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

[Just A Bit Outside]

Hello, Sabres fan coming in peace. Been scrolling this thread in light of Friedman’s spitballing.

Wanted to let you all know that there is zero desire in Buffalo for futures-based trades. It makes no sense for us in either the short or long term. So suggestions of Byram for picks and spare parts are likely dead on arrival from our POV.

Fine. We will cave and trade you Hoglander and Desharnais.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

While agreed, the main idea is that Kevyn Adams then does what the Canucks did when they traded Horvat; flip those assets for another player. It's far from an ideal fit and makes the Canucks a not very good trading partner.

That assumes (1) Kevyn Adams is capable of that, which he is not, and (2) there is a wide array of available roster upgrades without trade protection, which there is not.

On our end, and our GM has said as much, we have basically ruled out any player with any trade protection (and who could blame them?). That greatly diminishes the available options.

It’s why it’s more likely a guy like Byram gets a two-year deal to walk him to UFA than he gets moved for, say, the 24th ish overall pick and other futures at this point.

 

[Peter Griffin]

Hello, Sabres fan coming in peace. Been scrolling this thread in light of Friedman’s spitballing.

Wanted to let you all know that there is zero desire in Buffalo for futures-based trades. It makes no sense for us in either the short or long term. So suggestions of Byram for picks and spare parts are likely dead on arrival from our POV.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Well this has been a welcoming experience. Nice meeting you all.

 

[Vector]

That assumes (1) Kevyn Adams is capable of that, which he is not, and (2) there is a wide array of available roster upgrades without trade protection, which there is not.

On our end, and our GM has said as much, we have basically ruled out any player with any trade protection (and who could blame them?). That greatly diminishes the available options.

It’s why it’s more likely a guy like Byram gets a two-year deal to walk him to UFA than he gets moved for, say, the 24th ish overall pick and other futures at this point.

I think the bolded is also part of why people, myself included, are looking at junky futures package for a player like Byram.

According to Puckpedia, Byram does not reach UFA until 2028 so a three year deal would walk him to UFA.

Even though I've written about him and am working on an article, I don't actually expect him to get dealt to the Canucks or any team offering a futures package. I wouldn't be completely shocked but it certainly isn't what the Sabres would need.

 

[Jerry the great]

Well this has been a welcoming experience. Nice meeting you all.

do you think Pegula's pep talk in Montreal was sincere, and he actually believes the solutions to the teams problems are in the room, or something else?

 

[Bgav]

No rumors today ?

 

[Nuckles]

Clearly K’Andre Miller is being traded for Hoglander, Desharnais, and a 2nd

Link to tweet

(trying this for the people who cant see twitter embeds)

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

do you think Pegula's pep talk in Montreal was sincere, and he actually believes the solutions to the teams problems are in the room, or something else?

Sorry in advance for the very long answer.

The reason our drought has extended so long, primarily, is because ownership is too involved.

Jason Botterill wasn’t fired because he was an inept GM (which he was). He was fired because he refused to fire a bunch of people in the hockey ops department during COVID. So he was axed and then Adams took the job and did what he was told. (Adams, btw, was running the youth hockey program next door at the time). These firings happened (according to a leaked PowerPoint presentation) to “preserve the lifestyle” of ownership.

Adams has kept his job because he’s a “yes man” for Pegula, which Botterill was not. Pegula has clearly told him he can’t spend to the cap, but he’s not allowed to say that publicly so he just says “the Pegulas have given us every available resource to win.”

I also believe Adams has convinced him that the team *cannot* be improved due to, to quote Adams, “palm trees and taxes.” So Adams gets to keep a job he admits he cannot do, because he says the owner money and does what the owner wants.

So, do I believe what he said is what he meant? Yes, I believe that it is true that there is no meaningful change coming in the hockey ops department, and I am very skeptical that any meaningful player transactions are coming, either. Pegula already has to pay Granato not to work for him, and he just recently stopped paying Ralph Krueger to not work for him.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

No rumors today ?

