Grub's Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | Rumour Has It

[TruGr1t]

It's obviously really time to be looking at what you can do to turn it around next season. Someone mentioned it on the radio, but there is nothing wrong with effectively selling this year, hoarding futures, and looking what you can do with the assets and cap space in the summer. Recent comments from Sat seem to hopefully indicate management is realizing this.

If you traditionally sell guys like Boeser, Lankinen and Suter at the deadline you could get quite a good mix of futures, I'd think. You also probably maximize Miller's value trading him to a contender who isn't particularly interested in moving established NHL pieces.

At this point, they should be opening up cap space and hoarding assets heading into the summer to see what becomes available around the draft, what the free agent pool looks like, etc.

Any sort of "quick fix" strategy this season that contemplates turning this group around with 1-2 trades is completely delusional.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

It's obviously really time to be looking at what you can do to turn it around next season. Someone mentioned it on the radio, but there is nothing wrong with effectively selling this year, hoarding futures, and looking what you can do with the assets and cap space in the summer. Recent comments from Sat seem to hopefully indicate management is realizing this.

If you traditionally sell guys like Boeser, Lankinen and Suter at the deadline you could get quite a good mix of futures, I'd think. You also probably maximize Miller's value trading him to a contender who isn't particularly interested in moving established NHL pieces.

At this point, they should be opening up cap space and hoarding assets heading into the summer to see what becomes available around the draft, what the free agent pool looks like, etc.

Any sort of "quick fix" strategy this season that contemplates turning this group around with 1-2 trades is completely delusional.

Boeser and Suter should be traded.

Lankinen should be retained if the price is right. Not with the uncertainty around Demko.

Miller can wait till the offseason if necessary.

 

[PavelBure10]

Yes I agree. It is time to break the core up and cash out on expiring or checked out assets before the season is done. Miller, Boeser, Suter, and Lankinen should all be dealt before the deadline. Maybe hold off on Miller until summer to get the best possible return for him, other than that cash out. This core has run dry in the well. There seems to be a divide in the room and it's showing on the ice. New faces, new coach and new strategies might work well with this group. Build around Hughes and Petey and see where you can go from there. We've been pinned against cap for so long now that having a bit of wiggle room to sign some assets would do this team wonders. I agree with all of the above, this isn't just a quick fix. There are a lot of moves to make and acquiring futures is a good way to go. This core is done.

 

[bossram]

It's obviously really time to be looking at what you can do to turn it around next season. Someone mentioned it on the radio, but there is nothing wrong with effectively selling this year, hoarding futures, and looking what you can do with the assets and cap space in the summer. Recent comments from Sat seem to hopefully indicate management is realizing this.

If you traditionally sell guys like Boeser, Lankinen and Suter at the deadline you could get quite a good mix of futures, I'd think. You also probably maximize Miller's value trading him to a contender who isn't particularly interested in moving established NHL pieces.

At this point, they should be opening up cap space and hoarding assets heading into the summer to see what becomes available around the draft, what the free agent pool looks like, etc.

Any sort of "quick fix" strategy this season that contemplates turning this group around with 1-2 trades is completely delusional.

I think they could execute a quick, Washington-style retool with the assets + cap space acquired from trading Miller, Boeser, and Suter. It is still a difficult needle to thread.

I just don't really know how much appetite they'll have for that (mostly because of Aquilini). Especially if they're on the playoff cut line at the TDL.

 

[Nick Lang]

Calling it now if the Miller return is a weak 2C, more of a 3C, canucks will make another deal very shortly afterwards for a top six C.

I'm betting on Brock Nelson, and the more silence the more I start to believe it.

Still alot of time between now and tdl, let alone next seasons start, much will be changed including probably sixty-six percent of the lotto line.

I think this is the biggest thing that some people are missing. I don't think it matters so much how we do this year or next. It's going to matter a lot more what the team and future looks like in two years when Quinn needs a new contract. That's where the focus should be. Quinn won't give a rats ass that we tried and failed in 2025. He'll care where we're going in 2027.

