[Proposal] Roster holes then suggestions to fill them

[underrated]

This is how I see the shape of what Benning has to work with.

Core guys we will likely/should keep

SEDIN'S: Sedin's are locked in as our top line for next year. Chances of them getting traded (for several reasons) are slim to none. They still perform as elite players (#9 and #13 in league points last year) and realistically it's support with secondary scoring that is needed.

VRBATA: Vrbata was our most natural goal scorer this year. He was a great fit with the Sedins but got split to help our second line score. Ideally, he is locked in as our top line right winger and we find secondary scoring.
BONINO: I'm not opposed to trading him, but if we give him good wingers he will be better than this season. He's cheap at 2.1 million, and he's still young at 26.

TANEV, EDLER: These two guys are still entering their prime or in it. Edler had a bounceback year. We also can't turn over our entire defense. I'd keep these two.

SBISA, DORSETT: Benning just re-signed Sbisa and Dorsett, so it is extremely unlikely (and disrepectful) for them to get traded.

MILLER, LACK: I'm not opposed to trading Miller if we get a decent offer (plus his cap space) but realistically I just don't see it happening. Who would trade for him at this point? Lack on the other hand is our guy until Demko develops. It also doesn't hurt Lack's development to split time for another season.

Guys we should move on from

Bieksa - He is still a solid addition for a team looking for a cup run. He logged 20 minutes a game last season, and brings a wealth of experience.

Burrows - I am a big fan of Burrows, but he is realistically a fantastic third line guy, rather than a natural scorer (unless paired with the Sedins). His passion, grit, two-way play would be a huge addition for many teams.

Higgins - Another good veteran who will be a solid addition to a playoff team. We need a change of scenery and some more space for youth.

Hansen - Decent third line winger, but we again need space for young guys, and a re-fresh in the locker room.

Hamhuis - I could definitely see Hamhuis staying, especially with his NTC, but I could also see a team really wanting his reliable veteran stable presence on the blueline.

Core of Lineup

Sedin - Sedin - Vrbata

EMPTY - Bonino - EMPTY

EMPTY - Horvat - Dorsett

EMPTY - EMPTY - EMPTY

Edler - Tanev

EMPTY - EMPTY

Sbisa - Weber

Miller & Lack

Then there are a bunch of young players who could either slot into our roster or be trade bait: Vey, Baerschi, Kassian, Kenins, Weber, Stanton, Corrado, Weber

Needs
-Two top four young/in-prime defenseman (unless Bieksa and/or Hamhuis is kept)

-Two top six young/in-prime wingers

-Depth players

Players available to trade

Hamhuis, Bieksa, Burrows, Higgins, Hansen, Vey, Baertschi, Kassian, Kenins, Weber, Stanton, Corrado

Potential players to re-sign: Richardson, Matthias

PROPOSALS

Hamhuis back to Nashville for Ryan Ellis
Why: If Hamhuis is going to waive his NTC, I figure Nashville is one of the places he could go to. The Predators are a top team in the league, and adding this familiar face could be a huge addition on their back end. The Canucks badly need a puck moving defenseman to bring the puck up the ice, similar to Ehrhoff back in the day. Along with a PP specialist, Ellis is the right fit.

Kassian and a conditional draft pick to Carolina for Jeff Skinner
Why: Understandably, this is a risky trade. Jeff Skinner has underachieved lately, and seems quite overpaid. With that said, he is still only 23 years old (hard to believe since he's been in the league a while) and has pure goal scoring ability. He is the guy who we can buy at a low cost right now, but can still develop into a top line scorer, and at the very least give us good scoring on the second line (which we have lacked greatly). Carolina does this to get rid of his contract, while at the same time taking on a young player who has underachieved, who also has potential, but is at a lower salary.

I see the conditional draft pick based on games played and points for Skinner, but essentially being a 2nd to 4th round pick, with a potential of a first if he played all season and played spectacularly.

Bieksa to Montreal for a 2nd round pick
Why: Montreal is obviously an elite team, so having a veteran right handed defenseman to play with Emelin (allowing Markov and PK to play together) is good for them. Bieksa's salary can be afforded with Gonchar coming off the books. The Canucks get a decent, but not spectacular pick back, as it's likely late int he second round.

Alexandre Burrows to St. Louis for Dmitrij Jaskin, 4th round pick
Why: St. Louis is a top team who needs to take that next step and struggles in the playoffs to do so. Burrows has playoff experience and so many of the intangibles that help a team win. With Tarasenko and Oshie as the top two right wingers, Burrows fits perfectly on their checking line wing, with the ability to score as well.

For the Canucks, they get a big, mean, strong right winger who can score. He is ready for the jump to the NHL and has been developed well. These are the type of guys Benning likes to get (players ready for the next step to the NHL like Vey and Baertschi). Jaskin can be given a chance to be on our second line but can also slot in on our third line.

