Carol Schram: Canucks don't use a buyout and Josh Leivo joins the exodus to Calgary
Rather than create a bit of salary-cap breathing room by buying out Brandon Sutter, the Vancouver Canucks elected to stay the course during their second buy-out window. Also, a Vancouver offer to Josh Leivo was rejected as the right winger chose to join Jacob Markstrom and Chris Tanev with the Calgary Flames.
Location: Auckland -Burn it all down Joined: 10.22.2008
Oct 25 @ 3:49 PM ET
Cheers Carol.
Big fan of the boss over here, i'll check out that doco.
As for the Canucks — yes, when healthy, Leivo was a useful middle-six two-way forward, who could play in all situations. But I don't really understand the desire to spend still *more* money, especially at wing, where the Canucks are already overloaded.
This is my feeling as well.
I think Leivo at the low salary/term he signed for would be better than a couple of the bloated contracts we have at forward, but JB obviously tried and failed to move some of those.
You can put the idea aside that he's not been given a chance because he's bound for the NHL. His 4rth line mates are drafted kids as well and are doing better and not getting scratched... in fact, Marchenko has been rewarded with top line ice time.
Podz' play crashed after his first 8 games where he wasnt on the ice for any goals. It completely reversed. He's sitting because his play had been going downhill. His last game was his worse of the season. Two scratched since. He'll be in Finland for the U20 tourney in 2 weeks. He should come back with some momentum after that.
Funny how JB seems to losing out on his UFA re-signing attempts. Not counting Markstrom he's 0-3.
"Once again, it sounds like he was rebuffed in favour of the Flames."
I like Leivo but the sense is that he felt he had a better chance of playing up the lineup in Calgary. Canucks are fine and Podz will be eating up another wing spot soon enough.