Canucks get Zack Kassian

[RoyalDude]

Zack Kassian last night - 6:52
Cody Hodgson last night - 14:38

[Hockey Widow]

Dont you think that the sabres found something in this guy that turned them off??? why WOULD they let go a prospect of his caliber ?? I am not saying the sabres won the trade, as a matter of fact i hated the trade. i was looking forward to kassian being an important part of the team for years to come, but some on this board seem to think it was a slam dunk that the canucks came out better. looks like a pretty even trade to me, except the fact that the sabres gave away they desperately need in toughness....when he decides to play tough

I don't hear or read where anyone really thinks the Canucks won this trade in any slam dunk, at all. We are well aware of what we gave up. What I read, and what I believe, is that Kassian fills a void on the team that Cody could not ever fill. I also believe he fills a role moving forward that Cody would never ever fill. In Hodgson you get a potential 2nd line centre who can, if he reaches his potential, get 50-60 assists a year and 15-20 goals. But you also get the warts of average defence and little or no muscle. Those aside I think everyone who has watched Cody feels he is a very good pick up for the Sabres and more along the lines of what you need now.

Cody was not going to replace Sedin or Kesler now or for the next 3-4 years. He is not 3rd line material. He is not 4th line material. He cannot adapt to play wing. So what we had is a player with tons of potential who is not versatile enough for what we need as a contender. Whether Kassian provides some of that only time will tell.

No one believes he will replace Cody's offensive potential. I think that is clear that most believe Cody is a better offensive player. Just like few believe that kassian this year will reach his potential. The hope is he will develop and become more part of the core down the road. My hope for this year is he provides what we have missed on the 4th line for several years. Not a goon or simply a fighter but muscle and energy. If he can do that this year on a consistent basis then he helps us immensely in the playoffs.

As many have said, when you have a team built like the canucks there was little chance that Cody would see the ice time in the playoffs to be a difference maker for us. But to read into that that people think we won a trade slam dunk is being silly. In fact I haven't seen one comment to that effect. Reactions are polarized and mixed. This was a hockey trade that addressed needs both teams had and in Cody you get a great young kid with a ton of potential. But so do we.

[tantalum]

Zack Kassian last night - 6:52
Cody Hodgson last night - 14:38

Pahlsson 13 or so minutes +1, game winning goal
Hodgson 14 or so minutes -1.

[Hockey Widow]

Zack Kassian last night - 6:52
Cody Hodgson last night - 14:38

Pahlsson 13 or so minutes +1, game winning goal
Hodgson 14 or so minutes -1.

You got it Tant. To see if we came out ahead deadline day lets compare Hodgson to Pahlsson. Those are after all the positional changes.

I would suspect that RD likes this trade but likes it more to be a devil's advocate. I mean after all Grabner was the second coming until just recently when he is now garbage to RD. Go figure.

[RoyalDude]

The canucks are lacking young NHL ready depth on the wing but had very good center ice depth.

So after Ryan and Hank, who are these so called 'skilled' natural playmaking/set up Centremen we have in our system who can centre in the top 3 lines. The entire system, ie Vancouver, the Wolves, in junior/college/europe...anywhere. Just who are these centreman that we have a plethora of in the system?

I just don't buy the logic that we had to much skill at centre. Pat Lafontaine played like 3 or 4 years at 3rd line centre with the Islanders behind Trottier, Goring and Brent Sutter. What was the rush with Cody, this was his rookie year wasn't it? Joe Sakic played a couple years behind Peter Stastny and Dale Hunter. The Centre position, outside of goaltending is the most important position in hockey and we squandered it for a 4th line winger, no offense to Kassian, I like him, but seriously, skilled young centreman are hard to get.

[RoyalDude]

Zack Kassian last night - 6:52
Cody Hodgson last night - 14:38

Pahlsson 13 or so minutes +1, game winning goal
Hodgson 14 or so minutes -1.

I thought we traded Hodgson for Kassian? Not the 34 year old shut down specialist Pahlsson with limited offensive skill.

[tantalum]

So after Ryan and Hank, who are these so called 'skilled' natural playmaking/set up Centremen we have in our system who can centre in the top 3 lines in Vancouver, the Wolves, in junior/college/europe...anywhere. Just who are these centreman that we have a plethora of in the system?

