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

[F A N]

i remember the brian burke years, he ALWAYS made deals before the holiday freeze he didnt like waiting no matter if the team was winning or losing. that is kind of like jim rutherford dont want to see too long and strike early.

I thought he just had a self-imposed earlier trade freeze because he didn’t want his players worrying about being traded during the holiday season.

 

[ManVanFan]

I am against the Canucks trading for anyone unless it comes for a 2nd round pick and prospect outside of Willander, Mynio, Lekkerimaki and D-Petey.

 

[JT Milker]

I am against the Canucks trading for anyone unless it comes for a 2nd round pick and prospect outside of Willander, Mynio, Lekkerimaki and D-Petey.

You won’t get anything useful without including something valuable.

 

[ManVanFan]

You won’t get anything useful without including something valuable.

Until the team can figure out why they don't show up for the first 20 minutes, all game, a period here or there. A PP can that be cohesive. Find lines that can be cohesive.

The Canucks need better puck movers but they also need for the team to play together from time to time rather than just individuals making plays here and there.

 

[Canucker]

Until the team can figure out why they don't show up for the first 20 minutes, all game, a period here or there. A PP can that be cohesive. Find lines that can be cohesive.

The Canucks need better puck movers but they also need for the team to play together from time to time rather than just individuals making plays here and there.

They need better puck movers, and that comes at a cost...if you aren't willing to give up some prospects/picks, prepare for more of the same.

 

[F A N]

You won’t get anything useful without including something valuable.

Depends on your definition of "useful". I would say a 2nd round pick can get you a useful player, especially since our 2nd the coming summer looks to be a mid round pick. Certainly you can get a veteran defenseman who might be able to fill in as a #4 for our 2025 2nd round pick. Whether that's a good deal is a separate matter though.

 

[ManVanFan]

They need better puck movers, and that comes at a cost...if you aren't willing to give up some prospects/picks, prepare for more of the same.

They have been giving up prospects and picks and somehow the issues are still there. The past 5 drafts, they have picked 3 times out of 10 first and second rounders.

 

[Canucker]

They have been giving up prospects and picks and somehow the issues are still there. The past 5 drafts, they have picked 3 times out of 10 first and second rounders.

I'm sure its not for lack of trying though....they brought in Lindholm and Zadorov, traded for Hronek...they had a mess, did what they could to clean it up and we are better for it...the fact remains, this team isn't currently good enough to be considered a "contender" and if they want to be able to add pieces that can get them into that category they'll need to spend assets...the kind you typically don't want to spend.

Depends on your definition of "useful". I would say a 2nd round pick can get you a useful player, especially since our 2nd the coming summer looks to be a mid round pick. Certainly you can get a veteran defenseman who might be able to fill in as a #4 for our 2025 2nd round pick. Whether that's a good deal is a separate matter though.

Part of our problem is the fact we don't have a lot of cap space to be adding the types of players that will make a meaningful impact on the lineup, so it costs more to have teams retain or take back money....so its harder to get good value for your 2nd rounders.

 

[ManVanFan]

I'm sure its not for lack of trying though....they brought in Lindholm and Zadorov, traded for Hronek...they had a mess, did what they could to clean it up and we are better for it...the fact remains, this team isn't currently good enough to be considered a "contender" and if they want to be able to add pieces that can get them into that category they'll need to spend assets...the kind you typically don't want to spend.


Part of our problem is the fact we don't have a lot of cap space to be adding the types of players that will make a meaningful impact on the lineup, so it costs more to have teams retain or take back money....so its harder to get good value for your 2nd rounders.

If there are extra assets like after they traded Horvat to get Hronek, for sure. They did spent it all last season though. They did look like contenders, they haven't looked like it this year, so adding looks like just trying to make the playoffs seems stupid. Once Lekkerimaki and Willander graduate from the prospect pool. You are left with almost nothing that looks like it can remotely make an impact in the NHL. Giving up picks this first and second, you better win the cup or probably looking like a few seasons of mediocre.

 

[TruGr1t]

If there are extra assets like after they traded Horvat to get Hronek, for sure. They did spent it all last season though. They did look like contenders, they haven't looked like it this year, so adding looks like just trying to make the playoffs seems stupid. Once Lekkerimaki and Willander graduate from the prospect pool. You are left with almost nothing that looks like it can remotely make an impact in the NHL. Giving up picks this first and second, you better win the cup or probably looking like a few seasons of mediocre.

If the cost is as marginal as the Zadorov trade, I can definitely see it, but I don't think you'll see another Lindholm trade (outside chance of maybe something like Provorov). They're clearly looking for longer-term pieces like the Hronek trade with some element of team control on a young-ish player. I don't think that's fully a "make the playoffs" move if you're securing a top-four, puck-moving defenseman in their early-to-mid 20s.

 

[F A N]

I'm sure its not for lack of trying though

We can say that about our past GMs too. Most GMs inherit a mess and try to fix it.

....they brought in Lindholm and Zadorov, traded for Hronek...they had a mess, did what they could to clean it up and we are better for it...the fact remains, this team isn't currently good enough to be considered a "contender" and if they want to be able to add pieces that can get them into that category they'll need to spend assets...the kind you typically don't want to spend.

