheap (acquisition price, not contract), rental forward with retention who acts as an interchangable third wheel to one of the Canucks duos (Miller/Boeser, Petey/Debrusk, Garland/Joshua).

Think someone like Nyquist, Hall, etc. who will be on the outs but not be hugely in demand - Hall particularly stands out because of his straight line play and having played for Tocchet before.

 

[Vector]

Ignoring the careless invitation for more speculation from Friedman, I'm curious what kind of forward the team is looking to add.

My first guess is a Hoglander replacement, giving up his offensive upside for someone who can PK. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to go after a Noah Juulsen style of fourth liner - physical, strong PKers, but very meh at ES.

Not sure if those guys exist/who's willing to deal them, but the team's forwards on the PK do need some work.

Other option I see closer to the deadline is a cheap (acquisition price, not contract), rental forward with retention who acts as an interchangable third wheel to one of the Canucks duos (Miller/Boeser, Petey/Debrusk, Garland/Joshua).

Think someone like Nyquist, Hall, etc. who will be on the outs but not be hugely in demand - Hall particularly stands out because of his straight line play and having played for Tocchet before.

I suspect they are either looking for another offensive winger to play with Miller or a 3rd line centre and they shift Suter up to Miller's wing and reunite that line. Both seem like good options.

 

[thecupismine]

I suspect they are either looking for another offensive winger to play with Miller or a 3rd line centre and they shift Suter up to Miller's wing and reunite that line. Both seem like good options.

Would think they’re more likely to get a 4C and move Blueger up given how expensive it is to acquire a C (especially with defense coming first), but generally agree.

They’re basically looking at adding Higgins/Lapierre circa the 2011 deadline if they make moves up front.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I suspect they are either looking for another offensive winger to play with Miller or a 3rd line centre and they shift Suter up to Miller's wing and reunite that line. Both seem like good options.

I'd lean more on the second line winger myself. With Blueger, Sasson and Ratu as options beyond Suter, we're pretty much set down the middle.

Not sure I'd be chasing Hall though. He's been pretty meh this season far as I've heard but then again, it's Chicago. Outside Bedard, who hasn't been? Would definitely need 50% retention if not a third team.

 

[Vector]

Would think they’re more likely to get a 4C and move Blueger up given how expensive it is to acquire a C (especially with defense coming first), but generally agree.

They’re basically looking at adding Higgins/Lapierre circa the 2011 deadline if they make moves up front.

I'd lean more on the second line winger myself. With Blueger, Sasson and Ratu as options beyond Suter, we're pretty much set down the middle.

Not sure I'd be chasing Hall though. He's been pretty meh this season far as I've heard but then again, it's Chicago. Outside Bedard, who hasn't been? Would definitely need 50% retention if not a third team.

My main reasoning is the Canucks were already strong at centre last season (with the exact same centre depth) and opted to further improve that by grabbing Lindholm. Would not be surprised if that is Plan A again.

 

[Vector]

Recap of Rick Dhaliwal's interview with Halford & Brough.

Last Night’s Game

• Complete 60 minute effort
• Silenced the crowd that says they can’t beat good teams
• Type of win that can turn a season around
• Miller makes them so much stronger up the middle; helps them on the powerplay
• Only Hellebuyck has more wins that Lankinen
• Don’t have to rush or overplay Demko because of Lankinen

Lankinen

• If he continues to play lights-out, doesn’t think they can re-sign him
• Term and money are going to be priority for him

Demko

• Can start talking to Demko about an extension on July 1st

Sasson

• 20 NHL teams were trying to sign him out of college
• If he becomes a regular, others will look at his development in

Abbotsford

• Working with the Sedin twins has big benefits
• More and more agents are asking Dhaliwal about Abbotsford; they really like the set-up
• Malhotra, yesterday, said that when players get sent down to Abbotsford they arrive with a good attitude
• Abbotsford has a really good reputation around the league; calls it 10x better than when in Utica
• Dan Milstein told Sasson that he would get good development with the Sedin twins

Desharnais

• His name is out there; Canucks are trying to see if they can move him
• Has been available for a while
• Hasn’t been a fit and is having a tough time staying in the line-up
• Being outplayed by Friedman
• Hockey people love size and thought they could work with him and make him better
• Hockey people’s love for size is never going to end
• Will be very tough to move; has term and isn’t playing great
• One team told Dhaliwal that Desharnais’ puck skills are an issue for them
• Canucks have to find an everyday right-side 3rd pair defencemen
• Lots of respect for Desharnais for taking not of what Jeannot did to Boeser and saying the Canucks know what they have to do the next time they play the Kings
• Canucks’ management does not wait to correct their mistakes
• Doesn’t know if they can’t trade him; suggests waiving him and sending him to Abbotsford

