Yet he has been way more noticeable in the handful of games he's played verus the entire season that Eriksson has played so far.

The only time I notice Eriksson is when he whiffs on the puck with a wide open net.


- PetrolSexual

Yeah, I’ve been okay with Gagner so far this season. But if we’re talking about his whole Canuck stint so far then he’s been terrible.

so just so we can clear this up and can end this topic.

Gagner is good for a rebuilding team, just not THIS rebuilding team, and not good enough for a rebuilding team to take a free claim on him, but good enough for CBJ on a good team on a league minimum 600k "show me" 1 year contract. I am now picking up what you are putting down
- Codes1087

No, I said he'd be good for this team. He's shown he can play with talented players. Sticking him with Nic Dowd was never going to get value out of him. But when he got regular ice with talented offensive players, he was able to show his worth and has done so already this year.

There are teams that could use that player. Edmonton's best RW is Alex Chiasson right now and they don't have a RH shot for their PP.

Players with a ticket attached often don't get claimed on waivers at the start of the year when everyone is doing a roster/cap crunch for opening night. Or teams want to wait to see if their gambles pay off before making moves. Plus, teams probably interested may have been trying to get a sweet deal off Benning.

Yeah, I’ve been okay with Gagner so far this season. But if we’re talking about his whole Canuck stint so far then he’s been terrible.
- Nucker101

at no disrespect to you, or anyone else who thinks Gagner has been "ok". I think the bar has been set to an all-time low, out of what we "expect" from some players, that when it comes to mediocre play, we pass it off as "meh, he hasn't been THAT bad, when comparing him to *also, another poopty player*, he isn't doing awful". Every team has players that are not up to par, not worth their contract, not worth a roster spot, but the Canucks have had so many of these players, and at one time, I feel like the posters in here are super passive in expectations. Maybe I am grumpy f*ck and think too critically of these guys, but I cant bring up a roster on ANY different team, and name the same amount of players that are marginal NHLer's like I can the Canucks right now.

I also thought Perlini had looked good for the yotes. I think Strome has the highest offensive upside out of the 3. I think Arizona wins this trade for today, but CHI is laughing in a year or two.
- Codes1087

Strome can't skate at an NHL level and unless you're Joe Thornton that's a big hurdle.

None of the Strome boys are good skaters. Ryan skates in molasses, Dylan has concrete feet and the youngest brother has a ton of scoring talent in junior, but his wheels likely aren't ever going to make him an NHLer.

I vaguely remember a point in the conversation about Gagner, where I was defending Eriksson or comparing the worth of the two.....

other than the fact that I lumped them both into the group of UFA's who signed multi year deals who are COMPLETE BUMS
- Codes1087

I approve this message.

Its remarkable that he still gets hired.

He didn't have a good roster here, but he also didn't help himself out very much in terms of deployment, adjustments or tactics.

Eriksson was a career garbage man. Only makes sense to try and turn him into Naslund.

Down a goal late. Pull the goalie. Out goes Derek Dorsett and get Edler off the ice so Gudbranson can play the last minute.

Vrbata was successful with the Sedins... how about we use the one dimensional winger on Sutter's line and give him the toughest defensive deployments?!
- Lindenis#1

Pretty sure he'll be none in nhl after this

Funny how most here said he was a good coach, every up to his firing yet I said how bad he was less than a year in. Obviously there are good merits too, but the bad is just awful.

I approve this message.
- thundachunk

chunky, your approval means more to me than anyone else my friend

No, I said he'd be good for this team. He's shown he can play with talented players. Sticking him with Nic Dowd was never going to get value out of him. But when he got regular ice with talented offensive players, he was able to show his worth and has done so already this year.

There are teams that could use that player. Edmonton's best RW is Alex Chiasson right now and they don't have a RH shot for their PP.

Players with a ticket attached often don't get claimed on waivers at the start of the year when everyone is doing a roster/cap crunch for opening night. Or teams want to wait to see if their gambles pay off before making moves. Plus, teams probably interested may have been trying to get a sweet deal off Benning.
- Lindenis#1

Strome can't skate at an NHL level and unless you're Joe Thornton that's a big hurdle.

None of the Strome boys are good skaters. Ryan skates in molasses, Dylan has concrete feet and the youngest brother has a ton of scoring talent in junior, but his wheels likely aren't ever going to make him an NHLer.
- Lindenis#1

It’s an interesting trade for sure, I wish more trades like this were made around the league but obviously the cap and contract limits make things difficult. Combined with the fact that some GM’s are reluctant to “lose” a trade like that.

Yeah, I’ve been okay with Gagner so far this season. But if we’re talking about his whole Canuck stint so far then he’s been terrible.
- Nucker101

I'm probably more bullish on him than others, but I think if he'd been used in a less frustrating way last year and more to his strengths people would be more positive about him.

I had PTSD when he got called up that he'd be in the OV spot for some reason. But hey, he's been used in the bumper spot and looked good. At 5v5 he'll give you some headaches, but when you're looking at your other options (Granlund, Schaller, Leipsic, Motte) in those offensive roles I'd rather have the guy who had 31 points last year.

He's made more dangerous passes and plays in 4 games than Schaller made all season. Leipsic is like Biega in that he has a strong game or 2 and then he's tripping over himself after. Granlund and Motte are okay in spot duty, but you'd rather have them down your lineup than playing up it.

Beagle has nothing to do with it. his early tracking data this year combined with his tracking data last year, on a really good team, shows he's sub-average at defence outside of his faceoff percentage.

And the defence has been porous all year. Not just since Sutter's injury.
- Lindenis#1

Careful, talking smack about beagle is akin to giving Gaunce props.

