Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Top Free-Agent Targets at Wing Remain Lucic, Ericsson With less than one month to go until free-agency opens, it looks like the Vancouver Canucks' most likely targets will be wingers Milan Lucic and Loui Eriksson.

I dont want either due to the money and term it will take. If you can get them on the cheap then aim for both. Although this would mean moving out higgins, burrows, sbisa and probably miller. Not sure it can happen.

Given the lack of talented wingers that'll be available, I'd be happy with either/or.
I'd prefer Lucic, but feel loui might be more likely.
Thanks for not including stamkos

Can't really say I'm excited about adding either (although would prefer Erikson over Lucic, mostly due to the fact he's had excellent success playing with the twins before, and that he's more of a goal scorer than Lucic is).

I'd still like to see the Canucks look at Brouwer. Most likely he will be much cheaper and he might be willing to take a home town discount. Brouwer provides both offense and grit (and ups his game when it matters the most), characteristics which the Canucks could always use more of - especially the truculence.

I would prefer the younger McGinn.

I see Boeser as a top 6 RHF in the next three years . We also have JV and Rodin so I don't want to go long term.

I think at the most Benning should not be offering out more than a 3-4 year deal, hopefully 3.

Also, to Lefty from the last blog:

I may have misused the word back-diving when referring to Burrows' buyout terms, but I'm pretty sure my logic is correct.

I wasn't thinking about just how much his contract dropped in the final year, but it is true that the cap hit in 2016-17 is $1.5 million more than the actual salary, because of money that he already received in prior years.

Based on the numbers that the buyout calculators at CapFriendly and General Fanager spit out, it looks like the Canucks must be on the hook for that full $1.5 million differential in the last year of the contact. Only the actual cash money still owed to Burrows would be cut to 2/3 and spread over two years, which I think is how they came up with a $2.5 million cap hit for 2016-17 and a $1 million hit for 2017-18.

I hadn't realized before this week that the situation was more complicated than simply splitting two thirds of his remaining cap hit, so please let me know if I'm not seeing this correctly!

I pick both poisons.

To be honest I don't' really want either of them, if I had to choose though, it'd definitely be Lucic due to his age and the kind of game he plays.

Benning and Linden want to compete and get into the playoffs, I get that, but the fact both guys will want some long-term commitment, steers me into the neither crowd.

The future of the Canucks is four to five years out, no matter how much Benning and company want to compete now. Signing either of them to long term deals puts you right back into the situation you're in now with declining players.

I pick both poisons.
- thundachunk

Whoever he signs, I hope it is only 3 years, 4 max. As Vantel stated, we should have Boeser or someone else pushing for that roster spot(s) by then.

Also, to Lefty from the last blog:

I may have misused the word back-diving when referring to Burrows' buyout terms, but I'm pretty sure my logic is correct.

I wasn't thinking about just how much his contract dropped in the final year, but it is true that the cap hit in 2016-17 is $1.5 million more than the actual salary, because of money that he already received in prior years.

Based on the numbers that the buyout calculators at CapFriendly and General Fanager spit out, it looks like the Canucks must be on the hook for that full $1.5 million differential in the last year of the contact. Only the actual cash money still owed to Burrows would be cut to 2/3 and spread over two years, which I think is how they came up with a $2.5 million cap hit for 2016-17 and a $1 million hit for 2017-18.

I hadn't realized before this week that the situation was more complicated than simply splitting two thirds of his remaining cap hit, so please let me know if I'm not seeing this correctly!
- Carol Schram

Thanks Carol….and to clarify yes you are 100% correct, it was your terminology of "back-diving" that confused me, I was thinking along the lines of a Pronger, Hossa, Luongo contract, which Burrows doesn't' have.

Anyways…you were right.

Can't really say I'm excited about adding either (although would prefer Erikson over Lucic, mostly due to the fact he's had excellent success playing with the twins before, and that he's more of a goal scorer than Lucic is).

I'd still like to see the Canucks look at Brouwer. Most likely he will be much cheaper and he might be willing to take a home town discount. Brouwer provides both offense and grit (and ups his game when it matters the most), characteristics which the Canucks could always use more of - especially the truculence.
- Zogg

Word on the twitter-verse from the hockey writers is Brouwer is looking to hit a home run with his playoff performance, I think someone will give it to him as well. He'll be too expensive…but I'd love to have him!

Thanks Carol….and to clarify yes you are 100% correct, it was your terminology of "back-diving" that confused me, I was thinking along the lines of a Pronger, Hossa, Luongo contract, which Burrows doesn't' have.

Anyways…you were right.
- LeftCoaster

You have been married how long? You should really know better by now.

http://thecanuckway.com/2...possible-draft-scenarios/

This was a good read right up until they said we could trade Sbisa for a first rounder

To Zogg:

I don't think that you can count on Brower taking a home town discount. At his age and with the playoffs he just had he's going to try and cash in. Frankly, he'd be stupid not to.

To Zogg:

I don't think that you can count on Brower taking a home town discount. At his age and with the playoffs he just had he's going to try and cash in. Frankly, he'd be stupid not to.
- CubanBuffet

Example: Clarkson, Bolland.

Don't want either, this team wont be competing for the cup during their contracts, so signing them is just to sell tickets. Signing either of these guys tells me the ownership wants ticket sales and not a winner.

To Zogg:

I don't think that you can count on Brower taking a home town discount. At his age and with the playoffs he just had he's going to try and cash in. Frankly, he'd be stupid not to.
- CubanBuffet

I agree, perhaps it's wishful thinking on my part

I wouldn't mind Lucic on a 6x5 or 6x6 with at most a limited NTC. That way we can trade him later if needed.

Don't want either, this team wont be competing for the cup during their contracts, so signing them is just to sell tickets. Signing either of these guys tells me the ownership wants ticket sales and not a winner.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I wouldn't worry about it , Benning rarely signs expensive players. He turns them into expensive players only after he gives them a new contract

To Zogg:

I don't think that you can count on Brower taking a home town discount. At his age and with the playoffs he just had he's going to try and cash in. Frankly, he'd be stupid not to.
- CubanBuffet

JVR, Kapanen and Pittsburgh's 1st for 5th overall
Thoughts

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- CanuckDon

I'm so mad I'm going to reply to myself. We don't want Kapanen or JVR. We will however take Pittsburgs first. Would you like Gaunce?

I agree, perhaps it's wishful thinking on my part
- Zogg

Problem is someone will give Brower his payday.

Don't want either, this team wont be competing for the cup during their contracts, so signing them is just to sell tickets. Signing either of these guys tells me the ownership wants ticket sales and not a winner.
- A_SteamingLombardi

So your saying signing both wouldn't make this team better? Signing one is a mistake, signing both gives us wins and a more competitive well balanced team that isn't as easily pushed around.

I'm so mad I'm going to reply to myself. We don't want Kapanen or JVR. We will however take Pittsburgs first. Would you like Gaunce?
- CanuckDon

Dude chill it's a trade idea.
PLD seems to be your future #1C though.