Yeah I actually see a 2/3 pick for both Bieksa and Lack too, and its not even just because I want to believe. The D market is out there and Lack has done well enough in the last two years to earn a shot at a #1 job. I don't think Markstrom moves, younger and cheaper. I wouldn't mind Burrows, Hansen and Higgins gone either... while they have some value (I'm not sure they do, but maybe a team w/o depth and xp)

I am not a Miller fan, but he isn't nearly as bad as the fans seem to make him out. He had moments where he was bad last year, but he had way more where he was great.

I do agree with Benning that we are far better off with a veteran goalie to help teach and mentor the younger, less experienced, goalie. Keeping Lack and Markstrom would be an even bigger mistake.

Miller is only locked up for 2 more seasons. Is he really going to be the weak link that prevents us from winning the Stanley Cup? If not, then his experience will provide good value in the development of whichever goalie we keep (Markstrom).
- KB3Point0

He was average and Miller isn't a problem because he is an average goalie, he is a problem because he is being paid like an elite goalie. That means that Benning is going to have to move other assets in a marketplace that knows he is in a bind, just to be able to resign his pending RFA's.

It has nothing to do with whether or not Miller will be the weak link in winning the cup, he is weak link in allowing Benning the flexibility to acquire other pieces because of the cap implications.

I know people will say it is the other contracts that is handicapping the Canucks ( Bieksa, Hamhuis, Edler, Sedins, Burrows) that were signed by the previous regime but all of those with possibly the exception of Burrows were for or below market value.
Benning should of known that he would be in a tight financial situation and therefore carries the blame for adding more high price players who don't contribute at a high level of play.

Yeah I actually see a 2/3 pick for both Bieksa and Lack too, and its not even just because I want to believe. The D market is out there and Lack has done well enough in the last two years to earn a shot at a #1 job. I don't think Markstrom moves, younger and cheaper. I wouldn't mind Burrows, Hansen and Higgins gone either... while they have some value (I'm not sure they do, but maybe a team w/o depth and xp)
- neem55

If you are getting a third for lack trade Markstrom

Hamhuis missed close to 1/3 of the season and we still managed home ice advantage in the playoffs. Trading him is not nearly enough to go "full tank." We are still far too good to go "full tank." It isn't happening.
- KB3Point0

I should have clarified that trading ONLY Hamhuis would not lead to a tank, but it will certainly hurt the team and neither Corrado nor Clandening will be able to replace what he brings.

Like I said, it depends on what the goal for this season is:

A) making the playoffs at all costs
B) facilitating a rebuild without going full tank (playoffs a bonus)
C) start a rebuild in earnest towards a new generation of core players

If the goal, like last year, is A then trading Hamhuis or anyone else of quality won't be on the cards.
If B, then it's a possibility
If C, then he's going on the block

There is no market for Miller . SJ would be crazy to take an old guy like that at 6 mil per year. It was a bad deal. Period.


Matt Cook on waivers , smart move by Minny. Get rid of old players that are paid to much and not worth the money. He is the same age as most of our core

Bening better have a big summer the troops are growing restless and there is more hate everywhere. It is a 50 / 50 split now on the popularity chart. Like I said yesterday keeping all these NMC and NTC will be his demise.

He needs to also move Vrbata for a high piece Burrows and one of Edler or Hamhuis .

Truthfully I hope this is the twins last year too
- VANTEL

I think he needs to sell high and trade Vrbata and Hamhuis now. And keep shipping out as many of those stupid NMC and NTC as he can.

Higgins & Hansen, to the trade block with ya!

As for the comment we're too good to miss hamius....remember we had to wait till final few games of the season just to assure making the playoffs. Thats not that great. In todays nhl making it or not can mean 1 OT/SO loss. So if no hamius means 4 less points a year it also means no playoffs.

And I agree with the poster about miller, dump him for salary room. That contract can be franson and erhoff combined potentially, without losing hamius and the chance to win now. We also know hes big on bartowski. Rather have franson personally. Erhoff could be cheap.

As much as I love higgins, hes keeping a spot for a younger player. Id expect to see him moved this summer for a pick.

As much as I couldnt stand watching sbisa play with his turnovers he led the team in hits by a wide margin, almost double any other player.

He was average and Miller isn't a problem because he is an average goalie, he is a problem because he is being paid like an elite goalie. That means that Benning is going to have to move other assets in a marketplace that knows he is in a bind, just to be able to resign his pending RFA's.

It has nothing to do with whether or not Miller will be the weak link in winning the cup, he is weak link in allowing Benning the flexibility to acquire other pieces because of the cap implications.

