This will be a transition year. Canucks will be integrating a lot of their youth this year. (Virtanen, Grenier, Corrado, Clendening... maybe a cassels at the end of the year) I doubt they'll make the playoffs and i'm okay with a higher pick as long as the young guys get some experience. I think guys like Vrbata and some of the other vets will be dealt for picks if it looks like the young guys can play. Canucks should have a lot more assets and cap space to really make moves next year
- Mungo

Agree with this as well.

Benning says he was not involved on Hamilton. Only Lucic. "We didn't have the assets to acquire a player of Hamilton's ilk" #Canucks


As mentioned, Canucks just don't have the assets to acquire a guy like this and Botchford mentioning you trade your next two first round picks for him is ridiculous.

Benning said every time conversations come up about a player like Hamilton other teams immediately ask for Horvat, Virtanen, McCann etc. and he's just not willing to trade those guys and give up any chance at a future for one player.
- LeftCoaster

That's what I said in an earlier blog when guys wanted to hang Benning on Saturday.

Every call with Benning started with other teams asking about those guys. It's a non starter.

I will say it again-- Sometimes the hardest punch you throw... Is the punch you don't throw. THINK ABOUT IT.

He didn't sacrifice the future. And for that he came out a winner.

Anyone that wanted Lucic or anybody else is looking for a quick fix. You won't build something special operating like that. You have to build it.

I would take a chance on semin after buy out.
- thundachunk

My concern would be the room. Especially with the influx of youth on the team. Not sure on that.

My concern would be the room. Especially with the influx of youth on the team. Not sure on that.
- VanHockeyGuy

There is no way I would take that guy on my team.

How can you preach heart, work ethic and the willingness to bleed for your teammates with that guy on your team?

You can't.

PASS.

Did you use your real name or your online name?
- bloatedmosquito

I set it up under my real name - had to I think - hopefully Pratt doesn't hire a hit man

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." -George Bernard Shaw


Words to live by Mr. Benning. Create a team through the draft and develop mode instead of trying to find quick fixes that don't work.


Too deep??

Fear The Fin ‏@fearthefin · 3m3 minutes ago
$14 million is a lot of buyout money for Carolina. No one's been this desperate to make Semin go away since Bill Clinton.

Talking to 5 teams on KB per TSN Bob Mac. There is urgency to get this deal done in the next couple of days, with his family etc and cap space for the team. There's obviously a market for him. Do it.

NEWS 1130 Sports ‏@NEWS1130Sports · 57s57 seconds ago
Have learned the #Canucks are 1 of 12 teams that have called about goalie Richard Bachman. Van needs starting goalie in Utica.

NEWS 1130 Sports ‏@NEWS1130Sports · 1m1 minute ago
Bachman played for Willie Desjardins and Glen Gulutzan when all 3 were with the Dallas Stars. #Canucks

NEWS 1130 Sports ‏@NEWS1130Sports · 57s57 seconds ago
Have learned the #Canucks are 1 of 12 teams that have called about goalie Richard Bachman. Van needs starting goalie in Utica.

NEWS 1130 Sports ‏@NEWS1130Sports · 1m1 minute ago
Bachman played for Willie Desjardins and Glen Gulutzan when all 3 were with the Dallas Stars. #Canucks
- LeftCoaster

I would be on board with that. Not a bad depth goalie to sign.

That's what I said in an earlier blog when guys wanted to hang Benning on Saturday.

Every call with Benning started with other teams asking about those guys. It's a non starter.

I will say it again-- Sometimes the hardest punch you throw... Is the punch you don't throw. THINK ABOUT IT.

He didn't sacrifice the future. And for that he came out a winner.

Anyone that wanted Lucic or anybody else is looking for a quick fix. You won't build something special operating like that. You have to build it.
- rugdnit

Exactly, we as nuck fans just have to realize we are in for a bumpy road the next little while. I want change but that takes time. I am ready

Talking to 5 teams on KB per TSN Bob Mac. There is urgency to get this deal done in the next couple of days, with his family etc and cap space for the team. There's obviously a market for him. Do it.
- VanHockeyGuy

I would be happy with a 2016 2nd, but am hoping Benning pushes for a bit more. Maybe he gets an interesting prospect thrown in or another later pick.

Probably for the best that it gets done now since it's just too awkward to have a team leader return after he was about to get traded. I still believe that he'd have more value at the TDL(especially with salary retained), but that's always a risk since injuries can happen and another year of playing with Sbisa won't help Bieksa's value.

I would be on board with that. Not a bad depth goalie to sign.
- RealityChecker

Agreed. NHL experience and can handle being a starter or 1A/1B guy in the AHL. Sounds like he's going to have plenty of options on where to sign though.

Exactly, we as nuck fans just have to realize we are in for a bumpy road the next little while. I want change but that takes time. I am ready
- Greg7705

Yup.



It's not even going that slow. Garrison and Kesler were dealt and now it looks like Bieksa is gone. This is about as fast as it gets in the salary cap era. Anyone expecting 3 or 4 big trades in one summer is playing too much NHL 15 or just doesn't completely understand the NHL.

I would be happy with a 2016 2nd, but am hoping Benning pushes for a bit more. Maybe he gets an interesting prospect thrown in or another later pick.

Probably for the best that it gets done now since it's just too awkward to have a team leader return after he was about to get traded. I still believe that he'd have more value at the TDL(especially with salary retained), but that's always a risk since injuries can happen and another year of playing with Sbisa won't help Bieksa's value.
- Nucker101

I think that he gets traded to Detroit for a 3rd (possibly a 2nd). While I agree that waiting until the TDL would net a better return, I think the roster and cap space is as valuable at the moment.

Which brings me to your blog: It aligns with my thinking so I'm going to say that it's brilliant! The only quibble I have is with your opening sentence, "To put it frankly, the Canucks defense is about as mediocre and unexciting you can get."

Mediocre and unexciting is hugely overrating them. Quit being such a homer dude

Things are going to get heated around here from time to time. We are all big boys. Vantel can take it so can Booner. Nucker came back after a break. I have got into it with Retinalz and Blechrd in the past. Everyone of disagrees on a lot of different issue. Thats the point of being here. If we agreed all the time it would be boring as $hit.
- thundachunk

I disagree!

Well Boston got a 2016 2nd rounder and Mirco Mueller.


If this is true, as it hasn't been confirmed..... Benning is looking like a damn amateur.

I disagree!
- Retinalz

Good then we are on the same level.

Well Boston got a 2016 2nd rounder and Mirco Mueller.


If this is true, as it hasn't been confirmed..... Benning is looking like a damn amateur.


- classic321

what are you talking about?

Bob McKenzie retweeted


Pierre LeBrun ‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun · 3m3 minutes ago
Sharks give up a 2016 first-round draft pick plus unsigned prospect Sean Kuraly for Martin Jones

that goalie market...

Look at that.. Martin Jones flipped to San Jose.

No way LA would have ever traded him to SJ.

SJ overpaid.

Look at that.. Martin Jones flipped to San Jose.

No way LA would have ever traded him to SJ.

SJ overpaid.
- rugdnit

Or we were underpaid

The GM's around the league don't view Eddie Lack like the homers in Vancouver do - this is clear and painfully obvious.

Or we were underpaid



- classic321

Playing on a Stanley Cup Team is going to get you noticed. Playing on the East Coast will get you noticed.

Seeing a trend here?

The GM's around the league don't view Eddie Lack like the homers in Vancouver do - this is clear and painfully obvious.
- LeftCoaster

Exactly. We love the guy, but maybe... just maybe... we got roughly what he was worth.