I thought the comment was more about the expansion draft tbh.

I think Sutter likes his situation too much. He plays more TOI than anyone else and gets more responsibility and leverage than he's going to get on an actual competitive team.
- Lindenis#1

I think he's a competitive guy. He may be willing to waive to go to a contending team.

Im not suggesting trading those guys though.

and I didnt say rush tree, I said he is ready for it
- SMBDragon

We'll have to disagree on that. I think he's shown positive growth, but I'm far from convinced you could put him out against McDavid and Thornton and Getzlaf and Carter with any regularity and expect to keep your head above water.

I think he's a competitive guy. He may be willing to waive to go to a contending team.
- golfingsince

If he was a couple years older, I'd probably agree.

But I think he's kinda invested in being one of the leaders of the "next core". A chance he was never really given in Carolina or Pittsburgh, and likely wouldn't have if he went to a competitor.

Just a feeling though

If he was a couple years older, I'd probably agree.

But I think he's kinda invested in being one of the leaders of the "next core". A chance he was never really given in Carolina or Pittsburgh, and likely wouldn't have if he went to a competitor.

Just a feeling though
- Lindenis#1

A perfect situation then. A mediocre player to lead us to mediocrity!

We'll have to disagree on that. I think he's shown positive growth, but I'm far from convinced you could put him out against McDavid and Thornton and Getzlaf and Carter with any regularity and expect to keep your head above water.
- Lindenis#1

lets see where he plays tomorrow. See if thorton is against him.

A perfect situation then. A mediocre player to lead us to mediocrity!
- golfingsince

I definitely wouldn't mind if he wanted to go. Then again, if you happen to work out some sort of a Sedin trade, you still need someone to take draws and minutes so that your center depth isn't Horvat and Gaunce, spiced up with a bad FA contract or like... Vernon Fiddler.

A perfect situation then. A mediocre player to lead us to mediocrity!
- golfingsince

You need to have some veterans on the team once the Sedins leave, especially those who have had playoff experience at some point if only to help teach the kids coming in how to win and avoid having the Oiler-like losing culture become ingrained in the room.

Sutter isn't going to keep us from being bad, but he will help buffer Bo and whoever we get this draft until they're our 1-2 centers and then we can move him. LE on the other hand can go, he's like a 200ft version of Vrbata, time to move on from him and his contract.

I don't let sports upset me much.

It just goes to show that all the excuses for not starting this previously were just that......excuses.

Job well done by Benning and I hope he's not done. I hope Sutter is the player rumoured to be willing to waive his NTC.
- golfingsince

THIS!!!!

I have a feeling there is still a big move coming tomorrow that will really surprise.

You need to have some veterans on the team once the Sedins leave, especially those who have had playoff experience at some point if only to help teach the kids coming in how to win and avoid having the Oiler-like losing culture become ingrained in the room.

Sutter isn't going to keep us from being bad, but he will help buffer Bo and whoever we get this draft until they're our 1-2 centers and then we can move him. LE on the other hand can go, he's like a 200ft version of Vrbata, time to move on from him and his contract.
- DariusKnight

The Oilers weren't loser because of their kids, it was because management thought that guys like Nikitin and Belanger and Whitney and Gordon and Eager and Khabibulin and the list goes on of other non-NHL caliber players were good enough. And then when they weren't, fans and media blamed their young players rather than looking at management. Its Nonis level of guys who never got an NHL job again despite being touted as quality depth players.

I'm not a huge fan of Chiarelli, but he's done an outstanding job compared to his predecessors at acquiring actual NHL talent to fill out his roster instead of washouts and last chance contracts. There were years where the Oilers centre depth was RNH and then no one else. Their wing depth was terrible beyond their top 6 and they prioritized bad defenceman over good ones like both Schultz's over Gilbert and Petry.

Losing creates a losing culture and you get out of that by building a team that can win games.

But I largely agree about Sutter. He isn't great, but you still need someone to play once the Twins are gone and he's probably about as good as an option as you're going to find without drastically overpaying again.

SELL SELL SELL

You need to have some veterans on the team once the Sedins leave, especially those who have had playoff experience at some point if only to help teach the kids coming in how to win and avoid having the Oiler-like losing culture become ingrained in the room.

Sutter isn't going to keep us from being bad, but he will help buffer Bo and whoever we get this draft until they're our 1-2 centers and then we can move him. LE on the other hand can go, he's like a 200ft version of Vrbata, time to move on from him and his contract.
- DariusKnight

We have vets on D that have played in the cup finals. I see no reason to keep Sutter around if he's willing to waive.

Great day to be a Nucks fan. Our prospect pool has taken a massive leap forward and it's pretty clear ownership has given JB autonomy. Thank you Aquilini and JB
- CanuckDon

(frank) off

SELL SELL SELL
- DrChristianTroy

Wow. Haven't heard from you in a while.

Eriksson for Kadri/pick

Eriksson for Kadri/pick
- Nighthawk

Why would the Leafs do that?