I know people will say it is the other contracts that is handicapping the Canucks ( Bieksa, Hamhuis, Edler, Sedins, Burrows) that were signed by the previous regime but all of those with possibly the exception of Burrows were for or below market value.
Benning should of known that he would be in a tight financial situation and therefore carries the blame for adding more high price players who don't contribute at a high level of play.
- belcherbd

If I was GM and you were Bieksa and making 4.6 mil for what you did , you would be gone

I think he needs to sell high and trade Vrbata and Hamhuis now. And keep shipping out as many of those stupid NMC and NTC as he can.

Higgins & Hansen, to the trade block with ya!
- KB3Point0

We always hang on way to long on the Canucks

As for the comment we're too good to miss hamius....remember we had to wait till final few games of the season just to assure making the playoffs. Thats not that great. In todays nhl making it or not can mean 1 OT/SO loss. So if no hamius means 4 less points a year it also means no playoffs.

And I agree with the poster about miller, dump him for salary room. That contract can be franson and erhoff combined potentially, without losing hamius and the chance to win now. We also know hes big on bartowski. Rather have franson personally. Erhoff could be cheap.

As much as I love higgins, hes keeping a spot for a younger player. Id expect to see him moved this summer for a pick.

As much as I couldnt stand watching sbisa play with his turnovers he led the team in hits by a wide margin, almost double any other player.
- SMBDragon

Ehrhoff sucks

If I was GM and you were Bieksa and making 4.6 mil for what you did , you would be gone
- VANTEL

Sure and if I was GM and I knew I had Bieksa signed at 4.6 and was likely going to continue to decline in performance in his mid 30's, I wouldn't sign a goalie in his mid 30's to 3 year 18 million dollar contract.

He was average and Miller isn't a problem because he is an average goalie, he is a problem because he is being paid like an elite goalie. That means that Benning is going to have to move other assets in a marketplace that knows he is in a bind, just to be able to resign his pending RFA's.

It has nothing to do with whether or not Miller will be the weak link in winning the cup, he is weak link in allowing Benning the flexibility to acquire other pieces because of the cap implications.

I know people will say it is the other contracts that is handicapping the Canucks ( Bieksa, Hamhuis, Edler, Sedins, Burrows) that were signed by the previous regime but all of those with possibly the exception of Burrows were for or below market value.
Benning should of known that he would be in a tight financial situation and therefore carries the blame for adding more high price players who don't contribute at a high level of play.
- belcherbd

15 goalies make within $300k of Ryan Miller or more than him. He's getting market value. Could we probably have gotten away with paying him less? Well, we like to think so, but I don't think Benning offered him more just out of the goodness of his heart.

THE NHL'S MOST TORTURED FAN BASES
2. Vancouver Canucks (Stanley Cup Final appearances: 3. Stanley Cup wins: 0.)

The Canucks have been around since 1970 without a title, despite twice getting to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Routinely one of the best teams in the West under Alain Vigneault, they just as routinely underperformed in the playoffs. They have many of the elements of a truly tortured fan base: no titles, a dedicated fan base and a couple of agonizing near misses.

If you are getting a third for lack trade Markstrom
- VANTEL

I was going to pose that question as well, most people assume that Lack would garner a 2nd or even a 1st.
If Benning is being offered a late 2nd or 3rd for Lack I would move Markstrom for a 5th any day.

We always hang on way to long on the Canucks
- VANTEL

Agreed. I can understand them doing it with the Sedins (although I do wish we could trade them for a boat load of picks and prospects). But why do we have to do it with everyone??? That was Gillis' biggest undoing here. I hope Benning knows better.

THE NHL'S MOST TORTURED FAN BASES
2. Vancouver Canucks (Stanley Cup Final appearances: 3. Stanley Cup wins: 0.)

The Canucks have been around since 1970 without a title, despite twice getting to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Routinely one of the best teams in the West under Alain Vigneault, they just as routinely underperformed in the playoffs. They have many of the elements of a truly tortured fan base: no titles, a dedicated fan base and a couple of agonizing near misses.
- Marwood

#2. Well, I guess it could be worse...

Sure and if I was GM and I knew I had Bieksa signed at 4.6 and was likely going to continue to decline in performance in his mid 30's, I wouldn't sign a goalie in his mid 30's to 3 year 18 million dollar contract.
- belcherbd

JBs mistakes are starting to add up. He is showing he is a rookie. He needs to fix that now

He was average and Miller isn't a problem because he is an average goalie, he is a problem because he is being paid like an elite goalie. That means that Benning is going to have to move other assets in a marketplace that knows he is in a bind, just to be able to resign his pending RFA's.

It has nothing to do with whether or not Miller will be the weak link in winning the cup, he is weak link in allowing Benning the flexibility to acquire other pieces because of the cap implications.

