sedinery55

Returning Playoff Teams Nashville - Improved their forward group by bringing in Duchene, losing PK on the back end could hurt them, should one of their top 3 D run into injury issues. Pekka Rinne seems to have peaked, can Sarros step up and play a solid 30 games? I think they are still a playoff team, but I wouldn't bank on them winning the central. St. Louis - Stanley Cup winner, finally found their game, will struggle to score during the regular season, but should win tight games. Is Binnington the real deal? Thats the question, I think they win enough games to make it. San Jose - No more Pavelski, who knows what happens with Jumbo, but the fact that they resigned Karlsson, got Lablanc to sign for 1 million, and will have Meier and Couture there to net 30 goals a piece, not to mention the 50 point guarantee from each of Karlsson and Burns, this team should win the West. Colorado - Unbelievably mobile defense, awesome contract for Mackinnon who has really established himself as a top 3 player in the league, Colorado should win the Central division this season. Vegas - Took a step back with their D Corp, but their forward group is so strong, and having Flower in net will definitely win you some games. Still a playoff team in my mind. Non Playoff Teams Calgary - Not sold on Talbot in net with Rittich going forward, bringing in Lucic does not make them better, if he can't play with McDavid, hows he going to play with Gaudreau and Monny? If he is playing in a bottom 6 role, he cannot keep up either, and is below 50 percent corsi. As great as Michael Backlund is, he is not a second line center, had Calgary landed Kadri from the Leafs for Brodie, I would have them in the playoffs, as it is, they are too top line heavy, and I think will struggle to score outside of Gaudreau - Monahan and Tkachuk. Winnipeg - Major step back this season with loosing Trouba and Myers, I know Myers is replacement level, but who is going to fill the minutes on the right side? Myers is still serviceable, is Pionk going to be anything more than a PP specialist? Hellebyuk needs to find his game again, he looked just average last season, like he was always chasing the puck. Laine and the team seem to be on different planets, let alone the same ice surface. Dallas - Great up and coming D core, very mobile, I don't see Bishop recreating his amazing season, and outside of Seguin and Benn, who is scoring? They had one the stingiest goals against last season, but the Cancucks scored more goals. Rope Hintz is coming along nicely, but I don't see him with more than 50 points. New Playoff Teams Vancouver Canucks - We might have some issues in 2 years when we cannot afford to bring in legit assets to help out our prime years core as we suffer through some contracts not aging well, but for this season and next, we have a team that can finally compete in the fast paced, sometimes heavy, western conference. Im all for skilled hockey, but adding an elite forechecker and puck retriever in Ferland will help Petey and Boeser have more time and space. We paid a premium for some reason to take the Miller contract off of Tampa Bay's hands, however we now have 2 competitive scoring lines, with Miller's in tight playmaking available to Horvat and either Baertschi or Pearson. Adding Myers and Benn, while not a top pairing defenders, will improve our D corp significantly over having Guddy and Pouliot. Markstrom, while having a career year at 29, doesn't scream sustainable, seems to be comfortable in net with the things he has implimented from Ian Clark, he is not chasing the play so much, and counting on his size to bail him out, he is sound positionally, and with Demko ready to take some of the workload off his shoulders, we should be a playoff team. Arizona Phil the Thrill Chicago Over due

I think a trade is more likely. JB won't want to ruffle anyone's feathers. I think if you want one of those players Via trade, like Rick said, Dubas will want Van to take back a bad contract, ie, Zaitsev.

I tend to agree here - Edler - Stecher Hutton - Tanev Del Zotto - Gudbranson Holm Biega No reason to rush Juolevi. Let him go to Europe for a year and find his game against larger, faster opponents, as well as bulk up. He can then come over next year either to the A or to the big club. We're not going to be competitive for at least another 3 years, no rush.

Um - Top 6 centers and potential Top 6 centers don't become available to often - Much harder to obtain. Good job Benning.

Edler was easily our best D out there tonight. His vision along with poise and skill is unparalleled on the back end right now. Tanev is solid, but lacks the range and skating ability of Edler. Everyone is so critical of Alex Edler, but we're a much better team with a healthy and confident Elder than without.

agreed, advance stats are only beneficial when comparing players on a level playing field, junior leagues are not level, therefore, looking at things like character, determination, dedication, potential and skill are all important, more so than some stats.

Dejardins did a great job in the Dub, as well as in the AHL. He is a candidate that has won at multiple levels, He would be one on my list. Probably ahead of Stevens. Blashil from the Detroit system would be a great pick up, although whether or not Detroit grants permission to talk to him is another story.

Well, I do believe that this is a PR move by the ownership, but if you ask me, it's a damn good one. In response to the fact that you need time to develop a strategy going into the draft, Lawrence Gilman has been retained by the organization. This is a smart move has he has the keys to the bus. He is the resident "capologist." He has the most knowledge of where players are at development wise in the organization. As well it's not like Aquilini fired all of the Canucks scouts. There is a wealth of knowledge at Trevor Linden's disposal. I'm fairly certain that Gilman will be there at the draft table working with Trevor Linden, if not as the GM, then in his same capacity as the Assistant GM. As for the timing of the firing/hiring. It all has to do with timing, and money. Of course Gillis was fired as a scapegoat, and from a business stand point, this happens all the time. No one should be surprised. I for one believe that Gillis did a great job in bringing together the complementary pieces needed to win a cup during the first few years he was tenured. The Canucks need to save face, thats the brunt of it. Speaking of faces, making Trevor Linden the new poster boy, makes your face look great.

Not true. Gillis Not true, Gillis turned to Bob Mckenzie to let everyone know that they would entertain offers on anyone except the Sedins prior to the olympic break. Meaning Kes has been in play for almost a month now. I just can't see Montreal giving up Galchenyuk...Totally destroys any depth they would build by acquiring Kesler. If Montreal was interested in Edler as well...you might convince them. Edler, Kesler to Mon PK Subban and Eller/Galagher to Van Rumored that Therrien and Subban don't see eye to eye. Also they are reluctant to offer him a long extension.

No way Galchenyuk is involved in the deal. If we have to take Briere its a deal breaker. Galagher, Eller, and a 1st.

Do you think Kesler would want to go the fishbowl that is Montreal? Dunno that he waives to go play for The Canadiens. However a return involving Galagher would be interesting. Pretty sure Galchenyuk is out of play.

Fair enough. Regardless, Landeskog and O'Rielly are not leaving Colorado.

Landeskog and O'Rielly are not going anywhere, let alone to a western conference team. If any forward gets traded its Stastny. Do you really want to pay over six million a season for Stastny?

Long time reader, first time poster. If the return for Kesler centres around Brandon Suter, I don't think its worth it. Maybe something like... Bennett, Pouliot and a 1st in 2015? I mean aside from Ekblad and Reinhart, the 2014 draft class isnt that deep. Bennett has more upside than Suter, also hasn't hit is ceiling yet. Pouliot is expendable if you are the Penguins with the stellar play of Maata. A low 1st round pick in 2015 might net us a nice prospect, or we can package it for a different return. If the Canucks are moving Kesler, it can not be for anything less than a legitimate top six forward, a blue chipper and a 1st rounder. If the Pens don't bite, someone will with the depth Kesler brings to a team.