http://www.tsn.ca/canucks...altender-cannata-1.312059

Wonder who else will be in Utica next year?? any guesses? Eriksson is leaving for europe I think?

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

Buffalo # 1
Toronto # 3

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (Stanley Cup Final appearances: 19. Stanley Cup wins: 13. Last title: 1967.)

A soap opera of a franchise that hasn't won a title since 1967, and hasn't even won a playoff series since 2004. Playing in Canada's biggest city, they've got a rabid (if frustrated) fan base and are constantly under a ton of media scrutiny. Winning a Cup is the ultimate goal, but it'd be a step in the right direction to even bring some stability to the franchise and get it out of the laughingstock category. (They're paying coach Mike Babcock $50 million to make that happen.) This video, with the reactions of Maple Leafs fans watching their team blow a 4-1 lead to Boston in a 2013 Game 7 is just devastating.

1. Buffalo Sabres (Stanley Cup Final appearances: 2. Stanley Cup wins: 0.)

To clarify, we're not even considering the double whammy of being a Sabres fan and a Bills fan. We're just looking at hockey here. But Sabres fans, passionate hockey fans that they are, have it rough: zero titles since entering the league in 1970, and one of their two trips to the Final ended in controversial fashion. (Brett Hull is still trolling them over that.) They haven't been a true contender since the days of Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, and they've been especially bad the last few seasons. They finished last in each of the last three, and in their last two, they've won just 23 and 21 games. The latest disappointment came at the draft lottery, when they lost out on the chance to draft McDavid. Jack Eichel, the likely second pick, could be a franchise-changing player, too, but until he does indeed change the direction of his team, the Sabres remain where they are on this list.

Buffalo # 1
Toronto # 3

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (Stanley Cup Final appearances: 19. Stanley Cup wins: 13. Last title: 1967.)

A soap opera of a franchise that hasn't won a title since 1967, and hasn't even won a playoff series since 2004. Playing in Canada's biggest city, they've got a rabid (if frustrated) fan base and are constantly under a ton of media scrutiny. Winning a Cup is the ultimate goal, but it'd be a step in the right direction to even bring some stability to the franchise and get it out of the laughingstock category. (They're paying coach Mike Babcock $50 million to make that happen.) This video, with the reactions of Maple Leafs fans watching their team blow a 4-1 lead to Boston in a 2013 Game 7 is just devastating.

1. Buffalo Sabres (Stanley Cup Final appearances: 2. Stanley Cup wins: 0.)

To clarify, we're not even considering the double whammy of being a Sabres fan and a Bills fan. We're just looking at hockey here. But Sabres fans, passionate hockey fans that they are, have it rough: zero titles since entering the league in 1970, and one of their two trips to the Final ended in controversial fashion. (Brett Hull is still trolling them over that.) They haven't been a true contender since the days of Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, and they've been especially bad the last few seasons. They finished last in each of the last three, and in their last two, they've won just 23 and 21 games. The latest disappointment came at the draft lottery, when they lost out on the chance to draft McDavid. Jack Eichel, the likely second pick, could be a franchise-changing player, too, but until he does indeed change the direction of his team, the Sabres remain where they are on this list.
- Marwood

Nailed it!

Miller definitely doesn't get enough respect here.

you can have eddie for the 31st pick in a heartbeat
- Mungo

I could possibly see #51, if we decide to go that route. Hard part is, there is a few free agent options out there as well.

I just saw Darren Dreger tweet that Buffalo is pushing for a Cam Talbot trade at the moment (along with CGY,FLA,EDM,and DAL). I think it would be best for the Canucks to wait out this little fiasco and see what they can really value their young goaltenders in the market.

Plus, whoever loses out on Talbot should be sure quick to give y'all a call.

Except that Markstrom's younger and wouldn't be upset at being a backup and mentored in the NHL for a couple of years. Lack wants to be a starter now and will want to be paid like an NHL starter. In a perfect non-salary cap world Miller would be traded for peanuts and Lack and Markstrom would be here. It's not going to happen, chances are the players won't ask for the full escalator and the cap for next year won't go up, leaving teams scrambling to dump salary.

Lack needs to go because we aren't keeping him if Miller is going to stay this year, he's not going to resign for less than starter money and a guarantee that he gets the bulk of the starts which with Miller on the books isn't going to happen. That being said, Lack probably nets us a late 2nd/early 3rd at this point with the cap being what it likely is.
- DariusKnight

Then hang on to the goaltenders. No sense of urgency. If that was the case Markstrom is worth a 4th or 5th rounder?

