Ian Esplen: Who's left? Who's left?

Andrei Kostitsyn... stay away from him...

Andrei Kostitsyn... stay away from him...
- Canuckfan2006

For some reason I see him in Detroit

Semin/Datsyuk/Kostitsyn may be a good line.

Ian Esplen: Who's left?
Who's left?
- IanEsplen

In other words...no one is left. Van has no more options so they will go into the season with the team they have and will have trouble with the rest of the NW this season.

You can take Kristian Useless, Arnott, Omarra or Coliacavo but they will not be an upgrade to your team. You are not getting Doan.

I see the Nucks finishing no higher than 5th in the west this year.

In other words...no one is left. Van has no more options so they will go into the season with the team they have and will have trouble with the rest of the NW this season.

You can take Kristian Useless, Arnott, Omarra or Coliacavo but they will not be an upgrade to your team. You are not getting Doan.

I see the Nucks finishing no higher than 5th in the west this year.
- Iggysbff

Just wondering, in your world who is winning the NW?

Simon Danis-Pepin
While Danis-Pepin hasn't found his place in the AHL yet, the fact he is a 6"7, 230 pound, right-handed D intrigues me to give him a shot. He's only 24 and the skill set he would bring is missing from the Canucks system. His skating needs some work, but he is a very smart player. I think he has some upside to become a Hal Gill type shutdown guy. I'd sign him to a 2-way deal and give him a full year to develop in Chicago.

I've watched this guy "develop" in Rockford for a couple of years now. There is NO upside here. He's a waste of a contract.

In other words...no one is left. Van has no more options so they will go into the season with the team they have and will have trouble with the rest of the NW this season.

You can take Kristian Useless, Arnott, Omarra or Coliacavo but they will not be an upgrade to your team. You are not getting Doan.

I see the Nucks finishing no higher than 5th in the west this year.
- Iggysbff

Wow. Bitter much?

In other words...no one is left. Van has no more options so they will go into the season with the team they have and will have trouble with the rest of the NW this season.

You can take Kristian Useless, Arnott, Omarra or Coliacavo but they will not be an upgrade to your team. You are not getting Doan.

I see the Nucks finishing no higher than 5th in the west this year.
- Iggysbff

Even if the canucks finish 5th say...isn't that better then fighting it out for last place and waiting for your rookies to get old enough to move to other teams?

To think the canucks wont win the NW and be one of the top 3 seeds is ridiculous. Minny will finish 2nd but they still wont be good enough to unseat the nucks.

In other words...no one is left. Van has no more options so they will go into the season with the team they have and will have trouble with the rest of the NW this season.

You can take Kristian Useless, Arnott, Omarra or Coliacavo but they will not be an upgrade to your team. You are not getting Doan.

I see the Nucks finishing no higher than 5th in the west this year.
- Iggysbff

On the tail end of an all night bender?

“trade Lu for prospects” If they sign Doan? perhaps. Things are suspiciously quite the last little while. I think once Doan makes up his mind the rest of the dominos will fall. The will need the cap space if he signs in Van so prospects coming back make sense, although I suspect we will need to take another (not so great) contract back as well.

“trade Lu for prospects” If they sign Doan? perhaps. Things are suspiciously quite the last little while. I think once Doan makes up his mind the rest of the dominos will fall. The will need the cap space if he signs in Van so prospects coming back make sense, although I suspect we will need to take another (not so great) contract back as well.
- VanHockeyGuy

If doan signs in Van Gillis will have to pay at least 5mil per year is my guess. Which will force him to trade Lu before the season starts because they will be over the cap.

Even if the canucks finish 5th say...isn't that better then fighting it out for last place and waiting for your rookies to get old enough to move to other teams?
- rune_74

How original...

Its amazing that Nuck fans keep saying how terrible and fragile the Oilers young guns are, but then you all say when they become RFA's you want them in Van? Which is it? Do they suck or are you just abunch of trolls that are jealous that the Oil are on the rise and the Nucks are on the decline?

If doan signs in Van Gillis will have to pay at least 5mil per year is my guess. Which will force him to trade Lu before the season starts because they will be over the cap.
- bala.pava

or send Ballard to the minors.

Ballard for 0 >>>> Lu for crap

How original...

Its amazing that Nuck fans keep saying how terrible and fragile the Oilers young guns are, but then you all say when they become RFA's you want them in Van? Which is it? Do they suck or are you just abunch of trolls that are jealous that the Oil are on the rise and the Nucks are on the decline?
- Iggysbff

4-6 Oilers are good, the rest, not so much.

that is all.

Canucks won't sign any additional NHL talent if they miss out on Doan, which I believe they will (Phoenix will get it done). There will be contracts coming back from a Luongo trade (NHL or AHL) and Gillis will likely sign some guys we've never heard of to play in Chicago. I just don't get where Raymond is supposed to fit, unless he's going to play centre while Kesler is out, and if Kesler is ready to start the season, are Kassian and Raymond fighting for the second line RW spot? If Kassian wins, does RayRay play on the 4th line? Unlikely...

or send Ballard to the minors.

Ballard for 0 >>>> Lu for crap
- IanEsplen

You know that won't happen, MG would sooner trade him for a 7th round pick then to put an NHL player in the AHL. What did we get for Hordi and SOB?

How original...

Its amazing that Nuck fans keep saying how terrible and fragile the Oilers young guns are, but then you all say when they become RFA's you want them in Van? Which is it? Do they suck or are you just abunch of trolls that are jealous that the Oil are on the rise and the Nucks are on the decline?
- Iggysbff

The only troll that I'm seeing is you. Keep it up and you'll be watching from the time out zone.

How original...

Its amazing that Nuck fans keep saying how terrible and fragile the Oilers young guns are, but then you all say when they become RFA's you want them in Van? Which is it? Do they suck or are you just abunch of trolls that are jealous that the Oil are on the rise and the Nucks are on the decline?
- Iggysbff

Are the Cloutier blogs that dreadful that you have to come here frequently to share your profound wisdom and insight?

4-6 Oilers are good, the rest, not so much.

that is all.
- IanEsplen

You guys realize how tight the West is? The margin between the top 10 teams is extremely small.

I dont see Vancouver putting up 111 points again this year. I see them mid-high 90's along with Colorado, Minny and Edmonton. Yes Thats right. Edmonton. Mid 90's. Who will take the division? It's a toss up. Time will tell.

4-6 Oilers are good, the rest, not so much.

that is all.
- IanEsplen

Same can be said of the Nucks!

You know that won't happen, MG would sooner trade him for a 7th round pick then to put an NHL player in the AHL. What did we get for Hordi and SOB?
- 1970vintage

A 7th is better than nothing.

My point was that Gillis will move Ballard in a crap deal/minors before he moves Lu in a crap deal. That is a much better option for Vancouver.

Same can be said of the Nucks!
- Iggysbff

Dude, what little credibility you might have had is gone. You're clearly trolling. This is your final warning.

“trade Lu for prospects” If they sign Doan? perhaps. Things are suspiciously quite the last little while. I think once Doan makes up his mind the rest of the dominos will fall. The will need the cap space if he signs in Van so prospects coming back make sense, although I suspect we will need to take another (not so great) contract back as well.
- VanHockeyGuy

People said that about everyone else so far. Once Parise and Suter decide. then nothing happened. Once Nash is traded. Then nothing happened. Once Weber is signed. Again, Nothing.

The only thing I can see happening after Doan is Bobby Ryan. The Ducks are in DESPERATE need of upgrading their prospect pool at forward (2nd line centre) and they'll wait for Doan to sign somewhere so everyone that misses out can potentially start a bidding war.