I want more or Vantel and I will find Benning….I'll sit on him while Vantel beats some sense into him
- LeftCoaster

erm...Pedan as 6/7 D ??

I believe that trading for negotiating rights went out the window with interview period prior to FA. During this time, unless it has changed, teams can talk/interview potential UFA and RFA (only a 12 hour window for RFA) on another team to see what interest there may be.

Ergo, why trade the rights of any player when anyone can talk and suss out interest. As long as you are not making a 'formal agreement' and are only 'expressing interest' this process is actually a step forward for teams and players (altho it reduces the trades)

A Hamhuis connection. Remember way back to the summer of 2010 when almost publicly Hamhuis stated he wanted to come to Vancouver. Yet at the end of the year Nashville traded him to Philly and then Philly to Pittsburgh.

Or it was Dano plus salary (Bickell)

and perhaps the Dallas offer was a pick plus Hemskey.

That's my interpretation anyways. At the presser when asked, JB says he didn't think the offer's made sense...draft picks make sense, taking on salary is harder to digest.
- dbot

McKenzie said Chicago was willing to take Higgins but Bickell had to come the other way. I applaud Benning for not making stupid deals, one step forward two steps back.

Get rid of Higgins, Prust, Burrows and move on, don't take more of the same type of poop contracts and players.

Did I mention 6'2" 215lbs Boone freakin Jenner


Gillis could have drafted him, but no, he drafts Nicklas Jensen instead
- LeftCoaster

Jenner is Backes 2.0, but with more skill.

erm...Pedan as 6/7 D ??
- dbot

Yup - I'd like to see him given an opportunity to earn a spot.

leafs passed on him to i think. shoulda/woulda/coulda.

seems like benning has been ok drafting for you guys.

need some higher end talent, but a few pieces look promising.
- Tumbleweed

yup. Just gotta win that draft lotto and we good.
What could possibly go wrong?

(looks into future) 80 pages about how the draft is rigged and Betman hates Canucks.

Jenner is Backes 2.0, but with more skill.
- As_I_See_It

And he's not a big giant Richard of a player like Backes.

Yup - I'd like to see him given an opportunity to earn a spot.
- LeftCoaster

How very measured of you.
As opposed to some who have penciled in Tryamkin/Pedan as bottom pairing.

yup. Just gotta win that draft lotto and we good.
What could possibly go wrong?

(looks into future) 80 pages about how the draft is rigged and Betman hates Canucks.
- dbot

And he's not a big giant Richard of a player like Backes.
- LeftCoaster

Richards(especially big giant ones) win hockey games


And my heart

leafs passed on him to i think. shoulda/woulda/coulda.

seems like benning has been ok drafting for you guys.

need some higher end talent, but a few pieces look promising.
- Tumbleweed

He was projected high first early second, some scouting issues with his skating but he had a tremendous compete level…unlike the marshmallow Gillis picked.

I like what Benning is doing regarding the draft, but I'd like to see him purge more of the older players like Burrows.

yeah - i can't see a team taking a chance until july 1.

but before that, the opportunity to me for the nucks is that the guy (and more likely his wife) seems to really want to stay in vancouver.

idk, but seems like benning has all the leverage in contract negotiations. he should offer hamhuis a very discounted deal to stay.

time to move on from not trading him and take advantage of the opportunity.

not the worst thing to have a good veteran around on a cheap deal as you bring youth up.
- Tumbleweed

you'll find differing opinions among the fan base. i think the "don't bring him back. period." crowd is probably bigger than the opposite.

i would try to sign him to a HEAVILY discounted deal for 3 years (like less than his current deal if not the same). the team needs a decent veteran d. a high priced ufa is useless b/c he would only be coming here for the money and the team will only compete when his best before date has passed.

so keep the local guy on the cheap.

the real fly in the ointment? his agent telling him that he can get much, much more and longer term on the market.

If a deal was presented to Benning, that would have helped the team it probably would have gotten done. Personally I wasn't surprised how little interest was shown, unless they got them for almost nothing. Both players would disappear when refs put their whistles away during playoff hockey. Not to mention Hamhuis abysmal play before he got hurt. I like both players but playoff hockey is another kettle of fish.

