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

[arttk]

Teams that move off top players are not going to compete anytime soon. That would also pretty much end Hughes time in Vancouver as well. He'd be down to 2 years left after this season, with his trade protection kicking in on July 1, 2026 to limit where he'd go, even as a rental.

Crazy to think that when they are bad, no issues in the room. When they finally win, there are issues.

Kind of why you don't want your young guys to be in a bad environment for too long. Get used to that as the standard. Vs what is needed to give in order to have sustained success long term.

I think it depends, if Petey and Demko can recover their forms, having 3 gamebreakers in Petey, Hughes and Demko is a good base. I think it is possible to get that additional gamebreaker through trades, Vegas built their team that way.

 

[JT Milker]

i don't think i was a benningbro but i was definitely a benning apologist and an aquaman/linden critic. my main theme is that it was bizarre how everyone focussed on benning and twisted every situation to be his fault.

Probably because he was a dumb bastard.

 

[sandwichbird2023]

I'm not disputing that Ehlers isn't a good player. He certainly is. And certainly a career year would be 30+ goals 80+ points. But I also see the asking price to be similar or higher than Boeser (given that we have a chance to extend Boeser now rather than wait for UFA).


Boeser is the better goal scorer and has the better shot. I mentioned this in response to posters talking about Boeser's shooting percentage not being sustainable but if you see his shot location stats there's been a trend of Boeser taking shots from closer to the net. Like you said, Boeser has also gotten good at tipping shots in front of the net.

Personally, I think the whole play driver vs complimentary player argument gets too much focus. Like Brett Hull wouldn't be considered much of a play driver today.

Well Boeser is nowhere near the level of Hull so that comparison aren't really relevant. Also, Hull's best seasons has prime Oates and Modano as his center, it wasn't like he was scoring 70 with nobody good feeding him the puck.

Lets just say that we have our difference preferences, and we probably see each players differently going forward. I think Boeser will have a much steeper decline sooner due to foot speed, so any long term deal for him is extra risky comparing to Ehler. And that is essentially what it is signing a long term deal for these guys, its how you project them going forward.

 

[bossram]

i don't think i was a benningbro but i was definitely a benning apologist and an aquaman/linden critic. my main theme is that it was bizarre how everyone focussed on benning and twisted every situation to be his fault.

How is it "bizarre" that people heavily criticize the worst GM in franchise history?

He was terrible. He made tons of bad decisions. Most of what happened during his tenure was his fault because he did stupid things. This isn't a mystery.

It's a mystery why you're still defending him.

They made such a big deal about Linden coming back.

Clearly remember the video they put together in the lead up.

Just a pure PR move to get the fans onboard with a beloved former player.

But it was evident real quick he really had no mgmt sense whatsoever and completely out of his depth.

Tarnished his reputation and you can see it took a toll on him given his distance from the team since then.

Unfortunate cause I think he is genuinely a nice guy but it has changed how some people view him.

Yep. Aqua begged Linden to come back purely as a PR move. Wave a shiny franchise legend in front of the fans to make up for the disappointment.

Then go on to endure the worst era in franchise history. Yay!

 

[VanillaCoke]

Miller & Boeser to CBJ gets us the best return.

Perfect timing and targets for the blue jackets.

 

[Jerry the great]

Miller & Boeser to CBJ gets us the best return.

Perfect timing and targets for the blue jackets.

i like the idea of a package duo. max retention of Boeser and the pair eats up less than $10MM. If we're punting the season, could take back expiring money to make it even more digestible.

could see NYR being interested in this too.

 

[Quinning]

Miller & Boeser to CBJ gets us the best return.

Perfect timing and targets for the blue jackets.

CBJ must be looking to make a splash, they have been surprisingly strong and need a feel good story to keep the vibes going. Bringing home two American linemates would be big for them

 

[StreetHawk]

I think it depends, if Petey and Demko can recover their forms, having 3 gamebreakers in Petey, Hughes and Demko is a good base. I think it is possible to get that additional gamebreaker through trades, Vegas built their team that way.

With Vegas, players want to go there. Winning team, low tax, out of spotlight.
Canucks don't have a lot of time to show what they are. Massive season in 25/26 to show the players what they are given when some contracts are due up.

 

[Bojack Horvatman]

I just noticed Juulsen has over 450 mins even strength TOI in 32 games this season and hasn't picked up a single point. Not even a random 2nd assist.

He would have as many assists as Hughes if assists to the other team counted

 

[arttk]

With Vegas, players want to go there. Winning team, low tax, out of spotlight.
Canucks don't have a lot of time to show what they are. Massive season in 25/26 to show the players what they are given when some contracts are due up.

I think the point is, there are game breakers traded every TDL. Losing Miller and Boeser would suck but if that gives us 2. more 1st rounders and more, then technically we do have 3 1st rounders to get another two at the TDL. Then you add another one in UFA then you are at a really good spot. If anything, pro scouting is a strong point for this management group.

I think the only misses are with guys that are low cost and following a bad philosophy ( Forbort, Desharnais).

 

[Bojack Horvatman]

The first words out of Linden's mouth -- "this is a great day".

