I hate that trade.....but it is probably close to even value. Still I don't think this team can afford to move Edler.
- belcherbd

Wouldn't waive for EDM anyway.

I hate that trade.....but it is probably close to even value. Still I don't think this team can afford to move Edler.
- belcherbd

I don't think so either but it could help in the long run if Benning can replace Edler in the off season.

No easy fixes, that is for sure.

I see a lot of similarities like last year. I think we are climbing in the same rabbit hole.

Top line goal scoring is dropping . Confused D.Injuries and no one to fill in. Players are slower and older.
- VANTEL

Agreed. I'm not convinced that the Sedins can operate at an optimum level for a full season anymore.

Benning made a decent first impression with some of the moves he's made but we still have paper thin depth. A single injury can throw this team sideways.

In the end of the day the similarities you note which have been dogging us for years comes down to one thing for me: lack of quality.

I hate that trade.....but it is probably close to even value. Still I don't think this team can afford to move Edler.
- belcherbd

Whats is your course of action ( suggestion )?

Big trade
Stay the course wait for our prospects
Shuffle lineup

I hate that trade.....but it is probably close to even value. Still I don't think this team can afford to move Edler.
- belcherbd

We lack top end quality, we get Eberle for the loss of only Edler (realistically) and you hate that trade?

Whats is your course of action ( suggestion )?

Big trade
Stay the course wait for our prospects
Shuffle lineup
- VANTEL

Big trades are so hard to make with the cap, easier to make during the off-season when everyone has money coming off of the books and more willing to shake up their teams. And it depends on what type of big trade.

My ideal, somewhat realistic(but still hopeful) plan between now and the TDL would be:

- Convince Bieksa to give a list of at least 5 teams that he'd be willing to go to. Trade him to the highest bidder.
- Ditto with Burrows, I love him but he's just not a 4.5 million dollar player and won't get better s he gets older. Still a really good defensive forward, but those can be acquired at a much cheaper cap hit. If teams aren't interested or offer basically garbage, offer to sweeten the pot by adding a mid-tier prospect.
- Trade Gaunce for a D prospect of similar value.

Agreed. I'm not convinced that the Sedins can operate at an optimum level for a full season anymore.

Benning made a decent first impression with some of the moves he's made but we still have paper thin depth. A single injury can throw this team sideways.

In the end of the day the similarities you note which have been dogging us for years comes down to one thing for me: lack of quality.
- AlexF

I do still think that Hank can play with Vrbata and a true first line LW. Daniels numbers now point that he is a third liner like Higgins. I know someone will point out his assists.He and Hank are dropping in the standings every day now. They really need o stop depending on each other so much.

Our PP is predictable and seeing those two are not shooting puck ,other teams know keep a man on Vrbata. I pointed out yesterday our entire first line has two more hits combined than T.Hall on last place Oilers. RNH has 26 hits this year our first line has 39

Agreed. I'm not convinced that the Sedins can operate at an optimum level for a full season anymore.

Benning made a decent first impression with some of the moves he's made but we still have paper thin depth. A single injury can throw this team sideways.

In the end of the day the similarities you note which have been dogging us for years comes down to one thing for me: lack of quality.
- AlexF

DP

Big trades are so hard to make with the cap, easier to make during the off-season when everyone has money coming off of the books and more willing to shake up their teams. And it depends on what type of big trade.

My ideal, somewhat realistic(but still hopeful) plan between now and the TDL would be:

- Convince Bieksa to give a list of at least 5 teams that he'd be willing to go to. Trade him to the highest bidder.
- Ditto with Burrows, I love him but he's just not a 4.5 million dollar player and won't get better s he gets older. Still a really good defensive forward, but those can be acquired at a much cheaper cap hit. If teams aren't interested or offer basically garbage, offer to sweeten the pot by adding a mid-tier prospect.
- Trade Gaunce for a D prospect of similar value.
- Nucker101

I agree it should be Bieksa and Burrows to go and I will even throw in Higgins.

WD mad some good moves last year now it is ime to finish the job

Whats is your course of action ( suggestion )?

Big trade
Stay the course wait for our prospects
Shuffle lineup
- VANTEL

A big trade isn't possible with this lineup as the Sedin's are not going anywhere and we don't have any other players that would bring back something I would consider big. Edler likely could bring back a top 6 fwd but I think our D is sorely lacking offensive ability. Moving him just opens up another larger hole. I would move Bieksa but doubt he waives. Hamhuis/Tanev are too valuable and won't fetch the same value back.

So basically stay the course and try to move some of the tweener forwards if there is some value. I don't think this team needs to panic from the last couple of losses but I hope Benning/WD are starting to realize that Miller isn't very good and our D really misses Hamhuis.

This team's strength for years was solid goal-tending and D depth, at the beginning of the season this was covered up by unsustainable goal scoring but that has faded over the last couple of games.

Play Lack more
trade away Higgins/Hansen/Matthias/Richardson for a D depth.
Accept that this team is a work in progress.

Edler is our best Dman??? Why on earth would they trade him, to get worse???
- LeftCoaster

"Bieksa sucks,,, we better trade Edler" is back in play.

I agree it should be Bieksa and Burrows to go and I will even throw in Higgins.

WD mad some good moves last year now it is ime to finish the job
- VANTEL

Higgins is a really solid 3LW and only makes 2.5M per. You need to keep some quality vets around IMO.

"Bieksa sucks,,, we better trade Edler" is back in play.

