BC_Hawk

IF he would accept a 6x6, I would be willing to attach a 1st to make it happen. He would immediately solidify our top 4, and create tons of depth and a GREAT D corps for 2023. And at 4m for the year, that is easily doable by moving a fwd and LTIR. Hughes_Pesce Cole-Hronek Soucy-Myers That is an awesome D!

You got me; I should have said "has" used his shot. After the wrist injury, most of his goals have been dirty ones below the circles. This is all based on getting gifted time on top lines OR #1 PP. In the end, Joshua would score 70-75% of those goals if gifted the time...plus contribute on the forecheck and back check at <1m per year. In reality, BB resigning was a 2 year mistake by PA. Though I feel PA has done a good job so far, this is the one signing that really leaves egg on his face, and I have felt that since the ink touched paper. A 1 year QO would have made soooo much more sense. So news of him getting into shape and being mentally ready are great....I'm just not buying the 6.65m koolaid neither

And this is the true problem; BB gets points, but he is defensively not sound and often show minimal effort. My hope would be that the increased fitness results in more effort defensively and that he starts to use his size to drive offense. As of now, he simply is using his shot. For those that want to turn him into a rough and tumble power fwd, it just isn't going to happen; he is who he is which is fine. What we need to see is some of the rookie BB shine back through. And FYI on the shoulder shrug thing; he has done that his whole college and NHL career. I think it is simply something he started doing young (maybe bc of equipment) that is now just habit...much like those idiots chewing their mouth guards.

That’s exactly my thought. If we could sign Pesce to a 4 year deal, it’s ideal.

Agreed....and thinking ahead, having Soucy as a partner for Willander for a year on 3rd pair would be ideal! Hughes-Pesce 2024 FA/Trade-Hronek Soucy-Willander That is a good defense!

Soucy is an easy 5A on a stacked defense such as LV; Burroughs is a 8A on that team. And that's how we need to look at things; the defense we want to be vs who we currently are. Soucy will play 2nd pair LHD for the team this year; its just another building year anyways. Best case scenario, he steps up, and fills the spot long term...worst case, we have a wicked (slightly overpaid) 5A that we can pair with our young RHDs as they come up. Looking into the future, with both Cole and Myers coming off the books next year, we will be looking for a 1B (RHD) and 2B (LHD) with 9m to get there; no a bridge to far. And that is assuming that Soucy doesn't fit the bill at 2B OR Hirose doesn't steal a spot by then. Futures is bright....

Another point to add is maybe PA and the group are a lot higher on Raty's ability to steal some time this year. Blueger bumping down to the 4C to create a more offensive look with Raty is another possibility. In addition, though our fwd group appears small at first glance, getting Pearson back, Podz refinding his game, and Joshua being the player he showed last spring would bring some scoring size to the bottom 6.

Myers with 1yr left > Dumba on a multi year contract. Besides, with Hronek, Hughes, Hirose, and Rathbone, we need the size this year. And don’t be surprised if Myers looks great in 3rd pair situation in sheltered minutes this year.

I’d do that in a heartbeat….even though I like Garland. Rathbone is redundant here now; Need big long term answers. What is ur thoughts on picks? Judging by recent trades, a second or third would be enough

Even sign him now for 1.125m that can be buried in the AHL if need be while he rehabs. His options are kinda limited this year…other than signing a 1/2 contract after he is game ready in Jan with a contender. If I was Bear, I’d sign the cheap contract with Canucks and rehab in a familiar env while get paid.

I agree; any big move we make needs to be a long term answer in the Top4. Pesce fits that mold; 28 yo and a potential long term fit with Hughes. IF you acquire him, it just becomes a matter of looking at the long term partner for Hronek once Myers $ is off the book next season. Judging by contracts handed to Graves, Mayfield, etc…..it will be easily doable next offseason even with extension to others. The big question; what would it take to get Pesce here?

What we need is a higher end Dman….and if you gotta pay a premium for a guy like Graves, so be it. He is a top4 dman and a perfect partner for Hornek. Signing Soucy is just a stop gap, that will act as a roadblock to getting our young guys into the lineup.

Circle back to Schenn at 2m/2years. If you sign Graves, that gives us a decent top 4, and a Bris/Hirose-Myers line is actually intriguing

Yep…use the over payment on a long term top4 dman. I love the idea of a Graves-Hronek line for the next 5 years

Yes, with drafting Willander, sign Schenn for 2 years and Graves for 4/5 years would be ideal. Following defense wouldn’t be all that bad for 23/24: Hughes-Schenn Graves-Hronek Hiriose/Bris/Burroughs/etc-Myers