I wasn't trying to punish him by sending him down but rather extend him in developing the kids on the farm. Give them insight , and show them what they need to know. I don't think too many teams will be searching out Higgins as a must have for their team. I would not be surprised if this is his final NHL contract
- VANTEL

Higgins is 32 years old. He gets 10+ goals a season and 35+ pts a season.

He is far from done. You are way off. Way way off.

Higgins is 32 years old. He gets 10+ goals a season and 35+ pts a season.

He is far from done. You are way off. Way way off.
- RealityChecker

And he has a very low cap hit, which is a bonus

Higgins is 32 years old. He gets 10+ goals a season and 35+ pts a season.

He is far from done. You are way off. Way way off.
- RealityChecker

Benning then would be better served by saying nothing than rather building false hope.

First off it is mid July so a big move could happen but not likely seeing most of the heavy lifting is done and cap space is very limited.

He has repeatedly got on the radio after the playoffs and said we will get younger faster bigger stronger.

If all continues as most suggest on here the changes will be Sven in Mathias out. Faster younger yes , bigger stronger no.

On D, Bieksa out Clendenning or Corrado in , younger yes , faster ? Not sure. Bigger tougher no .

If that is the big plan to make this team improve , then it is a pretty weak plan and he should say nothing.

I really don't understand this fan base love affair for a guy that is very very replaceable .

I'm confused. You picked Higgins and then praised Hansen?
- CubanBuffet

poop my bad, thought the question was who would you trade when I answered.

Benning then would be better served by saying nothing than rather building false hope.

First off it is mid July so a big move could happen but not likely seeing most of the heavy lifting is done and cap space is very limited.

He has repeatedly got on the radio after the playoffs and said we will get younger faster bigger stronger.

If all continues as most suggest on here the changes will be Sven in Mathias out. Faster younger yes , bigger stronger no.

On D, Bieksa out Clendenning or Corrado in , younger yes , faster ? Not sure. Bigger tougher no .

If that is the big plan to make this team improve , then it is a pretty weak plan and he should say nothing.

I really don't understand this fan base love affair for a guy that is very very replaceable .
- VANTEL

Love affair might be pushing it. Some people might just consider him a better option than our left wingers.

I'd say this city has a love affair with guys like Eddie, Bieksa, Sedins etc. but Higgins? Long shot.

Love affair might be pushing it. Some people might just consider him a better option than our left wingers.

I'd say this city has a love affair with guys like Eddie, Bieksa, Sedins etc. but Higgins? Long shot.
- Gullzy

I get what your saying . Higgins is a perfect guy if you want your team to finish 7 to 10 and just maybe make the playoffs . I don't see a problem with rolling the dice and giving Jake or Grenier the spot.

Like I said earlier I didn't even notice Higgins in the second half or playoffs

Benning then would be better served by saying nothing than rather building false hope.

First off it is mid July so a big move could happen but not likely seeing most of the heavy lifting is done and cap space is very limited.

He has repeatedly got on the radio after the playoffs and said we will get younger faster bigger stronger.

If all continues as most suggest on here the changes will be Sven in Mathias out. Faster younger yes , bigger stronger no.

On D, Bieksa out Clendenning or Corrado in , younger yes , faster ? Not sure. Bigger tougher no .

If that is the big plan to make this team improve , then it is a pretty weak plan and he should say nothing.

I really don't understand this fan base love affair for a guy that is very very replaceable .
- VANTEL

So I don't agree that it is practical or advisable to waive Higgins and now I'm part of the "love affair" with Higgins?

That's as funny as your belief that every move has to make the team faster AND younger AND bigger AND tougher.

Your real argument is that Benning won't tear it down immediately and go full rebuild/tank. And since he wont do it like you want, he's building false hope with a weak plan and should keep his mouth shut.

Yup, you sure got some air tight logic.

And not for nothing but didn't you advocate waiving Bieksa 2 weeks ago? How'd that turn out?

