6 players the Canucks miss.

[Pears]

You can add Luongo to that list after the off season. I can't see him wanting to stay with the way things have gone down this past year.

The way the coach and management treats some of these players is pretty bad. The whole Hodgson thing started with management saying he was healthy and implying he was playing up the injury when he was hurt. Had that not happened I think he'd still be a Canuck today. Then they treat Luongo like sh!t this year and sit him for the most important game after he was pretty much the only reason we had a chance.

[Lancaster]

I think Canucks miss Mikael Samuelsson the most. While he gets unfairly criticized for his play at times, it's his versatility that makes him valuable.

While Burrows plays well with the Sedins, Samuelsson might actually be the better complimentary play for the twins. His right-hand shot opens up a different dimension to the game and while he doesn't plays a big/physical game (not that he's soft either, he does hack/slash/face wash too), he's the same size as Zack Kassian.... thus he is somewhat difficult to remove when around the next.

Him playing with Henrik/Daniel also frees up Burrows to play alongside Kesler or everywhere else in the lineup.

While I got ripped for suggesting that it should have been Malhotra that went in the Booth deal, I guess I'm right at the very end.

For Ehrhoff, I guess the addition of Garrison off-sets it.

As for Cody Hodgson, I'm not upset at him being move.... I'm just upset on what the Canucks got in return. Heck, even Steve Bernier who skate like he's on quicksand was more physical and productive (Raymond-Wellwood-Bernier line) than Zack Kassian is now. Kassian's play has been disappointed, his positioning when along the boards is a bit weak, and he doesn't play all that physical. Heck, even Taylor Pyatt brought his A-game during the 07 series..... so where's Kassian's game?

Salo..... he's Edler's safety blanket.

[Ryan kesler the beast]

I think if they had this one player we would be a better so I would have to say the canucks miss the most is....

Jeff Cowan and Alex auld

[BigRedMachine]

Kassian has been nothing close to necessary. Gillis tried to say Kass will help short term and we have to be patient with him. That obviously was a load and if Gillis thought Kass would help short term he was sadly mistaken, he's hardly done anything.

[Clinch16]

5. Cody Hodgson

This one I can go on and on about.....

I am by no means saying that Hodgson has the defensive game or shooting abilities of Couture, but just saying a similar development path.....

Hodgson enters the league playing limited minutes, and gets a taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs.....

Hodgson played more games in the playoffs then he did in the regular season.....

2nd year, Hodgson has a solid rookie campaign....

But he's not playing 12-14 minutes that Hodgson is.....

Now, we have heard the Couture/Hodgson comparisons....

[Patrick Kane]

Kassian was one of the best canucks on the ice last night. If he would play him with the Sedins, where he has shown great promise, instead of burying him on the fourth line, then we would see what he is capable of.

[Average Joe]

Trevor Linden - nuff said. This team need leadership that has gone thru blood, sweat & tears.

[RyanKeslord17]

Willie mitchell

[hockeyville88]

Nailed it with all 5

They got cheap. Should have paid up and done what needed to be done to retain Ehrhoff

And the players who we've brought in are complete crap. David Booth to replace Mikael Samuelsson!? Not a chance.

[Roflcawptur]

Willie mitchell

[Nashi]

A agree with everything you posted.

[TheFastOne21]

argument against:

-Samuellson was at the end of a contract and we got a "POTENTIAL" top 6 winger in Booth who was younger and similar in every way.

-Hodgson is not Couture. Couture does something called defence. That said, the experiment could have been worth it.

-Torres was a giant mistake by MG. No arguing that one.

-Erhoff at the time seemed insane for the money.

-Should have never let Salo go, regardless of injury or money, should not be gone. Again no argument against.

Argument for:

-Samuelson trade i get at the time, it just backfired.

-Hodgson was MG cracking to the "toughness" call of media, team and fans.

-Torres

-Erhoff again at the time seemed insane, now we miss it.

-Salo

[Patrick Kane]

argument against:

-Hodgson is not Couture. Couture does something called defence. That said, the experiment could have been worth it.

[MashedBananas]

Willie Mitchell is the player I miss most. He's maybe the best shut down defenseman we've ever had. His career was in jeopardy yeah, but I'd take him over Ballard any day.

[Master Mind]

Hence why MG needs to go. Hodgson was the only one that needed to go.

Why MG didn't dump Ballard and keep Ehrhoff boggles my mind. Same with letting Torres and Salo walk. Just give them the extra year.

Getting Booth sounded good at first, but I never liked giving up Samuelsson in the process.

Terrible management. Not to mention the goalie situation.

