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.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Is it just me or do you think the Avs will be better than the oil moving forward.

Landeskog, Duchene Reilly, Mckinnon, Statsny I think are a much better fwd group than

Hall, Eberle, RNH, Yakupov, Gagner, Paajarvi,

I like the way the Avs are doing this rebuild. They just need to trade statsny for some D help and I think they will be a good team soon.

Reading through, it's pretty hilarious what 5+ years of posting on the same message board does to people, especially us spoiled brats who are used to at least 1 UFA splash per season.

Don't take it too seriously boys, in the end it's just hockey. I had something much, much, much, much worse happen to me on opening day of UFA season once.

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.
- golfingsince

Who would we have wasted $ on today if we had an extra 10 mil. I don't think there was much out there today, especially at the center position outside of maybe Weiss.

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

Yup, and in those situations the team has open spots for those players to compete for and earn at training camp. Which is the exact same thing Gillis is doing. Keeping 1 spot open for a kid to earn.

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.

And I stop reading your post.

Is it just me or do you think the Avs will be better than the oil moving forward.

Landeskog, Duchene Reilly, Mckinnon, Statsny I think are a much better fwd group than

Hall, Eberle, RNH, Yakupov, Gagner, Paajarvi,

I like the way the Avs are doing this rebuild. They just need to trade statsny for some D help and I think they will be a good team soon.
- Bluechip23

Ya you are right and they don't seem to be as hyped as the Oiler group so it wont go to their heads. The Avs only have 7 players signed past this coming year so there is a ton of work to do. Statsny for Gardiner, the leafs don't seem to care about defense.

Who would we have wasted $ on today if we had an extra 10 mil. I don't think there was much out there today, especially at the center position outside of maybe Weiss.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Maybe a guy like Morrow or Selanne. Probably would have been in on Clarkson or Clowe. Would of had a bit more cash to spend on D, but would not have bought out Ballard....could have buried him though. Pretty slim pickings today.

Ya you are right and they don't seem to be as hyped as the Oiler group so it wont go to their heads. The Avs only have 7 players signed past this coming year so there is a ton of work to do. Statsny for Gardiner, the leafs don't seem to care about defense.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Leafs wont give up Gardiner for statsny. I dont see that happening. Plus once they signed Bozak my guess is that the statsny deal was dead in the water. They should have tried to get Duchene last year when his stock was low. Oh well thats no nuts problem to deal with now.

Looked like a bad day for most teams out there today. Those contracts look awful in light of a shrinking cap. I'm happy waiting for the scraps. These 'top' free agents are overpaid in a major way.

Maybe a guy like Morrow or Selanne. Probably would have been in on Clarkson or Clowe. Would of had a bit more cash to spend on D, but would not have bought out Ballard....could have buried him though. Pretty slim pickings today.
- golfingsince

Maybe Clowe but he still went higher than I think he's worth. Did you read the article posted comparing Clarkson to Chris Neil and Steve Ott?

And I stop reading your post.
- micah555

For all the bullsh!t that Cooke's done (not like he could win many popularity contests), he was arguably one of the better players on the Pens in this year's play-offs. He's definitely toned things down - for how long, who knows, but at this point he would be a decent addition.

Maybe a guy like Morrow or Selanne. Probably would have been in on Clarkson or Clowe. Would of had a bit more cash to spend on D, but would not have bought out Ballard....could have buried him though. Pretty slim pickings today.
- golfingsince

Clackson and Clowe got stupid money. Those are decent players at $3m. At $5m million, those guys need to be stars. Better we weren't in on them.

Looked like a bad day for most teams out there today. Those contracts look awful in light of a shrinking cap. I'm happy waiting for the scraps. These 'top' free agents are overpaid in a major way.
- micah555

There should be some damned good value there. All of a sudden, everyone is up against it.

