Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Thoughts so far

July 6, 2013, 6:28 PM ET [202 Comments]
Ian Esplen
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow me on twitter @IanEsplen for talk about hockey, sports and life in general anytime



Before I get into what I think of the recent additions, I’d first like to address all the fake Canucks fans and Canucks haters that are out there.

You know who you are. You’re the ones who have never talked to Roberto Luongo in your life, yet you know exactly what he is thinking, doing, hell, you probably even claim to know when the man needs to take a dump, because you’re BFFs right?

The man has said nothing! He hasn’t said he’s mad. He hasn’t said he is devising a plan to kill every last Canucks fan. And most certainly hasn’t said that he will not play for Vancouver next season.

If I may throw in my two cents on the matter, I would imagine he’s probably feeling pretty much the same type of disappointment as he has whenever Vancouver has been knocked out of the playoffs. He’ll need about a month to digest what has happened (which seems to be the trend – he generally takes about a month to collect his thoughts at the end of the year before taking with the media) and then he will refocus and be ready to be back between the pipes for Vancouver and Team Canada.

The “LUMOUR MONGERS” aren’t the only jackass’ I’d like to address. I’d also the ones who want Mike Gillis fired for winning five division titles in five years because he traded Cody “Jesus” Hodgson, mishandled his goalies and hasn’t signed any big names.

One, it will take at least five years to decide who the better player is between Hodgson and Kassian. And judging by the deals handed out yesterday, 20 goal power-forwards are getting paid about the same as 70 point centres, so I’m guessing GMs feel the value of either to a team is similar.

Two, the mishandling of the goalies, well yes that did suck. But at the same time the new CBA – which no GM could have really fully planned for – is why Luongo’s contract is much worse than it was a year ago. Could he have just bought him out? Sure. But what sounds better to you if you’re an owner: pay Lu 24 million to not play and have Schneider in net OR Play Luongo – who’s still pretty damn good – and get a player that will be a top two centre for 10-15 years?

I know I’d take Horvat and Lu over having just Schneider and being minus 24 million.

And lastly, I have a small message to the “do something” crowd. Gillis had his July 5th in September and during the season. Gillis locked up Burrows, Edler and Higgins for a combined 12 million. Who gives a crap if they weren’t signed on July 5th, I’ll put the signing of those three guys up against any of the moves that any team made yesterday.

So in the end, has Gillis made mistakes? The answer to that is yes. But he has also made a lot of work towards making the Vancouver Canucks into an NHL powerhouse.

So I guess my question for conversation is, if not Gillis, than who?

My answer- I don’t see anyone I’d rather have running this team right now.


Thoughts on signings

Brad Richardson
Love the pickup as long as he stays healthy. Over the past few years, any Kings game I’ve watched Richardson plays well. He is good on the forecheck, along the boards and he finishes his check. Nice addition for a million dollars.

Yannick Weber
Nothing special about this deal, but I do like that Gillis filled Alberts’ position for have the price with a guy who has twice the skill. Whether he’s in Utica or Vancouver he’ll contribute.

Mike Santorelli
The good news is he’s a 20-goal scorer. The bad news is he did it on a pretty bad team where someone had to get the goals. I like the addition of a speed and skill guy that can kill penalties. It also never hurts to have another local guy around. I haven’t heard the dollar numbers yet, but I imagine they are around the minimum for a good 12/13/14 forward.


Guys who are left

1- Matt Halischuk
Why Halischuk hasn’t been talked about more is beyond me. I view the guy as a bit of Ryan Callahan light and think he would thrive under Torts and be a 2-way, 20 goal scoring winger. He may not fit the idea of getting bigger, but he’s big where it counts: inside his chest.

2- Jonathon Blum
Right-handed, check. Excellent passer, check. Mobile, check. Jon Blum is the perfect insurance policy on a Tanev offer sheet. The guy can do everything Tanev can (likely better, IMO) and will very likely sign for a cheaper price. I’m hoping that Gillis goes hard after Blum for somewhere around 900K a season. Worst case he gets a very good No. 7 guy.

3- Tim Brent
Brent is the exact type of guy that Vancouver needs. He can kill penalties, win faceoffs and float between the third and fourth lines. He had 12 goals a season ago, but struggled this season. I think he is a cheaper replacement for Manny and the value he’d bring if Vancouver could land him for around a million would make him one of the steals of UFA day.

4- Thomas McCollum
The Red Wings gave up on him, but I believe there is still a lot of upside with him. He played reasonably well in the AHL and would make things interesting with the competition for the backup gig. Another guy that you likely get for around 700K, that can play 20 games if needed.

5- Colten Teubert
I know I’ll get blasted again for suggestion Teubert – a guy who Edmonton didn’t even want – but I’ve always liked the guy. A lot of the issues that I think he has have been a result of the way he’s been yo-yo’d around. I’m not even sure how many coaches he’s already had in his pro career, but I bet that’s been part of the problem. Get him at a cheap rate and let Torts have a crack at him and I bet his career turns around.


The Likely List


Akim Aliu
Dave Gagner like this kid a lot and he has the size, toughness and youth that Gillis covets. Worst case he ends up being a solid player in Utica , but I have a feeling Gillis takes on Aliu as his yearly reclamation project.

Nick Palmieri
He’s 23 years old, 6’3, 220 pounds, has a history with Torts and to top it off he’s from Utica . I think Gillis takes a flyer on a big on a guy that at worst sells tickets in Utica and rewards that team with a homegrown player. He also had three seasons of 24 goals or more in the OHL so there is some skill with his size


Well that's a wrap.

Ian


***********


If you are interested in advertising your business to people in the Vancouver area or to hockey fans across North America, you can contact me by clicking the “CONTACT” button at the top of the page.

KINDLE USERS in the United States of America only: Sign up for Canucks Buzz; a one-stop feed for all things Canucks-related on HockeyBuzz. Content is delivered instantly to your Kindle reader whenever a new Canucks-related blog is published. For more information click here.



Join the Discussion: » 202 Comments » Post New Comment