Trevor Linden has been making the rounds with the local media this week, downplaying the idea that the Vancouver Canucks' seventh-overall pick is in play or that the team is looking to make a big splash in free agency.
First, he told
Jason Brough of The Athletic that "The speculation has gotten a life of its own" when talking about that seventh pick appearing on TSN's Trade Bait board.
Now, Linden has doubled down in
a conversation with Ed Willes of The Province.
“Never say never, but it would have to be a very compelling situation where we can add a young piece,” he told Willes. “We feel very good about where we are. To stay consistent with the story we’ll make the pick and I imagine that will happen.”
Linden's other comments to Willes emphasize that the franchise's core belief these days is that good teams these days are built primarily through the draft.
"Maybe, you can add a core piece or two through free agency or a trade," he added. "(Roberto) Luongo was an example of that. But generally speaking, those guys aren’t available through trade or July 1. They have to be drafted and that takes time."
Of course, we have seen some blockbuster deals go down around this time of year recently—and I certainly think it's fair to say that P.K. Subban has been a core piece in Nashville and so has Taylor Hall in New Jersey. But I think, for the most part, Canucks fans will be happy to hear that the organization is leaning toward patience this year—which also allows them to play to their strength, drafting.
At this point, I'd expect the Canucks to make their pick at seven next Friday.
I wonder if all the dysfunction in Ottawa makes it more or less likely that the Senators will make a big move on or before draft day? In addition to trying to figure out what to do with Erik Karlsson and/or Mike Hoffman, the Sens also have up till the moment their fourth pick is announced to decide whether they'll surrender it to Colorado as the final piece of the Matt Duchene trade. If they don't, they're on the hook for their first-rounder next year—unless they can make a deal with the Avs to make that condition go away. I would think the price for that would be pretty high—at this point, it would appear that the Sens won't be moving too far out of the NHL basement anytime soon.
One other detail on the Senators that has been lost in all the drama: like Karlsson, Matt Duchene is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019. With the way things stand right now, it's hard to imagine him signing a long-term contract extension when his window opens on July 1. If the Sens wait till next year to give up their first-round pick, Duchene could be gone from the organization a week after the trade is finally completed.
Sens' GM Pierre Dorion has some huge decisions to make and is operating from a position of both weakness and uncertainty. Mike Hoffman's value as a trade chip has just plummeted but one would think that if he isn't moved, Erik Karlsson is more likely that ever to refuse to stay with the organization—in which case, he should probably be traded ASAP.
It'll be tough for Dorion to find the clarity that he needs to act decisively on these matters, which could have huge future impacts on a Senators organization that's in desperate need of a win.
Back to the Canucks. Linden namechecks Brendan Leipsic and Sven Baertschi to Ed Willes as two players who he expects to see take on bigger roles next season, when the Sedins' ice time is up for grabs.
"For whatever reason, last year felt better until Brock (Boeser) got hurt," Linden added. "There was a sense things were different, whether it was Brock doing what he was doing, the style of play, the kids who were here doing what they were doing. For me there was a shift in our fans because there was some hope there.
"If we can continue that story we started last season and build on that, our fans can see there’s hope here. If we can be known as a team that’s well-coached, hard-working and competitive and has a chance to win every night, that’s success for me."
Of course, the big hope is that Elias Pettersson can inject the same level of excitement with his arrival as Boeser did last season. It is now confirmed that we'll have to wait till training camp to see the young star, who won't be participating in development camp this year.
Considering his injury, that's probably not a bad thing. Pettersson was back and forth between Sweden and North America quite a bit last summer. Hopefully he'll be able to log some quality time in the weight room in between heaping servings of Swedish meatballs!
The Canucks did release a preliminary roster for Development camp on Wednesday:
More names will be added—certainly, this year's crop of draft picks.
The good news for local fans is that the entire event will be held at Rogers Arena this year and will be open to the public. Practice sessions will run from 9 a.m. till noon on July 2, 3 and 4 and will be free. The Summer Showcase game will cost $10, with proceeds to the Canucks for Kids Fund. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.ca.
To wrap up today: Tryamkin speaks!
After he was foiled in his quest for an in-person interview with the big defensemen in Copenhagen during the World Championship, Daily Hive's Janik Beichler finally pinned down his man for an email interview, which posted on Wednesday.
Tryamkin has two years left on his deal with Automobilist in the KHL. He'll turn 26 the summer after it expires—which could see him ripe for a return to the NHL just as he's entering his hockey prime.
Sounds like this outreach was part of a strategic plan by Tryamkin's North American agent:
Though it sounds like it'd be next-to-impossible to get Tryamkin back to North America before his current KHL deal expires, this is the most promising news we've had to date that he could come back.
Tryamkin did finish the World Championship as a healthy scratch and admitted to Beichler that he felt his game declined over the course of the season.
“I think the season was good,” he reflected. “I’d say it was a ‘B’, not an ‘A’ mark. I didn’t play very well at the end of the season, but I worked hard every day and did all my best.
“I work hard each and every day trying to get better and better in every aspect.”
One item that I didn't see widely reported on this side of the ocean: even with an admitted dip in play at the end of the year, Tryamkin did finish out the year as a member of the KHL All-Star Team.
He'll continue to be a player that Canucks fans should watch from afar next season.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»