I get the feeling Virtanen can make the jump this year. Most of the others he mentioned I'm on the fence about and some of them I don't think will have consistent NHL careers.
- AlexF

I think JV makes the team too, needs to work on conditioning.i think he will play the role of an energy guy .

Pretty sure Markstrom will be the backup.

Grenier will replace Matthias as a third liner

Sven I see replacing Higgins on 2LHF

COrrado has been playing Left and Clendenning as third pair?

He liked Gaunce's heavy game.

Makes you wonder what the mix will look like.
- hillbillydeluxe

Utica had a great year , will be interesting to see how they fit in

Nashville should Offer Sheet Saad

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/v...m-will-be-traded-1.311097

Anyone wanting to listen to full Benning interview

Nashville should Offer Sheet Saad
- VANTEL

We should consider it. The guy would immediately be on our top line and a part of our future core.

I doubt CHI lets it get to that stage though. They'll trade Sharpe for picks to free up cap space if required.

We should consider it. The guy would immediately be on our top line and a part of our future core.

I doubt CHI lets it get to that stage though. They'll trade Sharpe for picks to free up cap space if required.
- AlexF

Teams should not trade for Sharp. 5.9 old forward with 16 goals


Don't you need to have all your original draft picks to lay an offer sheet down?

Aaron Ward was saying this morning the amount of buyouts this year is nuts. He said he is hearing names he would have never expected. He said there are going to be a few shocks if they are true.

Umberger Lupul Vinny Hartnell Burrows Weiss Clarkson maybe Marleau . Will be fun to see
- VANTEL

No way that Hartnell, Burrows, or Lupul get bought out.

Teams should not trade for Sharp. 5.9 old forward with 16 goals


Don't you need to have all your original draft picks to lay an offer sheet down?
- VANTEL

Yup

I think Benning can muster a couple of 2nd round picks and clear some cap before the round is done. At least one 2nd and I'm willing to put money on that.

Lack/Markstrom, Bieksa, Higgins, Hansen, Vey all can be mixed and matched for picks.
- boonerbuck

I realize you said a combination of those guys would net picks, but just in terms of each player on his own, here's how I value some of our players on the trade market:

Lack - 2nd
Markstrom - 4th
Bieksa - 2nd (possibly a late 1st if some team likes his interview skills)
Higgins - 3rd or 4th
Hansen - late 2nd or 3rd
Vey - maybe a 2nd, definitely a 3rd
Burrows - maybe a 5th or 6th but more likely a salary dump if anything

1sts in this draft will be at a premium so it's highly unlikely even clumping a few of these guys together will garner a 1st.

Teams should not trade for Sharp. 5.9 old forward with 16 goals


Don't you need to have all your original draft picks to lay an offer sheet down?
- VANTEL

Forgot about that. Anyway there will definitely be takers for Sharpe if CHI need to she salary. Of that I have no doubt.

Someone said give them two more years to make the transition easier. It is thos two years that instead of drafting a player like Kane and Toews with the top three pick we will get mid draft players like Jensen and Gaunce.

I really don't get why fans don't want to go after high draft picks for three years
- VANTEL

This

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/vancouver-1040-i-1410/benning-miller-stays-lack-or-markstrom-will-be-traded-1.311097

Anyone wanting to listen to full Benning interview
- VANTEL

I hate Benning interviews. I love that he's straight forward and will give you essencially what you want for an answer not like that smug prik we had before.

But seriously. Hes not a brilliant interview by any means. He sometimes sounds too stupid for his job.

Yeah but if the team is bringing back Burrows Higgins Bieksa Hamhuis Edler Weber then I know I won't be attending any games. I've seen too much of that uninspired core
- VANTEL

Id like to keep hamhuis for the season and deal him at the deadline. Risky in case he gets hurt but a team pushing will cough up huge for him.

Bieksa and higgins can go now..

Problem is burrows contract is high might have to wait until the deadline the year his contract is expiring to move him. I dont mind his game at all though at least he brings it night in and night out.