Except that Markstrom's younger and wouldn't be upset at being a backup and mentored in the NHL for a couple of years. Lack wants to be a starter now and will want to be paid like an NHL starter. In a perfect non-salary cap world Miller would be traded for peanuts and Lack and Markstrom would be here. It's not going to happen, chances are the players won't ask for the full escalator and the cap for next year won't go up, leaving teams scrambling to dump salary.

Lack needs to go because we aren't keeping him if Miller is going to stay this year, he's not going to resign for less than starter money and a guarantee that he gets the bulk of the starts which with Miller on the books isn't going to happen. That being said, Lack probably nets us a late 2nd/early 3rd at this point with the cap being what it likely is.
- DariusKnight

I have no idea what Lack's expectations are but you are likely right that he wouldn't prefer to be backup for a few more seasons while Miller is here.

This brings us full circle to the point I made a few pages earlier that Miller isn't a problem because of his play, but because he will force Benning to move a younger, better player for what might be an underwhelming return.

I understand why he needs to go, but it doesn't make it a situation that I will applaud Benning for.

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

SRAM answered for you. Chicago and Canucks are not even in the same universe. Go hit the Chicago goalie see what happens. Remember when Toews got nailed by Mitchell 2 seconds later a brawl.

Remember when Sedin got Concussed by Keith , everyone looked at each other , what do we do?

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....
- chompsey

Ferland destroyed the Canucks

SRAM answered for you. Chicago and Canucks are not even in the same universe. Go hit the Chicago goalie see what happens. Remember when Toews got nailed by Mitchell 2 seconds later a brawl.

Remember when Sedin got Concussed by Keith , everyone looked at each other , what do we do?
- VANTEL

Weak, scared of physicality, not thier style. We are about speed and skill.

SRAM answered for you. Chicago and Canucks are not even in the same universe. Go hit the Chicago goalie see what happens. Remember when Toews got nailed by Mitchell 2 seconds later a brawl.

Remember when Sedin got Concussed by Keith , everyone looked at each other , what do we do?
- VANTEL

Weak, scared of physicality, not thier style. We are about speed and skill.

None of his mistakes are irreparable though, at least not yet. He seems to keep his contract terms modest and hasn't dished out NTCs that I'm aware of.

Much of his grade for this season will be made in the couple weeks though...
- AlexF

I am still on JBs side but the number of callers phoning in , and the number of negative comments on Twitter and in here are increasing.

I am expecting a busy summer

Weak, scared of physicality, not thier style. We are about speed and skill.

- VanHockeyGuy

When does that speed and skill begin? I think you must mean some other team

I have no idea what Lack's expectations are but you are likely right that he wouldn't prefer to be backup for a few more seasons while Miller is here.

This brings us full circle to the point I made a few pages earlier that Miller isn't a problem because of his play, but because he will force Benning to move a younger, better player for what might be an underwhelming return.

I understand why he needs to go, but it doesn't make it a situation that I will applaud Benning for.
- belcherbd

I guess the problem is that people fail to see that other than Miller, there wasn't any upgrades in goal during FA last year over Lack and TL and JB made the determination that Lack/Markstrom was a non-starter. No one would have been happy with JB spending assets like prospects/draft picks for a goalie so Miller was it or go with the unproven (and likely not ready) pair of Lack/Markstrom. We definitely wouldn't have made the playoffs, and worse yet, we might have ruined Lack and Markstrom with the pressure and criticisms of failure.

Never forget that Miller takes a LOT of the pressure off of Lack/Markstrom to have to perform and bear the weight of the fanbase and the inevitable comparisons to Luongo/Schneider.

The Wild have a General Fanager?

****************

Hey -- what are the rules to buyouts. How many does each team have? I thought they were only for a few years after the lockout and if you didn't use em, you lost em.

Buffalo # 1
Toronto # 3

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (Stanley Cup Final appearances: 19. Stanley Cup wins: 13. Last title: 1967.)

