J-P

I can understand that Armstrong don't wanna get pushed around by OEL/agent and the Canucks, but this is not like with Hamhuis where benning took a small hit short term to prove a point, this will turn very sour for both OEL and the franchise and is just bad business. I do agree with the OEL camp though that once FA period opened the ship had pretty much sailed. Same goes for AP, if he's not desperate to get out of St Louis I think they made a big mistake not signing before FA period.

Podz is a very intriguing prospect but it's no coincidence that he's kept off the score sheet more often than not. So whether he's a top 6 winger remains to be seen. Could be he's a player that's not top 6 on his own merits but creates space and opportunities for the likes of EP, Bo etc. on a level that makes him top 6 anyway. Still concerned that he really doesn't seem like a finisher. Will be interesting to see his game in the WJC, he's still very young and raw and playing against his peers might paint a different picture.

I actually expect Hogs to play lights out in camp since he will be in mid-season form, although not used to NA ice surface. But I agree some caution is warranted. He's not a sure thing to pan out, he might need more seasoning and it could also be he's great for 10-20 games but can't keep it up. I do hope he's at least a middle 6 winger and a fan favourite within 2 years though.

Agree but wouldn't include OJ either. Having young players with potential on ELC or cheap contracts is key going forward. That's more important than landing OEL. I'm all for OEL if we can make a deal that makes sense - which normally wouldn't be possible - and of course you've got to give up something of value but I'd be very hesitant to part with Podz, Hogs, OJ or Rathbone at this stage.

Not after signing QH and EP... Still think OEL can be fitted in though and agree the cap situation long term is not as bad as some seem to think.

The worrying part about OEL is not the player but the cap hit and term. Rathbone and OJ will have more manageable contracts although I think it's a given that neither will ever be close to the player OEL is. That being said I do agree that if a deal can be made for OEL that makes sense it will fast forward the retooling of the D and the entire roster into a contender.

For players I also think living in Vancouver is quite the attraction. There's a reason why Petey spends his off-season here and OEL wants to come here. Being a Swede myself I believe the combination of a major city, the wonderful nature and the hockey craze is a really nice fit with Swedish mentality.

Jake still has lot of potential but apart from his lackluster camps and preparation two things worry me: 1) In the playoffs he had a hard time keeping up. I think the effort was there but he just didn't process the game quickly enough and also showed lack of skill when the pace picked up and space was tighter. Some players just don't have the next level in them. Not comparing Jake to Pouliot as he's already achieved a lot more during regular season, but DP is an example of a player who had all the tools and vision but just couldn't raise his game to the next level. If Jake has that limitation and can't be a reliable energy 3rd liner, then it's time to move on. Hopefully GMJB and Green has more insight to this than I do. 2) Jake has been around the Sedins, Bo, Petey etc for years. How many role models do you really need to get it? Does he have it in him to do what it takes?

Hogs has an out clause from SHL (he's actually on loan IIRC) and will join camp and can be on the roster next season. Whether he's ready and if NHL is the best path for him short term I don't know.

Yeah pretty classless comment that only adds to the negativity surrounding this situation for them. Thinking now that LE + Benn (or other cheaper roster player) + Rathbone is enough and if they don't take that well good riddance. The optics of that deal would be pretty bad for them though, maybe Virtanen or Gaudette instead of Rathbone? Would be an even better deal for us IMO.

He will be at camp, if there is one...

I personally believe the opposite. If OEL to the bruins was a thing it would have already happened, but since it hasn't I believe the offer on the table is not one Arizona is pleased with and that if a deal does happen it will be one we will be very happy with (except the long-term cap implications maybe). I do agree however that for each passing day the likelyhood of a deal happening becomes smaller, would guess the draft is the deadline and after that Jim moves on to plan b.

The more rumours that appear the more you get the feeling that things are really bad in the desert, both financially, with OEL and with the franchise in general. If you give your captain a NMC, this is pretty much textbook stuff on how not to handle it. Just hope we can take advantage which really is starting to look like a real possibility, although it's hard to tell where boston's at in all this. As for OEL's value, I sure wouldn't trade for the 2015 version, but I wouldn't rule out him becoming that player with us again either. Sure it would be a risky move, but if the numbers make enough sense it's just a deal you have to make. I would expect OEL to be at least on par with QH offensively (short term, obviously QH has untapped potential) and much better defensively. With QH, OEL and Edler on the ice for 50 mins + I would imagine things looking a lot better next season.

Personally I think Domi is just a better player than Boeser and I would do a straight up deal in a heartbeat. Sure - losing Boeser would hurt and cause some short term issues in the top 6, but imagine the center depth if Domi would be 3C with e.g. Motte and Leivo as wingers. If Jake or someone replacing him can play with Bo that's 3 really deep lines. Would also be possible to load up with Domi in the top six at end of games etc.

Resign Marky without expansion protection, protect Demko and give Seattle a 3rd rounder for not selecting Marky? If by then Demko is the no 1 let Seattle pick Marky if they want. Of course if Marky's not signing without NMC then not much choice but to trade his rights or Demko. If Demko continues his development the price for Seattle not selecting him might be too high.

He was traded from Edmonton to LA mainly for financial reasons. Iirc he was then traded to St Louis as a trade deadline rental and finished his career after signing as a free agent with NYR. So I guess you could kinda say you're both right :-)

Jake had 2 points playing on Petey's line in one game. The rest of the playoffs he had one point in 16 games. I can see pros and cons in moving on from him - and expect the organization to internally have a clearer view on this - but in the current cap world there is no way we can allow him to get to arbitration and be rewarded around 3 mil, so qualifying him is out of the question. If I were to guess I'd say he signs a 1-2 year deal around 2 mil before we have to qualify him and then he's traded before next season.

He could and we'd save about 1 mil. Not sure what happens if there is no AHL but I suppose some demotion system will be in place.

I think in any event it's a gray area. So it would be risky to do it in this case where it's obvious that the team wants to get rid of the contract for cap purposes. Maybe not a huge risk, I mean it's not like we could get retroactive cap punishment or anything... Oh, wait a minute...

I believe Gaudette's stats are very inflated from PP and sheltering and that now is the time to sell high on him. Would love to see him shipped with Roussel for a decent pick to shed some cap.

If there is no AHL I would love to see Jonah, Kole and Rathbone in the SHL.

The fact the we don't have to - and IMO won't - protect him in the expansion draft was a major factor in the signing. Don't think he'll be picked - if he is the cap space is worth at least as much so no problem - so the last 2 years or so on the contract might be bad but sometimes that's just the cost of doing business.

It is possible but in theory only. Real problem is that if he's qualified and goes to arbitration he will get a salary that's way too high and that the organization can't walk away from. If we could actually sign him for around 1.5 he's definitely tradeable and maybe even worth the headache a while longer.

Guess I am as big a fan of the twins as there are but not even I think the rebuild should have been delayed. They definitely deserved to retire as Canucks though, and just to be clear, the delay of the rebuild was on the organization, not on them.

I think Beagle continuing the fitness culture and mentality from the Sedins is more important than you might think. Sutter had his moments during these playoffs but I just don't see his salary or the type of player he is nowadays as a good fit for 3C on a winning team. So I hope he's moved but might be easier said than done.