If we're working under the premise that Miller is pissed at Petey for his performance and the difference in how they are treated, the solution for him is not to be toxic, a distraction, or a liability. It's to go to the parties involved that can do something about it (management and coaches) in private like an adult and figure out a solution. And if he feels like the solution presented doesn't work for him, then ask out.

FWIW I'm no Petey apologist, watching him since the time he fell off has made me sick probably as much as it makes Miller sick. But there is no excuse for Miller being a dickhead and torpedoing the team from a morale/locker-room stand-point if that's what's actually going on.

I just wanted to quote this from last thread and somehow it popped up here. It's very true. I don't know how anyone could justify this type of behavior.

it takes some serious cognitive dissonance to make miller's problems pettersson's fault

absolutely

Sometimes the solution is staring you straight in the face but you're so immersed in the turmoil that you don't want to see it. Miller wants out. Tocchet doesn't want to renew. Maybe those are necessary for us to take the next step?

There's something to be said for a more harmonious locker room and a fresh system and fresh voices that allows for both defense and offense. Maybe that's what we need?

Change can be scary. But it's also a potential opportunity for growth.

The key is for the team to have a bright future and firing on all cylinders next year. That's when Hughes decides whether or not to re-up. The drudgery of this season could be a distant memory by then provided management makes shrewd decisions in the next six months.

This relates to my first post and I agree the key is to have a bright future, not throw a bunch of wasted effort and assets into the next 2 years. It would suck to have yet another head coach though but maybe that needs to happen too. I don't know the answer to that. Only the management team sees that closely enough.

It's obviously really time to be looking at what you can do to turn it around next season. Someone mentioned it on the radio, but there is nothing wrong with effectively selling this year, hoarding futures, and looking what you can do with the assets and cap space in the summer. Recent comments from Sat seem to hopefully indicate management is realizing this.

If you traditionally sell guys like Boeser, Lankinen and Suter at the deadline you could get quite a good mix of futures, I'd think. You also probably maximize Miller's value trading him to a contender who isn't particularly interested in moving established NHL pieces.

At this point, they should be opening up cap space and hoarding assets heading into the summer to see what becomes available around the draft, what the free agent pool looks like, etc.

Any sort of "quick fix" strategy this season that contemplates turning this group around with 1-2 trades is completely delusional.

Exactly what they should be doing. Use this opportunity to reboot the team and get a solid plan built for the future. Hopefully around Quinn #1, and Petey as well. Hopefully he rebounds in a big way or ... something is done there too.

 

[bossram]

I had a bad feeling about Benning during the Year End Summit in 2015 when he said they tried to move Ryan Miller and "nobody wanted him" and then he got booed lol



Sbieksa haunts my nightmares

I literally had a bad feeling about Benning from the moment he took over and started opening his mouth.

 

[LemonSauceD]

I had a bad feeling about Benning during the Year End Summit in 2015 when he said they tried to move Ryan Miller and "nobody wanted him" and then he got booed lol



Sbieksa haunts my nightmares

Speaking of that, I miss the Canucks skills competition. It was nice seeing players just chill and have fun.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

I literally had a bad feeling about Benning from the moment he took over and started opening his mouth.

I still don't understand how anyone could listen to him speak and think "that's the person I want in charge to run my team".

 

[valkynax]

Speaking of that, I miss the Canucks skills competition. It was nice seeing players just chill and have fun.

I miss the wrestling belt.

But pragmatically speaking at this point it seems like a pointless gesture.

I still don't understand how anyone could listen to him speak and think "that's the person I want in charge to run my team".

Ask HIM lol:

 

[PavelBure10]

The radio is saying that the Canucks may be planning on riding Demko out from now to the end of the season. It's not a bad idea to get a better feel as to where Demko is at. We all know he is a Vezina caliber goalie when he is on, might aswell get a better feel on where he is at going forward, going into a contract year. I don't hate the idea considering this season seems like a write-off.

