True enough. I think he has potential!

I was also going to mention that with the 20th pick that originally belonged to the Canucks, the Devils took a Russian defenseman named Shakir Mukhamadullin, who's off to a good start with Ufa this year in the KHL.

Here's an interesting tidbit on that:

The Devils picked at 18 and 20, and the Rangers traded up to grab defenseman Braden Schneider at 19. I heard NJ may have been planning to pick Schneider and got thrown for a loop when he was snatched away from them. Without much time to think, in a draft that was short on blueliners, and after already taking two forwards, they just went to the next defenseman on their list.

It'll be interesting to see if Mukhamadullin pans out for the Devils...
- Carol Schram

Good to know that pick may have gotten wasted

Cory Schneider to be bought out today at noon
Alex wennberg as well
- Codes1087

Yup...from Pierre LeBrun...

Wennberg and Schneider were the only ones on buyout waivers today. Santini and Turris cleared from yesterday.

Jim Benning was sold as a drafting guru. Then he trades his picks away forcing the team to invest in UFA"s. And we all know how that has gone. If Canuck fans are satisfied with the draft I have to ask why.
- Hardbalz

Because to them, Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes make everything else invisible.

Yes, too bad they were trying to win hockey games and Jake wasn't contributing effectively. Really should have pumped his value instead of going for the W.

Or, just or, teams see what Jake is, and aren't willing to give up a lot for him. JB went after JTM even though he was stuck in the bottom 6 in Tampa and having a bad year. They sure as poop didn't pump his value.
- NewYorkNuck

Yah because what they did won them hockey games.

Did you watch the playoffs and them get absolutely (frank)en dominated. Demko and Marky stand on their heads. Clearly the choices TG made didn't (frank)en work.

Jim Benning was sold as a drafting guru. Then he trades his picks away forcing the team to invest in UFA"s. And we all know how that has gone. If Canuck fans are satisfied with the draft I have to ask why.
- Hardbalz

Benning is back in win mode.

It’s his first shot at a big payday. Not surprised at all. Same with Marky.
- neem55

This would normally be true imo but the flat cap will affect most players except the very few such as AP. I’ve looked around & there isn’t much out there for teams with cap space that are competitive for any of our UFA’s. Sure teams will try to shed cap but this off season is so unique it’s nearly impossible. The price will be high being picks or prospects. On Tanev he will be hurt most be my guess on money & especially term 3/4.25m my guess. Marky & TT will be highly sought after but both take a hit in money & term but at a lesser hit 5/5.5m & 4/5m. Marky holding out for e-draft protection will be at the crux in any deal that he might get but from whom?

Benning is back in win mode.
- manvanfan

Of course, why else would he be in on OEL?

Of course, why else would he be in on OEL?
- VanHockeyGuy

It only works if he can get him for nothing, which obviously isn’t the case. They don’t really have anything of value to send to Arizona without making the team worse or lateral at best.

Yup...from Pierre LeBrun...

Wennberg and Schneider were the only ones on buyout waivers today. Santini and Turris cleared from yesterday.
- Pacificgem

Just got a text from a buddy saying that the canucks are not to buy out anyone this year as per the Twitterverse.

Thomas Drance...

No #Canucks players will be bought out.

Just got a text from a buddy saying that the canucks are not to buy out anyone this year as per the Twitterverse.
- Codes1087

Aquilini won’t allow it, money is tight!

Of course, why else would he be in on OEL?
- VanHockeyGuy

If Jim could fix other problems with his roster, i'd be much more on board with OEL coming to Van.

It only works if he can get him for nothing, which obviously isn’t the case. They don’t really have anything of value to send to Arizona without making the team worse or lateral at best.
- Pacificgem

We don't know that yet, if ARI takes back dollars or a contract, I would call that value.

OJ and/or JV + won't hurt us next year IMO.

Thomas Drance...

No #Canucks players will be bought out.
- Pacificgem

Who would they have really bought out? No one made any sense.

