Draft day may be Jim Benning's favourite day of the year, but the Canucks' general manager made more of a splash here on July 1 than he did in Florida last weekend.
Let's recap. Since we spoke yesterday, here's what has happened:
• Kevin Bieksa (D) was traded to Anaheim for a 2016 second-round draft pick
• Yannick Weber (D) was re-signed to a one-year deal with a cap hit of $1.5 million
• Matt Bartkowski (D) was signed to a one-year deal with a cap hit of $1.75 million
• Richard Bachman (G) was signed to a two-year contract to be the starting goaltender in Utica
• Zack Kassian (RW) was traded to Montreal along with a fifth-round draft pick in 2016 for Brandon Prust (LW)
• Taylor Fedun (D) was signed to a one-year deal, most likely with an eye on sending him to Utica
• Brad Richardson (C) signed a three-year deal with Arizona with an AAV of $2.08 million per season
• Utica captain Cal O'Reilly (C) signed a two-year, one-way deal to play with his brother in Buffalo
Where does that leave us?
The Bieksa trade was necessary. I'm kind of glad that he's staying in our division and I have to say, I'm a bit curious about how he'll fit in on the Anaheim blue line.
The Ducks have essentially slotted in 34-year-old Bieksa as a replacement for 35-year-old Francois Beauchemin, who signed a free-agent deal with Colorado today. But I'm not sure Juice will wrap up next season as Anaheim's high-minute defenseman, like Beauchemin was.
Bieksa's cap hit for the upcoming season is $4.6 million, and he signed a two-year extension today for $4 million a year—with a no-movement clause. That's pretty big money considering Beauchemin's new deal with Colorado is for the same term, at $4.5 million a year.
An upgrade for Anaheim? I honestly don't think so.
That being said, I'd like to add my voice to those wishing Bieksa all the best. He was a big-hearted guy who gave everything he had to the Canucks franchise, and I'd argue that even accepting this trade was a team-first move. I think Jim Benning did the right thing in clearing cap space and a spot on the blue line with the deal, and I think he'll get a warm reception when he returns to Vancouver—even as Ryan Kesler continues to be booed out of the building.
Not too surprising to see that Yannick Weber and Matt Bartkowski come back as the replacements on the blue line. Benning's interest in former Bruin Bartkowski has been rumoured for months—he's no Dougie Hamilton, but he's also a lot cheaper. Perhaps the change of scenery will do him good.
I would have liked to see the Canucks try to upgrade from Weber in that "power-play point man" position, but Weber did seem to find his groove with the twins with the man advantage near the end of the season—after a terrible start, Vancouver finished the year ranked ninth in the NHL.
Taylor Fedun's a bit of a wild card. He's an undrafted 27-year-old whose career was almost ended when he broke his leg on an icing call during a preseason game with the Edmonton Oilers at the beginning of the 2011-12 season.
Since coming back from the injury, Fedun has been primarily a minor-leaguer. He played 11 NHL games with the Oilers and San Jose Sharks and scored his first NHL goal in November of 2013 on none other than Jacob Markstrom, when he was back with Florida.
Goaltender Richard Bachman is another ex-Oiler, who faced off against Markstrom in the second round of the Calder Cup Final as a member of the Oklahoma City Barons. He's a 27-year-old who has 42 games of NHL experience, so he should be a capable backup if the Canucks are faced with injuries to either Ryan Miller or Jacob Markstrom during the season.
Now—the surprise of the day. Zack Kassian to Montreal, along with a fifth-rounder, for Brandon Prust.
I didn't see that coming but the way I understand Jim Benning, the deal makes sense to me.
Bottom line—I think the organization gave up on Kassian awhile ago. We heard plenty of rumours about how Benning was trying to deal him around the trade deadline, then his run of scoring luck while playing with the Sedins came to an abrupt end when his mysterious back injury flared up.
Combined with his off-ice issues, I think Benning was determined to get rid of him—especially to open up some space at right wing for the likes of Jake Virtanen and/or Alex Grenier.
Yes, in the midst of a rebuild, he traded a 24-year-old for a 31-year-old, but in Brandon Prust, he's getting a guy with a reputation as a leader in the dressing room who is known for standing up for his teammates at any cost. Isn't that something we've been wanting for the Sedins?
Prust has just one more year on his current contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Here's the most interesting theory I read on what Benning's thinking with the acquisition:
Vancouver fans may see him now as a grinder/fighter who's overpaid, but I think his heart will make him a fan favourite in short order. Think of him as another Derek Dorsett.
Jim Benning's doing a media availability session at Rogers Arena at 1:00 to explain his moves for the day, so I'll sign off for now. My question for you:
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