aGENT

That's always been what I've assumed any pre-TDL trade would look like. We move Myers for a guy that shaves a couple mil and maybe adds some size/speed/grit elsewhere in the lineup. That or retaining. Not sure why anyone would think we'd be clearing the entire $6m...that's just silly talk. Even at the TDL, we're likely retaining $1m-$3m (and perhaps involving a 3rd team to retain).

I mean if you collect enough "Studnickas", hopefully one of them turns in to something. But that player is not likely going to replace an aging, declining Miller in 3-4+ years. Raty might (or at least be a decent 2nd/3rd line "tandem" with a declining Miller).

Even at 5 or maybe even 6 years, Willander improving and on an ELC/bridge deal will cover any eventual, possible inefficiencies on Pesce.

Not sure what my post you quoted has to do with that, but sure....

*As a means of moving him to a bottom team he may not have on his possible trade destinations. Waiving him to Abby doesn't accomplish much.

I mean there's always waivers...

It's a shame ARZ reportedly wants to start competing this season. For a cool $1m of actual salary, we could have taken say Crouse and his $17.2m ($4.3x4) in salary back, saving that penny-pinching org over $16m in cash commitment. Waiving him only clears ~$1.1m of his cap. Buying him out (which we already missed) would actually cost us MORE cap once you factor in his replacement. Every player playing in the NHL (and probably a few hundred who aren't) are "ok" by default. Myers could be a decent, complementary 2nd pair, offensive leaning D with size/intangibles, good leadership etc who occasionally brain farts and needs a good defensive D to cover him (the exact type of D who would also pair with Hughes, OEL, Schmidt etc that we've coincidentally been lacking). I'm not suggesting that properly partnered/roled and puck supported that he'd be better than Hughes, I'm saying that he'd more often than not be put in position to make a net positive difference to the lineup. Something he (nor a bunch of other Canucks in the past 5+ years) have been put in position to do.

And Garland should be an easier move, with cap going up.

What do you think building a TEAM actually is?

Sure we can. May require filling out some of the bottom of the lineup with kids/league min UFA's, but that's what good teams do. And with Hughes-Pesce as our top pair, suddenly we'd look like a solid destination for good UFA vets looking to win, and willing to sign cheap to do so.

If the acquisition cost is corresponding lower...maybe? Playing with Hughes for part of the year would be a hell of a sales pitch...

OK. Who do you propose we target for this young, "developing 3C"?

You're both welcome to disagree...but you'd be wrong In no way am I suggesting Myers is amaze-balls...but appropriately partnered, in an appropriate role, with proper systems and puck support he would look "ok" to decent (vs the train wreck/chaos giraffe we got most of the time). Schmidt was no different. Looked good in VGK, lost here and fine in WPG. Gudbranson was fine properly partnered/role in CAL as well. Good management puts players in position to succeed (even if they're not all stars/amaze-balls). We utterly failed at that the vast majority of Myers time here (short of his brief time playing opposite Edler). And Myers was not alone there. It's a HUGE element, vast swaths of CDC (and apparently previous management) overlook. Ayyup.

We're not getting a 3C for them either.

Nobody is trading us a developing 2C for Beau or Myers.

Yes

No, it really can't. You need that player developing and getting reps further down the lineup over the next couple years. Waiting until it becomes a problem means plugging holes via expensive UFAs or expensive trades. That are also the PERFECT complement in play style to Hughes.

Beyond our utter lack of systems play/puck support, it's so blatantly obvious but SO MANY people just brush it off as "player X sucks". Funny how Schmidt was a solid D in VGK, in an appropriate role and appropriately partnered, and has been that again in WPG, approximately role and partner... But "mysteriously" he "sucked" here.... hmmm Schmidt, Myers, OEL, Gudbranson... All set up to fail here.

Problem being, there's also a solid chance Miller starts age related regression in the next few years and may need to move to wing, or 3C. We'll need someone capable of playing mid 6 C. I'd move basically any prospect at this point other than Willander, Raty or Silovs.

I don't think he gets a $7.5m deal personally, but we shall see. With Pesce, our once abysmal D suddenly looks like one of the best in the league. I'd happily plug kids and league min guys in the rest of the roster to make that happen.

That's the ideal outcome for us. Hope it happens and we can snag him in free agency.

Funny thing is, they're not really "downgrades". Just I'll fitting players in ill fitting roles. Square pegs, round holes... as though nobody even considered what would actually make a COHESIVE D core. It was literally like throwing things at a wall to see what sticks.

Add the horribly un-complementary D put together. We replaced top 4 Tanev with bottom 4 Schenn and awkwardly shoved two offense leaning D (OEL and Myers) in to a matchup/PK role, TOGETHER... Square pegs and round holes everywhere. And People wonder why these guys look bad? This D had been set up to fail for years now.

Pearson is coming off as well FWIW. Myers and Pearson's expiring cap should easily cover raises for Petey, Hronek and the increase (~$2.4m) of the OEL buyout). Cole and Beau's cap, plus whatever the cap goes up, gives us cash to spend on hopefully another (actually complementary) top 4 D, fill out winger depth (along with some kids) etc. It's really not that bad. Not lone. I was screaming for us to add what it took to Virtanen to get the rumoured to be available Bennett out of CAL for him. How good would Bennett have looked on this team?!

Myers salary expiring this year alone should basically cover Pettersson and Hronek's raises. Then we also have Beau's and Pearson's cap coming off as well as whatever (reportedly large) increase in the cap. We're fine. We don't remotely need to offload anyone, "magically" or otherwise. We're certainly not going to jettison Demko because of any of it As for Hughes, IMO he's probably the best choice of the available options. And I don't mean that to sound as "feint praise" as it does. The guy is unquestionably a leader (if a bit quieter and less physical than "ideal").