Ian Esplen: Drafting by Need Drafting by Need

Samuelsson please.

Samuelsson please.
- immature_male

did you even read the blog?

joking, Sammuelsson would be ok, but i have to wait until draft day to know exactly who I want.

With Lindback being dealt yesterday, does that increase or decrease the Value of Luongo? I’m thinking Gillis has a price for Lu and he won’t budge off of it. I believe he wants a player that can help Vancouver now and a pick or prospect. If he doesn’t get that, I’m guessing we will see Luongo back in Vancouver.




Decreases it obviously. U can open your eyes and face reality anytime. Its not as bad as u might think.

And for this reason ull prob see lu back.

Trade schneider. You'll actually get close to what u want
- hugefemale dog77


I don't think it decreases his value. I think the Clowns expecting Lu to be wearing the blue and white Maple Leaf next year and expect us to get Komi in return are going to be standing there draft day holding their Johnsons.

I think Gillis has a price in mind ,and a time frame put in place. If the proper trade comes along we will see Lu shipped out,if not Gillis turns to plan 1A and trades CS. I think it will happen befor FA on July 1 to give his trade partner time to sign Schneider.

I think TO will be like the kid standing in a game of musical chairs, going to plan F to find a goalie for opening day.

did you even read the blog?


- IanEsplen

Yes, found it insightful, more info on players I didn't know as much about. I would like the Canucks in the later round to just draft the biggest player available that hits, then teach him to play on the fourth line.

Draft the best player available. PERIOD. We need an LW now... You can't be serious that AV will take a kid on this team and give him the opportunity to flourish. He has a piss poor track record with kids. Kids are going to make some mistakes... They need to be given the opportunity to play through it. You don't send them to the presser for a month, so the next time they do see the ice they are scared. Especially when many of the vets make mistakes too, but for some reason it's okay for them to do it. Bill Sweatt should be given an opportunity. Nicklas Jensen should be given an opportunity. The bigger concern RIGHT NOW is defense.... You can't draft for that if you need it RIGHT NOW.

BIG MEAN DMAN

This is where we need to draft. We can always trade for forwards or pick some up later in the draft.


If you have Duco as the 3 rd line LHF where does Higgins fit in?

With Lindback being dealt yesterday, does that increase or decrease the Value of Luongo? I’m thinking Gillis has a price for Lu and he won’t budge off of it. I believe he wants a player that can help Vancouver now and a pick or prospect. If he doesn’t get that, I’m guessing we will see Luongo back in Vancouver.




Decreases it obviously. U can open your eyes and face reality anytime. Its not as bad as u might think.

And for this reason ull prob see lu back.

Trade schneider. You'll actually get close to what u want
- hugefemale dog77


I don't think it decreases his value. I think the Clowns expecting Lu to be wearing the blue and white Maple Leaf next year and expect us to get Komi in return are going to be standing there draft day holding their Johnsons.

I think Gillis has a price in mind ,and a time frame put in place. If the proper trade comes along we will see Lu shipped out,if not Gillis turns to plan 1A and trades CS. I think it will happen befor FA on July 1 to give his trade partner time to sign Schneider.

I think TO will be like the kid standing in a game of musical chairs, going to plan F to find a goalie for opening day.
- VANTEL

I agree, I'm not sure how a team that wasn't interested in Lu, gets a goalie who was in competition with Lu and that decreases Lu's value.

The teams interested in Lu were also very likely interested in Lindback. Now that he is gone an option is off the table. therefor, by having few options they should have to pay more.

BIG MEAN DMAN

This is where we need to draft. We can always trade for forwards or pick some up later in the draft.


If you have Duco as the 3 rd line LHF where does Higgins fit in?
- VANTEL

Thrower I think is going to develop into a beast. I wish Calgary was either lower or had a high second to get him or Matteau

Both of which would work in VCR just as well.

I like ebert at 57 but what about frk at 26? or Tanner Pearson

I do not think it is smart to trade CS based on salary and age. They both have the same skill level it is clear at this point. I would do Armstrong or komi with franson and a 2nd for lu. We get some cap back with grit and potential top 4 in franson. Plus an early 2nd.

I do not think it is smart to trade CS based on salary and age. They both have the same skill level it is clear at this point. I would do Armstrong or komi with franson and a 2nd for lu. We get some cap back with grit and potential top 4 in franson. Plus an early 2nd.
- Jake_1723

Why take Komi . He could sit beside Ballard Raymond Manny in the Press Box.
He is not good enough to play on a lottery team .Why do you want a 4 mil HACK

Draft the best player available. PERIOD. We need an LW now... You can't be serious that AV will take a kid on this team and give him the opportunity to flourish. He has a piss poor track record with kids. Kids are going to make some mistakes... They need to be given the opportunity to play through it. You don't send them to the presser for a month, so the next time they do see the ice they are scared. Especially when many of the vets make mistakes too, but for some reason it's okay for them to do it. Bill Sweatt should be given an opportunity. Nicklas Jensen should be given an opportunity. The bigger concern RIGHT NOW is defense.... You can't draft for that if you need it RIGHT NOW.
- rugdnit

No, Vancouver is pretty good right now at LW. I don't expect whoever we draft to step right in and that is why you are drafting them for 2-3 years from now.