I've maintained all along that OEL should have been bought out this past summer but there are some poster(s) who believe that changing the culture last season had overarching importance. Perhaps if we kept OEL we would have missed the playoffs, had another lottery pick, and not attract a free agent like DeBrusk. Or maybe we would have.

I enjoyed last season very much but we didn't win the Cup and we did make short-sighted decisions to give us that enjoyable 2023-2024 season.

Part of our problem is the fact we don't have a lot of cap space to be adding the types of players that will make a meaningful impact on the lineup, so it costs more to have teams retain or take back money....so its harder to get good value for your 2nd rounders.

Good point.

 

[ManVanFan]

91% that they still make the playoffs.

 

[ManVanFan]

If the cost is as marginal as the Zadorov trade, I can definitely see it, but I don't think you'll see another Lindholm trade (outside chance of maybe something like Provorov). They're clearly looking for longer-term pieces like the Hronek trade with some element of team control on a young-ish player. I don't think that's fully a "make the playoffs" move if you're securing a top-four, puck-moving defenseman in their early-to-mid 20s.

I think context would be a make playoffs move. If they are adding it today. I'd say yes it's to make the playoffs. Which assets they use to acquire could make it a make playoffs move.

Hronek was a win now move but not a make playoffs move because to me it was extra assets and a future move. As I said if they give up a top 3 prospect or a 1st for someone. I gotta call that a make playoffs move.

 

[Canucker]

I've maintained all along that OEL should have been bought out this past summer but there are some poster(s) who believe that changing the culture last season had overarching importance. Perhaps if we kept OEL we would have missed the playoffs, had another lottery pick, and not attract a free agent like DeBrusk. Or maybe we would have.

I enjoyed last season very much but we didn't win the Cup and we did make short-sighted decisions to give us that enjoyable 2023-2024 season.

Yeah, I (like many of us) have a tough time with the short sighted decisions...but I (usually) understand them...I really didn't like trading Brzustewicz but it turned out to be a reasonable trade for what we were trying to accomplish so I didn't lose any sleep over it...I'll be disappointed if we trade D-Petey, Willander or Kudryavtsev, but if we get back something that has a meaningful impact for the team going forward it becomes easier to stomach. Where I have a bigger problem is the self inflicted damage where management spends cap space or assets on things to correct the problems they made in the first place....typically things you thought were a mistakes or missteps to begin with (ie not trading Hoglander when his value was highest, signing Forbort and Desharnais instead of trying to find a legit top 4 defenseman)...not as egregious as the prior administration, but errors nonetheless. Either way, I just hope that if they spend the assets we all hate to see go, that they get something substantive in return...because I really don't think we're too far away from being one of the best teams in the league.

 

[StickShift]

I enjoyed last season very much but we didn't win the Cup and we did make short-sighted decisions to give us that enjoyable 2023-2024 season.

I think they made extremely smart bets last season to go for it. They came within one goal of beating the Edmonton Oilers who went on to be one-goal away from beating the Florida Panthers.

They made extremely good calls—they were just blindsided by Pettersson no-showing and Demko being injured. Had either not occurred they may have been Stanley Cup champions.

Those are the sorts of lessons that lead them to signing Lankinen this year and possibly trading Pettersson before they lose all leverage.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Things are off right now.

But hopefully the Nucks can take advantage of NYR or Buffalo and pry KAM or Byram away for relatively cheap.

 

[Peter Griffin]

Things are off right now.

But hopefully the Nucks can take advantage of NYR or Buffalo and pry KAM or Byram away for relatively cheap.

What would be considered relatively cheap?

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

What would be considered relatively cheap?

B grade prospect and any pick outside 1st round.

 

[Peter Griffin]

B grade prospect and any pick outside 1st round.

Ah, so unrealistic, at least in Byram’s case. Never know with Drury.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Ah, so unrealistic, at least in Byram’s case. Never know with Drury.

I'm fine giving up a 1st. But given the desperation of both teams, I'd be pushing for 2nd or protected 1st.

 

[Peter Griffin]

I'm fine giving up a 1st. But given the desperation of both teams, I'd be pushing for 2nd or protected 1st.

Why is either team desperate to trade those guys for B prospects and a late 1st though?

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Why is either team desperate to trade those guys for B prospects and a late 1st though?

I'm not saying they will. I'm saying neither team has any leverage given neither team can win a game, players want Drury out and Adams is not a good GM.

 

[krutovsdonut]

Feels like a mini TDL. Has it always been like this? I actually cannot recall what it was like from previous years.

it's never been like this.

 

[Vector]

This is the first time the Christmas trade freeze has ever been meaningful.

 

[thecupismine]

Very curious if they end up assigning a bunch of guys to the AHL right after the game tonight to accrue maximum cap space during the roster freeze.

Also intrigued to see what Alvin eventually cooks up. There's very clearly a wing opening in the top 6 as well, and I'm interested to see what kind of player management wants to see in that spot.