Slegr

I think it may be like fat chance and slim chance. It all adds up to the same thing.

I've been wondering the same thing, as I feel we might just make it in next season. If he can play for us next post-season, does it impact his status with the expansion draft?

I do acknowledge that compared to someone like Goldobin, Baertschi is much more willing to go into dirty areas. So in that sense, he's not as soft. But I suppose what I meant when I said soft is that his game doesn't really include initiating checks, striking any kind of fear into opposition, etc. He's willing to absorb checks, but there is no sand paper to his game. We already have multiple guys in our top 6 who are similar in that sense, and the big difference to me is that they contribute enough other X factors to allow for it. But I think you need a couple of guys willing to get nasty at times, throw big checks, mix it up, in order to be a real force. Baertschi needs to be a top 6 player to be of any use, but he just isn't consistent enough or have enough X factor to our existing line-up and dilutes our team toughness factor by taking the space of someone who could play with sand paper to balance out the talent / toughness ratio of our top 6.

If Benning can get anything for Baertschi, I'd prefer to see him move along. He's a nice guy and all, but as a top 6 player, he's too soft, doesn't have enough consistent offense, is injury prone, and is one head hit away from career over. Watching these playoffs, I'm not confident he would make it through. It was nice that we plucked him from Calgary for chump change while we were in beginner rebuild mode, but now is the time to cleanse this team of some softies. I can give free passes to Brock, Pettersson and Horvat for not hitting enough because they're consistently good enough to make up for that.. Baertschi is neither here nor there.

I somehow doubt that, because: 1) it would take the spotlight away from the Sedins on their appreciation night, and 2) if it was up to the Sedins, they'd probably prefer the captaincy going to countryman Pettersson. When they most likely give it to Horvat, I'd guess it'll be to start the season.

Agreed, plus it would be a move in good faith, strengthening the relations between player and organization.

When the Canucks are in a funk, you expect your captain to step up. What would that look like for Horvat? Winning faceoffs? He can do that. But he's not as dependable at throwing a big check, or scoring a big goal as regularly as other players. I agree that he'd make a good captain, but not convinced Pettersson wouldn't be better.

I'm still torn on this question of captaincy. Horvat had a break-out year with points, but still didn't have as many goals or assists as Pettersson's rookie year. Horvat is great on face-offs, but doesn't throw his weight around enough for my liking. They're both passionate players and give it 110%. The 2019/20 season will be Horvat's sixth year as a Canuck. We've probably seen pretty close to the ceiling with this guy, while Pettersson's ceiling is still in question, but there is no question he's a bona fide number one centre, finishing as a + player this season. They're both beauties, and no doubt they'll both wear letters on the front of their jerseys.

I think the person with the biggest incentive to bring back Tryamkin this next season is Jim Benning. There will be a lot more pressure for the Canucks to have a turnaround season for their 50th year, and both the coach and GM will be assessed more thoroughly this season. The defense is still the sore spot on this team, and so is the softness of the team roster. Tryamkin offers a ton of exactly what the Canucks need, and the possibility of an immediate presence in October is worth a generous signing bonus to help buy out the final KHL contract year.

Whether or not Tryamkin can be convinced to buy out his final year of KHL contract and come play with the Canucks is one of the possibilities I'm most excited about this off-season, despite the low possibility of this happening. I'd appreciate the Canucks to communicate any news about how discussions with Tryamkin's agent are transpiring throughout the summer. Nothing wrong with some transparency, and keeps things interesting.

Sutter has a lot to prove next season. My patience with him has run up though. Hopefully another team rolls the dice on him with a good trade.

Coming up - 20 goals, 40 points in 2019/20, plus more consistency edginess.

One year wouldn't totally shock me, but I'm hoping for at least 3 or 4 years. It's a pretty hard contract to figure out, given his injury and slow recovery, combined with a bit of a sophomore slump this year. But then again, he got a fair bit of bonus points playing with an insanely talented rookie. Just get it done, JB.

That's unfortunate. Hopefully he'll get frustrated enough with his homeland that he decides to rejoin our club.

I'm feeling pretty confident that Marner will get an offer sheet. My sense is that despite all his talk about wanting to stick around, he's been waiting for the possibility of an offer sheet, knowing it's the best way of getting paid. I wouldn't even mind if it was us, but then again, we need to take care of Brock or we'll get the same situation.

I am watching the playoffs, and the nastiness involved in it, and thinking if our goal next season is to make the post-season, we will desperately need both Tryamkin and Woo (as soon as he's NHL ready) to make any kind of impact in the post-season. We are way too soft on defence without them.

It's time, JB. Time to offer Tryamkin a deal that will comfortably allow him to buy out his remaining season in the KHL, and be a big part of the Canucks' 50th season. Tryamkin will bring the added element we need to land ourselves back in the post-season. Let's make it happen in 2019/20.

I interpret his comments to mean you still need a balance of some vets on the team. I completely agree. You can’t just trade everyone over the age of X for draft picks in some fairly rebuild and expect to compete.

Oh, he’ll play. He’ll play on crutches.

I’ll be there too, and I heard a rumour he may be ready to go then. I also may have started the rumour.

This guy is getting beyond frustrating. I've been a massive Tanev fan for all the things he does right. But it just messes the team up too much not being able to rely on the health of a top 2 defenseman for any length of time. I'm okay with trading him now, just so long as it's not the Leafs... just in case he does manage to stay healthy long enough to bring them any kind of post season success.

I have this feeling like there's a better chance of Tryamkin joining the Canucks next season then we think. To date, he has honoured his contracts, but why I think there's a chance he'll buy himself out of his last year of his KHL contract: - Canucks considered pursuading Hughes to join them after the Juniors tourney, recognizing his team would be left without him to finish the season, so they may try to also pursue Tryamkin this offseason and tempt him with signing bonuses - Canucks let Guddy go without much of a contingency plan for toughness on D, aside from picking up aging Schenn, almost like there is a bigger plan in place to get Tryamkin back this off season - Tryamkin probably hasn't been thrilled with ice time this season, and has probably matured a bit more to realize he needs to be back in the NHL and the time is right to get ice time under Green. How sweet would a Tryamkin / Hughes pairing look next season?

We are a much more intimidating and skilled team with him in our line-up. I really can't wait until he's back, as we don't have anything like him on our roster, and when this team is ready to make the playoffs, his size and strength will be very much needed.

Yes please - I’ll be at that game and keeping my fingers crossed for such a scenario.

Based on this, I'd think Hughes plays his first game Vs. Ottawa on March 20th.