Grub's Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | Looking for a D-Man to Save Us

[SeawaterOnIce]

Let’s go one step further.

Desharnais + Hoglander for Zadorov 33% retained.

Should work out cap wise also, seems pretty fair.

The only issue is, what do you do with Brannstrom? Can he play the right side? Getting mixed reports.

I don’t think we should trade Soucy just yet

Maybe see if Boston wants DeBrusk back as well.

 

[Vector]

Boston Bruins

• Needed to see a pushback after a bad loss
• Uses the Canucks playing hard against the Rangers, even in a losing cause, after the JT Miller news came out
• Some people believe the Montgomery was as unsure about the Bruins as the Bruins were unsure of him
• Teams scouting Trent Frederic
• Was some talk of Morgan Geekie but that was when he was scratched

Nikita Zadorov

• Suggests Zadorov back to the Canucks
• Not sure if possible
• Not sure of anyone’s interest in it
• Calls it a good fit and that the Canucks miss him

Morgan Frost

• Scratched if 4 of the last 5 games
• Not a complainer
• Blackhawks make sense for him

Nashville Predators

• Teams want the Predators three 1sts that they own in the upcoming draft
• No indication the Predators are interested in moving them
• Looking for a centre and top-4 defenceman

Centre Trade Market

• Blackhawks, Predators, and Maple Leafs looking for centres
• Blackhawks & Predators have more trade capital, cap space, and are willing to make a trade right now

Christian Dvorak

• Salary is higher than his cap hit

Yanni Gourde

• Production and ice-time are down
• Kraken love him
• No indication they are looking to move him

Injury Reporting

• If the league is going to be all-in on gambling then it needs to be transparent with injuries
• Players hate the idea of greater transparency
• Arguments are “Its(sic) private, none of your business” to “I’m going to get targeted if opponents know”
• Players get very angry when reporters ask around about injuries
• Doesn’t see a change from “upper body, lower body”

Miller

• Doesn’t expect him to return until after the road trip
• Dec. 3 at the earliest
• Is as much about burnout as anything else

2025-26 Salary Cap

• Conversations about an increased cap haven’t happened yet but will
• If there is no adjustment for next year, will see a major jump in the 2026-27 season
• Is sure there will be a return to a percentage split of revenue in the next CBA

Expansion

• New NHL teams are likely
• Rumours of a new QMJHL team in New England

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

Let’s go one step further.

Desharnais + Hoglander for Zadorov 33% retained.

Should work out cap wise also, seems pretty fair.

The only issue is, what do you do with Brannstrom? Can he play the right side? Getting mixed reports.

I don’t think we should trade Soucy just yet

He has full ntc. I highly doubt he is getting traded. I do think if they could trade him he would be gone already.

 

[barriers]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859643918100595150

 

[MS]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859643918100595150

Needed to happen to get a stronger, more structured player in the lineup. A bit surprised it wasn't Aman but teams would have had a field day on Lekkerimaki with last change on the road trip.

We've been outscored 5-1 with him on the ice to this point, and that's with the ability to hide him with last change.

 

[Vector]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859643918100595150

MY (AHL) BOY!

 

[Vector]

Needed to happen to get a stronger, more structured player in the lineup. A bit surprised it wasn't Aman but teams would have had a field day on Lekkerimaki with last change on the road trip.

We've been outscored 5-1 with him on the ice to this point, and that's with the ability to hide him with last change.

This is exactly what Tocchet and Allvin have been talking about as well. Lekkerimaki got rewarded for a good string of games with a taste of the NHL. Now they will do the same with Sasson.

 

[Deeds26]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859643918100595150

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859647630177145097

Posted in the GTD thread for Saturday, but will post again here

 

[Peen]

The Zadorov thing. Would have offered him max 4.5x4.

His buyout isn’t that bad in year 5, but make no mistake, even if he’s retained down to 4.5, that’s an 8 year deal (4 years of a $1MM buyout) you’re acquiring for a guy who played ten games at a second pairing level and that’s it. And he isn’t playing for a contract anymore.

Does he fit? Absolutely. Does the contract fit? Huge liability.

 

[Vector]

The Zadorov thing. Would have offered him max 4.5x4.

His buyout isn’t that bad in year 5, but make no mistake, even if he’s retained down to 4.5, that’s an 8 year deal (4 years of a $1MM buyout) you’re acquiring for a guy who played ten games at a second pairing level and that’s it. And he isn’t playing for a contract anymore.

Does he fit? Absolutely. Does the contract fit? Huge liability.

Yeah there would have to be quite a bit of retention and you'd think that would be a non-starter for Boston or a 3rd party team.

 

[Peen]

Yeah there would have to be quite a bit of retention and you'd think that would be a non-starter for Boston or a 3rd party team.

The alternative for them is that if they’re pretty ready for a reset, 5 million per year is a lot and maybe they’d rather just eat 500k for 6 years. $3MM over 6 years vs themselves doing the 8 year thing with the later buyout.

Never know.

 

[Snatcher Demko]

At this point, it's time to move on from Zad. Use assets and cap space to get a legit #3/4 who can play 21+ minutes and be good in all three zones.

 

[wonton15]

I’m a fan of Sasson. He can carve out a NHL career if he focuses on playing like a dog and the little things like faceoffs/PK utility.

I would not trade back for Zadorov unless there was big retention. Not even for $4.5M. If they take something like Desharnais back and we get a team to retain like $1.5M…. Maybe.

