Depends what your definition of "top 6 upside" is.

Perhaps I should have specified that I meant can't miss future top6, like say a B. Schenn, E. Kane, or Couturier. Although I think the Canucks would have to add for Kane.
- Fosco

EKane on twitter yesterday said it is hard watching the playoffs when your team doesn't make them.

Cue the E Kane for Edler rumour chats

That totally ignores the cap advantages and contractual advantages that come along with an 18 year old draft pick though.

And those are huge in a salary cap NHL.
- Dirte

You can still have young players and depth with low cap and be good. Moving up in the draft and losing Edler isn't smart money. Keeping the pick you have is.

EKane on twitter yesterday said it is hard watching the playoffs when your team doesn't make them.

Cue the E Kane for Edler rumour chats
- VANTEL

This just in Edler has been traded to Winnipeg for Kane.

Fair enough but 1 out of those 5 could be a bust.
- thundachunk

Likely more than that to be realistic. But of course when you talk to anyone with a top 5 draft pick they're convinced it's Crosby, not Cam Barker.

He might have to be bought out if Gillis doesn't do something radical to sort out our cap. We have too many $4m+ defenders as it is.
- AlexF

Nope . He has two year left total 8.4 Mil or buy out at 5.6 and fill a spot with a guy like Alberts . Does not make sense . I can see Ballard being traded though.

No you showed me that LA can get a bunch of them.

Tanev earned 900k last year, if he gets $1.1-$1.25 he will do well, being his own agent and all.

Your entire plan reeks of sameness. Move out the junk for not much in return and then Gillis will have his pick of FA who will all sign in Vancouver for well below market price.
- 1970vintage

A) DO YOUR HOMEWORK. It's called capgeek.com 22 teams had AT LEAST 3 of their top 12 forwards signed for $1M or less. The rest usually had their bottom 3 forwards top out at $1.2M.

B) You're dreaming if you think Tanev signs for $1.25M

C) My plan reeks of realism. Gillis isn't blowing up the team. The plan I presented required signing two 4th line wingers, a spare winger and a spare D. I never said anything about being below market value. Market value for those players is below $1M. I left $1M each which should enable them to acquire reasonably good 4th line players.

D) Edler and Burrows are not junk. I said they are available because their no trades don't kick in until July 1. It is actually unlikely that either are traded.

That's a weak list. I could make a list of his headcase episodes & failures that's twice as long.

Also, citing that he's "2nd in active goalies" in a particular category doesn't prove anything except that he's older than the majority of goaltenders at this point in time.
- DrChristianTroy

Gillis said today he will be active at the draft.
- VANTEL

Of course he will. He has to trade Luongo and he has to try and trade Ballard. He has to do both of those before the buyout window closes because that weakens his position in an attempt to trade both.

He ALSO has to make some moves to improve the team. He should be very busy at, and before, the draft.

funny, they were having the same discussion about luongo's value on xm radio today. Their opinion was the same one I've been ripped for on here. Good goaltender? Absolutely. Terrible contract? Absolutely. Likely buyout? Yup. The prevailing opinion is that Gillis has sat on Luongo past the time he could have made a deal. With the lower cap this summer, teams looking to shed salary and the fact that there are a number of goaltending options available that don't come with 9 years remaining on their contract, Luongo is very likely to be bought out this summer.

His skills aren't why he'll be bought out, and as soon as he is he'll have his pick of several teams offering decent money on a fairly short term contract. No interest until after that. Gillis has pooched this one.
- Isles_since_6

If Lou is bought out, I'll mail you a cheque equal to his remaining salary. Not going to happen.

- KB3Point0

Luongo's 3rd among active goaltenders in games played. You don't think that has anything to do with him being 2nd among active goaltenders in Wins & Shutouts? (frank)sakes, it's not rocket science.

If Lou is bought out, I'll mail you a cheque equal to his remaining salary. Not going to happen.
- Fosco

Can I get that deal too?

Gillis said today he will be active at the draft.
- VANTEL

my favorite quote always seems to come to mind when I think of Gillis or Brian Burke.

it's better to be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

Gillis said today he will be active at the draft.
- VANTEL

Say what you will about Gillis but he's not afraid to pull the trigger. I'm sure his off-season plan calls for more than just replacing AV and plugging some holes in the bottom 6.

But Gillis will have his work cut out for him, and it all starts with moving Luongo. It will be an interesting summer for Canucks fans, I think Gillis will be very busy.

If Lou is bought out, I'll mail you a cheque equal to his remaining salary. Not going to happen.
- Fosco

I'd be excited if I thought you had that kind of coin

funny, they were having the same discussion about luongo's value on xm radio today. Their opinion was the same one I've been ripped for on here. Good goaltender? Absolutely. Terrible contract? Absolutely. Likely buyout? Yup. The prevailing opinion is that Gillis has sat on Luongo past the time he could have made a deal. With the lower cap this summer, teams looking to shed salary and the fact that there are a number of goaltending options available that don't come with 9 years remaining on their contract, Luongo is very likely to be bought out this summer.

