Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Kassian, Weber Re-signed, Prospects Camp Next Week The Vancouver Canucks wrapped up a busy week by signing two key restricted free agents, Zack Kassian and Yannick Weber. Prospects Development Camp starts Monday.

Hey I'm just wondering whats up with Ryan Stanton? Why isn't he on the canucks cap geek list? He is signed for this next year right?

Hey I'm just wondering whats up with Ryan Stanton? Why isn't he on the canucks cap geek list? He is signed for this next year right?
- James23

Wouldn't worry about it, he is still listed on the roster on the Canucks roster page... if he isn't signed, then he is rfa...

(he is on the cap geek list, just on the LITR, Minor Leaguers and Prospects list)

Carol, Benning didnt hand out a NTC like Kesler's. They are nowhere near that handcuffed with Miller and Vrbata. Shorter term as well. Its worth mentioning that Vrbata's wife was going through a high risk pregnancy in Europe when he left TB.

Carol, Benning didnt hand out a NTC like Kesler's. They are nowhere near that handcuffed with Miller and Vrbata. Shorter term as well. Its worth mentioning that Vrbata's wife was going through a high risk pregnancy in Europe when he left TB.
- boonerbuck

As long as there is a list of teams- options, it has to be better than Kesler handcuffing the club with only 1 team to trade with.

The only thing troubling about Vrbata, was the piling on by msm when he was in the playoffs a few years ago and msm were saying he had no heart or something. But who cares really, as long as he puts up the points and works hard here and not Schtupping wives of team mates.

As long as there is a list of teams- options, it has to be better than Kesler handcuffing the club with only 1 team to trade with.

The only thing troubling about Vrbata, was the piling on by msm when he was in the playoffs a few years ago and msm were saying he had no heart or something. But who cares really, as long as he puts up the points and works hard here and not Schtupping wives of team mates.

- hillbillydeluxe

I agree.

Im not too worried about Vrbata in the playoffs. It's not like we picked him up for a long playoff run.

Don't particularly love the moves or hate them, the shakeup to the core was much needed though. Interesting that most of us were assuming that a forward would be moved due to a potential logjam up front but Benning days this is likely the roster going into camp. If true, it'll at least be nice to have a decent 4th line in Matthias-Richardson-Dorsett.Also puts Higgins and Hansen where they should be, as third line wingers. Not sure if they'll play well with Vey though.

It's going to be difficult for the young forwards to crack this lineup. I was really hoping Jensen would make the top 9 plus PP time. Will Horvat get some regular season games before likely being sent down? Injuries will likely happen, I just hope that the young guys get some decent NHL action this year. Nothing wrong with competition and depth though. It's certainly better than what Gillis did when trying to fill his 4th line by signing some AHL players and hoping 1 of them would be good enough.

I agree.

Im not too worried about Vrbata in the playoffs. It's not like we picked him up for a long playoff run.
- boonerbuck

True

Carol - great writing and insight as per usual. Really happy with the excellent content and not having to deal with 'cheerleader ratings' on the blog anymore.

Personally, not happy with the make-up of the team - looks like a mixed bag. But, I'll agree that I'm happier with the team today and it's trajectory than before.

Think the Miller contract was not a 'deal' (too much for the term and a NTC). Am sad to hear that Vrbata got a NTC - feels like a Pavol Demitra signing to me (RIP). Also sad that the Canucks didn't pickup a top notch role player like in the Gillis heydays.

Overall though, I'm happy that the team got younger and didn't raid the draft cupboard. The future looks brighter.

As long as there is a list of teams- options, it has to be better than Kesler handcuffing the club with only 1 team to trade with.

The only thing troubling about Vrbata, was the piling on by msm when he was in the playoffs a few years ago and msm were saying he had no heart or something. But who cares really, as long as he puts up the points and works hard here and not Schtupping wives of team mates.

- hillbillydeluxe

I have seen this statement by several posters...so enlighten me, did Kes slip something in their drinks before he slipped something else in them. I mean what about the cheating unfaithful wives, obviously it was mutual. Maybe the women seduced him, and he couldn't let them down...

Carol, Benning didnt hand out a NTC like Kesler's. They are nowhere near that handcuffed with Miller and Vrbata. Shorter term as well. Its worth mentioning that Vrbata's wife was going through a high risk pregnancy in Europe when he left TB.
- boonerbuck

All true, but I think carol's point is valid.

I've female doged and whined a bit about the canuck's current state because I assumed that they were in re-build mode. But now I realized that as long as the twins are on this team ownership (and therefore management) will re-tool to try to stay competitive.

I don't mind the re-tool but I would prefer to replace aging vets with youth that's in your system. Not sign more aging players to NTC regardless of term.

Don't particularly love the moves or hate them, the shakeup to the core was much needed though. Interesting that most of us were assuming that a forward would be moved due to a potential logjam up front but Benning days this is likely the roster going into camp. If true, it'll at least be nice to have a decent 4th line in Matthias-Richardson-Dorsett.Also puts Higgins and Hansen where they should be, as third line wingers. Not sure if they'll play well with Vey though.

It's going to be difficult for the young forwards to crack this lineup. I was really hoping Jensen would make the top 9 plus PP time. Will Horvat get some regular season games before likely being sent down? Injuries will likely happen, I just hope that the young guys get some decent NHL action this year. Nothing wrong with competition and depth though. It's certainly better than what Gillis did when trying to fill his 4th line by signing some AHL players and hoping 1 of them would be good enough.
- Nucker101

Benning may have decided he is going to give this group a try but the coach will decide the lines and which young players earned themselves a spot and where. At that point it will be Bennings job to shuffle the roster a bit. Could see a bottom 6 vet being moved to make room for a Jensen, Horvat etc...

