Somebody should have told gillis that. Edmonton is still wondering why he didn't take the offer for Schneider.

Just reading saying how benning came in and said he wants a meat and potatoes team but keeps trading away second round picks for players that aren't meat and potatoes.
- manvanfan

You do need some skill guys. I would call Vitanen and MCCann meat and potatoes guys, add Pedan to that list too

I think it is a certainty that we won't sign all of our UFAs this summer, so I see him landing a full time spot next year and someone else being shipped out as well. That Clendening and Kenins' paperwork to go back to Utica was dealt with today tells me that they will probably end up down their for the AHL playoffs, and will be called up if injuries set in. Seems like Benning is more concerned with Utica's playoff run than the Canucks'
- bezz44

I don't see how you can take kenins out of the lineup. Since he's been here, Horvat has taken his game to another level and with Hansen, they've been our 2nd best line.

You do need some skill guys. I would call Vitanen and MCCann meat and potatoes guys, add Pedan to that list too
- VANTEL

I agree. I've been wanting another playmaker or "skilled" guy for a couple of years. Each line should have a little complement of everything imo.

I got to see him live as well, at the game in Chicago... even got to see him score, albeit from standing room only
- GloveHandStrong

Crazy how much he does away from the puck. I took the time to watch what he did with his hands and his feet, where he went on the ice when he didn't have the puck. Super impressive

I don't see how you can take kenins out of the lineup. Since he's been here, Horvat has taken his game to another level and with Hansen, they've been our 2nd best line.
- hertzman

We'll have to see, but I agree he has been excellent. Far above expectations

This from Canucks Army on that topic:

There are definitely some promising CHLers that project to be available around where Vancouver's 2015 2nd rounder will be, but it's not really accurate to say that the quality of players available this season in that range is exceptionally different than in years past. In fact, the only forward that should be available in the second round and seems to have a really strong chance at becoming the player Baertschi still could be is Anthony Beauvillier, and other than that, you're likely looking at a lot of depth and mid-to-low roster guys.

Some of the guys I had on my radar in the middle of the second round other than Beauvillier included D Ryan Pilon, F Dennis Yan, F Nikita Korostelev, D Mitchell Vande Sompel, F Dmytro Timashov, D Nicholas Meloche, D Parker Wotherspoon, D Noah Juulsen, and D Rasmus Andersson. I'm a big fan of Andersson, Vande Sompel, and Pilon in particular, but given his production thus far in his career as well as his pedigree, I'd rate Baertschi as the more promising asset of all of these guys, though I'd be given pause for Beauvillier.

All in all, Calgary is going to be hard pressed to not only find an impact NHLer with the pick Vancouver has dealt them, but to find a better asset than what Sven Baertschi currently is. Flames GM Brad Treliving confirmed on TSN that Baertschi had requested a trade away from the Flames and was unwilling to re-sign with the Flames this offseason as a RFA, so perhaps that had a role in driving his price down too. Given that a player in a similar situation in Brett Connolly netted Tampa Bay two second round picks, Vancouver looks like they came out with a pretty good deal.
- AlexF

Umm isn't it a 2017 2nd?

Either way, solid trade. I kinda look at this like the Clendening/Forsling trade. It just excellerates things. I hope Willie gives him a look.

That Despres trade just baffles me. I wonder if Higgins with 50% retained could have got it done.

You do need some skill guys. I would call Vitanen and MCCann meat and potatoes guys, add Pedan to that list too
- VANTEL

McCanns got a great skill set.

Umm isn't it a 2017 2nd?

Either way, solid trade. I kinda look at this like the Clendening/Forsling trade. It just excellerates things. I hope Willie gives him a look.

That Despres trade just baffles me. I wonder if Higgins with 50% retained could have got it done.
- Bieksa#3

It's a 2nd in this year's draft.

We'll have to see, but I agree he has been excellent. Far above expectations
- bezz44

I'd be flabbergasted if Kenins barring injry was not in this line-up. He has aspects to his game that this team sorely lacks. Speed, uses the body. And can bury one here and there.

He's been a diamond in the rough so far.

What's wrong with a little salad?
- A_SteamingLombardi

here we go again:

form the conga line - and a one and a two and a "you don't make friends with salad, you don't make friends with salad'

Is SB going to Utica or Vancouver. I'm going to marlies game on Sunday, so be nice to see him

I don't see how you can take kenins out of the lineup. Since he's been here, Horvat has taken his game to another level and with Hansen, they've been our 2nd best line.
- hertzman

Kenins isn't going anywhere.

here we go again:

form the conga line - and a one and a two and a "you don't make friends with salad, you don't make friends with salad'
- Zogg

Salad sucks.

If u could live on 3 foods what specifically would they be?

Salad sucks.

If u could live on 3 foods what specifically would they be?
- Bieksa#3

Moose burgers, Yak testicles (braised), and Hedgehog on a stick

What of you? (salad is ok, by the way, if it's got some chicken mixed in with lots of other shoight)

No kidding. I like this kid. And this team needs skill badly.

