Van should look to give Philip Holm some games. Trade Hutton, Pouliot, MDZ. One of the 3 at the deadline and decide who they are keeping and trade another one at the draft. 5 left side guys needing waivers next season is bad asset management.
- manvanfan

Hutton's been pretty decent since the healthy scratch, I think he got the message and he's trying to play with more of an edge and keeping his offensive game a bit more simple. He has the best combination of size/skating/skill out of the young dmen on the roster. He gets too much hate by some fans here imo.

Pouliot looked the best to start the season and now he looks like the worst out of all 3 of the young dmen. Living up the "poo" in his name these days. He's looked like an AHL'er after the first couple of months of the season.

I'd take Hutton over Pouliot easily.

I'd like to see what Holm has to offer as well, it's worth a shot. I like Hutton as a bottom pairing dman, don't care about the other 2 young dmen much(Stetcher/DP).

Did anyone ever admit to being "sandpaper" over at Canucksarmy?
- manvanfan

It's Renidrag.

I understand the hole losing Tanev would create. He has a tremendous impact on the team that is hard to replace, but I just dont like the concept that he would make a good partner for a rookie because you wont put Tanev and Juolevi up against top lines anyway.

If the rationale is simply that he will take the tough minutes, then thats fine but I'd still be looking to get the best return on a depreciating asset and see if I can moneyball a replacement
- WhiteLie

fair enough, but imo this team could use another decent dman who can handle tough mins without looking like an idiot, losing it's best one is going to prolong the suckage for at least another couple of years. The UFA market this year is dry, the few decent dmen will get paid and have plenty of offers to choose from.

Only Carlson is decent.
Not signing here so its thin on D ufa’s.
Cannot see a RHD Tanev traded.

fair enough, but imo this team could use another decent dman who can handle tough mins without looking like an idiot, losing it's best one is going to prolong the suckage for at least another couple of years. The UFA market this year is dry, the few decent dmen will get paid and have plenty of offers to choose from.
- Nucker101

You'd hope you can take a decent (but maybe overpaid) defenseman in return to mitigate the impact but I agree its a tough predicament. It would be much easier if Hutton, Pouliot, and/or Stecher can actually take a step forward in taking regular shifts

Hutton's been pretty decent since the healthy scratch, I think he got the message and he's trying to play with more of an edge and keeping his offensive game a bit more simple. He has the best combination of size/skating/skill out of the young dmen on the roster. He gets too much hate by some fans here imo.

Pouliot looked the best to start the season and now he looks like the worst out of all 3 of the young dmen. Living up the "poo" in his name these days. He's looked like an AHL'er after the first couple of months of the season.

I'd take Hutton over Pouliot easily.

I'd like to see what Holm has to offer as well, it's worth a shot. I like Hutton as a bottom pairing dman, don't care about the other 2 young dmen much(Stetcher/DP).
- Nucker101

I don't know which one is really better then the other. I think Hutton is capable of being better. He's not really proving it. 12 minutes of ice time last game. DP has more hits then Hutton does in less games and more blocks and more points. It's really a toss up for me right now. One of them needs to play a stretch where they don't look like AHL players or they can both go and keep MDZ.

You'd hope you can take a decent (but maybe overpaid) defenseman in return to mitigate the impact but I agree its a tough predicament. It would be much easier if Hutton, Pouliot, and/or Stecher can actually take a step forward in taking regular shifts
- WhiteLie

I can't lump in Hutton with those 2. Those 2 look more like AHL'ers to me, meanwhile Hutton looks like a decent bottom pairing dman. He makes some stupid plays still, but his overall play is more solid, he does the little things better than those 2 do.

I can't lump in Hutton with those 2. Those 2 look more like AHL'ers to me, meanwhile Hutton looks like a decent bottom pairing dman. He makes some stupid plays still, but his overall play is solid, he does the little things better than those 2 do.
- Nucker101

Hutton is definitely the best overall of the 3. More potential than the others too imo

I don't know which one is really better then the other. I think Hutton is capable of being better. He's not really proving it. 12 minutes of ice time last game. DP has more hits then Hutton does in less games and more blocks and more points. It's really a toss up for me right now. One of them needs to play a stretch where they don't look like AHL players or they can both go and keep MDZ.
- manvanfan

Since the first couple of months, it's not even a question for me. Hutton has been clearly better than DP and Stetcher(not a LHD, but just to compare).

