SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME

Additional fun fact: Eriksson and Beagle are also negative aggregate cap savings buyouts, so much like Roussel, they save more cap space just buried in the AHL than bought out. Those players’ agents definitely knew what they were doing, when they convinced JB to structure contracts for aging veterans that are essentially “buyout proof.”

I read recently that the last round of negotiations for the transfer agreement actually removed the AHL age 20 exemption for IIHF member leagues, meaning that European players from leagues governed by the transfer agreement are no longer allowed to play in the AHL as teenagers, and must be age 20, same as CHL players. I’ll try to find that source later today, because it was a very interesting wrinkle in the new transfer agreement. Also, I’m not sure if it was the full IIHF or just the Swedish federation that secured these concessions. The Swedes have been the main driver of change in the transfer agreement and they have pushed very hard for new rules that allow them to keep their players in Sweden longer, unless those players are going straight into the NHL. EDIT: Also, re: Jurmo and his new Liiga contract, the transfer agreement necessitates that his contract includes an out clause, as NHL “exclusive rights” to drafted players (within the term of those draft rights) supersede any contract with a league governed by the transfer agreement. So, if and when Jurmo is ready for an ELC, he can sign one and it will automatically break his Euro contract, allowing him to come over, if and when the Canucks feel he’s ready.

Definitely a worthwhile venture. Playing one overager season in the WHL could set him up very nicely for a contract, if he has a successful year. Would allow him to get his feet wet in the North American game, and then move on to an ELC and most likely starting out in Abbotsford. If things don’t go to plan, he can always head back to Sweden to develop further, and then hopefully earn his ELC a little later. Lots of time left on his draft rights. But ideally, the WHL year fast tracks him, and he shows he’s worthy of an ELC. Maybe 1-2 additional years cooking in the AHL, and then hopefully he’s ready for the NHL (if not sooner, if things really go well). I wouldn’t be against him staying in Sweden, as they have a good system and he can develop quite nicely over there, but I do think crossing the pond now might offer him his quickest path to the NHL, if all goes well. I really like him as a prospect and think he plays a style that could serve him quite well in the pros. His most obvious gifts are on the offensive side, but he also has pretty good size, good mobility, defends very aggressively, has just a little bit of sandpaper to him, and uses his body well in the defensive zone. He has the tools to be an impressive player, if things go well for him, and an overage season in the WHL would gives us a pretty good look at how well his abilities translate to the North American game.

Kinda weirded out. This has to be the first one of these videos where I’ve watched and just sat there nodding my head and agreeing with every point they made, through the entirety of the explanation, and even including the final decision on the number of games suspension. What the **** is happening?!?!?

Hopefully they work something out. IIRC Persson is a late birthday and will turn 20 this calendar year, so he’ll fall under CHL overage rules, which makes it a little harder to fit him into a roster. EDIT: Looking at the Kamloops roster, doesn’t seem like too much of an issue. They currently show 3 players who’d be overagers next season, and two of them appear to be going pro, so should be room for Persson. (CHL rules state that only 3 “overage” players can dress for a team.)

Scheifele is getting 2+ games. I’ve forwarded this post to DoPS: I expect DoPS to do the right thing, even if only to ensure that @Dumb Nuck has to admit that they are “not so smart.”

Probably 91. Although if Pod turns into the player we think he will, I’d like the idea of, in a few years time, the Maki family getting together and offering #11 to Podkolzin, and them announcing it together. Have Pod wears #11, with the blessing of the Maki family, and forever erasing the stain of the Messier years in Vancouver. Of course, this would have to come from the Makis, but it would be something I’d love to see, if it was something they actually wanted to do. Otherwise, just leave the number unofficially retired, or maybe even do something official, to remember Wayne, and honour the family. But no Canuck should wear #11 unless the Maki family decides to give their blessing.

I dunno, man. Even after the glide, he looks close enough to contact the puck below the goal line, if he’d actually extended his stick. If Scheifele keeps skating, he gets there even sooner. It’s a fast game, of course, but I still think Scheifele plays it differently, if he’s actually thinking about his best chance at stopping the goal.

I’ll have to check that later. I’m outside right now so just going off Twitter vids on my phone, but looks pretty obvious to my eyes.

Yeah, agreed. I don’t see how he’s trying to prevent a goal there. Guy’s wheeling full out through three zones, and then stop skating, glides, and moves his stick out of the way (and away from any attempt to play the puck), to set up the hit. If Scheifele just keeps skating and extends his stick, he actually stops that goal. He would’ve got there in time. But he wasn’t trying to stop a goal.