I know people will say it is the other contracts that is handicapping the Canucks ( Bieksa, Hamhuis, Edler, Sedins, Burrows) that were signed by the previous regime but all of those with possibly the exception of Burrows were for or below market value.
Benning should of known that he would be in a tight financial situation and therefore carries the blame for adding more high price players who don't contribute at a high level of play.
- belcherbd

You know, its quite possible that there isn't a market for Miller...and frankly, the Canucks defense was insanely porous this past season.

I, myself, despise Miller and rue the day we signed him but let's be honest, he IS NOT the problem.

I don't like his contract either but FA has mandated this team make the playoffs for the extra gate. This doesn't happen with Lack in yet from the start of the season, it just doesn't.

We all know the mandate, so all the pissing and moaning makes zero sense to me. This is going to be a slow turnover and 1st round exits for the foreseeable future. It's what FA wants and if JB doesn't deliver, FA will find someone who will.....

THE NHL'S MOST TORTURED FAN BASES
2. Vancouver Canucks (Stanley Cup Final appearances: 3. Stanley Cup wins: 0.)

The Canucks have been around since 1970 without a title, despite twice getting to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Routinely one of the best teams in the West under Alain Vigneault, they just as routinely underperformed in the playoffs. They have many of the elements of a truly tortured fan base: no titles, a dedicated fan base and a couple of agonizing near misses.
- Marwood

No personality. Everyone is a safe player and doesn't stir the pot. How many times have you seen a scrum in front of our goalie and Edler and Tanev look at each other as if the are wondering what to do?

One of our smallest forwards has to fight everyone's battles.

JBs mistakes are starting to add up. He is showing he is a rookie. He needs to fix that now
- VANTEL

I'm not so sure that it was a "mistake"....hindsight is 20/20.

They weren't confident in Lack, for good reason.......and FA wanted to make the playoffs. JB needed an established goalie and got the best one on the market.

I dont like Miller nor the signing either but lets be rational about this....

No personality. Everyone is a safe player and doesn't stir the pot. How many times have you seen a scrum in front of our goalie and Edler and Tanev look at each other as if the are wondering what to do?

One of our smallest forwards has to fight everyone's battles.
- VANTEL

Didn't seem to hurt Chicago much did it?

And no one fights on the Hawks, you need to stop living in the 70's my friend....

Didn't seem to hurt Chicago much did it?

And no one fights on the Hawks, you need to stop living in the 70's my friend....
- chompsey

Chicago is a team that battles together and Seabrook and Keith both jump in whenever someone is harrassing the goalie.

Chicago is a team that battles together and Seabrook and Keith both jump in whenever someone is harrassing the goalie.
- SRam19

Not unlike Bieksa and Hamhuis, so whats your point?

The Canuck team I saw battled pretty hard together this year too. The facts are that they just aren't good enough....that has ZERO to do with fighting. Just how well did the Maple Leafs do with Clarkson and Phaneuf?

Not many teams fight anymore, the argument that tough = fighting is passe....

EDIT: Chicago had ONE player with over 65 PIMS (Shaw 67). Seabrook had 27.

Canucks had FOUR! If the Hawks were so tough and battled so hard, they would have had more than 2 guys with more than 50 PIMs from scrums alone....

This toughness/fighting argument is so overrated....

As for the comment we're too good to miss hamius....remember we had to wait till final few games of the season just to assure making the playoffs. Thats not that great. In todays nhl making it or not can mean 1 OT/SO loss. So if no hamius means 4 less points a year it also means no playoffs.

And I agree with the poster about miller, dump him for salary room. That contract can be franson and erhoff combined potentially, without losing hamius and the chance to win now. We also know hes big on bartowski. Rather have franson personally. Erhoff could be cheap.

As much as I love higgins, hes keeping a spot for a younger player. Id expect to see him moved this summer for a pick.

As much as I couldnt stand watching sbisa play with his turnovers he led the team in hits by a wide margin, almost double any other player.
- SMBDragon

"Chance to win now" that is hilarious

THE NHL'S MOST TORTURED FAN BASES
2. Vancouver Canucks (Stanley Cup Final appearances: 3. Stanley Cup wins: 0.)

The Canucks have been around since 1970 without a title, despite twice getting to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Routinely one of the best teams in the West under Alain Vigneault, they just as routinely underperformed in the playoffs. They have many of the elements of a truly tortured fan base: no titles, a dedicated fan base and a couple of agonizing near misses.
- Marwood

Let me guess, Buffalo was #1? Brett Hull being reason 1, being in the city of Buffalo reason 2, and losing the super tank for McDavid being reason 3?

Let me guess, Buffalo was #1? Brett Hull being reason 1, being in the city of Buffalo reason 2, and losing the super tank for McDavid being reason 3?
- WhiteLie

Toronto would top that list for too many reasons to list here.