Thomas Drance...

No #Canucks players will be bought out.
- Pacificgem

If Jim could fix other problems with his roster, i'd be much more on board with OEL coming to Van.
- manvanfan

Fixing some problems may be part of JB's proposal.

Yah because what they did won them hockey games.

Did you watch the playoffs and them get absolutely (frank)en dominated. Demko and Marky stand on their heads. Clearly the choices TG made didn't (frank)en work.
- manvanfan

So playing JV more would have made them be less dominated....? The guy who in 16 games played in the playoffs had 2 goals and 1 assist?

It's not like JV is applying himself out there. Why the (frank) would anyone rely on a guy who's dumb, can't figure it out, doesn't try, comes to multiple camps overweight/out of shape, and is just a (frank)ing energy suck? No one but JV has made this bed, he's been given every single opportunity and still hasn't put it together.

We don't know that yet, if ARI takes back dollars or a contract, I would call that value.

OJ and/or JV + won't hurt us next year IMO.
- VanHockeyGuy

My understanding is AZ wants no part of taking bad dollars back, that’s why they’re making the move in the first place. To save money.

I think he is trying to make moves, every reporter was saying he was/is the most active. But maybe he isn't getting the deals he wants or maybe he is getting bent over?
- anavar

I’d say it’s a heavy buyers market that most teams are struggling to make deals for cap problems. Unqualified rfa’s are the big result so far & the ufa frenzy will be a huge fizzle. Market adjustments at a theatre near you.

I’m not worried & predict many UFA/RFA’s will circle back & sign covid flat cap shorter term/money contracts.

Nobody else was going 4 years and $3m for Beagle. Only the Canucks were willing to give him that deal. It was widely discussed that Vancouver has had to “over pay” to get players because of the state of their team, and it is now being widely discussed that Vancouver is now a destination where players want to come.

I don’t believe they will be able to improve the team for the next year or two given the salary constraints. I don’t think, for example, they are going to get better Dmen than Tanev/Stecher For less than $6.5m. Sure, they’ll have different guys, but I can’t see them upgrading on the cheap. But that’s what they will need to do to until all the dead weight is gone.
- 1970vintage

My only issue was term on a few contracts

Who would they have really bought out? No one made any sense.
- manvanfan

Sutter is the only real candidate if there was one, he only has one year left so it would’ve saved them a few million dollars for next seasons cap. But as I said, I don’t think Aquilini wants to pay players to go play for someone else.

He doesn’t have the ammunition to make deals because of past practices, that’s the issue. No one is going to take his garbage out for him.
- Pacificgem

BS. Many teams are in a difficult or worse position. You conveniently continue to use tunnel vision to support your JB bashing. I do agree he has made his own bed but I won’t ignore all the other teams in these times.

I still think Ottawa won the draft by a landslide, followed by Detroit and then Los Angeles. Those three franchises got some really really high quality kids/players.
- Pacificgem

Agree with the Sens.

Steutzle & Sanderson just rocked it.

So playing JV more would have made them be less dominated....? The guy who in 16 games played in the playoffs had 2 goals and 1 assist?

It's not like JV is applying himself out there. Why the (frank) would anyone rely on a guy who's dumb, can't figure it out, doesn't try, comes to multiple camps overweight/out of shape, and is just a (frank)ing energy suck? No one but JV has made this bed, he's been given every single opportunity and still hasn't put it together.
- NewYorkNuck

You talk about Miller how TB didn't pump his value. Well they played him on the 3rd line and he was deemed expendable. Van plays him with better players and magic happens.

JV during the regular season when he got top 6 ice time points per 60 went way up.

So what do they do in the playoffs give him less time with lesser players and you expect him to do better?

Better give that time to Sutter because he's an offensive dinamo.

It only works if he can get him for nothing, which obviously isn’t the case. They don’t really have anything of value to send to Arizona without making the team worse or lateral at best.
- Pacificgem

Ok & now what position is Arizona in?