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[valkynax]

I swear that as we get closer to the deadline, Hoglander, Desharnais, and a 2nd is about to become our new Raymond, Ballard and a 2nd

I've had it up to HERE with all the disparaging remarks from you goddamn peons against one of the best ass checkers in the league!

 

[LemonSauceD]

after xmas probably.


i rather have him than bains tbh.

I mean I wouldn’t mind trading Juulsen for MacEwen (once Desharnais is healthy) or something if he passes waivers. MacEwen would be a nice physical presence for Abbotsford and can produce at that level. Just gotta sell Ottawa on Juulsen lol.

Abbotsford desperately need a tough presence up front over there.

 

[Peen]

Drance & Sat recently talked about how VAN does not want to pay premiums for guys who, come playoff time, aren't playing bigger roles than Myers and Soucy.

I think this is a targeted report at the guys who are out there right now like Matheson and Pettersson. Yeah, they'd help for different reasons, but are they taking over higher leverage minutes from either of Hughes or Soucy on the left? Nope. Would they be upgrades on Brannstrom? Absolutely. But are you giving up higher value assets for Zadorov v2? No. The higher value asset has to be a clear top four D -- and not a rental one either.

You can see how there's a justification that they move one of Kudryavtsev, Mynio, D EP if any of them are very coveted.

 

[Canucks LB]

Find it interesting that anyone think he has as much value as Willander. I personally don’t want this cry baby on the Canucks unless he is a low cost and low risk acquisition. He should step up and prove himself and talk less.

No way I trade Willander for him.

I’m not going that far, but I do agree that he’s not as valuable as Willander, who is having a great season on both ends of the ice. Willander is going to be cheaper for longer, skates like the wind, and has size on top of it.

Jiricek, though, is a player I think would be a great building block for the Canucks. I’d be willing to part with a significant prospect for the chance to acquire him.

I’m not 100% sure what the Blue Jackets are looking for, but if they’re after a similar “star” prospect, I’d be somewhat reluctant yet willing to trade someone like Lekkerimaki for Jiricek.

On paper, I feel that’s fair considering Lekkerimaki is developing at a significant pace as a prospect, while Jiricek’s progression has slowed a bit. Both are considered high-end players.

If Columbus wants more of an NHL-ready package, maybe something like Hoglander and a first-round pick for Jiricek could work. That might fit their system better, giving them a good but occasionally frustrating player in Hoglander, who has huge potential to grow as a replacement.

To keep things concise: I think about it like this.

The Canucks have Hughes and Hronek as a pairing locked in for the next half-decade.

They currently have Soucy under contract for another year after this one. While he’s struggling this season, he was excellent last year, so there’s potential for a rebound.

Myers is signed for the next three years as a veteran presence. With the cap increasing, sitting him when Jiricek and Willander are fully ready is manageable.

Brannstrom is almost guaranteed to be re-signed, considering how impressive he’s been for Vancouver this season.

Juulson is a plug, Forbort provides depth, and Desharnais is another depth option.

What does this all mean?

Here’s a look at Vancouver’s potential future if they gamble and make this move:

• Hughes - Hronek
• Brannstrom - Willander
• Soucy - Jiricek
• D-Petey - Myers

That’s a strong mix of youth, talent, depth, and size.

 

[Phrasing]

I’m not going that far, but I do agree that he’s not as valuable as Willander, who is having a great season on both ends of the ice. Willander is going to be cheaper for longer, skates like the wind, and has size on top of it.

Jiricek, though, is a player I think would be a great building block for the Canucks. I’d be willing to part with a significant prospect for the chance to acquire him.

I’m not 100% sure what the Blue Jackets are looking for, but if they’re after a similar “star” prospect, I’d be somewhat reluctant yet willing to trade someone like Lekkerimaki for Jiricek.

On paper, I feel that’s fair considering Lekkerimaki is developing at a significant pace as a prospect, while Jiricek’s progression has slowed a bit. Both are considered high-end players.

