Trades and rumours (& fantasies) 2013-14

[Jovocop]

Thornton is a no go, we already got Sestito whose our tough guy who can somewhat play and provide a lot of grit/energy on the 4th line.

All we need a energy guy who has some scoring ability/passing and relentless checking attributes for the 4th line RW.
Like the Hawks Ben Smith or Kings Trevor Lewis.

Tootoo?? He will be bought out by the Wings and could come cheap. The Canucks could once again be the most hated team in the NHL...

[RoyalDude]

I really don't see how Mattias fits in on this team. LW? Instead of who? Our 3rd line better have Higgins & Hansen on it...perhaps Santorelli is in the 3 spot but he just very well may be our 2C depending on what .

I agree Clam, Matthias is another classic 2nd line 3rd line confused tweener that Gillis obsessed about. Benning and Linden are pushing for players playing defined roles, exc at those roles and seem to desire the classic 2 scoring lines, an energy, mucking, rugged 3rd line and tough grinding 4th line. Do not see where Matthias fits there. Matthias reminds me of lousy version of Greg Adams, if he was a little more skilled - Great, or if he was tougher - Great. But he is not, this is the same that applies to what I hate about Garrison, just not enough of something that makes him valuable. Just another amazing Gillis Tweener

[Betamax]

Here's a possible scenario I could see happening:

Kesler to the Pens for Pouliot + Sutter
Bo + 6th pick for 1st overall and 3rd/4th rounder and the Canucks use it draft The Son of Paul

The Canucks then have a potential 1C and top pairing offensive Defenseman of the Future. Sutter takes over the role of what Bo would have provided. Or maybe the Canucks' could flip Sutter plus the 6th pick and add a bit more to acquire the 1st overall and then the Canucks can have a combo of The Son of Paul and Horvat as a 1-2 or 1-3 punch in the future.

[Mondi]

The Canucks need to do what they did with Kesler, exactly what they did with Linden. Replace a declining star with two players who have potential be all-stars. And if they could then turn around do with one of those players what they did with McCabe, that would be outstanding.

That Sutter player in Pittsburgh has 6 NHL seasons under his belt and has never scored more than 21 goals and 40 points (five years ago). He is small upgrade on Sean Matthias and not welcome on my version of the Nucks.

Just say NO to perennial 15-goal third liner centre for Ryan Kesler or any other former all-star Canucks.

[Topper]

D Umburger has apparently given Columbus a list of teams he does not want to go to. I suspect Calgary is high on that list.

[SKYO]

Didn't Lindenning say Horvat would most likely play on the wing?

A week or so ago, dunno could be wrong....

I didn't see that, plus we got way to many wingers as it is, BoHo staying center.

I will be surprised if both of Higgins and Hansen are on the team come October. I would like to see Higgins traded, and it strikes me that he is the kind of player that Benning will move out as he just doesn't seem to have that second gear or consistency. I also think that one of Mathias or Kassian or Jensen can replace his production.

Nah, Hansen is the odd man out now with Kassian and Jensen rising up the ranks.

Higgins at least can score and pass (40pts a season), a superb vet 3rd liner with ability to step up to 2nd line for spot duty when/if injuries occur, honeybadger on the other hand can be really frustrating to watch with his lack of scoring ability, he's now redundant and overpaid, on a stacked Cup team he'd be perfect for the 4th line RW spot, too bad he's making $2.5M per.

[ESQ]

D Umburger has apparently given Columbus a list of teams he does not want to go to. I suspect Calgary is high on that list.

I wonder if his no-trade list can include "whatever team Ryan Kesler is on".

[Island Nucklehead]

That Sutter player in Pittsburgh has 6 NHL seasons under his belt and has never scored more than 21 goals and 40 points (five years ago). He is small upgrade on Sean Matthias and not welcome on my version of the Nucks.

Just say NO to perennial 15-goal third liner centre for Ryan Kesler or any other former all-star Canucks.

Agreed. Especially as he's an RFA and likely to want $3.5-$4M and has a $2.7M Qualifying Offer.

He will not be a 2nd line centre on a good NHL team, and we have enough tweeners. IMO guys like Richardson, Matthias and Horvat should be able to manage the bottom-2 C spots.

[Diehard1]

1st - Hank
2nd - _____
3rd - Matthias is better off at LW _____
4th - Richardson is a superb 4th line C.

Horvat has a 50/50 shot at making it.
Gaunce is better suited in the AHL.
Cassels isn't ready I assume.

Didn't Lindenning say Horvat would most likely play on the wing?

A week or so ago, dunno could be wrong....

Horvat is very good defensively and the best faceoff man in the CHL. He's a center through and through. On team Canada he played center and it was Reinhart who was moved to the wing, even though everyone says Reinhart is a center in the NHL.

Bo will surprise this year I think, he's a very good prospect and should be ready for the NHL assuming he puts in the required work this summer.

