I think the Leafs are in for a good year. Mybe continue on from last year. They got a good piece with Clarkson even if they overpayed.
- VANTEL

Totally agree. They have great team speed which they showed vs Boston. Their top 4 lines look fantastic.

Kessel Bozak JVR
Clarkson Kadri Lupul
---- Bolland Kulimen
Mcclaren Mcclement Orr

Their D still has something to be desired for but they have some youth with Gardiner and Reilly. Its gonna be all about Goaltending with them and if Bernier can emerge as a true number 1.

Hockey is better when TO has a good team.

Is Gillis on crack? Richardson, Weber, Biega, & Blain is who the Canucks signed in the free agency frenzy? Aye carumba.

What about Tim Brent? He's a better centre than Richardson and could have been signed for cheaper. Richardson (plus Tanev & Wiese) if signed, will form the 3 of the 7 players the Canucks need to fill the roster. Why not promote Jensen & Gaunce?

What about Jon Blum? He's definitely a better d-man than Weber, although Weber's contract is palatable as a 7/8 defenseman.

Who are Biega & Blain? Never heard of 'em. The only thing I can figure out is they are Utica bound as Vancouver needs to sign a bunch more players for Utica alone.

I would have liked to bring back Matt Cooke ($2.5M per/3 yr deal w/ the Wild). I imagine he would have signed for $2M per year to come back to the Canucks. Benoit Pouliot at $1.3M could have been great for the Canucks also. Both Cullen & Hendricks, who signed with the Preds, could have been brought in at reasonable salaries. What about Craig Adams? I think Anton Khudobin, who signed with Carolina, could have challenged for the backup role. At least he has NHL experience compared with Lack & Eriksson. Sticking with Carolina, Mike Komisarek signs for $700k for one year? He would have made the perfect #7 d-man for the Canucks!

There are still some great depth players the Canucks could sign to fill out the Utica roster (which is still 7-10 players short). The Canucks should target some of the following depth players: Blum & Brent (mentioned above), Matt Halischuk, Garnet Exelby, Chad Larose, Colten Teubert, Jack Skille, Joel Broda, Nick Palmieri, Keven Veilleux, Brett Sonne, and Maxime Macenauer. All of the players will fit the Canucks/Comets mold. Good hunting, MG.

Best of luck to Max Lapierre in St. Louis! Now we get to play against him. How about a Burrows/Lapierre jawing matchup?

Is Gillis on crack? Richardson, Weber, Biega, & Blain is who the Canucks signed in the free agency frenzy? Aye carumba.

What about Tim Brent? He's a better centre than Richardson and could have been signed for cheaper. Richardson (plus Tanev & Wiese) if signed, will form the 3 of the 7 players the Canucks need to fill the roster. Why not promote Jensen & Gaunce?

What about Jon Blum? He's definitely a better d-man than Weber, although Weber's contract is palatable as a 7/8 defenseman.

Who are Biega & Blain? Never heard of 'em. The only thing I can figure out is they are Utica bound as Vancouver needs to sign a bunch more players for Utica alone.

I would have liked to bring back Matt Cooke ($2.5M per/3 yr deal w/ the Wild). I imagine he would have signed for $2M per year to come back to the Canucks. Benoit Pouliot at $1.3M could have been great for the Canucks also. Both Cullen & Hendricks, who signed with the Preds, could have been brought in at reasonable salaries. What about Craig Adams? I think Anton Khudobin, who signed with Carolina, could have challenged for the backup role. At least he has NHL experience compared with Lack & Eriksson. Sticking with Carolina, Mike Komisarek signs for $700k for one year? He would have made the perfect #7 d-man for the Canucks!

There are still some great depth players the Canucks could sign to fill out the Utica roster (which is still 7-10 players short). The Canucks should target some of the following depth players: Blum & Brent (mentioned above), Matt Halischuk, Garnet Exelby, Chad Larose, Colten Teubert, Jack Skille, Joel Broda, Nick Palmieri, Keven Veilleux, Brett Sonne, and Maxime Macenauer. All of the players will fit the Canucks/Comets mold. Good hunting, MG.

