Mike Vanderhoek

From the CBA: 4.5 – Extensions Teams are permitted to discuss contract expectations, terms, and freely negotiate an extension with any pending Restricted and Unrestricted Free Agents whose contract expires at the end of the upcoming season beginning on the first day of Free Agency. As with any negotiation, sometimes the player will not desire to sign an extension that early, some players will be more open to the idea, the key is teams can reach out to an agent and get a feel for where their players are at in terms of their expectations etc. When negotiating an extension with a player that has played with your club for the entire season (beginning on opening night of season), teams may offer up to an 8 year contract term if desired. Again, remember that not all players will re-sign, several will test free agency.

WAIVERS: The New Jersey Devils have placed forward Brandon Saad on Waivers, should he clear he will remain in Atlantic City.

Heads up! Hey guys, replies to contract discussions and inquiries can be expected this week, I was tied up the last couple of weeks out in the real world ( yuck! ).

They used a pick to acquire a very good guaranteed top four effective RHD in Hronek. Was a slick move and much much more of a sure thing.

People really need to temper their expectations, most of these players that are being touted as top college free agents are when its all said and done going to be bottom of the lineup or non NHL players. Maybe, maybe one becomes in terms of defenseman a 4/5. Livingstone like others mentioned have opportunity to sign and build an NHL career but the Canucks are not having trouble or struggling to bring in talent, on the contrary they have added some players since last offseason that they believe can help the organization.

Every game each team has a chance, no harm in cheering for and enjoying your team winning a game no matter the opposition. People miss so much of what's infront of them waiting for when something " matters ". There is undoubtedly one of the best forwards and defensemen this franchise has ever seen playing right now doing amazing things, don't wait to enjoy it.

Not at all a fan of targeting Gavrikov, he is going to be a player with a ton of interest which means we will need to overpay to add him, then we will have a defenseman on our book wildly overpaid, wait....oh yeah already there. Canucks retain OEL and one of Boeser or Garland likely moves on. If the Canucks can add a decent defenseman to develop from the college free agent list, retain Bear and maybe go for someone like Carson Soucy. As much as the defense needs an overhaul there is plenty of bodies that may not so easily be able to be moved out this offseason so i'd temper the Gavrikov or even Graves expectations.

IR ACTIVATION: The New Jersey Devils have activated defenseman John Carlson from Injured Reserve and place him onto the active roster.

ASSIGNED: The New Jersey Devils have assigned defenseman Nils Lundkvist to Atlantic city.

It's what he didn't do, disappointing to see all the hate but not unexpected.

EXTENSION: The Seattle Kraken have signed forward Boone Jenner to a six year contract extension. Boone Jenner: Six year deal worth $ 29.1m dollars ($4.85m AAV)

I would suggest Boeser and Garland hold more NHL value then what most here see them as valued, so get that right off the bat and acknowledge that yes either could fetch an NHL return and no you don't buyout either, Garland is not a buyout option, not even a consideration. Crap on Boeser like we heard his caphit and term is far too much for other clubs, no. He has two years at over 6.5m. He averages about 65 games a year, pots close to or around 20 goals and 45 to 50 points, he is not going to require incentive to move. That being said, Kotkaniemi is a player the Hurricanes are very high on, hence the offer sheet and the long term extension. He is the Hurricanes up and coming top six centre, he's not going to be a third line centre and if any team was going to try and pry him from the Hurricanes it would have happened a couple months before the deadline. The team frankly likes what they have in him, he is young and has cost certainty he will not be getting traded by the Hurricanes if you follow how they operate. You may have been able to discuss him in a deal around Miller prior but thats the extent of it.

He's not a free college player he was drafted by the Canucks, he "could" be a 2/3 line tweener if not a potential solid bottom six who can score and play physical, maybe play on the PP. He needs to work on his skating and his defensive game so not sure how much of a leash he will be given trying to establish himself at the pro level at least in Vancouver. Could be a cheaper option for the team to work with if they can move off say Boeser at minimum in the offseason.