I realize you said a combination of those guys would net picks, but just in terms of each player on his own, here's how I value some of our players on the trade market:

Lack - 2nd
Markstrom - 4th
Bieksa - 2nd (possibly a late 1st if some team likes his interview skills)
Higgins - 3rd or 4th
Hansen - late 2nd or 3rd
Vey - maybe a 2nd, definitely a 3rd
Burrows - maybe a 5th or 6th but more likely a salary dump if anything

1sts in this draft will be at a premium so it's highly unlikely even clumping a few of these guys together will garner a 1st.
- AlexF

Bieksa would be attractive to Ottawa. They are a cap budget team that has an internal budget and his savings in real dollars would be 2 million to them , plus he would be close to home

I hate Benning interviews. I love that he's straight forward and will give you essencially what you want for an answer not like that smug prik we had before.

But seriously. Hes not a brilliant interview by any means. He sometimes sounds too stupid for his job.
- vancity787

Yes he does sound like an offspring of Daffy Duck. I can see people turned off

Not a fan of the Kevin Connauton + 2013 2nd round pick for Derek Roy

That 2nd was Philippe Desrosiers. Oceanic goalie. Good pick.
- bloatedmosquito

I hated that deal when it was made. Hated the 2nd for Linden Vey just as much. Connauton a 2nd and Roland Mckeown would look alot better than Linden Vey. We had a small skilled core and added to that by getting one of the smallest softest players in the league with both trades. Good job!

I hate Benning interviews. I love that he's straight forward and will give you essencially what you want for an answer not like that smug prik we had before.

But seriously. Hes not a brilliant interview by any means. He sometimes sounds too stupid for his job.
- vancity787

I said something similar when he was first hired, got lambasted for it by a few.

Thus far he hasn't really improved the team, just got it back to where it was pre-Torts. Nearly all of that comes from the removal of Torts though IMO. I refrain from listening to his interviews and simply wait from his actions to materialize. No GM can be judged after only a year so I'll give him a pass until another couple years.

I hated that deal when it was made. Hated the 2nd for Linden Vey just as much. Connauton a 2nd and Roland Mckeown would look alot better than Linden Vey. We had a small skilled core and added to that by getting one of the smallest softest players in the league with both trades. Good job!
- mauryballstein

I don't hate the Vey deal yet. I think if he was playing with a guy like JV who bangs and creates space he may be more affective. We have had a sad sack bunch of forwards for years.

I have said it over and over this team has very little personality

I hated that deal when it was made. Hated the 2nd for Linden Vey just as much. Connauton a 2nd and Roland Mckeown would look alot better than Linden Vey. We had a small skilled core and added to that by getting one of the smallest softest players in the league with both trades. Good job!
- mauryballstein

Admittedly Connaughton only looked good in this organization when he was under MacT's tutelage for the Wolves. He was mediocre before and after and continued to be so at Dallas, so I don't blame the trade too much.

But don't worry. Instead of having those 2 D and the 2nd we've got Sbisa locked up to cover the gap.

I don't hate the Vey deal yet. I think if he was playing with a guy like JV who bangs and creates space he may be more affective. We have had a sad sack bunch of forwards for years.

I have said it over and over this team has very little personality
- VANTEL

If Hartnell gets bought out do you approach him with an offer or are you in full tank mode now?

I think Benning can muster a couple of 2nd round picks and clear some cap before the round is done. At least one 2nd and I'm willing to put money on that.

Lack/Markstrom, Bieksa, Higgins, Hansen, Vey all can be mixed and matched for picks.
- boonerbuck

Don't stop there.

If Hartnell gets bought out do you approach him with an offer or are you in full tank mode now?
- AlexF

Hartnell has always been a favourite of mine. He could show guys like Kassian and JV what it takes and some tricks of trolling

Hartnell has always been a favourite of mine. He could show guys like Kassian and JV what it takes and some tricks of trolling
- VANTEL

Yeah I like him too. Had we had in our lineup during the finals I think it might have ended differently.

Yeah I like him too. Had we had in our lineup during the finals I think it might have ended differently.
- AlexF

Definitely

Hartnell has always been a favourite of mine. He could show guys like Kassian and JV what it takes and some tricks of trolling
- VANTEL

He is also 33. That doesn't sound like getting younger.