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

[ManVanFan]

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.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859649738561421405

 

[Bleach Clean]

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.

Those aspects will improve over time, yes, but I think it's more of an acumen thing. Leverage and position will be learned and then he will force his way back up even if he is weak/young, imo.

 

[ManVanFan]

Maybe see if Boston wants DeBrusk back as well.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859663465369174189

He's just getting going.

 

[sting101]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859649738561421405

So basically he needs to stop being such a puxxy.

You could see the confidence erode as he realized he was gonna have to pay a price

 

[bossram]

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.

That's fine. I don't think he can play that role and didn't think that last season either. He definitely can't this season.

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.

You're using the narrative ascribed to Myers by others (appeal to authority) as justification for re-signing him. I think that's wrong. I don't care about his "unique skillset" if the actual product on-ice is not good.

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.

That's fine. You asked what I would do. I answered.

 

[PavelBure10]

If Boston retained I would really have no problem taking back Zadorov. The Canucks look lost without him. Myers, Soucy, Desharnais and Juulsen all suck this season. Desharnais was supposed to be the sneaky replacement but he is a ticking time bomb with the puck, with very little toughness for his size. Zads was tight with everyone in the locker room, a leader, provided toughness, great defensively, and developed a bit of a scoring touch in the playoffs. Highly entertaining player to watch as a fan. I'd welcome him back with open arms, but then again I'd welcome almost any of Bostons defensemen to our team. I really like Lohrei, he has a lot of untapped potential at both ends of the ice. I wonder if Hoglander would entice them enough to pull the trigger?!

 

[mathonwy]

Seravalli's interview with Halford and Brough.

Miller

• Feedback he got was he needs a physical and mental break
• Seems to be a shoulder injury
• Definitely a mental component to this
• Doesn’t think the benching had anything to do with his absence
• Can’t recall a comparable situation

Marcus Pettersson

• Thinks the connections between the Canucks and Pettersson have been overblown
• A few years ago the Canucks front office had interest in him
• Doesn’t think the interest is totally dead
• Mandate from Tocchet has been to get defencemen that move the puck more efficiently
• Pettersson defends well and is a good #4 defenceman but struggles in making a quality pass
• Pettersson will get traded at some point this season but doesn’t see him as a Canuck

Mike Matheson

• Best fit on his trade board for the Canucks is Mike Matheson; pure speculation
• Doesn’t think people recognize how good he’s been over the last 100 games
• Canadiens don’t want to move him but his value is higher than it ever will be

St. Louis Blues

• Are waiting to get Robert Thomas back to see if things improve
• Doesn’t think that their management thinks this is a playoff team or a contender
• Is open to a lot of different things
• Haven’t gone far down the trade path yet

Boston Bruins

• Montgomery going into the year without a contract extension drew attention from around the league
• Cam Neely ignited the Jeremy Swayman situation
• Seems that Don Sweeney has the support of Cam Neely
• Zadorov and Lindholm have really struggled
• Swayman’s play will improve
• Thinks Joe Sacco is pretty-interim
• Don’t have any plans for a coaching search right now

Senators, Sabres, & Red Wings

• Has been a grind for these teams
• Have all tried to exit their rebuilds in different ways
• Red Wings tried to pay for big name free agents
• Sabres acquired all the young players
• Senators are a hybrid of the Sabres and Red Wings
• None of these strategies have worked
• Red Wings are the team in the biggest struggle of these three
• Doesn’t think it will be a long time before the Canadiens pass the Red Wings; can’t trade their way out of this

David Jiricek

• On Seravalli’s trade targets board
• Situation has gone sideways on a number of different levels
• Has been through multiple GMs and coaches
• Is being sat so Jack Johnson, Jake Christiansen, and Dante Fabbro can play
• Assigned to the AHL
• Doesn’t have a lot to prove at the AHL
• Has a pretty healthy dose of skepticism that they’ll make this work with Columbus

Thanks for these.

 

[Ernie]

Zadorov didn't actually have great possession numbers in Vancouver. Sure he'd be an upgrade over Soucy - Myers but I'm not sure you want him for 6 years. On the other hand, if we're looking at the cap going up $8m per season for the next while and the Bruins eat some salary his cap hit starts looking more like a 4-5 D in a few years.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Cue up the trade chatter on Lekk since he was sent down.

