... seriously?
- eternalcashflow

There is not as big a gap as people think - certainly not $3.5 million and 3 years worth. Santorelli was playing lights out and now he will again be playing for a contract.

All the pundits said that there was no way Santo would sign for less than $2.5-3 million and would insist on term. Well, so much for that theory

Edit oh, and Santo is 5 years younger

Prospect camp list:

- Salient

Interesting that Kenins isn't listed, I would of thought after an impressive camp last year and a decent Olympics he would be invited. Maybe too old ?

Virtanen also listed but doubt he is healthy.

Took a look at the championship winning team and this one and was surprized at how similar they are.

Losing Kesler is painful, mostly because of another step down the faceoff ladder and the general loss of superstar status. Glad we got younger, but I'm not sure if his skill set has been replaced.

I think this team was deeply hurt by losing Malholtra's defesive zone faceoff ability, and the lack of role players. That's the biggest problem I'm seeing with the team. Gillis was pretty good at finding diamonds in the rough and those really filled out the team with amazing skill, but he was terrible at youth development. I'm worried we have the opposite problem now.

I would keep Burrows as he brings scoring threat, good defensive, grit and can go on any line. Would have kept Santorelli for depth though.
- Ronning4ever

Im not too worried about replacing Keslers offesive output. It's his defensive play we will certainly miss. Thats something hard to replace days after trading Kesler. His physical play will be missed but grit is being added elsewhere.

Lots of learning and evaluating for Benning this season. Im not expecting the team to instantly step into past glory considering the division we are in now but we are looking at a serious culture change and some young talent to work with in the future.

I imagine Bennings priority in the next draft would be to fill that 1st line C position that is painfully still vacant down the road.

Moneyball doesn't = chemistry. I would say Gillis didn't do a horrible job other that drafting and goalies issues Malholtra issue ect... Oh wait yes he did do a horrible job in many areas and he tried to revive a few careers. I defended Gillis a lot in the past but when you break down the good and the bad the good is good not awesome but the bad is pretty f@cking deplorable.
- thundachunk

Samuellson, Ehrhoff, Malholtra, Higgins and Santorelli had chemistry with the team. Those were fantastic finds and signings. The Ehrhoff deal was absolute highway robbery.

Samuellson became a 30 goal scorer out of nowhere, Erhfoff a 50 point guy, Malhotra was (for me) the Dennis Rodman of the Canucks and Higgins and Santorelli have been good pick ups. Two Presidents trophies and a SCF appearance is pretty awesome.

The bad is of course the youth - instead of Brandon Saad and Bryan Bickell type players we saw our youth pissed away. The Bernier trade, Ballard trade, Schneider trade and Hodgson trade are the reason we're where we are today IMHO. The Luongo contract was a disaster, but hindsight is 20/20 and a lot of people thought it was a good idea at the time.
- Ronning4ever

Samuelson was a great high end utility player. Could play the PP, had playmaking vision and could score, worked well on any line. We've yet to find a suitable replacement.

Im not too worried about replacing Keslers offesive output. It's his defensive play we will certainly miss. Thats something hard to replace days after trading Kesler. His physical play will be missed but grit is being added elsewhere.

Lots of learning and evaluating for Benning this season. Im not expecting the team to instantly step into past glory considering the division we are in now but we are looking at a serious culture change and some young talent to work with in the future.

I imagine Bennings priority in the next draft would be to fill that 1st line C position that is painfully still vacant down the road.
- boonerbuck

That's tough to do without a high draft pick. And it looks like Benning is building this squad to make a run at the 8th seed.

There is not as big a gap as people think - certainly not $3.5 million and 3 years worth. Santorelli was playing lights out and now he will again be playing for a contract.

All the pundits said that there was no way Santo would sign for less than $2.5-3 million and would insist on term. Well, so much for that theory

Edit oh, and Santo is 5 years younger
- Zogg

Toronto appears to be not making bone head decisions this summer,, I'm scared.

That's tough to do without a high draft pick. And it looks like Benning is building this squad to make a run at the 8th seed.
- AlexF

True.

Toronto appears to be not making bone head decisions this summer,, I'm scared.
- Yeti1181

Are we on the verge of the Apocalypse? anyone see the four horseman?

There is not as big a gap as people think - certainly not $3.5 million and 3 years worth. Santorelli was playing lights out and now he will again be playing for a contract.

All the pundits said that there was no way Santo would sign for less than $2.5-3 million and would insist on term. Well, so much for that theory

Edit oh, and Santo is 5 years younger
- Zogg

Santo said no to a 1 year deal here. There is a reason no one would give him a 2 year deal. There's not a big enough sample size to see if he can pull it off for more than 1 season. I would have welcomed him back for a season over Hansen. We have a log jam at the moment tho...

