Skille was our best 4th liner all year. Bring him back on another one year deal. He will probably have his best year because he knows it may be his last chance to ink one more contract. No harm in bringing back Miller if the price is right. Nothing over 3 million would be my offer. Have Demko and Bachman man the pipes in Utica. Rid this season out hoping for another top five pick nest summer and really start the rebuild.
- Itsjustarash

Skille was a decent 4th liner on a team that was full of true 4th lines, but how does he compare to a good team's 4th liner? Raise your standards.

I am ok with Skille being a 13th forward or 1st call-up.

With a rebuilding team, you're going to lose a lot anyway, so you don't want goaltending to be a primary reason you're losing. That's the wrong environment for young guys to develop in. Make sure you're solid enough at that position that it keeps you in games so they all are contests rather than blowouts. Makes players learn to be accountable.

Skille was our best 4th liner all year. Bring him back on another one year deal. He will probably have his best year because he knows it may be his last chance to ink one more contract. No harm in bringing back Miller if the price is right. Nothing over 3 million would be my offer. Have Demko and Bachman man the pipes in Utica. Rid this season out hoping for another top five pick nest summer and really start the rebuild.
- Itsjustarash

great post

Skille was a decent 4th liner on a team that was full of true 4th lines, but how does he compare to a good team's 4th liner? Raise your standards.
- Codes1087

Id take him over megna chaput and shore.

- CanuckDon

Id take him over megna chaput and shore.
- SRam19

I think we all need to raise our standards here though. We have been served mediocrity for so long, we are in the mentality that if we had to choose between Megna/Chaput/Shore/Skille, who do we choose. The answer SHOULD be none. If we compare the 4th liners around the league, Skille's 9 points in 55 games is pitiful. Look at Matt Cullen, 31 points. William Karlsson 25 points. Josh Andersson 31 Points. Jay Beagle 30 points. Scottie Upshall 18 points. Vladislav Namestnikov 28 points. I know its tough to compare when we were such a offensively challenged team overall, but I think we need to establish what we want in a 4th liner, and not lower our standards to what is now deemed normal for the Canucks.

With a rebuilding team, you're going to lose a lot anyway, so you don't want goaltending to be a primary reason you're losing. That's the wrong environment for young guys to develop in. Make sure you're solid enough at that position that it keeps you in games so they all are contests rather than blowouts. Makes players learn to be accountable.
- YeOldTimer

Absolutely, if goaltending can be kept at a respectable level they should definitely do it. I think we're set up to do that as long as we get a decent 1B goalie of some kind, whether that be Miller, Niemi/Lehtonen, or a FA.

Hold down the fort another year or two until Demko arrives

I think we all need to raise our standards here though. We have been served mediocrity for so long, we are in the mentality that if we had to choose between Megna/Chaput/Shore/Skille, who do we choose. The answer SHOULD be none. If we compare the 4th liners around the league, Skille's 9 points in 55 games is pitiful. Look at Matt Cullen, 31 points. William Karlsson 25 points. Josh Andersson 31 Points. Jay Beagle 30 points. Scottie Upshall 18 points. Vladislav Namestnikov 28 points. I know its tough to compare when we were such a offensively challenged team overall, but I think we need to establish what we want in a 4th liner, and not lower our standards to what is now deemed normal for the Canucks.
- Codes1087

Leading up to his injury, which was about a week or so before the TDL, there was zero reports of any playoff team wanting to acquire Skille for their playoff run/push. That says enough for me.

As solid as he was for VAN, I'd rather take chances on other random players becoming assets than place another year on non-core pieces

With a rebuilding team, you're going to lose a lot anyway, so you don't want goaltending to be a primary reason you're losing. That's the wrong environment for young guys to develop in. Make sure you're solid enough at that position that it keeps you in games so they all are contests rather than blowouts. Makes players learn to be accountable.
- YeOldTimer

I totally agree with you. My questions is the shape our goalies take on.

Marky is a stop gap?
Miller resigned for the same reason?
Trade Marky for an asset & run with Miller?

I'm only posing scenarios.

My scenario is as follows...
Resign Miller for 2yrs/3-4m.
Trade Marky for maybe a 2nd kr 3rd hopefully.
Take Lehtinen for the last year of his contract & a sweetener.
Overall effect is 2 more assets & Miller is here til Demko is ready.