 

[Vector]

My second article for CanucksArmy is up. I took a look to see how the Canucks could make a trade in the coming weeks while still maintaining enough capspace to make moves at the deadline. I used Michael Matheson as an example but could easily do the same thing (Hoglander + Desharnais for Defenceman with extension) for others.

 

[Diversification]

My second article for CanucksArmy is up. I took a look to see how the Canucks could make a trade in the coming weeks while still maintaining enough capspace to make moves at the deadline. I used Michael Matheson as an example but could easily do the same thing (Hoglander + Desharnais for Defenceman with extension) for others.

We currently have $420k in capspace? Shorty approves!

 

[F A N]

That's fine. I don't think he can play that role and didn't think that last season either. He definitely can't this season.

But he did play that role last season and performed adequately. Do you disagree?

You're using the narrative ascribed to Myers by others (appeal to authority) as justification for re-signing him. I think that's wrong. I don't care about his "unique skillset" if the actual product on-ice is not good.

That's not what I am doing here. But I think Myers' skillset (which includes him being a RHD) motivated management to first keep him then re-sign him. Do you disagree?

That's fine. You asked what I would do. I answered.

Yes but the point remains that options are limited when it comes to signing an upgrade to Myers for similar money and similar term. The upgrade possibilities cost more.

 

[Vector]

We currently have $420k in capspace? Shorty approves!

It actually rose from $420k to $467k after Lekkerimaki was sent down and Sasson recalled. For a brief moment in time, Shorty would have been thrilled!

 

[ephmrl]

Bringing back Bear, Schenn or even Zadorov is not going to transform the defense in the slightest.

If the Canucks are going to be spending assets they should be going big game hunting and targeting players such as Sanheim, Parayko, or Matheson.

 

[arttk]

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

that's a time problem, usually that gets better as time passes and the human being grows.

what comments?

he was interviewed about why he didn't sign with us and he talked about disrespect or whatever.

 

[Jerry the great]

he was interviewed about why he didn't sign with us and he talked about disrespect or whatever.

“Money is great, but I want to win,” said Zadorov. Throughout the article, it is also stated that it wasn’t just the Canucks and Bruins that made offers. One of Zadorov’s former teams, the Colorado Avalanche, entered the mix. However, the Russian defenceman decided to take his talents to Boston. “The Bruins were the best option, both in terms of hockey, which is always a priority, and family.”

Later in the interview, Zadorov revealed that the Canucks were his “first choice” in free agency, but that contract negotiations never materialized. “We disagreed on the details before the playoffs and postponed the negotiations,” Zadorov said. “After the playoffs, when I was in Vancouver, we tried to reach an agreement, but unfortunately, it didn’t work.”
And while an extension was never met between Zadorov and Vancouver, there were no hard feelings towards the Canadian market or his former head coach. “Tocchet has a great system and is a great teacher who helps young players develop their skills,” Zadorov said. “His analysis is excellent, and he understands how to prepare his players for each game.”

Nikita Zadorov reveals Canucks were his “first choice” in NHL free agency

The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-getting-gr...

canucksarmy.com

 

[MS]

I'm pretty sure both the Canucks and Zadorov would want a do-over on that negotiation if they had a chance and both parties would prefer that he was here where he was a great fit ... but that ship has kind of sailed and there's really no way to structure a deal to bring him back.

 

[arttk]

“Money is great, but I want to win,” said Zadorov. Throughout the article, it is also stated that it wasn’t just the Canucks and Bruins that made offers. One of Zadorov’s former teams, the Colorado Avalanche, entered the mix. However, the Russian defenceman decided to take his talents to Boston. “The Bruins were the best option, both in terms of hockey, which is always a priority, and family.”

Later in the interview, Zadorov revealed that the Canucks were his “first choice” in free agency, but that contract negotiations never materialized. “We disagreed on the details before the playoffs and postponed the negotiations,” Zadorov said. “After the playoffs, when I was in Vancouver, we tried to reach an agreement, but unfortunately, it didn’t work.”
And while an extension was never met between Zadorov and Vancouver, there were no hard feelings towards the Canadian market or his former head coach. “Tocchet has a great system and is a great teacher who helps young players develop their skills,” Zadorov said. “His analysis is excellent, and he understands how to prepare his players for each game.”

