Around the league (signings, RFAs injuries)

[SKYO]

I like what Benning is doing, and I trust is judgement about players a lot more than all of our amateur thoughts combined. I like that he is developing players rather than going with the swim or sink approach that a lot on here seem to advocate for. These kids are young and it is a big jump to the pro level. The physical skills combined with the mental toughness isn't common, so if you can help someone develop in those two areas you are much more likely to end up with a player that helps long term.

As for the big jump to the pro level, if you look at players like Vey and Baertschi, they are certainly not new to professional hockey. This was Vey and Baertschi's 4th season as pro's. Vey will be 24 when next season starts, in my mind that doesn't put him in prospect territory any more.

Pedan was a 3rd round pick in 2011, is there anything to suggest that he still holds that value today? He was playing in the ECHL this season.

Pedan's concussion didn't help him this season, but he's a scrapper!! KO'd Tinordi

Baertschi will rip it up with 20 goals next season if he gets WD's confidence and is given ample opportunity in a top 6 role.

Vey for a rookie did alright, it's just Horvat pretty much took over his spot and then some, now Vey with his lack of size/200ft game & faceoff skills is pushed out of the line up now.

[Island Nucklehead]

Baertschi will rip it up with 20 goals next season if he gets WD's confidence and is given ample opportunity in a top 6 role.

Vey for a rookie did alright, it's just Horvat pretty much took over his spot and then some, now Vey with his lack of size/200ft game & faceoff skills is pushed out of the line up now.

Yeah we'll see. I have much higher hopes for Baertschi than I do for Vey. Nothing impresses me about Vey. He's decent offensively, but not good enough to overcome his size and strength issues. 1/4 of his points were on the PP. He's terrible in the dot. 1/2 of his points came in the first 2 months of the season.

Certainly gets the gold-star for effort, but that's about it. To me, he looks like he'll have a great career in a top-6 role in the AHL, where people will wonder why he never stuck in the big league.

[Strangelove]

I have much higher hopes for Baertschi than I do for Vey.

Agreed, I have a hunch Bart is going to turn out to be a solid Top 6 forward.

[herb]

Herb, so much is wrong it what you wrote.

First, he gave Horvat tons of ice, more as the season went on. He also made Kenins a regular 4th liner once he got to Vancouver, with a couple of healthy scratches along the way to keep him focused.

As for defence, well Clendennng was a late acquisition but he did get a little time.

Gaunce wasn't ready, he was learning how to play wing.

Shinkaruk too struggled earlier this year.

Kassian is a bit of a mystery but prior to his back going workers he seemed to turn it around and was a regular again.

The Kesler trade. How many times do we have to rehash that one. There was one dance partner, one. Benning had few options. And as for the third, ya we gave up this year's but let's not forget we got a extra one last year that we turned into Dorsett.

While I do, overall, agree that the trend early has been to give up too many picks I get why. We traded picks and unseasoned prospects into older, more NHL ready prospects. Why? Because our cupboard was bare of that 20-24 age group.

I am hoping the trend was a one season attempt to stock the cupboard.

I too agree he should have moved Matthias at the TDD. I don't know if he would have gotten much more than a third, maybe a second for a desperate team. But again when a team is in the playoff hunt it's not generally wise to be trading off vets at the TDD. Teams just don't do that. At least he didn't go trading for another team's Matthias like players. That's what we have historically done and Burke, Nonis and Gillis. That's what Calgary did for years. That's what Pittsburgh and Boston have done for years. It didn't work too well for us, got us to game seven but then we chased too many years after that. Both Boston and Pittsburgh won a cup but chased too long after that.

A key step in stopping the bleeding is to know when to chase and when to stop being a buyer at TDD. Benning didn't chase this year and that would have been a disaster.

Dunno Wids, Bo averaged 12 mins/game in the regular season. Is that tons? He was one of our best players as the season wore on. He was one of our top 5 forwards against Calgary, and he still played only 12 mins. Zero PP time too.

I guess it's just, in hindsight it was odd that Bo and Kenins only started to get the coaches' confidence when they were simply two of our most effective forwards while some of our shittier veterans got to make mistake after mistake with zero consequences. The bar seemed insanely high for young players, while the veterans got a pass in Willie's first year.

