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Defense: The Canucks Achilles Heel


PhillipBlunt

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Franson isn't anything like Garrison.

Garrison doesn't hit. Franson has over 100 more hits than Garrison on the season. Also has blocked more shots.

Keep in mind Franson was on the Leafs for most of the season while Garrison was on a much better Tampa team.

Franson is better offensively as well.

Green will cost too much. Way too much. We can't afford to be giving defenseman Sedin-like money. He is going to be one of the most sought out UFAs on the market. Best we stay away from that.

As a fantasy owner of Franson, I was ticked off by season's end with Franson. His hit totals disappeared when he went to Nashville. Ofc this is a by-product of never playing too. Can't hit anyone from the bench. But his hit numbers were inflated in Toronto and took a nose dive after the trade (which really hurt my fantasy team). There is no reason to believe that says he will return to being a hit machine if the Canucks acquired him.

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They have diffeerent nuances but they're both bigger, not fast, physical D with offense.

Neither fill the role we need to fill (which you failed to address).

Cost too much compared to what? You get what you pay for and if you have a role that needs filling, you try to fill it. What exactly would be wrong with paying Green +/-$6.5m if he fills a much needed, valuable role vs paying Franson what $5m+ to fill a more redundant role?

Also, as I said, it doesn't have to be Green if Benning has something none of us are even currently considering up his sleeve. But it does need to be someone with a similar tool box IMO.

Our blueline needs more offense yes but we also need to keep the puck out of the net. Green won't help us defensively as much as Franson, not even close. Franson is pretty much an Edler-type player and another one of those wouldn't hurt considering how well Edler is.

I also think Green is kind of overrated considering a lot of his points come from OV, one of the best goal scorers in the league, and Backstrom, one of the best passers in the league. Don't get me wrong Green is a good player but isn't the player he use to be. I think he is worth at most 5.5M but he is most likely going to get well north of that.

If we can find an offensive D that's at a cheaper cap hit than Green that yeah I would want him. That's a role we need to fill but a player like Franson is a great alternative IMO. Otherwise paying Sedin-like money for getting solely offense out of our blueline isn't something we should do IMO.

Looking at the UFA list the only other offensive D we would get is Ehrhoff.

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As a fantasy owner of Franson, I was ticked off by season's end with Franson. His hit totals disappeared when he went to Nashville. Ofc this is a by-product of never playing too. Can't hit anyone from the bench. But his hit numbers were inflated in Toronto and took a nose dive after the trade (which really hurt my fantasy team). There is no reason to believe that says he will return to being a hit machine if the Canucks acquired him.

In Toronto he was their guy. He played 20+ minutes almost every game.

In Nashville he is part of their supporting cast. His minutes fell significantly.

In fact he has played more than 18 minutes in Nashville only 4 times in 28 games(including playoffs).

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Bieksa has to be gone if we want to add another defenseman.

No re-treads please...especially older ones.

I wouldn't mind a 1 year deal if we were to move Bieksa. By then a young D could be ready to step up into a top 4 role and if not Hamhuis and Ehrhoff would be FAs and we would have a lot of cap to add to our blueline.

Edler-Ehrhoff

Hamhuis-Tanev

Sbisa-Corrado

Clendening

( )

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I agree. We won't do anything until we have a solid d-core that can play the game fast and responsible.

I think/hope that Benning or Linden have realized this and have started the process to get us where we need to be.

If we are aware of it... i am sure benning and linden are aware.

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Our blueline needs more offense yes but we also need to keep the puck out of the net.

It's not just about offense, (though that won't hurt). It's about complimentary roles. Right now we have a discordant mish mash of uncomplimentary players that we have to "make work". Round pegs, square holes.

We don't need another "Edler/Franson" (or "Garrison"). We need a speedy "Green" (or similar).

A player of that type would fit with Edler, the Sedins, vastly improve our PP and fit a currently missing role.

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Edler - won't wave.

Tanev - new contract and plays well with Edler.

Hammer- won't wave.

Juice - won't wave.

Sbisa - new contract.

Weber - the only NHL ready Dman we have that can shoot on the PP.

Corrado - ready for bottom pairing role but redundant skill set.

Clendening - RFA, who is not ready to replace weber

Stanton - took a step back this year.

We have this D core until contracts start expiring so enjoy the ride folks.

Scary..if you keep putting lipstick on a pig...its still a pig.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Not sure why Benning is so set on re-signing Weber. Yes he's got a dandy of a shot, but he's too small of a defenseman to be adding to the already below average defense corps.

I'm all for Corrado getting a long look in the majors. But honestly this team needs a player like Andrey Pedan to make the move to the NHL.

The Canucks have zero defensemen who are adept at clearing a crease and man handling aggressive forwards.

The defense has no real identity outside of being easy to rattle and too slow to manage a clean breakout. With how the other teams in the division are going, the Canucks may soon find themselves in the position of basement dwelling for a few years.

This defense isn't built to handle the physicality of the West.

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Our chances of winning decrease as Weber's minutes increase. He's a power play specialist who should spend the rest of the game passing water bottles around. In that scenario you go with six other defensemen and 11 forwards. Play Weber a few shifts on the wing on your fourth line.

If you are going to roll four lines, then I don't see a regular spot for Weber.

He should be lighting it up over in Europe instead of being abused over here for not playing in a top four role.

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Edler - won't wave.

Tanev - new contract and plays well with Edler.

Hammer- won't wave.

Juice - won't wave.

Sbisa - new contract.

Weber - the only NHL ready Dman we have that can shoot on the PP.

Corrado - ready for bottom pairing role but redundant skill set.

Clendening - RFA, who is not ready to replace weber

Stanton - took a step back this year.

We have this D core until contracts start expiring so enjoy the ride folks.

Well the fact remains THAT D core brought us in 5th in the Western Conference. It is nowhere near as bad as is made out.

Having said that I agree we have needed an Alpha D for a while, almost forever. We have the giant Russian who Travis/Willie may be able to coach to somewhere near that level, who knows.

Other than that we may have to pay through the nose to draft up for "whoever"

For me the draft system is now beginning to be exposed for it's unfairness. Surely a team like the Oilers, Panthers or indeed Buffalo should have a limit put on the number of times their incompetence can fetch them a top 3 draft.

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Not sure why Benning is so set on re-signing Weber. Yes he's got a dandy of a shot, but he's too small of a defenseman to be adding to the already below average defense corps.

I'm all for Corrado getting a long look in the majors. But honestly this team needs a player like Andrey Pedan to make the move to the NHL.

The Canucks have zero defensemen who are adept at clearing a crease and man handling aggressive forwards.

The defense has no real identity outside of being easy to rattle and too slow to manage a clean breakout. With how the other teams in the division are going, the Canucks may soon find themselves in the position of basement dwelling for a few years.

This defense isn't built to handle the physicality of the West.

As I alluded to above Benning may think that bringing in the giant Russian and Pedan in a season or two will even things out at the back, size wise.

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If Bieksa wants to leave, I say it will do him good. Ntc, so contender. But unfortunately that means he'd have to be labeled such as Kesler. Or maybe he gets a pass.

Kesler was hated because he wanted out, Bieksa will be hated because he wants to stay. The mob wants blood they won't be satisfied untill Bieksa and Hamhuis are gone.

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