Sweatt I've pretty much written off. Jensen is projected to be a RW.

this is what Vancouver has in terms of LW prospects. cover your eyes kids, it's not pretty.

Darren Archibald, Mike Duco, Ludwig Blomstrand, Steven Anthony, Billy Sweatt, Ilja Kablukov, and Aaron Volpatti


And what I meant when I said Duco was a third line winger was that is his career upside. hopefully he gets a shot at the 4th line this year.

I get that we need D now, but when you draft based on need, you draft based of the prospects need, not the NHL teams need.

I like ebert at 57 but what about frk at 26? or Tanner Pearson
- Jake_1723

go back and look at some of the older blogs. both are in there. Frk under grit and Pearson under skill.

I think I will have done 70ish players by the end of it.

Why take Komi . He could sit beside Ballard Raymond Manny in the Press Box.
He is not good enough to play on a lottery team .Why do you want a 4 mil HACK
- VANTEL

We have to take salary back I think armstong could be a usefull bottom 6 guy if healthy and franson has great ptential plus a 2nd

We need a new versions of Brendan Morrison and Markus Naslund.

No, Vancouver is pretty good right now at LW. I don't expect whoever we draft to step right in and that is why you are drafting them for 2-3 years from now.

Sweatt I've pretty much written off. Jensen is projected to be a RW.

this is what Vancouver has in terms of LW prospects. cover your eyes kids, it's not pretty.

Darren Archibald, Mike Duco, Ludwig Blomstrand, Steven Anthony, Billy Sweatt, Ilja Kablukov, and Aaron Volpatti


And what I meant when I said Duco was a third line winger was that is his career upside. hopefully he gets a shot at the 4th line this year.

I get that we need D now, but when you draft based on need, you draft based of the prospects need, not the NHL teams need.
- IanEsplen

D.Sedin Burrows Booth Higgins Jensen seem like enough top 9 LW s for the next little while.We need D Ceneters and RW

go back and look at some of the older blogs. both are in there. Frk under grit and Pearson under skill.

I think I will have done 70ish players by the end of it.
- IanEsplen

My favourite late pick was corrado last year so smart defensivly

We have to take salary back I think armstong could be a usefull bottom 6 guy if healthy and franson has great ptential plus a 2nd
- Jake_1723

NO we don't

Lu is under contract with the Canucks for 6 more years.

Gillis points out there were no decent offers . Do you want to play here or in CBJ

End of story.

I agree, I'm not sure how a team that wasn't interested in Lu, gets a goalie who was in competition with Lu and that decreases Lu's value.

The teams interested in Lu were also very likely interested in Lindback. Now that he is gone an option is off the table. therefor, by having few options they should have to pay more.
- IanEsplen

If TB was one of 4 teams that Lu was prepared to accept a trade to, then it is an issue.

Since no one except Vantel knows whether Gillis believes he has to move Lu, it's tough to say what he will go for.

NO we don't

Lu is under contract with the Canucks for 6 more years.

Gillis points out there were no decent offers . Do you want to play here or in CBJ

End of story.
- VANTEL

Be realistic your not getting no superstar you have to take cap but you get potentia and a high 2nd. Plus a decent bottom 6 guy

WE should start using Kesler as for what he is best at. A defensive centerman with the ability to score. He's Dave Bolland, Jordan Staal. He's a shutown centerman who can get on the score sheet. Vancouver needs a big body play making centerman like Joe Thorton type of player to pass the puck for Booth and Kassian. Put Kesler in the shutdown role with Higgins and Hansen.

Be realistic your not getting no superstar you have to take cap but you get potentia and a high 2nd. Plus a decent bottom 6 guy
- Jake_1723

When did Schenn become a superstar.

Gillis is a very stubborn man. His fighting to keep AV should tell you something about his style.

He regards Lu as one of the top 20 goalies in the world .He will not take a lottery team reject back as compensation.

If you said Franson Schenn and a 2 nd there may be a deal.No superstars .Average players from a bad team is all they are.

Armstrong is a 3 mil 4 th liner on our team .No thanks.

WE should start using Kesler as for what he is best at. A defensive centerman with the ability to score. He's Dave Bolland, Jordan Staal. He's a shutown centerman who can get on the score sheet. Vancouver needs a big body play making centerman like Joe Thorton type of player to pass the puck for Booth and Kassian. Put Kesler in the shutdown role with Higgins and Hansen.
- manvanfan

+1