Jump to content
The Official Site of the Vancouver Canucks
Canucks Community

EternalCanuckFan

Members
  • Posts

    2,090
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by EternalCanuckFan

  1. I would guess this to be the case just by Benning's rhetoric since the start of camp. Suspension makes sense just for team management considering Hamonic didn't opt out for the season. I'm pretty sure clearing Hamonic's cap space now doesn't have any cap implications for the Canucks at the start of the year? It doesn't affect their ability to exceed the cap due to to LTIR? I'm curious if Hamonic has clarified whether he'll come back this season and if the Canucks are close to signing someone?
  2. I agree that Green's comments actually speak to him thinking highly of Hoglander. It can be tough for players to get shuffled around often, and maybe the need for that will diminish when the team is healthy and in a good rhythm, but to be seen as a guy who can make just about any other linemate better is a great attribute.
  3. I like McAvoy in general but $9.5M AAV is terribly high of an AAV. His production is reasonably good but isn't exceptional. If $9M+ is the new "standard" for a decent good young Dman, then at least some elements of the league seem to expect a major increase in the cap and/or significant increases in league revenue. While the Islanders are a traditionally "stingy" team, their cap numbers are generally more in line with what seems reasonable. Pulock just re-signed for the same term but at more than $3M AAV less than McAvoy. Pulock is 4-years older so that could account for some perceived lesser "value" but his contract is, if I'm not mistaken, covering all UFA years. Pulock would presumably have been able to get much more on the open market.
  4. I agree that if Podz is getting very limited usage, then there may be benefit with having him play in Abbotsford for part of the season. Even though there's no 10-game rule for Podz, maybe coaching and management are giving him similar treatment to evaluate his transition to the NHL. If they do need to send Podz down now, I'm pretty sure this would be pretty easy since he's waiver exempt and I believe this would not have the same cap impact compared with cutting him for the opening night NHL roster. I think Podz will be given every chance to stay with the NHL club all year. Let's hope Podz can find his next gear and comfort level with corresponding increased playing time in the next few games but even he doesn't and ends up being demoted, I'm sure we'll see him again quickly.
  5. Keppen makes the opening night roster for the Abbotsford Canucks. Good for him. Hopefully Keppen can make some waves. Like many others, I was disappointed with the loss of Gadjovich on waivers since he seemed like one of the more likely prospects to make the jump to the NHL in the near future. It will be interesting to see if prospects like Keppen, Kunz or McDonough (who seems to be coming along very nicely) will be able to move up the prospect pipeline more strongly with the loss of Gadjovich. Can't forget Klimovich who seems to be assessed as not being too far away from making the jump either.
  6. Burroughs has definitely been a surprise through camp and the first game of the season. Even though that's been good, Rathbone and Burroughs both played very limited minutes last night so we'll see how things look if he is given more responsibility (and Rathbone, for that matter).
  7. Signs look promising that he's a bottom 6 forward with good size and wheels who knows where needs to be to play defensively sound hockey, can kill penalties, and has the ability to play a physical game. I agree that Lammikko could well cement a spot in the bottom 6 even on a healthy squad, especially with Sutter potentially out long term. I thought it was telling that Green put him out in the final minute of play. Already seems to trust him.
  8. The team looks like it's still trying to find it's rhythm, particularly on offense. Pettersson looks like he's still shaking off some rust but he's getting chances and looks dangerous almost every shift, so it feels like the results will come. The defense was thankfully not quite the tire fire that most were concerned about but obviously this is just one game. Still, OEL-Myers doesn't look terrible and Hughes look like he has made adjustments that will help immensely, especially with a steadier partner like Poolman. I was also encouraged by signs of the improved forward depth. Even with Sutter and Motte out, the Canucks depth at forward does look improved with Dowling not looking entirely out place and Hoglander adding a lot to the bottom 6. None of them stood out for wrong reasons, which is good. As much as it sucks to start the season on a 6 game road trip, who knows, this might be good for the team to not have distractions of playing at home and just learning how to gel as a team. Considering that Boeser did not play, I think there's a lot to be encouraged about the team's performance tonight. It's a long season of course but there are good things to build from tonight.
  9. Outside of Boeser's absence, it will be good to see how the team rolls with most of the personnel for the top-2 lines in action. It will also be interesting to see how the Dcore holds up against the Oilers.
  10. If Juho is even an approximation of Jarkko Ruutu, then I think that's a win for the Canucks. Jarkko was a super pest. In 2005-2006, we had Ruutu, Matt Cooke, Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows. A quarter of the forward group were super pests (although perhaps not quite with that reputation by that point of the season).
  11. That's brutal. Hope you have seen at least some improvement over that time?
  12. Or maybe more Motte-Lammikko-Chiasson given the news about Sutter's health problems. My guess is Petan is waived after Boeser returns and then Highmore is waived after Motte returns?
  13. That would be my guess, until Motte is back. I think Dowling stays on and Highmore is waived once Motte is healthy. Dowling's ability to play C is a significant advantage.
  14. I don't mind Chiasson with Petey while Boeser is out. Chiasson has reasonable wheels to keep up with play and has had a good career as a depth scorer. He can play up in the lineup for stretches as a complimentary guy. I do wonder how he fits once Boeser is back, but he seems like a guy who can make it work.
