So I read day in and day out about JB and his drafting and trading, how he overpays to get the players he wants.

How and why does anyone know what the request was. Ye Old Timer says JB overpaid for Gudbranson, what is the information on this, to me it's purely speculative, does anyone know what was requested, same for Sutter, how the hell does anyone know what the asking price was.

What posters are alluding to is that team A requests this and that, but JB goes no, no, no you get this, that and the other thing. Maybe team A requested this, that and 2 other things, seriously what's the basis for over-payment, posters unqualified experience, hindsight a year or two later.

Love how everyone is a (frank)ing expert on everything hockey, and they would never over pay or make bad choices...
- Makita

You had me at Hello

So I read day in and day out about JB and his drafting and trading, how he overpays to get the players he wants.

How and why does anyone know what the request was. Ye Old Timer says JB overpaid for Gudbranson, what is the information on this, to me it's purely speculative, does anyone know what was requested, same for Sutter, how the hell does anyone know what the asking price was.

What posters are alluding to is that team A requests this and that, but JB goes no, no, no you get this, that and the other thing. Maybe team A requested this, that and 2 other things, seriously what's the basis for over-payment, posters unqualified experience, hindsight a year or two later.

Love how everyone is a (frank)ing expert on everything hockey, and they would never over pay or make bad choices...
- Makita

I have admitted to not being an expert on hockey, now talking my 5 yr old niece into picking up all the pine cones in my yard that takes expertise.

So I read day in and day out about JB and his drafting and trading, how he overpays to get the players he wants.

How and why does anyone know what the request was. Ye Old Timer says JB overpaid for Gudbranson, what is the information on this, to me it's purely speculative, does anyone know what was requested, same for Sutter, how the hell does anyone know what the asking price was.

What posters are alluding to is that team A requests this and that, but JB goes no, no, no you get this, that and the other thing. Maybe team A requested this, that and 2 other things, seriously what's the basis for over-payment, posters unqualified experience, hindsight a year or two later.

Love how everyone is a (frank)ing expert on everything hockey, and they would never over pay or make bad choices...
- Makita

The problem is half here think what he has done is okay and half think he is an idiot. (the ones who listen to what pratt and numb nuts have to say on the radio) You watch Benning will trade the 1st round pick for Drouin and everyone will lose their minds. Like what a F@cking ret@rd that Benningis.

If they made me an NHL GM I would probably pull a Nonis and go for 2 lunches everyday.

I have admitted to not being an expert on hockey, now talking my 5 yr old niece into picking up all the pine cones in my yard that takes expertise.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I have become an expert at getting my 5 year to put his own clothes on in the morning on time before school without losing my sh!t. I should get a medal.

The problem is half here think what he has done is okay and half think he is an idiot. (the ones who listen to what pratt and numb nuts have to say on the radio) You watch Benning will trade the 1st round pick for Drouin and everyone will lose their minds. Like what a F@cking ret@rd that Benningis.
- thundachunk

I think he has done better than OK . He has done wheeling and dealing , got rid of salary , and brought in youth size and speed.

If they made me an NHL GM I would probably pull a Nonis and go for 2 lunches everyday.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Then stress out all night about how much you ate at the 2 lunches. Then you would have the Gillis triple chin and the eye bags to go with it.

I have admitted to not being an expert on hockey, now talking my 5 yr old niece into picking up all the pine cones in my yard that takes expertise.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Well once you master that task, you're going to get complaints that you should have talked her into picking up pine cones and the arbutus leaves and bark. Better work on that expertise, because hindsight is a female dog.

I think he has done better than OK . He has done wheeling and dealing , got rid of salary , and brought in youth size and speed.
- VANTEL

Yeah overpaid youth, overpaid size, and overpaid speed.

