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Forums :: Blog World :: Michael DeRosa: Canucks Free Agency Tracker
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Quinn's Quest
Vancouver Canucks
Joined: 08.08.2022

Jul 30 @ 4:21 PM ET
I'm bored at work so I guess I will share some thoughts,

The off season is in the dog days now and not much will happen until the end of August/ early September.

I am curious or more acurately put, intrigued at the defense as rebuilt in it's current form. I feel like with Hronek healthy(fingers crossed he actually is) the 2nd line will get a big boost. I think just the fact that the second pair will have an above average puck mover on it is enormous. In small sample size from last year it was very noticeable how quickly he threw the puck back up to the forwards, he lacked the hesitation we had seen from Myers OEL.

I really like Hirose, and I feel like I need to echo Vantel's point about the Garland, Aman, Joshua line and again back to my point on the puck mover....with Hirose I feel like that line can transition to offence quicker.

I think Aman is the ideal 3rd line center and he will continue to grow under Tocchet. He has enough offensive skill to take advantage of offensive opportunities and make opposing teams at the very least be aware of him. All the while he won't really hurt you on the defensive side of the puck.

The 4th line is a bit of a mystery to me now and I can't come up with a clear picture of what I want to have there. That said if a player like Tristan Neilson can be that pain in the ass 10-12 mins or less per game who forechecks like a demon and stirs poop up but mostly makes the 4th line a problem. I guess Studnicka is ok but I haven't seen enough yet to say he can be a useful player. I find myself envious of teams with a 4th line that is just a nightmare to play against, and it's no coincidence that those teams tend to be the top teams. I am not sure what to do about Podkolzin as well, he could fight for a middle six role or be in the stands. I liked De Guiseppe in small doses last year he feels like he could be a guy, or maybe we just rotate through a few players depending on opponent (ie put a speedier player in for fast teams heavier player for bigger teams etc.)


Sorry for the long post just some thoughts I had rolling around in my head.

- Nucknab23



Interesting. Who do you consider are the top 12 skaters for the Canucks?
VANTEL
Joined: 07.03.2010

Jul 30 @ 4:24 PM ET
Like I said before he'll be in concussion protocol or LTIR before you know it. You think EP getting body slammed was bad? He best be bulking up this summer b/c he's got a world of abuse coming his way unless they toughen up as a team.
- VanHockeyGuy


You don't think the AHL has big boys?

I would like to see them add Jujhar Khairia

Some former Canucks still available to sign OJ Benn Gagner Leivo Edler Chiasson Bear

Nighthawk
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Canuckville, BC
Joined: 01.09.2015

Jul 30 @ 5:35 PM ET
Aah the good ol days…

https://fb.watch/m6AgYbfcTc/?mibextid=v7YzmG
Nighthawk
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Canuckville, BC
Joined: 01.09.2015

Jul 30 @ 5:43 PM ET
I'm bored at work so I guess I will share some thoughts,

The off season is in the dog days now and not much will happen until the end of August/ early September.

I am curious or more acurately put, intrigued at the defense as rebuilt in it's current form. I feel like with Hronek healthy(fingers crossed he actually is) the 2nd line will get a big boost. I think just the fact that the second pair will have an above average puck mover on it is enormous. In small sample size from last year it was very noticeable how quickly he threw the puck back up to the forwards, he lacked the hesitation we had seen from Myers OEL.

I really like Hirose, and I feel like I need to echo Vantel's point about the Garland, Aman, Joshua line and again back to my point on the puck mover....with Hirose I feel like that line can transition to offence quicker.

I think Aman is the ideal 3rd line center and he will continue to grow under Tocchet. He has enough offensive skill to take advantage of offensive opportunities and make opposing teams at the very least be aware of him. All the while he won't really hurt you on the defensive side of the puck.

The 4th line is a bit of a mystery to me now and I can't come up with a clear picture of what I want to have there. That said if a player like Tristan Neilson can be that pain in the ass 10-12 mins or less per game who forechecks like a demon and stirs poop up but mostly makes the 4th line a problem. I guess Studnicka is ok but I haven't seen enough yet to say he can be a useful player. I find myself envious of teams with a 4th line that is just a nightmare to play against, and it's no coincidence that those teams tend to be the top teams. I am not sure what to do about Podkolzin as well, he could fight for a middle six role or be in the stands. I liked De Guiseppe in small doses last year he feels like he could be a guy, or maybe we just rotate through a few players depending on opponent (ie put a speedier player in for fast teams heavier player for bigger teams etc.)


Sorry for the long post just some thoughts I had rolling around in my head.

