Canucks News N Notes 25-26

[Lancer]

Signing the kid to an 8-year deal after his rookie year is quite the leap of faith for the club. He could top-out as a Werenski-calibre defenseman - or he could top out as a poor-man’s Tyson Barrie. Then again, with cap inflation adjusted, $9 million isn’t the worst cap hit for a Tyson Barrie-calibre defenseman.

I can see Buium signing despite the comparisons between him and Quit. I don’t think he has Quit’s ego, and he may not want to put himself in a position where he may be leaving the team just as it starts getting better. Pettersson’s apathy has yet to affect him yet.

If he actually wants to sign here long-term and the cap hit is reasonable, why not? Somebody’s gotta fill a spot, and the kid has some promise that he can be more than a 3rd-pairing D.

[Picker of Cherries]

If Buium at 32 games 8 points gets 9 million, what are they paying Willander after next season when he already has 18 points in 57 games, 12 million?

[Hockey Widow]

Obviously if we can lock them both up long term the better for us. But as Topper says why would the kids want to give away those FA years when the cap will be so high? Smart money is a Luke Hughes type of deal, 8 years at 9 million. But I can see Buium wanting a shorter 3-5 year deal at 8-9 million, then hitting the big time after that. Same with Willander although when he is eligible to re-sign the max he can get is a 7 year term. And you bet his agent will pay close attention to what Buium gets.

I would gladly lock them both up at max term for 9 million. That gives us long term stability on D.

Two comparable perhaps: Luke Hughes got nine million per year. Jackson LaCombe got nine million per year. Both guys under 25. The big difference is age. Willander and Buium are several years younger so maybe a bridge deal is the way to go but they are only going to get more expensive. Still think Topper has it right, why would their agents recommend a 7-8 year deal now? We would be so lucky.

[Meds]

With the way management has butchered things the past couple of years, and the complete lack of a plan, I can't see any young talented players signing here long-term when they could bridge their way to UFA and possibly exit stage left if things continue the way they are.

[UWSaint]

(1) You can’t underestimate the value of a guaranteed contract. 8 year $9M AAV is never work again and managed properly generational wealth, all the more so if you can get some of it front loaded. Sure, you might make more over you career by bridging, but it’s a hedge against injury and flattening development. And what are you making more for? I’m not saying more money isn’t better than less, I am saying that not every dollar earned is psychically or practically equivalent.

(2) Signing long term with a team doesn’t mean you are with the team long term. The worse a team’s future prospects are, the more likely you will get turned into future assets and go to a club that can compete. See Hughes.

(3) To be sure, signing a bridge deal means you are guaranteed to get a new shot with a new club if you simply refuse to sign, but there is also a cost in lame duck seasons (rental trades you don’t choose, media distractions, possible loss of mission, effect on family), and the more contracts you sign with an aim towards fulfilling it and nothing more (or where that’s the team’s aim), the more of these seasons you put yourself through.

(4) And even if signing that long term deal means staying in Van for 8 more seasons after the extension kicks in, maybe you like Vancouver and the stability of having a place. And while you might (should!) expect the team to stink for the near future, teams’ relative quality is not static. At some point, even Buffalo is but only in the playoffs, but is one of the 7 or 8 teams with a realistic path to the finals.

[Tciso]

My math says he has 6 years left before he is a UFA (next season's last year on his entry level contract, and 5 more after that) at age 26. So, I am all in for a 4 year extension that ends with him having 1 last year as an RFA. My poor brain isn't ready for an 8 year extension on a guy who hasn't played 80 games yet. There's just too much chance that he never reaches that level *cough* Nurse *cough* and it turns into a bad contractr.

[Topper]

Honouring the few remaining loyal fans

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