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[Diversification]

“A league source said the Rangers recently inquired with the Canucks about J.T. Miller, who is currently on an indefinite leave of absence. Miller was a 2011 first-round pick by the Rangers and has been coveted by Drury before — the Rangers were after Miller before the 2021-22 trade deadline, but wouldn’t include Braden Schneider in a deal. Miller then signed a seven-year extension worth $8-million a year, pulling him off the market.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5956450/2024/11/29/rangers-nhl-shesterkin-trade-trouba/

Arthur Staple/Peter Baugh

JTM for Trouba unretained... where do we sign

 

[arttk]

Kakko for Hoggy?

Rangers need to offload salary, not add 3M to next year

 

[Vector]

Dhaliwal's interview with Halford & Brough.

Hronek’s Injury and Aftermath

• Not many internal options available; called up Mark Friedman
• Don’t want a knee-jerk reaction
• Most people think it’s a separated shoulder but it is still being evaluated
• Doesn’t think Hronek wants surgery but still has “some stuff” that needs to be figured out
• Right side of the defence is not looking good
• Myers will eat up most of Hronek’s minutes
• Don’t want Demko to return and face 45 shots a night

Nikita Zadorov

• Canucks have thought about reacquiring Zadorov
• Some say they have called Boston about him but it didn’t go anywhere
• Friedman put this rumour out there; need to read between the lines on when he says stuff
• Heard it was a short conversation between the Canucks and Bruins
• Canucks miss him
• Trade talks didn’t go anywhere and won’t go anywhere

Defensive Prospects

• Canucks have some defensive prospects that are 1-3 years away and expect them to contribute at the NHL level
• Mentions Kudryavtsev, Pettersson, McWard, Mynio, and Willander

Tom Willander

• Canucks are very high on Willander
• Canucks don’t believe that Jiricek is better than Willander
• Will be surprised if Willander doesn’t sign after his NCAA season
• Willander is better than last year and needs to start playing pro-hockey

Possible Trade Targets

• Ivan Provorov, Marcus Pettersson, and Aaron Ekblad are available

Bowen Byram

• This management group has always loved Byram
• Can’t see the Sabres trading him
• During the Miller trade rumours from a few years ago, Avalanche were in on acquiring Miller and the Canucks asked for Byram and were told “no”

Braden Schneider

• Also love New York Rangers’ Braden Schneider
• During the Miller trade rumours from a few years ago, Rangers were in on acquiring Miller and the Canucks asked for Schneider and were told “no”

Hoglander

• Is in Tocchet’s doghouse
• Dhaliwal is incredulous that they extended him
• Have been told that all parties are trying to get things back on-track
• Agent has not asked for a trade
• Name is popping up on trade rumours
• Doesn’t sound the Canucks want to get rid of him
• Talks about how 18 months ago both Boeser and Garland’s agents were given permission to seek a trade and it didn’t happen; dealing with adversity is key and both these guys used it as fuel to get better
• Looks like they are trying to make this work with Hoglander
• Milstein tried his hardest to keep Kuzmenko to stay in Vancouver but Tocchet had no time for Kuzmenko; only so much an agent can do
• Hoglander can fix all the problems if he plays better

Lankinen & Back-Up Goalies

• Has had a fantastic start
• Tocchet loves him and has hinted he wants him back next year
• Can’t re-sign until January 1st per the CBA
• Current contract is already a big discount
• Next contract will be market value with term
• Canucks’ management does not like paying money to back-up goalies
• Only reason they took on Casey DeSmith’s contract was to get rid of Tanner Pearson’s
• All the goalie contracts the Canucks offered in the summer were under 1m
• Contract offer to DeSmith during the draft was “not good at all”
• Colorado had interest in Lankinen and are kicking themselves now
• Lankinen’s #1 priority is staying with the Canucks
• Is showcasing his skills
• Before the Canucks decide on Lankinen, they need to decide on Silovs’ future within the organization
• Canucks’ goalie coach, Marko Torenius, and Lankinen have worked together for year and have a great relationship; worked together during the summer when Lankine was UFA
• Canucks could decide to use Lankinen as a trade chip at the deadline

Demko’s Return

• Believes Demko will play against Blue Jackets, at home, on Dec. 6th
• Return is getting closer; everything’s great
• A goalie coach told him that Demko is lacking practice time and more shots
• 4 games in 6 days means he hasn’t had enough practice time
• When he has been practicing it’s with 3 goalies and 20-25 minutes of ice time
• Want him 100% ready

Upcoming Schedule

• Have had the easiest schedule in the league
• Haven’t played any western powerhouse teams
• Avalanche are getting healthy and haven’t played the Golden Knights

 

[Diversification]

I think the way they announced it was tone-deaf to this market and how stupid things can be here.