- Nucknab23

Agree Hronek will be much better skating or passing up ice than Myers. Myers thinks & plays at the speed of juniors.

On Hirose I like him on 3rd pairing. He impressed me on his audition.

On Aman he still needs to be a better puck distributor to be an ideal 3C. I hope Tocchet & co can get that outta him.

We are plenty deep on wingers just need more from C’s to get the most outta them. Agree 4th line is a mystery still.

I want to see much more stable PK & more forechecking & puck retrieval right outta the gate. The D should be better defensively & hope they can gel quickly.
Nighthawk
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Canuckville, BC
Joined: 01.09.2015

Jul 30 @ 5:43 PM ET
Thanks Michael!
- VanHockeyGuy

😂👍
Nighthawk
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Canuckville, BC
Joined: 01.09.2015

Jul 30 @ 5:44 PM ET
I had seen yesterday Neely saying that they are in talks about trading for a long term center and immediately I though I think it is JTM.
- VANTEL

Kinda makes sense to me also.
Nucknab23
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 01.13.2016

Jul 30 @ 5:56 PM ET
Interesting. Who do you consider are the top 12 skaters for the Canucks?
- Quinn's Quest



The short answer is I am unsure still and I want to see in camp. I am actually going to training camp in Victoria this year so I will have a better Idea.

but here goes
Mikheyev Petey Kuz
Hogs/Podz Miller Boeser
Joshua Aman Garland
Pearson Blueger ????


There are a few that can fill that spot as I mentioned in the previous post, Di Guiseppe Studnicka, Neilson or Lebanc (from Myers trade ?) Not enough weight on the line unless a guy like Neilson plays like a wrecking ball. What I don't love is that we have a lot of the smaller type forwards who don't strike fear into the hearts of our opponents.
VANTEL
Joined: 07.03.2010

Jul 30 @ 6:22 PM ET
The short answer is I am unsure still and I want to see in camp. I am actually going to training camp in Victoria this year so I will have a better Idea.

but here goes
Mikheyev Petey Kuz
Hogs/Podz Miller Boeser
Joshua Aman Garland
Pearson Blueger ????


There are a few that can fill that spot as I mentioned in the previous post, Di Guiseppe Studnicka, Neilson or Lebanc (from Myers trade ?) Not enough weight on the line unless a guy like Neilson plays like a wrecking ball. What I don't love is that we have a lot of the smaller type forwards who don't strike fear into the hearts of our opponents.

- Nucknab23


I had seen an interesting proposal by a Leaf fan on CF. It included Nylander coming to Canucks and Boeser going that way and a first. I piled it on with the JTM to Boston speculation where we get their first.

Petey Kuzmenko and Nylander would be a decent first line. I like Zacha as a third line player.
golfingsince
Location: This message is Marwood approved!
Joined: 11.30.2011

Jul 30 @ 6:35 PM ET
I had seen an interesting proposal by a Leaf fan on CF. It included Nylander coming to Canucks and Boeser going that way and a first. I piled it on with the JTM to Boston speculation where we get their first.

Petey Kuzmenko and Nylander would be a decent first line. I like Zacha as a third line player.

- VANTEL

Ii think that would rival the best first lines in the league talent wise.

But I think Nylander would become 2C in that scenario, offensive zone starts.
A_SteamingLombardi
Location: Systemic failure / Slurptastic
Joined: 10.12.2008

Jul 30 @ 6:45 PM ET
I had seen an interesting proposal by a Leaf fan on CF. It included Nylander coming to Canucks and Boeser going that way and a first. I piled it on with the JTM to Boston speculation where we get their first.

Petey Kuzmenko and Nylander would be a decent first line. I like Zacha as a third line player.

- VANTEL

What ever it takes to get rid of this Miller contract.
boonerbuck
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Not Quesnel, BC
Joined: 10.11.2005

Jul 30 @ 7:02 PM ET
Ii think that would rival the best first lines in the league talent wise.

But I think Nylander would become 2C in that scenario, offensive zone starts.

- golfingsince


Nylander plays both wings but not center. Probably not a good idea to make him the 2nd C even if its just Ozone starts.
golfingsince
Location: This message is Marwood approved!
Joined: 11.30.2011

Jul 30 @ 7:17 PM ET
Nylander plays both wings but not center. Probably not a good idea to make him the 2nd C even if its just Ozone starts.
- boonerbuck

Nylander was a C until he came to the NHL, even then he likely would have remained one had they not signed Tavares. In the playoffs he moved to C a few times when Kadri was suspended
neem55
Vancouver Canucks
Joined: 02.02.2012

Jul 30 @ 7:39 PM ET
I had seen an interesting proposal by a Leaf fan on CF. It included Nylander coming to Canucks and Boeser going that way and a first. I piled it on with the JTM to Boston speculation where we get their first.