Boeser

• Travis Konecny is a comparable for Boeser
• Doesn’t know if Boeser will get the same as Konecny
• Most people around the league feel Boeser’s next contract will start with an 8
• Either will get 8m+ in Vancouver or somewhere else
• Not hearing of any negotiations yet
• Always communication between the two sides
• Thinks the Canucks could be waiting to see if his scoring from last season was a career year
• Goal scoring wingers do not grow on trees
• Boeser and Hoglander are the only wingers on the roster drafted by the Canucks
• At some point this team needs to do a better job of drafting and development
• Long-term deals don’t happen quickly; mentions the Pettersson negotiations took place over months
• Some trepidation about a long-term contract due to eventual waning footspeed
• Desire from both the Canucks and Boeser to get a deal done
• Should start talks in January
• Would be shocked if the Canucks didn’t have a general feeling about what it takes to re-sign him

 

[Bobby9]

Signing Demko and letting Lanks go is a major risk, imo

Demko wil want 7-8M

Lanks we could prob get for 4-.5M

 

[strattonius]

Also, “will see where this goes over time and how this develops over time” just invites speculation too.

Lol exactly.

I couldn't help myself but wonder what that even means and had to stop from thinking about it.

 

[sting101]

* Right shot C/RW that can compliment our group of btm6 players at minimum
* Two capable NHL D - one of which is a 2/3 that we can re sign ideally
* top6 winger

* Unload Desharnais

* Gonna have to think long and hard about Demko

Well thanks Elliott that should keep the talks about internal riffs at bay......FFS

 

[God]

20. The Predators moved on from Dante Fabbro and Philip Tomasino, who started well in their new homes. Looks like we’re headed to that point with Juuso Parssinen, too.

friedman reporting that parssinen is available and that would be a pretty nifty pickup. he was really good two years ago and somehow has just lost it with brunette. i don't really know how he would fit a fairly packed forward group, but i have to assume hoglander is on his way out in a possible trade for a defenseman.

 

[Quinning]

I had no idea Demko and Lankinen are the same age.

Is there a world where we trade the former and hold onto the latter? I think if you remove health from the equation, Demko is the superior goaltender - but his health is a massive question mark.

Has Lankinen shown enough to be "the guy" to this point? I hope they give him plenty of starts for the rest of the season and see if his play holds up over a larger workload.

 

[brock hughes007]

Signing Demko and letting Lanks go is a major risk, imo

Demko wil want 7-8M

Lanks we could prob get for 4-.5M

Trade Demko and sign Lankinen. Carolina is looking for a goalie. Maybe we can get a defensmen from them.

 

[sting101]

i get the feeling that Zucker and maybe even Dumoulin will end up here

 

[valkynax]

I had no idea Demko and Lankinen are the same age.

Is there a world where we trade the former and hold onto the latter? I think if you remove health from the equation, Demko is the superior goaltender - but his health is a massive question mark.

Has Lankinen shown enough to be "the guy" to this point? I hope they give him plenty of starts for the rest of the season and see if his play holds up over a larger workload.

As much as I hate to see it, I don't see the team trading either away unless we can get a major haul AND Silovs can prove that last season wasn't a fluke.

Ideally yeah I wish we can trade one of the two goalies out for some solid help to our defense and top 6.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

I suspect they are either looking for another offensive winger to play with Miller or a 3rd line centre and they shift Suter up to Miller's wing and reunite that line. Both seem like good options.

LW for Miller's line.

JT
EP
Pius
Teddy

Down the middle is strong. Raty/Sasson/Aman can fill in on the 4th line if needed.

But getting a Top 6/Middle 6 LW should be the priority and cheaper than trying to acquire a 3C.

 

[Ernie]

Comparables for Lankinen are about 3 x $3m. If he's willing to take that in January it makes sense. If not let the season play out and see how healthy Demko is.

Lankinen has been a great fill-in but the formula for winning the cup remains this:

Pettersson and Miller dominating
Hughes tilting the ice for 30 mins / night
Quality depth behind them
Demko playing at his best

That is the "everything going right" scenario but is very possible.

