it is tampering...the players are under contract to another team till july 1. Traditionally it is an unfair advantage to speak publicly about a player under contract to another team previous to FA as it can form thoughts about that team in the players before other teams can talk to them as well with equal opportunity.

However with the more recent change of 5 day talk to period before FA (and JB was within that) exactly where was harm done? SO you can talk directly to the player now, wine dine etc, but you cant talk to fans? How the F*ck is THAT tampering?
- SMBDragon

I'm no mathematician, but...

If JB was shocked that he got fined then I would be concerned but as I said before I think he knew exactly what he was doing.
- bloatedmosquito

I suspect they wanted to send a message to agents and other teams that they are going to be active on July 1st and they are serious about the playoffs.

If the Canucks don't sign anyone July 1st is it a victory or failure?

Not sure I want to get into a 6 year deal for a plug that could end up being a Dustin brown type contract in 2-3 years.
- Scooby_Doo

I think it is a victory.

Not for ticket sales necessarily but they might be able to sign a couple ufa's to shorter cheaper contracts, demands of remaining ufa's will be lessened after July 1st.

Just hoping nothing happens and JB takes another fine and says he is targeting Jamie Benn next summer.

If the Canucks don't sign anyone July 1st is it a victory or failure?

Not sure I want to get into a 6 year deal for a plug that could end up being a Dustin brown type contract in 2-3 years.
- Scooby_Doo

They fail either way

I think it is a victory.

Not for ticket sales necessarily but they might be able to sign a couple ufa's to shorter cheaper contracts, demands of remaining ufa's will be lessened after July 1st.

Just hoping nothing happens and JB takes another fine and says he is targeting Jamie Benn next summer.
- hillbillydeluxe

Getting Benn would be the best move the Canucks made since they drafted the twins but the Stars and Benn are in the process of working on an extension.

I suspect they wanted to send a message to agents and other teams that they are going to be active on July 1st and they are serious about the playoffs.
- CanuckDon

I'm absolutely terrified that Benning could go "all in" on Lucic.

If the Canucks don't sign anyone July 1st is it a victory or failure?

Not sure I want to get into a 6 year deal for a plug that could end up being a Dustin brown type contract in 2-3 years.
- Scooby_Doo

Victory.

I'm absolutely terrified that Benning could go "all in" on Lucic.
- fiveandagame

We all fear a large Lucic contract but I think it's a long shot. Benning and Linden could just be going through the motions so fans think they are trying everything to improve the team. Also, even if Benning is serious, Lucic would be foolish to play in Vancouver.

Getting Benn would be the best move the Canucks made since they drafted the twins but the Stars and Benn are in the process of working on an extension.
- fiveandagame

I wish JB would whisper in a reporter's ear that Benn is a Canuck next summer if he wants to come back to BC. and get that rumour out there, in the least it may drive up Benn's demands and Dallas ends up spending more.

Truthfully though, I hate all the hometown stuff when it comes to free agents, so few examples of it materializing beyond Hamhuis coming back to BC.

I hadn't heard anything on the Stars and Benn in negotiations but it absolutely makes sense. Tampa screwed up by not re-upping Stamkos and will totally luck out if they can do a sign and trade or recoup anything.

We all fear a large Lucic contract but I think it's a long shot. Benning and Linden could just be going through the motions so fans think they are trying everything to improve the team. Also, even if Benning is serious, Lucic would be foolish to play in Vancouver.
- CanuckDon

This is what scares me.

I suspect they wanted to send a message to agents and other teams that they are going to be active on July 1st and they are serious about the playoffs.
- CanuckDon

Me too. I was more surprised about the amount. Seemed excessive.

Victory.
- Marwood

Absolutely, draft and develop. The problem is I see 1 or 2 big contracts on the books for next year.

Me too. I was more surprised about the amount. Seemed excessive.
- bloatedmosquito

The amount was excessive. Most teams would have been fined $20K while Boston would have been awarded an additional 2nd round pick.

I wish JB would whisper in a reporter's ear that Benn is a Canuck next summer if he wants to come back to BC. and get that rumour out there, in the least it may drive up Benn's demands and Dallas ends up spending more.

Truthfully though, I hate all the hometown stuff when it comes to free agents, so few examples of it materializing beyond Hamhuis coming back to BC.

I hadn't heard anything on the Stars and Benn in negotiations but it absolutely makes sense. Tampa screwed up by not re-upping Stamkos and will totally luck out if they can do a sign and trade or recoup anything.
- hillbillydeluxe

Did they? They made game 7 of the ECF without him. I think the only mistake Tampa made was not trading him. I think his injury screwed things up more than anything else.

If the Canucks don't sign anyone July 1st is it a victory or failure?

Not sure I want to get into a 6 year deal for a plug that could end up being a Dustin brown type contract in 2-3 years.
- Scooby_Doo

It would have to be a Dustin Brown type contract the day it is signed in order to be that. If it is a Dustin Brown type in say 3 years, then it was better than Dustin Browns.

The amount was excessive. Most teams would have been fined $20K while Boston would have been awarded an additional 2nd round pick.
- CanuckDon

Elliotte Friedman ✔ @FriedgeHNIC
Raymond (CAL) and Nystrom (NASH) to be bought out. Stuart clears.

If the Canucks don't sign anyone July 1st is it a victory or failure?

Not sure I want to get into a 6 year deal for a plug that could end up being a Dustin brown type contract in 2-3 years.
- Scooby_Doo

Regardless of who they sign, if they sign anyone, they won't be worth the money in three to for years.

Elliotte Friedman ✔ @FriedgeHNIC
Raymond (CAL) and Nystrom (NASH) to be bought out. Stuart clears.
- Retinalz

If Pittsburgh taught us anything its that you need speed. Come on Benning

Absolutely, draft and develop. The problem is I see 1 or 2 big contracts on the books for next year.
- fiveandagame

Aquillini at the Lucic dinner just proves that he is fully involved in the hockey ops.

Did they? They made game 7 of the ECF without him. I think the only mistake Tampa made was not trading him. I think his injury screwed things up more than anything else.
- fiveandagame

Losing your franchise player for nothing is a catastrophe. Just imagine the outrage if this happened in Vancouver. There would be a lineup 10,000 deep to jump of the Lionsgate bridge.

Aquillini at the Lucic dinner just proves that he is fully involved in the hockey ops.
- Marwood

Well he owns the restaurant. Perhaps he was just helping out in the dish pit and he heard a commotion in the restaurant and went to see who it was.

Aquillini at the Lucic dinner just proves that he is fully involved in the hockey ops.
- Marwood

It also proves that Gergor Robertson is involved in hockey ops.

Regardless of who they sign, if they sign anyone, they won't be worth the money in three to for years.
- LeftCoaster

I'll throw out another name who had something like the 4th or 5th most points in the 2nd half of last season who's still young, 24, Brayden Schenn, last 3 seasons 20, 18, 26 goals, 41, 47, 59 points in those seasons. He might be a 1b c and I would say an upgrade on offence from Sutter.

Aquillini at the Lucic dinner just proves that he is fully involved in the hockey ops.
- Marwood

Definitely