canuckbeliever

AFC Divisional round games look so much better than NFC.

Still cut em. Ya it makes sense in long term but fact of matter is they still cut em

D is too weak and there lines on both sides are horrible. Von and Ware are going to have a field day like first week and Denvers garbage pass protection will look great compared to the colts pass rush. Also expect CJ to have a big day

Time for Peyton to get his revenge next Sunday. I love the fact that as a Broncos fan that the Pats got a significantly tougher matchup eventhough they are the higher seed.

You guys need more people for fantasy or is there enough?

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 41s UFA goalie Ryan Miller is in VAN being wooed by Canucks' brass So ya, thats the reason Miller is here.

PHX gave up a draft pick to TB for Sam Gagner and B.J. Crombeen. TB clearing salary cap room.

David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod · 2m Sounds like the Coyotes gave up draft picks and/or prospects to TB for Gagner.

Yandle has tobe involved somehow I think

Bob McKenzieVerified account ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie TB has traded Sam Gagner to PHX, I mean Arizona. In any case, Gagner is a Coyote. #TSN Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 1m PHX gave up a draft pick to TB for Sam Gagner and B.J. Crombeen. TB clearing salary cap room

lol that was a screw up by whoever runs tampas twitter account.

Dregs broke it first Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 2m Oilers trade Sam Gagner to Tampa Bay for Teddy Purcell. Chris Nichols ‏@NicholsOnHockey 56s TRADE: #Oilers deal Sam Gagner to #TBLightning for Teddy Purcell. Per Dreger and Erlendsson. Oilers got ROBBED.

For me, depends on term/price. 1-2 years its fine btwn 4-5 mill. anything more then no.

@TSNBobMcKenzie @IanEsplen http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/529762 http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Botchford+Benning+Ryan+Miller+back+would+Vancouver/9978766/story.html?__federated=1

Kelcey Brade @ctv_kelcey · 1m Next up, Free Agency. I've been told the #Canucks will take a serious run at Jarome Iginla if he's available July 1. #bruins @CTVVancouver

That is on the high end of things.... Agree with what you said but thats on high end of things. It completely depends on whether they can drive up price significantly through the "competition" between teams. The two teams where Van could maximize value (Philly/Nyr) probably wont happen due to diff reasons. RunningWild mentioned the Holmgren Gillis beef that botch referred to and Kes isnt fan of AV. Next best team from Canucks perspective where they could maximize value would be columbus imo but dont see Kes waiving NTC to play on the jackets. That leaves 1 of pittsburgh, detroit or a very long shot of Toronto. Best package can probably come from Detroit though van wouldnt be getting a center.

If you think the Canucks will not deal Kesler by draft at latest you are foolinng yourself. If they wanna maximize value for him best time to trade em is now. Teams get em for 2 more years at a friendly 5 mill and this year for a playoff run.

Bruce Arthur had some interesting comments on 1040.... Bruce Arthur: Kesler was in a bar telling people he wanted out of Vancouver, he was naming teams he wanted to go to This was after the Bronze medal and BA said multiple people heard him. This per Taj off of twitter.