If this was in Florida, sure. Nobody would care. But in a Canadian market when you leave the door open even a crack for speculation there's literally a parade of idiots running through it immediately.

It's really unusual to have a player step away for 'personal reasons' and not have something to do with the Player's Assistance Program. Then to demand that we not ask questions in order to 'respect their privacy' and 'support the player and his family' is just asking for speculation to run amok.

I think this management team has been excellent overall. But its PR has been a bit of a mess. From the way Boudreau was handled near the end of his tenure to the way it reports injuries to EP's signing standoff and now this.

 

[wonton15]

The trade chip for this year should probably be Silovs, not Lankinen. Silovs probably has little value, but there has to be some internal discussions on Silovs’ future and how that plays into Demko’s health / Lankinen’s role and ask on next contract. If Lank is asking like $2.5M or less, we should look long and hard at that as Demko insurance or whatever direction management sees

 

[MS]

It's really unusual to have a player step away for 'personal reasons' and not have something to do with the Player's Assistance Program. Then to demand that we not ask questions in order to 'respect their privacy' and 'support the player and his family' is just asking for speculation to run amok.

I think this management team has been excellent overall. But its PR has been a bit of a mess. From the way Boudreau was handled near the end of his tenure to the way it reports injuries to EP's signing standoff and now this.

I think at times they've naively done things in a way that would work in Pittsburgh but not in a Canadian market.

A couple of the things you mention, though, were done by Rutherford/Allvin to get results, and they worked. The Boudreau mess was because the owner was a Bruce There It Is fanboy who wouldn't fire the bad coach he had personally hired to bring in the new coach that was needed, and Rutherford basically decided to throw gas on the fire to make the situation untenable. It was a gross week, but it was what needed to happen. Same thing with the way they handled the Pettersson prima donna contract stuff.

The trade chip for this year should probably be Silovs, not Lankinen. Silovs probably has little value, but there has to be some internal discussions on Silovs’ future and how that plays into Demko’s health / Lankinen’s role and ask on next contract. If Lank is asking like $2.5M or less, we should look long and hard at that as Demko insurance or whatever direction management sees

Silovs is worthless right now. Can't do much but send him to Abbotsford and hope he plays his way back into being worth a mid-round pick or something.

I think Lankinen is almost certain to re-sign here and we'll be running a Demko-Lankinen platoon going forward.

 

[arttk]

It's really unusual to have a player step away for 'personal reasons' and not have something to do with the Player's Assistance Program. Then to demand that we not ask questions in order to 'respect their privacy' and 'support the player and his family' is just asking for speculation to run amok.

I think this management team has been excellent overall. But its PR has been a bit of a mess. From the way Boudreau was handled near the end of his tenure to the way it reports injuries to EP's signing standoff and now this.

Player assistance program is just a nice term for substance abuse rehab and it can be punitive. You don’t want to go there unless there is actual substance abuse.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

The trade chip for this year should probably be Silovs, not Lankinen. Silovs probably has little value, but there has to be some internal discussions on Silovs’ future and how that plays into Demko’s health / Lankinen’s role and ask on next contract. If Lank is asking like $2.5M or less, we should look long and hard at that as Demko insurance or whatever direction management sees

I think that question depends on contract value and their perceived roles. Lankinen is setting himself up for a hefty raise, and a possible promotion to a 1B/1A goalie. Silovs is still young and raw, but is cost controlled for next season and someone the Canucks have been optimistic about for some time.

I think the determining factor may be the team’s confidence in Demko’s health. If they feel they need to adjust to a 1A/1B dynamic, I think they work to extend Lankinen and move Silovs. If they think Demko can handle a starting load, I think the opposite occurs.

 

[Peen]

Yeah, this is f***ing stupid.

But it's also why it was f***ing stupid to frame the JT absence the way they did instead of just saying that his upper-body injury wasn't healing and needed rest. It's just invited all kinds of idiotic speculation.

Genuinely so perplexing.

 

[Diversification]

Player assistance program is just a nice term for substance abuse rehab and it can be punitive. You don’t want to go there unless there is actual substance abuse.

IIRC, Kylington was in the Player's Assistance Program and it had to do with mental health and not substance abuse, no?

 

[MS]

IIRC, Kylington was in the Player's Assistance Program and it had to do with mental health and not substance abuse, no?

