Police dogs out at Queesnborough Mall , something going down
- VANTEL

I saw on a news feed that Van Police were looking for guys yesterday that were in local malls taking videos and pics of the malls security exits...

I think that is optimistic thinking that it will be 15 to spend.

I count 18.78 million to replace or resign

Vrbata, Hamhuis, Prust, Vey, Baertschi, Etem, Cracknell, Bartkowski, Weber, Beiga.

or less than 2 million per player.

Buying out or trading Higgins would bring a bit more in and obviously some of those players will be resigned or replaced for under 1.9 each but expecting this team to be able to spend on big UFA acquisitions is going to lead to disappointment.
- belcherbd

Those players will be back here the other should not be.

It is a crazy spot to be in. Seeing lefty post all those things about our defense and I'm still hoping Sbisa can get back in and improve the situation. Wasn't feeling so desperate until the play of our d on the whole was put into perspective.
- hillbillydeluxe

The defense needs lots of work and the problem is we have not much in the pipeline that will be anything more than depth defenders more than likely. Thats why I want them to deal for an early 20s guy who can grow with the team. The price will be high but if the team actually wants to contend in the near future they need high end talent than can jump in shortly. Its gona cost some of our forward prospects but id rather that than UFAs. This talk of buff is silly to me. Adding him wont get us in the playoffs and if it does its a first round exit. Take the time to build the team the right way through the draft then add guys once we are more complete team. Our team is way to forward heavy like the oilers currently are.

I saw on a news feed that Van Police were looking for guys yesterday that were in local malls taking videos and pics of the malls security exits...
- LordHumungous

Sick world we live in.

I saw on a news feed that Van Police were looking for guys yesterday that were in local malls taking videos and pics of the malls security exits...
- LordHumungous

They shot a guy with a gun at Wallmart

Sick world we live in.
- docmorgan

It doesn't make sense when you can just walk around with a goPro camera strapped to your body.... They could easily have been less conspicuous if it was somehow terror related. and then again I don't get terrorism either.

They shot a guy with a gun at Wallmart
- VANTEL

http://www.cknw.com/2016/...on-in-critical-condition/

damn

Sick world we live in.
- docmorgan

Just for some perspective. Since the beginning of human history we've been involved in atrocities against one another, not making excuses or saying it's ok, just that we've never been peaceful beings.

The Capitals were clearly the bigger, faster, more talented, better team by far. The first was fairly close but the second and third was like men against boys with the defence the Canucks have got out there.
- LeftCoaster

Just shows us how far this team is from being a contender again.

Just for some perspective. Since the beginning of human history we've been involved in atrocities against one another, not making excuses or saying it's ok, just that we've never been peaceful beings.
- LeftCoaster

Time to evolve I say.

Time to evolve I say.
- bloatedmosquito

I don't think it's in our DNA, as humans, to be peaceful.

lol...no doubt.

If Vrbata Hamhuis Burrows are back in Canuck blue next year expect some empty seats. Extending Vrbata would be a PHuckers wet dream..
- LordHumungous

If their back in the lineup next year , they have decided to extend the ninja tank beyond this season into next year as well !

Those players will be back here the other should not be.
- LordHumungous

I agree there will be a few that will be back that shouldnt, but given the body count I really dont see a logical reason for bringing most back. You can only play 6 D at a time in the NHL and AHL, hanging onto this many bodies that either under perform or block the path of promising players hopefully becomes clearer to management

The defense needs lots of work and the problem is we have not much in the pipeline that will be anything more than depth defenders more than likely. Thats why I want them to deal for an early 20s guy who can grow with the team. The price will be high but if the team actually wants to contend in the near future they need high end talent than can jump in shortly. Its gona cost some of our forward prospects but id rather that than UFAs. This talk of buff is silly to me. Adding him wont get us in the playoffs and if it does its a first round exit. Take the time to build the team the right way through the draft then add guys once we are more complete team. Our team is way to forward heavy like the oilers currently are.
- mauryballstein

We should trade forward prospects for defensive prospects. One of Etem/Gaunce are needed, one of Baer/Shink are needed, one of Dorsett/Grenier(Grenier) are needed.

We should trade forward prospects for defensive prospects. One of Etem/Gaunce are needed, one of Baer/Shink are needed, one of Dorsett/Grenier(Grenier) are needed.
- Retinalz

Benning has to address the defence, it's a huge issue!