Sign Brayden Coburn for four years at 5 million (or backup of Paul Martin)

Trade Hansen to an interested team for a 4th round pick

Trade Higgins for a 3rd round pick (or keep him for the third line winger role)

Re-sign Richardson (unless McCann is ready to make the jump)

2015 Lineup

Sedin - Sedin - Vrbata

Skinner - Bonino - Virtanen

Baertschi - Horvat - Jaskin

Kenins - Richardson/McCann - Dorsett

Vey, Shinkaruk, Jensen

Edler - Tanev

Coburn - Ellis

Sbisa - Weber
Corrado, Stanton, Clendening

Miller & Lack

[thejazz97]

Sedin-Sedin-Burrows

Baertschi-Horvat/Bonino-Vrbata

Kassian-Bonino/Horvat-Virtanen

Vey-Richardson/McCann-Dorsett

Jensen/Archibald

Edler-Tanev

Hamhuis-Clendening

Bieksa-Sbisa

Stanton

Miller/Lack

Lack/Miller

[qwijibo]

Montreal traded their 2nd for Petry. Also I seriously doubt Montreal would have any interest in Bieksa. Beaulieu will be a full time top 4 guy along with Subbsn and Markov. I could see them re-signing Petry. Tinordi won't be waiver exempt anymore and Gilbert (who has been very good this year) has another year on his contract. Plus they have Pateryn who has shown he's NHL ready as well. Oh. And they still have Emelin. There's just no need for Bieksa in Montreal.

Also. It's a contract year for Bieksa so you know he'll have a career season. May as well be in Vancouver

[bigbadcanucks]

Team needs size, speed and skill at every position. Find players with this profile whether from within the organization or from elsewhere and the team will be good.

EDIT: forgot to add heart as one of the attributes.

2nd EDIT: forgot to add the ability to finish (i.e., killer instinct) as another attribute the Canucks desperately need.

[Blueberries]

Montreal traded their 2nd for Petry. Also I seriously doubt Montreal would have any interest in Bieksa. Beaulieu will be a full time top 4 guy along with Subbsn and Markov. I could see them re-signing Petry. Tinordi won't be waiver exempt anymore and Gilbert (who has been very good this year) has another year on his contract. Plus they have Pateryn who has shown he's NHL ready as well. Oh. And they still have Emelin. There's just no need for Bieksa in Montreal.

Also. It's a contract year for Bieksa so you know he'll have a career season. May as well be in Vancouver

The year he gets the contract he seems to have a great season. 08-09 got 3 years @ 3.750 per and had 43 points and then in 11-12 got the 4.6 million per and had 44 points.

[hlaevang]

Okay a couple of things I would like to address. First off, this proposal is well-thought out and makes a lot of sense for all parties involved for the most part. However, I too do not see Montreal having much interest in Bieksa. Rather, I think it would be more likely that they would pursue someone like Burrows (from the area) or Frank Corrado. Also, Burrows would fit their age requirement going forward. Value-wise I am not sure what the return would look like, maybe a high B-level prospect and a pick?

Secondly, I actually like the Coburn signing. I have been a fan of his since he entered the league and would be interested to see what he could do for us.

Again, this proposal was well-thought out. I just don't see Bieksa or Hammer being traded this year unless the return is highly in our favour or it is a deadline day deal.

[mpt]

Most of your trades are quite unreasonable

[DownUndaCanuck]

We need to keep some veterans, as Benning said, to help the kids come up into a winning organization and teach them how to play properly.

IMO the Sedins are perfect for that role, but we need a little more.

Benning has decided that Dorsett is another veteran who is good at grooming kids, and as much as I wasn't a fan of that signing he's done a great job with Horvat, who really came alive after playing with him.

I've never been a fan of Burrows at a cap hit of 4.5M, but I think he would be another veteran, particularly in the playoffs, that the kids would do well learning from.

Higgins would also be a pretty good veteran to learn the hard-work ethics from, but unfortunately we cannot keep hold of all of our vets and Higgins' importance is probably the least.

On the blueline, Hamhuis and Bieksa are fantastic mentors, and Bieksa is a great leader physically and emotionally, but I'd be happy to part with his big cap hit and gaffs, leaving Hamhuis and Edler as our main leaders on the blueline.

We need to bring kids up into a group with adequate leadership from veterans, and I believe that this mix of youth, experience, speed, skill and size on each line and pairing is how you have success in the NHL (and especially the playoffs) today. Just look at the Anaheim Ducks (and Kings of a couple of seasons ago), and their balance. It's this similar sort of well-balanced formula that turns into winning:

Sedin - Sedin - Kassian (veterans of consistency and skill + young, passionate, tough guy)

Baertschi - Bonino - Vbrata (Vbrata is the perfect role model for Baertschi and the two showed some chemistry last season)

Dorsett - Horvat - Hansen (our best line at the end of last season, perfect mix of good chemistry)

Shinkaruk - Gaunce/Matthias - Burrows (Burrows would be a fantastic mentor for Shinkaruk)

Edler - Tanev

Hamhuis - Franson (old Nashville partners, DD + PMD)

Sbisa - Clendening

Corrado

Stanton

Miller
Lack

[48MPHSlapShot]

Agreed with everything you said except trading Hansen. He seems to be a good linemate to complement the younger players that step into the fold.

[goblix]

IMO Burrows is still a good player,

he's got the blend of grit, peskiness, and skill that is needed on our team. Other than that, he's a crucial penalty killer, playoff clutch, and forechecking machine and whether or not you have Sedin's with Vrbata or Kassian next year it's always nice to have Burrows around to slot in if needed.

I like Hansen and Dorsett as 3rd / 4th line wingers so I'd keep both of them.

If NJD is trading Adam Larsson then I'd make a hard push to get him. I'm not convinced on Weber, and Corrado / Clendening shouldn't be brought up in that kind of pressure situation.

Skinner is also a high risk with his concussion issues and I'd be happier with Kassian.

Jaskin sounds like a good add but it's not often that teams trade young players for old guys so I doubt STL would do that trade...