The Oilers weren't loser because of their kids, it was because management thought that guys like Nikitin and Belanger and Whitney and Gordon and Eager and Khabibulin and the list goes on of other non-NHL caliber players were good enough. And then when they weren't, fans and media blamed their young players rather than looking at management. Its Nonis level of guys who never got an NHL job again despite being touted as quality depth players.

I'm not a huge fan of Chiarelli, but he's done an outstanding job compared to his predecessors at acquiring actual NHL talent to fill out his roster instead of washouts and last chance contracts. There were years where the Oilers centre depth was RNH and then no one else. Their wing depth was terrible beyond their top 6 and they prioritized bad defenceman over good ones like both Schultz's over Gilbert and Petry.

Losing creates a losing culture and you get out of that by building a team that can win games.

But I largely agree about Sutter. He isn't great, but you still need someone to play once the Twins are gone and he's probably about as good as an option as you're going to find without drastically overpaying again.
- Lindenis#1

No, I agree that it wasn't the kids fault, and that Oiler management before PC had no idea how to build a team. But the fact is that once you start losing, unless you have solid NHL vets who have been there and have gone through the wars, it can be very easy for kids to look at each other during slumps and saying to each other, "Oh well, looks like a lost season again..." and then never recover from it and then you're looking at another year of selling and hitting the bottom of the standings and looking to the draft.

At some point you have to be able to get over the hump and try and make the playoffs and try and do some damage in the first even second round just to give your young players a taste of it and so that you can see what you need to really take that next step and be able to make a possible Cup run. Ideally, after you bottom out, it should only take you 3 to 4 years of selling and accumalating young talent before you make or at least have a legit shot at making the playoffs, any longer and likely your GM gets canned and you're starting over again anyways.

Why would the Leafs do that?
- golfingsince

Make a play for Duchene

Why would the Leafs do that?
- golfingsince

They wouldn't.

I honestly can't think of any real landing spots for him without the Canucks retaining salary, and then the Canucks only have one spot left to retain salary until Eriksson's deal is up.

Probably stuck with him for now, unless he wants to go in the expansion draft. Then you expose him and see if Vegas wants him.

Its not a bad thing to have some salary hanging on the roster or a veteran for similar reasons to why I'd hang onto Sutter.

Sedins for JVR/2-2nds

They wouldn't.

I honestly can't think of any real landing spots for him without the Canucks retaining salary, and then the Canucks only have one spot left to retain salary until Eriksson's deal is up.

Probably stuck with him for now, unless he wants to go in the expansion draft. Then you expose him and see if Vegas wants him.

Its not a bad thing to have some salary hanging on the roster or a veteran for similar reasons to why I'd hang onto Sutter.
- Lindenis#1

Eriksson has an NMC. Canucks have to protect him.

No, I agree that it wasn't the kids fault, and that Oiler management before PC had no idea how to build a team. But the fact is that once you start losing, unless you have solid NHL vets who have been there and have gone through the wars, it can be very easy for kids to look at each other during slumps and saying to each other, "Oh well, looks like a lost season again..." and then never recover from it and then you're looking at another year of selling and hitting the bottom of the standings and looking to the draft.

At some point you have to be able to get over the hump and try and make the playoffs and try and do some damage in the first even second round just to give your young players a taste of it and so that you can see what you need to really take that next step and be able to make a possible Cup run. Ideally, after you bottom out, it should only take you 3 to 4 years of selling and accumalating young talent before you make or at least have a legit shot at making the playoffs, any longer and likely your GM gets canned and you're starting over again anyways.
- DariusKnight

Thats a fair point about the kids looking at each other, but I think a lot of that comes from making sure that you don't have scrubs filling out your roster any longer than you possibly need. When the kids are the sole talent on the team it can easily wear on them.

For two years you go out and get the Roman Polaks and Lee Stempniaks of the world, but then you gotta get your Patrick Maroons and Paul Martins. Not another wave of Nikita Nikitins and David Clarksons.

If you're smart with your tank and get some luck, it can honestly take like 2 years before you're back on the uptick. Even if the GM gets the boot, as long as he did a decent job getting the assets in place then the new guy just has to be able to properly evaluate a few trades and signings.

Make a play for Duchene
- Nighthawk

I don't see it. Also, Kadri has more goals than LE has points this season doesn't he?

Eriksson has an NMC. Canucks have to protect him.
- Nighthawk

Players have the ability to waive their NMCs is they wish. Should he say "I'll waive mine to leave" then you let him.

Its a big point of chatter with the Rangers right now and Dan Girardi. Do you try to get him to waive his NMC? If you do, and he doesn't, then what? If he doesn't, then how do you maneuver around that? How much do you worry about the impact that will have with agents, free agents and players you're trying to extend when the NHL gets its team in Seattle or Portland?

Wow. Haven't heard from you in a while.
- bloatedmosquito

Love both of the trades & expecting more of the same in the morning.

There will be vets available this summer. Seriously overpay for a season, move them again to a contender. The appeal to the player is making money and getting a chance to play for the cup.