Ian Esplen: Closing Thoughts and Gameday Closing Thoughts and Gameday

Hi

Luongo. Contract. Nonis. Gillis. Dreger. Value. Leafs. Canucks. Cap. Trade. "Sucks". Trolls.







Discuss.








Peace!

Yes, you can build a team that can challenge without spending to the cap. The issue is that the Canucks don't look like a team that can challenge without another asset or two, and they left a $5.3M asset on the bench. If the rest of the roster was fine, nobody would have an issue with leaving Luongo there until the end of this season.

it would have crippled the leafs with that long disastrous contract. The Canucks signed it .. let them deal with it. I am just glad that Burke wasn't in charge casue he would have no doubt pulled the trigger.. Then again if it is true he could have went to TO in the summer with Burke at helm but said no to wait for Florida. If it's true then you snooze you lose I guess.. I wish Luongo luck though. He has been a good solider it appears throught the mess

Hi
- JIMI-JAMES

Bye

Yes, you can build a team that can challenge without spending to the cap. The issue is that the Canucks don't look like a team that can challenge without another asset or two, and they left a $5.3M asset on the bench. If the rest of the roster was fine, nobody would have an issue with leaving Luongo there until the end of this season.
- Michael_Stuart

Asset 1- Kesler
Asset 2- Roy

Problem solved

Bye
- CanUSA17

cry?

Asset 1- Kesler
Asset 2- Roy

Problem solved
- IanEsplen

Unless Kassian gets considerable playing time, the Canucks really aren't that tough to play against. There's nothing I hate more than seeing opposition players manhandle the Sedins without any pushback. That has to change. Who feeds Kesler the puck? Mason Raymond? We've seen that experiment fail. Derek Roy? Okay, but then who's your third line center? There are holes on the roster that a Luongo deal could have helped with. That's not really debatable.

Hardly problem solved.

People are mostly laughing at the fact that Gilles thought he'd get a return for Luongo. Why would anyone trade any asset for Luongo when they know he HAS to be bought out this summer just so Vancouver can be cap compliant.

Unless Kassian gets considerable playing time, the Canucks really aren't that tough to play against. There's nothing I hate more than seeing opposition players manhandle the Sedins without any pushback. That has to change. Who feeds Kesler the puck? Mason Raymond? We've seen that experiment fail. Derek Roy? Okay, but then who's your third line center? There are holes on the roster that a Luongo deal could have helped with. That's not really debatable.

Hardly problem solved.
- Michael_Stuart

dude, we're not getting anyone for luongo. the canucks are in a lose-lose situation with his contract. we've accepted this. yes, it sucks and it was a brutal move by the GM coach tandem to put lou on the bench, but we're stuck with it and we'll have to put a pretty good incentive package together to move him at all.

we're ready to move on and start the playoffs with who we have. will it be a writeoff season? maybe.

or will this mess galvanize the team? let's watch the games and find out.

cry?
- JIMI-JAMES

Potpie?

Unless Kassian gets considerable playing time, the Canucks really aren't that tough to play against. There's nothing I hate more than seeing opposition players manhandle the Sedins without any pushback. That has to change. Who feeds Kesler the puck? Mason Raymond? We've seen that experiment fail. Derek Roy? Okay, but then who's your third line center? There are holes on the roster that a Luongo deal could have helped with. That's not really debatable.

Hardly problem solved.
- Michael_Stuart

Fair points, IMO these lines should be given an extended look once Kesler is back:

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows(come playoff time you can move Kassian up if need be)
Raymond - Roy - Kassian(plays an offensive role and is not matched up against other top lines)
Higgins - Kesler - Hansen(plays the toughest minutes against top lines and is really not a 3rd line minute-wise)

If Booth is back for the playoffs(I'm not sure he will be), start him with a couple of games on the 4th and move him up to the Roy line in place of Kassian. If Roy can get Booth going then the Canucks become a really dangerous team.

Potpie?
- CanUSA17

Try

Fair points, IMO these lines should be given an extended look once Kesler is back:

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows(come playoff time you can move Kassian up if need be)
Raymond - Roy - Kassian(plays an offensive role and is not matched up against other top lines)
Higgins - Kesler - Hansen(plays the toughest minutes against top lines and is really not a 3rd line minute-wise)

If Booth is back for the playoffs(I'm not sure he will be), start him with a couple of games on the 4th and move him up to the Roy line in place of Kassian. If Roy can get Booth going then the Canucks become a really dangerous team.
- Nucker101

I'm most excited for this... FINALLY a compatible center for his skillset.

Try
- JIMI-JAMES

Fry?

Fry?
- Nucker101

Wry

Should be a good game tonight. My advice: just lose. You guys are good and these two games against Edmonton are kinda meaningless for you so yanno...just coast.

Wry
- JIMI-JAMES

Outcry!

Sedin/Sedin/Burrows
Higgins/Kesler/Hansen
Kassian/Roy/Raymond
Weise/Lapierre/Pinizzotto

The depth at center should finally make the Canucks very comfortable in engaging in power-vs-power matchups.

Stop coddling the Sedins ye of little faith: http://puckstorming.blogs...-unlucky-or-not-good.html

goin to the game tonight.
amped. oilers need this one.

if ur watching on tv, just look for the totally kickazz guy cheering for the oilers.

i hate all of you

Awesome blog.

No nuts never was going to make a trade that is why he got the job.

I am surprised Florida wasn't more aggressive.

Should have been "thoughts after a dubie and game day "

People are mostly laughing at the fact that Gilles thought he'd get a return for Luongo. Why would anyone trade any asset for Luongo when they know he HAS to be bought out this summer just so Vancouver can be cap compliant.
- coldsteelonice

I really doubt he will be bought out. He will be packaged or waived and then it is up to ever wants him.

I don't blame Nonis for not taking him. He has adequate goaltending right now and he also has a chance to give his old boss and his replacement the middle finger,and saying Payback is a female dog.If I was Toronto I wouldn't have taken Lu either.

Fair points, IMO these lines should be given an extended look once Kesler is back:

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows(come playoff time you can move Kassian up if need be)
Raymond - Roy - Kassian(plays an offensive role and is not matched up against other top lines)
Higgins - Kesler - Hansen(plays the toughest minutes against top lines and is really not a 3rd line minute-wise)

If Booth is back for the playoffs(I'm not sure he will be), start him with a couple of games on the 4th and move him up to the Roy line in place of Kassian. If Roy can get Booth going then the Canucks become a really dangerous team.
- Nucker101

If I am the opossition I am laughing if Raymond is on the second line.