[RoyalDude]

Higgins at least can score and pass (40pts a season), a superb vet 3rd liner with ability to step up to 2nd line for spot duty when/if injuries occur, honeybadger on the other hand can be really frustrating to watch with his lack of scoring ability, he's now redundant and overpaid, on a stacked Cup team he'd be perfect for the 4th line RW spot, too bad he's making $2.5M per.

let me ask you this Me Oh Skyo, are you satisfied with Higgins starting somewhere on the top 2 lines? what does that say about our top 2 lines? Not much. Is Higgins, the rugged, mucker, grinder, grit and sandpaper you want for the 3rd line that Linden and Benning want? If you are sober, you would say No. So tell me, where does a tweener like Higgins fit? During a rebuild he is taking a roster spot from a kid who has a higher ceiling. He is pointless. Mark my words, he will not last under the Bendin/Lindenning regime

[Betamax]

Higgins at least can score and pass (40pts a season), a superb vet 3rd liner with ability to step up to 2nd line for spot duty when/if injuries occur, honeybadger on the other hand can be really frustrating to watch with his lack of scoring ability, he's now redundant and overpaid, on a stacked Cup team he'd be perfect for the 4th line RW spot, too bad he's making $2.5M per.

let me ask you this Me Oh Skyo, are you satisfied with Higgins starting somewhere on the top 2 lines? what does that say about our top 2 lines? Not much. Is Higgins, the rugged, mucker, grinder, grit and sandpaper you want for the 3rd line that Linden and Benning want? If you are sober, you would say No. So tell me, where does a tweener like Higgins fit? During a rebuild he is taking a roster spot from a kid who has a higher ceiling. He is pointless. Mark my words, he will not last under the Bendin/Lindenning regime

LOL .... on "Bendin/Lindenning regime." I might just adopt that with your permission.

Regarding Higgins, yeah ... I think one of Higgins/Hansen is shipped out before the season begins. Of the two, I'd probably want to keep Hansen over Higgins.

[Rumsfeld]

Ship Hansen and Higgins off at the deadline or sooner for second rounders. We're gonna be in the McDavid/Eichel sweepstakes anyway.

Keep building that young prospect pool baby, keep increasing the odds of getting some great players outside of the first round.

Sell sell sell.

[Blob Mckenzie]

Higgins at least can score and pass (40pts a season), a superb vet 3rd liner with ability to step up to 2nd line for spot duty when/if injuries occur, honeybadger on the other hand can be really frustrating to watch with his lack of scoring ability, he's now redundant and overpaid, on a stacked Cup team he'd be perfect for the 4th line RW spot, too bad he's making $2.5M per.

let me ask you this Me Oh Skyo, are you satisfied with Higgins starting somewhere on the top 2 lines? what does that say about our top 2 lines? Not much. Is Higgins, the rugged, mucker, grinder, grit and sandpaper you want for the 3rd line that Linden and Benning want? If you are sober, you would say No. So tell me, where does a tweener like Higgins fit? During a rebuild he is taking a roster spot from a kid who has a higher ceiling. He is pointless. Mark my words, he will not last under the Bendin/Lindenning regime

Higgins is cheap labour for good secondary scoring. He can fill in on the top 2 lines in the event of injury. He can play special teams and is a very popular player on the team. There is no reason to deal this player unless a good return is coming back. Hansen has brick hands and is no more physical than Higgins is. HE should be dealt this summer.

[Betamax]

Ship Hansen and Higgins off at the deadline or sooner for second rounders. We're gonna be in the McDavid/Eichel sweepstakes anyway.

Keep building that young prospect pool baby, keep increasing the odds of getting some great players outside of the first round.

Sell sell sell.

I think they could sell it to a lot of the "educated" fan base.

But can the Bendin/Lindenning regime sell that to ownership?

[RoyalDude]

Higgins at least can score and pass (40pts a season), a superb vet 3rd liner with ability to step up to 2nd line for spot duty when/if injuries occur, honeybadger on the other hand can be really frustrating to watch with his lack of scoring ability, he's now redundant and overpaid, on a stacked Cup team he'd be perfect for the 4th line RW spot, too bad he's making $2.5M per.

let me ask you this Me Oh Skyo, are you satisfied with Higgins starting somewhere on the top 2 lines? what does that say about our top 2 lines? Not much. Is Higgins, the rugged, mucker, grinder, grit and sandpaper you want for the 3rd line that Linden and Benning want? If you are sober, you would say No. So tell me, where does a tweener like Higgins fit? During a rebuild he is taking a roster spot from a kid who has a higher ceiling. He is pointless. Mark my words, he will not last under the Bendin/Lindenning regime

Higgins is cheap labour for good secondary scoring. He can fill in on the top 2 lines in the event of injury. He can play special teams and is a very popular player on the team. There is no reason to deal this player unless a good return is coming back. Hansen has brick hands and is no more physical than Higgins is. HE should be dealt this summer.

Listen Blobby Beer guts, I don't get your weird man love for Chris 'disappear in the big game' Higgins. Has he ever fought? He's too nice, thus city has a weird obsession with nice guys. At Least the Honey Badger loses his nut once in awhile and gets scrappy do like