A soap opera of a franchise that hasn't won a title since 1967, and hasn't even won a playoff series since 2004. Playing in Canada's biggest city, they've got a rabid (if frustrated) fan base and are constantly under a ton of media scrutiny. Winning a Cup is the ultimate goal, but it'd be a step in the right direction to even bring some stability to the franchise and get it out of the laughingstock category. (They're paying coach Mike Babcock $50 million to make that happen.) This video, with the reactions of Maple Leafs fans watching their team blow a 4-1 lead to Boston in a 2013 Game 7 is just devastating.

1. Buffalo Sabres (Stanley Cup Final appearances: 2. Stanley Cup wins: 0.)

To clarify, we're not even considering the double whammy of being a Sabres fan and a Bills fan. We're just looking at hockey here. But Sabres fans, passionate hockey fans that they are, have it rough: zero titles since entering the league in 1970, and one of their two trips to the Final ended in controversial fashion. (Brett Hull is still trolling them over that.) They haven't been a true contender since the days of Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, and they've been especially bad the last few seasons. They finished last in each of the last three, and in their last two, they've won just 23 and 21 games. The latest disappointment came at the draft lottery, when they lost out on the chance to draft McDavid. Jack Eichel, the likely second pick, could be a franchise-changing player, too, but until he does indeed change the direction of his team, the Sabres remain where they are on this list.
- Marwood

If TO isn't #1 then this list need to come with *. As in *"fanbase" is defined as being 60 years old or older and a hockey fan throughout.

Really don't think anyone under 60 years old is reveling in those 13 cup wins, or the one from '67, unless you're a Hockeybuzz poster of course.

I guess the problem is that people fail to see that other than Miller, there wasn't any upgrades in goal during FA last year over Lack and TL and JB made the determination that Lack/Markstrom was a non-starter. No one would have been happy with JB spending assets like prospects/draft picks for a goalie so Miller was it or go with the unproven (and likely not ready) pair of Lack/Markstrom. We definitely wouldn't have made the playoffs, and worse yet, we might have ruined Lack and Markstrom with the pressure and criticisms of failure.

Never forget that Miller takes a LOT of the pressure off of Lack/Markstrom to have to perform and bear the weight of the fanbase and the inevitable comparisons to Luongo/Schneider.
- DariusKnight

You are right but lets face it, Markstrom, when Miller was signed, was still pretty unproven and even now... when given his NHL chances, he has not shined.

When does that speed and skill begin? I think you must mean some other team
- VANTEL

Oh shyte, your right!

When does that speed and skill begin? I think you must mean some other team
- VANTEL

Skill...

Bieksa fights and he gives good interviews. That combo will go a long way towards being loved.
- AlexF

Beiksa has two fights this year?

http://www.tsn.ca/canucks-sign-goaltender-cannata-1.312059

Wonder who else will be in Utica next year?? any guesses? Eriksson is leaving for europe I think?
- anavar

If Eriksson leaves for europe, I hope Benning can find a guy who has some experience in the AHL.

Pasquale who is an RFA and is from the Was system is only 24 but has 4 years of experience in the AHL.

Grosenick from SJS system is also a RFA and might not be resigned as he likely wont be a backup behind Stalock and they have a logjam in the minors. He is 25.

Richard Bachman has been good in the AHL and is a UFA, he is 27 and has had a cup of coffee in the NHL with Dallas and Edm.

Miller definitely doesn't get enough respect here.

you can have eddie for the 31st pick in a heartbeat
- Mungo

It's because the Miller train comes to a stop in two years . Lack could have been for 5 or 6

Ferland destroyed the Canucks
- VANTEL

This kind of thing has to stop.

I could possibly see #51, if we decide to go that route. Hard part is, there is a few free agent options out there as well.

I just saw Darren Dreger tweet that Buffalo is pushing for a Cam Talbot trade at the moment (along with CGY,FLA,EDM,and DAL). I think it would be best for the Canucks to wait out this little fiasco and see what they can really value their young goaltenders in the market.

Plus, whoever loses out on Talbot should be sure quick to give y'all a call.
- Sabre_Tooth

51 St will get you Markstrom. Good luck with Talbot enjoy

This kind of thing has to stop.
- Grumpy13

It is a concern. In every interview Benning says we will get bigger grittier faster and more skilled. It is not only one thing .

The Wild have a General Fanager?

****************

Hey -- what are the rules to buyouts. How many does each team have? I thought they were only for a few years after the lockout and if you didn't use em, you lost em.
- Beatle_john

There are compliance buy outs x2

Unlimited regular buyouts