[diven73]

Our Top 12 Forwards to start the season:
Sedin-Sedin-Burrows
Shirokov-Kesler-Samuelsson
Raymond-Wellwood-Bernier
Hordichuk-Johnson-Rypien

Our Top 6 Defensemen to start the season (Not sure about pairings):
Mitchell-Salo
Edler-Ehrhoff
O'Brien-Bieksa

Goalies:
Luongo
Raycroft

IR/LTIR: Demitra, Schneider, Hansen

Final 3 depths spots: (3 of the following 4)
Glass, Hodgson, Lukowich, Rome
(only Hodgson can be cut without having to clear waivers, but he would be locked in junior.)

[Rypien37]

Forwards

Sedin (6,100,000) – Sedin (6,100,000) – Samuelsson (2,500,000)
Burrows (2,000,000) – Kesler (1,750,000) – Shirokov (1,350,000)
Raymond (883,000) – Wellwood (1,200,000) – Bernier (2,000,000)
Rypien (550,000) – Johnson (1,150,000) – Hordichuk (775,000)
Glass (500,000)
Hansen (550,000)

LTIR: Demitra (4,000,000)

Total: 27,408,000

Defense

Edler (3,250,000) – Salo (3,500,000)
Ehrhoff (3,100,000) – Mitchell (3,500,000)
Bieksa (3,750,000) – O'Brien (1,600,000)
Rome (525,000)

LTIR: Schneider (1,550,000)

Total: 19,225,000 million

Goalies

Luongo (6,750,000)
Raycroft (500,000)

Total: 7,250,000 million


Overall total: 53,883,000 million

Cap Space: 2.917

This post has been edited by 350Z: 28 September 2009 - 12:06 PM

[DynamicDuo]

Daniel Sedin-Henrik Sedin-Alex Burrows
Sergei Shirokov-Ryan Kesler-Mikael Samuelsson/Bernier
Raymond-Wellwood-Bernier/Sameulsson
Hordichuk-Johnson-Rypied

Extras: Tanner Glass, Pavol Demitra(long-term injury reserve)

Edler-Mitchell
Ehrhoff-Bieksa
Obrien-Salo

Luongo
Schnieder

[Mercury]

diven73, on Sep 28 2009, 12:00 PM, said:

Our Top 12 Forwards to start the season:
Sedin-Sedin-Burrows
Shirokov-Kesler-Samuelsson
Raymond-Wellwood-Bernier
Hordichuk-Johnson-Rypien

Our Top 6 Defensemen to start the season (Not sure about pairings):
Mitchell-Salo
Edler-Ehrhoff
O'Brien-Bieksa

Goalies:
Luongo
Raycroft

IR/LTIR: Demitra, Schneider, Hansen

Final 3 depths spots: (3 of the following 4)
Glass, Hodgson, Lukowich, Rome
(only Hodgson can be cut without having to clear waivers, but he would be locked in junior.)

I agree with your analysis, but you got to agree it is still a tight cap fit. Hodgson will be gone in less than 10 games unless he can make a 360 elevation of his game, Lukowich or Rome or both are gone when Schneider is back from IR, Glass is gone once Hansen is back, and the huge cap problem remains with Demitra--just no cap room for him without disrupting the core of the remaining team with someone like Salo or Bieksa being moved, and that is asking a lot given their value to the team and Salo's no trade clause. With no cap wiggle room, we will definitely see some significant movement before either Demitra or Schneider is off IR this Fall. Nice to have these type of assets to worry over when fitting under salary cap--I like Demitra, but other teams understand Vancouver's cap pressure and Demitra would be an asset to any other team that doesn't have such a cap problem. This problem was foreseeable once Samuelson was brought in, so the brass must have had some plan in place because I don't think there is cap room for both Samuelsson and Demitra at right wing unless some long term injury happens to some other high end player.

[aamazing]

This isn't for this season, but I didn't want to start a new thread.

Watching today's game and thinking about the Canucks, it seems that one of their biggest problems is that the Canucks really don't have a stable d corps. They're missing a real number one defenseman and arguably have no number two defenseman. Sure, they only scored one goal today but more than the offense, especially moving forward and considering the emergence of Grabner and players like Hodgson hopefully soon to making the jump, the defense needs work. As somebody else pointed out, Matthias Ohlund may not have been considered a number one defenseman in his last season here, he at least still had that ability, despite whatever errors he might make while playing, to calm down the back-end.

