theo5789 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 In the meantime, can we also give Gilbert Brule a tryout as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UFCanuck Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Cam Barker is going to need to be exceptional to live up to the name "Aaron Rome's Replacement". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanKeslord17 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Cam Barker is going to need to be exceptional to live up to the name "Aaron Rome's Replacement". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Påhlsson Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 What's with all this "Rome Replacement" talk just about any D-man we pick up for the 7th/8th position will be better then Rome. The guy had 0 defensive awareness and that cheeky hit cost us all the momentum in Boston during the Cup Final. *Anyone but Rome is a valid summary for our 7th/8th dman slots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmanVan Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Cam Barker has played 296 games in the NHL getting 94 points, or in other words 3.6 full seasons averaging 26 points per year ( assuming he played a full year which he never really has). He also scored 21 goals, for an average of just under 6 goals per season. Averaging 6 goals and 26 points per season is a hell of a lot better than some defensemen in the NHL, I would say he would be a decent 7th d-man. The question of course is if he has the motivation and self control (alcohol abuse) to turn his career around. Definitely a gamble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 He was a super high pick...I'd be actually pretty happy if this were true. Maybe he just needs a change of scenery. A city's atmosphere and a team that will accept you can do a lot for a player's confidence in the NHL. He's a big-bodied defenceman who could re-kindle his career and has no down-side since it's just a tryout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lui's Knob Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 If it means joslin stays in the ahl then I'm for barker. Playing bottom six minutes isn't bad for him. Edmonton was brutal on D last year as a group. Still would want Vandermeer as a Rome replacement. Still need a 2nd line center man for the year until playoffs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 This is great, hopefully he can play at his best, would be a great 7th/8th guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestCoastCanucks Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 He's gotten plenty of chances to prove himself. He couldn't stick with any NHL team(including the Oilers) and got cut from Texas of the AHL recently. I think this is nothing more than the Canucks trying to add more competition since they love to do that. He's just flat out bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 It couldn't hurt to give him a shot. Depth on the back end during a very, very tight schedule wouldn't be a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownUndaCanuck Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 I'd rather a big, physical defenceman like Alberts and Rome than someone like Barker. That being said we desperately need a veteran presence on our blueline after we lost all of our greybeards in Ohlund and Salo. Suddenly a very young defence without years of experience that we need. With Salo in our lineup, our more panicky guys like Edler, Ballard and Bieksa were instantly calmed. I don't want to see how badly they play all season without a veteran defender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynamic Innovator Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 A try out can't hurt but I'm baffled how Barker would get an opportunity ahead of Vandermeer. Barker has huge potential but he has never put it together for more than a few games at a time. Not what the Canucks need in a 48-50 game sched. I believe a known commodity like Vandermeer, Brett Clark or Colin White is a fair better option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avicii Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 I'd rather a big, physical defenceman like Alberts and Rome than someone like Barker. That being said we desperately need a veteran presence on our blueline after we lost all of our greybeards in Ohlund and Salo. Suddenly a very young defence without years of experience that we need. With Salo in our lineup, our more panicky guys like Edler, Ballard and Bieksa were instantly calmed. I don't want to see how badly they play all season without a veteran defender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n00bxQb Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Barker is just terrible. OILERS FANS say he's the worst defensemen they've had since 2006. OILERS FANS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Good for Cam in managing to nab another opportunity. Most have written him off completely. On account that he's a bust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogbyte Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 As Millerdraft says this guy likes his booze almost as much as I do. However, he has great talent and was a terrific junior player. This guy can put up points and play tough defence if he can keep focused. Vancouver is an excellent place for any player to do that, moreso than probably pretty much any place. If you make the team in Van you will be watched closely and be a contributing member to the locker room. Perhaps the Canucks family orientated no-nonsense approach is exactly what this kid needs to turn his life and career around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallstreetamigo Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 He was a super high pick...I'd be actually pretty happy if this were true. Maybe he just needs a change of scenery. A city's atmosphere and a team that will accept you can do a lot for a player's confidence in the NHL. He's a big-bodied defenceman who could re-kindle his career and has no down-side since it's just a tryout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLASSJAW Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 To be honest, everyone is saying that Barker is a bust and terrible and all that, I don't think it would be a bad move to offer him a two-way contract, you know, just in case. I know some of you think Edler and the like are 'veterans' now, but do you not remember Edler in the last playoff run? Probably the worst defensive performance for the Canucks organization this side of Sopel, and without question the worst "major" player in the NHL playoffs. Canucks defense is good on paper, but just doesn't hold up in 'crunch time' -- of course that may be different now with a short season. There's WAY too much inconsistency with our defense, so if Barker could be had on the cheap, two-way short term deal, I don't see why how it isn't a low risk, high reward deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niklas Jensen Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 another project that can pay off, why not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disisdayear Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 I think if you look at players who were struggling who got traded or were brought to the Canucks you actually find the opposite is mostly true. Ballard and Booth, for example. They got crushed under the weight of expectations mostly by a rabid and often irrational fan base who turned on them in 2 seconds. Can you imagine what the expectations will be for a former 3rd overall pick here? Not to mention having his confidence crushed by AV who will not tolerate any player having confidence issues. He just benches them, pure and simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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