 

[Jerry the great]

I’m a fan of Sasson. He can carve out a NHL career if he focuses on playing like a dog and the little things like faceoffs/PK utility.

I would not trade back for Zadorov unless there was big retention. Not even for $4.5M. If they take something like Desharnais back and we get a team to retain like $1.5M…. Maybe.

why are they retaining?

 

[wonton15]

why are they retaining?

It’s not unrealistic if they retain a small amount like 500K to get out of the contract, and we pay a third party team like San Jose to retain another 750K or something.

I don’t think this has any real possibility though — I think Friedman is just yapping.

 

[supercanuck]

Zadorov has a NMC this season. I could be wrong but he doesn't seem like he would waive to come back after feeling disrespected in contract negotiations earlier.

 

[thecupismine]

The only way the Bruins are getting rid of Zadorov this early is if Sweeney gets fired and the new GM wants to cut bait.

While the Canucks inability to replace him in the bottom 4 has been discussed ad naseum, I think they miss his ability to keep things light in the locker room & the media just as much right now.

 

[Jerry the great]

It’s not unrealistic if they retain a small amount like 500K to get out of the contract, and we pay a third party team like San Jose to retain another 750K or something.

I don’t think this has any real possibility though — I think Friedman is just yapping.

Zadorov has not been a problem in Boston though. he's been their best PK defender, he's physical, he's playing 2nd pair minutes. With the cap projected to rise significantly over the next few years, the idea they would need to retain salary seems unlikely to me. IMO there are serious problems n Boston (no #1 C, horrible drafting since McAvoy/Swayman), but he hasn't been one of them.

The only way the Bruins are getting rid of Zadorov this early is if Sweeney gets fired and the new GM wants to cut bait.

While the Canucks inability to replace him in the bottom 4 has been discussed ad naseum, I think they miss his ability to keep things light in the locker room & the media just as much right now.

yeah, Sweeny just bought himself until the end of the year by throwing Monty into the volcano.

 

[ManVanFan]

Morgan Frost

• Scratched if 4 of the last 5 games
• Not a complainer
• Blackhawks make sense for him

For cheap, another version of Pius Suter except the 40 point version not the 30.

Seems to be a lot of unhappy players in Philly. Brink is always in the dog house. Farabee needs change of scenery. Tyson Foerster another underperforming young gun.

Might be a potential cheap guy in there somewhere.

 

[arttk]

The Zadorov thing. Would have offered him max 4.5x4.

His buyout isn’t that bad in year 5, but make no mistake, even if he’s retained down to 4.5, that’s an 8 year deal (4 years of a $1MM buyout) you’re acquiring for a guy who played ten games at a second pairing level and that’s it. And he isn’t playing for a contract anymore.

Does he fit? Absolutely. Does the contract fit? Huge liability.

assuming that he burned some bridges with his public comments about us

 

[Jerry the great]

assuming that he burned some bridges with his public comments about us

what comments?

 

[Bleach Clean]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859643918100595150

This was expected. He has to work out his 1v1 play at a lower level. Body positioning should be the focus.

Lekkerimaki is an NHLer. He has the intelligence and pace required. Needs experience on NA ice. Very encouraged by what I've seen.

----------

Re: Friedman/Zadorov: Canucks dodged a bullet by not re-signing him. Stay out of the line of fire.

Re: Bear: He's a better option than Juuslen, offers the roster optionality and could shift Forbort's money around. No one is expecting a world beater.

 

[arttk]

This was expected. He has to work out his 1v1 play at a lower level. Body positioning should be the focus.

Lekkerimaki is an NHLer. He has the intelligence and pace required. Needs experience on NA ice. Very encouraged by what I've seen.

----------

Re: Friedman/Zadorov: Canucks dodged a bullet by not re-signing him. Stay out of the line of fire.

Needs to spend more time in the gym and get faster and stronger, more of a time issue rather than a player is not NHL caliber issue, super encouraging.

 

[Jerry the great]

Needs to spend more time in the gym and get faster and stronger, more of a time issue rather than a player is not NHL caliber issue, super encouraging.

strength/size is a limiting factor currently, but he could get there over the next couple of years.

 

[F A N]

You think he can play in a top-four. I do not. I've also said a contender absolutely should not have Myers in the top-four.

I think Myers can play a #4 role similar to the role he played last season. I think he did pretty well in the playoffs last season as well. But as mentioned he will be 35 by the time playoffs roll around and shouldn't be relied upon to play heavy defensive minute without help.

Again, I do not think he can play top-four minutes. I get that you're making an appeal to authority with the "unique skillset" and "GMs desire him" angle, and that's why he's been able to get paid the money he's gotten in his career. But let's be frank. The GMs were wrong, he's not that good, and his actual on-ice contribution has never lived up to the narrative.

I'm not appealing to any authority. I'm just using frequently used language. There are few Dman who are 6'6"+ who can skate and move the puck as well as Myers while also playing a physical game. This is just a fact. Zadorov has a unique skill set as well because of of his combination of size, skating, physical, game, and ability to move the puck. There are far more guys like Forbort (shorter) who doesn't skate and move the puck as well.

I think they should have pursued a top-four D regardless of Willander's presence in the system. My preference was Tanev and I would have given him the cap-circumventing LTIRetirement deal he got from TOR. As he ages, Willander could naturally pull minutes away from him.

I think the plan was to bring the same group back for at least another year. I wouldn't have given Tanev that contract but we don't have to agree.