So I don't agree that it is practical or advisable to waive Higgins and now I'm part of the "love affair" with Higgins?

That's as funny as your belief that every move has to make the team faster AND younger AND bigger AND tougher.

Your real argument is that Benning won't tear it down immediately and go full rebuild/tank. And since he wont do it like you want, he's building false hope with a weak plan and should keep his mouth shut.

Yup, you sure got some air tight logic.

And not for nothing but didn't you advocate waiving Bieksa 2 weeks ago? How'd that turn out?
- RealityChecker

Advocating waiving Bieksa is wrong. I said if he exercised his NTC and refused to go . That is a big difference than just throw him away , as you are suggesting I was saying. Try taking the whole sentence and not just the part that suits your side of the discussion.

Same as last night , I am not starting a campaign to waive Higgins. My original statement is I would like to waive Higgins.

You see him as an asset , I see him as a hindrance. Bieksa had a lot more cache than Higgins on the trade market and I don't think the return was a great haul for him , but I don't care because the roster spot and cap space were more valuable.

I don't think the Canucks will waive Higgins , I said I hope they do. That is a big difference. I would gladly open up a roster spot from a player that was invisible from the second half on , last year to basically anything or anyone new.

Open Championship wind delay


Re: Higgins & Hansen - I understand Linden wanting good character and hardworking people like them around so the younger guys can better understand the commitment it takes to be a professional at the NHL level. But, at some point they need to have room to filter guys like Jensen, Shinkaruk, Gaunce & Grenier into the line-up...providing they've earned it.

I'm not yet convinced those kids have (earned it), and to be honest, they're still pretty young, whether people will admit it or not. We, as fans, complain about the drafting and development history of the club and then when they actually start to correctly, IMO, develop some kids by keeping them down until they've proven they're ready...we again complain they're not putting kids in?

Guys like Malkin and Ovechkin and several other European kids came over when they were 20 years old. Jensen is 22, Gaunce is 21, Shinkaruk is 21 and they're no where near (obviously) the talent level of high 1st round picks. Let them develop.

Open Championship wind delay


Re: Higgins & Hansen - I understand Linden wanting good character and hardworking people like them around so the younger guys can better understand the commitment it takes to be a professional at the NHL level. But, at some point they need to have room to filter guys like Jensen, Shinkaruk, Gaunce & Grenier into the line-up...providing they've earned.

I'm not yet convinced those kids have (earned it), and to be honest, they're still pretty young, whether people will admit it or not. We, as fans, complain about the drafting and development history of the club and then when they actually start to correctly, IMO, develop some kids by keeping them down until they've proven they're ready...we again complain they're not putting kids in?
- LeftCoaster

I agree with what you said.

The left side of the forwards is weak on the Canucks . Canucks will probably be forced to slot Higgins in the top 6 again just to try and make a playoff run. I am assuming Burrows is playing with the twins so after that Vey Higgins Baertschi Kenins Prust are your LHF.

I look at that as plateauing. Higgins doesn't bring speed , grit, excitement or really anything other than a reliable safe player to make the middle of the road. That is why I am willing to gamble on someone else.

Even the UFA market is weak down the left side.

I agree with what you said. The left side of the forwards is weak on the Canucks . Canucks will probably be forced to slot Higgins in the top 6 again just to try and make a playoff run. I am assuming Burrows is playing with the twins so after that Vey Higgins Baertschi Kenins Prust are your LHF.

I look at that as plateauing. Higgins doesn't bring speed , grit, excitement or really anything other than a reliable safe player to make the middle of the road. That is why I am willing to gamble on someone else.

Even the UFA market is weak down the left side.
- VANTEL

IMO Higgins is fine as long as he is not a top 6 forward. You can't dump all of the veterans for the sake of getting younger. Higgins is the even keel kind of guy who could be a great mentor for the young guns breaking into the league. He is not a liability out there.The transition will take time and we need a few veterans to help guide.

