Vancouver Canucks

[paul]

NHL free agency kicks off tomorrow. My Canucks were busy the past week locking up some of their potential UFA's and making one trade. I'll give my take on them one by one:

www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40441448/canucks-teddy-blueger-reach-2-year-36-million-extension

I love this deal, although that headline should read $3.6 million not $36 million. Blueger is a solid third-line center and he had great chemistry on his line with Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua. Blueger must like it here as it looks like he took a bit of a hometown discount; he likely could have fetched a bit more on the open market. Glad to have him back.




www.nhl.com/canucks/news/canucks-agree-to-terms-with-forward-dakota-joshua-on-a-four-year-contract


Another great signing. Joshua has been voted the team's unsung hero by the fans the past two seasons so I really didn't want to see him leave. A bit surprised it happened as reports indicated he was going to test free agency. But, as Abraham Lincoln once said: "You can't believe everything you read on the internet." At $3.25 million per season that's a good deal for both sides as I feel like that's roughly what Joshua is worth. By re-signing Blueger and Joshua I'm glad to see that management realizes that chemistry between players is not something that can be easily replaced.



www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40441953/blackhawks-acquire-ilya-mikheyev-sam-lafferty-canucks

This deal was done strictly for salary cap space. While Mikheyev got off to a good start this past season he failed to score a single goal the last 4-5 months.

Sucks that we had to give up a second round pick but the only way another team was going to take on that contract is if the Canucks threw in a sweetener. The 15% salary retention on Vancouver's end isn't a huge deal as it's only for 2 more seasons at $712,500 per. Chicago is rebuilding so they can afford to take a chance that a change of scenery will revitalize Mikheyev. As for Lafferty I would have been fine if he came back for another season but he's not irreplaceable.


www.google.com/amp/s/www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/tyler-myers-agrees-to-return-to-canucks-on-three-year-contract/sn-amp/

Oh boy! The most controversial move they've made in a while. For his entire $6 million per season run here Myers has been getting paid to be a top pairing defencemen and HE HASN'T PLAYED ANYWHERE NEAR THAT LEVEL! As a result he's burned through all of his goodwill with the Canucks fanbase. Catcalls directed at him from the stands of Rogers Arena are quite common; I should know as many times I'm the one making them. However, he did have an OK season this past year and at $3 million per that's probably roughly what he's worth at this point. Still, I was looking forward to him finally being off the team's books.


It will be interesting to see what the Canucks do in free agency. I just read this morning that Tampa Bay has acquired the negotiation rights for Jake Guentzel so it sounds like he's off the board. I'd love to see them bring back Tyler Toffoli and Steven Stamkos is hitting the open market tomorrow as well. The Sabres just bought out Jeff Skinner's contract and while he's not the player he used to be he is coming off a 24 goal season so if the price is right he would be a good pickup too.

We'll see what happens. GO, CANUCKS, GO!

[on_the_edge]

Glad you pointed out it was 3.6 because I thought they lost their damn mind paying $18 mil a year lol

[paul]

Jun 30, 2024 17:27:02 GMT -5 on_the_edge said:

Glad you pointed out it was 3.6 because I thought they lost their damn mind paying $18 mil a year lol

Even Connor McDavid couldn't demand that amount of money.🤪

[paul]

An interesting opening day of free agency for my Canucks. They signed Danton Heinen and Kiefer Sherwood both to two year deals. I was unfamiliar with both players but after reading up on them they both look like solid third/fourth-line pickups.

They also signed Jake Debrusk to a 7 year deal at $5.5 million per season. Not sure about this one. The money's OK but the length of the contract makes me a bit nervous: His goals- per- game rate dropped mightily this past season. However, he's reportedly been unhappy in Boston for some time now so maybe a change of scenery will do him some good.

Sucks that we lost Nikita Zadorov to the Bruins. The $5 million per season is roughly what the Canucks were offering him however the 6 year term of his new deal might have been more than Vancouver was offering.

While I was hoping the Canucks would bring Tyler Toffoli back to the fold $6 million per season, which he signed with San Jose, is a bit steep. I'm also glad they didn't sign Jake Guentzel either; That $9 million per season deal he signed with Tampa looks a bit risky.