I just don't buy the logic that we had to much skill at centre. Pat Lafontaine played like 3 or 4 years at 3rd line centre with the Islanders behind Trottier, Goring and Brent Sutter. What was the rush with Cody, this was his rookie year wasn't it? Joe Sakic played a couple years behind Peter Stastny and Dale Hunter. The Centre position, outside of goaltending is the most important position in hockey and we squandered it for a 4th line winger, no offense to Kassian, I like him, but seriously, skilled young centreman are hard to get.

I in fact do understand where you are coming from. And yes they will need to find some replacements no question. But the wing and more specifically a power forward at wing was a more pressing need for the organization right now. At least IMO (also a top 4 D-man....). Gillis likely feels he can deal with the center ice situation a little further down the road.

I have a feeling you'll have to ask Cody what the rush was.....


To you last post. Yes Kassian was acquired in the Hodgson trade, however, he is not the one replacing Hodgson in the lineup. But of course you knew that.

[RoyalDude]

No one believes he will replace Cody's offensive potential. I think that is clear that most believe Cody is a better offensive player. Just like few believe that kassian this year will reach his potential. The hope is he will develop and become more part of the core down the road. My hope for this year is he provides what we have missed on the 4th line for several years. Not a goon or simply a fighter but muscle and energy. If he can do that this year on a consistent basis then he helps us immensely in the playoffs.

Hope, hope and more hope. We traded a guaranteed offensive producer for Hope.

And let us not forget, Cody produced some pretty good numbers as a 3rd line centre behind Hank and Kesler with lesser skilled wingers and limited ice time tightly monitored and held under microscope by Coach AV and second unit PP.

[RoyalDude]

I have a feeling you'll have to ask Cody what the rush was.....


To you last post. Yes Kassian was acquired in the Hodgson trade, however, he is not the one replacing Hodgson in the lineup. But of course you knew that.

So you are one of the ones buying into the unsubstantiated rumor that CoHo wanted out of Vancouver, simply going by Rich Winters Tweets?

Who the fuck cares about Old Man Pahlsson, we traded CoHo for Kassian. This isn't about Pahlsson, Sulzer, Gragnani whatever. The heart of the deal was Kassian for CoHo. So, no matter how you try to lawyer it it, it is always going to be Kassian vs CoHo forever in Canuck history.

[tantalum]

So you are one of the ones buying into the unsubstantiated rumor that CoHo wanted out of Vancouver, simply going by Rich Winters Tweets?

Nope not simply going by the tweets which are plain as day. Going by every other pundit that have now talked to numerous sources and there really is no question he was not happy with the icetime. Not saying he asked for a trade.

Who the fuck cares about Old Man Pahlsson, we traded CoHo for Kassian. This isn't about Pahlsson, Sulzer, Gragnani whatever. The heart of the deal was Kassian for CoHo. So, no matter how you try to lawyer it it, it is always going to be Kassian vs CoHo forever in Canuck history.

WHen you evaluate the deal in a number of years when all is said and done absolutely. But that isn't how you evaluate the deal right now for the current team.

[Strangelove]

Who the fuck cares about Old Man Pahlsson, we traded CoHo for Kassian. This isn't about Pahlsson, Sulzer, Gragnani whatever. The heart of the deal was Kassian for CoHo. So, no matter how you try to lawyer it it, it is always going to be Kassian vs CoHo forever in Canuck history.

That's where your wrong Dude.

Gragnani will be the biggest star of the lot.

Hey, the kid has 22 points in 70 NHL games!

Compare that to Coho's 36 points in 89 games, keeping in mind Grags is a defenseman!

(also note Grags put up WAY more PPG in the AHL than Coho).

HOPEfully he continues his upward trend, increasing his value so that GMMG can trade him for a shutdown dee....

[Blob Mckenzie]

We traded a guaranteed offensive producer for Hope.

Guaranteed to score 3 points in 19 games. What's that a 13 point pace for the year ?

Put the dime bag down Pacific Blue .

[dhabums]

I thought we traded Hodgson for Kassian? Not the 34 year old shut down specialist Pahlsson with limited offensive skill.

Redefining obtuse every single day.

[RoyalDude]

I thought we traded Hodgson for Kassian? Not the 34 year old shut down specialist Pahlsson with limited offensive skill.

Redefining obtuse every single day.

Shutup dhabums

[Strangelove]

^^^^ Dude trying to SHUT DOWN Dhabums.

errr... shutup is pretty much the same as shutdown right?