canuckbeliever Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 ryan Kesler met with Jim Benning this week. It’s not up there with a Putin-Obama summit, but in these parts, it’s big news. While all parties have their lips zipped on what transpired in that face-to-face and what could play out this month with the Vancouver Canucks centre — he was willing to waive his no-trade clause at the deadline — the agenda has never really changed for the former Selke Trophy winner. Kesler turns 30 on Aug. 31 and wants to win now. As the new general manager, it’s Benning’s mandate to complement the team’s top goal scorer with an elite winger and ease the centre’s concerns about a suspect collective skill level. After all, he did call Kesler “a warrior.” It’s also imperative to get back to the playoffs yet balance that with the long-term objective to become competitive in the ultra-tough Pacific Division where the Canucks had but one road win this season and were outscored 35-14. The Canucks were ranked 26th on the power play and 28th offensively in a bizarre injury-plagued season, but aren’t far removed from a wild-card playoff position. However, to suggest they can match the skill and will of the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks is far-fetched. Which, of course, brings up the Kesler conundrum because he stirs the roster drink. The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ducks has serious interest in Kesler at the deadline and if the Canucks want to take a hard look at forming a foundation for the next three to five years, it might not include Kesler. Expect the Ducks to come calling again during draft week. They need a strong, two-way centre behind Ryan Getzlaf and Kesler fits the bill. They have two first-round picks in the June 27-28 draft in Philadelphia and could also send a centre this way — not the untouchable Nick Bonino, 26, but maybe Mathieu Perreault, 26 — and winger Kyle Palmieri, 23. Perreault had 18 goals in 69 games and the restricted free agent earned $1 million US this season. Palmieri had 14 goals in 71 games and has two years left at an annual $1.46 million cap hit. The Canucks could hold out for big winger Devante Smith-Pelly, 21. He had five NHL playoff goals or the Ducks this spring after 27 goals in 55 AHL games and is an RFA, who had an $870,000 cap hit at the NHL level. At the very least, the Canucks would get a first-rounder and two young and affordable roster players. If they did that deal, the Canucks could also look even further down the rebuild road. They could package the No. 6 pick in this draft and 2013 first-round pick Bo Horvat — projected as a third-round centre — to get the first-overall pick that the Florida Panthers are shopping. The Canucks can play centre Shawn Matthias on the third line. That concept would allow the Canucks to grab local centre Sam Reinhart, who will go in the top three picks, and still have the 24th overall pick from the Ducks in a Kesler swap The Penguins also pitched hard for Kesler at the deadline. The other move the Canucks could consider — especially if they move Kesler and don’t get a long-term fit at centre in return — is to tender a July 1 offer sheet to restricted free agent Ryan Johansen. The 21-year-old Port Moody native is coming off a breakout 33-goal season with the Columbus Blue Jackets and even though the body of work is short, the returns could be long with the 6-foot-3, 223-pound centre. However, depending on the annual salary in an offer sheet, it could be risky business. Johansen is in for a major raise from the $1.945 million he earned this season. A three-year, $15-million deal that would keep him an RFA or a five-year, $28-million contract that gets him past the first year of unrestricted free agency would be tough for anybody to match on a yearly basis. The compensation for an annual offer-sheet salary between $3,364,391 and $5,046,585 is a first- and third-round draft choice. If Johansen is the real deal, you get a player at Kesler’s salary who’s nearly eight years younger. You also get some uncertainty because Kesler has six 20-plus goal seasons and did score 41 in his Selke season. He also plays hard and gets hurt a lot. The again, the Blue Jackets have more than $22 million in cap space and won’t let Johansen walk away. They would match an offer sheet. They have to. No wonder all the lips are zipped on the Kesler front. There’s a lot at stake and a lot of options. http://www.theprovince.com/sports/hockey/canucks-hockey/Many+options+Canucks+consider+Kesler/9911785/story.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter I know the Johansen thing might seem like its coming out of no where but I was talking to Botch today on twitter about how the Kesler/Reinhart thing plays out on and he did mention Johansen. Seems like he could be the potential wildcard though I think most fans will realize it probably doesnt happen. Jason Botchford @botchford 6h @ryanbiech @rum0r1 they're also considering offer sheeting johansen, doesn't mean it will happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket. Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Not to burst your bubble or anything but those writers, Kuzma and Botch don't know much if anything. They just write to write cause it's their job. Write a few things, gain attention and hits and it's profot for them. These guys are just sports writers acting like they know stuff and they don't 99% of the time. If they do it's already been released by other sources and they just regurgitate what has been said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 horvat projects to be a third line center. seems legit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrChill Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Offer sheeting Johansson would be great, but giving him a deal that is high enough to get him and not break the bank is the tuff one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawkdrummer Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Who said Horvat projects to be 3rd line center, I heard he projects as a 2nd line pivot. I'd rather keep the 6th pick as we'll get a good player and still have Horvat. No to trading Horvat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrChill Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Wonder if throwing a 4 year deal at 5.5 mil deal. Loose 1st , 2nd and 3rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckbeliever Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Offer sheeting Johansson would be great, but giving him a deal that is high enough to get him and not break the bank is the tuff one And thats why I think most fans will realize it doesnt happen.The key for me is compensation. To get Johansen you may have to pay upwards of 7+mill. Thats four first round picks territory. Johansen is one of my favorite players in the league but no way in hell anyone can say heis worth 4 firsts. Very players are worth that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrChill Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 horvat projects to be a third line center. seems legit. No he doesn't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckbeliever Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Wonder if throwing a 4 year deal at 5.5 mil deal. Loose 1st , 2nd and 3rd. CBJ would match I think. Thats a reasonable deal for Johansen and CBJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 horvat projects to be a third line center. seems legit. He said he projects to be a "third-round center". Kuzma is a dummy. He has no more hockey knowledge than the average fan in this city. He also changes his opinions of players with knee-jerk reactions as well. I'll laugh so hard at training camp when this guy does a 180 on Horvat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jejejester Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Not really taking talk much from what these two have to say. I don't believe them to be high end sources. Horvat projected as a 3rd line center? I think most of the hockey world has him as a 2nd line center and at very best case a 1st line center. Don't like many of their trades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowYaDrouin Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Wonder if throwing a 4 year deal at 5.5 mil deal. Loose 1st , 2nd and 3rd. You really think CBJ won't match that? This idea is ridiculous, it's essentially what CGY did to COL with O'Reilly. Bad Karma, and a terrible way for Benning to build a rep with the other GM's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrChill Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 CBJ would match I think. Thats a reasonable deal for Johansen and CBJ How high to get CLB to let him go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 No he doesn'tno no no I dont think that. thats what is said in the article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 He said he projects to be a "third-round center". Kuzma is a dummy. He has no more hockey knowledge than the average fan in this city. He also changes his opinions of players with knee-jerk reactions as well. I'll laugh so hard at training camp when this guy does a 180 on Horvat.whats a third-round center? is that even a thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karlsson`s Flo Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Ugh, Kuzma has been spewing a lot of garbage lately. He must be desperate for a real story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 1. Rebuilding means Ekblad over Reinhart. 2. Does Florida really want or need Horvat? 3. Ducks need upgrade at center, but Bonino is untouchable? Pfft, okay. Perreault = Meh. 4. Are the Canucks truly prepared to watch up to 10 years of Ducks-Kesler kick our ass? 5. CBJ's top player? Yeah i heard he's good too. Hey maybe we could just draft appropiately and stop relying on bs parallel trades to build a team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UFCanuck Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 How high to get CLB to let him go?over $10M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messier's_elbow Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Who said Horvat projects to be 3rd line center, I heard he projects as a 2nd line pivot. I'd rather keep the 6th pick as we'll get a good player and still have Horvat. No to trading Horvat! I agree. I like Reinhart but I rather have a top 5/Nylander and Horvat thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowYaDrouin Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 over $10M There isn't an offer sheet which we can offer that they won't match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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