donlever wrote: ↑Fri Dec 12, 2025 8:37 pm
Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Fri Dec 12, 2025 8:30 pm
Ronning's Ghost wrote: ↑Fri Dec 12, 2025 7:43 pm
Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Fri Dec 12, 2025 5:54 pm
Rossi is old? Drafted in 2020, same draft as Lafreniere, Byfield, Stutzle. Is that old?
I didn't say "old", I said too old to expect much further development.
He just put two back to back 20 goal seasons, trending up each year. Is that not good or something?
You're selling it short in your defense Dude.
82 games 21 goals 40 points at 21/22
82 games 24 goals 60 points at 22/23
Plus he's locked in at 5 sheets until 27/28 and then RFA.
Has an exceptional sense of spacing both on and off the puck, capable of playing in the most sensitive portions of the offensive zone and suffering hardly any physical wear for the trouble. If there's an opening, then Rossi is going to find it and ruthlessly exploit it. He’s responsible defensively with great off the puck positioning and support below the hashmarks
Hey, I'd be delighted if he turned into more than he looks like to me. I'm just not expecting much, and I'd frankly be surprised if he doesn't turn out to be the weakest component of the return.
But I do think there is reason to back away from the ledge. Let's review some points:
- Hughes had said he didn't plan to stay.
You can speculate on why that might be, but until Hughes publishes his memoirs, it's just that -- speculation.
I'd say that means there's not much point to a lot of "if only" scenarios. It is entirely possible that there was nothing that could have done to change his mind about it, so comparing the return on the trade to having him stay is not a fair analysis of the return on the trade.
- Giving the team plenty of heads up on that decision actually did the Canucks a huge favour.
To me, that suggests that he doesn't have any particular dislike for the organization. Consider the alternative where he walks away as a UFA for nothing. This is waaaaayyyy better than that.
- The version of the Canucks that did have Hughes wasn't doing very well.
It's not like they can get much worse this season (though it wouldn't be a bad thing if they tried), and they might be better for it a few seasons out. Though still in his prime (and likely to be effective for a long time), Hughes is older than every asset the Canucks got back.
- Rutherford may be senile, but I think he's still capable of identifying what the best offer was. I'm sure almost every GM in the League offered something. So, since Hughes staying was not one of the options, we can be fairly confident that the Canucks got the next best thing. Best Package Available.
- I don't absolutely love all of those assets, either, but -- per my point above -- I am confident that they are desirable assets. They can be flipped later for players of comparable value who better suit the desired team composition.
- many of us have been calling for a rebuild. This is a huge head start on that process. If they follow through on it, finding takers for other current Canucks that return picks or prospects, and they draft adequately (and I think that the indication so far is that they can draft adequately), the Canucks should be at least be a fun to watch, exciting team on the rise by '27 - '28. And that's more than you had before the trade.
Would have been nice for them to get another 1st for 2027.