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

[SeawaterOnIce]

Sounds about right.

Well, if this is their decision, then they'll garner no sympathy from me if later down the line they showed that they had no idea how to pull the team out of their current situation and start to use injuries and other bullshit excuses.

It's strange. JR came onboard and said all the right things. It seems like this management group intended to be proactive rather than reactive....

It was quite clear the team had already tuned out Bruce Boudreau in late 2022 (dismal start to October 2022 and a .500 team that looked dead in the water by Christmas). Everyone knew he was a dead man walking, and it took forever for management to react (possibly due to FAQ's reluctance to pay for multiple coaches).

The Miller and Pettersson issue should have probably been addressed last offseason. The issues on the blueline should have been addressed sooner. There's also the matter of Rick Tocchet...in which I can bet will not be re-signed. Part of me is thinking the lack of moves could revolve around FAQ's unwillingness to part with the core? He seems like the type of guy that would get emotionally invested in guys like Miller and Boeser.

It's just so weird to see this franchise now stuck in a rudderless direction after intending to be so forward-thinking. This market has been expecting a move over the past 2 months and it really seems like the players have been waiting for the other shoe to drop.

 

[Deeds26]

@Vector cap accrual purposes, just for you.

 

[wonton15]

All these cap accrual moves just to offload Boeser and acquire Brian Dumoulin!

 

[sandwichbird2023]

I think there's a better chance we do make it than not. We have a better roster on paper than the teams we are competing with and are likely to be more aggressive to improve by the deadline than those other teams who are still young/building.

Again I'm against rentals at this point but I think we can assume management is looking to trade picks and prospects for a good player that fits the core now and going forward.

If we get to the deadline and the team is in a tailspin and looks like missing is a real possibility, then I would reassess. But to punt on this season right now does nothing except likely piss off Hughes.

Therein lies the problem, the games are not played on paper and our star forwards (ie: JTM, Petey and BB6) hasn't played up to their standard this season. Same thing in NY, where on paper they have a stacked team but Panarin/Fox/Shers hasn't been the superstars they are expected to be, and now they are on the outside looking in.

As for trading for "good player that fits the core now and going forward", I'm not seeing many targets available. They might surprise us with a Hronek-type deal out of the blue, but that seems unlikely. Its one thing to be ready and willing to acquire those pieces, it is another thing to have one available to move at a price you are willing to pay.

The point is that with the hypothetical assets we obtain selling off the mentioned players above we should be able to acquire 1 or possibly 2 young core pieces and potentially dip our toes into getting ourselves a higher end FA with the available cap. Guys like Tkachuk/Power/Necas/Byram would be obtainable and then you sign Ehlers or something in FA.

If we do decide to sell, the next logical step would be to have guys like Raty, D-Petey, Willander etc get a couple of months of NHL experience with the hope that they’re able to establish themselves as full time NHL’ers by the start of next season.

There are no assets we can acquire from any JTM/BB6/etc deals that will have value enough to then flip for guys like Tkachuk/Power/Necas/Byram. JTM/BB6 aren't worth much at this point, maybe the typical rental price at best (ie: a late 1st, a B-prospect and depth guys to offset the cap). I don't think Tkachuk/Power/Necas are even available unless we are trading a piece like Petey, but even if they are available, numerous teams are able and willing to outbid anything we can reasonably offer.

 

[Bgav]

Feels like no one wants JT. Doubt we get much for him if he actually gets traded.

 

[VanillaCoke]

Miller to Columbus or Philadelphia I could see happening

 

[DFAC]

Trade Miller for a tantrum throwing child… oh wait…

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Miller to Columbus or Philadelphia I could see happening

Columbus has a good thing going atm.

Not sure they want to disrupt that.

 

[ManVanFan]

I hope mgmt takes a look at trying to get Ehlers.

Probably not until the offseason as he's a pending UFA and no real reason for the Jets to trade him given where they are.

But would provide much needed speed and scoring while filling in the need for a Top 6 LW.

Watching the game with my neighbour yesterday. He has some NHL friends, office types not players. We were talking about Ehlers and he was saying he asked the question "why doesn't Ehlers get more time, more often?". Average's 16 min a game. The Jets have found that at around that 16 minute mark he's good but when you start to play him more, he really falls off quite a bit.

