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.
- Codes1087

I don't think it's checking boxes, but rating on a scale of 1 to 10 for each important criteria you set based on the blueprint you have for next season.

Forechecking helps keep the puck out of your own end so I'd set that as a priority. Consistent physical play and toughness is sorely lacking so that's another critical factor as well.

I think you're looking for guys who would normally be excelling at this time of year, but won't be re-signed by Chicago, Tampa, Anaheim or whoever because their offensive numbers don't justify the number they feel they need to make at this point in their career.

You overpay them, burn down their salary through the year and then move them at the deadline once their remaining cap hit is low enough for a contender to take them on.

Agree with Lefty here. I'd rather have the cap space used as an asset. Look at Mike Condon, played 40 games with Ott, .914 sv made $575k! Even if you tripled it to $1.75m he's younger and you know he'd share the load with Marky.

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

#highestpaidgoalienevertoplay33games
- Pres.cup

Even with the UFA/RFA class this year, he is still a good bet to be a top 30 cap hit for the position. Canucks really messed up not getting him more starts last year to prepare him for this coming season. Its been 7 years since he played over 40 games, and its never happened since hes been in North America

Even with the UFA/RFA class this year, he is still a good bet to be a top 30 cap hit for the position. Canucks really messed up not getting him more starts last year to prepare him for this coming season. Its been 7 years since he played over 40 games, and its never happened since hes been in North America
- WhiteLie

Thanks Willie!

Thanks Willie!
- YeOldTimer

No Willie is the main reason I'm looking forward to next season. That and Boeser

No Willie is the main reason I'm looking forward to next season. That and Boeser
- CanuckDon

I'm looking forward to Subban beating out OJ at camp. #LetTheDramaBegin

I'm looking forward to Subban beating out OJ at camp. #LetTheDramaBegin
- VanHockeyGuy

if feelings are part of the skills comp perhaps

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 agree we need raise our standards but none of those players you mentioned as comparables are close to 4th liners with the exception of upshall and even he averaged over 10 min/game.

Our 4th line while not being amazing certainly wasn't a problem last year especially when they were not being asked to play up the line up.

It's a depth issue in general not a 4th line issue IMO.

When the team has little to no legit depth in its AHL ranks, soon your 4th liners are riding shotgun with the sedins....
Another reason why it is so important to let our best prospects play in the AHL.

I agree we need raise our standards but none of those players you mentioned as comparables are close to 4th liners with the exception of upshall and even he averaged over 10 min/game.

Our 4th line while not being amazing certainly wasn't a problem last year especially when they were not being asked to play up the line up.

It's a depth issue in general not a 4th line issue IMO.

When the team has little to no legit depth in its AHL ranks, soon your 4th liners are riding shotgun with the sedins....
Another reason why it is so important to let our best prospects play in the AHL.
- belcherbd

Which players are you referring to? Every player I have mentioned previous (andersson, Karlsson, Upshall, Cullen, Winnik, Beagle, are all 4th line players). If we are about Chaput/Megna/Skille than that is exactly my point. They don't crack 4th line on most rosters so why re-sign them.

I agree we need raise our standards but none of those players you mentioned as comparables are close to 4th liners with the exception of upshall and even he averaged over 10 min/game.

Our 4th line while not being amazing certainly wasn't a problem last year especially when they were not being asked to play up the line up.

It's a depth issue in general not a 4th line issue IMO.

When the team has little to no legit depth in its AHL ranks, soon your 4th liners are riding shotgun with the sedins....
Another reason why it is so important to let our best prospects play in the AHL.
- belcherbd

If you're injecting skilled youth into the lineup, you better have some quality in the other areas to support them.

You lost a couple of really good third liners in Hansen and Burrows and will be replacing them with guys like Goldobin and Boeser. While they may have a higher upside long term, they will likely be inconsistent in the short term. You need to upgrade other areas of your lineup to compensate for these changes, let alone the anticipated continued decline of the Sedins.

Upgrading the likes of Skille & Megna is pretty much a necessity unless you want to get thrashed every night like they did their last 20 games.

Which players are you referring to? Every player I have mentioned previous (andersson, Karlsson, Upshall, Cullen, Winnik, Beagle, are all 4th line players). If we are about Chaput/Megna/Skille than that is exactly my point. They don't crack 4th line on most rosters so why re-sign them.
- Codes1087

cuz benning, duh.

cuz benning, duh.
- SRam19

"well you know, he drives to the net, he's got a good release on his shot, he's fast, he's physical, we believe he's going to be a real good player for us moving forward"

"well you know, he drives to the net, he's got a good release on his shot, he's fast, he's physical, we believe he's going to be a real good player for us moving forward"
- Codes1087

Hes got a north american heart.

I agree we need raise our standards but none of those players you mentioned as comparables are close to 4th liners with the exception of upshall and even he averaged over 10 min/game.

Our 4th line while not being amazing certainly wasn't a problem last year especially when they were not being asked to play up the line up.

It's a depth issue in general not a 4th line issue IMO.

When the team has little to no legit depth in its AHL ranks, soon your 4th liners are riding shotgun with the sedins....
Another reason why it is so important to let our best prospects play in the AHL.
- belcherbd

Rebuild

Miller 3 yrs 4 Mil per

Skille 3 yrs 2.5 per

Sedins 4 yrs 5.5 per

Bo 8 yrs 7 per

Guddy 6 yrs 5.5


Rebuild complete

Chicago Wolves are Vegas's farm team

I am glad Leafs are grabbing all the Swedes , saves me from throwing my beer at the computer

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.
- Codes1087

Fact not an excuse & i use it as long as its pertinent.
Cap issues held back the 4th line & in the big picture nothing was hurt by it.
I do agree though the 4th line going forward into next season must be better.
Last season was what it was but that cannot continue here on.

Fact not an excuse & i use it as long as its pertinent.
Cap issues held back the 4th line & in the big picture nothing was hurt by it.
I do agree though the 4th line going forward into next season must be better.
Last season was what it was but that cannot continue here on.
- Nighthawk

Next year is going to be sooooo boring I signed up for nude ballroom dancing.

Rebuild

Miller 3 yrs 4 Mil per

Skille 3 yrs 2.5 per

Sedins 4 yrs 5.5 per

Bo 8 yrs 7 per

Guddy 6 yrs 5.5


Rebuild complete
- VANTEL

I just remembered it's Tuesday... classic Tuesday "Rebuild"

Are we really talking about improving the 4th line? Is this a Tuesday thing or for real?

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

Thats exactly how i see the 4th going til players make us keep them.
Auditions galore & trade as required if they fetch a decent return.
4th line for me is energy & snarly & can score a bit & not be a liability.

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.
- YeOldTimer

If either is our back up & we eat their salary to gain an asset i'm good with that.
I do agree i want neither as our starter but only in a tandem role at most.