exactly. You guys need to stock the prospect cupboards and get some more good young players.
- JVR_42_PK81

I'd love it if they agreed to move on and help the franchise via the trade route, but it's extremely unlikely. I wouldn't be pushing them out the door, given what they've meant to the franchise, but I sure as hell present it to them as an option if they'd like a shot at a Championship.

Yes I suppose, the thing that we can try to do is to try and like the moves Benning makes.
- I-own_da-Northwest

We suck at that

We suck at that
- A_SteamingLombardi

We really do.

I'd love it if they agreed to move on and help the franchise via the trade route, but it's extremely unlikely. I wouldn't be pushing them out the door, given what they've meant to the franchise, but I sure as hell present it to them as an option if they'd like a shot at a Championship.
- LeftCoaster

They're smarter than your average meathead hockey players and they know this market well. The team might not try and push them out the door, but the fans and media will.

"Most Vancouver fans" I love it. Most people that are online exaggerate to make their story better, hows that for a broad generalization?
- ackthpt

Best one ever

They're smarter than your average meathead hockey players and they know this market well. The team might not try and push them out the door, but the fans and media will.
- CubanBuffet

Didn't they allude to the fact that you can't control your destiny; that is, if the team doesn't want you then it doesn't matter if you have a no-trade/movement clause, as no one wants to play somewhere where they're not wanted (and even more so if the media/fans get involved)

Will expansion lead to eight divisions with four teams each, like the NFL? That's one idea touted by Eric Duhatschek of The Globe and Mail in this look at the aftermath of the NHL's bidding process for expansion teams.

Duhatschek points out that if Quebec City is granted a franchise, that'd set up the prospect of two All-Canadian divisions—where Vancouver would presumably be lined up with Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg.

This is a stupid idea. Who cares about all Canadian divisions?

It makes zero sense to put the Canucks in a division with a central time zone team, and two MST teams.

Winnipeg's natural rival is Minnesota, the Canucks natural rivals are south of us.

Canucks should be in a division with only Pacific time zone teams if anything.

This is a stupid idea. Who cares about all Canadian divisions?

It makes zero sense to put the Canucks in a division with a central time zone team.

Canucks should be in a division with only Pacific time zone teams if anything.
- kaptaan

Forcing Canadian rivalries is dumb, Alberta is the only one that makes sense and it came naturally. I would rather face the Ducks 10x/year than Winnipeg

After watching the D last season I'd definitely be into bringing a higher profile UFA D like franson in just to rub off on the other D and show them how its done. Like miller was to lack / markstrom. I think the value of that alone is worth it.

so who do you move out for salary room for franson then?



the whole playoff format question is difficult. you dont want more teams in format wise but yet in other ways you do. Maybe keep the format the same and add a new component to it. Like the teams that almost made it play a round for home ice advantage in any building of those non playoffs teams. Essentially a better chance to win games and advance higher in the standings the following year. Best of 3 though max or single game structure.
What I like better is a round where the closest teams to the lowest playoff spots play for wild card spots. That way its kinda like making the playoffs for more teams but they have to play for the spot. So essentially a small and quick 5th round. Like say 9/10 play to see who gets to challenge 8 for their spot. Intense games. Make a really cool story for a team to win all 5 and win the cup! Ultimate underdog. More teams, more games for those bubble teams and the chance to move into the playoffs without lengthening the playoff structure say more than 5 days.

it would make it more exciting for more fans and get more teams into the playoffs IN A WAY without actually changing the core playoff format.

This is a stupid idea. Who cares about all Canadian divisions?

It makes zero sense to put the Canucks in a division with a central time zone team, and two MST teams.

Winnipeg's natural rival is Minnesota, the Canucks natural rivals are south of us.

Canucks should be in a division with only Pacific time zone teams if anything.

[quote=kaptaan]

Why such a stupid idea? The travel time to Alberta is the same, if not less. Granted Winnipeg would be a tad longer. And we don't have to take a 30% reduction on the dollar going to the saddle dome.

Not advocating for an all Canadian division, but I certainly don't see it as a stupid idea.

Franson would be a decent pick up, but our cap isn't wide open. If he could be had for $5m and we could flip Edler for a solid package though...

Forcing Canadian rivalries is dumb, Alberta is the only one that makes sense and it came naturally. I would rather face the Ducks 10x/year than Winnipeg
- WhiteLie

Why...you miss Kes and KB?

Franson would be a decent pick up, but our cap isn't wide open. If he could be had for $5m and we could flip Edler for a solid package though...
- micah555

Frankly, I'd rather keep Edler and save the money for another day. I don't think Franson would be much of an ugrade (if at all) over Edler - perhaps on the power play but that's about it.

Frankly, I'd rather keep Edler and save the money for another day. I don't think Franson would be much of an ugrade (if at all) over Edler - perhaps on the power play but that's about it.
- Zogg

[quote=kaptaan]
Well said, kaptaan.
I agree with you.

