NMHockey

I never heard that rumour is what I meant. Only ever heard about him blocking a trade to Detroit years back.

Edler blocked a trade to Calgary last season?

Loui does indeed do unnoticed 200 foot plays that create energy for the team and he backs the opposing team up. But he's not the 2012 Loui Eriksson anymore and more often than not he is just holding back our top players with his lack of finish and foot speed compared to theirs. And is being a liability. We will go from a playoff team to a serious playoff threat once Boeser and Leivo are back and Loui isn't playing with Horvat/Pearson and taking shifts with Miller and Toffoli. Waiting until the last season with Loui holds back Podkolzin, Hoglander, Lind, Gadjovich, Jasek, etc. And it holds back a spot for a potential UFA or trade. It ruined us getting Simmonds or Barrie. There will be money set aside for the elite younger duo to sign them. In fact extensions very well may come before they become RFAs.

It's a draft pick over two years away. Plus Benning is going to try and re-acquire the current ones we lost anyway and will get some back. We have assets. Packaging a 24 year old future star goaltender with Eriksson to Ottawa or Detroit, is no different value or better than packaging a D-man prospect and a 2022 1st (which will likely be a very low one anyway) to Chicago. And also they wouldn't be giving us Saad for a cap dump. They'd be taking back an identical $6 million dollar cap hit as Saads. And gaining a young two-way sizeable D-man and a 1st.

Beer and chicken wings to celebrate the beginning of a playoff run!

Because Saad is kind of like a younger version of Eriksson and actually has some value. He will be 28 in October and Eriksson will be 35 in July. Saad put 47 points up only a year ago and even this season on a down year on a poor team he has 19 goals and is on pace for 40 points. Where as Eriksson has 12 points even with a top six role and nearly half those points are empty net plays. Eriksson is a 15 to 20 points $6 million dollar 34 year old penalty killer who only gets worse. Saad is a 40 to 50 points $6 million dollar 27 year old penalty killer who needs a change of scenery.

Do you have a better idea for Eriksson?

Blackhawks acquire: Loui Eriksson Guillaume Brisebois (VAN)1st round pick 2022 Canucks acquire: Brandon Saad THEN Penguins acquire: Brandon Saad Canucks acquire: Filip Hallander Canucks then turn around and trade Saad to his hometown of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh will have the cap space for Saads $6 million cap hit because out of all their UFAs and RFAs. Justin Schultz and his $5.5 million cap hit will likely be gone because of the emergence of John Marino. We can also take Marleaus $700,000 off for sure as he doesn't fit into Pittsburghs bigger picture and is just a rental who will likely retire after this season. Pending RFA Matt Murrays rights will also likely be shipped out with the emergence of Jarry and DeSmith. That's another $3.75 million of space. They do this because they're always looking for wingers for Crosby and Malkin. They add a two time cup-winning winger with size and speed who fits nicely alongside Crosby with a similar high- tempo 200 foot game. Saad is from Pittsburgh and has skated with multiple Penguins during off-seasons at the Penguins UPMC Lemieux practice facility. The Hawks do this because they've been shopping Saad for awhile and although they dump $6 million and then add it back in Eriksson. They get a 1st round pick and a B level prospect blueliner in Brisebois who fits their mold and which they need with Keith and Seabrook nearly done. Brisebois fits in to their future with Boqvist, L.Carlsson, etc. The Canucks do this to rid themselves of Erikssons $6 million without having to buy him out and continue to pay him. Yes we give up another 1st round pick but we are entering contending and buying as a team now. Benning is also going to try and re-coup our 2020 1st, 2nd, 3rd and we still have a 1st in 2021. We have a serious team and a plethora of young talent and don't need to worry about a couple of first round picks. You have to pay up to dump a contract like Erikssons. We also grab a 19 year old Swedish center in Filip Hallander who was the Penguins second round pick in 2018. He has a good frame at 6'1 190 and likes to use it while also boasting two-way upside. Potentially Pettersson, Horvat, Gaudette, Hallander down the middle would be very solid.

That's a really good idea. Tierney has alot of playoff experience too from his time with the Sharks. Also a former teammate of Bo in London. Juolevi is pretty much still a Grade A+ prospect though. Gaudette as well would be too much. So how about Sutter instead of Gaudette and move Gaudette to right wing for now so he can have less defensive pressure. We grab Borowiecki too if he's coming back from his ankle injury anytime soon. We need to shore up the blueline badly. Canucks acquire: C.Tierney M.Borowiecki 2020 3rd Senators acquire: Bra.Sutter O.Juolevi W.Lockwood rights 2021 conditional 5th

Again he'd be in Utica and only be in the top nine if there was injuries. There's not really any better options this cheap or fitting to trade for in a relatively young center with upside, that can play down on our Comets and come up immediately when injuries hit.

Pettersson has never played physical playoff hockey and already had a semi-serious injury this year. He's still filling out and adjusting to the rigors. Beagle has also had injuries multiple times and looks like he played through a couple. And do you really want to take Miller and/or Sutter off the wing where they're flourishing and make our wing spots weaker? Over the top center depth and defensive depth wins championships. Having someone like Quine who has experience playing with good players and can step in if needed. And play in-between players like Miller, Pearson, Toffoli, Boeser, Virtanen, Leivo, Sutter right away. That's a benefit to have on Utica and he would also elevate the game of our prospects down there.

It's actually not until 2022 that they'd get our 4th

Canucks acquire: C Alan Quine ($735,000) (Pending UFA) Flames acquire: D Ashton Sautner ($675,000) (Pending RFA) We only have one center in Utica under contract and he just got taken off IR and sent there today. (Tyler Graovac). Vancouver does this because we need a little more center depth for the playoffs and Alan Quine not only comes cheap. But he also has experience playing with top players during his time with the Islanders and a little with the Flames. He played 10 playoff games in the Islanders 2016 playoff run and put up 5 points. He has playmaking tools and some size at 6'0, 203 Lbs and can fill in for potential injuries to our centers. This way we can also keep Sutter on the wing where he is flourishing. Quine turns 27 this month and Sautner turns 26 in May. They're around the same age, cap hit, and could both use a change of scenery and both still have a tad of upside. Calgary does this because they have injuries in Giordano, Hamonic, and Valimaki on the blueline. And basically no AHL blueline depth and a weak blueline prospect pool. They gain a depth two-way D-man who put up points in the WHL and provides more stability and who they can make an immediate callup.