Canucks get Zack Kassian

[dbr]

You look at the GF and GA percentage before and after the Hodgson deal, and you'll notice that the GA percentage isn't a whole different. You look at the GF percentage however and it reveals a whole different story.

It's actually been in decline for most of the year.

October: 2.82 G/G (31G in 11GP)
November to the Bruins game: 3.64 G/G (102 G in 28 GP)
Bruins game to the trade deadline: 2.95 G/G (59 G in 20 GP)
Trade deadline to end of Regular season: 2.5 G/G (45 G in 18 GP)

Interestingly enough, Cody Hodson was relatively hot during that productive period - 21 of his 33 points as a Canuck came in that stretch. Outside of that period Hodgson contributed little or no offense (12 P in 32 GP) and the Canucks offensive production was middling at best.

My guess is that the Canucks saw Hodgson as a player that would be productive at some times (and a key to victory during those times) and a complete liability otherwise.

[Eddy Punch Clock]

MG's door has always been open to the players.

"I've spent more time dealing with Cody's issues than all of the other players put together in the past three years."

Selfish little puke.

[SKYO]

You look at the GF and GA percentage before and after the Hodgson deal, and you'll notice that the GA percentage isn't a whole different. You look at the GF percentage however and it reveals a whole different story.

Additionally Cody was a much more dangerous player offensively out there, with creating scoring chances a heck of a lot more than most of the forwards on the Canucks, sans the twins line.

Anyways Kass just needs to workout hard this offseason, absorb a lot at training camp/preseason, and if he's quicker/stronger with and without the puck maybe he makes the squad, if not a few months/half a season in the AHL should help him with timing/systems etc, basically be a better hockey player overall.

[tantalum]

If you also look at the numbers you will see that for the 15 games leading up to the trade the Hodgson line was absolutely terrible at generating chances and putting points on the board. Any winger that played on that line had worse stats than before or after being on the line. When Pahlsson was brought in the third line was far more effective at everything. The loss of scoring can not be attributed to the loss of Hodgson. No way no how.

[Fred]

If you also look at the numbers you will see that for the 15 games leading up to the trade the Hodgson line was absolutely terrible at generating chances and putting points on the board. Any winger that played on that line had worse stats than before or after being on the line. When Pahlsson was brought in the third line was far more effective at everything. The loss of scoring can not be attributed to the loss of Hodgson. No way no how.

Selling Hodgson article

http://canucksarmy.com/2012/4/24/gillis ... nced-stats

[Topper]

Canucks army claiming to use advanced stats is like Yugo claiming to build cars.

[Fred]

Words from Elliot Friedman

4. In the March 6 edition of this blog, I mentioned that Vancouver "targeted" a few players in a possible Cody Hodgson deal. Zack Kassian was one, obviously. I also noted Brandon Sutter, who the Carolina Hurricanes love, and made an educated guess at John Carlson (which appears to be true). Canucks GM Mike Gillis said Tuesday there were six players. According to a couple of sources, sounds like the fourth was Erik Gudbranson and the fifth Kyle Clifford. No. 6? Not sure.

[Jovocop]

Words from Elliot Friedman

4. In the March 6 edition of this blog, I mentioned that Vancouver "targeted" a few players in a possible Cody Hodgson deal. Zack Kassian was one, obviously. I also noted Brandon Sutter, who the Carolina Hurricanes love, and made an educated guess at John Carlson (which appears to be true). Canucks GM Mike Gillis said Tuesday there were six players. According to a couple of sources, sounds like the fourth was Erik Gudbranson and the fifth Kyle Clifford. No. 6? Not sure.

Clifford, seriously?? At most, he is a third liner. Kassian at worst can put up better numbers than Clifford.

Kassian, 44GP 4G 6A -2, 0.23PPG
Clifford, 157GP 12G 14A -15, 0.17PPG

[Fred]

Words from Elliot Friedman

4. In the March 6 edition of this blog, I mentioned that Vancouver "targeted" a few players in a possible Cody Hodgson deal. Zack Kassian was one, obviously. I also noted Brandon Sutter, who the Carolina Hurricanes love, and made an educated guess at John Carlson (which appears to be true). Canucks GM Mike Gillis said Tuesday there were six players. According to a couple of sources, sounds like the fourth was Erik Gudbranson and the fifth Kyle Clifford. No. 6? Not sure.