IMO, the focus the last two seasons should have been on getting our decent young players into the lineup rather than reclamation projects.

Maybe it's good that the younger guys need to be excellent to get into the lineup, but I also think that spots need to be available.

Re Kesler, I don't think Benning had to take back Sbisa. The way he talks about him, I bet he demanded Luca.

Clendening - we gave up a good prospect in Forsling for a guy who is waiver eligible next season yet our defense is full of high paid vets. Doesn't seem to savvy to me right now.

Vey and Baertschi were attempts at trying to circumvent most of the development process. Problem is, these guys were already given up on by two NHL franchises who have better drafting and development records that we do.

Benning needs to accumulate picks rather than trade them away, IMO. I agree with y'all that Baertschi has a hell of a lot more potential than Vey.

[herb]

Kassian?, Really Herb, Kassian? Oh how you have changed your tune. LOL

Maybe. In hindsight, I just don't know if it served us in the long term to scratch the guy, but with the back problems it may not matter anyway.

[Meds]

Clendening - we gave up a good prospect in Forsling for a guy who is waiver eligible next season yet our defense is full of high paid vets. Doesn't seem to savvy to me right now.

I get the impression that Benning knew what he had going into this season, said all the "right" things to keep the current roster happy, made a few tinkering moves that seem odd to us, but I think he knew that he was going to be moving out a couple of the old guard at the end of the season. Chances are good that we see a defenseman (Hamhuis or Bieksa) moved out along with one of Higgins or Hansen (please be the former), and Richardson and Matthias will both likely be playing elsewhere next season.....Matthias might get as much as a 3rd before the draft, Richardson won't be worth anything due to his injury status.

If Bieksa, or Hamhuis, is moved out, Clendening will probably get that spot, something that Forsling simply couldn't do at this point in time.

If Higgins, Richardson, and Matthias, are all moved out for picks (or nothing), then, as was mentioned already, there is a good chance Benning goes after a free agent like Vermette if the price is right.

With our top line all but set in stone for next season, and the youth that are ready to get their chance, Benning's willingness to ask guys to waive their NTC's actually gives him quite a few options.

Lack, Bonino, Higgins, Matthias, Kenins, Hansen, Hamhuis, Bieksa, Markstrom, Vey, Stanton, Weber, and even Kassian, Miller, Burrows, and Vrbata, are all names that could be on his list of players to change out.

The only guys I think that Benning see's as not going anywhere are Hank, Dank, Horvat, Dorsett, Edler, Tanev, and Sbisa.....Dorsett and Sbisa only on this list because of the way Benning talks about them and the fact that he just re-signed them. This could be a very interesting summer for Vancouver Canucks fans.

[Topper]

Hind sight is a euphemism for having your head up your ass.

[Strangelove]

Hind sight is a euphemism for having your head up your ass.

You were wrong Topper!

You were wrong about Kassian.

You can't handle the truth!

All this team needs is a few good assholes...

[Topper]

Are you saying Zach has suffered enough back stabbing? That his body is as weak as his mind?

That hot child in the city is a Roxy roller.

[Strangelove]

ASSHOLE!!



Assholes, where would we be without em...

Barkeep, a round of drinks and fresh horses for me and my men!

*hic*

[Hockey Widow]

Babcock may announce decision around May 20-22. Leaves said to be front runners, Mrs would like to return to Canada, at least according to Toronto speculation.

[BurningBeard]

Babcock may announce decision around May 20-22. Leaves said to be front runners, Mrs would like to return to Canada, at least according to Toronto speculation.

I hope she's on Twitter.

[Hockey Widow]

The part that scares me is Chiarelli, McLellan and McJesus all in Edmonton next year.

[Hockey Widow]

McLellan to be named new head coach of Edmonton. Oilers have scheduled a presser for Tuesday afternoon where it is expected a formal announcement will be made.

Meanwhile, Philly hires another rookie head coach. The Flyers name North Dakota's Dave Hakstol their new head coach.

Babcock announcement expected within the next 72 hours.

[Strangelove]

The Flyers name North Dakota's Hakstol their new head coach.

So Hextall hires a coach whose name happens to be pronounced the same as his nickname back in the day.



LOL Hackstall was right up their with Billy Smith in the Asshole Goalie category.