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Starting to flip flop on Sbisa


Matt_T83

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So, I must admit I used to be one of the biggest critics of Sbisa. The guy is still a +/- nightmare. Most of that is his fault... If +/- was weighted better to give -3 to a player for a single goal against where he committed a clear error, his +/- would be even worse (currently -9).

But what I really like from him, and is making me re-consider my disdain for him overall, is his physical play. It's very noticeable every time Sbisa is on the ice that he finishes his checks and punishes players entering the zone.

This physical play is probably the one BIGGEST factor missing in the Canucks' play in the past 5 years. I think it's pretty much generally concluded that the Canucks, while a very skilled team, just aren't "difficult" to play against.

So I'm glad Sbisa is helping to change that. With Bieksa, Dorsett, Kenins, and Sbisa we are finally becoming slightly tougher to play against.

Now if we can only get Kassian to play mean hockey and finish his checks....

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So, I must admit I used to be one of the biggest critics of Sbisa. The guy is still a +/- nightmare. Most of that is his fault... If +/- was weighted better to give -3 to a player for a single goal against where he committed a clear error, his +/- would be even worse (currently -9).

But what I really like from him, and is making me re-consider my disdain for him overall, is his physical play. It's very noticeable every time Sbisa is on the ice that he finishes his checks and punishes players entering the zone.

This physical play is probably the one BIGGEST factor missing in the Canucks' play in the past 5 years. I think it's pretty much generally concluded that the Canucks, while a very skilled team, just aren't "difficult" to play against.

So I'm glad Sbisa is helping to change that. With Bieksa, Dorsett, Kenins, and Sbisa we are finally becoming slightly tougher to play against.

Now if we can only get Kassian to play mean hockey and finish his checks....

Kind of hard with a messed up back..

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As much "potential" as he has, he sometimes just makes extremely stupid plays that lead to goals. I'm not sure if his +/- is because of playing with bieska or just some bad luck, which seems to happen to him often (IE lack letting in a bad goal or someone else not covering there check)

Mind you Horvat is -4 but, has definitely played better than that indicates.

MY GRAMMAR SUCKS RIGHT NOW

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So, I must admit I used to be one of the biggest critics of Sbisa. The guy is still a +/- nightmare. Most of that is his fault... If +/- was weighted better to give -3 to a player for a single goal against where he committed a clear error, his +/- would be even worse (currently -9).

But what I really like from him, and is making me re-consider my disdain for him overall, is his physical play. It's very noticeable every time Sbisa is on the ice that he finishes his checks and punishes players entering the zone.

This physical play is probably the one BIGGEST factor missing in the Canucks' play in the past 5 years. I think it's pretty much generally concluded that the Canucks, while a very skilled team, just aren't "difficult" to play against.

So I'm glad Sbisa is helping to change that. With Bieksa, Dorsett, Kenins, and Sbisa we are finally becoming slightly tougher to play against.

Now if we can only get Kassian to play mean hockey and finish his checks....

I have similar feelings about Sbisa. At the beginning of the season I was very negative about Sbisa but Willie was patient with him (one of many reasons WD is a much better coach than I would ever be). And Sbisa has improved. But he still makes too many bad plays.

As for +/-, he has played a lot of top 4 minutes (unlike Stanton or Clendening) but, even so, he needs to improve.

So I continue to be unsure about him and I am not sure what JB will do about him in the summer given the fairly high cost of giving him a qualifying offer and the cap pressure the Canucks will experience.

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I have similar feelings about Sbisa. At the beginning of the season I was very negative about Sbisa but Willie was patient with him (one of many reasons WD is a much better coach than I would ever be). And Sbisa has improved. But he still makes too many bad plays.

As for +/-, he has played a lot of top 4 minutes (unlike Stanton or Clendening) but, even so, he needs to improve.

So I continue to be unsure about him and I am not sure what JB will do about him in the summer given the fairly high cost of giving him a qualifying offer and the cap pressure the Canucks will experience.

If a team qualifies him we get a 2nd round pick. The question is would someone qualify him?

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Same here. He's been quiet, in a good way. The most impressive thing I've noticed about him is his ability to read the Sedins.

He reads when they're going low and rings it around, and notices when they're coming high giving him leeway to pinch.

I was really impressed with a give and go play he made with Hank last night.

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Kind of hard with a messed up back..

Its not his back, its between the ears. You got to want to get dirty game after game like Dorsett does.

Excuses for Kassian wont stop until he quits hockey or is traded I guess. If its not his back its his hand. If its not his hand its his linemates. If its not his linemates its his ice time. And on and on it goes

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Spisa is an RFA. Question, does he get resigned since the new Tanev contract?

Edler 5.0, Bieksa 4.6, Hamhuis 4.5, Tanev 4.45, Spisa 2.175.....the rest are all under $1M (I have to think that Weber is playing himself into a new contract especially since he is such a bargain)

The Canucks will be tight to the cap, so does Spisa walk or does one of the older vet's move (Bieksa, Hamhuis), or does Benning get more creative?

Spisa is only 25 so his age is to his benefit.

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Defense is still a huge problem on this team, we are still missing that puck moving offensive D. Going to be hard to get one with Hamhuis and Bieksa eating up 9 mill of the cap. IMO Bieksa's time here is up. He will either play out his contract or get asked to waive his NTC.

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I think Sbisa is worth another year at the mid 2 mil range.

With regards to the cap, are there any FA's worth chasing? Especially considering we're trying to keep some spots open for young guys to fight over.

I don't think there are many big name ufas this year, mainly trade deadline rentals. Best way to build would be through a trade.

There is Mike Green, but the chances of getting him are slim.

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I don't think there are many big name ufas this year, mainly trade deadline rentals. Best way to build would be through a trade.

True, cap space is always valuable in some regard. Still, with our NTCs and such trades aren't as easy to come by, especially since I don't see us trading to take on big contracts. (Maybe vet for vet hockey deal?)

Point being, I think we can afford to give Sbisa what he's worth, all things considered.

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So, I must admit I used to be one of the biggest critics of Sbisa. The guy is still a +/- nightmare. Most of that is his fault... If +/- was weighted better to give -3 to a player for a single goal against where he committed a clear error, his +/- would be even worse (currently -9).

But what I really like from him, and is making me re-consider my disdain for him overall, is his physical play. It's very noticeable every time Sbisa is on the ice that he finishes his checks and punishes players entering the zone.

This physical play is probably the one BIGGEST factor missing in the Canucks' play in the past 5 years. I think it's pretty much generally concluded that the Canucks, while a very skilled team, just aren't "difficult" to play against.

So I'm glad Sbisa is helping to change that. With Bieksa, Dorsett, Kenins, and Sbisa we are finally becoming slightly tougher to play against.

Now if we can only get Kassian to play mean hockey and finish his checks....

Agreed.

Sbisa's physical element rivals that of Bieksa's. You can't replace a defenceman like that so easily.

Edler makes a ton of mistakes. It's just a reality that you have to accept when you're a defenceman. People make mistakes and that's hockey for you.

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