Clifford, seriously?? At most, he is a third liner. Kassian at worst can put up better numbers than Clifford.

Kassian, 44GP 4G 6A -2, 0.23PPG
Clifford, 157GP 12G 14A -15, 0.17PPG

Yeah I thought that was a strange comparison, but 0.06 difference in PPG is not a huge difference is it ? ( 5 assists per season ) A while back another analyst compared Kassian to Chris Neal in Ottawa. This kid is not universally well thought of. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.....but.... I like Gudbranson but Tallon is not looking to even the Vcr/Panthers score with that trade

[Jovocop]

Clifford, seriously?? At most, he is a third liner. Kassian at worst can put up better numbers than Clifford.

Kassian, 44GP 4G 6A -2, 0.23PPG
Clifford, 157GP 12G 14A -15, 0.17PPG

Yeah I thought that was a strange comparison, but 0.06 difference in PPG is not a huge difference is it ? ( 5 assists per season ) A while back another analyst compared Kassian to Chris Neal in Ottawa. This kid is not universally well thought of. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.....but.... I like Gudbranson but Tallon is not looking to even the Vcr/Panthers score with that trade

Unfortunately, the 0.06 difference is only based on Kassian's 44 NHL games. Their statistics in junior tell a better story of who they really are.

Kassian's last year (10/11) in OHL, 56GP 26G 51A +10, 1.38PPG
Clifford's last year (09/10) in OHL, 58GP 28G 29A +32, 0.98PPG
Neil's last year (98-99) in OHL, 66GP 26G 46A +2, 1.09PPG

Neil's NHL career stat, 731GP 90G 110A 0, 0.27PPG but in his first NHL season, 72GP 10G 7A +5, 0.23PPG

Kassian put up the same PPG as Neil in his first NHL season with 28 less games played. I remember most of the Canucks fans would like to have Neil. Now, at the least, we get a younger and cheaper Neil on the team. The upside is that Kassian could be a lot better player than Neil in a couple years.

[Blob Mckenzie]

Yeah I thought that was a strange comparison, but 0.06 difference in PPG is not a huge difference is it ? ( 5 assists per season ) A while back another analyst compared Kassian to Chris Neal in Ottawa. This kid is not universally well thought of. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.....but.... I like Gudbranson but Tallon is not looking to even the Vcr/Panthers score with that trade

So John Shannon or Doug Mclean's opinion is more valuable than the 7 or 8 analysts ( Bob Mckenzie, Ray Ferraro, Pierre Maguire, Pierre Lebrun, Brad May, John Garrett) who compared Kassian to Ryane Clowe, David Clarkson and Milan Lucic.

I guess that's how it works.

As for Tallon "evening the score" ..... the reason he doesn't want another young centre is because he is fucking loaded with them .... see Bjugstad, Huberdeau, Shore etc. He isn't loaded with big, tough, mobile, cheap d men.

[FAN]

I think Todd Bertuzzi is a good comparison for Kassian: more playmaker than scorer and doesn't always play a physical mean game.

[Blob Mckenzie]

I heard the Bertuzzi comparison as well, but Zack doesn't quite have the skill set that 44 had. That said I think he will be more consistant with his physical play. Time will tell, though some on this board expected the 2nd coming of Cam Neely immediately.

[CrzyCanuck]

Bert didn't really flourish until the age of 25 or so. Kass got plenty of time to develop. Perhaps his hands will never be as great as Bert, but his physical play and defence? should be better.

[the Dogsalmon]

Bert didn't really flourish until the age of 25 or so. Kass got plenty of time to develop. Perhaps his hands will never be as great as Bert, but his physical play and defence? should be better.

Kassian will be just as good as Bert as long as we allow him to play an regular shift and develop his skills...it will start with the dismissal of AV...