Are we on the verge of the Apocalypse? anyone see the four horseman?
- Zogg

I seen 4 whores, does that count?

Santo said no to a 1 year deal here. There is a reason no one would give him a 2 year deal. There's not a big enough sample size to see if he can pull it off for more than 1 season. I would have welcomed him back for a season over Hansen. We have a log jam at the moment tho...
- boonerbuck

Any source?

True.
- Nucker101

Truth be told, for a while there I really did think we would end up getting that future 1C in this draft but I think I let the hype get to me.

I seen 4 whores, does that count?
- Yeti1181

Your family dinner last night?

Any source?
- Zogg

I heard that too, not sure where it was reported. That said, it was almost certainly less than the 1.5m TO gave him plus he's only got Holland to contend with for 3rd line ice time in TO, rather than the several candidates we've got here.

Your family dinner last night?
- Iggysbff

Yeah, I wanted him too...but I think Vrbata is likely better...at least he has been over a longer period. But the Canucks feed off of good centres on the bottom six and we're paper thin there at the moment.
- Ronning4ever

Better at what is the question I would ask, although I can't pretend to know much about Vrbata he does clearly have a goal scorers touch.

Santorelli while a small sample size last year put up decent points ( probably not sustainable but who knows) but he also played against the toughest competition ( according to Corsi QoC) and also had some of the least sheltered minutes ( Off zone starts).

Anyways I'm not trying to dump on Vrbata I just think Santorelli was the best bang for buck player last year in the league and he might be again next year for Tor of all teams

I also don't know how this core that has historically seen success as a puck possession team is going to win some faceoffs ( Henrik @ 52%, Bonino @ 48%, Matthias @ 46%)

Edit. Forgot about Richardson who was quite good at 55% but didn't take as much.

Your family dinner last night?
- Iggysbff

That's tough to do without a high draft pick. And it looks like Benning is building this squad to make a run at the 8th seed.
- AlexF

If the Canucks struggle to hold a playoff birth by the TDL, expect to see a 1st coming back in a trade for a player like Edler, Bieksa, Hammer... then expect Benning to combine 1st rounders with prospects to grab a player with a very good shot at filling that role. It's critical for the Canuck's future success and if the rumors are even half true of what he was shopping around at the draft.... expect it every year until we draft or trade for the youngster.

Truth be told, for a while there I really did think we would end up getting that future 1C in this draft but I think I let the hype get to me.
- AlexF

I think Benning gave it a good shot, Tallon was asking for too much. I bet he turned down some deals that some people would be surprised at.

I heard that too, not sure where it was reported. That said, it was almost certainly less than the 1.5m TO gave him plus he's only got Holland to contend with for 3rd line ice time in TO, rather than the several candidates we've got here.
- AlexF

Exactly

Better at what is the question I would ask, although I can't pretend to know much about Vrbata he does clearly have a goal scorers touch.

Santorelli while a small sample size last year put up decent points ( probably not sustainable but who knows) but he also played against the toughest competition ( according to Corsi QoC) and also had some of the least sheltered minutes ( Off zone starts).

Anyways I'm not trying to dump on Vrbata I just think Santorelli was the best bang for buck player last year in the league and he might be again next year for Tor of all teams

I also don't know how this core that has historically seen success as a puck possession team is going to win some faceoffs ( Henrik @ 52%, Bonino @ 48%, Matthias @ 46%)

Edit. Forgot about Richardson who was quite good at 55% but didn't take as much.
- belcherbd

Horvat was a stud in the faceoff circle in the OHL

If the Canucks struggle to hold a playoff birth by the TDL, expect to see a 1st coming back in a trade for a player like Edler, Bieksa, Hammer... then expect Benning to combine 1st rounders with prospects to grab a player with a very good shot at filling that role. It's critical for the Canuck's future success and if the rumors are even half true of what he was shopping around at the draft.... expect it every year until we draft or trade for the youngster.
- boonerbuck

Hope you are right. We've needed one for years.

I also don't know how this core that has historically seen success as a puck possession team is going to win some faceoffs ( Henrik @ 52%, Bonino @ 48%, Matthias @ 46%)

Edit. Forgot about Richardson who was quite good at 55% but didn't take as much.
- belcherbd

Ouch. That's one of my big concerns as well. Didn't know the numbers but those are dreadful.

I heard that too, not sure where it was reported. That said, it was almost certainly less than the 1.5m TO gave him plus he's only got Holland to contend with for 3rd line ice time in TO, rather than the several candidates we've got here.
- AlexF

forget 3rd line I bet he is 2nd line C by October and would be 1st C if Kessel didn't need his BFF Bozak so much.

Actually looking at Toronto's C depth just made me feel a lot better.