Podkolzin isn’t the lion. He’s Rafiki. That little lion represents losing seasons and playoff failures. Podkolzin has arrived to chuck all that **** off of a cliff, while we (the cheering animals below) celebrate.

“Vasily Podkolzin” is sure a strange way to spell the Sutter/3C discussion thread! EDIT: But keeping on topic , I’ve been wondering how little we’d need to offer in trade to get Morgan Geekie out of Carolina, ahead of the expansion draft? I know Geekie isn’t necessarily the answer right now, but he might be a guy who turns into a really good 3C just in time for when we hit our competitive window, and one that could maybe be extended quite reasonable to fill that role on the cheap. And then maybe also draft his brother Conor next year.

Button sort of addressed it in an interview with Chris Faber on the Canucks Conversation Podcast #162. He said that a big factor in how he made his list was “NHL readiness” and the potential to step immediately into an NHL lineup. He seemed to bump up prospects who had signed ELCs, or were in systems where NHL teams had greater access to the player (transfer agreement leagues, CHL, and players already in the AHL/NHL). When he made the list, Podkolzin had not yet had his impressive KHL postseason, which probably kept him lower than he would have been. And he was still playing under contract in Russia, and hadn’t signed his ELC with Vancouver. Button did say that he’d rank Podkolzin higher, if he were redoing that list. I have to say, I found his explanation a bit of a cop out, in that he seemed to apply criteria with Podkolzin that he didn’t consistently use with many of the other prospects on his list. Honestly, I think part of the low ranking was just Button looking to get some reactions from the Vancouver fan base. Canucks fans are some of the most passionate and active fans around, so dropping Podkolzin to #50 (from #14 on the previous year’s list), and making his the sole Canuck prospect in the top-75 (the Leafs had 5, Oilers and Sens both had 4, and the other Canadian teams 3 each) was guaranteed to drive a lot of page views and comments. When Button has actually spoken directly on Podkolzin, he’s been very complementary. In that same Faber interview, Button said “if Vasili Podkolzin isn’t going to be a really good, strong, productive player in the NHL, I’m just getting out of the business.”

Glad to see the Canucks coming out with a statement and action that offers some measure of acknowledgment and recognition, both of the recent horrific discoveries in Kamloops, and the larger context of what’s one of, if not the, darkest part of our history, as Canadians. I’ll leave it to my Indigenous brothers and sisters to decide whether or not the team’s statement and actions are appropriate and sufficient. But, if a white settler like myself were to respectfully offer an opinion, I’d say that while the Canucks aren’t necessarily responsible (at least any more than the rest of us) for residential schools, or for the genocide of the Indigenous community, if this team is truly committed to “truth and reconciliation,” and wishes to continue to portray itself as an organization that supports and honours First Nations, then they definitely needed to put something out, rather than remain silent on the issue, especially in the wake of these recent discoveries, and within the region this team calls home. So, I’m very glad to see the organization is doing something today. And I’m also glad they didn’t wait any longer, since the lack of any response from the Canucks (or any other NHL team) was very quickly becoming a story, especially on social media.

Seems like the natural step for the Dutch Gretzky. He’s clearly outgrown the North American game. Time to take his talents to Sweden, as the next stage in his world domination of hockey. Kidding aside, I wish Weise well. Hopefully he can enjoy some late career success in the SHL.

Hopefully he enjoys a similar start in North America. (Jasek had 7 points in his first 6 AHL games.)

That’s true. He’s very unselfish, when it comes to scoring chances, and often looks to setup others close to the net, instead of looking to finish everything himself. This was frustrating, at times, when you’d see Pod setup teammates for gilt-edged scoring chances, often pure tap-ins, and they’d flub them. His linemates robbed him of countless primary assists, both during tournaments, and his league play in Russia. It almost became a bad joke at times. What I’d remind myself when that happened was that nearly any decent NHL player would easily deposit those chances into the back of the net. In the previous post, where I mentioned “tunnel vision,” I was more referring to rush attempts where he’d sometimes hold the puck too long between the neutral zone and the high offensive zone, and try to create everything by himself, instead of using linemates, to gain entry and get setup. I wouldn’t necessarily say he was being selfish, but maybe just trying to beat one too many defenders, when a timely pass, or a simple give and go, might have led to more successful scoring opportunities. But when he gets into the danger areas, below the dots and closer to the net, his vision is very high level, and his playmaking skills really become noticeable. However, he can sometimes look to make the perfect play (almost like a bit of Sedinery), and make the pass for the tap-in, instead of just taking the shot. Probably good advice from his coaches when they told him to shoot more. Not so much because his passing plays were bad choices, but just that his linemates weren’t finishing them. He also has a very good shot, and it wouldn’t hurt for him to use it more often.

