Don't Make the Playoffs = Goodbye Old Core

[IBatch]

Benning has made it clear that next year is when things are going to happen to this team, both via free agency and by getting some picks.

Given recent years trade deadline, you could expect both Vrbata and Hamhuis to get 1st rounders and possibly a couple 3rds. That is not arguable, look it up if you want to be informed. Benning knows this.

He also knows that this years average UFA market is going to be eclipsed by a bumper crop next year possibly led by Stamkos.

NOBODY on this team is guaranteed to stay if we don't make the playoffs, including all players with no-trade clauses (who may happily leave a team entering a full rebuild for chance at the cup with a contender).

The Sedins, Burrows, Edler, and even Miller could be wearing different sweaters by the end of the season.

The safest players are those on entry level deals who are outperforming their salary (to free up money to overpay vets via free agency) and are considered part of the new core (ie Horvat).

This is the strategy that Benning has taken. It is the right one given the circumstances and the late stages of the core.

[Ride the red Pony]

I just don't see the Sedin's going to another team...Retirement, I could see this happening long before playing for another team.

[Rocksterh8]

Benning has made it clear that next year is when things are going to happen to this team, both via free agency and by getting some picks.

Given recent years trade deadline, you could expect both Vrbata and Hamhuis to get 1st rounders and possibly a couple 3rds. That is not arguable, look it up if you want to be informed. Benning knows this.

He also knows that this years average UFA market is going to be eclipsed by a bumper crop next year possibly led by Stamkos.

NOBODY on this team is guaranteed to stay if we don't make the playoffs, including all players with no-trade clauses (who may happily leave a team entering a full rebuild for chance at the cup with a contender).

The Sedins, Burrows, Edler, and even Miller could be wearing different sweaters by the end of the season.

The safest players are those on entry level deals who are outperforming their salary (to free up money to overpay vets via free agency) and are considered part of the new core (ie Horvat).

This is the strategy that Benning has taken. It is the right one given the circumstances and the late stages of the core.

Where had Benning made this clear? Proof?

[Sergei Shirokov]

100% selling off your best players and tanking never really pans out the way people think. You could end up like Edmonton, Florida, or even Toronto.

I remember all of the anger and angst in 2014 when we had a bad 1/2 season. Some teams have spent almost a decade going through what we went through for in 2014.

I think we should keep around our vets to slowly mentor and shield our young players until the time is right.

[TheYjUstMaKeYoUwooZy]

I agree that this season is a benchmark... We have played the AQ's game and made the playoffs last year. If we are not a playoff team this year at the dead line we will be sellers.... And finally sellers from a position of strength despite the NTC's.

The Sedin's however will not be moved. They have said as much. They are our heart and sole and will continue to guide the nucks until they retire. Period.

[Boudrias]

100% selling off your best players and tanking never really pans out the way people think. You could end up like Edmonton, Florida, or even Toronto.

I remember all of the anger and angst in 2014 when we had a bad 1/2 season. Some teams have spent almost a decade going through what we went through for in 2014.

I think we should keep around our vets to slowly mentor and shield our young players until the time is right.

Both Edmonton and Florida are loaded with talent and about to make playoffs. The dif with Van is that

the Oilers have a generational talent in MacDavid and Arguably so does Florida with Ekblad. The Laffers

have neverdone a full rebuild and are just starting that process. When you consistently draft in the

bottom half of the NHL you will not acquire the type of player needed to build a serious CUP contender.

So I hope Van play their young talent this season and they end up drafting in the top 5 picks. I do

have faith in Bennings ability to pick talent.

[Standing_Tall#37]

100% selling off your best players and tanking never really pans out the way people think. You could end up like Edmonton, Florida, or even Toronto.

I remember all of the anger and angst in 2014 when we had a bad 1/2 season. Some teams have spent almost a decade going through what we went through for in 2014.

I think we should keep around our vets to slowly mentor and shield our young players until the time is right.

If that's the case we need 2 rookies in the lineup no matter what. Because the old core had 2-3 years before retirement. If we want them to mentor the young guys, they have to do it this year and next. Otherwise we have the exact same situation of edmonton, Toronto or Florida but the thing is we just keep pushing back the coming storm by a year or two. That is why Virtanen makes this team for sure.

[Gstank29]

Benning has made it clear that next year is when things are going to happen to this team, both via free agency and by getting some picks.

Given recent years trade deadline, you could expect both Vrbata and Hamhuis to get 1st rounders and possibly a couple 3rds. That is not arguable, look it up if you want to be informed. Benning knows this.

He also knows that this years average UFA market is going to be eclipsed by a bumper crop next year possibly led by Stamkos.

