The rebuild comes down to the draft. If benning hits on enough picks, the team will be set quite nicely. If not, abandon all hope


But these ancillary issues like the signings and trades for low level players won't mean much.

I agree that they could be a harbinger of misfortune.... But looking at it from the long view, perhaps benning wants good character, hard nosed guys b/c he foresees a couple seasons of losing.

Either view can be supported. But there really is no need to get hysterical. Criticicize but don't go chicken little. Big picture that sh!t.
- RealityChecker

I think you hit it right on, the rebuild is the draft. Stock the system with prospects and fingers crossed some of them turn into top 6 forwards and top 4 dmen or just nhl regulars.

If they don't and we don't replace players like the Sedins when they leave, we might get some high draft picks....

And I think you are right about the character players, JB is willing to give these character players a long look. Like Sbisa and that McKenze kid. Maybe it is better for the culture of the room, work ethic, compared to players distracted by the rock star lifestyle.

I think we all know this team is on the decline no matter what but it's perfectly reasonable to be a bit afraid that the guy in charge of running the team paid 3.6 for a RFA who's barely a NHL player. The contract won't have any major long term impact but the real issue is the red flag it raises. I've already said that I think Benning seems like a decent scout, but his negotiating skills and asset management is a real concern. Plus he seems to overvalue defensemen that are physical and skate but aren't real smart or skilled. Sbisa, Bartkowski, Pedan all fit that mold. Tryamkin is a big unknown but he sounds similar.
- Nucker101

Oh for the love of God man, you can't have a defense of nothing but Tanev clones. You need the Sbisa types in order to keep forecheckers honest although I will agree there are better options than him that Benning could have targeted. There, does that make you happy? SBISA SUCKS! We all agree, now could we (and I mean everyone on this forum) all for the love of god never speak of Sbisa again until the start of training camp? This is beyond stupid and ridiculous and it's really dragging this forum down.

The fact he believes in him so much is the scary part.

People can choose to ignore it but it's a legit concern. And he was a RFA, there was no need to give him that money. Even as a UFA, there no way in hell he was going to get that kind if money when you look at what other better or equal defenders got. It raises a red flag for both his evaluation and negotiating skills.
- Nucker101

It's a legit concern for you, don't use these terms to back your point. Have you looked at the contract?

1st yr 3.2 mil which is his qualifying price.
2nd yr 3.6 mil
3rd yr 4.0

He and I pretty much agree on most of this stuff.

I'm trying to keep him here!!
- RealityChecker

Agreed. Again, there's nothing wrong with having a strong opinion on a player or manager or otherwise - in the case of Sbisa, one that is pretty much shared in general by the masses. Like I said, I can't recall anyone saying that the Sbisa signing is a good one. But there are a few people that are willing to give him another shot this upcoming season. I guess we'll see right away whether or not there's any improvement in his game (does anyone know what sort of training regimen he's partaking of in the summer? is he training under the supervision of the Canucks or?).

But I'm certainly not holding my breath. He's just had too many chances by now and hasn't had any success with any of the three team's he's been with. I guess we're looking at another reclamation project but one which we can't really afford either, whether it's the on-ice issues or salary cap aspects. Did I mention it's a headscratcher?

Incidentally, if for some reason hell freezes over and Sbisa does end up panning out, I will NEVER again question any of Benning's moves

I thought you jumped ship to SC once corsi got it's ass handed to them .......
- belcherbd

I like to look at quite a few different stats. Points/60, first assists, scoring chances for/against, quality of linemates/competition, corsi/fenwick


Apparently it's all just corsi and it's meaningless, it's all good as long as the player skates fast and hits hard. I bet some people here would take 4 Derek Dorsetts as their 3rd and 4th line wingers if they could

It's a legit concern for you, don't use these terms to back your point. Have you looked at the contract?

1st yr 3.2 mil which is his qualifying price.
2nd yr 3.6 mil
3rd yr 4.0
- A_SteamingLombardi

Not to be too pedantic, but his qualifying price would of been 2.9

Players making less than 660K must be offer a a 110% raise
less than 1 million must be offered a 105% raise
over 1 million must be offered 100% of the last season contract.

Oh for the love of God man, you can't have a defense of nothing but Tanev clones. You need the Sbisa types in order to keep forecheckers honest although I will agree there are better options than him that Benning could have targeted. There, does that make you happy? SBISA SUCKS! We all agree, now could we (and I mean everyone on this forum) all for the love of god never speak of Sbisa again until the start of training camp? This is beyond stupid and ridiculous and it's really dragging this forum down.
- DariusKnight

Again, I stated that it won't impact this franchise long-term but it's a bit scary that this management group believes he's worth that. It means that they're not the best with player evaluations and/or cap management which is kind of important.

