Well, I'm a face-painting Sharks fan, now!
- Marwood

I already have the Shark up on FB.

Then you deal with that in the future. There's a real possibility that you wouldn't need him in two years. Rosters turn over fast and prospects develop and can come out of nowhere.

Half the reasons people defended Sbisa's contract was that he would be Hammy's replacement. Then Hutton came out of nowhere and Sbisa is still the same guy he's always been versus taking the steps forward he never really showed.
- Lindenis#1

If there is a real possibility he's not needed in 2 yrs then he is a bust.
Our current depth doesn't say he won't be here IMO
Supposing negatively is a strange approach if handling EG's future.

Oh hell yeah. Especially when Toronto's drafting of Matthews is involved in discussions. The argument keeps coming up about not trying to be in position to draft at #1.... and I keep pointing out that we were and are going to be positioned well again. That's not good enough though. It has to be a convincing tank. lot's of winking and nudging... Not just losing alone... with the same outcome. I think people have a unrealistic idea of what losing all season is supposed to look and feel like maybe...

Lefty was proposing this trade in 2012, post playoff run. Weber would have ended up resigned for a contract that made the Sedins look like a short term affordable problem... things could be worse if we are selling the future that hard... but it was unrealistic I think anyways. Not going to happen.
- boonerbuck

I can't speak for everyone but I think the contention has been that the Canucks were/are in the position to draft #1 despite trying not to be. What happens if this team was/is in fact better than it is and just misses the playoffs?

The excitement about moving Burrows/Hansen isn't because people want them to tank but because they want to get a lottery ticket for those players.

Had the Canucks been able to acquire Weber in 2012, as unrealistic as it was, do you think that the Canucks would of been better positioned to make another run at the cup?

Don't forget Nucker in the pvc gimp suit...

- boonerbuck

...and a ball-gag.

Hockey isn't played on paper lol
He is not reliant on a partner.
All D pairings r reliant on each other.
Now it the FIT that a coach has to find.
EG can handle the big power forwards match ups & in our division thats important.
- Nighthawk

I know
You just said he needs a better partner to be better.
Working together, but hand holding is another thing
Who on this roster is that guy? Is it wise to pay big to go find a mystery partner?
There are like 10 big forwards with any talent in the division. Tanev and plenty other average size dudes on other teams handle them just fine.
This sounds so much like Sbisa all over again.

Good for JB winner #2! it only took you 3 years byatch

http://www.thehockeynews....adline-winners-and-losers

I already have the Shark up on FB.

- boonerbuck

It's going to be a little frosty on the home front as my wife's ex was a full on obnoxious, in your face Shark's fan who did it just to piss people off. It was a long time ago but she's not ready to cheer for them but has hesitantly accepted my cheering for them.

Arbitration. Could be a big gamble. This article gives a pretty good briefing on how it works.
http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/538417
- Reubenkincade

I hope it goes to Arbitration because again all the cards are in the Canucks hands. If Gudbranson was coming off an impressive year, I could understand the hesitation with taking him to arbitration.

From the article you linked. Does it sound like these things will show favorably for him.?

The NHL/NHLPA CBA is very specific about what types of evidence can be submitted, to the detriment of certain types of players. Permissible evidence includes:

The number of games played and a player's injury history
"Overall performance" (including NHL "official statistics")
Length of service of the player to the club or in the NHL
"The overall contribution of the Player to the competitive success or failure of his club in the preceding season"
"Any special qualities of leadership or public appeal"
The overall performance of alleged comparable players
The compensation of any com

parable players that have been formally introduced as a comparable

I can't speak for everyone but I think the contention has been that the Canucks were/are in the position to draft #1 despite trying not to be. What happens if this team was/is in fact better than it is and just misses the playoffs?

The excitement about moving Burrows/Hansen isn't because people want them to tank but because they want to get a lottery ticket for those players.

Had the Canucks been able to acquire Weber in 2012, as unrealistic as it was, do you think that the Canucks would of been better positioned to make another run at the cup?
- belcherbd

With Weber, no, even then we had no depth beyond the Sedins and Kesler. We were still in the process of trying to get a second line wingers to play with Kesler and someone to do what Malhotra did in 2011 before his eye injury. We might have avoided the playoff sweep by the Sharks but by and large we lacked the depth to make it back to the Finals let alone win it. Weber on his own isn't enough as has been shown in Nashville.

Vegas has that open window to sign FA's, which then count as their selection from certain teams. Obviously if he signs there in the summer it wont count. I just was implying they should push the idea into Vegas's head that hes a good vet to have around their room, regardless of how they acquire him
- WhiteLie

I know and it makes sense if they don't like anyone else to pick. But if they do then they could discuss contract and wait to sign July 1 like all other free agents. Guess it just going to come down to what they want and have as options.

I know
You just said he needs a better partner to be better.
Working together, but hand holding is another thing
Who on this roster is that guy? Is it wise to pay big to go find a mystery partner?
There are like 10 big forwards with any talent in the division. Tanev and plenty other average size dudes on other teams handle them just fine.
This sounds so much like Sbisa all over again.
- Lindenis#1

Edler is likely the best guy to play with him IMO, I was hoping were going to start the season with:

Hutton Tanev
Edler Gudbranson
Sbisa Stecher/Tryamkin

I hope it goes to Arbitration because again all the cards are in the Canucks hands. If Gudbranson was coming off an impressive year, I could understand the hesitation with taking him to arbitration.

