2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Welcome to the main forum of our site. Anything and everything to do with the Vancouver Canucks is dicussed and debated here.

Moderator: Referees

Post Reply
User avatar
Todd Bersnoozi
CC Legend
Posts: 3723
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 4:14 pm

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by Todd Bersnoozi »

I like the Barker and Vandermeer signings. U can never have enuff depth on the blue-line and considering we generally see alot of injuries back there, it's nice to have some NHL vets who can step in to play some games. They are obviously not going to solve our problems, but decent band-aids for the time being. Vandermeer seems like a good vet and Barker is just hitting his prime, so hopefully he can find his game that once made him a #3 overall pick. Not sure about Barker's style of play, but he has good size, so if he can be a steady d-man and be a bit of a physical presence, he'll be a good pickup to replace the departure of Rome. It is a bit of a concern that he has seemed to bounce around a bit around the league, but I think it's a good gamble for a guy to battle for the #5-#6 spot.
User avatar
Hockey Widow
CC Legend
Posts: 19125
Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:52 pm

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by Hockey Widow »

I don't have a problem with either signing. They are both just for depth. We of all teams should know the importance of defensive depth! Certainly nothing to get excited about but at the same time tiny cap hits, two way deals and one year contracts.
The only HW the Canucks need
User avatar
ukcanuck
MVP
MVP
Posts: 4591
Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2011 3:04 am

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by ukcanuck »

Is it me or does Barker remind anyone of Shane O Brian?
User avatar
Strangelove
Moderator & MVP
Moderator & MVP
Posts: 42804
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 12:13 pm
Location: Lake Vostok

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by Strangelove »

Hockey Widow wrote:tiny cap hits, two way deals and one year contracts.
The Barker contract is one-way.

$700K to play for the Wolves!

Craziness....

I`m fine with the Vandermeer contract.
____
Try to focus on someday.
User avatar
Carl Yagro
MVP
MVP
Posts: 11872
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:33 pm
Location: On wide shoulders...

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by Carl Yagro »

ukcanuck wrote:Is it me or does Barker remind anyone of Shane O Brian?
Maybe a little, but he reminds me more of Ryan Parent.

No matter how much he improves, I don't think he'll ever live down being 3rd overall behind Ovechkin and Malkin.
The Best GD Canucks Hockey Talk Forum in the World... With Only 18 People!
User avatar
BingoTough
CC 1st Team All-Star
Posts: 693
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:16 am

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by BingoTough »

tantalum wrote: He's apparently limping pretty good today and typically "tweaked" and "MRI" aren't used in the same sentence.
The MRI wasn't working properly, so I tweaked it!
User avatar
tantalum
CC Hall of Fan Member
Posts: 1911
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2004 3:41 am
Location: Carl Junction, MO

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by tantalum »

Smart ass.


Apparently the canucks players who practiced with Vandermeer at UBC went to management to request they sign him.
Lloyd Braun
CC Veteran
Posts: 175
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:21 pm

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by Lloyd Braun »

coco_canuck wrote:I can live with Vandermeer, Barker and Alberts in the short-term but if any of those guys have to play in the top 4 for an extended period....
You're talking about three guys who will be in the 7-10 range (with Connauton in that mix) on the depth chart. There isn't a team in the league that wouldn't be in trouble if three of their starting defensemen happened to go down with injury, and their #7 ended up playing top-4 minutes. If you expect MG to find seven serviceable top-4 defensemen, and fit them all under the cap... :lol: :drink:

At least now we have enough redundancy in our depth that we can sustain an run of injuries by spreading out the minutes. Having Alberts as #4 with a pairing like Vandermeer/Barker as #5-6 is bad... but not nearly as bad as it would be if our only #5-6 option was Sauve/Connauton.

Depth is a good thing, especially with a compressed schedule and no training camp. These signings add more depth in an area where we previously had a weakness. If all goes according to plan (yeah right), we won't have to play either of the new guys, and it would take a significant run of bad luck for us to require any of our depth to be thrust into a top-4 role.

... on a side note, am I the only one who's relieved that we won't have to hear a torrent of "If only we had signed Vandermeer instead of Barker!!!" comments, should that run of injuries occur?
User avatar
Topper
CC Legend
Posts: 18097
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:11 pm
Location: Earth, most days.

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by Topper »

Lloyd Braun wrote:... on a side note, am I the only one who's relieved that we won't have to hear a torrent of "If only we had signed Vandermeer instead of Barker!!!" comments, should that run of injuries occur?
Is spud still whining about not signing Mo?
Over the Internet, you can pretend to be anyone or anything.