Richards(especially big giant ones) win hockey games


And my heart
- Nucker101

St. Louis hasn't been out of the first round since you were in grade school


Kesler has looked awesome as of late though, he's gone full Richard mode and is killing it in Anaheim right now.

He was projected high first early second, some scouting issues with his skating but he had a tremendous compete level…unlike the marshmallow Gillis picked.

I like what Benning is doing regarding the draft, but I'd like to see him purge more of the older players like Burrows.
- LeftCoaster

Burrows is probably one of the most difficult players to move. Old, overpaid, has term, NTC, etc.

St. Louis hasn't been out of the first round since you were in grade school


Kesler has looked awesome as of late though, he's gone full Richard mode and is killing it in Anaheim right now.
- LeftCoaster

Love full Richard mode



Looks like CHI/LA/ANA have plenty of depth now for a long playoff run, gonna be a dog fight in the West. I woulda lumped in Dallas if they acquired Hamhuis but (frank) them.

CHI would have been unstoppable if they acquired both Hamhuis and Ladd. They'll probably still win anyway

He was projected high first early second, some scouting issues with his skating but he had a tremendous compete level…unlike the marshmallow Gillis picked.

I like what Benning is doing regarding the draft, but I'd like to see him purge more of the older players like Burrows.
- LeftCoaster

same.
Might be tough to move though (like Vrbata, Higgens, Prust, Vey, Bart, Weber, Miller... )

Buy out?
Sit Higgens in minors next year.

How very measured of you.
As opposed to some who have penciled in Tryamkin/Pedan as bottom pairing.
- dbot

I have a different perspective than him, Benning needs to create open roster spots and let guys earn their spot. But they need those openings to drive them!

I can't type fast enough to talk to everyone….I'm old'ish

Until Benning says "we're not interested in re-signing Hamhuis" his rights have no value. Although I just read him say they have some appetite to re-sign him.
- LeftCoaster

If Benning trades his rights that means we aren't signing him. I don't believe Benning has interest. He made no attempt all season and I tried analyzing his body language at the press conference and I sensed there is very little interest. He said " that's a possibility." He didn't sound excited by the prospect in the slightest. Again, my read of his response/ mannerisms.

same.
Might be tough to move though (like Vrbata, Higgens, Prust, Vey, Bart, Weber, Miller... )

Buy out?
Sit Higgens in minors next year.
- dbot

It just takes time to purge these guys out, it's not as easy as "just waive all of them"….they waived a couple of vets this year, next year maybe a couple more?

I can't type fast enough to talk to everyone….I'm old'ish
- LeftCoaster

And fat

Definitely not a great day for JB and the Canucks that sfor sure. I have no doubt it wasnt for a lack of trying. The armchair GM's are hilarious....probably some of the most naive people on the board.

It'll be interesting to see whats next. I know that for th efirst time in about 15 years that I'm ready for the season to end now. Not much more left for this team in 2016.

Let the purging continue!

you'll find differing opinions among the fan base. i think the "don't bring him back. period." crowd is probably bigger than the opposite.

i would try to sign him to a HEAVILY discounted deal for 3 years (like less than his current deal if not the same). the team needs a decent veteran d. a high priced ufa is useless b/c he would only be coming here for the money and the team will only compete when his best before date has passed.

so keep the local guy on the cheap.

the real fly in the ointment? his agent telling him that he can get much, much more and longer term on the market.
- RealityChecker

yeah, i can imagine there are a lot of polarized reactions right now...you guys got (frank) all for the future when expectations were something half decent.

common sense should prevail. sign him cheap if he wants to stay.

i think his wife may have a little more influence on him than his agent.

If Benning trades his rights that means we aren't signing him. I don't believe Benning has interest. He made no attempt all season and I tried analyzing his body language at the press conference and I sensed there is very little interest. He said " that's a possibility." He didn't sound excited by the prospect in the slightest. Again, my read of his response/ mannerisms.
- CanuckDon

Ya you could be right, and I hope you are!