It's a legit concern for you, don't use these terms to back your point. Have you looked at the contract?

1st yr 3.2 mil which is his qualifying price.
2nd yr 3.6 mil
3rd yr 4.0
- A_SteamingLombardi

Look at all of the ufa deals this summer, they easily could have Yannick Weber'd him and let him become a ufa to get him signed cheaper. Or just give him that one year deal and let him actually price that he's not a scrub instead of paying for the potential that he hasn't shown in his 360+ NHL game career yet.

I like to look at quite a few different stats. Points/60, first assists, scoring chances for/against, quality of linemates/competition, corsi/fenwick


Apparently it's all just corsi and it's meaningless, it's all good as long as the player skates fast and hits hard. I bet some people here would take 4 Derek Dorsetts as their 3rd and 4th line wingers if they could
- Nucker101

Have you checked out the new War-on-ice additions? apparently all their salary info is league verified.
They also are playing with a new stat GAR which I don't think is going to show much but they seem pretty keen on it.

Have you checked out the new War-on-ice additions? apparently all their salary info is league verified.
They also are playing with a new stat GAR which I don't think is going to show much but they seem pretty keen on it.
- belcherbd

I haven't checked it out much lately. I've never been less interested or excited in a Canuck off-season than this one. I knew the decline was inevitable but these moves that are hard to fathom really ruin it for me more so than the actual decline.

Only saving grace for me is that I thought the draft the Canucks had was pretty decent.

I haven't checked it out much lately. I've never been less interested or excited in a Canuck off-season than this one. I knew the decline was inevitable but these moves that are hard to fathom really ruin it for me more so than the actual decline.
- Nucker101

Well they do have info on the flames players as well.....

Well they do have info on the flames players as well.....
- belcherbd

Look at all of the ufa deals this summer, they easily could have Yannick Weber'd him and let him become a ufa to get him signed cheaper. Or just give him that one year deal and let him actually price that he's not a scrub instead of paying for the potential that he hasn't shown in his 360+ NHL game career yet.
- Nucker101

Obviously they didn't want to. I'll believe the professionals opinions before some student.

I understand the replacement level cost argument, but not many guys can do this.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e7JdzlhP9PU

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujnpo5orV6w

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fufNnrk0aHQ


If he could do this more often, I could accept the cost.

Obviously they didn't want to. I'll believe the professionals opinions before some student.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Come on man, I always respected your posting here but you know it's bad when you're reduced to this line and taking personal shots at people these days.

Mike Milbury was a professional. Ron Delorme is a professional. Professionals can be mediocre or bad at their jobs in many industries. Hell, the entire Canucks scouting staff are professionals yet they got out drafted by a method that simply involved drafting the highest ranked or highest scoring player.

You're better than that.

I understand the replacement level cost argument, but not many guys can do this.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e7JdzlhP9PU

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujnpo5orV6w

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fufNnrk0aHQ


If he could do this more often, I could accept the cost.
- Gullzy

I'm surprised Andrew Alberts was hated here so much, he was a hard hitter, worked his ass off too, a likeable guy and paid way less but yet we mocked him. Just saying...

I'm surprised Andrew Alberts was hated here so much, he was a hard hitter, worked his ass off too, a likeable guy and paid way less but yet we mocked him. Just saying...
- Nucker101

But Sbisa can skate, which seems to be his supporters trump card, and I do agree he is a fantastic skater. Alberts unfortunately was a very poor skater and could no longer keep up with the pace of the NHL.

Even more unfortunate that the league decided to ignore MgRatten career ending hit on him.

I'm surprised Andrew Alberts was hated here so much, he was a hard hitter, worked his ass off too, a likeable guy and paid way less but yet we mocked him. Just saying...
- Nucker101

He can skate, is relatively young, and showed promise early in his career.

I can understand Bennings decision if I really wanted too, but my position is that the money could've been spent more wisely this FA period. Of course The major caveat in my position is that hindsight is 20/20.

At the signing of the 2005 cba, bettman gloated that the nhl was the only league with a true hard cap. It was a point of pride for him.

Unless you are referring to the 10% overage during the off season, no team has been able to or can exceed the cap (this CBA or the last).
- RealityChecker

No Guys I am NOT talking about 10% overage or performance bonus.