We should trade forward prospects for defensive prospects. One of Etem/Gaunce are needed, one of Baer/Shink are needed, one of Dorsett/Grenier(Grenier) are needed.
- Retinalz

Grenier needs waivers next year so if they dont see him in their future plans then get him up now putting with the sedins and sell high on him. I agree with the sven/shink comment. Id like to keep both Etem(speed, scoring) and Gaunce(big, multi positions, great defensively) unless some great offer pops up. We need high end talent on defense id prefer to deal McCann as the return would be really high(id imagine) plus having henrik, bo, sutter around for the next 4 years gives us a chance to find a replacement which will be Mathews this year

Just because its Tuesday... and I was looking at our cap space for next year and possible UFA's I thought I would share.

Buyout Higgins
.833

Sign
Gryba 2 million
Russell 4.5 million
Boedker 5 million
Martin 2.5 million

Resign
Beiga 1 million
Etem 1 million
Baertschi 1.5 million

Call up
Pedan .8

Bigger Younger Faster ?

Sedin Sedin Hansen
Baertschi Horvat Boedker
Burrows Sutter Etem
Martin McCann Virtanen
Dorsett

Edler Tanev
Russell Sbisa
Hutton Gryba
Pedan Beiga

Benning has to address the defence, it's a huge issue!
- LeftCoaster

Thats why I really hope they go after Zietsev BIG time. Like adding a free 1st round pick who can play top 4 to start off next season and seems to be able to be a legit PP quarter back something this team hasnt had since Erhoff.

Benning has to address the defence, it's a huge issue!
- LeftCoaster

I don't think there is any option but to draft Dman, we don't have the assets to acquire one and IMO doesn't make sense trying to sign older big name UFA's at this point of the "retool".

Thats why I really hope they go after Zietsev BIG time. Like adding a free 1st round pick who can play top 4 to start off next season and seems to be able to be a legit PP quarter back something this team hasnt had since Erhoff.
- mauryballstein

For what's its worth on Zaitsev this is from Jeff Veillette of the Nation Network.

http://theleafsnation.com...defenceman-nikita-zaitsev

Since we've posted this article, I've had the chance to chat with a couple of people surrounding Zatisev's situation. The consensus is that Zatisev's mind is made up and that it has been made up since June. Zaitsev is personally committed to signing with the Leafs, and while his agent is allowing for other teams to make their approaches, it's more for the sake of not leaving stones unturned and having a contingency plan if anything falls through. As it stands, he was very impressed by what he's seen in Toronto and has bought in.

KHL contracts expire on April 30th, so the earliest we could see an official update on this would likely be in May. This leaves about six months of speculation, of course, though unless anything changes, it appears that such speculation will be theatre.

Benning has to address the defence, it's a huge issue!
- LeftCoaster

Lots of time for that....this team is still sinking to the bottom. There's no miracle move that's going to come save the day. Only draft and develop, cutting away underperforming vets and hoarding cap space is going to get us out of this mess. Couple more good drafts, and the leverage of being able to eat a bad contract or two will be the only way we can get young impact d men. There is a league wide shortage on top 4 defenceman. No one is just going to flip a blue chip for our high end forward prospects. So now to go that route you're looking at sweetening the pot with picks / prospects. We are in this mess now because we moved picks and prospects ....what sense would it make to do that now? Buckle up , take you're medicine and get on board with a 3-5 year turnaround.

Lots of time for that....this team is still sinking to the bottom. There's no miracle move that's going to come save the day. Only draft and develop, cutting away underperforming vets and hoarding cap space is going to get us out of this mess. Couple more good drafts, and the leverage of being able to eat a bad contract or two will be the only way we can get young impact d men. There is a league wide shortage on top 4 defenceman. No one is just going to flip a blue chip for our high end forward prospects. So now to go that route you're looking at sweetening the pot with picks / prospects. We are in this mess now because we moved picks and prospects ....what sense would it make to do that now? Buckle up , take you're medicine and get on board with a 3-5 year turnaround.
- Bullfrog77

Ya this is gonna take awhile to fix, that said, usually teams draft their dmen first and then start building the forward group...not always, but usually. With defencemen taking longer to develop its a tough spot to be in.

I'm hopeful a few guys they've picked in the last couple of years turn out. Defence that is.

Dorsett out with Flu, McCann in and Vrbata likely with twins as per Van's twitter

EDIT: Fedun in too

Ya this is gonna take awhile to fix, that said, usually teams draft their dmen first and then start building the forward group...not always, but usually. With defencemen taking longer to develop its a tough spot to be in.

I'm hopeful a few guys they've picked in the last couple of years turn out. Defence that is.
- LeftCoaster

Thats exactly what I think and its why we really need to push to acquire a top end guy who is already a couple years past the draft to try and catch up.

I actually feel bad for John Scott. Now he can't play in ASG