The problem, of course, is that acquiring that number one defenseman is near impossible. Teams recognize that and they are rarely available. When they do become available, teams go after them hard. Look at Bouwmeester, for example. Do the Canucks have the assets that it would take to land a guy like that? Not likely. Looking ahead to next off-season--and please don't infer that I consider this season a write-off because I don't--there aren't any number one defensemen that will likely be available. Guys like Sergei Gonchar and Paul Martin won't make it to July 1st. So then, and here's my proposal, what about going after a couple of number two guys? It's not quite the same as going after that gamechanger, but the options are, you must admit, limited. A couple of guys that look like they very well might make it free agency: Dan Hamhuis and Anton Volchenkov. Hamhuis is good for thirty points and solid defense. He's also a local guy and, with any luck, might be interested in coming home. As for Volchenkov, who knows if he has any desire to play out west. Still, if he could also be landed, he brings a hell of a defensive game and those booming hits of his.

The line-up, then, for 2010-2011:

D Sedin - H Sedin - Burrows
Raymond - Kesler - Grabner
Ladd - Hodgson - Samuelsson
Pettinger - Bolduc - Hansen

Hamhuis - Ehrhoff
Volchenkov - Edler
Mitchell - Bieksa

Luongo
Raycroft

A couple of notes:

1. On the forwards: The forward corps as a whole I think is capable of getting the job done. The Sedins are each good for a point a game and I don't foresee that second line regressing from what they've shown. With more time to build on their early chemistry and another year of experience under the belts of the two younguns in Raymond and Grabner, that's a line I want kept intact. Third line, Wellwood needs to go. He isn't contributing anything and it's almost guaranteed that Hodgson would be an improvement there. Plus, a guy with Hodgson's hockey sense and all-around solid game might mesh well with a guy like Samuelsson who loves to shoot.

2. Andrew Ladd: Trade them SOB or Bernier or a 2nd round pick or whoever. It shouldn't take too too much to get Ladd out of Chicago given that he will surely be expendable when the Blackhawks have to sign TKK. I like Bernier. If Ladd can't be had, I'd be just fine with keeping Bernier as the 3rd line LW. Ladd, however, is basically Bernier+. They're almost exactly the same size, but Ladd brings a little more offense and a little more grit. Not that Bernier is lacking terribly in the latter, but every little bit helps. Plus, he's also a local guy.

3. On the fourth line: The Canucks can save some money here. Johnson has been serviceable but his cap hit is just too high for what he brings, especially when Alexandre Bolduc had a strong showing in his stint with the Canucks. He is a perfect fourth-line c. He's gritty, good on faceoffs, defensively sound and cheap. Instead of Pettinger, this could be Rypien. I choose Pettinger, however, because I liked him when he was here the first time and I like how he's been playing lately.

4. On no extra forward: I think it'd be in the team's best interest to either carry no extra bodies or to carry one guy like Rome who could, in an emergency situation, fill in at either forward or defense. Think about it. That cap space could be used to improve the team that is actually on the ice. If a call-up is needed, call them up on the day of the game. The money saved on the cap just might be worth the money spent on a charter flight.

5. On team toughness: I'm sure many of you will shout that the team doesn't have enough toughness, but it's not entirely necessary. The Red Wings don't have too many guys that one would think of as a heavyweight. And it's not as if the team is made up of a bunch of wallflowers. The Sedins might not fight but they are durable and strong on the puck. They're tough enough to take a beating and still score. Burrows and Kesler are willing to mix it up and play a chippy game. The same can be said about Andrew Ladd. Hodgson is similar to the Sedins in that he might not fight, but he's a tough kid. Samuelsson, too, if you watch him has no problem jumping into scrums and giving a facewash or two. The fourth line is also filled with grit and guys willing to drop em. Plus, with Bieksa down the depth chart where he should be to play at his best, it gives him more leeway to go out and be that mean SOB that he was when he scored his big contract. Hamhuis, Volchenkov and Mitchell are big guys as well and Edler can hold his own.

6. On flexibility: If a guy on the top two lines goes down, Ladd can fill in for a short period of time, Samuelsson can take extended minutes, Hodgson can fill in, Shirokov could be called up, even Hansen could do the trick for a bit. If a guy on the bottom two lines goes down, call up Bliznak or get a guy like Rome or Glass. If injuries hit hard, go to the same system as a couple of seasons ago with one scoring line and then an elite checking line. The depth is there for Kesler and Burrows to be reunited if injuries or situation (eg protecting a lead) call for it. All of a sudden, instead of the above lineup, you could have:

Sedin - Sedin - Samuelsson
Raymond - Hodgson - Grabner (Hodgson with a beautiful pass to Grabner and he snipes it!)
Burrows - Kesler - Ladd

That third line would be a female dog to play against.