I think he has done better than OK . He has done wheeling and dealing , got rid of salary , and brought in youth size and speed.
- VANTEL

I agree. The team he was given was a fringe playoff team, and after wheeling and dealing they are still a fringe playoff team but considerably younger. I am happy with his moves and like that he isnt afraid to pull the trigger when things are quite working

In the discussion/debate about whether hes a good pro scout, I think that part of it needs to be removed from the discussion. As a GM he has shown less than desirable negotiation skills, particularly in contracts and some trades, but that doesnt really tell you how he values the players being acquired. That is determined by the accepting price of the other GM's (and as some have suggested, the mandate from ownership to make these deals happen).

In a vacuum and without mentioning what the team gave up, if you said in a 2 year window the Canucks would acquire in trades Gudbranson, Etem, Sven, Vey, Sbisa, Sutter, etc. I would be pretty happy with that influx of young NHL talent (though some are arguably fringe NHLers). If you factor in free agency (and again removing costs) where its easier to acquire talent than trades, he did well with Vbrata for the most part, Miller has been surprisingly decent particularly last season, and he was able to bring in Stecher and Garteig.

I think in terms of assessing pro talent, which a lot are debating, he is no worse off. Its when he has to negotiate with other GMs or agents where it becomes more challenging for him and result in his moves looking poorly
- WhiteLie

Even if you look at only those players without the cost to acquire them (Gudbranson/Sutter not included as they haven't really played) does their contributions amount to much more than average play?

We got a good season out of Vrbata and some hope that Baertschi can be a top 6 forward but I think the rest is pretty meh.

I think he has done better than OK . He has done wheeling and dealing , got rid of salary , and brought in youth size and speed.
- VANTEL

Zero credit nothing but complaints.

Well once you master that task, you're going to get complaints that you should have talked her into picking up pine cones and the arbutus leaves and bark. Better work on that expertise, because hindsight is a female dog.
- Makita

She's way to short to start deadheading the rodos, but that's my next target.

With how soft the team is, apparently JB had to overpay to get someone to fill that role.
- hillbillydeluxe

Not saying that someone tough who can still play like Gudbranson isn't needed on the back end, because they absolutely do. But you're talking about the wrong end of the rink. They need bodies who can stick up for themselves and their linemates in front of the other team's net. Dorsett's tries really hard but is not good at that. Paying him $2.65 takes away about a mil in cap space and dollars that would be better used on a bigger, more skilled top 9 guy.

Even if you look at only those players without the cost to acquire them (Gudbranson/Sutter not included as they haven't really played) does their contributions amount to much more than average play?

We got a good season out of Vrbata and some hope that Baertschi can be a top 6 forward but I think the rest is pretty meh.
- belcherbd

I guess we will have to cast away the opinions of Willie Mitchell, Roberto Luongo , Bob Mckenzie , Friedman Florida panther team mates Benning ,Kypreos and multiple other people involved with the NHL because Belcherbd and Taj think Gudbranson is Meh.

Even if you look at only those players without the cost to acquire them (Gudbranson/Sutter not included as they haven't really played) does their contributions amount to much more than average play?

We got a good season out of Vrbata and some hope that Baertschi can be a top 6 forward but I think the rest is pretty meh.
- belcherbd

I would agree their play has been average so far, but there is potential that comes with youth that has me more interested by it (they also have 1st round pick pedigree, which leaves me hopeful). He has been at the helm for 2 years, so its relatively early to pass a lot of judgement, but just knowing there are younger players with untapped potential in the lineup that could get better, is much better than needing Gaunce and Jensen to pan out as a top 6 forwards (let alone NHLers), or having Higgins up there. Thats why in a vacuum, without knowing the costs to acquire, I would be happy knowing who JB has given the coach to work with moving forward

She's way to short to start deadheading the rodos, but that's my next target.
- A_SteamingLombardi

If you can master that then you can start to realize money making potential, I've got like 25 rodos on the property that I never have time to get to...contracting out might be in her/your future.

So I read day in and day out about JB and his drafting and trading, how he overpays to get the players he wants.

How and why does anyone know what the request was. Ye Old Timer says JB overpaid for Gudbranson, what is the information on this, to me it's purely speculative, does anyone know what was requested, same for Sutter, how the hell does anyone know what the asking price was.