[TheFastOne21]

1. Christian Ehrhoff

Many haters will say Ehrhoff was a product of the Sedins. Well, yes, he was... sort of. He was the Canucks fastest, and best offensive defenseman.

Unfortunately he only played 2 seasons with the Canucks. His first season, he put up 14 goals and 30 assists. 44 points, +36, and averaged 22:47 per game. Won the Babe Pratt trophy as best defenseman of the team BOTH years he was here. Impressive. His second year, he once again potted 14 goals (consistency!) and notched 36 assists and 50 points. +19 and averaged 23:59 per game.

Huge blow to the Canucks defense and powerplay. For me, the biggest blow was the Sedins production. Heres their stats the two years Ehrhoff was playing on the team.

2009/10

H.Sedin: 82gp/29g/83a/112pts

D.Sedin: 63gp:29g/56a/85pts

2010/11:

H.Sedin: 82gp/19g/75a/94pts

D.Sedin: 82gp/41g/63a/104pts

Wow! Some impressive numbers. Right after Ehrhoff leaves, the Sedins aren't even point per game players...

2. Mikael Samuelsson

Many people loathed Mikael Samuelsson. The way I looked at him, I saw a 50 point player on a cheap contract, who can step it up in the playoffs. In hindsight, Samuelsson ended up becoming oft-injured and barely serviceable but the same could be said about David Booth. The difference is, Canucks are stuck with Booth's contract, and Samuelsson perhaps would of walked, or let go by Gillis.

Regardless, Samuelsson was a supremely versatile player, had moments with the Sedins, provided good secondary scoring with Kesler, and was a good option on the powerplay. His playoff performance was outstanding, registering 15 pts in 12gp in 2009/10. His second year, he came into the playoffs on a slow start, and eventually injured. A poor showing with 3 pts in 11gp. Unfortunate that he couldn't return to the line-up, as perhaps he might of provided a small edge that would push the Canucks over Boston.

Heres what Samuelsson did in his short tenure in Vancouver:

2009/10: 74gp/30g/23a/53pts +10

2010/11: 75gp/18g/32a/50pts +8

2011/12: 6gp/1g/2a/3pts -1

He went onto Florida and put up 28 pts in 48 games played. 5 pts in 7 games played in the playoffs.

David Booth had 29 pts in 56 games played. 1 point in 5 games played in the playoffs.

Gillis may have thought he got a steal with David Booth, but it appears Dave Tallon knows what he was doing. Canucks are hooked with David Booth's salary, and may opt to use an amnesty buy-out. Samuelsson and Sturm are no longer Florida Panthers, and Tallon has successfully dumped Booth's cap hit.

3. Raffi Torres

Raffi Torres is the perfect third line player. Brings a big physical game, solid offensive instincts, and defensively capable. After losing to Boston, Gillis made it clear he wanted more size and toughness in the line-up. Which is why he lets go one of the toughest players on the Canucks, and signs Marco Sturm...

Raffi Torres is a perfect third liner. Strong lower body, so he can't be tossed around easily. Great hitter, and crashes the net. Good for 15 goals on the 3rd line. Not to mention, he formed a legendary third line of Torres-Lapierre-Hansen in the 2010/11 cup run. It's a shame that Gillis broke that up.

We are all seeing the impact Torres is making on the Sharks. Playing in the top 6, and isn't missing a beat. Playing better then Chris Higgins, Mason Raymond, Jannik Hansen, and deadline acquisition Derek Roy.

Canucks may have had a chance to acquire Torres at the deadline, I don't know. I do know that this new Torres we are seeing is even better then the one that left Vancouver. More disciplined, smarter and better offensively.

I was quite confused on the decision to let Raffi go, hes a rare player to have, can bring momentum for your team, and provide a huge physical presence, while being a factor offensively. Hopefully Zack Kassian can atleast develop into a Raffi Torres.

4. Sami Salo

The 'Finnish McInnis'. Sami Salo was a long time veteran of the Canucks. Oft-injured, yet arguably the best all-around defenseman the Canucks had. Vastly underrated league-wide and by Canucks fans. Calm and cool in his own end. Great breakout pass, and last but not least, his shot.

Many people claim Garrison came in to replace Salo, and it was an improvement. Perhaps, but the way I look at it, I see bad asset management. Sami Salo's last contract was a 1 year, 2 million dollar deal. It appears that Salo took a hometown discount to stay. Now, hes a pending free-agent, and rumored to want 2 years (obviously since he signed 2 yr deal with Tampa). I wouldn't be surprised if Salo signed a 2 year, 2.25-2.5m dollar deal with the Canucks.