Glad to see Casey DeSmith got a new job with Dallas. He was a very solid backup goalie for Vancouver this season but with Arturs Silovs' impressive playoff performance I can understand why the Canucks didn't offer him a new deal. Silovs is younger and will be a bit cheaper which is important for a team up against the salary cap. I wish nothing but the best for DeSmith though.

And my goodness what a day Nashville had signing both Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault! Watch out for the Predators next season.

[paul]

The Canucks finally managed to get Tucker Poolman's contract off their books by trading him to Colorado.

www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/41645211/canucks-send-tucker-poolman-pick-avs-erik-brannstrom

Even though they have to retain 20% of his salary this still gives them $2 million dollars in extra cap space and prevents them from getting salary cap-compliant by having to move Poolman's contract to LTIR. I feel bad for Poolman as he keeps having concussion issues and it's highly unlikely he'll ever play again.

I'm a bit perplexed why the Avalanche agreed to this deal though. Why bring in a guy who's probably not going to play again? Granted they got a fourth round pick out of the trade as well but unless they were desperate to get rid of Brannstrom this one just doesn't make sense.

[TTX]

Always good to get rid of an unwanted contract.

[paul]

Currently on the SkyTrain heading downtown for the Canucks home opener against Calgary. Hopefully by the end of the game I'll have memorized the jersey numbers for all the new players they brought in in the off-season.

GO, CANUCKS, GO!!!!

[on_the_edge]

Oct 9, 2024 20:16:03 GMT -5 paul said:

Currently on the SkyTrain heading downtown for the Canucks home opener against Calgary. Hopefully by the end of the game I'll have memorized the jersey numbers for all the new players they brought in in the off-season.

GO, CANUCKS, GO!!!!

Have a great time and hope you see a victory. Go Canucks! (at least for tonight )

[paul]

Heading back from the game now: an EMBARRASSING 6-5 OT loss to the Flames.

The Canucks came out of the gate guns a-blazing and were up 4-1 after the first period. They got 2 Power Play goals including a beauty by Brock Boeser and appeared to have the game in firm control.

And then the second period started and they let their foot off the gas which was a serious problem as well last season. They were lifeless both offensively and defensively the rest of the game and they let Calgary score 4 unanswered goals.

The only remaining sign of life came late in the third with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker. Quinn Hughes managed to block an empty net shot attempt and made a beautiful pass to J.T. Miller who absolutely buried the puck past Calgary's goalie to tie the game up. I may end up with some bruises on my left arm tomorrow as the guy sitting next to me aggressively hugged me and slapped me very hard on the arm several times in celebration. LOL!

This team is not going to be a true Stanley Cup contender until they learn to play a full 60 minutes. Allowing a rebuilding team like the Flames to score 6 goals is inexcusable and I hope they eventually realize that you can't take your foot off the opponents throat when you have them down.

Nevertheless, it was just one game and it's a long season. I'm remaining positive that's it's going to be another great year overall.

[on_the_edge]

Oct 10, 2024 0:44:16 GMT -5 paul said:

Heading back from the game now: an EMBARRASSING 6-5 OT loss to the Flames.

The Canucks came out of the gate guns a-blazing and were up 4-1 after the first period. They got 2 Power Play goals including a beauty by Brock Boeser and appeared to have the game in firm control.

And then the second period started and they let their foot off the gas which was a serious problem as well last season. They were lifeless both offensively and defensively the rest of the game and they let Calgary score 4 unanswered goals.

The only remaining sign of life came late in the third with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker. Quinn Hughes managed to block an empty net shot attempt and made a beautiful pass to J.T. Miller who absolutely buried the puck past Calgary's goalie to tie the game up. I may end up with some bruises on my left arm tomorrow as the guy sitting next to me aggressively hugged me and slapped me very hard on the arm several times in celebration. LOL!

This team is not going to be a true Stanley Cup contender until they learn to play a full 60 minutes. Allowing a rebuilding team like the Flames to score 6 goals is inexcusable and I hope they eventually realize that you can't take your foot off the opponents throat when you have them down.

Nevertheless, it was just one game and it's a long season. I'm remaining positive that's it's going to be another great year overall.

Look on the bright side. You don't have season tickets next to that enthusiastic fan lol. Heck, if you had won in OT you might need to put your arm in a sling. But you are right on all accounts especially that it's a long season.