What posters are alluding to is that team A requests this and that, but JB goes no, no, no you get this, that and the other thing. Maybe team A requested this, that and 2 other things, seriously what's the basis for over-payment, posters unqualified experience, hindsight a year or two later.

Love how everyone is a (frank)ing expert on everything hockey, and they would never over pay or make bad choices...
- Makita

I think some people don't understand how a negotiation works. The market is constantly evolving and isn't static. Remember 4 years ago when defenseman were relatively cheap and it was impossible to acquire scoring or goaltending? Now goalies are dirt cheap and Any GM gets bent over if they want a young D man. Sure, maybe Benning could have gotten EG for Mcann and a 3rd, or maybe not. Perhaps Edmonton or TO swoops and he is left holding his Richard.

Also, some of the hindsight professionals out there are now advocating to load up on D in the draft. Once again, the market will change. Who is to say (other than a hindsight champion) what will be the hot commodity in 3/4/5 years?

Benning stepped into a situation that was a mess. Aging veterans, empty prospect cupboard, no cap space, NTC's, etc., etc. On top of that he's a rookie GM. The man has been dealing from a position of weakness in virtually every possible way.

His strategy of taking RFA's and prospects at the end of the line with their former clubs was pretty much the only thing he could do given that he also had a mandate from ownership to win and put butts in seats. If he was in (another market) he could have just signed whatever UFA's he could find in the bargain bin and then hoped to leverage those into more draft picks and hope some worked out in 3-4 years. He doesn't have that luxury here. He needs to have a whole new competitive roster before his first five years is up.

Although I understand the limitations that have handicapped his moves to a large extent, I don't think he's done all that well with trades and negotiations.

The Penguins desperately needed cap space and had come to that fork in the road where they needed to part with Sutter, whose numbers weren't exactly stellar. Benning's package was too rich for a player the other team needed to move just as much as Benning wanted him. Benning then immediately signed him to a contact that was above market value. Not a big issue at this point, but if he needs to part ways with that player in a year or two, it will be kinda like he gave him a NMC.

Same thing with Gudbranson. The Panthers don't have room for him anymore with the emergence of Matheson. His cap hit was disproportionate to the role he played there. Adding the 33rd overall to a first round pick who's already got a year in the NHL under his belt was too steep a price. A third or fourth rounder should have been enough, especially if the other team is calling you.

Not saying he's targeting the wrong players, but he's overpaying to get them and then signing them for more than their market value. Maybe he doesn't think he'll be here in a few years so he's not as concerned about the long-term consequences, but the pattern is starting to look kinda scary.
- YeOldTimer

At this point I do trust the rumours of EDM offering yakupov and their 32OA. Our 33OA was necessary. Personally I don't see McCann being better down the road that Yakupov down the road(if Yak got a fresh start somewhere else).

Not saying that someone tough who can still play like Gudbranson isn't needed on the back end, because they absolutely do. But you're talking about the wrong end of the rink. They need bodies who can stick up for themselves and their linemates in front of the other team's net. Dorsett's tries really hard but is not good at that. Paying him $2.65 takes away about a mil in cap space and dollars that would be better used on a bigger, more skilled top 9 guy.
- YeOldTimer

As long as you have the Sedin Edler and Tanev on the team , you need someone to protect them

You had me at Hello

- VANTEL

He never said hello....

I guess we will have to cast away the opinions of Willie Mitchell, Roberto Luongo , Bob Mckenzie , Friedman Florida panther team mates Benning ,Kypreos and multiple other people involved with the NHL because Belcherbd and Taj think Gudbranson is Meh.
- VANTEL

Did you seriously not read what I wrote?

He never said hello....


- Pres.cup

It was a PM . He send me love notes every day.

Did you seriously not read what I wrote?
- belcherbd

I read it wrong

It was a PM . He send me love notes every day.
- VANTEL

Lucky girl