Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Committing to Team-Building As the Canucks prepare for their next game on Friday against Edmonton, the team is as committed to off-ice team-building as it is to learning on-ice systems.

This reminds me of all the hype Gillis brought when he first came here. Sleep doctors, personal diet experts ,fitness instructors , and chefs, and all the other bells and whistles.

This management is serving a lot of kool aid and everyone is drinking it up. As you mentioned ,keep in mind we beat the Flames and the Oilers . We lost to the Coyotes and a split squad game against the Sharks.

I will wait for a month or two , if you don't mind , to declare them the best reincarnation since Coke went back to the original formula.

This reminds me of all the hype Gillis brought when he first came here. Sleep doctors, personal diet experts ,fitness instructors , and chefs, and all the other bells and whistles.

This management is serving a lot of kool aid and everyone is drinking it up. As you mentioned ,keep in mind we beat the Flames and the Oilers . We lost to the Coyotes and a split squad game against the Sharks.

I will wait for a month or two , if you don't mind , to declare them the best reincarnation since Coke went back to the original formula.
- VANTEL

I do mind Vantel... I do mind...

I do mind Vantel... I do mind...
- bezz44

Well okay then

If we were to trade Matthias or Richardson, what is the return?

Both are ufa's at the end of the season...

I think Richardson may be better on face offs but it is nice to have a big guy like Matthias in your lineup... too bad he doesn't use his size enough.

Edmonton seems desperate for a centerman, any chance of getting a 2nd round pick out of them?

Horvat is participating in full practice todayh

Horvat is participating in full practice todayh
- VANTEL

He seems really antsy to get in the lineup

If we were to trade Matthias or Richardson, what is the return?

Both are ufa's at the end of the season...

I think Richardson may be better on face offs but it is nice to have a big guy like Matthias in your lineup... too bad he doesn't use his size enough.

Edmonton seems desperate for a centerman, any chance of getting a 2nd round pick out of them?
- hillbillydeluxe

I don't think they'd bring that kind of return, so I'd much rather keep them around, especially Richardson. Guy is a workhorse and is one of our better faceoff guys. Can't really ask for more from a 4th line center
Edit: I think he and Higgins probably work the boards better than anyone else in the lineup

He seems really antsy to get in the lineup
- bezz44

Bonino Vey Horvat all very nice additions. I hope he stays.

Bonino Vey Horvat all very nice additions. I hope he stays.
- VANTEL

Me too, even if he doesn't play every game

Me too, even if he doesn't play every game
- bezz44

I think every year a team should add two prospects to try to crack the roster and one or two free agents. keep things fresh

I think every year a team should add two prospects to try to crack the roster and one or two free agents. keep things fresh
- VANTEL

I think you want as much competition as you can get WRT to prospects and FA signings or PTOs, but if you don't have the talent ready then there is no use trying to force it
Edit: though I would like to see the Canucks give more and more young guys their 9 game taste

I think every year a team should add two prospects to try to crack the roster and one or two free agents. keep things fresh
- VANTEL

And allowed a maximum of 4 players on any given time to have NTC on the team.

I think you want as much competition as you can get WRT to prospects and FA signings or PTOs, but if you don't have the talent ready then there is no use trying to force it
Edit: though I would like to see the Canucks give more and more young guys their 9 game taste
- bezz44

Next year Virtanen and one of Shink Jensen or McCann to press for a spot

And allowed a maximum of 4 players on any given time to have NTC on the team.
- Linden_4_Capt

Totally agree

I don't think they'd bring that kind of return, so I'd much rather keep them around, especially Richardson. Guy is a workhorse and is one of our better faceoff guys. Can't really ask for more from a 4th line center
Edit: I think he and Higgins probably work the boards better than anyone else in the lineup
- bezz44

Matthias would be the first line C in Edmonton right now

Next year Virtanen and one of Shink Jensen or McCann to press for a spot
- VANTEL

Definitely seems like there will be a spot open for a scoring winger. My money is on one of these two. Will have to see how Virtanen does when he gets back

Matthias would be the first line C in Edmonton right now
- 1970vintage

Keith Ballard would be the first line C in Edmonton

This reminds me of all the hype Gillis brought when he first came here. Sleep doctors, personal diet experts ,fitness instructors , and chefs, and all the other bells and whistles.