I believe Connor Ingram was as well with OCD issues.

 

[Vector]

IIRC, Kylington was in the Player's Assistance Program and it had to do with mental health and not substance abuse, no?

I believe Connor Ingram was as well with OCD issues.

Patrik Laine's time in the Player Assistance Program was also due to mental health.

 

[bandwagonesque]

Dhaliwal's interview with Halford & Brough.

Hronek’s Injury and Aftermath

• Not many internal options available; called up Mark Friedman
• Don’t want a knee-jerk reaction
• Most people think it’s a separated shoulder but it is still being evaluated
• Doesn’t think Hronek wants surgery but still has “some stuff” that needs to be figured out
• Right side of the defence is not looking good
• Myers will eat up most of Hronek’s minutes
• Don’t want Demko to return and face 45 shots a night

Nikita Zadorov

• Canucks have thought about reacquiring Zadorov
• Some say they have called Boston about him but it didn’t go anywhere
• Friedman put this rumour out there; need to read between the lines on when he says stuff
• Heard it was a short conversation between the Canucks and Bruins
• Canucks miss him
• Trade talks didn’t go anywhere and won’t go anywhere

Defensive Prospects

• Canucks have some defensive prospects that are 1-3 years away and expect them to contribute at the NHL level
• Mentions Kudryavtsev, Pettersson, McWard, Mynio, and Willander

Tom Willander

• Canucks are very high on Willander
• Canucks don’t believe that Jiricek is better than Willander
• Will be surprised if Willander doesn’t sign after his NCAA season
• Willander is better than last year and needs to start playing pro-hockey

Possible Trade Targets

• Ivan Provorov, Marcus Pettersson, and Aaron Ekblad are available

Bowen Byram

• This management group has always loved Byram
• Can’t see the Sabres trading him
• During the Miller trade rumours from a few years ago, Avalanche were in on acquiring Miller and the Canucks asked for Byram and were told “no”

Braden Schneider

• Also love New York Rangers’ Braden Schneider
• During the Miller trade rumours from a few years ago, Rangers were in on acquiring Miller and the Canucks asked for Schneider and were told “no”

Hoglander

• Is in Tocchet’s doghouse
• Dhaliwal is incredulous that they extended him
• Have been told that all parties are trying to get things back on-track
• Agent has not asked for a trade
• Name is popping up on trade rumours
• Doesn’t sound the Canucks want to get rid of him
• Talks about how 18 months ago both Boeser and Garland’s agents were given permission to seek a trade and it didn’t happen; dealing with adversity is key and both these guys used it as fuel to get better
• Looks like they are trying to make this work with Hoglander
• Milstein tried his hardest to keep Kuzmenko to stay in Vancouver but Tocchet had no time for Kuzmenko; only so much an agent can do
• Hoglander can fix all the problems if he plays better

Lankinen & Back-Up Goalies

• Has had a fantastic start
• Tocchet loves him and has hinted he wants him back next year
• Can’t re-sign until January 1st per the CBA
• Current contract is already a big discount
• Next contract will be market value with term
• Canucks’ management does not like paying money to back-up goalies
• Only reason they took on Casey DeSmith’s contract was to get rid of Tanner Pearson’s
• All the goalie contracts the Canucks offered in the summer were under 1m
• Contract offer to DeSmith during the draft was “not good at all”
• Colorado had interest in Lankinen and are kicking themselves now
• Lankinen’s #1 priority is staying with the Canucks
• Is showcasing his skills
• Before the Canucks decide on Lankinen, they need to decide on Silovs’ future within the organization
• Canucks’ goalie coach, Marko Torenius, and Lankinen have worked together for year and have a great relationship; worked together during the summer when Lankine was UFA
• Canucks could decide to use Lankinen as a trade chip at the deadline

Demko’s Return

• Believes Demko will play against Blue Jackets, at home, on Dec. 6th
• Return is getting closer; everything’s great
• A goalie coach told him that Demko is lacking practice time and more shots
• 4 games in 6 days means he hasn’t had enough practice time
• When he has been practicing it’s with 3 goalies and 20-25 minutes of ice time
• Want him 100% ready

Upcoming Schedule

• Have had the easiest schedule in the league
• Haven’t played any western powerhouse teams
• Avalanche are getting healthy and haven’t played the Golden Knights

It doesn't surprise me that Hoglander is getting a lot of rope or that he got an extension because all the physical attributes are there. He's one of the strongest and best-conditioned players on the team. He can play much better defensively if he makes an effort and is able to get it and I think it's a likely enough outcome that I'm fine keeping him if his value is depressed.

