Looking Ahead - The Salary Cap

[The_Pauser]

Nah, I like mine better: 3 two-way scoring lines!

Matthias is a big strong 2-way player who hits hard and can play centre, good faceoff man.

Weiss is also good in the dot.

Schroeder is inexperienced and struggles in the faceoff department thus far.

Don't wanna go with a small rookie centre in the playoffs unless forced to by injuries.

Eh fair enough. I guess I'm just more comfortable with Schroeder than most people.

[Diehard1]

The Canucks had the best offence in the game in 2011 and it wasn't close. You're taking 1 series and projecting it across the whole season - one series where they were bullied into submission and the refs did not a fucking thing about it. Yes I'm still bitter. Anyway - the offence is good but i agree that one more big bodied forward would be great. He doesn't have to actually play center but I would love to see a guy who can take face offs as that's now a deficiency on the team. Hank just isn't good enough on the left side draw to take crucial defensive zone draws.

I would love a Brooks Laich type center/winger who can take draws - he is too expensive in cap hit unless significant dollars go the other way, but somebody like that would be great.

1 series? Did you even watch the 2011 playoffs? Let me give you the breakdown:

Chicago series we averaged 2.29GF/game (2.18GF/60)
Nashville series we averaged 2.33GF/game (2.07GF/60)
San Jose series we averaged 4GF/game (3.65GF/60)
Boston series we averaged 1.14GF/game (1.14GF/60).

I don't expect San Jose series like numbers, but let's compare to the LA Kings of last year, and the Boston Bruins of 2011:

Kings
Vancouver series they averaged 2.4GF/game
St. Louis series they averaged 3.75GF/game
Phoenix series they averaged 2.80GF/game
New Jersey series they averaged 2.67GF/game

Bruins
Montreal series they averaged 2.43GF/game
Philadelphia series they averaged 5GF/game
Tampa series they averaged 3GF/game
Vancouver series they averaged 3.29GF/game

In both of these teams cases, neither of them had an offensive series that was worse than our series vs. Boston, Chicago or Nashville. In addition, our series vs. LA was almost on par with the Boston series as we averaged 1.20GF/game. So yes, our offense is a definite area of concern.

Why not compare the Nucks to the cup champions every year and see how they do? Of course they aren't going to be as good - they didn't win the damn cup! Did I watch the playoffs? Yep I did, and there was no concern about offence until Boston. I also love how you put in the smaller GF/60 for the Nucks and then neglected the same for the teams you are comparing them to.

Last year the Nucks ran into the hottest team in cup history so i will probably give them a mulligan on that one. Do they need another big body scorer? I've already said they do. I'm not sure Schroeder is the guy to bring tht offence, as much as I like his game.

[Potatoe1]

If we're getting back a guy who's going to score 15g-20a THIS season I'd be willing to do it. But if those numbers are what he'd get over an 82 game season then I'm not interested at all. Schroeder deserves to be here.

Deserve has nothing to do with it.

If you can get a big 2-way center that can post 15 goals and 35 points over 82 games (from the 3rd line) then you do it.

Schroeder has played well but he's a small rookie who's only put up 4 points in his 12 games. His defensive game is fine (for a small rookie) but he is not a guy you want playing against the better lines in this conference.

35 points over 82 from the 3rd line is very good production and production that Schroeder will struggle to match this year, so really we are talking about a straight upgrade in both size and defensive ability.

Further to that Schroeder becomes a depth guy which would be huge given this teams track record when it comes to injuries.

[RoyalDude]

All fine and dandy Potatoe. For instance Brooks Laich sounds like what u r looking for, scoring 16 goals in each of his last two seasons collecting around 40-ish points in those two seasons, he stands 6'-2" 190 lbs but costs $4,000,000 per year with a 4.5 million cap hit on a contract that carries him to the end of the 2016-17 season. All I can say to your wants and desires regarding this type of player - good luck

HENRIK Sedin - 6'-2" 195 lbs
Ryan Kesler - 6'-2" 200 lbs
Maxim Lapierre - 6'-2" 210lbs

Size is not an issue with our centres. Plus those 3 above are considered very responsible defensively but hey if you want to fill your boots with the Pyatts, Berniers, Torres of the world like Blobbyhave at er.

Oh and blobby, nice stretching of those numbers in a negative direction regarding the sizes of Raymond etc.

You guys baffle me, we have a real nice speed/skill line that is no stranger to danger yet y'all just want shut er down. Bust that line up just watch how slow this team becomes.

As for Raymond I recall that he was one of our best players in that series against the Blackhawks where the Hawks went on to win the cup. Raymond and Schroeder are not afraid if going to the dirty areas. They bring a ton of energy, that line, but if you prefer the lifeless, passionless Kassians of the world have at er

[Diehard1]

All fine and dandy Potatoe. For instance Brooks Laich sounds like what u r looking for, scoring 16 goals in each of his last two seasons collecting around 40-ish points in those two seasons, he stands 6'-2" 190 lbs but costs $4,000,000 per year with a 4.5 million cap hit on a contract that carries him to the end of the 2016-17 season. All I can say to your wants and desires regarding this type of player - good luck

HENRIK Sedin - 6'-2" 195 lbs
Ryan Kesler - 6'-2" 200 lbs
Maxim Lapierre - 6'-2" 210lbs

Size is not an issue with our centres. Plus those 3 above are considered very responsible defensively but hey if you want to fill your boots with the Pyatts, Berniers, Torres of the world like Blobbyhave at er.

Oh and blobby, nice stretching of those numbers in a negative direction regarding the sizes of Raymond etc.

You guys baffle me, we have a real nice speed/skill line that is no stranger to danger yet y'all just want shut er down. Bust that line up just watch how slow this team becomes.

As for Raymond I recall that he was one of our best players in that series against the Blackhawks where the Hawks went on to win the cup. Raymond and Schroeder are not afraid if going to the dirty areas. They bring a ton of energy, that line, but if you prefer the lifeless, passionless Kassians of the world have at er

Geez RD, weren't you the one telling me to hold off on anointing Schroeder - now you think he's the best thing since sliced bread? A lot changes in a week I guess.

I like Schroeder and would be happy with him if we went into the playoffs that way, but I'd rather have Laich or his type - again Laich is too expensive but I can't think of another similar guy off the top of my head. If you can't get him no worries, get a depth guy or two and you're good to go.