If Columbus wants more of an NHL-ready package, maybe something like Hoglander and a first-round pick for Jiricek could work. That might fit their system better, giving them a good but occasionally frustrating player in Hoglander, who has huge potential to grow as a replacement.

To keep things concise: I think about it like this.

The Canucks have Hughes and Hronek as a pairing locked in for the next half-decade.

They currently have Soucy under contract for another year after this one. While he’s struggling this season, he was excellent last year, so there’s potential for a rebound.

Myers is signed for the next three years as a veteran presence. With the cap increasing, sitting him when Jiricek and Willander are fully ready is manageable.

Brannstrom is almost guaranteed to be re-signed, considering how impressive he’s been for Vancouver this season.

Juulson is a plug, Forbort provides depth, and Desharnais is another depth option.

What does this all mean?

Here’s a look at Vancouver’s potential future if they gamble and make this move:

• Hughes - Hronek
• Brannstrom - Willander
• Soucy - Jiricek
• D-Petey - Myers

That’s a strong mix of youth, talent, depth, and size.

Jiricek struggles with NHL pace and decision-making. His feet and IQ are not there and he hasn’t shown many glimpses, if at all, of any tremendous hockey play. He’s not ready. I also think Edm and Nas are much more desperate with their roster construction to try and get cheap but high potential defenders and are likely to try and outbid the rest.

 

[Canucks LB]

Jiricek struggles with NHL pace and decision-making. His feet and IQ are not there and he hasn’t shown many glimpses, if at all, of any tremendous hockey play. He’e not ready. I also think Edm and Nas are much more desperate with their roster construction to try and get cheap but high potential defenders and are likely to try and outbid.

Yes, but this is a a player that has massive upside, somebody if he figures it out can be a cornerstone of this defense on the right side, I have seen him play a ton, the guy is good, he is badly underutilized for the jackets who have a terrible system.

This would set us up nicely for the future and the present.

Your not gonna find big 6-4 huge RHD with talent like that without paying a huge amount at his age.

 

[racerjoe]

Yes, but this is a a player that has massive upside, somebody if he figures it out can be a cornerstone of this defense on the right side, I have seen him play a ton, the guy is good, he is badly underutilized for the jackets who have a terrible system.

This would set us up nicely for the future and the present.

Your not gonna find big 6-4 huge RHD with talent like that without paying a huge amount at his age.

If you believe in Willander like you say, where is the fit in the near term? Is he going to supplant Hughes on the PP to get the pts he needs? Is he going to be more solid defensively than willander or Hronek? I wouldn’t trade Lek for him now with the way either is trending.

 

[kanucks25]

Drance & Sat recently talked about how VAN does not want to pay premiums for guys who, come playoff time, aren't playing bigger roles than Myers and Soucy.

I think this is a targeted report at the guys who are out there right now like Matheson and Pettersson. Yeah, they'd help for different reasons, but are they taking over higher leverage minutes from either of Hughes or Soucy on the left? Nope. Would they be upgrades on Brannstrom? Absolutely. But are you giving up higher value assets for Zadorov v2? No. The higher value asset has to be a clear top four D -- and not a rental one either.

You can see how there's a justification that they move one of Kudryavtsev, Mynio, D EP if any of them are very coveted.

If current Soucy is what we're gonna see all season then someone like M. Pettersson should absolutely be playing ahead of him come playoffs.

That said I agree with the overall sentiment: IMO we should be going after a bigger dog, a legit #3 type if possible.

 

[VanJack]

I’m not going that far, but I do agree that he’s not as valuable as Willander, who is having a great season on both ends of the ice. Willander is going to be cheaper for longer, skates like the wind, and has size on top of it.

Jiricek, though, is a player I think would be a great building block for the Canucks. I’d be willing to part with a significant prospect for the chance to acquire him.

I’m not 100% sure what the Blue Jackets are looking for, but if they’re after a similar “star” prospect, I’d be somewhat reluctant yet willing to trade someone like Lekkerimaki for Jiricek.

On paper, I feel that’s fair considering Lekkerimaki is developing at a significant pace as a prospect, while Jiricek’s progression has slowed a bit. Both are considered high-end players.

