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

[Vector]

Kind of at the point where you need to view the rest of the season as a fact finding mission. Who's part of the core, who can compliment those players, and where you need to upgrade. It's not punting on the season since the goal with Quinn Hughes should always be to find a way to contend but answer the tough questions.

They've clearly identified Miller as someone who won't be part of the solution going forward. Now they need to trade him for a return that helps the team. Same decision needs to be made on a bunch of other players too.

 

[pitseleh]

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.

Oh yeah, for sure. What I was raising is not sufficient but it is necessary. The Canucks will need some of their prospects and players they acquire if they dump Miller, Boeser, etc. to hit too to make it.

 

[LemonSauceD]

CBJ has a boatload of natural centers right now and in the pipeline (Monahan, Sillinger, Voronkov, Jenner, Johnson, Fantilli, Lindstrom, Del Bel Belluz).

IMO, targeting one of their more expendable younger pieces like Sillinger/Voronkov/KJ would be nice a major step towards retooling the roster.

it’s not going to be cheap, and sending Boeser there alone (if the rumours are correct about CBJ being interested) might get you Sillinger but definitely not Voronkov or KJ who are the main prize. But imo those are the type of players we should be targeting.

 

[dbaz]

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.

yes, you would owe it to him. it gut wrenching because hes the best d the franchise will ever see, but im assuming he would want out in that case. it would also be an insane bounty of goods for the team, especially at his cap hit an ability to retain. id think they would try a retool first by dumping miller, boeser, heine, vd, etc for cap first

 

[PavelBure10]

CBJ has a boatload of natural centers right now and in the pipeline (Monahan, Sillinger, Voronkov, Jenner, Johnson, Fantilli, Lindstrom, Del Bel Belluz).

IMO, targeting one of their more expendable younger pieces like Sillinger/Voronkov/KJ would be nice a major step towards retooling the roster.

it’s not going to be cheap, and sending Boeser there alone (if the rumours are correct about CBJ being interested) might get you Sillinger but definitely not Voronkov or KJ who are the main prize. But imo those are the type of players we should be targeting.

The only center I see Columbus giving up is Sillinger. KJ, Monahan, Jenner, Fantilli, and Voronkov aren't going anywhere.

Sillinger still has a lot of potential. Maybe a fresh start would do him well.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

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.

Washington also got incredibly lucky with LTIRetiring their long-term bad money (Backstrom, Oshie).

 

[Bgav]

CBJ has a boatload of natural centers right now and in the pipeline (Monahan, Sillinger, Voronkov, Jenner, Johnson, Fantilli, Lindstrom, Del Bel Belluz).

IMO, targeting one of their more expendable younger pieces like Sillinger/Voronkov/KJ would be nice a major step towards retooling the roster.

it’s not going to be cheap, and sending Boeser there alone (if the rumours are correct about CBJ being interested) might get you Sillinger but definitely not Voronkov or KJ who are the main prize. But imo those are the type of players we should be targeting.

KJ is the dream, just can’t see CBJ trading him. He’s a future star imo

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Target CBJ.
Target Buffalo.
Target Ottawa.

Take advantage of Dubas and his fire sale.

 

[TruGr1t]

Kind of at the point where you need to view the rest of the season as a fact finding mission. Who's part of the core, who can compliment those players, and where you need to upgrade. It's not punting on the season since the goal with Quinn Hughes should always be to find a way to contend but answer the tough questions.

They've clearly identified Miller as someone who won't be part of the solution going forward. Now they need to trade him for a return that helps the team. Same decision needs to be made on a bunch of other players too.

They also need to start looking at cap flexibility and organizational asset scarcity. Even if you want to retool, 1-for-1 hockey trades are exceptionally rare (as they've found trying to move Miller) and there is about zero chance you can find a couple moves that set you up in the right spot. Previously, the question had been more like "how do we find the cap space to accommodate the core", now you need to actually find cap space to retool the roster.

I don't think they will rebuild because that isn't in this organization's DNA, obviously, but they need to start paying attention to opening up more optionality in how they build the roster. That may mean doing things they aren't comfortable with (or haven't been comfortable with for over a decade), which is actually selling. That gives you till the deadline to figure this out.

 

[StreetHawk]

Oh yeah, for sure. What I was raising is not sufficient but it is necessary. The Canucks will need some of their prospects and players they acquire if they dump Miller, Boeser, etc. to hit too to make it.

Realistically, most prospects/players involved in these trades are not impact guys. More likely middle 6 (if talking about a 32 year old Miller in 2025 and Boeser for example as the guys going out). Picks will take a while.

