So, I have really gotten back on the Canucks bandwagon hardcore again. I've always been a fan, but I think this next season could be a big one.
So far, the Canucks lines and D-pairings look something like this with everyone who is under contract for next season.
Miller-Pettersson-
-Horvat-
Pearson-Dickinson-Podkolzin
- -
OEL-Myers
Hughes-
Dermott-Poolman
Hunt, Schenn
Demko-Martin
That is 56.4/82.5 salary committed to 16 players, including the buyout money to Holtby, Virtanen, and Ferland's LTIR $$$.
Players who start in AHL: Rathbone, Hoglander, Burroughs, Dowling and Woo.
For the discussion part, what moves would you like to see the Canucks make? Fill in the blanks.
For me, I would like to see something along the lines of this:
Trade:
To NJD:
Garland, 15th OA, our 2022 3rd round pick (79th) and our 2023 2nd round pick
To VAN:
2nd OA
Draft:
Juraj Slavkovsky (0.925 ELC) and put him into the lineup.
Signings and Re-signings:
Re-sign Lammikko, Highmore and Hunt to no more than 2.5 million spread around them (0.825-0.850 salary)
Re-sign Boeser to a contract no higher than 6 million (1, 2 or 3 years) - there's 21 players now with 9.525 million added (65.125/82.5 now).
Sign Filip Forsberg to an 7 year $64 million deal (9.142 AAV)
Sign Nick Deslauriers to a 3 year deal at $6.75 million (2.250 AAV)
Sign Noel Acciari to 2 years at $3.5 million (1.750 AAV)
Sign Josh Manson to 5 years at $25 million (5.000 AAV)
All of this puts the Canucks at 82.39/82.5
After, Ferland's LTIR will kick in a little extra cap room for call-ups.
New lineup looks like this:
Miller-Pettersson-Forsberg
Slafkofsky-Horvat-Boeser
Pearson-Dickinson-Podkolzin
Deslauriers-Lammikko-Lockwood
Highmore (Hoglander, Dowling)
OEL-Myers
Hughes-Manson
Dermott-Poolman
Hunt, Schenn
(Rathbone, Burroughs)
Demko-Martin
(DiPietro, Silovs)
(Bracketed players represent AHL)
I think going all in and bridging the gap with a star now would be beneficial for this season and going forward.
Locking up someone like Forsberg can give the team a boost to the current roster.
But if the Canucks are only fighting for a playoff spot, trading one of Miller, Horvat or Boeser could give the team some assets going forward for a re-tool/re-build.
I also believe we have a lot of other good players waiting in the wings like Linus Karlsson and Danila Klimovich who could get looks this season.
I also think Poolman can have a bounce-back season under a new system while keeping him to 3rd pairing and PK roles.
If Slafkovsky doesn't make the team, someone like Hoglander can step right into a 2nd/3rd line role.
What do you think?
I (hopefully) won't be making many more proposals and will ride out this offseason, excited for what is to come.