If Jensen impresses at camp, I have no doubt they will make room for him. This is what they need, this is what Benning will do.

I have seen this statement by several posters...so enlighten me, did Kes slip something in their drinks before he slipped something else in them. I mean what about the cheating unfaithful wives, obviously it was mutual. Maybe the women seduced him, and he couldn't let them down...
- Makita

If their wives were leadership on this team, we would care about their conduct. I don't expect much from hockey groupies turned wives anyways....

If their wives were leadership on this team, we would care about their conduct. I don't expect much from hockey groupies turned wives anyways....
- boonerbuck

Benning may have decided he is going to give this group a try but the coach will decide the lines and which young players earned themselves a spot and where. At that point it will be Bennings job to shuffle the roster a bit. Could see a bottom 6 vet being moved to make room for a Jensen, Horvat etc...

If Jensen impresses at camp, I have no doubt they will make room for him. This is what they need, this is what Benning will do.
- boonerbuck

I hope you're right because there are a lot of signed players going to camp. Might lose a few through wavers or desperate trades.

But now I realized that as long as the twins are on this team ownership (and therefore management) will re-tool to try to stay competitive.

I don't mind the re-tool but I would prefer to replace aging vets with youth that's in your system. Not sign more aging players to NTC regardless of term.
- bloatedmosquito

I think folks forget that last year the Twins were in the scoring lead at the start of the season. Not that the Art Ross days are ahead, but I still think that the twins are solid players that will make everyone around them better. $7 mill each was a DEAL. Those guys are future HHOF and they earned a NTC.

Even Burrows I could live with given his history with the team, his original $2mill discount and versatility.

But a NTC for everyone else who has one - WTF?

All true, but I think carol's point is valid.

I've female doged and whined a bit about the canuck's current state because I assumed that they were in re-build mode. But now I realized that as long as the twins are on this team ownership (and therefore management) will re-tool to try to stay competitive.

I don't mind the re-tool but I would prefer to replace aging vets with youth that's in your system. Not sign more aging players to NTC regardless of term.
- bloatedmosquito

I have seen this statement by several posters...so enlighten me, did Kes slip something in their drinks before he slipped something else in them. I mean what about the cheating unfaithful wives, obviously it was mutual. Maybe the women seduced him, and he couldn't let them down...
- Makita

Yeah, you are prolly right, poor Kes was misunderstood and is just in love with being in love.

It does take two to tango, but joking aside, it is not endearing to team mates when your rep is that of a serial adulterer... But it is nothing new, there should be a tabloid on all the behind the scenes stuff in hockey like the entertainment industry... I am sure more than a few Keslers would come to light.

Looking forward to see what Hutton brings to prospect camp.

All true, but I think carol's point is valid.

I've female doged and whined a bit about the canuck's current state because I assumed that they were in re-build mode. But now I realized that as long as the twins are on this team ownership (and therefore management) will re-tool to try to stay competitive.

I don't mind the re-tool but I would prefer to replace aging vets with youth that's in your system. Not sign more aging players to NTC regardless of term.
- bloatedmosquito

Its not even a re-tool imo. They didnt outfit this team to compete in the playoffs like the Canucks three years ago. Its purely a stop gap. They dont have kids ready to fill all those spots without going into tank mode. This isnt a team thats going to do that. Ownership needs fan base, players want to win, new coach probably had expectations before signing, GM is going to balance future success against tickets and profit.....

Cant expect all the 1st rounders from this year and last year to step in. The rest are not ready or sub par for the most part. Youth cant take over this team yet.... hence the 2 and 3 year contracts for Miller and Vrbata.... which will turn into more picks in 1.5 and 2.5 years.... contributing to the youth movement that way.

I think Benning will land us picks from vets by the TDL closing anyways. Edler, Bieksa, Hammer, Higgins, Hansen.... one or 2 of them will be gone... a second 1st in this draft.... book it.

I think folks forget that last year the Twins were in the scoring lead at the start of the season. Not that the Art Ross days are ahead, but I still think that the twins are solid players that will make everyone around them better. $7 mill each was a DEAL. Those guys are future HHOF and they earned a NTC.

Even Burrows I could live with given his history with the team, his original $2mill discount and versatility.

But a NTC for everyone else who has one - WTF?
- Ronning4ever

This whole NTC craze is not just a canuck problem but a NHL problem. The league needs to get away from these deals. More and more you see these contracts have a negative affect on the teams, the game, and the players themselves.

Kesler was lucky, doesn't always work out so nicely.

I hope you're right because there are a lot of signed players going to camp. Might lose a few through wavers or desperate trades.
- bloatedmosquito

How much would we care if they waived a 4rth liner to make room for Jensen for example... toastito gone...

From Trevor Linden's hiring on April 9 until today, are you satisfied with the changes the Canucks have made?

I don't think this fan base (specifically the maniacal HB community) will ever be "satisfied", but I think the ship is definitely pointing in the right direction now. Still lots more work to do however.

How much would we care if they waived a 4rth liner to make room for Jensen for example... toastito gone...
- boonerbuck

How much would we care if they waived a 4rth liner to make room for Jensen for example... toastito gone...
- boonerbuck

But he said he was going to "snipe 45 this year." Where would our goals come from then?