7. On no Salo: Salo might very well be kept over Bieksa. The D would certainly be stronger with Salo instead of Bieksa and cheaper too. With the first point, however, the difference would be negligible since Bieksa would have a more limited role anyway, while the $250,000 difference might very well be eaten up by the games that Salo misses and a player has to be called up in his place. Considering age and durability, I've chosen to keep Bieksa.

8. On the defense: Volchenkov and Hamhuis are better than anybody else on today's Canucks defense barring maybe a healthy Sami Salo at the top of his game. Maybe. If Mitchell loses a bit of a step as he gets older, Volchenkov and Hamhuis can fill the gap. Ehrhoff has played great this season for Vancouver and hopefully he continues to progress. Edler and Bieksa need some work, but playing with a strong defensive player like Volchenkov might be enough to steady Edler. This line-up also reunites the Mitchell-Bieksa pairing that played so well together just a couple of seasons ago and the lower minutes and steady partner is something Bieksa needs to return to his best. Also, another bonus: No SOB and his stupid penalties.

9. On picking up some assets: This line-up also allows Vancouver to trade Salo and Bernier for whatever they might get in return. No first round picks to be had there, but there's bound to be at least one second in there. Even if the return is low, the Canucks haven't spent anything to get two UFAs in Volchenkov and Hamhuis. The rest comes from right in the Canucks current system.

As for cap numbers, it's definitely a possibility. Maybe a little tight, but no tighter than this year's line-up.

With the players the Canucks currently have under contract in the above roster, they are at 34.7M with six forwards, three defensemen, and a goalie. Basically half the team.

Guys on the fourth line and Raycroft would get their current salary again for next year. It's not unreasonable and if they refuse, they're easy enough to replace. That brings us to nine forwards, three defensemen and two goalies at 36.8M. Just six more players to go. If the cap stays the same, then that leaves $20M for six players.

Raymond will get rewarded. Probably in the range of 1.5M. Still hasn't really proved himself, is no more valuable than Burrows, and is young. So we get him on a short-term contract and tell him that if he plays well, he'll be rewarded on his next deal. Let's be conservative and say that he gets 1.75M, around Hodgson's pay. Andrew Ladd will probably ring it at about 2.5M. Again, let's be a little bit conservative and say 2.75M and that at any more than that, we'll just keep Bernier at 2M. Willie Mitchell, given a reduced role and considering his lack of footspeed and that he's getting older but that he's a hometown guy and wants to play in Vancouver, might come in around 2.5M. After all, there's no doubt in my mind that Ehrhoff has outplayed him in this young season so far and Ehrhoff is making 3.1. But let's give him Matthieu Schneider's salary just to be careful: 2.75M. So now we have seventeen players at 44M. Let's leave about .8M in space. We don't need a whole lot for the reasons outlined above. Plus, somebody is bound the end up on LTIR at some point during the season.

So now we have 12M to spend on the three big signings: Kesler as an RFA and Volchenkov and Hamhuis as UFAs. 3.8M to 4.0M is reasonable for both Volchenkov and Hamhuis. It's a good raise for both, also taking into account that while talented, neither is a real bonafide number one defenseman. The big wildcard here is Kesler. Does he put his money where his mouth is and take a discount? Even if he does, will it be low enough? The hockey gods know that he's played damn well that he's been marvelous so far this season and has really established himself as an offensive second-line pivot. He could very well be worth 4.5M+. Fortunately, he seems to love playing in Vancouver, so hopefully he takes a long-term deal that lowers his cap hit to around 4M. If not, lower numbers for some of the other signings and re-signings could get Kesler up to 4.5M cap hit and still work. It's flexible. There are way.

D Sedin (6.1) - H Sedin (6.1) - Burrows (2)
Raymond (1.75) - Kesler (4) - Grabner (.843333)
Ladd (2.75) - Hodgson (1.725) - Samuelsson (2.5)
Pettinger (.5) - Bolduc (.5275) - Hansen (.55)

Hamhuis (4) - Ehrhoff (3.1)
Volchenkov (4) - Edler (3.25)
Mitchell (2.75) - Bieksa (3.75)

Luongo (5.333333)
Raycroft (.5)

Cap Hit: 56.02M
Cap Space: 0.78M

A lot of cap space? Not really. Enough? I think so, yeah. The Canucks won't have a lot to spend at the deadline, if anything, but most deadline picks don't work out anyway and Gillis is a pretty conservative guy around that time anyway so it'd no big deal.

So there we have it. Not a terribly big change from this current season, but consider the following: Realistically, it's unlikely that the top two forward lines would regress. It could happen, yes, but it's unlikely. The third line is more skilled, a little tougher, defensively responsible and should be far more effective than today's third line. The fourth line is cheaper but likely just as effective with good hustle, good defensive awareness, and good grit. The defense is far more steady, far more solid with guys playing in roles that are closer to where they should be playing,with a good blend of offensive and defensive guys. And Luongo is, well... Luongo.

