ilduce39

I was thinking it’s a weird fit with his old man behind the bench. To say it plain: It’s a weird fit because he isn’t that good. If he were a clear cut superstar it wouldn’t be much of a problem. But as it stands, he’s a bottom pair / depth guy so it would put Adam in a weird spot benching his kid - or being called out if he got too much rope, deservedly or not.

Geekie, please. Would be a nice fit.

Yeah, with the injury he simply isn’t worth committing 2.2 mil towards at this juncture. I quite like Bear so I hope we circle back but management has more pressing issues in the coming days than a guy who’s already a questionable fit coming back from major surgery months from now.

With the current climate I think the big hope is that we can snag a UFA on a 1 year show me contract. If Matt Dumba, for example, wants to prove he’s still got game who better to showcase with than Quinn Hughes? Could be some win-win opportunities out there. Not sure who’d want their head caved in showcasing as our 3C though. Maybe someone who wants to retire but their wife keeps bugging them to make money.

With so much movement out there I’m actually kind of glad Allvin is playing this low and slow. Still some serious opportunity to make a play.

I think management is legitimately hesitant to trade Myers because how thin our back line is right now. A bit of a “devil you know” situation even if he’s overpaid. At 6x1 he’s also a limited cost regarding his term - most UFAs worth their salt might be less AAV but almost more total salary with term attached. That 6 mil off the books next offseason could be earmarked for Petey and Hronek raises that we might not want to spend right now.

Hate to admit it, but walking away with Danielson and ASP is a pretty nice day at the office for the wings.

It also hurts for trades. A good, top-6 winger is worth a lot on the ice but how often do they get traded for C or D? You aren’t getting far trading Benson in a package for a top 4 D man. The 11 OA had more value. Whereas Willander, assuming normal progression, will keep his value. Not saying we should trade him, but a winger heavy prospect pool isn’t worth much more than our winger heavy nhl roster.

When Reinbacher, Simashev, Danielson and Dvorksy all went top 10 and no one beyond Benson really fell I can see why Allvin just jumped at Willander. Real-time I had the same reaction. With the call to Buffalo I was at first thinking yeah trade down.. but we needed C or D in the first round and all our guys were off the board. Needed to just make the pick. (Assuming Moore is seen as a winger and ASP as a redundant piece with Hughes/Hronek in their mid 20s.)

Wait. With those odds…. Wait… you might be on to something.

They’re over thinking it. As a fun experiment awhile ago I replaced all our picks from the last 10 years or so with the next taken D or C and the results were pretty fantastic in the first round. Worse in the 2nd. When you’re dealing with elite talent, I think you can absolutely lean into position and body type. Look at how the draft broke down today: Simashev, Reinbacher, Danielson, Dvorsky, Willander all going in the top 11. Only Michkov and Leonard as wingers in the top 11 and only Michkov the only smaller body going in the top 12. It’s no secret. You’re never getting bigger bodies at C and D with skill and who can skate unless you draft them. You’re dumb if you don’t take them unless it’s a real stud.

I’ve been agreeing with Drance a lot lately but he’s a hockey hipster. He wants to take the off-brand cool upside pick. He’s going to pump up less physically imposing guys and go on about skill. Then head home open an ipa and listen to a vinyl record.

Honestly, though. Undersized, scrappy, good two way winger. Maybe a little less finishing than Benson may project at but yeah. Remember when we picked up Garland he was considered to be a great addition. He’s a good player. But it’s pretty darn tough to move the needle as an undersized winger - even if you’re a good player.

Right now we sitting with Dries as 3C and our D is: Hughes-Woo Wolanin-Hronek Brisebois-Myers I hope he’s being wise with the money buuuuut he also needs to get his ass in gear.

There shall be no such thing.

If Juolevi hadn’t completely busted due to injury and perhaps other reasons I don’t think we really care about Tkachuk, though. If we had reached for Sergachev, Chychrun or McAvoy do we even care? I wouldn’t.

Even Drance is auto-correcting to Wallinder.

The other bonus of going to college is there’s no threat of him getting his development stalled with limited minutes playing for a pro European team. US college play a reasonable schedule with tons of time to train and practice but it’s still highly competitive with older players. Boston is an Elite program. Perfect place for him to cook.

It wouldn’t be Canuck talk without a healthy dose of self pity.

I know this board is high on large Russian men, but it wouldn’t be the first time the coyotes did something ridiculous.

Willander - Juolevi parallels are insane. Guess what, they both also have blonde hair. Oh no!

Judd the Studd

Drafting Willander also opens up the idea that finding a shorter term, veteran fit with Hughes is a viable path forward.

Glad we didn’t trade down. Some nice players left but Willander fits the bill way better than anyone left.

Colby is the guy who buys the beer. If you know, you know.