I'm not suggesting that Kesler should of received 2 1st and an impact younger player, but there is a wide gap between the two returns. St Louis is a future hall of famer and a superstar no doubt but he is also 9 years older. Marty made it clear he only wanted to go to NYR but that didn't manage to handicap the trade.
- belcherbd

No I didn't think you were suggesting that, but I think reputation of St.Louis is why it didnt handicap them. Kesler is viewed as injury prone and struggles to find linemates; while (at the time) Marty was seen as near-elite and very little indication of slowing down.
Hindsight though, NYR must be extremely disappointed in his production drop off this past year for what it cost them

I like your optimism
Although TBH I think we have two Couturier type players in Horvat and McCann and would be better off going after moar D prospect or picks for Edler
- bezz44

Agreed. Our biggest needs are top six wingers and top pairing D, preferably young, big, and mean. That shouldn't be hard to find...

I'm not suggesting that Kesler should of received 2 1st and an impact younger player, but there is a wide gap between the two returns. St Louis is a future hall of famer and a superstar no doubt but he is also 9 years older. Marty made it clear he only wanted to go to NYR but that didn't manage to handicap the trade.
- belcherbd

True, but they were good trading partners. St. Louis wanted to go to the Rangers and Callahan wanted more money to resign then New York was willing to pay.

True, but they were good trading partners. St. Louis wanted to go to the Rangers and Callahan wanted more money to resign then New York was willing to pay.
- CubanBuffet

Van and Anh were good trading partners as well, Kesler wanted flip flops and palm trees, Anh wanted a 2nd line C and Van wanted youth and picks.

Unfortunatly Van got a pick, a 3C and a cap dump/top 4 D depending on who you ask.

Miller was widely reported as only being interested in teams that were on the west coast. He had a pretty pedestrian season going in FA and still ended up getting 6th highest salary in the league for goal-tending.

I'm not sure if other managers could of done better than Benning on Kesler, but I do know that St. Louis put Stevie Y in as tough as a situation and Tampa made out pretty good. 1st in both 2014 and 2015 as well as Callahan and a 7th for Marty and a 2nd.

Benning did need to move some bodies and salary, so he could afford Miller at 6 million per. Garrison was the choice which hindsight shows wasn't great, I'm not criticizing that as much as what he received for him. How is a 2nd pick worth a top 4 D when you spend a 2nd on a prospect like Vey?

These are obviously just my opinions but this is why I am not ready to anoint Benning as the savior yet.
- belcherbd

I don't feel too strongly about any of it except to say time will tell on a lot of his moves.

I remember saying when we got Vrbata, he wasn't my first choice but he was a goal scorer.

I think Benning made many decisions based on an east coast perspective. He has history with Miller and was addressing the requests of players. Did we overpay? Based on salary, I think that is what you pay one of his ilk. Might been able to get him cheaper, not sure?

Signing Vey, looks like a move to get a younger, skill guy get into the lineup. Might perform better with better players?

I don't think Garrison was the problem in the past. Missed having that shot on pp, or at least as an option. Was he the first dman Benning asked to waive and then got a deal right away? Wasn't a fan when Garrison was in Florida?

I wasn't happy when we picked Demko in the 2nd round when the goalie market is so soft that it just doesn't sound like a wise pick. Not sure who was available then but we weren't prospect bare at the goal position.

I read that this morning, real headshaker for me?? He wants to be loyal to his vets and has no interest in kids being injected into the line-up....WTF Willie
- LeftCoaster

He's loyal to Vey.

He's loyal to Vey.

- VanHockeyGuy

I'm not suggesting that Kesler should of received 2 1st and an impact younger player, but there is a wide gap between the two returns. St Louis is a future hall of famer and a superstar no doubt but he is also 9 years older. Marty made it clear he only wanted to go to NYR but that didn't manage to handicap the trade.
- belcherbd

I wish JB had held on to Kesler and put up with the cancer in the room until March. The return would have been much higher than Bonino and Spiza and we would be in better shape today.

He's loyal to Vey.

- VanHockeyGuy

Not so much in the playoffs.

- LeftCoaster

Sounds to be loyal to Bieksa and Higgins too.

The whining and bullpoop is pretty thick in here today

I wish JB had held on to Kesler and put up with the cancer in the room until March. The return would have been much higher than Bonino and Spiza and we would be in better shape today.
- Grumpy13

Kesler wouldn't have played, by all accounts, he needed to make a move. Having a player sitting just diminishes his value, then you're right back to the Gillis years.

The whining and bullpoop is pretty thick in here today
- A_SteamingLombardi

Should have hired Brisebois instead of JB

The whining and bullpoop is pretty thick in here today
- A_SteamingLombardi

We only want what's best...and a (frank)in Stanley Cup for cryin out loud!!

Kesler wouldn't have played, by all accounts, he needed to make a move. Having a player sitting just diminishes his value, then you're right back to the Gillis years.
- LeftCoaster

That stinker would not have forfeited his salary.

I wish JB had held on to Kesler and put up with the cancer in the room until March. The return would have been much higher than Bonino and Spiza and we would be in better shape today.
- Grumpy13

Really? what are the lottery numbers?

We only wants what's best...and a (frank)in Stanley Cup for cryin out loud!!
- LeftCoaster

Then complain about the owner not who he hires, they are just puppets.

That stinker would not have forfeited his salary.
- Grumpy13

I think he was pretty adamant he wanted a change. Hopefully McCann is the piece that saves that trade for Benning. Kid reminds me so much of Sakic in his mannerisms on the ice.

Then complain about the owner not who he hires, they are just puppets.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Not yet...

I do my best to find the concrete bits of info in yesterday's vagaries from Canucks management, in today's new blog:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...nts-Draft-Order/194/68338

Not yet...
- LeftCoaster

It's your money



20 more years of 1st round exits gives the wop the $ he wants.



GO HABS

Agreed. Our biggest needs are top six wingers and top pairing D, preferably young, big, and mean. That shouldn't be hard to find...
- CubanBuffet

I think we need to focus on sheer talent over physical toughness at this stage. We have some guys who project to be big and mean in Pedan and Tryamkin. I'd keep prioritizing those types of players at lower cost and prioritize skill

I think we need to focus on sheer talent over physical toughness at this stage. We have some guys who project to be big and mean in Pedan and Tryamkin. I'd keep prioritizing those types of players at lower cost and prioritize skill
- bezz44

I agree that we are not in a position to be picky, BPA, as Nucker would be happy to tell you, but we do need some physical players that can actually play. Perhaps Pedan and Tryamkin are those players, or they could turn out to be really tough pylons. Sestito is gone because he only provided toughness, there's not much of a place left for players like that in the NHL.

I agree that we are not in a position to be picky, BPA, as Nucker would be happy to tell you, but we do need some physical players that can actually play. Perhaps Pedan and Tryamkin are those players, or they could turn out to be really tough pylons. Sestito is gone because he only provided toughness, there's not much of a place left for players like that in the NHL.
- CubanBuffet

Players with skill can be mean too.