There is the teams next starter a top six scorer and a top four defenseman in that list. Its not sexy names and the top draft picks but some astute additions could very well pay off in the top half of the lineup. But you aren't wrong with the majority as depth and potential NHLers which end of the day at least now youngsters are getting a better look here re: Brisebois, Juulsen.

I think what might be noticed is the need to work on his skating, think Raty in that department. Otherwise will be interesting to see how he connects in the offensive zone.

I would argue at the halfway point that he even reaches that steep cliff in decline is debatable, my point was at the midway point of his deal he is opened up to be available as a trade option to half the league. If the Canucks feel its in their best interests to do so. I guess the reasons you think Miller should get moved while he is still showing as productive and a solid top player is why he won't get moved. Vancouver won't find a better replacement for him at the NHL level because they are not going to move him for futures only, it has to be NHL piece(s) packaged perhaps with futures coming back in a deal. Since they won't find a better player to fit into this group now, they will retain him and move off others re: Boeser, Myers, Poolman, Pearson, maybe even OEL if they can bite that bullet ( but doubtful ).

Looking at his production coming over to North America that was one aspect of his game that was an unknown and something teams were hesitant on. He seems to be able to produce on North American ice and I have read his transition to North America was quite seamless. Looks like he could be a depth defenseman who could flirt with 4/5 minutes with PP time if he reaches his ceiling. Another strong fast skating defenseman who can play PP and PK, think he is over 6 feet now and 200 pounds

Yeah Bear feels he is a top four. He went through feeling devalued with his last club. He may not be a top four but no doubt his representation is going to use that angle. Vancouver is not likely signing him to a contract unless its over 2m per season.

With the cap growing Miller's 8m is going to look better and better. Halfway through his deal when its suggested his decline approaches steep cliff material his trade protection eases up substantially as well. The Canucks have a smart contract in place with Miller. Attractive to other clubs I'm sure. I don't see him getting traded in the next few years anyways.

Trade would never have happened.

Players want to be on a winner without a doubt. But you want a player that wants to come in and be part of the solution. This is where his representation see value and opportunity in Vancouver. The notion that there is a cloud of drama over this franchise is almost entirely media generated and fan/media carried. Hell Boudreau has nothing but good things to say even appreciation for ownership. Players and agents have come out specifically thanking the Canucks in Kuzmenko's case for believing in and working with him then resigning him. Mikheyev and agent come out praising the team's medical staff and management for helping him be able to play as long as he could while at the same time media and fans were ripping the team and calling for all the Canuck medical personnel to be fired lol. Rutherford holds major street cred in this league which at this stage is more valuable then him sitting at the President's chair. Allvin learning under him and benefiting from his networking is developing a reputation as a very astute General Manager. Jake Livingstone may struggle if signed and brought in to play top four minutes off the bat, he will likely be sold on joining a younger club, to be part of the solution, potentially playing with Hughes on defense or at the least on the rightside feeding the forward group pucks out of the zone. Drama is overblown, Vancouver is an attractive destination and with the elite young players on the team with opportunity to directly be linemates or defense partners is extremely attractive. So end of the day Canucks will sign the tall Swedish dman and Huard. Drance will have another meltdown about management decision making and missed opportunities lol.

Yet.......

A positive move by the team, nice to see a player work their way up the organization. This is also a benefit of having the final 1/3 of the year as a extended Training Camp as Tocchet describes. Under other coaching staffs and different seasons the team would not be giving these players a look. Now we wait for Drance to lose his mind " I don't understand, this makes no sense, I mean we need a common sense direction, you don't pour money into 25 year old defensemen like Brisebois, how will the Canucks not be capped out after this ? this team time and again has an opportunity to make the right choice and they continue to prove they don't have a read on the market and are wasting contract spaces " hahahahahhaha

Agreed.

I don't get it, are you saying you want to be @lethunder ?