If Columbus wants more of an NHL-ready package, maybe something like Hoglander and a first-round pick for Jiricek could work. That might fit their system better, giving them a good but occasionally frustrating player in Hoglander, who has huge potential to grow as a replacement.

To keep things concise: I think about it like this.

The Canucks have Hughes and Hronek as a pairing locked in for the next half-decade.

They currently have Soucy under contract for another year after this one. While he’s struggling this season, he was excellent last year, so there’s potential for a rebound.

Myers is signed for the next three years as a veteran presence. With the cap increasing, sitting him when Jiricek and Willander are fully ready is manageable.

Brannstrom is almost guaranteed to be re-signed, considering how impressive he’s been for Vancouver this season.

Juulson is a plug, Forbort provides depth, and Desharnais is another depth option.

What does this all mean?

Here’s a look at Vancouver’s potential future if they gamble and make this move:

• Hughes - Hronek
• Brannstrom - Willander
• Soucy - Jiricek
• D-Petey - Myers

That’s a strong mix of youth, talent, depth, and size.

I'd be very surprised if the Canucks were willing to part with any assets right now or Jiricek. for the simple reason that if he can't play for Columbus, he can hardly help the Canucks.

They're looking for guys on the blueline who can help them now, and into the playoffs next spring. Jiricek looks to me like another top-10 pick who may or may not work out. But regardless would need considerable time in the AHL with Abbotsford, a league he claims he doesn't want to play in.

The only guy on Columbus who might interest them is Provorov, an impending UFA. But the team acquiring knows he'd strictly be 'rental'. The Canucks blew the wad on rental players last spring. Not sure they have picks or the assets to justify doing it again.

 

[David71]

Yes, but this is a a player that has massive upside, somebody if he figures it out can be a cornerstone of this defense on the right side, I have seen him play a ton, the guy is good, he is badly underutilized for the jackets who have a terrible system.

This would set us up nicely for the future and the present.

Your not gonna find big 6-4 huge RHD with talent like that without paying a huge amount at his age.

plus the current canucks team has a 3-5 year window IMO with this "core" to win it all. with Jirieck his game can be improved upon down in abbotsford, for the time being let him marinate in the minors for a bit and come up when injuries occur and come next training camp he could in the nucks top 4 next year.

 

[Hansen]

Drance & Sat recently talked about how VAN does not want to pay premiums for guys who, come playoff time, aren't playing bigger roles than Myers and Soucy.

I think this is a targeted report at the guys who are out there right now like Matheson and Pettersson. Yeah, they'd help for different reasons, but are they taking over higher leverage minutes from either of Hughes or Soucy on the left? Nope. Would they be upgrades on Brannstrom? Absolutely. But are you giving up higher value assets for Zadorov v2? No. The higher value asset has to be a clear top four D -- and not a rental one either.

You can see how there's a justification that they move one of Kudryavtsev, Mynio, D EP if any of them are very coveted.

Matheson and Pettersson are both absolutely ahead of Soucy in performance. They are both clear top 4 D.

We do need someone who is going to outperform Soucy in the playoffs, because as Myers has become a pumpkin again and Soucy doesnt have Cole/Zad to co crunch defensive shifts with hes a lot more in the fire. A dman who can take heat off will make Soucys pairing more effective by consequence for sure

 

[Peen]

If current Soucy is what we're gonna see all season then someone like M. Pettersson should absolutely be playing ahead of him come playoffs.

That said I agree with the overall sentiment: IMO we should be going after a bigger dog, a legit #3 type if possible.

Soucy playing like he did in 2023 instead of continuing his 2024 form is part of my assumption in all this. Has to revert and get back on track with his skating and decision making.

Matheson and Pettersson are both absolutely ahead of Soucy in performance. They are both clear top 4 D.
We do need someone who is going to outperform Soucy in the playoffs, because as Myers has become a pumpkin again and Soucy doesnt have Cole/Zad to co crunch defensive shifts with hes a lot more in the fire. A dman who can take heat off will make Soucys pairing more effective by consequence for sure

I guarantee you that Matheson would be playing more minutes than Soucy, but Soucy would be eating the lions share of matchup minutes while Matheson is playing the cheap ones against bottom six opposition. It depends on how you want to describe what a top four D is, but I’ve always been consistent that I would pin the 20 minute soft matchup guy below the 17 minute hard matchup guy.