 

[TruGr1t]

Boeser and Suter should be traded.

Lankinen should be retained if the price is right. Not with the uncertainty around Demko.

Miller can wait till the offseason if necessary.

No issue keeping Lankinen at a fair price. They are going to give Demko a run here and if he continues to have a save percentage well below .900 you almost have to sign Lankinen anyways. The issue is what to do with Demko in that scenario ... his value will be in the tank, he'll be on the last year of his deal, and you probably aren't going to be comfortable signing him to any type of meaningful contract. He probably won't want to be here anyways.

 

[Peen]

The radio is saying that the Canucks may be planning on riding Demko out from now to the end of the season. It's not a bad idea to get a better feel as to where Demko is at. We all know he is a Vezina caliber goalie when he is on, might aswell get a better feel on where he is at going forward, going into a contract year. I don't hate the idea considering this season seems like a write-off.

it's the right move

you want to test him and see if he can regain form with his new stance, if he can stay healthy etc. regardless of if you want to keep him or trade him, it helps to play him a lot

and playing him a lot somewhat neuters lankinen's leverage bc the sample size gets smaller.

 

[dbaz]

if they cant get going in the right direction by mid feb. id go farther than all of you. the 2026 and 2027 drafts are deep and would be great years to have a stock pile of picks in the first two rounds.
middle of the ground bs gets you no where in this league.

 

[PavelBure10]

it's the right move

you want to test him and see if he can regain form with his new stance, if he can stay healthy etc. regardless of if you want to keep him or trade him, it helps to play him a lot

and playing him a lot somewhat neuters lankinen's leverage bc the sample size gets smaller.

Agreed its the right call.

I am also worried about Lankinen's one hot season and he is going to get paid a hefty raise after this season. I'm sorry but I'm worried about paying Lankinen 4/5 million after one hot season as a 29 y/o goaltender. Canucks should watch themselves here because this potential Lankinen contract could backfire rather quickly. Lankinen although spectacular this season, is certainly no spring chicken.

 

[Peen]

Agreed its the right call.

I am also worried about Lankinen's one hot season and he is going to get paid a hefty raise after this season. I'm sorry but I'm worried about paying Lankinen 4/5 million after one hot season as a 29 y/o goaltender. Canucks should watch themselves here because this potential Lankinen contract could backfire rather quickly. Lankinen although spectacular this season, is certainly no spring chicken.

the reality is that every team has to make those bets when you don't have a top 5 goalie. the middle end guys get paid pretty well and then shuffled around the league. it's risky but it's probably a worthwhile bet to make. even though his stats have fallen back to earth, i think he's a better bet than some of the comparables idk

 

[brock hughes007]

No issue keeping Lankinen at a fair price. They are going to give Demko a run here and if he continues to have a save percentage well below .900 you almost have to sign Lankinen anyways. The issue is what to do with Demko in that scenario ... his value will be in the tank, he'll be on the last year of his deal, and you probably aren't going to be comfortable signing him to any type of meaningful contract. He probably won't want to be here anyways.

He has to go at this point also.He is not going to want to stick around after we get rid of his buddy's.If we did not have Lankinen we would be a top 3 team at the bottom..

 

[Bgav]

Time to blow it up

 

[pitseleh]

I think they could execute a quick, Washington-style retool with the assets + cap space acquired from trading Miller, Boeser, and Suter. It is still a difficult needle to thread.

I just don't really know how much appetite they'll have for that (mostly because of Aquilini). Especially if they're on the playoff cut line at the TDL.

Yeah, between Strome, Dubois, and Sandin, Washington pulled off what Florida did in finding a few castoffs with warts that turned into key players for them.

Management has shown they’re good at identifying under appreciated talent, so if there’s anything to hold out hope on it’s that they may be able to do the same.