I'm amazed that so many people choose to be complete twats.
User avatar
Chef Boi RD
MVP
MVP
Posts: 28881
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2004 6:36 pm
Location: Vancouver

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by Chef Boi RD »

Todd Bersnoozi wrote:I like the Barker and Vandermeer signings.
Here we go...it's already starting. Fuck if Mike Gillis talked Carl Brewer out of retirement you'd all be on your knees in ecstaticness over the signing. BTW, is Carl Brewer still alive?
“Tyler Myers is my guy... I was taking to Scotty Bowman last night and he was bringing up his name, and saying he’s a big guy and big guy need big minutes to play, he is playing great for ya… and I agree with him… He’s been exceptional” - Bruce Boudreau
User avatar
Chef Boi RD
MVP
MVP
Posts: 28881
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2004 6:36 pm
Location: Vancouver

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by Chef Boi RD »

Hockey Widow wrote:I don't have a problem with either signing.
As Doc Strangelove's good buddy Chucky Heston once said "It's a MADHOUSE! A MADHOUSE!"

Chucky - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFCM6TZgTMI
“Tyler Myers is my guy... I was taking to Scotty Bowman last night and he was bringing up his name, and saying he’s a big guy and big guy need big minutes to play, he is playing great for ya… and I agree with him… He’s been exceptional” - Bruce Boudreau
User avatar
coco_canuck
CC 1st Team All-Star
Posts: 966
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:54 pm

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by coco_canuck »

dbr wrote: It is. I suspect it's even harder to get those players now that we have sufficient NHL depth, you have to wonder if earlier in Gillis' tenure he had offered jobs to guys like Aaron Rome and Tanner Glass without obvious holes towards the bottom of the Canucks depth chart, would those players have passed and gone to teams with fewer legitimate NHLers?
I'm sure it plays into it.

As for young D-men, it's important they play a lot of minutes and not sit around as a spare part with the big club. I'd much rather have Barker and Alberts with the big team than letting someone like Connauton hang around, even if he proves to be better than those two. You can always call a young player up and have him with the team for the stretch drive.
L loyd Braun wrote: If you expect MG to find seven serviceable top-4 defensemen, and fit them all under the cap... :lol: :drink:
That's why I said it would have to come via trade.

Basically what I want is a young D man who can slot in as the number 5 but is more than capable of playing in the top 4 because by next year, it's likely something has to give with Ballard either by trade or buy-out if it comes to that. Unless Ballard plays better and they're comfortable with him playing in the top 4...which, well...I guess we'll see.

That's obviously perfecting a pretty solid defense top to bottom.
User avatar
Per
MVP
MVP
Posts: 9331
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:45 am
Location: Sweden

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by Per »

Strangelove wrote:
coco_canuck wrote:Here is another defenceman
‏@VanCanucks
Media Release: #Canucks sign defenceman Jim Vandermeer.
There ya go Blobby!!

And Barker slides to #9/10 on the depth chart.

Look out Wolfies, here he comes!

Cam Freakshow Barker was cut by AHL's Texas Stars 1 month ago.

Why Gillis wants to pay him $700K to play for the Wolves I'll probably never know...
Oh, come on, you know why!
The guy used to have a bright future, then somehow lost track.
Gillis is hoping he can somehow turn around and become the player he was supposed to be.
Till then, he'll be playing with the wolves.
Whatever you do, always give 100 %!
Except when donating blood.
User avatar
UWSaint
MVP
MVP
Posts: 1065
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:37 pm

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by UWSaint »

Strangelove wrote:
Hockey Widow wrote:tiny cap hits, two way deals and one year contracts.
The Barker contract is one-way.

$700K to play for the Wolves!

Craziness....

I`m fine with the Vandermeer contract.
I could care less about what Canucks management pays a guy to play in Chicago -- well, except that under the new CBA there are salary cap implications for stashing players who are more highly paid than Barker.

Rich teams have a few advantages. One is the ability to spend to the cap. The other is the ability to buy experienced depth beyond the cap by overpaying a guy to play in the minors.

So I'm fine with the Barker signing. He is young enough to turn in around -- particularly if the issues were due to injury or something psychological that can be overcome with the right environment. I don't expect it, and I think from the depth the team has assembled, Canucks management doesn't expect it. But it will be a happy turn of events if it occurs.
Hono_rary Canadian
User avatar
spooner
CC Veteran
Posts: 96
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:54 pm

Re: 2013 Canucks Short Preseason/Training Camp

Post by spooner »

UWSaint wrote:
Strangelove wrote:
Hockey Widow wrote:tiny cap hits, two way deals and one year contracts.
So I'm fine with the Barker signing. He is young enough to turn in around -- particularly if the issues were due to injury or something psychological that can be overcome with the right environment. I don't expect it, and I think from the depth the team has assembled, Canucks management doesn't expect it. But it will be a happy turn of events if it occurs.
Exactly. It's a low risk signing with potential (but highly unlikely) upside. Yes, he got cut from an AHL team. Yes, he was horrible in Edmonton last year. But...this is a guy that was drafted third behind Ovechkin and Malkin and a few years ago put up 40 points in 68 games (48/82 pace). There's not a lot of guys out there that have that on their resume and are only 26 and are available for $700k. For sure - it was likely a blip on the radar caused by getting a ton of minutes on a high scoring team and there were undoubtedly holes in his game apparent even then that have ballooned in size over the past few years. But it's only $700k and if he really is the player that he's appeared to be during the last couple years then he won't play for the Canucks - or at least not for long.
Post Reply