Best of luck to Max Lapierre in St. Louis! Now we get to play against him. How about a Burrows/Lapierre jawing matchup?
- canuck_fan_in_t.o.

Matt Cullen got 3.5 per and Hendricks at 1.85. Both way out of Vancouver price range.

We better get Tanev under contract pretty fast. After all the dominos fell today I can see someone making an offer sheet for the guy.

Didn't realize Kassian wasn't on an ELC
- A_SteamingLombardi

You think Kassian is as developed as Hodgson? You obviously know that was the point I was making. I mention it enough times over the last few pages.

Playing dodgeball with my posts doesnt make me wrong.

Definitely agree that Gillis misjudged Kassian's talent level, initially anyways, but isn't that par for the course?

Canucks went from a position of strength down the middle to a weakness in a hurry because of injuries. The only reason the top six center position had trouble was because of Kesler's injuries, can't predict those things. Truthfully I don't remember the details, if Kesler was injured before or after the trade? Looking back I'm ok with the deal, at the time though, I wasn't happy.

Having a healthy Hank and Kesler down the middle with Schroeder as a backup plan is gonna have to do isn't it.
- LeftCoaster

They knew Kesler was hurt when they traded Cody. The non sheep were in a uproar over it while the "Gillis knows best" camp called people names who didnt like the timing.

We better get Tanev under contract pretty fast. After all the dominos fell today I can see someone making an offer sheet for the guy.
- Bluechip23

I don't have any fears of him getting an offer sheet. His story to the NHL is remarkable but people forget that the story how he got here is meaningless to other teams since it wasnt their rabbit pulled out of a hat. He's just good but hardly a big target by other teams. Giving him more money than Van can afford is not a good strategy right now for most teams. Tanev was a big deal on a entry level contract.

I don't have any fears of him getting an offer sheet. His story to the NHL is remarkable but people forget that the story how he got here is meaningless to other teams since it wasnt their rabbit pulled out of a hat. He's just good but hardly a big target by other teams. Giving him more money than Van can afford is not a good strategy right now for most teams. Tanev was a big deal on a entry level contract.
- boonerbuck

I think most seem to agree that, at this point, Tanev is more about 'potential than what has thus far been demonstrated by him on the ice (again, as was noted by others on this board, his playing 'sheltered' minutes, lack of offensive acumen etc)

I think most seem to agree that, at this point, Tanev is more about 'potential than what has thus far been demonstrated by him on the ice (again, as was noted by others on this board, his playing 'sheltered' minutes, lack of offensive acumen etc)
- Zogg

I would fear the offersheet if Tanev showed any offensive potential but thats a mystery to everyone right now so it seems an unlikely gamble for a team to make an over priced offer for him.

Typically the NHL is a results driven league, not a development league...but for some teams, they have no choice. Looks like poor management has now got us in that position.
- LeftCoaster

When other teams do it it's cause they drafted well, when the Canucks do it it's "poor management."

I would fear the offersheet if Tanev showed any offensive potential but thats a mystery to everyone right now so it seems an unlikely gamble for a team to make an over priced offer for him.
- boonerbuck

I agree, I think there are quite a few other more 'complete' players which would be a better target as concerns an offer sheet. Of course you never know, given the insanity that we've seen so far in the UFA market (i.e. Boyd Gordon @$3 million! there is some serious delusion in the air)

When other teams do it it's cause they drafted well, when the Canucks do it it's "poor management."
- KB3Point0

Its one thing if your prospects force their way on to the team. Its another if your forced to put them on your team

I agree, I think there are quite a few other more 'complete' players which would be a better target as concerns an offer sheet. Of course you never know, given the insanity that we've seen so far in the UFA market (i.e. Boyd Gordon @$3 million! there is some serious delusion in the air)
- Zogg

Its too bad we cant offer sheet Alex P from the blues. That guy is a STUD.