 

[PavelBure10]

the reality is that every team has to make those bets when you don't have a top 5 goalie. the middle end guys get paid pretty well and then shuffled around the league. it's risky but it's probably a worthwhile bet to make. even though his stats have fallen back to earth, i think he's a better bet than some of the comparables idk

Yeah it's a decent gamble, just don't want another Scott Darling situation here.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Speaking of that, I miss the Canucks skills competition. It was nice seeing players just chill and have fun.

No freaking kidding. The memories of that from high school - tickets were $5, all proceeds went to the CFKF, and it was just a good time. Good will and some personality from all involved. Blows my mind they don't do that anymore.

Also blows my mind they've stopped doing the Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmasave Calendars. I got those every single year from 2001 until they stopped doing it a couple of seasons ago. Always had two, one for my house and one for my office.

Just some nice little things that it's bizarre we don't have anymore.

 

[Peen]

Yeah, between Strome, Dubois, and Sandin, Washington pulled off what Florida did in finding a few castoffs with warts that turned into key players for them.

Management has shown they’re good at identifying under appreciated talent, so if there’s anything to hold out hope on it’s that they may be able to do the same.

the reason what they did worked for year 2 was that they did what they needed to do in terms of making a lot of moves. it felt video game-y but they... needed to be video game-y for the quick turnaround to be tenable? and then this last 6 months, they've not made the moves on the blueline that we thought they'd make early in the year.

obviously they'd run into this milelr dynamic problem again but that's a separate thing and out of their control. just don't think they managed well enough what was in their control.

made a post a week ago saying that there's a glass half full take of how this is an opportunity to get younger and faster that wasn't there before. like a year ago you couldn't deal boeser miller demko. and now you can. plus hoglander desharnais heinen on the fringes.

obviously moving those key guys is going to cause an immediate decrease in the quality of the roster but that window elongates to after the point that hughes re-signs when OEL's hit goes away. which is a cope that i'm honestly not disappointed by? like obviously they need to maintain some level of competitiveness and show signs of improvement so that QH stays but idk, i'm not as doom and gloom about this.

hinges on execution

 

[supercanuck]

if they cant get going in the right direction by mid feb. id go farther than all of you. the 2026 and 2027 drafts are deep and would be great years to have a stock pile of picks in the first two rounds.
middle of the ground bs gets you no where in this league.

I don't necessarily disagree but you would either need QH to be ok with it, or trade him. I don't think he'd want to stick for another tank. The thought of needing to trade QH makes me sick.

 

[LemonSauceD]

I

No freaking kidding. The memories of that from high school - tickets were $5, all proceeds went to the CFKF, and it was just a good time. Good will and some personality from all involved. Blows my mind they don't do that anymore.

Also blows my mind they've stopped doing the Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmasave Calendars. I got those every single year from 2001 until they stopped doing it a couple of seasons ago. Always had two, one for my house and one for my office.

Just some nice little things that it's bizarre we don't have anymore.

The fan service has been lacking from the Canucks end and it sucks.

 

[Nucker101]

I think they could execute a quick, Washington-style retool with the assets + cap space acquired from trading Miller, Boeser, and Suter. It is still a difficult needle to thread.

I just don't really know how much appetite they'll have for that (mostly because of Aquilini). Especially if they're on the playoff cut line at the TDL.

Yeah, I like the idea of just selling off multiple players with good trade value by the TDL and trying to load up on cap space and easily moveable assets(picks/prospects) heading into the summer. I prefer this big time over the idea of trying to acquire players like Chytil, Lindgren, Roslovic, Kotkaniemi, etc.

 

[StreetHawk]

Yeah, between Strome, Dubois, and Sandin, Washington pulled off what Florida did in finding a few castoffs with warts that turned into key players for them.

Management has shown they’re good at identifying under appreciated talent, so if there’s anything to hold out hope on it’s that they may be able to do the same.

Wash also got McMichael or Protas that they drafted who came off elc and stepped up big, UFA/trades can only account for so much.