Haha, that’s true. But it would be a first for me personally.

True. Still, kinda hard for RNH to lead any other NHL team on something when he’s spent his whole pro career playing for the Coilers.

My morning dyslexia had me misreading “RHD” as “RNH” and I was about to have some serious issues with Jimmy here.

RNH actually is, somewhat surprisingly, a pretty effective PKer. He’s led Oilers forwards in PKTOI over the past three seasons and proven fairly efficient in that role. Special teams (both PK and PP) are arguably more of his strengths, compared to his 5v5 play (which can be a little underwhelming, at least for a player of his pedigree and salary). I’m not arguing for signing him, but if RNH were to join the Canucks, he’d probably help our PK. (And, of course, he’s a very capable power play option. His overall man advantage numbers are actually quite comparable to JT Miller’s.)

I’m not convinced by Miller’s two-way utility at centre. I think he’s a better defensive player (and overall threat) on the wing, but can get exposed at centre, as far as his play off the puck. Maybe that would improve with a more consistent deployment down the middle, but I saw a fair amount of issues with his defensive play at centre this past season. I do see the attraction, however, given our roster construction, and how Miller can give us a solid C “spine” in the top-9 (Petey, Bo, JT), but I still prefer looking to acquire a 3C, and keeping Miller at LW with Pettersson. I just think there’s more value their, at least individually, when it comes to maximizing Miller’s contributions, as well as making that top line the best it can be. But if we're looking at a hole at 3C, or a forward corps that only offers two scoring lines, I suppose it makes sense to move Miller to centre a third line, and create a more potent overall top-9. It just isn’t my first choice. I’m not saying it’s awful. It’s just more of a plan B or plan C, for me. I suppose it also depends on the wingers. Some of Miller’s deficiencies at C could be mitigated with the right support. And like I said earlier, he might also tighten up his defensive game, with more consistent usage down the middle (and the benefit of more practice and coaching). TL;DR: I think JT Miller is a better winger than center.

Very much agree. I expect Podkolzin to become an analytics darling in the NHL, with sparkling on-ice metrics that tell the story of his impact during shifts, and how much he can elevate the performance of the five man unit on the ice. I’m hopeful the box scores will also be there for him, but his success probably shouldn’t be judged merely on scoring production.

Yeah, skating is the only thing that stands out. It seems mostly a technical issue (hunched over posture with a noticeable heel kick), but he’s still surprisingly effective, and still moves around well, despite how inefficient his skating looks at times. If he can ever get those technical issues fixed (like with some focused work with a skating coach), I think he could have a Horvat level improvement, which would be an amazing bonus to his overall game. But he’s already able to move around the ice very well, despite the inefficiency. He just seems to have to work a lot harder than he needs to. However, his effort level is off the charts, so even if it requires more work than it maybe should (due to the technique), he always seems gets where he needs to, and quickly enough to keep up with the pace of the game. Other than that, there’s not a lot of obvious weaknesses. There were some production issues, with his scoring totals maybe not projecting high NHL equivalent points, but I’d say his recent KHL playoff success (11 points in 16 games), did a fair amount to dispel those concerns. And if I’m really trying to find faults, he can show a little bit of “tunnel vision” when he’s entering the zone with the puck, and might not always see passing options, and can try to force the play to the net a little too much on his own. Hardly a bad thing when a guy has the instinct to take pucks to the net himself, of course. I’ve just seen him pass up what looked like better options, and hold the puck too long, rather than pass off to teammates. That said, his vision and passing are still very high level, but it just seems like that switch tends to turn on when he gets below the faceoff dots, but not always clicking when he’s higher in the zone. It’s a really minor quibble, lol. Just trying to find faults. The pros vastly outweigh the cons though, when it comes to Podkolzin. And I could wax poetic on the many strengths to his game, which extend to all areas of the ice, all game states, and a heavily loaded toolbox of skills and abilities. The kid is a beauty.

There are so many balls in the air right now, when it comes to how the 2021-22 roster will be fleshed out. I’m not even willing to take a stab a spitballing lineups for next season, never mind targets for 2022-23. Need to see where the Pettersson and Hughes extensions come in, what happens in expansion, who’s healthy, and who is bought out (or terminated). So many moving parts!