I think we all need to raise our standards here though. We have been served mediocrity for so long, we are in the mentality that if we had to choose between Megna/Chaput/Shore/Skille, who do we choose. The answer SHOULD be none. If we compare the 4th liners around the league, Skille's 9 points in 55 games is pitiful. Look at Matt Cullen, 31 points. William Karlsson 25 points. Josh Andersson 31 Points. Jay Beagle 30 points. Scottie Upshall 18 points. Vladislav Namestnikov 28 points. I know its tough to compare when we were such a offensively challenged team overall, but I think we need to establish what we want in a 4th liner, and not lower our standards to what is now deemed normal for the Canucks.
- Codes1087

I disagree we have been mediocre for so long.
As for a Megna Chaput etc it was stop gap due to depth from the MG era.
On top of that salary cap problems while house was cleaned & move out NTC's & awaiting the Sedins to come off the books. JB's hands were tied when he was hired & it takes time to dismantle the team & rebuild it from the ground up.

I disagree we have been mediocre for so long.
As for a Megna Chaput etc it was stop gap due to depth from the MG era.
On top of that salary cap problems while house was cleaned & move out NTC's & awaiting the Sedins to come off the books. JB's hands were tied when he was hired & it takes time to dismantle the team & rebuild it from the ground up.
- Nighthawk

you can use the excuse that it is a stop gap for only so long. There are plenty of FA UFA's that have been productive as 4th liners. Winnik, Cullen, Upshall are some that I can think of. I really don't see a reason why we can't have production out of a 4th line, or more than what we have seen from a Canucks 4th liner.

Leading up to his injury, which was about a week or so before the TDL, there was zero reports of any playoff team wanting to acquire Skille for their playoff run/push. That says enough for me.

As solid as he was for VAN, I'd rather take chances on other random players becoming assets than place another year on non-core pieces
- WhiteLie

this is exactly my thinking as well. I am not going to sit here and say Skille was no more than a plug 4th liners, because he was serviceable when given the opportunities he was given, but he certainly did nothing to stand out from the rest. I just think we can do better.

Miller: if the contract is good/ 1 year

Skille: NAW

I totally agree with you. My questions is the shape our goalies take on.

Marky is a stop gap?
Miller resigned for the same reason?
Trade Marky for an asset & run with Miller?

I'm only posing scenarios.

My scenario is as follows...
Resign Miller for 2yrs/3-4m.
Trade Marky for maybe a 2nd kr 3rd hopefully.
Take Lehtinen for the last year of his contract & a sweetener.
Overall effect is 2 more assets & Miller is here til Demko is ready.
- Nighthawk

completely unproven and will be overpaid, no team will want him unfortunately. I wish we could expose him in the draft, I guess Vegas wanted a younger goalie than Bishop

With a rebuilding team, you're going to lose a lot anyway, so you don't want goaltending to be a primary reason you're losing. That's the wrong environment for young guys to develop in. Make sure you're solid enough at that position that it keeps you in games so they all are contests rather than blowouts. Makes players learn to be accountable.
- YeOldTimer

exactly why I'm ok with bringing back Miller

I think we all need to raise our standards here though. We have been served mediocrity for so long, we are in the mentality that if we had to choose between Megna/Chaput/Shore/Skille, who do we choose. The answer SHOULD be none. If we compare the 4th liners around the league, Skille's 9 points in 55 games is pitiful. Look at Matt Cullen, 31 points. William Karlsson 25 points. Josh Andersson 31 Points. Jay Beagle 30 points. Scottie Upshall 18 points. Vladislav Namestnikov 28 points. I know its tough to compare when we were such a offensively challenged team overall, but I think we need to establish what we want in a 4th liner, and not lower our standards to what is now deemed normal for the Canucks.
- Codes1087

Fourth Liner Qualifications:

- Should be fast enough to provide pressure on the forecheck.

- Should be skilled enough that they can actually convert on scoring opportunities when those are generated.

- Should consistently play physical enough to keep opponents from thoroughly enjoying Canuck games like they did last season.

- Should be tough enough to stand up for their younger teammates. (Not be a punching bag that merely furthers the amusement of their opponents.)

- Ideally, would be effective on the PK.

- Ideally, would be a center who is above average on faceoffs.