I don't know whats going on behind the scenes, but just speculating. I do know that the Canucks kept Keith Ballard, who played 36 out of 48 games, and isn't being played in the playoffs. I do know that he was being used as forward at some times during the season. I do know that he is being favored over Andrew Alberts and Frank Corrado in the playoffs. I do know that he has put up 16 pts in 148 games for Vancouver.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ballard stays next year with Vancouver as well. I mean, Gillis needs to justify that trade. He gave up a premium for Ballard, giving up speedy sniper Michael Grabner, 1st round pick (Quinton Howden) and Steve Bernier.

Had Gillis moved Ballard off the roster, and re-signed Ballard, the Canucks would of had four capable RH defenseman, and perhaps Edler wouldn't be playing like garbage without his partner Salo.

Hamhuis - Bieksa

Edler - Salo

Garrison - Tanev

5. Cody Hodgson

This one I can go on and on about. I want to clear one thing first.

We know that he "asked for ice-time" but we that doesn't mean he asked for a trade. We don't know the true story. I don't want to get into the debate of "it doesn't matter, he wanted out anyways". You don't need to trade a player right away if he wants out. Did Columbus trade Nash right away?

Anyways, it was a shame that he left. I see similar development as Logan Couture. I am by no means saying that Hodgson has the defensive game or shooting abilities of Couture, but just saying a similar development path.

Hodgson enters the league playing limited minutes, and gets a taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Hodgson played more games in the playoffs then he did in the regular season. (12 vs 8). Although he barely played, he did get a taste of the NHL.

Couture got a taste of the NHL, appearing in 25 regular season games and 15 playoff games. Showing some promise, but not a primary producer yet.

2nd year, Hodgson has a solid rookie campaign. 33 pts in 63 games played for Vancouver, which included 16 goals. If he played all 82 with Vancouver, he was on pace for 43 pts. He added 8 more pts in Buffalo, hitting 41. All these points accumulated mostly playing on the third line and 2nd PP unit.

2nd year, Couture accumulates 57 points in 79 games played. But he's not playing 12-14 minutes that Hodgson is, he jumps from 10 minutes a game to 17:49. He becomes a part of the San Joses top 6, passing Joe Pavelski on the depth chart. (Remember this)

3rd year, Hodgson is now a top line center, facing the toughest competition, and manages 34 points in 48 games played. In a full year, thats 58 points.

3rd year, Couture is now starting to be considered an elite forward, 65 points on the year.

4th year, Couture gets 37 points in 48 games played, and considered the "guy" in San Jose.

Now, we have heard the Couture/Hodgson comparisons, but heres the thing San Jose did right. They had Joe Pavelski as center. They MOVED him to wing. Couture took over the 2nd line spot, and it worked out great. Pavelski can drop to the 3rd line C whenever needed, or go RW with Couture or Thornton.

Canucks didn't do this with Kesler. Yes he's a great defensive forward and a great faceoff man. But so is Pavelski. But they paved the way of Couture, something Canucks didn't do for Hodgson. Although, I doubt Kesler would shift anyways, nor AV would try it.

[nuck nit]

This again...

Cody is not Logan Couture. I'll leave it at that on the Cody subject.

I'll take Higgins over Raffi as a 3rd line LW.

Ehrhoff, whatever. I would rather Garrison. At the time Bieksa was the better guy to keep.

Salo, it just didn't make sense for us to offer him the contract Tbay gave him, we would have loved to keep him but we couldn't. No way that contract makes sense.

And we don't miss Sammuelsson. Check out his GP this year...

[Patrick Kane]

Hey dont you call me out for not reading your post in its entirety.

That said i do agree with you on all of em.

[willhouse]

Erhoff wanted a big contract......and yeah we probably should have given it to him but we thought Edler was ready to take the 'next step'.

I think if we had a healthy Sammuelson against Boston then we'd have won the cup. Thinking back we didn't have 1 player on our team that had won a Stanley cup on our team playing in that series. Aaron rome with Anaheim doesn't count! The Bruins had Recchi and Thorton.

But having said that, if you weren't excited for getting Booth at the time then you're a liar.

Can't comment on Raffi. Glad he's found a home but sucks he's against us.

Losing Salo hurt a lot. I thought the organization could've showed him a bit more respect.

Didn't like the Cody trade at the time and really didn't like how MG handled it with bashing his character. All us fans saw was a young guy that had a ton of talent work hard on the ice and produce secondary scoring on a team that desperately needed it then and now.

[cyacry]

absolutely agree with all points. You missed Manny though....