For all the bullsh!t that Cooke's done (not like he could win many popularity contests), he was arguably one of the better players on the Pens in this year's play-offs. He's definitely toned things down - for how long, who knows, but at this point he would be a decent addition.
- Zogg

Be that as it may, I don't want him on my team. Same goes for Tim Thomas. They may be good hockey players, but they are terrible people and I don't want to be embarrassed having to cheer for them.

Clackson and Clowe got stupid money. Those are decent players at $3m. At $5m million, those guys need to be stars. Better we weren't in on them.
- micah555

Depending on term, I think $4 is appropriate for either. 7 years for Clarkson is scary though considering the style he plays. The good news for the Leafs is the cap could be pretty high by the time half the contract is over.

Maybe Clowe but he still went higher than I think he's worth. Did you read the article posted comparing Clarkson to Chris Neil and Steve Ott?
- A_SteamingLombardi

Yeah I read it. I think his contract is inflated, but for 3 years he would have been a nice addition to the team even if he was overpaid a bit.

Leafs wont give up Gardiner for statsny. I dont see that happening. Plus once they signed Bozak my guess is that the statsny deal was dead in the water. They should have tried to get Duchene last year when his stock was low. Oh well thats no nuts problem to deal with now.
- Bluechip23

I'm not sure if Duchene's stock has ever really been low. Yes, he had a down year in 2011 (I think he was hampered by injuries which continued to bother him when he came back) but I don't think there was any chance of the Avs wanting to move him. Duchene is superstar material.

Looked like a bad day for most teams out there today. Those contracts look awful in light of a shrinking cap. I'm happy waiting for the scraps. These 'top' free agents are overpaid in a major way.
- micah555

Makes you think why there was even a lockout.

Makes you think why there was even a lockout.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I'm just happy Leopold lost some nice players. (frank)ing jackass signs Weber and Parise to mega deals and then cries broke and along with Jacobs negotiates a lockout.( and tries to roll back salary on deals he just handed out) Hate that guy.

I'm not sure if Duchene's stock has ever really been low. Yes, he had a down year in 2011 (I think he was hampered by injuries which continued to bother him when he came back) but I don't think there was any chance of the Avs wanting to move him. Duchene is superstar material.
- Zogg

Landeskog and MacKinnon as well.

I'm not sure if Duchene's stock has ever really been low. Yes, he had a down year in 2011 (I think he was hampered by injuries which continued to bother him when he came back) but I don't think there was any chance of the Avs wanting to move him. Duchene is superstar material.
- Zogg

Love Duchene. I just saw that contract he signed as his bridge contract and maybe it wasnt that high at that point. That 09 draft is looking like a beauty.

JT
Hedman
Duchene
Kane
OEL
Kadri

NOt much after the 1st 10 picks but wow.

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.
- boonerbuck

No point in drawing a line in the sand and saying some people were on one side and some were on the other—it's not as cut and dried as that.

I was a Gillis fan, and I HATED that trade. But I also was a fan of Kassian even before the trade was made.

So am I one of these "non sheep" or a "Gillis knows best"?

Or can we just get rid of the categories and labels all together, ffs...?

I actually find it funny when teams are buying out players like Briere and Lecavalier and then Clarkson gets a 7 year deal. Luongo's deal looks like a bargain.

Also, to anybody fretting about Lu's attitude, don't worry. He's not no takers, he's got no leverage. He'll be back and he'll be fine. If he's shown anything last year, it's that he's realistic.

I'm just happy Leopold lost some nice players. (frank)ing jackass signs Weber and Parise to mega deals and then cries broke and along with Jacobs negotiates a lockout.( and tries to roll back salary on deals he just handed out) Hate that guy.
- golfingsince

I think there is more changes to come, they had so many changes that the team couldn't really gell in a shortened season, and now theres more changes is Heatley there next year? trade him for Vanek?

Looked like a bad day for most teams out there today. Those contracts look awful in light of a shrinking cap. I'm happy waiting for the scraps. These 'top' free agents are overpaid in a major way.
- micah555

Yesterday on the descending list of cap rolls in the league the Canucks were near the top. Today not so much.