He will be highly motivated to prove his worth to the fanbase and reward ownership for their investment. For a player that has usually been healthy this had to be the most frustrating season of his career. I suspect he will score 20 goals and add 20 assists all while providing defense and stability. That's a valuable player. If we ever make the playoffs he has proven he can up his game as well. Glass half full Golfing
- CanuckDon

Well 40 points would be a great season by Sutter's standards as he has only managed to score 30+ twice. I'm sure the Canucks would protect him then.

What if he scores 12 goals and adds 17 assists for 29 points? Would you want to protect him?

Totally agree with the discount for Kane. I'll be in the minority, (being a werewolf, story of my life) but I would do Beiga and Padan for Kane and a second. Other than to balance money, why give Buffalo something of great value when we are doing them a favor by taking their problem child.

For a minute, I was wearing rose-colored glasses too. Kane was an issue in Atlanta, they moved to Winnipeg...he was an issue, moved to Buffalo....was an issue but will be good in Van? Just because his family is here doesn't fix him. I am sure his family has the internet and cable.....I would bet dollars to doughnuts he's got a talking to more than once already, and he's still a frank-up. (all off ice, he's a talented hockey player......but so was Kassian)

As much as I wanna believe that sticking my hands in toxic waste will give me "spider powers", in reality I'll just develop cancer. Unless we get him for uber cheap, (first sign of poopy behaviour, cut him lose) why mortgage our future, or poison the lockerroom?
- WelfareWerewolf

I take a discount chance on Kane for the sole reason of acquiring an asset low. The guy isnt dumb, he has a contract that expires in 2 seasons and needs to produce to keep getting paid and live the lifestyle he's currently enjoying. Solid production for a year and a half could bring back more assets for VAN than they spend if they don't see him as a long term fit

I take a discount chance on Kane for the sole reason of acquiring an asset low. The guy isnt dumb, he has a contract that expires in 2 seasons and needs to produce to keep getting paid and live the lifestyle he's currently enjoying. Solid production for a year and a half could bring back more assets for VAN than they spend if they don't see him as a long term fit
- WhiteLie

As long as Horvat/Virtanen/Boeser/Hutton/Tryamkin/1st Round Pick arent involved in the deal id be all for getting Kane.

Well 40 points would be a great season by Sutter's standards as he has only managed to score 30+ twice. I'm sure the Canucks would protect him then.

What if he scores 12 goals and adds 17 assists for 29 points? Would you want to protect him?
- golfingsince

No, if he only scored 12 goals they won't need to protect him. I have higher expectations than 12 goals though.

No, if he only scored 12 goals they won't need to protect him. I have higher expectations than 12 goals though.
- CanuckDon

Yeah i agree, i dont think well have an issue with him this year unless injuries strike

No, if he only scored 12 goals they won't need to protect him. I have higher expectations than 12 goals though.
- CanuckDon

I can see him scoring about 17 with 30+ points. Anything more than that and i'll be pleasantly surprised considering i think he'll get so many defensive zone starts.

It's all very early to be talking about the expansion draft. We'll want to have an issue deciding who to protect. If we have another year like this one, who the (frank) cares who Vegas takes?

I haven't been too deep into it, but they get a player from each team, correct? Doesn't that leave them crowded for roster spots? Even with 14 forwards, 8 D and 3 goalies, that's 5 extra players. They are going to be drafting for depth and by salary, so it's impossible to know what kind of balance they are going to be looking for.

From what I remember PK was talking about the way he thought the game, and that he had a good skill set. However, there's a huge discrepancy in size between the two players.
- golfingsince

It has been noted that J Subban has the most natural talent out of the three brothers. Now, what that precisely means is anyone's guess (is it a mental or physical thing?) but unfortunately he is nowhere near the physical specimen of his brother PK. The thing is, he can still make a nice career for himself if he just improves on his defensive game and positioning. He obviously has the offensive game down but just needs to address some of these holes in his game to be truly effective.

From what I remember PK was talking about the way he thought the game, and that he had a good skill set. However, there's a huge discrepancy in size between the two players.
- golfingsince

Yup, I really think that quote was taken out of context at the time.