Just waiting for Friedman to say something like "this is just in my brain, nowhere else, but I wonder how people in Vancouver would react if Rick Tocchet were to just take a giant dump in both Pettersson and Miller's morning coffee", then sit back and watch that mother burn.

 

[Vector]

No rumors today ?

Thursdays are the only day on my rumour schedule note that is blank.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Sorry in advance for the very long answer.

The reason our drought has extended so long, primarily, is because ownership is too involved.

Jason Botterill wasn’t fired because he was an inept GM (which he was). He was fired because he refused to fire a bunch of people in the hockey ops department during COVID. So he was axed and then Adams took the job and did what he was told. (Adams, btw, was running the youth hockey program next door at the time). These firings happened (according to a leaked PowerPoint presentation) to “preserve the lifestyle” of ownership.

Adams has kept his job because he’s a “yes man” for Pegula, which Botterill was not. Pegula has clearly told him he can’t spend to the cap, but he’s not allowed to say that publicly so he just says “the Pegulas have given us every available resource to win.”

I also believe Adams has convinced him that the team *cannot* be improved due to, to quote Adams, “palm trees and taxes.” So Adams gets to keep a job he admits he cannot do, because he says the owner money and does what the owner wants.

So, do I believe what he said is what he meant? Yes, I believe that it is true that there is no meaningful change coming in the hockey ops department, and I am very skeptical that any meaningful player transactions are coming, either. Pegula already has to pay Granato not to work for him, and he just recently stopped paying Ralph Krueger to not work for him.

Yikes...this sounds like all kinds of shades of Jim Benning and Aquilini. You and your compatriots have my sympathies, you really do. Always had a soft spot for our expansion brethren.

 

[Vector]

Just waiting for Friedman to say something like "this is just in my brain, nowhere else, but I wonder how people in Vancouver would react if Rick Tocchet were to just take a giant dump in both Pettersson and Miller's morning coffee", then sit back and watch that mother burn.

Right now he's just reporting that the Maple Leaf's 4th string goalie is starting tonight.

And I am 100% not joking.

 

[thecupismine]

The Canucks play two more games before the roster freeze is lifted (both home games): Dec. 21st and Dec 23rd. Recalls are allowed so if there is an injury, it's possible. They need to be at a minimum of 20 players with only Sasson, PDG, and Karlsson being waiver-exempt. So from the roster right now, I can really only see PDG & Karlsson sent down for the majority of the roster freeze.

Honestly completely forgot there were games on the 21st and 23rd, my comment makes very little sense now

The Byram talk is interesting, given Kevyn Adams incompetence it might take Alvin maneuvering a 3 way trade to make that kind of deal happen.

I have no idea what they’d want at this point though - the problem there is the culture is rotten, and 1-2 vets isn’t going to change that. They do need more relevant depth in the bottom 6 too, but again, who?

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Thursdays are the only day on my rumour schedule note that is blank.

I got you covered today:
-Vancouver still working the phones
-Were possibly involved in discussions to get Kakko, but a deal wasn't reached.
-Vancouver will probably make a move before the trade deadline
-Still wondering whether or not the Canucks make a huge splash that involves a core player
-Word making the rounds that Francesco Aquilini is perplexed as to why Patrick Allvin spends a fortune on shampoo


Pettersson:
-Annoyed with a certain poster on HFBoards who keeps posting awful trade proposals that send him to Buffalo.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Yikes...this sounds like all kinds of shades of Jim Benning and Aquilini. You and your compatriots have my sympathies, you really do. Always had a soft spot for our expansion brethren.

Thanks. It’s especially annoying considering the Bills basically print money and get unlimited resources. We are paying Stefon Diggs $31 million this year *not* to play for us. Ever since Pegula bought the Bills, the Sabres have become the ugly stepchild.

 

[thecupismine]

Thanks. It’s especially annoying considering the Bills basically print money and get unlimited resources. We are paying Stefon Diggs $31 million this year *not* to play for us. Ever since Pegula bought the Bills, the Sabres have become the ugly stepchild.

