deanofnucks

I have been wringing my hands over another summer of reading print of the movements of OTHER teams lining up talent and toughness for their run at Lord Stanley. However, as critical as I was at first concerning the dealing away of Grabner - Bernier - and a first round pick, for at best a 2nd tier defenceman in Keith Ballard - I am gaining an appreciation that there may be a method to Mike Gillis' madness...In acquiring Ballrd the Canucks stabilize the doubts that they can field 6 serviceable defencemen without praying to the heavens above that Mitchell would (a.) make a full recovery from his severe (career threatening) concussion and (b.) Mitchell would agree to an effective pay cut to resign in his home province.Ballard gives the Canucks the peace of mind they have a suitable replacement for heavy minutes - and gain an equal or better hitter, and penalty killing specialist.Gillis has come out and stated fairly expressively they plan to be active in attempting to bringing in yet another blue liner to fill out a top-2 position... Would anyone press the arguement that Hamhuis has decided that because he has been moved yet again before July 1st - that he will sign in Pittsburg? Nope ... he has come this far and he seriously wants to explore the free agent market. It seems a logical assumption the Canucks (being his boyhood team) would garner a listen and likely add their comparable $4.00 M per season he has rumoured to have stated through his agent Wade Arnott - to be seeking from a prefered location. The interesting twist in the tale is something I can rationalely see Mike Gillis pursuing... When Keith Ballard found out about his move to Vancouver - he was spending time on the golf course with his long time friend (from junoir hockey) Paul Martin. PM is also a top four defenceman and a UFA. Where does all the money come from? Well in the adage 'something has to give' - the Canucks could add to the draft picks for 2011 by moving one Kevin Bieksa - Andrew Alberts - and the much maligned Shane O'Brien. Stepping inside my fantasy roster for a moment... would there be a significantly overall better defence in the NHL than this potential: Hamhuis / Martin Salo / Ehrhoff Edler / Morrisson Rome Whatever the outcome of the July 1st and trickle-down effect of teams releasing some RFA's and singed players to the waiver wire - Mike Gillis will likely be the beneficiary. The Vancouver Canucks WILL be a vastly different team in 2010 - 2011's season ... I am crossing all my fingers it will be for the better.

I love the blog Lorenzo ... I am not as experienced watching Hamhuis as you obviously are at the WHL level ... I am not too sure he has been able to manhandle the opposition (who is?) at the NHL level - but he is (1.) a reliable defencemen who has a proven track-record and (2.) a B.C. boy with the physical style the Canucks need to adapt into their game if they hope to see a third round this decade... He would certainly be on my shopping list - unless his price tag is above $4.5 million per year.

I agree in principal that Mike Gillis needs to Carpe Diem and make a draft table splash... not for the sake of the splash - but to grab a brass ring and remold the Canucks defense. Gudbranson is exactly what the face of the new defence corps in Vancouver needs to be ... for that matter the theme for the new players as a whole need to have the talent to 'keep up' with the new breed of talented - speedy forwards in the NHL; while possessing the toughness and grit factor the Canucks have been lacking. Having a rookie start on the back end would be a risk mind you... would the Canucks have a raw rookie start on defence? The key play for MG will be to unload player contracts that haven't added beyond the first round of playoff attempts... namely Bieksa at $3.75M The whole situation with Willie Mitchell's concussion has been a mystery to outsiders - one would think the injury would have been recoverable in time for the playoffs... now we sit and wait for word if Willie will play again and where if so... certainly the Canucks cannot afford a $3.5M (+) contract there? Resigning RFA's is a quandary depending on what their agents feel they can ask for ... does Mason Raymond sit on the sidelines hoping to have a $2.5 to $3.0M contract when the benchmark of Burrows and Samuelsson dictate they cannot offer him more than $1.75? Does Shane O'Brien take a pay cut for the theatrics he put the team through the past season and resign for under $1.59M? How does Janik Hansen feel about reentering the lineup (mind you I predict as a full time position) with another contract under $.75M? To lessen the load of demands I feel Gillis will aim to move Raymond who has the most league - wide recognized cache' and resign these other amigos... hopefully O.B. as well to acceptable cap hits. If Mike Gillis can gain a top 7 draft position and add to the war chest of talent on the D side ... it will be a successful draft day... The next challenge is to lure 2 or more starting 6 defencemen to sign here as UFA contracts to stabilize the reshaped back end. The only real question after this is how many games will Sami Salo play .... ?