CANUCKS SIGN UFA JASON GARRISON

[Reefer2]

I really like Garrison's versatility.

The ability to play in every situation, PK, PP, top-lines, and playing both the left and right side, is a major plus.

He's essentially Ehrhoff, except Garrison's defensive game is better while Ehrhoff is better on the offensive end.

The other big positive is Garrison's size. Although he's not a punishing player, he plays hard and adds some more size and grit to the top 4. Edler-Garrison is a more physical pairing than Edler-Salo.

Hamhuis-Bieksa
Edler-Garrison
Ballard-Tanev

Tanev has shown he can at the very least handle a top 4 role for extended stretches, and if Ballard can do the same, then we have a finely balanced, and deep blueline.

Garrison is 15 lbs heavier
Had 127 hits in 77 games while Ehrhoff had 47 in 66 games and probably half of those we mistakes when he skated the wrong way.

I also like the Hamhuis/Bieksa as the top pairing, Edler needs to get his game back and playing on the 2nd line with a big hitter like Garrison will really help him. The 2 of them will be knocking all the forwards on their arses through out the season.

[Strangelove]

All in all, a good pick-up in that he has size, skill and can play the right side even if he doesn't shoot right-handed. Makes the D-corps solid, but I would still like to see Gillis replace some depth in the form of a big, vicious crease-clearer. Too bad Allen signed elsewhere.

AGREED

[FAN]

I'm relieved that that it didn't take $5M+, although I'm not too happy about it being 6 years. Still this is a good deal. I hope Garrison's offensive production keeps up, but he's been real good defensively ever since he broke into the league so even if his offensive game isn't there he can still be that 20+ minute Dman.

[RoyalDude]

Balltard and David Brainfart Booth have to go now.

[JonT21]

I need to do some research on this guy to be happy about this. My first thought of this signing was that he would be komisarek 2.0

[Strangelove]

My first thought of this signing was that he would be komisarek 2.0

BITE YOUR TONGUE

.... errr your Fingers??

[RoyalDude]

I need to do some research on this guy to be happy about this. My first thought of this signing was that he would be komisarek 2.0

It's a gamble, no doubt about that. One good year does not a player make. With The track record Gillis has from acquiring players from the Panthers, i have my doubts.

[surreal78]

I need to do some research on this guy to be happy about this. My first thought of this signing was that he would be komisarek 2.0

Not sure how that would apply aside from the contract itself. Komisarek had a good 7-8 years of mediocrity behind him before signing with the Laffs.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2490

[CaptainTrev]

I need to do some research on this guy to be happy about this. My first thought of this signing was that he would be komisarek 2.0

Not sure how that would apply aside from the contract itself. Komisarek had a good 7-8 years of mediocrity behind him before signing with the Laffs.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2490

After the Luongo trade, we'll be able to compare Garrison and Komisarek side by side. Could be a mean D pairing.



Anyway, very slick signing by MG. I'm not over the moon about it by any means, as Garrison is still somewhat unproven. But we badly needed to add a quality dman...I was starting to get worried that our 5-6-7 guys would be Ballard-Alberts-Connauton

Unfortunately this means that we're down to only one righty option on the PP again. Kesler can play there but he doesn't have the bomb to make teams back off, and personally I have always hated AV's tendency to put a forward on the point. Would have been nice to bring back Sami in a specialist role

[Jovocop]

I need to do some research on this guy to be happy about this. My first thought of this signing was that he would be komisarek 2.0

Not sure how that would apply aside from the contract itself. Komisarek had a good 7-8 years of mediocrity behind him before signing with the Laffs.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2490

After the Luongo trade, we'll be able to compare Garrison and Komisarek side by side. Could be a mean D pairing.



Anyway, very slick signing by MG. I'm not over the moon about it by any means, as Garrison is still somewhat unproven. But we badly needed to add a quality dman...I was starting to get worried that our 5-6-7 guys would be Ballard-Alberts-Connauton

Unfortunately this means that we're down to only one righty option on the PP again. Would have been nice to bring back Sami in a specialist role.

Would you rather spend $3.75m on an injury prone 37 y.o. Salo or $4.6m on a so-called "unproven" 27 y.o. Garrison? Don't get me wrong, I would love to have Salo back but just not at $3.75m for 2 more years.

Anyhow, Garrison only had one fight in the NHL, guess who?
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2r4Pd5hu2PY

[CaptainTrev]

Would you rather spend $3.75m on an injury prone 37 y.o. Salo or $4.6m on a so-called "unproven" 27 y.o. Garrison? Don't get me wrong, I would love to have Salo back but just not at $3.75m for 2 more years.

Anyhow, Garrison only had one fight in the NHL, guess who?
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2r4Pd5hu2PY

Not at all, I didn't mean I would rather have Salo over Garrison. I would have liked to see both of them in the fold, with Garrison soaking up a big chunk of the EV minutes that Sami struggled with last year.

Kurtis Foster? I could see him taking Ballard's job, at half the cost.

[Eddy Punch Clock]

My first thought of this signing was that he would be komisarek 2.0

BITE YOUR TONGUE

.... errr your Fingers??

yeah, that comment of his made me Redden the face.

[cjc]

I need to do some research on this guy to be happy about this. My first thought of this signing was that he would be komisarek 2.0

It's a gamble, no doubt about that. One good year does not a player make. With The track record Gillis has from acquiring players from the Panthers, i have my doubts.

Maybe a gamble but less of one than signing Schultz. For all we know, Schultz could end up to be another Fabian Brunstrom and while his cap hit is negligible, if we had signed him it probably would have left Garrison for some other team to pick up. Let's wait to see what this means. Too hard to speculate at this point but I do prefer the player who wants to come home over the one who doesn't.

[benivolent]

Maybe a gamble but less of one than signing Schultz. For all we know, Schultz could end up to be another Fabian Brunstrom and while his cap hit is negligible, if we had signed him it probably would have left Garrison for some other team to pick up. Let's wait to see what this means. Too hard to speculate at this point but I do prefer the player who wants to come home over the one who doesn't.

+1

Nicely said.

[dbr]

I'm pretty happy about this signing, obviously it's at a steep price but the bottom line is that Mike Gillis signed maybe the second-best defenseman in free agency in a year that looks to have unprecedented inflation and he did it without obliterating the team's salary structure.

If Garrison is as advertised he should be full value for his cap hit, and if he's able to improve (not out of the question for a 27 year old with relatively limited experience) then this could be another great free agent signing. It's never a problem getting an extremely valuable asset for free like this.

Any word on whether there is a movement clause?

As for moving Keith Ballard, the Canucks have no need to do so at this point ($6m cap space with two number one goaltenders and really only a couple minor holes) and unless they are going to get a defender back in the Luongo trade I'm not sure that it would be advisable.. the free agent pool was shallow to begin with and has emptied out, I would not want to spend next year hoping Carlo Coliacovo can stay healthy or going with the league's softest third pairing putting Chris Tanev with Chris Campoli or Matt Carle or whatever.

If the Canucks can scoop up Dylan Reese (probably available on a cheap-ish deal) that would give them another NHL calibre righty and four legitimate pairings.