My condolences, that’s absolutely miserable from a fan perspective. Hopefully you get a reprieve at some point.

I still remember my wife being flabbergasted the day I cracked a beer (I almost never drink) when Benning was fired. She had no clue how much of a diehard fan I was because we met smack in the middle of his reign of error, and all his stupidity crushed my soul.

I can only imagine what it’s like to have to endure that kind of management for twice as long as we did.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

My condolences, that’s absolutely miserable from a fan perspective. Hopefully you get a reprieve at some point.

I still remember my wife being flabbergasted the day I cracked a beer (I almost never drink) when Benning was fired. She had no clue how much of a diehard fan I was because we met smack in the middle of his reign of error, and all his stupidity crushed my soul.

I can only imagine what it’s like to have to endure that kind of management for twice as long as we did.

Oh yeah, it’s pretty hopeless. Playoffs are unlikely while Pegula owns the team.

But I will say that Josh Allen makes everything better lol.

 

[valkynax]

Oh yeah, it’s pretty hopeless. Playoffs are unlikely while Pegula owns the team.

But I will say that Josh Allen makes everything better lol.

If our team can make it at least once with a little bitch ass owner like Aquaman, you guys can too.

 

[krutovsdonut]

Hello, Sabres fan coming in peace. Been scrolling this thread in light of Friedman’s spitballing.

Wanted to let you all know that there is zero desire in Buffalo for futures-based trades. It makes no sense for us in either the short or long term. So suggestions of Byram for picks and spare parts are likely dead on arrival from our POV.

making a major hockey trade need for need is like threading a needle in the cap era. your season is also a write off.

so banking picks or prospects now to go shopping at the tdl or the draft is not a bad idea, especially if you hope those assets go up in value between now and then.

for example, we traded horvat for futures then one of those futures for hronek and thus managed to get a top pair rhd.

you may well have to do the same to get where you want.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

I think everyone's dying to know what happens by 5pm tomorrow.

 

[Vector]

I think everyone's dying to know what happens by 5pm tomorrow.

Why that time?

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

Why that time?

There's a trade freeze tomorrow and that's usually when Chef Allvin cooks.

 

[Deeds26]

There's a trade freeze tomorrow and that's usually when Chef Allvin cooks.

The trade freeze is tonight......

 

[Jerry the great]

Sorry in advance for the very long answer.

The reason our drought has extended so long, primarily, is because ownership is too involved.

Jason Botterill wasn’t fired because he was an inept GM (which he was). He was fired because he refused to fire a bunch of people in the hockey ops department during COVID. So he was axed and then Adams took the job and did what he was told. (Adams, btw, was running the youth hockey program next door at the time). These firings happened (according to a leaked PowerPoint presentation) to “preserve the lifestyle” of ownership.

Adams has kept his job because he’s a “yes man” for Pegula, which Botterill was not. Pegula has clearly told him he can’t spend to the cap, but he’s not allowed to say that publicly so he just says “the Pegulas have given us every available resource to win.”

I also believe Adams has convinced him that the team *cannot* be improved due to, to quote Adams, “palm trees and taxes.” So Adams gets to keep a job he admits he cannot do, because he says the owner money and does what the owner wants.

So, do I believe what he said is what he meant? Yes, I believe that it is true that there is no meaningful change coming in the hockey ops department, and I am very skeptical that any meaningful player transactions are coming, either. Pegula already has to pay Granato not to work for him, and he just recently stopped paying Ralph Krueger to not work for him.

The idea that Pegula is a cheapskate seems somewhat inconsistent with his willingness to go along with offering long duration, big $$ contracts to somewhat unproven players.

Perhaps the whole palm trees and taxes talk is just part of the spiel Adams had been giving to ownership to get them on board with the strategy of handing out these contracts before they were really earned, hoping the recipient's play would level up and there'd be a bunch of surplus value contracts on the books.

I wonder who the driving force behind their strategy has been?