I would still take him for 16 good minutes a game. Haha.

 

[Bleach Clean]

Feels like no one wants JT. Doubt we get much for him if he actually gets traded.

But you'd think a 103 point centre has major value? 99 points when they tried to deal him before.

They'll have to take a step back to take 2 steps forward.

That Cam Robinson hit about another star (implying Hughes) is also sick of Miller's attitude... Teams may be reticent to bring that on.

 

[ManVanFan]

Feels like no one wants JT. Doubt we get much for him if he actually gets traded.

 

[valkynax]

It's strange. JR came onboard and said all the right things. It seems like this management group intended to be proactive rather than reactive....

It was quite clear the team had already tuned out Bruce Boudreau in late 2022 (dismal start to October 2022 and a .500 team that looked dead in the water by Christmas). Everyone knew he was a dead man walking, and it took forever for management to react (possibly due to FAQ's reluctance to pay for multiple coaches).

The Miller and Pettersson issue should have probably been addressed last offseason. The issues on the blueline should have been addressed sooner. There's also the matter of Rick Tocchet...in which I can bet will not be re-signed. Part of me is thinking the lack of moves could revolve around FAQ's unwillingness to part with the core? He seems like the type of guy that would get emotionally invested in guys like Miller and Boeser.

It's just so weird to see this franchise now stuck in a rudderless direction after intending to be so forward-thinking. This market has been expecting a move over the past 2 months and it really seems like the players have been waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Honestly I'm not really sure if it's rudderless. What is a concern however, is that our front office is not having their signature "I see a problem from 500 miles away and I'm going to kill it right f***ing NOW" moment. Everything seems quiet and almost lethargic.

But of course, I'm not the numbskull sitting in the chair trying to run things, and they are not obligated to let people know their hand.

It is entirely possible that they just want to see how team will look while healthy, as per their words. So far it's been one (shitastic) game. When they get nuked so badly by Kings and Oilers that even the Marsians can see the mushroom clouds, what will they do?

I hate to say this again, but I really miss Zadorov - not that he alone will solve our problem but his swagger will at least make the team more fun to watch.

 

[Quinning]

Miller and Pettersson killed all of the positive vibes from last season. It feels like we're back in the Benning Era, where I don't care if they win or not anymore. It was fun actually caring again for a while, now it's just bad for my blood pressure.

The cold truth is this - the longer this circus continues, the more likely we lose the best player this franchise has ever had to Free Agency. And I'm not about to get emotionally invested if that's anything more than a remote possibility, because that equals the Heat Death of the Universe and a full rebuild.

 

[kanucks25]

Therein lies the problem, the games are not played on paper and our star forwards (ie: JTM, Petey and BB6) hasn't played up to their standard this season. Same thing in NY, where on paper they have a stacked team but Panarin/Fox/Shers hasn't been the superstars they are expected to be, and now they are on the outside looking in.

As for trading for "good player that fits the core now and going forward", I'm not seeing many targets available. They might surprise us with a Hronek-type deal out of the blue, but that seems unlikely. Its one thing to be ready and willing to acquire those pieces, it is another thing to have one available to move at a price you are willing to pay.

If I had to bet today on which team makes the playoffs out of VAN, CAL, UTA, STL I'm betting on the Canucks. Perhaps it's homerism, we can agree to disagree, but I imagine most people would bet the same both inside and outside the market (well, maybe "today" isn't best day given the last game we just played but that tide will turn as it always does after the next solid win - think of how different the temperature was 2 days ago coming off that Leafs win and knowing Hronek was coming back).

IMO the Canucks are a step above these teams assuming health and by all accounts want to be involved on or before the trade deadline and are willing to sell futures. And yeah it won't be easy to find a player that is ready to fit into this core now and be a significant contributor but that's management's job. As most GM's will say, the public only becomes aware of a fraction of players/trades that are being considered.

Like Hronek, a team might not be shopping a player and then someone throws a decent package at them and they reconsider.

