Not sure that there was much objection to the general positioning of the unit (in around 5th, 6th or 7th).

I think the bone of contention was the comment that no one on the oilers other than Smid and Petry could play top 4 on any other team. While not a inherently terrible thing to say, it did seem...transparent in its purpose to rile people up. Maybe i'm reading too much deviousness into Esplen's intentions, but there we are.
- Morris

I see. My take (and I tend to be indifferent to subtle slights that aren't about my own team) is that the players are unremarkable and haven't delivered well in the past. The result speak for themselves. While I totally agree that Calgary's team sucks, Ian lives in Calgary and gave his reasons for liking their Dmen enough to rank them 5th.

Honestly, it's not like his opinion matters enough to get riled up. Maybe the Oilers make the playoffs and their D kicks ass or maybe they flop and pick in the top 5 again. It's the middle of the summer and no one knows how it will turn out. The negativity of some posters is so out of alignment with the significance of the blog.

I thought Garrison was our best defense an last yr. 15 goals and +30 over a full season. This after being awful the 1st month of the season till he adjusted to the change of sides, teams, system etc
- Bieksa#3

Agreed

Booth for Hemsky could be a nice win-win IMO. Add in a non-top prospect or pick from whichever side to make it work, value-wise. I'm not even a big Hemsky fan, but his strengths and weaknesses match up pretty damn well with Kesler's(they're very different players, but would compliment each other well IMO).
- Nucker101

Booth for Nuge and Hemskey

N. Shultz a well respected top 4 d-man for years with Minny.
Ferrence a well respected top 4 d-man for years on a Stanley cup team.
Petry is young but has already been holding his own playing against the top teams top lines.
Smid solid top 4 D-man.
J. Shultz 12th in points for d-men in his first NHL season.
Belov widely considered one of the best defensemen in the KHL

A solid amount of depth and prospects pushing their way up the pipeline.

And most importantly a new coach. Coaching can have the biggest impact on a teams defense over all else. St. Louis w/ Hitch as an example.

By no means a power house. But considerably better than Calgary. At least equal to Anaheim.

With a good system/coach not really far off of Pho or San. Our Defense last year was better than most people realize and it did get better.

Edmonton was 19th in the league for goals against @ 134 in 48 games.

Calgary was 28th @ 160! in only 48 games. That's with Kipper and J-bo for most the year. There D-fence and goaltending are worse this year... and the OP has us worse... wtf.
- Aerchon

I dont think n schultz is anywhere close to a top 4 dman.
Hes our 5th currently which isnt terrible, but id feel much more comf with him at 6.
And more than happy for him to walk at the end of the year with that price tag attached.

I dont think Ian's list is way off. We're one of the bottom 3 for sure along with ana and calgary.
But i certainly didnt like his instant dismissal of j schultz and ference as 2 guys who certainly could both be competent top 4 guys. Maybe not completely ideal, but both could help considerably.

Felt like a pretty obvious troll.
Which clearly worked

Jeez, I wasn't sold on Garrison, but I guess he was pretty good last year. I still see him as the guy you'd upgrade in your top 4. And I believe sooner than later Franson would be an undisputed upgrade on him.

As for Tanev/Corrado, it must be nice to have your pressing need being improving your bottom pairing
- Morris

It would take an impressive player to upgrade on Garrison.

The guy was an absolute rock defensively, and still adds a decent amount of goals for a defender.

Franson might be better offensively, but I doubt he'll ever be as strong on D.

Province Sports‏@provincesports32m
#Canucks: D-man Tanev would thrive in KHL or Swiss League, says Tambellini http://theprov.in/16hAVWx


Can you say dosvidania

Yup.
- Nucker101

(frank) do you want in here, Flyers fan?

yeah I meant it to be facetious. I think two good bottom 6ers, a #1 dman and a goalie to really challenge Dubnyk could turn us from an outside the playoffs team to a really competitive team, but those are 4 players that aren't going to come out of thin air.
- Morris

Do you think Nurse or Klefbom could be that #1 Dman?

Do you think Nurse or Klefbom could be that #1 Dman?
- AlexF

Doubt it

Province Sports‏@provincesports32m
#Canucks: D-man Tanev would thrive in KHL or Swiss League, says Tambellini http://theprov.in/16hAVWx


Can you say dosvidania
- VANTEL

I'm not sure Tanev, with his skillset, will ever be earning more than $2m per. If there really is interest from across the pond and it's at inflated figures I would advise him to go for it. No need for his agent to suggest it over the blowhorn, just quietly receive the offers and then present an ultimatum to Gillis. MG will absolutely stonewall this kid throughout all of next season if he's not satisfied so I'm struggling to understand the hold-up.

It would take an impressive player to upgrade on Garrison.

The guy was an absolute rock defensively, and still adds a decent amount of goals for a defender.