NOBODY on this team is guaranteed to stay if we don't make the playoffs, including all players with no-trade clauses (who may happily leave a team entering a full rebuild for chance at the cup with a contender).

The Sedins, Burrows, Edler, and even Miller could be wearing different sweaters by the end of the season.

The safest players are those on entry level deals who are outperforming their salary (to free up money to overpay vets via free agency) and are considered part of the new core (ie Horvat).

This is the strategy that Benning has taken. It is the right one given the circumstances and the late stages of the core.

IMO Hamhuis will be resigned he is a good player for the young guys to learn from and as long as he can play as a top 4, he will help keep this team competitive though are "transition phase". Vrbata on the other hand is as good as gone, the reason he signed with Vancouver was to play with the Sedins and since thats not happening one can only assume he will go to a contender. Won't be surpised if he is traded before the trade deadline.

There are obviously some players who are safe regardless of what happens during the season because of their NTC/NMC and the fact that they are "lifetime" Canucks.

I'm pretty sure the Sedins and Burrows are locks to be on the team as long as they want too. Even Benning has said that Burrows is that type of player young guys can learn from. Edler as i see it would be expendable, but only for a kings ransom. If he is traded Benning is basically giving up on the season which wouldn't sit well with a lot of Canucks fans and the Aquillinis.

The safest players are those that have an acceptable CAP hits and are consistent profermers (Tanev, Edler, Sedins ETC), EL players are more of a crap shoot as far as point production and performance than any other type of player in the league.

[TheYjUstMaKeYoUwooZy]

Both Edmonton and Florida are loaded with talent and about to make playoffs. The dif with Van is that

the Oilers have a generational talent in MacDavid and Arguably so does Florida with Ekblad. The Laffers

have neverdone a full rebuild and are just starting that process. When you consistently draft in the

bottom half of the NHL you will not acquire the type of player needed to build a serious CUP contender.

So I hope Van play their young talent this season and they end up drafting in the top 5 picks. I do

have faith in Bennings ability to pick talent.

This comment is silly.... U quote McDavid as there generational talent. He sure is. How many number 1 picks did the Oilers get in the past 6 years before they got McDavid?

In the salary cap world there is more than one way to skin a cat... It's a numbers game. Great drafting and a good group of young, cheap players spread through your lineup gives you the room to go after the great players via FA.

It might not be a home run like MCDavid but there are plenty of teams constantly picking in the top5 that won't win a cup.

[MJDDawg]

What is the old core anyways OP?

Kes - Gone.

Juice - Gone.

Lui - Gone.

The twins and Burr, and Hammer (and possible Edler) are the last core standing. The twins aren't likely going anywhere, so really we're only talking about Burr and the two d-men.

I'd say the old core is pretty much gone already.

[DrJockitch]

The way the NHL points system is structured it is almost difficult to not be in the running for the playoffs at the deadline. It takes a cynical tanking approach or some devastating injuries.

We are really one or two injuries of 34+ year old players away from a serious drop though. If a Sedin, particularly Henrik, or Miller goes down we could potentially be in a lot of trouble. This isn't necessarily a bad thing.

A lot of people are attacking Benning for not doing enough this year. In just over a year he took a capped out team with a ton of NTCs and an aging core and has changed a full half the roster and created salary cap flexibility. We are competitive for the playoffs, take that for what you will. A cynical tanking effort like TO and Arizona are doing and Buffalo is starting to recover from does not guarantee success and outside of the hardcore fans who post here would not be accepted by the paying customer.

Don't forget we are amongst the most expensive teams in the league to go to a game and even with an eighth place team last year we had trouble drawing at times. Drop down near the bottom of the league and Vancouverites don't go to games. Calgary and Edmonton didn't have this problem.

[hockeyking]

The way the NHL points system is structured it is almost difficult to not be in the running for the playoffs at the deadline. It takes a cynical tanking approach or some devastating injuries.

We are really one or two injuries of 34+ year old players away from a serious drop though. If a Sedin, particularly Henrik, or Miller goes down we could potentially be in a lot of trouble. This isn't necessarily a bad thing.

A lot of people are attacking Benning for not doing enough this year. In just over a year he took a capped out team with a ton of NTCs and an aging core and has changed a full half the roster and created salary cap flexibility. We are competitive for the playoffs, take that for what you will. A cynical tanking effort like TO and Arizona are doing and Buffalo is starting to recover from does not guarantee success and outside of the hardcore fans who post here would not be accepted by the paying customer.