So yeah. My 2010-2011 Vancouver Canucks. Not a radical change but a stronger overall team. Cup winner? Who knows, but this is a team that'd be fun to watch.

(And yes, I know my post is long. A lot of you kiddies might not have the attention span to read it. That's fine; it's understandable. It didn't take too long to write up anyway and I can't fall asleep anyway. So there it is.)

[TrevLinden16]

whoahhhhh too old now- lol... these were mine at the end of the playoffs

sedin-sedin-burrows
raymond-kesler-grabner
hasen-jordan staal-bernier
rypien-johnson-hordichuk

schneider-mitchell
edler-salo
bieksa-doughty

quick
schneider

there we go--- a real checking line....
i decided to go w/ the montreal approach with goalies... lol. luongo for quick and doughty and a 5th and 6th pick
demitra and a 2nd pick (before he was injured) for staal (pens might think demitra would be crosby's winger-- they will make a push for the stanley cup again

[TrevLinden16]

aamazing, on 11 November 2009 - 03:48 AM, said:

Raymond will get rewarded. Probably in the range of 1.5M. Still hasn't really proved himself, is no more valuable than Burrows, and is young. So we get him on a short-term contract and tell him that if he plays well, he'll be rewarded on his next deal. Let's be conservative and say that he gets 1.75M, around Hodgson's pay. Andrew Ladd will probably ring it at about 2.5M. Again, let's be a little bit conservative and say 2.75M and that at any more than that, we'll just keep Bernier at 2M. Willie Mitchell, given a reduced role and considering his lack of footspeed and that he's getting older but that he's a hometown guy and wants to play in Vancouver, might come in around 2.5M. After all, there's no doubt in my mind that Ehrhoff has outplayed him in this young season so far and Ehrhoff is making 3.1. But let's give him Matthieu Schneider's salary just to be careful: 2.75M. So now we have seventeen players at 44M. Let's leave about .8M in space. We don't need a whole lot for the reasons outlined above. Plus, somebody is bound the end up on LTIR at some point during the season.

So now we have 12M to spend on the three big signings: Kesler as an RFA and Volchenkov and Hamhuis as UFAs. 3.8M to 4.0M is reasonable for both Volchenkov and Hamhuis. It's a good raise for both, also taking into account that while talented, neither is a real bonafide number one defenseman. The big wildcard here is Kesler. Does he put his money where his mouth is and take a discount? Even if he does, will it be low enough? The hockey gods know that he's played damn well that he's been marvelous so far this season and has really established himself as an offensive second-line pivot. He could very well be worth 4.5M+. Fortunately, he seems to love playing in Vancouver, so hopefully he takes a long-term deal that lowers his cap hit to around 4M. If not, lower numbers for some of the other signings and re-signings could get Kesler up to 4.5M cap hit and still work. It's flexible. There are way.

D Sedin (6.1) - H Sedin (6.1) - Burrows (2)
Raymond (1.75) - Kesler (4) - Grabner (.843333)
Ladd (2.75) - Hodgson (1.725) - Samuelsson (2.5)
Pettinger (.5) - Bolduc (.5275) - Hansen (.55)

Hamhuis (4) - Ehrhoff (3.1)
Volchenkov (4) - Edler (3.25)
Mitchell (2.75) - Bieksa (3.75)

Luongo (5.333333)
Raycroft (.5)

Cap Hit: 56.02M
Cap Space: 0.78M

A lot of cap space? Not really. Enough? I think so, yeah. The Canucks won't have a lot to spend at the deadline, if anything, but most deadline picks don't work out anyway and Gillis is a pretty conservative guy around that time anyway so it'd no big deal.

So there we have it. Not a terribly big change from this current season, but consider the following: Realistically, it's unlikely that the top two forward lines would regress. It could happen, yes, but it's unlikely. The third line is more skilled, a little tougher, defensively responsible and should be far more effective than today's third line. The fourth line is cheaper but likely just as effective with good hustle, good defensive awareness, and good grit. The defense is far more steady, far more solid with guys playing in roles that are closer to where they should be playing,with a good blend of offensive and defensive guys. And Luongo is, well... Luongo.

So yeah. My 2010-2011 Vancouver Canucks. Not a radical change but a stronger overall team. Cup winner? Who knows, but this is a team that'd be fun to watch.

(And yes, I know my post is long. A lot of you kiddies might not have the attention span to read it. That's fine; it's understandable. It didn't take too long to write up anyway and I can't fall asleep anyway. So there it is.)

i'd spend a little of the leftover space on ehrhoff... he is still young--nothing like an aging salo. face it.