From the article you linked. Does it sound like these things will show favorably for him.?
- belcherbd

There honestly isn't much in his favour. Comparables have to be within the year too to be considered in arbitration.

He does have games played in his career, but not this season.
He doesn't have any counting stats.
He's new to the club
The team was trash this year basically all season
He does have those "leadership" and "public appeal" things
Hard to find good a comparable for him

Edler is likely the best guy to play with him IMO, I was hoping were going to start the season with:

Hutton Tanev
Edler Gudbranson
Sbisa Stecher/Tryamkin
- belcherbd

He probably is, but I don't know if that pairing has enough footspeed and Edler does best when he has Tanev or Stecher to help move the puck for him.

With Weber, no, even then we had no depth beyond the Sedins and Kesler. We were still in the process of trying to get a second line wingers to play with Kesler and someone to do what Malhotra did in 2011 before his eye injury. We might have avoided the playoff sweep by the Sharks but by and large we lacked the depth to make it back to the Finals let alone win it. Weber on his own isn't enough as has been shown in Nashville.
- DariusKnight

They still did pretty well in the regular season considering that they had no depth.
I'm not saying they would of won the cup that year or the next year but Weber is a significant upgrade over Edler and IMO that window would of been a bit more open.

I know
You just said he needs a better partner to be better.
Working together, but hand holding is another thing
Who on this roster is that guy? Is it wise to pay big to go find a mystery partner?
There are like 10 big forwards with any talent in the division. Tanev and plenty other average size dudes on other teams handle them just fine.
This sounds so much like Sbisa all over again.
- Lindenis#1

Did not say a better partner.
I did say a partner that makes a D pairing work.
A new team & system & injury makes this year a wash.
EVERY D pairing works when a chemistry is there.
Furthermore this season is a poor season to make any decisions on.

From JB quote below:

"This year with our young kids, they’ve done an excellent job. . . teaching them what it is to be a Vancouver Canuck. That’s why these deals are hard to make."

Maybe it's all part of the process to rebuild. Now this young layer of Bo, Granlund etc can help the new prospects and draft PICKS

Did not say a better partner.
I did say a partner that makes a D pairing work.
A new team & system & injury makes this year a wash.
EVERY D pairing works when a chemistry is there.
Furthermore this season is a poor season to make any decisions on.
- Nighthawk

Which is exactly our point, it would be foolish to make a long term contract decision on him based off of this season.

[quote=belcherbd]

Like I said it is a big gamble, for both sides. Gudbranson has some of those attributes mentioned. Been involved in many arbitration cases over the years (not in hockey) they are always a crap shoot.

From JB quote below:

"This year with our young kids, they’ve done an excellent job. . . teaching them what it is to be a Vancouver Canuck. That’s why these deals are hard to make."

Maybe it's all part of the process to rebuild. Now this young layer of Bo, Granlund etc can help the new prospects and draft PICKS
- Nuck4U

I'm just glad that they're finally past this mentorship stuff. You can find vet role players in free agency every summer, hell some teams will give you a pick or prospect just to take one of their vets

He probably is, but I don't know if that pairing has enough footspeed and Edler does best when he has Tanev or Stecher to help move the puck for him.
- Lindenis#1

Yea he, ever since his back injury he's become more of a stay at home dman. He was badly miscast as a PP QB here

Like I said it is a big gamble, for both sides. Gudbranson has some of those attributes mentioned. Been involved in many arbitration cases over the years (not in hockey) they are always a crap shoot.
- Reubenkincade

No doubt, they aren't pleasant for either party. I just think Gudbranson risks a lot more than the Canucks.

Did not say a better partner.
I did say a partner that makes a D pairing work.
A new team & system & injury makes this year a wash.
EVERY D pairing works when a chemistry is there.
Furthermore this season is a poor season to make any decisions on.
- Nighthawk

Exactly why there is no reason for any kind of long term big money deal

I can't speak for everyone but I think the contention has been that the Canucks were/are in the position to draft #1 despite trying not to be. What happens if this team was/is in fact better than it is and just misses the playoffs?

The excitement about moving Burrows/Hansen isn't because people want them to tank but because they want to get a lottery ticket for those players.

Had the Canucks been able to acquire Weber in 2012, as unrealistic as it was, do you think that the Canucks would of been better positioned to make another run at the cup?
- belcherbd

First of all, you are right, you don't speak for the people I have been arguing with for the past 3 years about this. If you are not one of the people ignorantly doubling back on the draft arguement, then why are we having this discussion at all?

The team is not better. I understand that is what people were worried about... but these last two seasons proved we are not better. Yet, people still press on about a hypothetical version of the past two seasons that could have happened. Even when they get their top 3 lottery position... it still comes back to not trying to draft high. When someone else wins the lottery and we fall, they are smart and Benning don't get it...

I was strictly speaking about the long term implications of our rebuild with Weber signed to his existing contract or one like it. Weber would have caused problems on other parts of the roster cap wise. Fill a big hole in one spot, create a new hole somewhere else... so I don't know about a cup run, especially with how the goal tending was a mess... and remember, we drafted Horvat 2013. For sure Edler would have had to be packaged with that pick. No Horvat or other 1st rounder on top of having Weber to the end of time. The only 1st round Gillis was successful in.

I already have the Shark up on FB.

- boonerbuck

First meaningful playoff hockey in a long time for Vancouver

...and a ball-gag.
- Marwood