His skills aren't why he'll be bought out, and as soon as he is he'll have his pick of several teams offering decent money on a fairly short term contract. No interest until after that. Gillis has pooched this one.
- Isles_since_6

He doesn't have a bad contract! If he were staying in Vancouver, which is still a possibility, there would be no issue. Much the same as Marion Hossa. The problem is, it's a bad contract to try and trade, there is a difference!

Secondly, no way on God's green earth is Lu being bought out, that's just asinine!!

He might have to be bought out if Gillis doesn't do something radical to sort out our cap. We have too many $4m+ defenders as it is.
- AlexF

Agree. No way Ballard's here next year. He'll likely be traded, but if he isn't he has to be bought out.

Well I agree with you that he's a better playmaker than Kesler. I also agree that he isn't bad defensively, especially given his size. However, he is not a "good" defensive NHL player at this point. He could develop into one, but right now he is not.

Schroeder is not a 3rd line player. He's a top 6 style forward and he needs to play there to be effective. Playing him on the 3rd line with 3rd line wingers will not produce big offensive numbers. He's a skilled center who needs to play with skilled players to be effective.
- KB3Point0

You'll have to show me where this rule is that says 3rd liners can't be skilled, especially ones that are very good defensively. Since he was drafted, Schroeder has been lauded much more for his devensive ability than his skill.

And if you have this opinion for shut-down purposes, you'll have to refresh my memory as to what line usually plays shut down duties....I seem to remember it being whatever line Kesler is on...not the third line...

And Schroeder was good defensively in the NHL, especially considering it was his rookie season.

To start the year he went something like 11 games without being on the ice for an ES goal against, and the first one was when he stepped on to the ice right before a Schneider giveaway.

He had some struggles later on, but that's to be expected of a rookie, especially considering he had a revolving door of linemates. A number of players struggled because of the line juggling.

He doesn't have a bad contract! If he were staying in Vancouver, which is still a possibility, there would be no issue. Much the same as Marion Hossa. The problem is, it's a bad contract to try and trade, there is a difference!

Secondly, now way on God's green earth is Lu being bought out, that's just asinine!!
- LeftCoaster

It's not asinine Lefty... Do you think recapture will be successfully challenged by the time Gillis has to decide one way or the other?

Luongo's 3rd among active goaltenders in games played. You don't think that has anything to do with him being 2nd among active goaltenders in Wins & Shutouts? (frank)sakes, it's not rocket science.
- DrChristianTroy

Guess what, that's a solid accomplishment too. And as I said, he'll likely end up in the top 7, if not higher, all time in wins. That is a great accomplishment. As are the rest I mentioned.

Along with being 3rd in active goaltenders in games played and 2nd in wins, he's 5th all time in career save %. That isn't in active goalies. That's all time.

You don't have to like Luongo, you don't have to think he's good any more or that he will be good in the future, but he has still performed year after year up until this point in his career and has a lot of great accomplishments under his belt.

I just want a top 6 forward or 2 but if we have to give the world to get them its a bad idea. All this talk of moving up in the draft is fine and dandy but if its not top 3 pick for Edler no way. Those who say Edler is not worth a top 3 pick have no clue. Imo moving up in the draft is a joke anyhow. Potential is thrown around way to much. I prefer the word Proven. I want proven.
- thundachunk

I'd be OK with even just one proven legit top6 forward, and then seeing whether one of Jensen, Kassian, or Schroeder can contribute enough in a top6 role.

Then MG can worry about acquiring a decent 4th line or other players in areas that require depth with the assets and cap space.

EKane on twitter yesterday said it is hard watching the playoffs when your team doesn't make them.

Cue the E Kane for Edler rumour chats
- VANTEL

If I was the Jets I'd love the fire E Kane showed last night. No way I would trade him if I was Winnipeg.

NYC
- VANTEL

Vantel's new favourite proposal will be the Sedins to NYR if they hire AV.

He made huge strides on his defensive game I was extremely impressed. Kid is continually improving. If we could trade him straight across for Brett Connelly or a Nino I would be happy with that.
- thundachunk

Agreed.

The kid has a great attitude and has worked hard for everything he's got. He's constantly improved the areas that his coaches have addressed and I feel he will continue to do so with more time in the NHL.

Great attitude, as well.

It's not asinine Lefty... Do you think recapture will be successfully challenged by the time Gillis has to decide one way or the other?
- DrChristianTroy

It is! You don't buy out one of the better tenders in the league just because, other GM's just know that they can be patient and have him for free. He'll eventually get moved for what amounts to nothing, that's on Gillis for creating this mess. The guy is an arrogant d!ck, he has trouble with long term vision for the franchise. (frank)in rookie!

He doesn't have a bad contract! If he were staying in Vancouver, which is still a possibility, there would be no issue. Much the same as Marion Hossa. The problem is, it's a bad contract to try and trade, there is a difference!

Secondly, no way on God's green earth is Lu being bought out, that's just asinine!!
- LeftCoaster

Before this past playoff I thought there was a small chance (maybe 10%) that Schneider would be traded instead of Luongo. After Lui got pulled and they started and injured Schneider in games 3 and 4 there is no way Luongo stays. He's done with the Canucks. He will be traded by, or at, the draft. If he isn't he will not report to camp.

And no, there's no way he gets bought out.