The Canucks' roster thread - as we don't

[puckhead]

as we don't have our own board yet, this one goes here.
convenient spot for thoughts, comments, updates, rumours.
Looking at it, there is room for a couple of upgrades.

Sedin (6.1) - Sedin (6.1) - Samuelsson (2.5) = $14.7m
Kesler (5.0) - Burrows (2.0) - Raymond (3.0 est) = $10.0m
Hodgson (1.7) - Hansen (0.8 est) - Schroeder? (1.0) = $3.5m
Rypien (0.5) - Hordichuk (0.8) - Oreskovich (0.6) = $1.9m
Glass (0.7 est)

Ehrhoff (3.1) - Ballard (4.2) = $7.3m
Salo (3.5) - Edler (3.3) = $6.8m
Bieksa (3.8) - Alberts (1.1) = $4.9m
Rome (0.8)

Luongo (5.3) + Schneider (0.9) = $6.2

so there's a full team for $56.8 - maybe another 0.5m guy in the pressbox. $2.6 mill left for improvements ($6.4m if Bieksa goes)


others of interest this camp: Oberg, Shirokov, Connauton (though I think he is destined for the moose no matter how he shows in camp)

anyways, not a bad starting point. Bring on July 1.

 

[naslundfan19]

Here's Murph's take on some of the moves being made/that could be made. Found it interesting:
Dan Murphy (sportsnetmurph) on Twitter

 

[mooger_35]

Alberts instead of O'Brien? Trade or team suspension?

 

[dash]

Alberts instead of O'Brien? Trade or team suspension?

Hard to drag SOB's ass out of Roxy's, I reckon

 

[TOX1]

What.....no Mitchell boys??

Don't you guys think you'll get him signed back up or what's the deal?

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Mitchell will be wearing red, white and blue unless my Jackman trade goes through.

 

[TOX1]

46-2.....um........the Flyer's colors are orange and black.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

46-2.....um........the Flyer's colors are orange and black.

Oh man, don't you guys have like 5 solid defensemen

I mean YOU GOT TO THE CUP FINALS with a goalie nobody had heard of and a throw back to the days when I still collected hockey cards as your other guy in net, ha ha. I think that your defense is just fine. What you need is Thomas Fleischman. You should make him an offer that GMGM can not possibly match.

 

[TOX1]

haha All kidding aside, what are your teams plans to upgrade on D anways?

Last I heard the A-train was a lock to join your boys. No??

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

haha All kidding aside, what are your teams plans to upgrade on D anways?

Last I heard the A-train was a lock to join your boys. No??

A Train is too expensive and McPhee has ruled him out, at least in the press. Most are targeting Mitchell or Sutton as short term solutions with Alzner and Carlson playing full time this up coming season. Deep down inside, I would love to see Hamhuis spurn the Pens and turn around and sign with the Caps on July 1. It would make him hated throughout the keystone state and an immediate fan favorite in DC, but i think his price may be too high, even if he does become available. If I had to guess it would be Mitchell or Sutton. I called the Knuble move last year but also wanted Montador. I wish we would have pursued him further, especially for what he ended up getting. We need some nastiness back there.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

What.....no Mitchell boys??

Don't you guys think you'll get him signed back up or what's the deal?

Mitchell hasnt even started skating yet ... Gillis said a couple weeks back when Mitchell came out in the press and said he was feeling symptom free that they would need Mitchell to come in and take some tests and that never happened ... from picking up Ballard at the draft its almost certain that Mitchell wont be coming back

I didnt think they would but hearing things yesterday they will actually have a go on Hamhuis July 1st (a younger clone of Mitchell) and Bieksa would finally be dealt if that happens

 

[puckhead]

Alberts instead of O'Brien? Trade or team suspension?

oops. oversight. my first thought when i woke up was 'shit, forgot O'Brien'.
I imagine he would accept the qualifier of $1.6m, given his behavioral and fitness issues last season.

What.....no Mitchell boys??
Don't you guys think you'll get him signed back up or what's the deal?

I don't expect him back. If he does return it' a pleasant surprise.
I thought it was odd in his "I'm OK' article that he said that he wouldn't stake skating until his usual offseason routine dictates (well after July 1), and Gillis was pretty adamant that he wouldn't talk contract until he saw Mitchell skate. seemed like a bit of a stand-off in that respect.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Kurtenbloggers on the rise and fall of Kevin Bieksa Kurtenthoughts: The Rise and Fall of Kevin Bieksa - Orland Kurtenblog

A few thoughts and observations while we wait patiently for our qualifying offers...

