The Brown Knight wrote:
Hey Spock,
Good post, but I'll disagree on one thing:
I can't find the post where you said this, but I think you posed the question, "If the Canucks are going into rebuild, then why sign the twins in the first place?"
Here's my thought: Whether the Canucks are 'going for it' OR 'rebuilding', you have to sign the twins either way. Period. If you're going for it, then obviously the twins can be key pieces. If rebuilding however - then you still need that solid veteran presence to nurture and mentor the up-and-comers.
The proper way to rebuild is to have a good mix of veterans and youth/prospect/up-and-comers.
If you get rid of all your vets, you end up like Edmonton. By the same token, if you hold onto an aging core without getting any youth in the line-up, you ultimately end up like Toronto did in 2004 and Calgary did in 2009.
This is why I believe that Gillis kept the twins.....................while moving Luongo. This is also why I feel that Kesler will inevitably be moved as well (by this Summer or at the draft).
I don't think we're a rudderless ship at all. Depending on what we do with Kesler, I don't think it could take all that long to get back where we need to be.
The idea I've had in mind for a few days now is Kesler and Edler for the Schenn brothers and Simmonds.
Sedin-Sedin-Kassian
Higgins-Schenn-Simmonds
Burrows-Matthias-Hansen
Gaunce-Horvat-Sestito
Hamhuis-Garrison
Tanev-Bieksa
Schenn-Corrado
Lack
Markstrom.
That team right there fits the descripton of being bigger, younger, and faster.
With freed up cap space (Booth buyout + 85% of Luongo gone), and with guys like Jensen, Shinkaruk, Schroeder, etc., in our system, you could use those assets to bring in another young and gritty defenseman for more depth on defense.
To be honest, I'd also use Tanev and Corrado as bargaining chips to try and get bigger and meaner on defense (I like Tanev a lot but after thinking about this for a few days, I think it's more important for us to get bigger on defense).
I was liking the idea of that deal with Philly. I didn't think it made sense, but when we start hearing that the Flyers are after Kesler and are offering Brayden Schenn, and that they also called about Edler, well there ya go.
Holmgren has now confirmed that he made no offer for Kesler. And why would he? He has Schenn AND Couturier. The Flyers are set down the middle with Giroux centering the top line. Getting Schenn and Simmonds out of Philly isn't going to happen. Time to let it go TBK.
Spock was dead right when he asked, if you are rebuilding why sign a pair of declining 34 year old forwards to 4 year contracts with a raise AND a NTC? Most of us all agreed that you can't replace Hank and Danny's production for the same price via free agency.....well, barring a bounce back next season that is simply not true anymore.
Had Gillis structured the Sedin's deal to be 4 years that looked more like 7-7-6-5.....and NO NTC, then that is alright. Their cap hit is now $6.25M each, and there would have been the option to move them if things really continue to go south.
What is also odd about their re-signing is how early it was done. Most of GMMG's extensions have been done after the Christmas break and closer to the halfway point of the season. Had he waited and held to his usual pattern then I think he would be doing things much differently.
The Sedins, allegedly, have a great work ethic and are fierce competitors. However, I don't see them as being leaders that youngsters should be looking to at this point in their careers. When the chips are down and the game is on the line, all the Sedins have done for the last 2 seasons is cycle like mad men and slow things down. They don't know how to up their game in the pressure situation, they don't know how to play desperate hockey.....or so it seems.
If we are entering a re-build phase then Kesler is the guy you want in the room. Look at what Torts said about him the other day, he's the hardest working guy on the team, he never has to say anything to Kes. Torts level of praise for the twins has really disappeared too. He was all about how good they are and blah blah blah when he came into Vancouver. Now? Now Kesler is receiving his praise, and as the season progressed less was said about the Sedins and more about guys like Kes and Juice.
In this NHL, the Sedins, at 34 years old, are NOT players you build around. They are players you eventually see taking a secondary role at a lesser cap hit, or you show them the door with a pat on the back and a thanks for all the fish.