After watching the D last season I'd definitely be into bringing a higher profile UFA D like franson in just to rub off on the other D and show them how its done. Like miller was to lack / markstrom. I think the value of that alone is worth it.

so who do you move out for salary room for franson then?



the whole playoff format question is difficult. you dont want more teams in format wise but yet in other ways you do. Maybe keep the format the same and add a new component to it. Like the teams that almost made it play a round for home ice advantage in any building of those non playoffs teams. Essentially a better chance to win games and advance higher in the standings the following year. Best of 3 though max or single game structure.
What I like better is a round where the closest teams to the lowest playoff spots play for wild card spots. That way its kinda like making the playoffs for more teams but they have to play for the spot. So essentially a small and quick 5th round. Like say 9/10 play to see who gets to challenge 8 for their spot. Intense games. Make a really cool story for a team to win all 5 and win the cup! Ultimate underdog. More teams, more games for those bubble teams and the chance to move into the playoffs without lengthening the playoff structure say more than 5 days.

it would make it more exciting for more fans and get more teams into the playoffs IN A WAY without actually changing the core playoff format.
- SMBDragon

Like how to be a healthy scratch?

Well said, kaptaan.
I agree with you.
- Marwood

Flagged

Like how to be a healthy scratch?
- Marwood

like all the things he knows how to do but pretty absent on most of canucks D. like breakout passes, quarter backing PP, etc. Forecheck.

Why...you miss Kes and KB?
- Makita

Not that I miss them, but fans already were up to face Kesler. Now with Bieksa and them being a good team, would provide much more entertainment and base for rivalry

I think Canucks should go after Franson 4 or 4.5 for 4 years. As mentioned he is better than our bottom guys. He does have a decent shot and will mix it up sometimes. We have really no one for years on D that looks outstanding . We have a boatload of Ryan Stantons.

Hamhuis is probably leaving , so it gets worse. He can be used on the PP . We can then trade Weber and hopefully find a GM enamoured by his 11 goals.

Also next year's list of UFA for D sucks once you get by Seabrook .

I think Canucks should go after Franson 4 or 4.5 for 4 years. As mentioned he is better than our bottom guys. He does have a decent shot and will mix it up sometimes. We have really no one for years on D that looks outstanding . We have a boatload of Ryan Stantons.

Hamhuis is probably leaving , so it gets worse. He can be used on the PP . We can then trade Weber and hopefully find a GM enamoured by his 11 goals.

Also next year's list of UFA for D sucks once you get by Seabrook .
- VANTEL

I'd save the money and give the ice to a prospect. None of them look outstanding, but Frason isn't exactly outstanding either. He looked good on a terrible Leafs team and terrible on a good Nashville team with his actual skill level probably falling somewhere in between the two. Since we already have a roster full of tweeners, I'd pass.

I'd save the money and give the ice to a prospect. None of them look outstanding, but Frason isn't exactly outstanding either. He looked good on a terrible Leafs team and terrible on a good Nashville team with his actual skill level probably falling somewhere in between the two. Since we already have a roster full of tweeners, I'd pass.
- CubanBuffet

Sbisa COrrado Weber Bartowski Clendenniing do very little to excite me . Come to think of it Edler Hamhuis don't excite me either. Tanev I can live with , he is decent

I'd save the money and give the ice to a prospect. None of them look outstanding, but Frason isn't exactly outstanding either. He looked good on a terrible Leafs team and terrible on a good Nashville team with his actual skill level probably falling somewhere in between the two. Since we already have a roster full of tweeners, I'd pass.
- CubanBuffet

Yeah, this is the team, deal with it.

Not that I miss them, but fans already were up to face Kesler. Now with Bieksa and them being a good team, would provide much more entertainment and base for rivalry
- WhiteLie

I agree the head to head games would be awesome live, I would bet we don't see the lack luster KB when he comes to Vancouver.

I've never been a big ducks fan, but they are a big team that plays hard.

Unfortunately I have family and roots associated with Winnipeg, and I have always had good times when in their city.

I think Canucks should go after Franson 4 or 4.5 for 4 years. As mentioned he is better than our bottom guys. He does have a decent shot and will mix it up sometimes. We have really no one for years on D that looks outstanding . We have a boatload of Ryan Stantons.

Hamhuis is probably leaving , so it gets worse. He can be used on the PP . We can then trade Weber and hopefully find a GM enamoured by his 11 goals.

Also next year's list of UFA for D sucks once you get by Seabrook .
- VANTEL

absolutely. And I like how you look ahead to next years ufa crop. good point. So if you look at it like Hammius is gone in a year with no one likely to replace him and we probably have no chance at seabrook with the $ he'd fetch. So ya Franson now for 2-3 years makes prefect sense.