Pettersson rn is better than 2024 Soucy but I’m a big believer in what we saw from Soucy in early 2023. Especially if we get him a partner that isn’t Tyler Myers.

 

[credulous]

this coaching staff (and i suspect management also) looooooove big players. a jiricek acquisition shouldn't suprise anyone regardless of whether there's actually a fit there. he's like the premium version of the desharnais project

 

[Lindgren]

this coaching staff (and i suspect management also) looooooove big players. a jiricek acquisition shouldn't suprise anyone regardless of whether there's actually a fit there. he's like the premium version of the desharnais project

I thnk that Kudryavtsev and Brannstrom will both be gone at the deadline for this reason (and both will go on to have effective careers somewhere else). In management's minds, there's room for only one under-sized defenseman when the playoffs begin.

They'll talk up Kudryavtsev and hope he becomes an asset that'll contribute to a return. They'll talk up Brannstrom too, but he'll never get a significant run in the top four. Tocchet just can't stomach that.

 

[credulous]

I thnk that Kudryavtsev and Brannstrom will both be gone at the deadline for this reason (and both will go on to have effective careers somewhere else). In management's minds, there's room for only one under-sized defenseman when the playoffs begin.

They'll talk up Kudryavtsev and hope he becomes an asset that'll contribute to a return. They'll talk up Brannstrom too, but he'll never get a significant run in the top four. Tocchet just can't stomach that.

absolutely

i think this is also why they've constantly been rumoured to be open to moving garland or even actively shopping him despite how productive he's been in limited opportunity

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

We saw last night that Hronek could drive a great second pair. Who could the Canucks find who would make a good bargain partner for Hughes—a guy with decent-but-not-great wheels, good defensive IQ, not a point producer and so not a high cap hit.

Ethan Bear

 

[VIPettersson]

I'm very much in the "address the defense problem first" camp, but I'd be curious if Utah would be open to a Hoglander+ for Crouse swap with some salary retention.

Crouse has fallen off hard this season and maybe could use a change of scenery. Obviously much bigger and better defensively than Hogs.

Was pondering that myself plus Tocchet probably has a good idea of what the player is like

 

[Jerry the great]

absolutely

i think this is also why they've constantly been rumoured to be open to moving garland or even actively shopping him despite how productive he's been in limited opportunity

are you talking about when his agent had the green light to find a trade partner over the summer of 2023? or something recent?

 

[LemonSauceD]

Drance & Sat recently talked about how VAN does not want to pay premiums for guys who, come playoff time, aren't playing bigger roles than Myers and Soucy.

I think this is a targeted report at the guys who are out there right now like Matheson and Pettersson. Yeah, they'd help for different reasons, but are they taking over higher leverage minutes from either of Hughes or Soucy on the left? Nope. Would they be upgrades on Brannstrom? Absolutely. But are you giving up higher value assets for Zadorov v2? No. The higher value asset has to be a clear top four D -- and not a rental one either.

You can see how there's a justification that they move one of Kudryavtsev, Mynio, D EP if any of them are very coveted.

I feel like Provorov is one of the only known available dman that can actually play a #3 role.

I’ve also said out here the same sentiments and I think a guy like Sanheim who’s already signed to a nice $6.25M contract for 5 more years would also be just the right candidate when factoring in age, size, and being able to soften Hughes/Hronek’s workload.

 

[ohnoeszz]

Marcus Pettersson is being badly mis-scouted here. He's a clear as day upgrade over Soucy - it was very apparent in our game vs the Penguins. He plays the same role much better with much more minutes and responsibility. He was 19th in short handed time on ice last year.

You could pair MP with Hronek and call it a good first pair.

Soucy is proving to be a poor outlet passer. He's late and inaccurate. Myers is outplaying him.