Morgan Freeman Voice: It was not in fact a great day

 

[rypper]

Anybody who wants to move forward with EP40 at 11.6M dollars on this team is essentially saying theyre okay with the team never winning.

At that CAP and with that production the team is doomed.

If you believe this is who he is now, and will never be any better. Which we all know where you fall on that, but i struggle to believe a player that is (near) PPG in his career has fallen off completely and is now a 60 point player. It's far more likely he bounces back.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

January draft rankings:

Sportsnet's 2025 NHL Draft Rankings: January Edition

Lots of Cs in the draft.

Getting one of the higher ones could be huge for a retool in the next couple years.

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

Well Boeser is nowhere near the level of Hull so that comparison aren't really relevant. Also, Hull's best seasons has prime Oates and Modano as his center, it wasn't like he was scoring 70 with nobody good feeding him the puck.

Lets just say that we have our difference preferences, and we probably see each players differently going forward. I think Boeser will have a much steeper decline sooner due to foot speed, so any long term deal for him is extra risky comparing to Ehler. And that is essentially what it is signing a long term deal for these guys, its how you project them going forward.

Lmao… how is it not relevant? They’re both trigger men. Brett Hull being better doesn’t take away from the fact they are still good contributors regardless of not being “play drivers”.

 

[I am toxic]

How is it "bizarre" that people heavily criticize the worst GM in franchise history?

He was terrible. He made tons of bad decisions. Most of what happened during his tenure was his fault because he did stupid things. This isn't a mystery.

It's a mystery why you're still defending him.


Yep. Aqua begged Linden to come back purely as a PR move. Wave a shiny franchise legend in front of the fans to make up for the disappointment.

Then go on to endure the worst era in franchise history. Yay!

Ruthervin and Lindenning should never be discussed in the same breath.

Nor in the same thread or forum.

Nor on the same planet or galaxy.

There are legitimate criticisms of Ruthervin; and we will never forget the Lafferty debacle, but these are criticisms of a professional GM in the NHL.

Lindenning was nothing more than tomfoolery of the greatest magnitude imaginable, the dismantling of a franchise by incompetent boobery* that was only matched in sheer unbelievability by the gaslighting and intellectually dishonest takes defending it.

*my apologies to boobs everywhere, for making an equivalence between boobs and what Benning did. Honestly, as much as I detest what Benning effed up, I love boobs

 

[sandwichbird2023]

Lmao… how is it not relevant? They’re both trigger men. Brett Hull being better doesn’t take away from the fact they are still good contributors regardless of not being “play drivers”.

Just because 2 players are "trigger men" means they are comparable? Is Anson Carter comparable to Brett Hull then?

I never said Boeser isn't a good contributor, but he depends on others to create chances for him, and his effectiveness are thus limited to who his linemates are. Ehler isn't limited that way.

 

[Hodgy]

I think with Boeser, if the team had made the decision to trade Miller, then there is no way I am re-signing Boeser to a big contract unless he shows real chemistry and excels with Pettersson. Otherwise its just way to big of a risk. Unfortunately, of course, you'd ideally want to make that call before the trade deadline which means there isn't much of a sample size to evaluated with him and Pettersson.

The team may get this as they've shifted Boeser to Pettersson's wing recently.

 

[krutovsdonut]

Probably because he was a dumb bastard.

i don't know how anyone can watch linden and aquaman and track the history and think any of them are mensa candidates.

 

[Tinhorn1]

Why would Ehlers sign here again? If they aren't resigning Boeser, they'd better be planning for the worst, not the best.

 

[krutovsdonut]

Linden is still my favorite Canuck ever (and the '94 team is my favorite team), but he totally called played by Benning and Grima. When he finally realized how stupid Benning was, he got backstabbed and was forced to resign.

sadly i think the truth is much sadder and dumber than that, and i was a huge linden fan as a player.

 

[ProviesGhost]

Was it Phil Kessel who took forever to trade, will he waive, won't he waive...? Ugh, I'm sick of this shit already!

 

[VanillaCoke]

CBJ must be looking to make a splash, they have been surprisingly strong and need a feel good story to keep the vibes going. Bringing home two American linemates would be big for them

Exactly, they're damn close to playoffs and feel good story of the year.

If they have the courage to give up a few top pieces, they can vault themselves way ahead of the curve.

 

[CanucksSayEh]

Joshua-Ehlers-Garland
Desharnais-Myers

 

[racerjoe]

Just a gentle reminder the Lindholm trade was made on an idle Wednesday….

 

[Bleach Clean]

Why would Ehlers sign here again? If they aren't resigning Boeser, they'd better be planning for the worst, not the best.

Bingo.

Ehlers coming here is likely at a cost that meets or exceeds what they can re-sign Boeser to now. So how are you getting more efficient than simply re-signing him?

This is just about Boeser's camp insisting on a term the team isn't willing to commit to. I think they'll get closer to the TDL, table one last offer, and if he takes it he's here, otherwise he gets Horvat'd out of here.

They know what he is at this point.

i don't know how anyone can watch linden and aquaman and track the history and think any of them are mensa candidates.

They can't all be dumb?