I am 100% dead on that there was/is at least at one point a monetary penalty for being over the cap. I may have a few details mixed but it was there. The only thing Im not sure of is if its current CBA or old CBA cap system. It may be the old one.
I could be 2M penalty for being 1M over Im not sure anymore, but enough to be a deterrent. I think it got bigger the more you were over, like 15M for 4M over. It is or at least WAS in place at 1 point.

If it is the old one what is the current deterrent? Yes theres disallowing contracts etc and circumvention penalties of draft picks for those who try trickery, which is probably enough right there.
But lets say you didnt sign new players, simply qualifying RFAs etc and cap either shrunk a bit or didnt move much like this year and your players have an increase in contract already in place that bumps you over cap limit. What is the CURRENT penalty for being over?? There has to be 1 or teams would be over the cap or even slightly over for entire seasons not just the 10% allowance during first month.

So what is it?

I'm surprised Andrew Alberts was hated here so much, he was a hard hitter, worked his ass off too, a likeable guy and paid way less but yet we mocked him. Just saying...
- Nucker101

I thought he had a good playoffs previously. But his bad concussion forced him to retire.

He can skate, is relatively young, and showed promise early in his career.

I can understand Bennings decision if I really wanted too, but my position is that the money could've been spent more wisely this FA period. Of course The major caveat in my position is that hindsight is 20/20.
- Gullzy

If anything, I want benning to hoard cap space as well as draft picks.

The dollar is declining which means that the cap will be relatively flat or possibly decrease.

Don't sign anyone (and FFS stay away from lucic) and try to poach some good players from cap strapped teams. Stay away from UFA's (top tier ones) for 2-3 seasons.

No Guys I am NOT talking about 10% overage or performance bonus.

I am 100% dead on that there was/is at least at one point a penalty for being over the cap. I may have a few details mixed but it was there. The only thing Im not sure of is if its current CBA or old CBA cap system. It may be the old one.
I could be 2M penalty for being 1M over Im not sure anymore, but enough to be a deterrent. It is or at least WAS in place at 1 point.

If it is the old one what is the current deterrent? Yes theres disallowing contracts etc and circumvention penalties of draft picks for those who try trickery, which is probably enough right there.
But lets say you didnt sign new players, simply qualifying RFAs etc and cap either shrunk a bit or didnt move much like this year and your players have an increase in contract already in place that bumps you over cap limit. What is the CURRENT penalty for being over?? There has to be 1 or teams would be over the cap or even slightly over for entire seasons not just the 10% allowance during first month.

So what is it?
- SMBDragon

Sorry man there is no way a team can continue to be over the cap limit, and I'm pretty confident it has been that way from day one of the salary cap era.

The cap is set by the NHL in the summer and the teams then need to get within the cap, if they do not then I imagine the league would void latest contracts and possibly levy fines or draft picks.

In your scenery I imagine that the team in question would need to get below the cap or otherwise the most recent RFA signing would be voided.

Teams cannot be over the cap at all.

I haven't checked it out much lately. I've never been less interested or excited in a Canuck off-season than this one. I knew the decline was inevitable but these moves that are hard to fathom really ruin it for me more so than the actual decline.

Only saving grace for me is that I thought the draft the Canucks had was pretty decent.
- Nucker101

I think the success Benning has had with respect to the two drafts serves to underscore this is his area of srength - scouting and drafting of young talent. If he could just translate that success into the other areas of responsibility - like negotiations and contractual issues, he will have a successful tenure here in Vancouver.

However, at least as concerns me, he is now on a shorter leash than was the case when he just got on board with the Canucks (and I'm sure many people share the same sentiment). Let's face it, as a result of some of the moves he's made to date, he is going to be scrutinized that much more whatever his next transaction(s) will be (whether that is fair or not, this is the reality of being in a hardcore hockey market).

If anything, I want benning to hoard cap space as well as draft picks.

The dollar is declining which means that the cap will be relatively flat or possibly decrease.

Don't sign anyone (and FFS stay away from lucic) and try to poach some good players from cap strapped teams. Stay away from UFA's (top tier ones) for 2-3 seasons.
- RealityChecker

Best thing I have heard all day, that is a major worry of mine for next season.

I thought he had a good playoffs previously. But his bad concussion forced him to retire.
- SMBDragon

I've got a lot of respect for Andrew Alberts. When he was traded here, he was a DISASTER. How can we forget AHLberts. I had more animosity for Alberts than Sbisa.

But he buckled down, worked on his game and was a serviceable option for the team. I still marvel at the fact that he could turn around the disaster here.

Can Sbisa do it? I doubt it but there's a chance.