  15. For me the ship has sailed but I definitely wouldn't mind him coming back. At this point, I'm not going to hold my breath or anything, but it's certainly a plausible outcome if SJS decides they can't fit him in.
  16. Puckpedia has Gadjovich on IR. I guess he got injured some time after the waiver pickup. Could still mean that the Canucks would reclaim him after he's healthy and may or may not have a spot with the Sharks' NHL roster.
  17. Seems like the coaches are trying to send a message to management? Based on how the team is constructed right now (players under contract), I wonder who Chiasson would be expected to displace? He doesn't play PK so I think that would exclude Highmore as his main competition (although I think Highmore is waived once either Motte and/or Sutter are back). That leaves MacEwen and Petan. If I'm not mistaken, they used Petan in a PK role this pre-season but with the acquisition of Lammikko, maybe that's less important a role for him. They also used Petan in a PP role but he doesn't play net front like Chiasson. MacEwen is the guy that is the most easily displaced in terms of special teams contribution, but he's also pretty much the only guy who fights. I doubt Chiasson is going to add that element to his game at this point in his career. I think this might protect MacEwen. My guess is Petan is the odd man out at this point if the Canucks do sign Chiasson.
  18. With everyone clearing yesterday, including Hamonic, I suppose that means the opening night roster is more or less set for Wednesday? I'm assuming Hamonic will be assigned to Abbotsford now that he has cleared which will clear a bit of cap space and Unless I'm missing something, opening night roster looks something like: Garland-Pettersson-Boeser (if he's healthy) Pearson-Horvat-Hoglander Petan-Miller-Podkolzin Lammikko-Dickinson-Highmore/MacEwen MacEwen/Highmore Hughes-Poolman OEL-Myers Rathbone-Schenn Hunt, Burroughs Demko, Halak Either Lammikko or Highmore could play 4C if the Canucks want to move Miller back on wing with Pettersson. I'm not sure how I feel about Petan possibly being a full-time top-9 player for the Canucks but hopefully he will able to finally translate his ample skills into a regular NHL job.
  19. Not a great camp + pre-season for a couple former 5th overalls?
  20. Pretty sure Juulsen was already papered down after he cleared waivers a few days ago? Not sure about Lammikko.
  21. If I'm not mistaken, then Lockwood is still waiver exempt, no? Lockwood was my dark horse to make the team before camp began. Been good to see him really push for a spot but it's always hard for rookies to supplant veterans, even new ones. My guess is the team will want to see him hone his game in the AHL which might also include developing his offensive game, though that might not be as important for him.
  22. Cut seems likely at this point. Even leaving aside the bag skate optics, Juolevi's skating issues are still a source of concern. Juolevi legitimately has problems with pivoting, particularly in a rush situation. It was seen last season and this pre-season. He can still be provide some value in a depth role (e.g. PK specialist), but unfortunately for him, it looks like he has continued his drop in the depth chart. If Juolevi is in fact cut, then hopefully he can regain confidence of management/coaching with his play in Abbotsford. If anything is clear to me about what the Canucks are prioritizing on D, it's skating. All of the depth guys are good to decent skaters. Schenn is the lone exception, but even with him, his issue is more speed rather than being a poor skater. Judging from the practice line-up, Bowey probably makes it over Burroughs as one of the spare D (and Canucks will probably carry 2 spare D like they usually do). The Canucks gave a long look to Burroughs. The overall forward line-up is intriguing and does showcase the improved depth of the forward group. I'm guessing Boeser slots in with Pettersson and Garland when he's back which would bump Chiasson down to the 4th line? Given cap considerations, maybe the Canucks will keep Podkolzin up and move him up and down the line-up. Skating with Miller is a pretty plumb position, one that I think he can eventually do really well in once he's more comfortable (which seems to be the case with each game he plays). I wonder how Sutter is doing or if they're expecting him to possibly miss a large chunk of the season? If Sutter comes back then maybe we'll see Miller moved back on wing.
  23. Wouldn't be against the claim but at this point I would be a bit surprised if the Canucks claimed a RHD unless it's someone that is a bit of a surprise to find on waivers. Bowey has played respectably and I would think has higher upside than Meloche. I thought there might be some interest in McKeown but that ship clearly sailed already. Personally I'm good if the Canucks decide to give Bowey a shot at 7/8. He might even work his way into regular play with Hamonic not available.
  24. I doubt Rathbone is being showcased for a trade, but stranger things have happened. Rathbone is still a good, young D prospect who skates well and has good offensive instincts but is still learning how to play D effectively at the NHL level. That's really all we know. I don't necessarily see Rathbone as a redundant part behind OEL and Hughes yet, but it will certainly be interesting if he starts actually producing at a level exceeding his usage. At that point, then the Canucks might need to seriously consider if using him to acquire an asset to address another need might be more valuable than keeping him. There's still a lot for Rathbone to prove and, this pre-season, I think he has been given a strong chance to at least be given the further chance to prove his ability over an NHL regular season. He'll have important chances to play further up the depth chart in the event of any injuries.
  25. A 100% healthy Canucks team should be a pretty tough match up for most teams and even if a guy like Lockwood is sent to Abbotsford, that's tremendous depth to be able to inject into the line-up.
×
×
  • Create New...