Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Matt Bartkowski in Defense Mix, Cassels in Memorial Cup Matt Bartkowski is the latest name to be bandied about as a possible addition to the Vancouver Canucks' blue line, while prospect Cole Cassels moves on to the Memorial Cup final.

On Bartkowski: "he makes poor defensive puck decisions"

Play him with Bieksa or Sbisa?

vanhockeyguy

Was gonna say, sounds like JB already got his Bartowski equivalent in asking for Sbisa from ANA

Now to look for a Dennis Seidenberg but not sign him for too-long term like he is now

Interesting Carol, Central Scouting has Nick Merkley ranked at #23.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=761663

If the Canucks want a young, dynamic D with tons of potential, take a look at Tampa's Mark Barberio in the offseason. Price likely won't be very high, as it doesn't seem like he's in the team's plans moving forward. Hasn't been given an opportunity to showcase his offensive abilities in the NHL, but was a stud in the AHL.

Forget resigning Miller, move him to San Jose.
- VanHockeyGuy

Dude! wtf? The only way I'd want Miller resigned is if Lack is traded, Markstrom is sucking and Demko or any of our other goalies are not ready and it would be a 1 or 2 year contract sans ntc and at a lower cap hit.

Would love to see Miller in a Sharks uni. I don't even care what the return is if we don't eat salary.

If the Canucks want a young, dynamic D with tons of potential, take a look at Tampa's Mark Barberio in the offseason. Price likely won't be very high, as it doesn't seem like he's in the team's plans moving forward. Hasn't been given an opportunity to showcase his offensive abilities in the NHL, but was a stud in the AHL.
- Michael_Stuart

We already have a few guys like that in Utica. But our patchwork may entail that kind of player.

At his worst, he makes poor defensive puck decisions, doesn’t win board battles or loses position in front on his net.

BK

A cheaper version of Bieksa or Sbisa... get'er done JB

Worth a try but is an RFA. What would TB want for him?

Dude! wtf? The only way I'd want Miller resigned is if Lack is traded, Markstrom is sucking and Demko or any of our other goalies are not ready and it would be a 1 or 2 year contract sans ntc and at a lower cap hit.

Would love to see Miller in a Sharks uni. I don't even care what the return is if we don't eat salary.
- hillbillydeluxe

Goaltending is the least of our problems. I really don't care who they keep. Trade Miller to free up $$$ this summer.

Goaltending is the least of our problems. I really don't care who they keep. Trade Miller to free up $$$ this summer.
- VanHockeyGuy

You are right, but still needs to be addressed or Lack may walk after next season.

Trade Bieksa or Burrows to free up some cap. Wonder if Burr would waive to go to Florida? He has a slight discount on salary vs cap hit.

We don't need another under performing Dman. We need a legit top 1-2 dman.

We already have all the depth dmen in the system. No offense, but Bartowski sounds like Stanton. Who we are likely ditching for nothing.

Here the UFA D list:
Mike Green(Caps)
Francois Beauchemin (Ducks)
Paul Martin (Penguins)
Cody Franson (Nashville)
Jeff Petry (Habs)
Marek Zidlicky (Red Wings)
Andrej Sekera (Kings)
Johnny Oduya (Blackhawks)
Lubomir Visnovsky (Islanders)
Christian Ehrhoff (Penguins)
Barret Jackman (Blues)
Zbynek Michalek (Blues)

Of these I'd only be interetsed in Green, Petry and Franson. None are great, but at least they are all under 30. Green can produce points as well. He knows how to run a PP.

Worth a try but is an RFA. What would TB want for him?
- Grumpy13

I don't think it would be very much at all. A late pick.

You are right, but still needs to be addressed or Lack may walk after next season.

Trade Bieksa or Burrows to free up some cap. Wonder if Burr would waive to go to Florida? He has a slight discount on salary vs cap hit.
- hillbillydeluxe

Trade Miller, sign Lack. Trade Bieksa, Hamhuis, Higgins. Get 4 younger Defenceman by trade or UFA.

Please get Erhoff back.

If the Canucks want a young, dynamic D with tons of potential, take a look at Tampa's Mark Barberio in the offseason. Price likely won't be very high, as it doesn't seem like he's in the team's plans moving forward. Hasn't been given an opportunity to showcase his offensive abilities in the NHL, but was a stud in the AHL.
- Michael_Stuart

Obviously he would cost more but do you think KoekKoek would be available with DeAngelo being added to he depth charts ?