- boonerbuck

Big trades are so hard to make with the cap, easier to make during the off-season when everyone has money coming off of the books and more willing to shake up their teams. And it depends on what type of big trade.

My ideal, somewhat realistic(but still hopeful) plan between now and the TDL would be:

- Convince Bieksa to give a list of at least 5 teams that he'd be willing to go to. Trade him to the highest bidder.
- Ditto with Burrows, I love him but he's just not a 4.5 million dollar player and won't get better s he gets older. Still a really good defensive forward, but those can be acquired at a much cheaper cap hit. If teams aren't interested or offer basically garbage, offer to sweeten the pot by adding a mid-tier prospect.
- Trade Gaunce for a D prospect of similar value.
- Nucker101

The one issue with moving a dman like Bieksa is who's going to replace him? We don't have the prospects within the system to replace him so you've gotta target a young dman.

Our prospects, due to poor drafting, is not able to provide guys yet, we need another three years of solid drafting. Unfortunately we're kinda stuck in no mans land right now.

"Bieksa sucks,,, we better trade Edler" is back in play.

- boonerbuck

------------------------------------->

Higgins is a really solid 3LW and only makes 2.5M per. You need to keep some quality vets around IMO.
- Nucker101

you can get the same play from a cheaper bigger Matthias

A big trade isn't possible with this lineup as the Sedin's are not going anywhere and we don't have any other players that would bring back something I would consider big. Edler likely could bring back a top 6 fwd but I think our D is sorely lacking offensive ability. Moving him just opens up another larger hole. I would move Bieksa but doubt he waives. Hamhuis/Tanev are too valuable and won't fetch the same value back.

So basically stay the course and try to move some of the tweener forwards if there is some value. I don't think this team needs to panic from the last couple of losses but I hope Benning/WD are starting to realize that Miller isn't very good and our D really misses Hamhuis.

This team's strength for years was solid goal-tending and D depth, at the beginning of the season this was covered up by unsustainable goal scoring but that has faded over the last couple of games.

Play Lack more
trade away Higgins/Hansen/Matthias/Richardson for a D depth.
Accept that this team is a work in progress.
- belcherbd

Agreed - this team is most definitely a team in transition. There simple isn't any quick fixes, ask the Oilers, they have to continue to draft and develop all the while trying to ice a competitive team to keep fan interest.

I believe they can remain a fun team to watch and re-tool at the same time. There'll definitely be a few down years, like last year, but with good drafting they can turn things around in four or five years.

We lack top end quality, we get Eberle for the loss of only Edler (realistically) and you hate that trade?
- AlexF

My problem is that Edler is this team's only offensive Dman in our lineup let along are system that is close to being ready. I think this team already needs to add an offensive Dman so by moving Edler and replacing him with Petry we get significantly worse on the back end. I also think Miller/Lack need to split more starts and I would not be confident in playing Markstrom in the NHL other than in relief/injury situations.

Like I said before I think you have the correct value for Eberle, but I just don't think that helps this team in the long run.

Here's a scenario I could see happening with Bieksa.

At the TDL Benning tells Bieksa the team would like to get younger and there is opportunity for both of them to improve their situation. Bieksa declines. After the season ends, he is open to being moved because he has accepted Benning wants to move him and after the last two disaster seasons he's had, a fresh start on a new team for his remaining couple of years is the only thing that now makes sense. We start next season without KB. He will no doubt be included in the Canucks Ring of honor when he retires.

you can get the same play from a cheaper bigger Matthias
- VANTEL

Yep - I'm not on the keep Higgins train at all. He has vaule, trade him, that's the way good asset managers would do.

The one issue with moving a dman like Bieksa is who's going to replace him? We don't have the prospects within the system to replace him so you've gotta target a young dman.

Our prospects, due to poor drafting, is not able to provide guys yet, we need another three years of solid drafting. Unfortunately we're kinda stuck in no mans land right now.
- LeftCoaster

Ideally you can get at least a decent bottom pairing type d-man as part of the deal. I would obviously wait util Hmahuis is back as well. But Bieksa is declining and playing well below his cap hit's value, but he's one of those veteran players who is still likely highly thought of around the league, those are the exact type of players smart teams trade. He should bring back more in a trade than his actual value to the team.

Only issue is the full NTC.

you can get the same play from a cheaper bigger Matthias
- VANTEL

Higgins is way better defensively and more consistent. Why do we have to choose one or the other anyway? Are you not a fan of having 4 decent lines?

Here's a scenario I could see happening with Bieksa.

At the TDL Benning tells Bieksa the team would like to get younger and there is opportunity for both of them to improve their situation. Bieksa declines. After the season ends, he is open to being moved because he has accepted Benning wants to move him and after the last two disaster seasons he's had, a fresh start on a new team for his remaining couple of years is the only thing that now makes sense. We start next season without KB. He will no doubt be included in the Canucks Ring of honor when he retires.
- boonerbuck

This is more realistic and likely than what I laid out. However, I still have a bad feeling that he's here to stay.

Higgins is way better defensively and more consistent. Why do we have to choose one or the other anyway? Are you not a fan of having 4 decent lines?
- Nucker101

The problem with keeping those players is that Vey/Kassian/Jensen et al end up with fewer opportunities to succeed.

At some point a spot needs to be made for youth, might as well be when those vets have some value.

Higgins is way better defensively and more consistent. Why do we have to choose one or the other anyway? Are you not a fan of having 4 decent lines?
- Nucker101

Higgins has value in the trade market, that's why. Younger players need a chance to play!!