Don't forget we are amongst the most expensive teams in the league to go to a game and even with an eighth place team last year we had trouble drawing at times. Drop down near the bottom of the league and Vancouverites don't go to games. Calgary and Edmonton didn't have this problem.

Aren't most teams two injury away from having a drop off especially to top players. Calgary (gaudreau and Monahan), Dallas (Benn and Seguin), Edmonton (Mcdavide and Hall) and so on for every bubble team.

[DrJockitch]

Lots of teams have shown an ability to grind their ways through injuries, including ours last year. Calgary this year likely could survive those injuries as they have added depth upfront with Frolik and Bennett and have good quality in their D and goal. Dallas is a flawed team who last year had bad D and goaltending so didn't have any way to pull through a couple of serious injuries.

Yes bubble teams are just that on the bubble but part of the point was also that we are so dependent on players that are 35+ to stay healthy as there is not the depth at centre we had last year and the backup goalie has very limited success and experience at the NHL level. Benn and Seguin, McDavid and Hall, Gaudreau and Monahan are all the young core of teams ostensibly on the way up. They are not aging players on a bubble team heading the other way.

[EdgarM]

Benning has made it clear that next year is when things are going to happen to this team, both via free agency and by getting some picks.

Given recent years trade deadline, you could expect both Vrbata and Hamhuis to get 1st rounders and possibly a couple 3rds. That is not arguable, look it up if you want to be informed. Benning knows this.

He also knows that this years average UFA market is going to be eclipsed by a bumper crop next year possibly led by Stamkos.

NOBODY on this team is guaranteed to stay if we don't make the playoffs, including all players with no-trade clauses (who may happily leave a team entering a full rebuild for chance at the cup with a contender).

The Sedins, Burrows, Edler, and even Miller could be wearing different sweaters by the end of the season.

The safest players are those on entry level deals who are outperforming their salary (to free up money to overpay vets via free agency) and are considered part of the new core (ie Horvat).

This is the strategy that Benning has taken. It is the right one given the circumstances and the late stages of the core.

What you failed to include in your explanation of "Benning's Strategy" is for the team to remain competitive during this process. How can you do that if you get rid of ALL of your top players? Why would you take out key pieces to the puzzle if you cannot replace them with same or equal replacements?

Prospects take time to develope and there needs to be a "transition period" between the old and new top players. The only player I see even close to this transition is Bo. Do we really need to tell Bo that he needs to produce at this stage of his developement? Even the Twins were eased into it playing behind Nazzy and Co.

I am not convinced with this dumping everybody for draft picks either. Yes we need picks every year but all in the same year? There needs to be a BALANCE of all aspects including draft picks, core players, rookies etc.

You say "NOBODY is guaranteed to stay" but I disagree. Your #1 goalie, your top D pairing and your top line should remain intact. Your back up goalie should eventually take over from the #1, the #1 line should move to #2 line and you should wait until a replacement is available for your Dmen before dumping them. Dmen is especially important as they usually take longer to develope.

I am thinking Benning probably has a similar idea as there has been no indication lately to move Miller, the Sedins or Edler and Tanev.

[apollo]

Because benning has no knowledge of this team.

He doesn't know the talent we have

... He's completely blind. Things will happen starting October. The canucks will be a force to reckon with

[Jack Fig]

When Benning took over, there didn't seem to be a timetable as to when things would really change drastically, but now it's clear he saw that the summer of 2016 would be it. One year of bottoming out in the standings would really benefit the team in terms a of a very high pick before they (presumably) start to ascend again.

As well, I still have a hard time believing that Vrbata will fetch a 1st at any time. The guy is a playoff no-show.

[Jack Fig]

Aren't most teams two injury away from having a drop off especially to top players. Calgary (gaudreau and Monahan), Dallas (Benn and Seguin), Edmonton (Mcdavide and Hall) and so on for every bubble team.

Calgary lost what is easily their best player and soldiered on to a playoff spot anyway. They showed remarkable resiliency.

[appleboy]

If we are in a playoff hunt no one will be moved.

[KeslerPlaysLikeACanadian]

Both Edmonton and Florida are loaded with talent and about to make playoffs.

Maybe don't count those chickens yet. They still have the immense weight of a total loser culture. Sekera is the top D? Nope. I'll go on record here, no effing way the Spoilers make the playoffs. Besides, for them losing is winning, so they may have trouble getting into winning.

[hockeyking]

Calgary lost what is easily their best player and soldiered on to a playoff spot anyway. They showed remarkable resiliency.

They already had a good defense but there offense is sketchy If both Monahan and gaudreau went down I think they would be in trouble like if the sedins went down on the canucks. Heck even if one went down they would be in trouble like if we lost a sedin.