Its one thing if your prospects force their way on to the team. Its another if your forced to put them on your team
- Bieksa#3

Well said.

Its too bad we cant offer sheet Alex P from the blues. That guy is a STUD.
- Bluechip23

Offer sheets are a horrible way to conduct business. You overpay so much so they won't match

You think Kassian is as developed as Hodgson? You obviously know that was the point I was making. I mention it enough times over the last few pages.

Playing dodgeball with my posts doesnt make me wrong.
- boonerbuck

Did I say that? I just find it funny that you list all the things that make Cody more desirable and they happen to be the same things for Kass. No Kass is not as developed as Cody, but he is also younger and bigger, plus they are completely different players. Gillis made a descision to go another route, we get it, you don't like the decision. No reason to go on a self persecution complex, but if you must, the next time I'm driving through the interior I'll stop by and help you nail yourself to your cross.

Did I say that? I just find it funny that you list all the things that make Cody more desirable and they happen to be the same things for Kass. No Kass is not as developed as Cody, but he is also younger and bigger, plus they are completely different players. Gillis made a descision to go another route, we get it, you don't like the decision. No reason to go on a self persecution complex, but if you must, the next time I'm driving through the interior I'll stop by and help you nail yourself to your cross.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Its too bad we cant offer sheet Alex P from the blues. That guy is a STUD.
- Bluechip23

Based on what Ekman-Larson (whom a number of hockey pundits seem to think is on the same trajectory as Pietrangelo) received recently (6 years at $33 million), an offer sheet for Pietrangelo is going to be *drum roll please* HUGE. Surprise surprise...

Edit: forgot about Doughty's new deal (8 years at $56 million) and one could argue that Pietrangelo is just as good, - maybe even better in terms of being a more complete player (yes, here comes the hate-mail from king's fans )

Based on what Ekman-Larson (whom a number of hockey pundits seem to think is on the same trajectory as Pietrangelo) received recently (6 years at $33 million), an offer sheet for Pietrangelo is going to be *drum roll please* HUGE. Surprise surprise...
- Zogg

Not Weber huge

Based on what Ekman-Larson (whom a number of hockey pundits seem to think is on the same trajectory as Pietrangelo) received recently (6 years at $33 million), an offer sheet for Pietrangelo is going to be *drum roll please* HUGE. Surprise surprise...

Edit: forgot about Doughty's new deal (8 years at $56 million) and one could argue that Pietrangelo is just as good, - maybe even better in terms of being a more complete player (yes, here comes the hate-mail from king's fans )
- Zogg

Blues did great on the Shattenkirk deal

Did I say that? I just find it funny that you list all the things that make Cody more desirable and they happen to be the same things for Kass. No Kass is not as developed as Cody, but he is also younger and bigger, plus they are completely different players. Gillis made a descision to go another route, we get it, you don't like the decision. No reason to go on a self persecution complex, but if you must, the next time I'm driving through the interior I'll stop by and help you nail yourself to your cross.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Gold Jerry, GOLD!

Blues did great on the Shattenkirk deal
- Bieksa#3

If the Blues can get everyone under contract, and with the new realignment they are going to dominate the central (or whatever they are going to call it) with Chicago.

Blues did great on the Shattenkirk deal
- Bieksa#3

you have to ask yourself, what the @#$@#$ were the Avs thinking (or not).

you have to ask yourself, what the @#$@#$ were the Avs thinking (or not).
- Zogg

I think that's why we have seen a management change, if things work out there, they will soon be moving ahead of Minny and Nash. I am interested in seeing what goes on in Dallas this year and next.

Its one thing if your prospects force their way on to the team. Its another if your forced to put them on your team
- Bieksa#3

Yeah but being forced to put them on your team before you are ready due to a new CBA and a falling cap ( which otherwise would have risen again ) is an unforseen one off. In reality, we would have likely had to trade a goalie anyways ( but not worry about recapture) but would have had about 10 mil more in cap space to deal with.