He was drafted in 2011 and is only 22 years old. He was drafted in the same year as Jensen. Far more accomplished.

For those screaming to give Jensen time better (frank)ing love this deal.
- bloatedmosquito

straighten out in the sense he wasn't playing a defensively responsible game based on Burkie's comments and the flames attitude toward bringing him up to the big show.

could be a great pickup if he plays the game the way WD demands. I'm sure Travis will get him going as much as he can...

Moose burgers, Yak testicles (braised), and Hedgehog on a stick

What of you? (salad is ok, by the way, if it's got some chicken mixed in with lots of other shoight)
- Zogg

Side bacon, medium rare steak and chedder cheese(extra old)

Is SB going to Utica or Vancouver. I'm going to marlies game on Sunday, so be nice to see him
- Bieksa#3

Baertschi will almost certainly head to the Utica, probably until the end of this season. Unless he explodes on the O'Reilly/Conacher line and gets a playoff call-up he likely won't be given a real shot to make the leap until camp.

Umm isn't it a 2017 2nd?

Either way, solid trade. I kinda look at this like the Clendening/Forsling trade. It just excellerates things. I hope Willie gives him a look.

That Despres trade just baffles me. I wonder if Higgins with 50% retained could have got it done.
- Bieksa#3

Higgins is 'glue' for the roster as JB put it himself. Same with KB. These are 'glue' guys. you don't trade 'glue' players.

Baertschi will almost certainly head to the Utica, probably until the end of this season. Unless he explodes on the O'Reilly/Conacher line and gets a playoff call-up he likely won't be given a real shot to make the leap until camp.
- AlexF

He's already been assigned to Utica.

Side bacon, medium rare steak and chedder cheese(extra old)
- Bieksa#3

when should we all be over?

McCanns got a great skill set.
- Bieksa#3

MDC who? You have a new love interest! McCann does, so do a lot of the Canucks prospects. All different which is good. I just wish we could have picked up Semin today

The NYR are looking very very good right now. Giving Nashville nothing.

I don't see how you can take kenins out of the lineup. Since he's been here, Horvat has taken his game to another level and with Hansen, they've been our 2nd best line.
- hertzman

Chances are this team wont be 100% healthy for very long or very often. He can go down for a week and be back up for a month...

Even if Higgins waived for a trade, Benning and WD would likely hate to see his presence gone off the penalty kill. Vey is young and a pick was sacrificed for him so he is not a roster dump. Kassian is proving too valuable in the top 6 to trade now with Burrows out...specially with no players coming back for him. Mathias is winning hockey games late in the season... crazy to move him in a roster dump as well... not many wise trades available for Benning that has no roster players coming back.... it would cause holes Kinins couldnt fill. They are not losing him... he's available.

Really, it's best to keep these guys together than force losing a part of it just to get a guy in the line up they don't risk losing by juggling through the minors for the rest of the season. No roster limit in the playoffs so no big deal.

This TD for us was all about treading water. Obviously JB didn't want to tinker with the lineup so he avoided trading any roster players. I don't see either of these moves as anything but adding depth to the Comets and prospect depth at forward. Not a fan of the Baertschi move, I realize that he's roughly the equivalent of what we'd probably get if we used that 2nd round pick, but we already have a couple undersized skill forwards in Shinkaruk who plays for the Comets and Vey who's on the NHL roster and who has more room to grow than Baertschi.

I guess my disappointment stems from the fact that we still haven't addressed the lack of a PMD who can QB the PP (even though I do know how expensive that would likely have been and how there probably wasn't anyone available). The St. Louis game really showed how with a D who can move the puck out of trouble, either by being able to skate it out, or make that great first pass can put the defensive team on their heels.

Makes me wonder what JB's plans are in the off-season and draft, and what the overall plan and expectation for this team is this year. Obviously it's making the playoffs, but these moves don't indicate to me that they're gearing up for the playoffs, which is why I say it's treading water. They didn't get better or worse in my view and that scares me, I think it's pretty safe to say unless we go on a long losing streak, we're likely to make the playoffs (and get swept in the first round or in 5 games).

Chances are this team wont be 100% healthy for very long or very often. He can go down for a week and be back up for a month...

Even if Higgins waived for a trade, Benning and WD would likely hate to see his presence gone off the penalty kill. Vey is young and a pick was sacrificed for him so he is not a roster dump. Kassian is proving too valuable in the top 6 to trade now with Burrows out...specially with no players coming back for him. Mathias is winning hockey games late in the season... crazy to move him in a roster dump as well... not many wise trades available for Benning that has no roster players coming back.... it would cause holes Kinins couldnt fill. They are not losing him... he's available.

Really, it's best to keep these guys together than force losing a part of it just to get a guy in the line up they don't risk losing by juggling through the minors for the rest of the season. No roster limit in the playoffs so no big deal.
- boonerbuck

This is what I got from it as well. Helps us in the playoffs having this kind of depth