 

[arttk]

IIRC, Kylington was in the Player's Assistance Program and it had to do with mental health and not substance abuse, no?

I believe Connor Ingram was as well with OCD issues.

IIRC, Kylington was in the Player's Assistance Program and it had to do with mental health and not substance abuse, no?

Mmmm maybe it’s only substance abuse that gets you into different levels of the program since like level 4 or something can get the contract cancellled.

 

[Peen]

It doesn't surprise me that Hoglander is getting a lot of rope or that he got an extension because all the physical attributes are there. He's one of the strongest and best-conditioned players on the team. He can play much better defensively if he makes an effort and is able to get it and I think it's a likely enough outcome that I'm fine keeping him if his value is depressed.

I'm not sure if I agree with the projection, but I will say that I still think the contract they gave him was "fine"

If you're a team that has interest in Hoglander, you're still trading for him with the expectation that he is going to be a cheap top six forward for you

Him being shit to start here doesn't really change the dynamic for most interested parties is something I'd assume.

My argument before the season was that I'd lean towards trading him over extending him, but that they needed to make that call before the season because the arb case would have been good for him if he has an average season.

 

[Bgav]

Kevin weeks reporting caps, pens & jackets in on hoglander

 

[wonton15]

Kevin weeks reporting caps, pens & jackets in on hoglander

This is very interesting coming from Weekes

I don’t think it’s Jiricek related. Provorov? Marcus Pettersson is obvious. Maybe a D from Caps too.

 

[Josepho]

why the f*** are gms so dumb man

 

[Vector]

JT Miller Trade Rumours

• Canucks love Braden Schneider
• Yesterday someone told Dhaliwal that the Rangers called to ask about Miller and Dhaliwal told them they are “out to lunch” and need better sources
• Trying to confirm the story this morning; has been told that more than one team has called on Miller
• Says this is teams checking-in; teams kick tires on players all the time
• Not a shock because the Rangers are trying to shake up their roster
• Rangers tried to get Miller a couple of years ago
• Canucks are giving Miller all the time and space he needs
• This is teams calling the Canucks and not the Canucks shopping Miller
• Canucks need to get healthy before making a major change

 

[TruGr1t]

Hah can you imagine the optics of some guy asking for mental health leave, then you trade him when he's non-rostered? Only way that makes any sort of sense is if Miller has requested a trade.

 

[Jerry the great]

Id hate to move him because of the potential but I wonder if a package around Willander and our 1st could bring Dobson in to the fold.

When healthy:

Hughes - Hronek
Soucy - Dobson

I wondered about Dobson when the Pettersson trade chatter was at a dull roar, but it just doesn't make sense for us. he's a $10MM+ defender at the end of his current deal and he's a PP1QB. If, and i get this is an if of unknown size, Willander is a 20 min/g defender on his ELC who is able to move the needle defensively, he's worth more to the Canucks at $950k, than Dobson would be at 11%+ of cap.

Considering the teams start and all the uncertainty, Willander is almost untouchable at this point IMO.

 

[wonton15]

Dhaliwal just mentioned the Pens asked for Hoglander for Pettersson.

I wonder if management turned that down. Very interesting time and I’m enjoying this very much

 

[xtr3m]

I think it’s a combination of physical wear and mental wear and tear. The way they announced it wasn’t terrible per se, as I think Miller needed a break not just from play, but from the team.

But the asinine speculation that Miller has such an enormous issue with Petey that he decided to take his ball and go home shows the absurd length talking heads and some fans will go to to push freaking weird speculation.

They should've just said "we're excited for JT re-join the team whenever he's ready." Instead they said "we're excited for JT to become a better human and a teammate" implying he's currently not that. facepalm

 

[MS]

Hah can you imagine the optics of some guy asking for mental health leave, then you trade him when he's non-rostered? Only way that makes any sort of sense is if Miller has requested a trade.

If you're the Rangers' GM you wouldn't be doing your job if you weren't investigating if there was something to the Miller situation here and trying to dump Trouba for a legit 1C on a bargain deal.

But, I mean, it's pretty obvious we aren't moving him. Nothing about anything in terms of how this has been handled indicates that the player wants out.

 

[Peen]

Willander is one of those guys where if he hits, he'll be a permanent value guy. The lower point, not pp1 Dmen who can match up are ALWAYS underpaid -- even on their 2nd or 3rd deals. It's usually only once they have UFA status or UFA leverage that they maybe become fair market or overpaid.