Petey Kuzmenko and Nylander would be a decent first line. I like Zacha as a third line player.

- VANTEL

They would be amazing in a pillowfight

Jokes aside, I actually like Nylander and think he would be a huge add
neem55
Vancouver Canucks
Joined: 02.02.2012

Jul 30 @ 7:42 PM ET
Nylander was a C until he came to the NHL, even then he likely would have remained one had they not signed Tavares. In the playoffs he moved to C a few times when Kadri was suspended
- golfingsince

It did not work and they tried him at center a lot.
Sayros
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Canada, AB
Joined: 07.01.2007

Jul 30 @ 7:50 PM ET
I had seen yesterday Neely saying that they are in talks about trading for a long term center and immediately I though I think it is JTM.
- VANTEL


That'd be great if bruins took Miller. I don't really care what the return is ... Zacha plus seems fine enough. Queue the 'they won't do it cause they're not rebuilding' but it would be the right thing to do. This team is a few injuries away from Giuseppe pizza riding top 6 ... and we know the canucks get hit hard and usually early with the injury bug. No depth and it's going to take some years to build some. We're also banking on bounceback years from a lot of key positions, or players to take the 'next step' who have shown next to zero ability to do so so far. Bad recipes to me. Why wait another year or two when Miller wants out because we lose a lot and he can't keep his poop in a group?
Quinn's Quest
Vancouver Canucks
Joined: 08.08.2022

Jul 30 @ 8:01 PM ET
That'd be great if bruins took Miller. I don't really care what the return is ... Zacha plus seems fine enough. Queue the 'they won't do it cause they're not rebuilding' but it would be the right thing to do. This team is a few injuries away from Giuseppe pizza riding top 6 ... and we know the canucks get hit hard and usually early with the injury bug. No depth and it's going to take some years to build some. We're also banking on bounceback years from a lot of key positions, or players to take the 'next step' who have shown next to zero ability to do so so far. Bad recipes to me. Why wait another year or two when Miller wants out because we lose a lot and he can't keep his poop in a group?
- Sayros


JTM is a core piece now like or not.
boonerbuck
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Not Quesnel, BC
Joined: 10.11.2005

Jul 30 @ 8:01 PM ET
Nylander was a C until he came to the NHL, even then he likely would have remained one had they not signed Tavares. In the playoffs he moved to C a few times when Kadri was suspended
- golfingsince


It's one thing to play him as a C because of injuries but another to start the season with him as your 2nd C.
VANTEL
Joined: 07.03.2010

Jul 30 @ 8:03 PM ET
What ever it takes to get rid of this Miller contract.
- A_SteamingLombardi

VANTEL
Joined: 07.03.2010

Jul 30 @ 8:04 PM ET
Ii think that would rival the best first lines in the league talent wise.

But I think Nylander would become 2C in that scenario, offensive zone starts.

- golfingsince


I wondered about that. I still think there would be a second and third move coming to get the 2C
VANTEL
Joined: 07.03.2010

Jul 30 @ 8:07 PM ET
It's one thing to play him as a C because of injuries but another to start the season with him as your 2nd C.
- boonerbuck


Was it you that mentioned before about start turning Podkolzin into a C? I know he would take time to get use to it but something to play on.
Nighthawk
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Canuckville, BC
Joined: 01.09.2015

Jul 30 @ 8:13 PM ET
Was it you that mentioned before about start turning Podkolzin into a C? I know he would take time to get use to it but something to play on.
- VANTEL

I said that last year mid season.
VANTEL
Joined: 07.03.2010

Jul 30 @ 8:14 PM ET
I said that last year mid season.
- Nighthawk


Glory hog
boonerbuck
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Not Quesnel, BC
Joined: 10.11.2005

Jul 30 @ 8:16 PM ET
Was it you that mentioned before about start turning Podkolzin into a C? I know he would take time to get use to it but something to play on.
- VANTEL


I don't think that was me...
VANTEL
Joined: 07.03.2010

Jul 30 @ 8:18 PM ET
I don't think that was me...
- boonerbuck


NH is taking credit for it. My mistake see Aaron is not the only one who gets you two mixed up.
Nighthawk
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Canuckville, BC
Joined: 01.09.2015

Jul 30 @ 8:20 PM ET
Glory hog

- VANTEL

Busted lol
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