Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks Game Day: March 6 at Dallas, The Saga Continues With Ryan Kesler still in the fold, the Vancouver Canucks will look to chase down the Dallas Stars as they return to the ice on Thursday.

- cdjaakkola

- Flyfreaky

- fiveandagame

Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks Game Day: March 6 at Dallas, The Saga Continues
With Ryan Kesler still in the fold, the Vancouver Canucks will look to chase down the Dallas Stars as they return to the ice on Thursday.

But don't be surprised if Kesler doesn't end up moving. Gallagher's already suggesting that a couple of shiny new free agents could be all that Vancouver needs to solve what ails them.

- Carol Schram

Fingers are crossed for next year that Daniel and Burrows can come back a blazin' .


Kesler has been by himself on the 2nd line with two third liners for the last few years and if we could land one of the big free agents then there is the retool or reload.

Luongo/Schneider vs Lack/Markstrom

What a (frank)in bizzaro world the ownership and management has become with this franchise...baffling when you look at other teams in the league. The only other owners who're publicly involved in on-ice decisions are disfunctional franchises, Islanders & Sabres, geez I wonder why they're bottom feeders?

As for the actual players that're still here, this "should" be a middle of the pack team if they play to their potential.

Fingers are crossed for next year that Daniel and Burrows can come back a blazin' .


Kesler has been by himself on the 2nd line with two third liners for the last few years and if we could land one of the big free agents then there is the retool or reload.

- hillbillydeluxe

Looking at this team's recent history signing UFAs, unless they're local boys, is something they seem either very gun-shy about or have great difficulty doing.

It's nice of the old vampire to play fantasy hockey GM and slot guys in on paper with the only consideration being their current cap hit, but it's a widely known secret that Vanek would like to relocate to MIN in the offseason and Moulson will undoubtedly get an offer that far exceeds his talent.

This TDL, despite all the activity, has proven if nothing else that it can be very difficult to get equal value in return for a player you're selling. It's even tougher competing with a good portion of the league for players that everyone wants.

Bottom line IMO: we're not "just" a few offseason moves away from contender status. As Marwood likes to say, it's a process, and this one looks like it could be years in the making.

Fingers are crossed for next year that Daniel and Burrows can come back a blazin' .


Kesler has been by himself on the 2nd line with two third liners for the last few years and if we could land one of the big free agents then there is the retool or reload.

- hillbillydeluxe

We need to become good at drafting and developing. Once we can actually put our own draft picks into our line-up and core we will be good. Building through free-agency is horrific.

Flyers could be added to that with Ed Snider, love the Flyers , but they've been to the Cup finals eight times in their history so they're continuously doin something right.

1974-1975-1976-1980-1985-1987-1997-2010

Haha nice reference to #tanknation Carol! How often do you read these comment boards? I hope we don't bore you with our pool talk.

Vanek and Moulson

We need to become good at drafting and developing. Once we can actually put our own draft picks into our line-up and core we will be good. Building through free-agency is horrific.
- 89_hockey

Sounds like we've upgraded some of our scouting department. Still, we're a long ways away from CHI or DET.

Vanek and Moulson
- docmorgan

Not a chance in hell they sign here. Who in their right mind would want to deal with the travel schedule of a team like the Canucks unless you're a local guy or desperate for a job.

I'm sure they're witnessing what a (frank) show ownership and management are here as well, why would they do it if someone is offering similar money?

We need to become good at drafting and developing. Once we can actually put our own draft picks into our line-up and core we will be good. Building through free-agency is horrific.
- 89_hockey

Not advocating building through free agency, just augmenting. We got Garrison at a reasonable cap hit for a free agent. Can't ignore the guys who want to play here, just can't hand out ntc's to all your players, Gillis sounds like a guy who wanted to marry any girl that would kiss him

I don't have a lot of faith in Gillis, but this team is a couple trades away and free agent signing from a retool on the fly and back in it if the Sedins can get going again.

What was KG supposed to say, "anything is possible" but screwed it up...

Sounds like we've upgraded some of our scouting department. Still, we're a long ways away from CHI or DET.
- AlexF

Although I have high hopes for last years draft, in six years of drafting we currently have ZERO regulars from Mike Gillis. Yes we do have Tanev, but I'm referring to drafting.

Vanek and Moulson
- docmorgan

The UFA crop is weak this year. The only way cap space will be worth anything is that you can swing a trade for a good player and take on a salary dump.

Not a chance in hell they sign here. Who in their right mind would want to deal with the travel schedule of a team like the Canucks unless you're a local guy or desperate for a job.

I'm sure they're witnessing what a (frank) show ownership and management are here as well, why would they do it if someone is offering similar money?
- LeftCoaster

But...but....... gillis hired a sleep doctor, and the dressing room is badass...............

Haha nice reference to #tanknation Carol! How often do you read these comment boards? I hope we don't bore you with our pool talk.
- Gullzy

The UFA crop is weak this year. The only way cap space will be worth anything is that you can swing a trade for a good player and take on a salary dump.
- fiveandagame

This. And we aren't stellar at trading.

I think the Aquillinis are in a spot of denial ("weird year", "injuries") but billionaires usually aren't used to not getting their way so I'm not too surprised.

Haha nice reference to #tanknation Carol! How often do you read these comment boards? I hope we don't bore you with our pool talk.
- Gullzy

Though I can't make it through every comment when we're up over 500 a day, I do read when I can. There's a lot of good news and discussion mixed in with the pool talk

The UFA crop is weak this year. The only way cap space will be worth anything is that you can swing a trade for a good player and take on a salary dump.
- fiveandagame

I heard it from McLean and a few other commentators before the tdl and they said owners wanted expiring contracts and not long term commitments...

Sounds like they didn't really want expiring contracts because there is nothing to fill the cap space to replace...

Canucks should have a bit of space without Lu and Booth