I like MDZ's work ethic and he seems like a good locker room vet to have around the youth, but the guy is a #4/#5 dman and this is as good as he's every going to get, he is what he is. Use him as a stopgap/mentor and trade him at the TDL next year.

He's inconsistent and can't carry a young dman with him like Tanev or even Edler. And he's not capable of playing against top lines(unless Tanev is carrying him).

I don't know which one is really better then the other. I think Hutton is capable of being better. He's not really proving it. 12 minutes of ice time last game. DP has more hits then Hutton does in less games and more blocks and more points. It's really a toss up for me right now. One of them needs to play a stretch where they don't look like AHL players or they can both go and keep MDZ.
- manvanfan

This is my biggest frustration with him. He has the tools, but something is missing where he puts it all together consistently

You'd hope you can take a decent (but maybe overpaid) defenseman in return to mitigate the impact but I agree its a tough predicament. It would be much easier if Hutton, Pouliot, and/or Stecher can actually take a step forward in taking regular shifts
- WhiteLie

I think Stecher has been NHL worthy over the past month. Hasn't been so up and down in his play like he had been.

Free agent class is weak especially on the left side. Hammer has the most points of LHD right now for UFA's.

off-topic:

Dan Hamhuis has been pretty solid for Stars this year, coaching change helped him for sure. He was laughed at here last year for the heathy scratch, but he's rebounded nicely.

This is my biggest frustration with him. He has the tools, but something is missing where he puts it all together consistently
- WhiteLie

To much hanging with this idiot

I can't lump in Hutton with those 2. Those 2 look more like AHL'ers to me, meanwhile Hutton looks like a decent bottom pairing dman. He makes some stupid plays still, but his overall play is more solid, he does the little things better than those 2 do.
- Nucker101

He's ahead, but I dont think by a lot. He also has nearly double the NHL experience of the other 2 and it barely shows

This is my biggest frustration with him. He has the tools, but something is missing where he puts it all together consistently
- WhiteLie

Hockey IQ and experience.

He's ahead, but I dont think by a lot. He also has nearly double the NHL experience of the other 2 and it barely shows
- WhiteLie

Agree to disagree.

For me it's a decent 3rd pairing dman

vs

2 guys who should probably be in the AHL, but aren't because the team sucks and they'd be claimed on waivers by some other bottom feeder who wants to take a gamble on them.

Hockey IQ and experience.
- manvanfan

Since the first couple of months, it's not even a question for me. Hutton has been clearly better than DP and Stetcher(not a LHD, but just to compare).

I like MDZ's work ethic and he seems like a good locker room vet to have around the youth, but the guy is a #4/#5 dman and this is as good as he's every going to get, he is what he is. Use him as a stopgap/mentor and trade him at the TDL next year.

He's inconsistent and can't carry a young dman with him like Tanev or even Edler. And he's not capable of playing against top lines(unless Tanev is carrying him).
- Nucker101

If MDZ could carry another player then he probably wouldn't have been a free agent and toss around from team to team.

If MDZ could carry another player then he probably wouldn't have been a free agent and toss around from team to team.
- manvanfan

true

Agree to disagree.

For me it's a okay/decent 3rd pairing dman

vs

2 guys who should probably be in the AHL, but aren't because the team sucks and they'd be claimed on waivers by some other bottom feeder who wants to take a gamble on them.
- Nucker101

I dont disagree with the above, but I do think Hutton is more consistently "okay" 3rd pairing than a decent one

To much hanging with this idiot


- A_SteamingLombardi

They are pretty much the same, for better or for worse

true
- Nucker101

I think Hutton is sort of what MDZ used to be. Hopefully MDZ teaches Hutton how to be better defensively them him though.

I think Hutton is sort of what MDZ used to be. Hopefully MDZ teaches Hutton how to be better defensively them him though.
- manvanfan

As sad as it sounds, the Canucks would lose a lot of their physical play without MDZ in the line up. It's that bad.

As sad as it sounds, the Canucks would lose a lot of their physical play without MDZ in the line up. It's that bad.
- boonerbuck

Already lost Sbisa, just can't handle losing another.