I agree with what you said.

The left side of the forwards is weak on the Canucks . Canucks will probably be forced to slot Higgins in the top 6 again just to try and make a playoff run. I am assuming Burrows is playing with the twins so after that Vey Higgins Baertschi Kenins Prust are your LHF.

I look at that as plateauing. Higgins doesn't bring speed , grit, excitement or really anything other than a reliable safe player to make the middle of the road. That is why I am willing to gamble on someone else.

Even the UFA market is weak down the left side.
- VANTEL

Higgins and Hansen are the same kind of player, I'd so much rather have a Lucic and Hansen as oppose to Higgins and Hansen. Not the popular opinion, I know; despite Lucic's character flaws, I'd love to have him as he'd make the team harder to play against and make the others a few inches taller.

IMO Higgins is fine as long as he is not a top 6 forward. You can't dump all of the veterans for the sake of getting younger. Higgins is the even keel kind of guy who could be a great mentor for the young guns breaking into the league. He is not a liability out there.The transition will take time and we need a few veterans to help guide.
- Marwood

Higgins is definitely an even keel guy. His productivity is falling , but he is a SAFE player. Canucks have too many of that type player though.

Higgins will eventually crawl back into the top 6 just because of lack of depth at this time and ownerships need to make the playoffs.

I never will be a middle of the road fan. I would rather go down swinging . This is a perfect year to try a new player in his slot

The transition should have started taking place in 2013. Since then we have lost Luongo Kesler and Bieksa from the core only. Two of them requested to be moved

Higgins and Hansen are the same kind of player, I'd so much rather have a Lucic and Hansen as oppose to Higgins and Hansen. Not the popular opinion, I know; despite Lucic's character flaws, I'd love to have him as he'd make the team harder to play against and make the others a few inches taller.
- LeftCoaster

Yup . He would be a big answer to top 6 toughness size and maybe even scoring.

I will be truthful though I would prefer Canucks going after Ladd next year for that spot and a solid D man in UFA

Yup . He would be a big answer to top 6 toughness size and maybe even scoring.
- VANTEL

His 18 goals, in a supposed down year, are more than Higgins or Hansen scored last year. Individually.

His 18 goals, in a supposed down year, are more than Higgins or Hansen scored last year. Individually.
- LeftCoaster

I like LUcic or Ladd

I like LUcic or Ladd
- VANTEL

Or both.

Or both.
- LordHumungous

I don't see that happening

I don't see that happening
- VANTEL

15 million with potentially more being freed up by a Higgins or a Burrows trade, it's plausible.

I'd rather this team trade Burrows before Higgins tbh.

15 million with potentially more being freed up by a Higgins or a Burrows trade, it's plausible.

I'd rather this team trade Burrows before Higgins tbh.
- Gullzy

It is possible . I just don't see it happening. I think Canucks have to take a serious run with their cap space at a top centre , a top winger and a top 4 D . I could see one of LUcic or Ladd and use the extra money on a top Dman if one was available.

IMO I would like both Burrows and Higgins gone this year

How would you like to be the Kings this year trying to unload Brown and Richards

How would you like to be the Kings this year trying to unload Brown and Richards
- VANTEL

Waive them.

Waive them.
- Marwood

Richards is on waivers already according to General Fanager

It is possible . I just don't see it happening. I think Canucks have to take a serious run with their cap space at a top centre , a top winger and a top 4 D . I could see one of LUcic or Ladd and use the extra money on a top Dman if one was available.

IMO I would like both Burrows and Higgins gone this year
- VANTEL

I think the biggest impact would be to bring in a top4 d., pmd type.

But if you have any chance to bring in a top centre, it should be thoroughly explored.

We have holes. But our d looks like a dogs breakfast.

Richards is on waivers already according to General Fanager
- VANTEL

Richards contract has been terminated that's why they have a recapture penalty.