Player Discussion Urho Vaakanainen

[Ducks DVM]

Its been like two weeks, lol.

He was the Panthers second best plus minus last year if thats how you want to look at things.

Matthieu Schneider and Kent Huskins were +22 and +23 in ‘08-09. Pronger was -1, Neidermayer was -2, and Beauchemin was -9.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

He produces the same, he plays the same, he's an ok bottom pairing defender with a lot of flaws which is what he was here. Pick almost any other ex-Duck to make this point

He wasn’t an ok bottom pairing defender, he was waived by one of the worst teams in NHL history.
Went from an AHL d-man to a bottom pairing on a very good panthers team.

Matthieu Schneider and Kent Huskins were +22 and +23 in ‘08-09. Pronger was -1, Neidermayer was -2, and Beauchemin was -9.

I wasn’t the one who originally brought up plus minus to prove my point.

I was pointing out how the argument really dosent work with Mahura since he did have a good plus minus last year

 

[SmokeyDuck]

He's been solid the last few games. Def don't mind him on the third pairing.

 

[Ducksforcup]

He's been solid the last few games. Def don't mind him on the third pairing.

Agreed, he's starting to get some more confidence too and it's all for the good. Def do not hate him on the third pairing.

 

[GunnarStahl]

Happy he finally got his first NHL goal, a clutch game winner too!

 

[QuackAttack90]

This guy is playing great. Nothing flashy but I am so happy that he seems to be finding a role on this team. He is playing as well as we could have hoped

 

[Sean Garrity]

I'm starting to see why some Bruins' fans weren't happy they had to give him up. Hopefully he can just stay healthy.

 

[DuckDuckGetz]

He's playing well and I think building momentum should do him wonders

 

[Sendhelp2Anaheim]

He's playing well and I think building momentum should do him wonders

Gudas is great partner for him too, I’d love to see a little more offense from him. But his overall play has been good as the 3rd lhd

 

[QuackAttack90]

Urho’s goal has been switched to Henrique’s. A bit of a bummer but hopefully he’ll get another one soon

 

[Rhyagelle]

Its the second time he got a first goal and it was changed half an hour later

 

[GunnarStahl]

Its the second time he got a first goal and it was changed half an hour later

3rd I think actually. I believe he’s lost two to offside review.

 

[AngelDuck]

Gudas is great partner for him too, I’d love to see a little more offense from him. But his overall play has been good as the 3rd lhd

There is zero offense to Vaakanainen and never will be. Think Toni Lydman

What a great outcome that would be for us if he became that and I honestly don’t think it’s impossible

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

3rd I think actually. I believe he’s lost two to offside review.

I think you're right, poor guy. NHL.com still lists the goal as a slap shot goal by Henrique, which obviously isn't true.

 

[Sendhelp2Anaheim]

There is zero offense to Vaakanainen and never will be. Think Toni Lydman

What a great outcome that would be for us if he became that and I honestly don’t think it’s impossible

Ya him and leason have been pleasant surprises this year, guys I wasn’t really expecting much from.

 

[MMC]

Starting to wonder what his contract extension will be

 

[Deuce22]

Starting to wonder what his contract extension will be

Unless there is a trade, I'm not sure he'll be extended. Probably already behind Fowler, Mintyukov, and LaCombe. With Zellweger and Hinds at SD.

 

[MMC]

Unless there is a trade, I'm not sure he'll be extended. Probably already behind Fowler, Mintyukov, and LaCombe. With Zellweger and Hinds at SD.

You wouldn't qualify him? His QO is less than a million and I doubt he gets anything too exorbitant in arbitration? Might as well keep him around as depth and trade him when he gets pushed out

 

[Deuce22]

You wouldn't qualify him? His QO is less than a million and I doubt he gets anything too exorbitant in arbitration? Might as well keep him around as depth and trade him when he gets pushed out

I might qualify him if I saw a role for him in the future. I think he's a competent 3rd pairing D. But if he's just going to sit in the press box, what's the point? With Verbeek seemingly nixing the LaCombe on his off side experiment, Vaaks is already scratch bait.

 

[MMC]

I might qualify him if I saw a role for him in the future. I think he's a competent 3rd pairing D. But if he's just going to sit in the press box, what's the point? With Verbeek seemingly nixing the LaCombe on his off side experiment, Vaaks is already scratch bait.

Even if he ends up being the 7D, still don’t know why that means we should move on. Rather have him in that role than some plug

 

[Deuce22]

Even if he ends up being the 7D, still don’t know why that means we should move on. Rather have him in that role than some plug

Can't argue with your logic. Just would rather develop guys that actually might have a role when Ducks are again competitive.

 

[Firequacker]

Can't argue with your logic. Just would rather develop guys that actually might have a role when Ducks are again competitive.

There's probably a world where establishing and maintaining Vaaks as a reliable and relatively inexpensive third pairing guy is seen as more valuable to the organization long term than filling the whole defense with flashy studs we can't afford. Not sure if it's this world or not, but it's possible.

 

[Ducks DVM]

I might qualify him if I saw a role for him in the future. I think he's a competent 3rd pairing D. But if he's just going to sit in the press box, what's the point? With Verbeek seemingly nixing the LaCombe on his off side experiment, Vaaks is already scratch bait.

I don’t know that the LaCombe on his off side has been nixed. I think it’s only appropriate to say that LaCombe on his off side on the top pairing has been paused, possibly temporarily, possibly permanently.

 

[mightyquack]

Vaaks is starting to look like that solid middle pairing defenceman we thought we were getting when we traded Lindholm. I think he's played more then well enough to the point the question has shifted from, when is he being traded to him possibly being apart of the defensive core.

LaCombe is only a rookie so plenty of time (though Vaaks is only 2 years older and only has 50ish more games played), but if his offence doesn't develop......I like Vaaks' defensive game alot more then LaCombe's.

I believe I saw someone here state he is sort of like a Lydman type of defenceman, and I like that comparison. Those are the sort of defenceman you win with as well.

 

[Sean Garrity]

It’s great to see what he can do when healthy.