 

[credulous]

Feels like no one wants JT. Doubt we get much for him if he actually gets traded.

his contract is a big hurdle. not that it's bad but it's big and almost every team will need to move out money to bring him in. he's got term too so it makes it even harder

i also think his attitude and reputation are a big hurdle. winning teams don't want to bring in someone who could ruin the vibe

those two things mean the list of trading partners is very, very short unless the canucks get really creative in the return they'll accept

 

[Quinning]

his contract is a big hurdle. not that it's bad but it's big and almost every team will need to move out money to bring him in. he's got term too so it makes it even harder

i also think his attitude and reputation are a big hurdle. winning teams don't want to bring in someone who could ruin the vibe

those two things mean the list of trading partners is very, very short unless the canucks get really creative in the return they'll accept

The NMC is the killer, should have never done that.

 

[ManVanFan]

Hoggy boosting that trade value. This graphic might still look better than actual on ice play last night.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Sounds about right

He's a soon to be 32 year old at the start of a retirement contract with rumored conflict with his teammates which isn't anything new for him in his career. He's proven to be a 100 pt producer and COULD age like Pavelski. But he carries massive risk due to the contract and could end up ruining the culture for another franchise. It's also well known that this franchise is itching to move on for him which further depletes his value.

 

[JT Milker]

The NMC is the killer, should have never done that.

All good players get trade protection, it’s a moot point.

 

[Tinhorn1]

Hoggy boosting that trade value. This graphic might still look better than actual on ice play last night.

What a game. Was thinking that Hughes was having a rare bad night, and sure enough. Maybe he and Myers need each other. Ha.

 

[thecupismine]

Dhaliwal basically saying today Canucks haven't traded for a defenseman because every time they pick up the phone the counter party is asking for Willander.

I still don't think that really excuses them from not addressing depth in the summer or looking at cheaper options like Carrier, but whatever.

Nonis said the same thing with teams asking for Edler, Bourdon and Kesler in every deal when looking for offensive help, then his ass got fired in the offseason. At some point you just have to do your job.

Management was praised nonstop last year for finding a way to get the job done without giving up major pieces, and deserves equal amounts of blame for sitting on their ass all year & allowing the defense + culture issues to spiral out of control.

Every contract except Hughes and Demko has been signed by these guys - no excuses for not being able to fix it. Fabbro was available for free, Carrier for peanuts, etc. Instead Juulsen is still playing hard matchup minutes for us instead of riding the bench.

Tocchet’s also got to get his act together. I defended him nonstop earlier in the season, but the team has come out extremely flat lately. I gave him all the praise in the world for fixing the teams defensive issues & making them play hard, but now they can’t even do that out there. Yes, there’s issues with the defense, but the effort just isn’t there right now.

 

[ManVanFan]

Sounds about right

He's a soon to be 32 year old at the start of a retirement contract with rumored conflict with his teammates which isn't anything new for him in his career. He's proven to be a 100 pt producer and COULD age like Pavelski. But he carries massive risk due to the contract and could end up ruining the culture for another franchise. It's also well known that this franchise is itching to move on for him which further depletes his value.

Petey-Miller as teams 1-2 punch is something Canucks haven't had since Sedin-Kesler. Tons of teams in the league would want it. I want it to work as a Canucks fan. Losing Cole, he didn't seem to be the loudest person in the room but it seemed as if things did get heated that he could "bark" back and calm things down. Same with big Z. It's been mentioned that without Miller, they fear the room is too quiet.

Find a way for Miller to use hot headedness against the other team, not his own.

 

[rypper]

I can't believe the owned media did this. And worst of all they're going to get away with it.

 

[Rick Rocket]

I really thought we were gonna add Dillion in the offseason. I wonder if they tried

 

[ManVanFan]

Tocchet’s also got to get his act together. I defended him nonstop earlier in the season, but the team has come out extremely flat lately. I gave him all the praise in the world for fixing the teams defensive issues & making them play hard, but now they can’t even do that out there. Yes, there’s issues with the defense, but the effort just isn’t there right now.

I wasn't a fan of Yeo but they replaced him with the skills coach? Yogi Švejkovský. Who's running the PP? I don't know who runs that anymore. I've always been tough on Tocchet and he's done a good job, I just think he's limited in his coaching style, I see him as more of a motivator then NHL coach. I think he needs that Brad Shaw, Mike Yeo, Scott Walker type of coach to help him out a bit.