Nikita Zadorov reveals Canucks were his “first choice” in NHL free agency

The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-getting-gr...

canucksarmy.com

Oh i thought he gave another interview where he shit talked us more than that.

I'm pretty sure both the Canucks and Zadorov would want a do-over on that negotiation if they had a chance and both parties would prefer that he was here where he was a great fit ... but that ship has kind of sailed and there's really no way to structure a deal to bring him back.

He is on a 5Mx6 contract which is kinda what we ended up offering anyways. I think the issue is more about assets that Boston expects.

 

[Jerry the great]

I'm pretty sure both the Canucks and Zadorov would want a do-over on that negotiation if they had a chance and both parties would prefer that he was here where he was a great fit ... but that ship has kind of sailed and there's really no way to structure a deal to bring him back.

could see it at the deadline if we can accrue enough space and it would mean moving off Soucy in the summer, but it's obviously highly unlikely.

edit: And i expect Boston to be neck deep in denial for years

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

I'm pretty sure both the Canucks and Zadorov would want a do-over on that negotiation if they had a chance and both parties would prefer that he was here where he was a great fit ... but that ship has kind of sailed and there's really no way to structure a deal to bring him back.

Just out of curiosity, is there a comparable circumstance where a player has left a team, signed a big money deal as a key acquisition, and then been promptly shipped back to his old team?

There's something scratching at my brain saying there's a comparable or two, but I'm drawing a blank. At any rate, it's rare and/or doesn't happen.

 

[bossram]

But he did play that role last season and performed adequately. Do you disagree?

I think he was passable. I would have preferred him further down the lineup and said that last season too. Again, I already acknowledged last season was the one season he was passable in a top-four role during his Canuck tenure. This isn't the gotcha you think it is.

That's not what I am doing here. But I think Myers' skillset (which includes him being a RHD) motivated management to first keep him then re-sign him. Do you disagree?

It is what you're doing. Yes, I do think it was part of the reason he was re-signed. That isn't my point. My point, like I said already, I think Allvin was wrong.

Yes but the point remains that options are limited when it comes to signing an upgrade to Myers for similar money and similar term. The upgrade possibilities cost more.

Given what we've seen so far, and given how poorly that pair has been, it's hard to imagine even a more cost-effective alternative performing worse.

Again, you asked a question. I answered with a very plausible option.

 

[MS]

Just out of curiosity, is there a comparable circumstance where a player has left a team, signed a big money deal as a key acquisition, and then been promptly shipped back to his old team?

There's something scratching at my brain saying there's a comparable or two, but I'm drawing a blank. At any rate, it's rare and/or doesn't happen.

There was the Marty McSorley trade to Pittsburgh back in the 1990s that the teams basically un-did midway through the first season.

I feel like there was a mid-level UFA this happened with about 10 years ago but I can't think of the team or the name.

 

[valkynax]

Just out of curiosity, is there a comparable circumstance where a player has left a team, signed a big money deal as a key acquisition, and then been promptly shipped back to his old team?

There's something scratching at my brain saying there's a comparable or two, but I'm drawing a blank. At any rate, it's rare and/or doesn't happen.

I got the same feeling. It feels like a recent thing that happened too but I just cannot think of one specific case.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

There was the Marty McSorley trade to Pittsburgh back in the 1990s that the teams basically un-did midway through the first season.

I feel like there was a mid-level UFA this happened with about 10 years ago but I can't think of the team or the name.

I found a few examples of guys either being traded back after a full season, or signing back as a free agent (Alex Tanguay, Patrick Marleau, Peter Forsberg, Matt Cullen, etc.) - some as many as 3 times with the same team.

But I don't think there's a direct comparable for a situation like this where the guy gets traded back so quickly after being a marquee acquisition.

 

[Regress2TheMeme]

McDonagh took a bit longer to return to Tampa but it seems like a similar situation. Tampa moved off him because he was expensive and old and just couldn't replace what he brought to the team.