Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Too Hard on our GMs? A Look Ahead at Free Agency After a tumultuous weekend in the world of the Vancouver Canucks, a chance to take a deep breath as we prepare for the beginning of free agency on Wednesday.

My call on next season. Dougie Hamilton made an already pretty good team better. Calgary sneaked the last playoff spot with 97 points only 4 behind the Canucks and was clearly the better team in post season, and will be better than VAN in regular season. LA will make the playoffs next year. Anaheim will be a powerhouse. Edmonton has a new look and won’t be a pushover as always. Western Division weak links are ARI & SJ. So far our goaltending has taken a hit and our defense will become more inexperienced with the pending Bieksa deal. Based on how this team looks right now, I can’t see them qualifying for the playoffs. Bring it on Homers!

Z-ANA 109
X-LA 101
X-CAL 100
VAN 92
EDM 85
SJ 83
ARI 60

Thanks Carol - the amount of garbage coming out of fans regarding Jim Benning is embarrassing. Jesus he's been on the job 12 months, let the guy find his way before you crucify him.

Here's some bad cap management for you!!

Spezza + Niemi + Lehtonen + Goligoski + Daley = $25.8 million #yiiiikes

We aren't making the playoff this year, even though benning and Linden will trade to make the playoffs to make the season ticket holders happy

The Vancouver Sun ‏@VancouverSun · 45s46 seconds ago
64 temperature records smashed in B.C. http://ow.ly/30IC6J


Holy crap boys, and Carol, stay cool

Wow it's smoking today! Better go to Okanagan lake today

We aren't making the playoff this year, even though benning and Linden will trade to make the playoffs to make the season ticket holders happy
- requester47

I don't think they will, thus far they've stuck to the mantra that they're not giving up the future to chase the present.

Trading picks last year in the form of Tampa's 2nd for Vey, our 3rd for Pedan and the Ducks 3rd for Dorsett were to make the team better last year and close the void in younger players that Gillis and Nonuts left.

Wow it's smoking today! Better go to Okanagan lake today
- requester47

Just a couple of blocks down the road!

My call on next season. Dougie Hamilton made an already pretty good team better. Calgary sneaked the last playoff spot with 97 points only 4 behind the Canucks and was clearly the better team in post season, and will be better than VAN in regular season. LA will make the playoffs next year. Anaheim will be a powerhouse. Edmonton has a new look and won’t be a pushover as always. Western Division weak links are ARI & SJ. So far our goaltending has taken a hit and our defense will become more inexperienced with the pending Bieksa deal. Based on how this team looks right now, I can’t see them qualifying for the playoffs. Bring it on Homers!

Z-ANA 109
X-LA 101
X-CAL 100
VAN 92
EDM 85
SJ 83
ARI 60
- VanHockeyGuy

I think San Jose has a Canuck like bounce-back season next year and they make the playoffs....but I agree the Canucks aren't making it next season. I'm perfectly happy with that as it puts us in a lottery position.

I don't think they will, thus far they've stuck to the mantra that they're not giving up the future to chase the present.

Trading picks last year in the form of Tampa's 2nd for Vey, our 3rd for Pedan and the Ducks 3rd for Dorsett were to make the team better last year and close the void in younger players that Gillis and Nonuts left.
- LeftCoaster

Forget the picks unless it's the only option...

Vrbata > defensive prospect (no waivers)
Bieksa > defensive prospect (no waivers)
Higgins> offensive prospect (no waivers)

I think San Jose has a Canuck like bounce-back season next year and they make the playoffs....but I agree the Canucks aren't making it next season. I'm perfectly happy with that as it puts us in a lottery position.
- LeftCoaster

Even better;

Z-ANA 109
X-LA 101
X-CAL 100
X-SJ 98
VAN 92
EDM 85
ARI 60

Thank you lefty and Carol also.

We trade un-drafted backup goalie for 2 picks in the draft out of our conference. Fans and media alike are losing their $hit because he was a likeable character. I liked Lack don't get me wrong but christ everyone is acting like he is the be all end all. I personally saw quite a few flaws in his game.

Who the fuk hires a rookie GM to direct a very difficult rebuild?





I'm in an argumentative mood today so be prepared to defend your boy Benning to the end!

Edit: my response to lefty's post

Who the fuk hires a rookie GM to direct a very difficult rebuild?





I'm in an argumentative mood today so be prepared to defend your boy Benning to the end!
- bloatedmosquito

Game OOOOOOOOOOON


Edit: Booooooonnnnnnneeeeeerr???

Thank you lefty and Carol also.

We trade un-drafted backup goalie for 2 picks in the draft out of our conference. Fans and media alike are losing their $hit because he was a likeable character. I liked Lack don't get me wrong but christ everyone is acting like he is the be all end all. I personally saw quite a few flaws in his game.

Well put. I was thinking the same about him being undrafted. He was a free asset that we changed into more parts. Pieces need to be in movement and I think for the first time in a long time the Canucks are moving players in a timely manner (Lack, McNally)

Also couldnt help but think that if we lost Markstrom, it wouldve been Luongo traded for an 800k cap hit.

Who the fuk hires a rookie GM to direct a very difficult rebuild?





I'm in an argumentative mood today so be prepared to defend your boy Benning to the end!

Edit: my response to lefty's post
- bloatedmosquito

Who the fuk hires a rookie GM to direct a very difficult rebuild?





I'm in an argumentative mood today so be prepared to defend your boy Benning to the end!

Edit: my response to lefty's post
- bloatedmosquito

A rookie President/CEO

A rookie President/CEO
- thundachunk

Technically they're not "rebuilding" they're re-tooling....so he's wrong right off the hop

Thank you lefty and Carol also.

We trade un-drafted backup goalie for 2 picks in the draft out of our conference. Fans and media alike are losing their $hit because he was a likeable character. I liked Lack don't get me wrong but christ everyone is acting like he is the be all end all. I personally saw quite a few flaws in his game.
- thundachunk

It's cumulative. Goaltending depth is a canuck strength. Unfortunately goalies don't fetch much on the open market (typical canuck luck).

You are seeing frustration over the fact that Horvat is the only real return (so far) on those three good to great goaltenders.

That's true. We will be retooling for the next 5 years

Game OOOOOOOOOOON


Edit: Booooooonnnnnnneeeeeerr???
- LeftCoaster

to be honest it's too hot to fight.

Technically they're not "rebuilding" they're re-tooling....so he's wrong right off the hop
- LeftCoaster

Don't be a retool.

It's cumulative. Goaltending depth is a canuck strength. Unfortunately goalies don't fetch much on the open market (typical canuck luck).

You are seeing frustration over the fact that Horvat is the only real return (so far) on those three good to great goaltenders.
- bloatedmosquito

And even Horvat was a lucky return. It could've been disasterous

How many of you can sleep at night? So (frank)ing hot.

Do you even AC?