 

[iceburg]

Man this is a difficult team to assess. I was at the game last night and that 2nd period was fantastic. I was thinking of posting something like: Pettersson played outstanding, 4th line was great, Hoglander has found his game, Friedman is better than Juulsen, etc...
Then the 3rd happened. Yikes.

I hope this is the residual effects of the flu but, since this has been the rule rather than the exception this season, I doubt it.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Realistically, most prospects/players involved in these trades are not impact guys. More likely middle 6 (if talking about a 32 year old Miller in 2025 and Boeser for example as the guys going out). Picks will take a while.

I know someone in the PGT was upset at me suggesting a Pettersson/Hughes trade could be a reality in a year, however there is minimal room for error to ensure this doesn't happen. This management group has to bat near 1.000.

We need multiple things to go right:
1) If futures are targeted, we need to hope that another GM values the players/picks and is willing to part with good players locked up to reasonable price and term.
2) If we target a guy who is 25-27 (Chytil), then we need to hope they break out and offset the loss of a two-way PPG center.
3) We need to luck out in UFA and hope players are willing to sign here at a reasonable price and term.

If we screw up and miss the playoffs in 25-26....then you gauge whether or not Hughes has any interest in any extension and move on from there. This would obviously kickstart a very aggressive rebuild.

I obviously want Hughes to sign a retirement deal but it would be hard to see him wanting to stick around a team that has only made the playoffs twice in 6 seasons.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

CBJ has a boatload of natural centers right now and in the pipeline (Monahan, Sillinger, Voronkov, Jenner, Johnson, Fantilli, Lindstrom, Del Bel Belluz).

IMO, targeting one of their more expendable younger pieces like Sillinger/Voronkov/KJ would be nice a major step towards retooling the roster.

it’s not going to be cheap, and sending Boeser there alone (if the rumours are correct about CBJ being interested) might get you Sillinger but definitely not Voronkov or KJ who are the main prize. But imo those are the type of players we should be targeting.

Don't think any of the guys you named are expendable. Voronkov is thekey piece of their elite first line. Sillinger is their 2C. KJ is having a breakout year.

Do think the Canucks have a shot at LDDB.

 

[F A N]

I like ehlers because he more of a play driver. His playoff performances look awful yes. But with boeser are we even making the playoffs?

All that playing driving leads to what? ~60 points usually if he stays reasonably healthy? Paying ~$8-9 million for primarily regular season play is stupid to me. No thanks. Both are one dimensional players but I value Boeser’s goal scoring more especially if it translates in the playoffs.

 

[arttk]

really hate the idea of trading Miller before TDL but it seems like this is really hanging over the team and is a giant ass distraction.

 

[StreetHawk]

I know someone in the PGT was upset at me suggesting a Pettersson/Hughes trade could be a reality in a year, however there is minimal room for error to ensure this doesn't happen. This management group has to bat near 1.000.

We need multiple things to go right:
1) If futures are targeted, we need to hope that another GM values the players/picks and is willing to part with good players locked up to reasonable price and term.
2) If we target a guy who is 25-27 (Chytil), then we need to hope they break out and offset the loss of a two-way PPG center.
3) We need to luck out in UFA and hope players are willing to sign here at a reasonable price and term.

If we screw up and miss the playoffs in 25-26....then you gauge whether or not Hughes has any interest in any extension and move on from there. This would obviously kickstart a very aggressive rebuild.

I obviously want Hughes to sign a retirement deal but it would be hard to see him wanting to stick around a team that has only made the playoffs twice in 6 seasons.

#3, even the middle of the pack guys get very good deals if they are in demand. So, talking under the radar guys who can return big, but their deals are typically short like at 2 years.
#2 - unless a team is either need to change up the roster, most aren't giving up guys in the 25-27 who have term.
#1, if target futures, have to be able to pull another Hronek type move to flip the assets for roster players.

Finding that right fit, not sure how often that will occur.

Next off-season is key. This is year 4 of 6 for Quinn. After next season, in July, any trade protection activates for him, then he has control (which he likely would anyway as any team would want to sign him to a new deal), like Seth Jones with Chicago when he had 1 year left with CBJ and told them he would only sign a new deal with a couple of teams if dealt.

 

[Szechwan]

Target CBJ.
Target Buffalo.
Target Ottawa.

Take advantage of Dubas and his fire sale.