- Preferably an experienced veteran. You know, for like mentoring and stuff.

- Should be signed to a one-year contract with no trade restrictions so they can be moved for a first or second round pick at the deadline.


I think Skille, Chaput, and Dorsett individually come close on a few of these qualifications, but nobody they've had playing fourth line the last couple of years really fits the bill.

Benning should happily throw lots of money at any free agent who fits this criteria. He managed to overpay Dorsett, Sbisa, Sutter, and Ericksson so I'm confident he can come up with the cash somehow.

exactly why I'm ok with bringing back Miller
- CanuckDon

You realize what he'll want right?

Fourth Liner Qualifications:

- Should be fast enough to provide pressure on the forecheck.

- Should be skilled enough that they can actually convert on scoring opportunities when those are generated.

- Should consistently play physical enough to keep opponents from thoroughly enjoying Canuck games like they did last season.

- Should be tough enough to stand up for their younger teammates. (Not be a punching bag that merely furthers the amusement of their opponents.)

- Ideally, would be effective on the PK.

- Ideally, would be a center who is above average on faceoffs.

- Preferably an experienced veteran. You know, for like mentoring and stuff.

- Should be signed to a one-year contract with no trade restrictions so they can be moved for a first or second round pick at the deadline.


I think Skille, Chaput, and Dorsett individually come close on a few of these qualifications, but nobody they've had playing fourth line the last couple of years really fits the bill.

Benning should happily throw lots of money at any free agent who fits this criteria. He managed to overpay Dorsett, Sbisa, Sutter, and Ericksson so I'm confident he can come up with the cash somehow.
- YeOldTimer

I am exactly on the same page. Identify what you require from a 4th liner. Is it Grit? Is it speed? Is it checking? Is it shot suppression? Is it offensive (relative to TOI and competition)? Are they competent to be on the PK? Will they stick up for the team mates and fight?

How many boxes can any of those 4th liners check? I know ideally every player on every team would check all boxes and be a perfect/complete player, but you need to have them fit the bill in some capacity.

You realize what he'll want right?
- VanHockeyGuy

1 year $4 million, limited NTC?

this is exactly my thinking as well. I am not going to sit here and say Skille was no more than a plug 4th liners, because he was serviceable when given the opportunities he was given, but he certainly did nothing to stand out from the rest. I just think we can do better.
- Codes1087

Definitely, as a rebuilding team the Canucks should be a revolving door of players looking for their big break in the NHL and move them onto better opportunities.

Bring guys in from all over, give them a chance and if other teams want them, trade them. If no other team wants them, well it must be for a good reason and move on

Definitely, as a rebuilding team the Canucks should be a revolving door of players looking for their big break in the NHL and move them onto better opportunities.

Bring guys in from all over, give them a chance and if other teams want them, trade them. If no other team wants them, well it must be for a good reason and move on
- WhiteLie

exactly, playoff teams build 4th lines.... we are not a playoff team.

Absolutely, if goaltending can be kept at a respectable level they should definitely do it. I think we're set up to do that as long as we get a decent 1B goalie of some kind, whether that be Miller, Niemi/Lehtonen, or a FA.

Hold down the fort another year or two until Demko arrives
- NorthNuck

Niemi/Lehtonen are examples of exactly the type of situation the Canucks should avoid. Consensus is that sub-par goaltending cost Dallas a playoff position this season.

You don't want the team to start mailing in efforts or mentally check out because they have no confidence their goalie will keep them in the game. That was a big part of the problem in Edmonton's decade long death march, which went on unchecked until McSaviour came along and rescued the franchise from itself.

I wouldnt be against trading Markstrom, however his value is definitely not at its highest:

His new contract kicks in next season and his cap hit (as it stands now) will be the 27th highest for a goalie, despite him never playing more than 33 games in a season.
- WhiteLie

#highestpaidgoalienevertoplay33games

this is exactly my thinking as well. I am not going to sit here and say Skille was no more than a plug 4th liners, because he was serviceable when given the opportunities he was given, but he certainly did nothing to stand out from the rest. I just think we can do better.
- Codes1087

Even if you overpay a couple of key fourth liners by $1MM each it's worth it in my opinion . If they lead by example throughout the season and you can move them for high draft picks at the deadline, it would make a big difference to the team's future compared to what a Skille or a Megna brings to the table.