Franson might be better offensively, but I doubt he'll ever be as strong on D.
- Fosco

His responsability in his own end reminded me of Mitchell but with a much better offensive side.

Doubt it
- robin_steele264

I see. It's not always about having an out and out #1 D anyway. Yes, having a Chara, Weber, or Suter is a massive boon to any team but D can also be done by committee. Our top pairing of Hamhuis-Bieksa won't get anyone salivating but they get a job done.

I don't believe our lack of a star #1 D is what's been ailing us of late but if a team is lacking one then the talent needs to be spread out evenly over at least the top 4 to compensate.

I'm not sure Tanev, with his skillset, will ever be earning more than $2m per. If there really is interest from across the pond and it's at inflated figures I would advise him to go for it. No need for his agent to suggest it over the blowhorn, just quietly receive the offers and then present an ultimatum to Gillis. MG will absolutely stonewall this kid throughout all of next season if he's not satisfied so I'm struggling to understand the hold-up.
- AlexF

Like I keep saying, Tanev probably wants either a big 1-year deal at 2+ mil, or he wants the 8 year extension and no way would Gillis ever go for that.

I see. It's not always about having an out and out #1 D anyway. Yes, having a Chara, Weber, or Suter is a massive boon to any team but D can also be done by committee. Our top pairing of Hamhuis-Bieksa won't get anyone salivating but they get a job done.

I don't believe our lack of a star #1 D is what's been ailing us of late but if a team is lacking one then the talent needs to be spread out evenly over the at least the top 4 to compensate.
- AlexF

Top pairing perhaps yes. I see a good top 4 guys the team can build around in Nurse, Klef, Petry and Schultz. But I certainly don't think there's any Norris guys there.

I'd definitely prefer the two you mention as alternatives, but I think the crux of Nucker's deal lied in the exchange of cap hits, as opposed to picking up additional cap by acquiring UFAs.
- AlexF

I take back everything I said about that deal. Frankly, I didn't see that wrote Booth for Hemsky and I thought he meant Hemmer for a pick prospect.

I change my mind, Booth for Hemsky could be win-win no matter how you cut it.

Like I keep saying, Tanev probably wants either a big 1-year deal at 2+ mil, or he wants the 8 year extension and no way would Gillis ever go for that.
- DariusKnight

8 years at 1.2 mil then

Top pairing perhaps yes. I see a good top 4 guys the team can build around in Nurse, Klef, Petry and Schultz. But I certainly don't think there's any Norris guys there.
- robin_steele264

You never know but I admire your honesty. That top 4 might be pretty solid indeed in a few years time.

Do you think MacT would consider moving one of your untouchables from someone like a Seth Jones?

Do you think Nurse or Klefbom could be that #1 Dman?
- AlexF

I think either or both could end up being the best two dmen among Petry, Smid, and Schultz (the guys who could be around by the time those guys are hitting their stride). But probably neither will be a guy that you'd turn to in any given situation

You never know but I admire your honesty. That top 4 might be pretty solid indeed in a few years time.

Do you think MacT would consider moving one of your untouchables from someone like a Seth Jones?
- AlexF

Nope. I doubt any of those kids get moved for several years or longer.

I take back everything I said about that deal. Frankly, I didn't see that wrote Booth for Hemsky and I thought he meant Hemmer for a pick prospect.

I change my mind, Booth for Hemsky could be win-win no matter how you cut it.
- Morris

It's an interesting thought anyway. Unfortunately any time some semblance of reason pops into the conversation between 2 division rivals one GM always has to throw in that extra ask, just because it's within the division, to make it fall through.

Top pairing perhaps yes. I see a good top 4 guys the team can build around in Nurse, Klef, Petry and Schultz. But I certainly don't think there's any Norris guys there.
- robin_steele264

Three big IFs
1) Smid doesn't decline too hard
2) Nurse and Klefbom reach at least part of their potential
3) Marincin becomes a competent NHLer

but if it comes together,

Schultz-Klefbom
Petry-Nurse
Marincin-Smid

could be a solid dcore in 4-5 years.

OMG Facts SEX‏@OMGFactsSex59s
A 20 year old female and a 23 year old male auctioned off their virginity. Her highest bidder bid $780000, and his highest only $3000


Maybe I should try that.

Ben Kuzma said he ran into David Booth two weeks ago and said he looked like he was buff. He said best shape of his life and would be ready to start in September.

Should Canucks look at a 3 mil + offer sheet for Henrique? Or trade.
- VANTEL

No way $3M is enough to steal Henrique from NJ.

No way $3M is enough to steal Henrique from NJ.
- KB3Point0

+

Lu's looked more like a Mercedes GLK, rather than a GL.

The GLK is a bit smaller.
- Fosco

Trust me, it's a GL, I've worked in the high end automotive industry for over a decade. The one on the photo you quoted is the previous generation. Lu's is the new generation that came out this year.