Unfortunately every team in the league has that same list but with Vancouver as the 4th team

 

[TruGr1t]

2) If we target a guy who is 25-27 (Chytil), then we need to hope they break out and offset the loss of a two-way PPG center.

This strategy has largely failed the organization numerous times over the past ten years, with a few notable exceptions. They are still trying to do this and now for some reason think turning Miller into Chytil is a good idea. Unless they get out of this mindset, they will fail in all likelihood. In the reality of the current salary cap, contenders trade futures for such players, and rebuilding teams build around those type of players. Nobody is trading high-end guys in their mid-20s unlesss forced.

 

[UrbanImpact]

Dont move Miller now.

Wait till summer when there is more cap , cap space and more teams interested in Miller.

We are not winning the cup this year with this roster, there is litterally no point in selling Miller for cheap just so we can get rid of him now.

 

[Nucker42]

Dont move Miller now.

Wait till summer when there is more cap , cap space and more teams interested in Miller.

We are not winning the cup this year with this roster, there is litterally no point in selling Miller for cheap just so we can get rid of him now.

I think the point is more about the chemical toxicity right now from all the drama. Don’t think anyone has argued you win an in season Miller trade….

It’s the old adage of addition by subtraction….the way Miller wears his unhappiness on his sleeve and his general distain for his surroundings, it’s overdue…

 

[TruGr1t]

Dont move Miller now.

Wait till summer when there is more cap , cap space and more teams interested in Miller.

We are not winning the cup this year with this roster, there is litterally no point in selling Miller for cheap just so we can get rid of him now.

The only reason you'd probably expedite it is if Hughes said "get him out of here, now." I can't see Hughes really doing that, so I assume they have time. Sat basically said yesterday if they don't get the return they want they are open to waiting.

 

[VanJack]

I think the point is more about the chemical toxicity right now from all the drama. Don’t think anyone has argued you win an in season Miller trade….

It’s the old adage of addition by subtraction….the way Miller wears his unhappiness on his sleeve and his general distain for his surroundings, it’s overdue…

They'd basically be giving Miller away, right now. Even contending teams that might be after his services, would have major problems dealing with an $8m cap hit. They'd pretty well be forced unload a bad contract on the Canucks--unless it turned into a three-way deal with a lottery team involved in assuming that contract.

I think it's 'probable that Boeser and maybe even Demko, get dealt before Miller.

 

[rypper]

I think it's 'probable that Boeser and maybe even Demko, get dealt before Miller.

I think there's next to 0% that happens.

 

[vancityluongo]

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.

there's a real risk to letting demko ride it out now - other teams could plausibly see a case of "lankinen has outplayed demko which is why they want to keep him, demko is unhappy but likely to bounce back once healthy - let's make our move to get a goalie with elite upside"

if demko stays sub .900 for the rest of the year, that pitch evaporates very quickly

i've been worried for years that demko could go full john gibson on us at any point, and that unfortunately appears to be happening right now

add in murmurs of him being potentially unhappy for the first time in his career... moving him would be my first move from allvin's chair

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.

the premise is fair enough, but i think there's real value in being decisive now. if lankinen is potentially the starter going forward, figure out what his level really is vs trying to sandbag his stats for leverage

 

[sandwichbird2023]

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.

Any quick retool hinges on Petterson re-finding his game. If he can return to 100pts elite 2 way center, him along with Hughes are good enough to carry this team back to a top 10 teams. If we get a 55pts Petey next season, then it really doesn't matter what Allvin acquire in the JTM/Boeser/Suter trade, we would be screwed without a 1C.

All that playing driving leads to what? ~60 points usually if he stays reasonably healthy? Paying ~$8-9 million for primarily regular season play is stupid to me. No thanks. Both are one dimensional players but I value Boeser’s goal scoring more especially if it translates in the playoffs.

For whatever reason, until this year, Ehler has always been deployed on the 2nd line with middle 6 players and no PP1 time. He rarely plays with elite talents (maybe sometimes with Laine when he was still there?), I think if he is given the Boeser-treatment here, he would be a very productive player. Look at this year, Ehler is still playing L2 with fairly average players, but just by giving him PP1 time, he has rocketed up to a PPG player. Imagine giving him L1/PP1 minutes here with Petey.

Also the skating difference between him and BB6 is huge. Ehler will help us big time in improving team speed and transition, allowing us to score more often off the rush.

I think Boeser and Ehler are both good goal scorers, they just score in different ways. Boeser is better at net front tipping in shots, and he can score from distance. Ehler is better at snaking his way around the D and scoring from close distance.