It’s an interesting trade for sure, I wish more trades like this were made around the league but obviously the cap and contract limits make things difficult. Combined with the fact that some GM’s are reluctant to “lose” a trade like that.
- Nucker101

I don't think its as big a gamble for the Yotes as people say.

If Strome continues to flunk at the NHL he probably gets no value next year. Selling early on struggling prospects is something I think teams need to be more willing to do.

Perlini is a 7th forward kind of player, Strome has talent but can't glue it together, Schmaltz is the most proven and the Yotes have to be trying to take advantage of a historically bad division.

Pretty sure he'll be none in nhl after this

Funny how most here said he was a good coach, every up to his firing yet I said how bad he was less than a year in. Obviously there are good merits too, but the bad is just awful.
- SMBDragon

The only positive I've heard about Willie is that he's fiercely loyal to his vets.

That can be a good thing, I guess, when you're trying to win over a room but is maddening for a rebuilding team.

People out of market are saying "how could he be successful? look at that team!" Fair, but when you watched game in game out and how he never adjusted, never tried anything new, overplayed certain players and nearly refused to play young players during a rebuild then you're left ripping your hair out.

I think it's pretty telling how much soft shade was thrown by guys like Gudbranson and Sutter last year, two players you wouldn't have expected, when they were asked about changes from WD to Green.

The only positive I've heard about Willie is that he's fiercely loyal to his vets.

That can be a good thing, I guess, when you're trying to win over a room but is maddening for a rebuilding team.

People out of market are saying "how could he be successful? look at that team!" Fair, but when you watched game in game out and how he never adjusted, never tried anything new, overplayed certain players and nearly refused to play young players during a rebuild then you're left ripping your hair out.

I think it's pretty telling how much soft shade was thrown by guys like Gudbranson and Sutter last year, two players you wouldn't have expected, when they were asked about changes from WD to Green.
- Lindenis#1

This

Careful, talking smack about beagle is akin to giving Gaunce props.
- Pres.cup

Man this team really misses Beagle and Sutter, can't wait for them to both be back.

Another great thing that Benning grabbed Schaller and Roussell as UFA's, when healthy this team will start to show a winning dynamic.
- Makita

I thought it was irony.
- Marwood

Hyperbole.

Strome can't skate at an NHL level and unless you're Joe Thornton that's a big hurdle.

None of the Strome boys are good skaters. Ryan skates in molasses, Dylan has concrete feet and the youngest brother has a ton of scoring talent in junior, but his wheels likely aren't ever going to make him an NHLer.
- Lindenis#1

> 50 NHL games played. Horvat was an average skater in his first year. Gaudette and Boeser aren't anything more than average NHL skaters. Its impossible to declare a true winner without any of these players even playing a game, but I love this move by Stan. Given where the Hawks are at, their current pipeline of younger players/prospects, this is a great return imo.

Hyperbole.
- A_SteamingLombardi

So, hysterical irony.

So, hysterical irony.
- Marwood

With less screaming.

The Canucks PK was top 10 without Beagle. I believe it peaked at 6th. Was 11th when Sutter got hurt. Now its 23rd.

he was a factor, sure. But people like to put too much importance on the character guys on teams that win and not like the guys playing 20 minutes a night and scoring. Like David Bolland or Fernando Pisani or Gregory Campbell and so on.
- Lindenis#1

Beagle is the Luke Schenn of centers...

> 50 NHL games played. Horvat was an average skater in his first year. Gaudette and Boeser aren't anything more than average NHL skaters. Its impossible to declare a true winner without any of these players even playing a game, but I love this move by Stan. Given where the Hawks are at, their current pipeline of younger players/prospects, this is a great return imo.
- Codes1087

Agreed.

> 50 NHL games played. Horvat was an average skater in his first year. Gaudette and Boeser aren't anything more than average NHL skaters. Its impossible to declare a true winner without any of these players even playing a game, but I love this move by Stan. Given where the Hawks are at, their current pipeline of younger players/prospects, this is a great return imo.
- Codes1087

Horvat was in his D+2 season as a rookie.

Strome in his D+4.

Skating making strides like Horvat did is the exception to the rule. Most players with poor skating never improve it significantly. For every Horvat you have 10 Schremps, Hodgsons, Gaunces, etc.

Horvat was in his D+2 season as a rookie.

Strome in his D+4.

Skating making strides like Horvat did is the exception to the rule. Most players with poor skating never improve it significantly. For every Horvat you have 10 Schremps, Hodgsons, Gaunces, etc.
- Lindenis#1

well, I'm not going to argue with you considering the kid has about half a season of NHL games played under his belt and none of these players have played a game under their new sweaters. We can come back to this trade in a year or two and see.

at no disrespect to you, or anyone else who thinks Gagner has been "ok". I think the bar has been set to an all-time low, out of what we "expect" from some players, that when it comes to mediocre play, we pass it off as "meh, he hasn't been THAT bad, when comparing him to *also, another poopty player*, he isn't doing awful". Every team has players that are not up to par, not worth their contract, not worth a roster spot, but the Canucks have had so many of these players, and at one time, I feel like the posters in here are super passive in expectations. Maybe I am grumpy f*ck and think too critically of these guys, but I cant bring up a roster on ANY different team, and name the same amount of players that are marginal NHLer's like I can the Canucks right now.
- Codes1087

Hmmm.... players that are worth half their cap hit over the term of their contracts.

Gudbranson
Beagle
Rousell(I like but a bit overpaid four for years).
Gagner
Hutton
Nielson
.
.
.
That's only 6 players, just over 25 percent, you might be right.