Hockey Widow wrote:On AV:
Wants to come back.... The players are big AV supporters and want him back. A feeling of unfinished business. WOW.
He's a good coach and if the players still feel they can learn from and play for him there is no need to replace him. However, extension or not he is on a shorter leash.
On Luongo:
Toronto is the front runner, for now. Allaire is the draw that has Luongo putting them on his list that does not exist. The cost will be high as MG does have 3 other teams that are also very high on Luongo but MG wants to try and deal Luongo to one of his top two choices, not at the risk of a bad deal, however.
Toronto better be interested. They need a real solution in net not another dice roll. Burke's job is on the line this upcoming season. He needs the goaltending solidified now and for the foreseeable future.
Kassian:
Players love him and feel he is the real deal.
Good to hear. And he certainly has the tools. needs his fitness level to come up and I think with that fitness his consistency will be much better.
Hodgson:
Not missed
As much as the Hodgson camp would like to say the things they talked about never trickled down to the locker room it is not a realistic assumption. If people are spending an inordinate amount of time around the team and in meetings with the team the players have to know about it. That gets players interested and talking etc etc etc
Salo:
Wants to come back one more year. Canucks have said the same thing to him as last year, we want you back but we have to wait to see what we can afford over the summer.
As the 6/7 guy fine. But AV needs to stop using him 20+ minutes a night.
Burrows:
Took a home team discount last time with no regrets but won't this time around. Wants to re-sign but at full market value or he will go to UFA.
nor should he take anything less this time around IMO. Luckily, we aren't talking $5 mil a year but rather in the 3-3.5 mil range which is certainly possible for the canucks.
Manny:
Canucks are unsure whether he can regain his form and he may be bought out if he can't. They are very non comital about him but will not go into the season with him if he has not improved his all round game.
Well they are committed to the point of him being under contract. He either makes the team or gets waived before the season begins. That's fair and I suspect Manny would agree it is fair.
MayRay:
Still up in the air if they qualify him. Don't feel he is worth the money he would make but don't want to lose an asset for nothing. Will try to move his rights before July 1.
Try to move him certainly. If you can't I think you do qualify him (they could make it a two way qualifier so cheap AHL salary i believe). He can accept the qualifier all he wants or negotiate a more appropriate deal and prove himself. IMO I think he gets moved. perhaps as an addition to a Luongo/Schneider deal.
Pahlsson:
Are very high on him and would like him back as their third line centre, which could mean another nail for Manny.
Down on the Farm:
They are expecting 2-4 players to make an impact at camp......
You don't worry about Malhotra...if he finds his game he can play any forward position and is easy to slot in. I can see them planning to go into the season with Pahlsson (or similar) and Schroeder as the 3/4 guys down the middle. Schroeder has spent the last year learning the defensive side of the game and has done a good job from what the organization is saying. Unlike Cody, he has the speed to translate these learnings to the NHL right now.