This management is serving a lot of kool aid and everyone is drinking it up. As you mentioned ,keep in mind we beat the Flames and the Oilers . We lost to the Coyotes and a split squad game against the Sharks.

I will wait for a month or two , if you don't mind , to declare them the best reincarnation since Coke went back to the original formula.
- VANTEL

This. Being nice and friendly with the fans and media doesn't mean poop if you don't make the right moves.

Never thought I'd entirely agree with one of your posts(well quoting the pre-season results is a no-no for me).

If we were to trade Matthias or Richardson, what is the return?

Both are ufa's at the end of the season...

I think Richardson may be better on face offs but it is nice to have a big guy like Matthias in your lineup... too bad he doesn't use his size enough.

Edmonton seems desperate for a centerman, any chance of getting a 2nd round pick out of them?
- hillbillydeluxe

Either one of them and a prospect for Eberle.

And allowed a maximum of 4 players on any given time to have NTC on the team.
- Linden_4_Capt

Easier said than done, basically if you want to sign any decent UFA's these days, you have to pony up at least a limited NTC or overpay them, and get laughed at. And as for re-signing your own guys, they only take hometwon discounts if you include some form of a NTC otherwise it's likely that their agent will basically want full market value. Basically you pick your poison a a fan. Either complain about NTC's or almost everyone on the roster being overpaid during a losing streak.

I really wish the NHL owners would bargain for NTC rules similar to the NBA, but the NHLPA would likely not give in.

I don't think they'd bring that kind of return, so I'd much rather keep them around, especially Richardson. Guy is a workhorse and is one of our better faceoff guys. Can't really ask for more from a 4th line center
Edit: I think he and Higgins probably work the boards better than anyone else in the lineup
- bezz44

Yep


If Richardson had Matthias' size... maybe he wouldn't play the same way.

Still hoping they keep Horvat up but expect to lose someone to waivers if they do...

And I am sure you are right about value, 2nd rd pick is too much to ask without there being more in the deal from our end.

I feel a bit sorry for Edmonton that they have such a hard time attracting free agents. Hiller or Miller would have made a world of difference there.

If we were to trade Matthias or Richardson, what is the return?

Both are ufa's at the end of the season...

I think Richardson may be better on face offs but it is nice to have a big guy like Matthias in your lineup... too bad he doesn't use his size enough.

Edmonton seems desperate for a centerman, any chance of getting a 2nd round pick out of them?
- hillbillydeluxe

Richardson>>Matthias. This team is already horrible on faceoffs, trading arguably our top guy is a mistake. And Richardson is better defensively, more gritty, consistent and wouldn't complain in a 4th line role.


I wouldn't mind seeing Richardson extended.

If we were to trade Matthias or Richardson, what is the return?

Both are ufa's at the end of the season...

I think Richardson may be better on face offs but it is nice to have a big guy like Matthias in your lineup... too bad he doesn't use his size enough.

Edmonton seems desperate for a centerman, any chance of getting a 2nd round pick out of them?
- hillbillydeluxe

An earful of laughter and then a sharp hangup from the GM on the other end?

An earful of laughter and then a sharp hangup from the GM on the other end?
- bloatedmosquito

Yeah, those guys aren't going to be in high demand. It would be like when Gillis picked up Higgins at the TDL. A solid bottom 6 player that you know is 90% more likely to have value than a 3rd round pick.

Gillis asked for Booth that TDL, Tallon asked him if he wanted Higgins for a pick after the Booth deal fell through at that TDL. Basically when you're shopping a bottom 6 player, you have to sell other GM's on the guy.