"Jordan plays more of a cerebral type of game and is more of a thinker and I play off my instincts and try to do a little bit of everything," P.K. Subban said. "I think Jordan's skill level is much higher than mine. I'm on the ice with him every day during the summer doing skill stuff, and he's the one demonstrating the drill."
....
"He kind of wants to do more than what I've achieved, so he's a special individual and a lot different than I am," Subban said. "He will be an amazing player, and I think that a lot of people might look past him, but they're going to be surprised in the near future how good he is because I really do think he has a lot more potential than both myself and Malcolm.

I take a discount chance on Kane for the sole reason of acquiring an asset low. The guy isnt dumb, he has a contract that expires in 2 seasons and needs to produce to keep getting paid and live the lifestyle he's currently enjoying. Solid production for a year and a half could bring back more assets for VAN than they spend if they don't see him as a long term fit
- WhiteLie

If I was Benning I would be supremely concerned with giving up any assets for Kane. Out of self-preservation I say he doesn't make this move unless the ownership group jumps in and backs him should it go badly.

Is it smarter to wait and see if Kane plays well this year in BUff? Depending on the situation relationships Kane has with the owners etc; perhaps he plays his way off the Sabres and his value truly plummets. Buffalo will still attempt to squeeze max value out of this situation. I think we'd end up paying at least a high end prospect and a decently high draft pick at the minimum.

It's all very early to be talking about the expansion draft. We'll want to have an issue deciding who to protect. If we have another year like this one, who the (frank) cares who Vegas takes?

I haven't been too deep into it, but they get a player from each team, correct? Doesn't that leave them crowded for roster spots? Even with 14 forwards, 8 D and 3 goalies, that's 5 extra players. They are going to be drafting for depth and by salary, so it's impossible to know what kind of balance they are going to be looking for.
- micah555

I expect a few players not protected by teams that everyone is shocked by and then even more shocked when they aren't taken ...along with a few surprise choices

I don't think they have an obsession with having a right shot defensemen for the PP. They just wanted balance between the pairings. I do tend to agree that balancing right and left shot D man isn't a critical issue.
- CanuckDon

Left Right D
Just like Team Canada

It has been noted that J Subban has the most natural talent out of the three brothers. Now, what that precisely means is anyone's guess (is it a mental or physical thing?) but unfortunately he is nowhere near the physical specimen of his brother PK. The thing is, he can still make a nice career for himself if he just improves on his defensive game and positioning. He obviously has the offensive game down but just needs to address some of these holes in his game to be truly effective.
- Zogg

I think Subban in a year or two will be a solid top 6 dman, maybe play with either Tryamkin or Pedan (if hes still around) due to the lack of his size.

If I was Benning I would be supremely concerned with giving up any assets for Kane. Out of self-preservation I say he doesn't make this move unless the ownership group jumps in and backs him should it go badly.

Is it smarter to wait and see if Kane plays well this year in BUff? Depending on the situation relationships Kane has with the owners etc; perhaps he plays his way off the Sabres and his value truly plummets. Buffalo will still attempt to squeeze max value out of this situation. I think we'd end up paying at least a high end prospect and a decently high draft pick at the minimum.
- VIRTBOHUT

If that is what Buffalo thinks they are going to get, then they aren't going to be moving him too soon. I think a high end prospect + a higher end draft pick is too much for a player that has fallen so much in value. Not that it's a perfect measuring stick but look at what Hall brought back for Edmonton (and Hall is ten times the player Kane is).

What I think will happen is, Kane will remain in Buffalo for at least the short term. Management will hope that he gets his act together long enough to at least restore some value, at which point he can then be moved. Right now, I don't think any GM wants to take this sort of gamble, especially at the risk of losing a high end prospect and a draft pick

I expect a few players not protected by teams that everyone is shocked by and then even more shocked when they aren't taken ...along with a few surprise choices
- Redmile247

I expect teams use it to get out of cap troubles.

Thanks for the clarification on Christian Ehrhoff, left-shooting, right-side defenseman, from yesterday's blog. I've got it now, not sure why that was jumbled in my memory.

The new blog has Trevor Linden coming up on your radio dial today, rested-vs-tired teams on next year's schedule and a bit more clarity on the rules of the expansion draft.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...Expansion-Draft/194/78355

Well thats good with Hutton, and i though NTC had to automatically be protected, or is that NMC only?
- phyllee

NMC only.