CBJ wont give up Johansen. Here is an interesting take on what they could get at least from Pittsburgh.....If this is type of deal they get they will be fine... http://www.thepensblog.com/2014-archives/february/trading-for-ryan-kesler-makes-sense-for-the-penguins.html On Tuesday, Ray Shero alluded to the Pens not having the best cap situation this year to make a move and whatnot. Some took that as Shero declaring himself out of the trade-deadline craziness. We didn’t have the same takeaway. In fact, we think the Pens may be working on something. The end result? Ryan Kesler. HOW WE GOT TO THERE: First off, read this piece by Mike Colligan. Colligan formulates a great point about the Penguins returning to the three-center system they had with Crosby, Malkin and Staal. Sutter is due a qualifying offer of $2.7 million when he heads to restricted free agency this summer. How much will Shero be willing to pay for a young player who hasn’t really shown consistency or intensity? With Sutter trying to carry a third line, are the Penguins still at risk of being shutdown like they were in Boston last spring? Maybe it’s time to revive the three-center model. The good old three-center model... Down the stretch in Staal’s final season, Bylsma unleashed the full potential of the matchup nightmare. Against a team with depth, he ran the three centers on separate lines. Against teams with a tough top defensive pair, he’d slide Staal up next to Malkin and make the opposing coach pick their poison. Prior to television timeouts or at the end of periods and games, he’d load up all three on an unstoppable line. Some will take this as an assault on Brandon Sutter. And that simply isn’t true. Sutter has been fine, and in fact if nothing were to happen, the Penguins will be fine with Brandon Sutter. But think about the potential Kesler brings. 1. He’d be a solid upgrade to an already good penalty kill. 2. He’s an excellent faceoff man. 3. He has the grit to survive a series against any of the big boys in the East. In fact, he could be a huge X factor in a series against the Bruins if it were to ever get that. Bottom line: he is just as good as Jordan Staal. In fact, as Colligan pointed out, a Kesler for Staal trade was on table. A HOCKEY TRADE Like any trade we see, this would have to make sense for both teams. The knee-jerk reaction for people when talking about Kesler to the Penguins is questioning the third line center role. Again, Colligan dispells all that. But what about the Canucks? How in the world does this make sense for them? First, let’s identify who would be going to the great northwest. We see it like this. Brandon Sutter, Simon Despres/Derrick Pouliot, and a first round pick. 1. Brandon Sutter - Depending on how high the Canucks value his upside, they are getting a solid third line NHL center. 2. Simon Despres - The Canucks need some young, mobile defensemen. Despres can’t seem to crack the Penguins' lineup on a consistent basis. Remember, this is a guy Dan Bylsma said was a top-four NHL Dman. There have been whispers of the Penguins not being fond of Despres’ maturity level. 3. Derrick Pouliot - Pouliot nearly made the Penguins out of training camp. He is the best prospect in the organization. The Canucks have been missing this level of a defensive prospect ever since Luc Bourdon tragically died in 2009. 4. First round pick - Gulp, parting with another first round pick. This fits here, because the Canucks may be ready to blow things up. And an extra first round draft pick never hurts. WHEELS IN MOTION This broke late Wednesday night: THINGS TO WATCH THE NEXT 48 HOURS - Ignore the Ryan Kesler broken hand stuff. That isn't confirmed. - The Penguins have been buzzing on Kesler for a month or two according to a source of ours. - See who else gets involved with the rumors. The Flyers for example, could cause a bidding war. - Again. As mentioned above, this ending to Colligan's pieceis everything: Additionally, after the Staal trade occurred, I got wind that the Canucks had inquired about Staal’s availability. The Penguins’ ask in return? Ryan Kesler.

See here is the thing. I would take what Gillis said with a grain of salt because he talked to multiple reporters and told them different things.I know CDC hates Botchford but his Provies outlined this real well with facts that are kind of undisputable. Ann Schmaltz @annschmaltzFollow Mike Gillis says Ryan Kesler has not requested a trade. Not at the beginning of the season or at any time. #Canucks 7:37 PM - 26 Feb 2014 Clearly different things were said. Perhaps the more telling sign is Tony Gallaghers latest comment. It is well known that Gallagher and Gillis are friends. Not sure he writes a column about what will happen when Kesler is traded unless he knows Kesler is going to be traded. Here is what he wrote. And lastly, I know a lot of people here hate Botch but he alongside Kuzma and Gallagher are clearly adamant Kesler wants out. Thats a lot of folks. When the beat writers are all saying the same thing then odds are it is probably true And here is Bruce Arthur saying the exact same thing... Kesler trade request story: Kesler was also telling people he wanted out of Vancouver after the bronze medal game. So .. 6h ago ... maybe he didn't tell his agent? Anyway, I know who I trust on this.

A couple of nuggets from Mckenzies interview with 1050 McKenzie "I can tell you this, the Canucks are aggressively listening on Kesler and Edler" McKenzie "if the Canucks can find a C that's 20-25 that is a 1B or 2A in a package for Kesler then they'll move him" This per hope_smoke on twitter