With Vancouver's acquisition of Keith Ballard on Friday, Kevin Bieksa in the eyes of many became a fifth defenceman. A highly-paid one at that. The fact he's coming off a sub-standard season makes his cap hit ($3.75 million) seem even more unwieldy.

To be fair, Bieksa led all Canuck blue-liners with eight points in the playoffs, but a number of questionable plays during the Chicago series really stuck out. For instance, we all remember the sliding exhibition in Game 2 that preceded Kris Versteeg's late winner. In Game 6, Bieksa overskated a puck to allow Versteeg to score another goal.

Those gaffes have not been soon forgotten. During our radio show Sunday on TEAM 1040, 80 percent of listeners voted that the Canucks should shop the 29-year-old.

We're not sure the exact date when Bieksa lost the faithful, but it wasn't that long ago he was a fan favourite.

In 2006-07, his first full season in the NHL, he scored 12 times, added 30 assists and won the Babe Pratt Trophy as the Canucks' best defenceman, after which he signed his current deal that expires at the end of next season.

He lost most of the 07-08 campaign to a severe calf laceration, but bounced back in 08-09 with 43 points in 72 games. At the time, he was even getting some media buzz as a possible member of Team Canada in 2010.

Those days are gone.

Maybe the injuries - he suffered another laceration last season - affected his mobility or caused him to play more cautiously. Maybe his casual approach to moving the puck isn't suited to the up-tempo style the Canucks adopted. Maybe he thinks he's better than he actually is. Maybe it's the other way around and his confidence is shot. Whatever the reason, Bieksa's play has regressed to the point where the main argument to keep him around might be his right-handedness.

Which is why you're hearing the name of unrestricted free agent Zbynek Michalek, the 27-year-old Czech who's spent the last five seasons in Phoenix.

Michalek, also a right-handed shot, won't knock you out with his numbers - the most points he's ever had in an NHL season is 28 - but on the high-scoring Canucks (still seems weird to say) he wouldn't need to impress offensively. What the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder does is play sound, defensive hockey. And unfortunately, you can't say the same about Bieksa anymore.

 

[puckhead]

To be fair, Bieksa led all Canuck blue-liners with eight points in the playoffs, but a number of questionable plays during the Chicago series really stuck out. For instance, we all remember the sliding exhibition in Game 2 that preceded Kris Versteeg's late winner. In Game 6, Bieksa overskated a puck to allow Versteeg to score another goal.

those two, and in the LA series when he was carefully guarding the far face-off dot while Kopitar was busy alone in front of the net scoring a game-winner.

the brain-fart moments are just outweighing the positives right now. not to mention he seemed to be tough at all the wrong moments - taking stupid penalties instead of hitting, fighting or god forbid clearing the net.

 

[mattola]

that team doesnt scream SCF to me... doesnt even pipe up Conference Finals......

need more on the 3rd and 4th

 

[mattola]

Bob Mac thinks Ethan Moreau will be waived and bought out today.... I would love him on the 3rd line for the Canucks...

 

[puckhead]

that team doesnt scream SCF to me... doesnt even pipe up Conference Finals......

need more on the 3rd and 4th

yeah we need a shut down specialist on the 3rd now that Kesler has moved up to the 2nd. Someone like a Bolland, but preferably for less than $3.375m (edit: like a cheap Moreau )

do you think Ryan Johnson comes back to bolster the 4th?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

yeah we need a shut down specialist on the 3rd now that Kesler has moved up to the 2nd. Someone like a Bolland, but preferably for less than $3.375m (edit: like a cheap Moreau )

do you think Ryan Johnson comes back to bolster the 4th?

pass on Moreau please

Manny Malhotras agent approached Gillis last year and Gillis passed on him coming to play here (even attending training camp) ... I wonder if Gillis is calling this time

 

[dash]

Bob Mac thinks Ethan Moreau will be waived and bought out today.... I would love him on the 3rd line for the Canucks...

Really?!? No hands and injury prone (plus a bad Edmonton taint).

 

[Dupster]

I want Ryan Johnson back. Never takes a shift off, blocks a ton of shots, is a pain to play against, does very well on the PK. If there's one UFA that the Canucks should try to retain it's this guy.