Barberio has had an excellent AHL career so far but compares to Clendening and Weber that we have in the system already.

KoekKoek has a greater ceiling imo and there is still a logjam infront of him with Hedman,Stralman,Carle, Garrison and Sujst long term and other guys in the short term.

We don't need another under performing Dman. We need a legit top 1-2 dman.

We already have all the depth dmen in the system. No offense, but Bartowski sounds like Stanton. Who we are likely ditching for nothing.

Here the UFA D list:
Mike Green(Caps)
Francois Beauchemin (Ducks)
Paul Martin (Penguins)
Cody Franson (Nashville)
Jeff Petry (Habs)
Marek Zidlicky (Red Wings)
Andrej Sekera (Kings)
Johnny Oduya (Blackhawks)
Lubomir Visnovsky (Islanders)
Christian Ehrhoff (Penguins)
Barret Jackman (Blues)
Zbynek Michalek (Blues)

Of these I'd only be interetsed in Green, Petry and Franson. None are great, but at least they are all under 30. Green can produce points as well. He knows how to run a PP.
- moondawg

What is scary about ufa's with any perceived value is the term that is often associated with an inflated price tag and often the desire to have a ntc included. I'd look at all of these guys as band-aids until something better comes along. Green is intriguing but I haven't seen a lot of him, know he will be expensive, but unsure if he is a specialist or really a top 2 dman?

We don't need another under performing Dman. We need a legit top 1-2 dman.

We already have all the depth dmen in the system. No offense, but Bartowski sounds like Stanton. Who we are likely ditching for nothing.

Here the UFA D list:
Mike Green(Caps)
Francois Beauchemin (Ducks)
Paul Martin (Penguins)
Cody Franson (Nashville)
Jeff Petry (Habs)
Marek Zidlicky (Red Wings)
Andrej Sekera (Kings)
Johnny Oduya (Blackhawks)
Lubomir Visnovsky (Islanders)
Christian Ehrhoff (Penguins)
Barret Jackman (Blues)
Zbynek Michalek (Blues)

Of these I'd only be interetsed in Green, Petry and Franson. None are great, but at least they are all under 30. Green can produce points as well. He knows how to run a PP.
- moondawg

I agree the team needs to acquire a top 2 D but realistically you don't get them in FA. Green was getting bottom pairing minutes in Was, and Franson also tends to be sheltered.

Petry is the only guy I see being a solid addition in the top 4 out of that list and IMO is not good enough to bump Edler or Tanev out of the "top line" we currently have.

Please get Erhoff back.
- pker2theend

He's broken

He's broken
- moondawg

Perfect fit then

Obviously he would cost more but do you think KoekKoek would be available with DeAngelo being added to he depth charts ?

Barberio has had an excellent AHL career so far but compares to Clendening and Weber that we have in the system already.

KoekKoek has a greater ceiling imo and there is still a logjam infront of him with Hedman,Stralman,Carle, Garrison and Sujst long term and other guys in the short term.
- belcherbd

Don't think there's any way that Koekkoek is available. I think they'll look at him to replace Matt Carle in a year or two. Sustr still has so many question marks, too. DeAngelo and Koekkoek are the future building blocks on defense (with Hedman obviously already in the mix).

What is scary about ufa's with any perceived value is the term that is often associated with an inflated price tag and often the desire to have a ntc included. I'd look at all of these guys as band-aids until something better comes along. Green is intriguing but I haven't seen a lot of him, know he will be expensive, but unsure if he is a specialist or really a top 2 dman?
- hillbillydeluxe

Green was sheltered, but in the playoffs and down the stretch he was playing more. He played 2nd unit PP and produced, often without Ovie, as Ovie was out there with Carlsson.

I agree the team needs to acquire a top 2 D but realistically you don't get them in FA. Green was getting bottom pairing minutes in Was, and Franson also tends to be sheltered.

Petry is the only guy I see being a solid addition in the top 4 out of that list and IMO is not good enough to bump Edler or Tanev out of the "top line" we currently have.
- belcherbd

No, but Petry (at 27)sure is an upgrade over Bieksa (at 33).

Two solid years in the AHL to get stronger and faster should do the trick. As long as he does the complete opposite of what Niklas Jensen is doing , he should be fine.

He's broken
- moondawg

we will fix him.