 

[Ernie]

Suter is basically a poor man’s Lindholm at this point - plays all three forward positions up and down the lineup, provides PK and defensive utility, but a complementary scorer. If you lay their ES/PK individual and on-ice numbers from this season and last next to each other, they look nearly identical, except Suter scores at a higher rate at even strength (probably closer to even if you regress for his SH% bender this year) and Lindholm is better on faceoffs. Suter is often the third wheel on his line but so is Lindholm.

People were rightly happy that the team added Lindholm last year and should be similarly happy to pay the opportunity cost of keeping Suter around.

Suter is playing well but Lindholm was acquired with the idea that he had higher upside.

Suter is also on a SH% bender and you don't want to re-sign a player under those conditions. He's also played winger on this team mostly, which tells me that the coach doesn't love him at center.

 

[Jerry the great]

Suter is basically a poor man’s Lindholm at this point - plays all three forward positions up and down the lineup, provides PK and defensive utility, but a complementary scorer. If you lay their ES/PK individual and on-ice numbers from this season and last next to each other, they look nearly identical, except Suter scores at a higher rate at even strength (probably closer to even if you regress for his SH% bender this year) and Lindholm is better on faceoffs. Suter is often the third wheel on his line but so is Lindholm.

People were rightly happy that the team added Lindholm last year and should be similarly happy to pay the opportunity cost of keeping Suter around.

One could reasonably claim.... Lindholm is a massively overpaid Suter

 

[vancityluongo]

As much as I hate to see it, I don't see the team trading either away unless we can get a major haul AND Silovs can prove that last season wasn't a fluke.

Ideally yeah I wish we can trade one of the two goalies out for some solid help to our defense and top 6.

given the team's competing window, would happily give lankinen something like a 5x3 with a limited ntc if he's willing to take it, and then ride it out with demko for this year's playoff run, hoping he recovers. that's a very manageable $10m committed to one of the better goalie duos in this era where you kind of need two reliable guys - no one is ratlling off 75 games like luongo and brodeur used to.

if demko can take back the net and looks back to form, maybe see if you can move lankinen to a desired destination, hoping that in line with the hoglander rumours, teams are happy to take on a fixed price contract. but if demko falters or can't stay healthy, figure out if he's willing to take basically the same deal to be a duo with lankinen, or move him to someone willing to make the upside gamble (we're long past the days of landing a blue chip asset in return) and find a better fit for the 1b job.

my worry is that lankinen walks *and* demko is just good+healthy enough that they look to re-sign him, but he's basically a couple minutes from midnight (aka john gibson) over the rest of the contending window.

 

[Hodgy]

It's @pitseleh's point that really gets to me. The "bend" stuff will get play but that's been known and talked about for his entire career. He's intense and gets on guys but there needs to be a medium and everyone is aware of that. Nothing really new there. But the parts pitseleh highlights is click driving.

And I'm not entirely sure if Friedman is even thinking about that in the moment. Whether he's doing it on purpose, or not, all it does is add more fuel to the fire because of the platform he has.

The big thing though, that Friedman seemed to imply, is that the LOA was related to or a result of Miller not bending or whatever. And that would be a new and striking development if true, because it would show that there are some extremely significant lockerroom issues.

 

[valkynax]

given the team's competing window, would happily give lankinen something like a 5x3 with a limited ntc if he's willing to take it, and then ride it out with demko for this year's playoff run, hoping he recovers. that's a very manageable $10m committed to one of the better goalie duos in this era where you kind of need two reliable guys - no one is ratlling off 75 games like luongo and brodeur used to.

if demko can take back the net and looks back to form, maybe see if you can move lankinen to a desired destination, hoping that in line with the hoglander rumours, teams are happy to take on a fixed price contract. but if demko falters or can't stay healthy, figure out if he's willing to take basically the same deal to be a duo with lankinen, or move him to someone willing to make the upside gamble (we're long past the days of landing a blue chip asset in return) and find a better fit for the 1b job.

my worry is that lankinen walks *and* demko is just good+healthy enough that they look to re-sign him, but he's basically a couple minutes from midnight (aka john gibson) over the rest of the contending window.

Worst case scenario yeah. All of these things, even from the best in the business right now, are just educated guesses based on existing data and projections. Once we pick a path and it turns into shit, there's no reload, unfortunately. Everything is perma-death.

Let's see what Mr. Clean and Moleman has planned.