Auditions

[JamesB]

Prior to this year (for about the last 10 years), the stretch run from the trade deadline to the end of the regular season was not that interesting. Apart from the Tortorella year, the Canucks were always safely in playoff position and played a mostly veteran line-up in preparation for the playoffs. The Torts year was different as the Canucks were safely out of a playoff position and played a mostly veteran line-up in preparation for hitting the links in the summer. (And I am only joking about the lack of interest. The 2011 and 2012 stretch runs were great, with the Canucks going for the President's Cup and being serious Cup contenders.)

 

But this year is different, and it is interesting. This stretch run is all about auditions. I have never seen anything like it. Looking at just the forwards, I would say that fewer than half the spots for next year are clear. The other half (or more) are up for grabs and no-one -- not Benning, not Willie, and certainly not the fans knows how things will play out. The Canuck brass has been clear about holding auditions. Guys like Vey and Etem could wind up next year anywhere from 2RW on the Canucks to the AHL, depending on how things go.

 

With some vets demoted and some injured, the young guys are getting lots of opportunities.

 

One point that I have not seen discussed is that the Canucks are likely to wind up with a greater concentrations of first round draft picks among the forwards than we have seen for a while. I don't think this is an accident. I think it reflects the way Benning approaches things.

 

The following spots are solid for next year:

 

1. The first line coming out of camp will likely be the Sedins and Hansen.

2. Sutter will be 2C and Horvat will be 3C. Dorsett (who we learned from the Town Hall is a "foundational" player) will be 4RW.

3. Everything else is open (and Dorsett could move over to 4LW if necessary).

 

4. Last night (against Arizona) both Baertschi and Virtanen had good games (again). I think they have inside track for 2LW and 2RW. Benning would love that line as it would be fastest line the Canucks have had in a long time. All three guys -- Sutter, Baertschi and Virtanen and genuine "burners". And that line would have some size, some toughness, and good defence. And obviously there is a strong possibility of a UFA pickup slotting into the line-up, possibly in the top 6. 

 

5. The third line wingers are very uncertain, but one possibility is Gaunce at 3LW and Etem at 3RW. Etem is a bit of a long shot but if this happens, the second and third lines could be all first round picks and 8 of the top 9 forwards would be first round picks. This includes the Sedins (#2 and #3), Virtanen (#6), Horvat (#9).Sutter (#11), Baertschi (# 13), Gaunce (#26), and Etem (#29). And there is a decent chance McCann slots in on the 4th line (#24 overall). This says something about the value and importance of getting first round picks and making good choices with those picks.

That would leave Hansen (9th round), Dorsett (7th round) and Granlund (2nd round) as the only non first rounders in the top 12. (I think Granlund will be 4C. He will certainly be on the team somewhere.) Under this scenario, maybe Burrows stays as 13th man and Vey might be brought back, but there are lots of possibilities, including Zalewski.

 

But my point is that Benning is known for emphasizing the "eye test" rather than looking at advanced stats. And I admit that he seems to have a good eye. In general the guys who look good to the eye test typically also look good to amateur scouts and they tend to go high in the draft. This includes guys with speed, with size, and with a good shot.

 

Defence is different because D's develop more slowly. And that is we do not see a lot of Ds picked in the first round. But that is likely to change this year for the Canucks as they will probably go for Chychrun, Juolevi, or Sergachev in the first round if they do not win a lottery pick. 

 

In any case, to me this just emphasizes the importance of high draft picks. And I like the auditions. But it must be putting a lot of pressure on the young guys who are competing for jobs.

 

[theminister]

[theminister]

James, I think that there is the very real likelihood that we go after both a top 6 F and a top 4 D in FA changing the landscape of the roster make up.

 

We will have the cap money coming off of the books to spend and will have more again next season so we won't be under a major crunch. It would also help re-invigorate the line-up considerably.

 

Yes, there are auditions going on but, coupled with the new NHL trend being more about top 9 vs top 6/bottom 6, it's just about internal competition for either the 2nd or 3rd line, and are somewhat interchangeable.

 

Etem may make a name as a top 9, and my belief is that he will approach 20 goals next season, but he may also be a 4th liner as will Gaunce/Vey. Too many moving parts to do much speculating until we see the camp invites. Nabbing a top 3 pick may also change the conversation.

[nom_de_plume]

14 minutes ago, theminister said:

Casting couch?  Lol... WD seems to have a way with the young guys...  And he's got one helluva porn 'stache!

Thank you for a well though out thread.

 

 Nuckfan82 take note...

 

It sure is exciting times; landing one of these big names in the draft if we can, the return of Sutter which will help ease the pressure on Bo and development of Baer and Vey specifically.  Cap coming off the books could also help land a significant FA name.

 

I'm not totally sold on Gaunce just yet.  He's a big body but I haven't seen a drive or willingness to play a physical game.  This is probably because he doesn't want to end up on the wrong side of the puck.  

 

We saw the disappearance of the physical game with Virtanen until recently.  I wonder if it's a coaching approach to reinforce the fundamentals and then add the physical layer further down the road.

[nom_de_plume]

6 minutes ago, theminister said:

James, I think that there is the very real likelihood that we go after both a top 6 F and a top 4 D in FA changing the landscape of the roster make up.

 

We will have the cap money coming off of the books to spend and will have more again next season so we won't be under a major crunch. It would also help re-invigorate the line-up considerably.

 

Yes, there are auditions going on but, coupled with the new NHL trend being more about top 9 vs top 6/bottom 6, it's just about internal competition for either the 2nd sort 3rd line, and are somewhat interchangeable.

 

Stem may make a name as a top 9, and my belief is that he will approach 20 goals next season, but he may also be a 4th liner as will guanaco/Vey. Too many moving parts to do much speculating until we see the camp invites. Nabbing a top 3 pick may also change the conversation.

Guanaco?  Lol, the 17 year old Columbian phenom?

[theminister]

Just now, nom_de_plume said:

Guanaco?  Lol, the 17 year old Columbian phenom?

Si, auto-correcto. Una problema siempre. Todo verdad.

[nom_de_plume]

Just now, theminister said:

Si, auto-correcto. Una problema siempre. Todo verdad.

Lol amigo.  Quisiera uno cerveza por favor?

[cripplereh]

54 minutes ago, JamesB said:

Prior to this year (for about the last 10 years), the stretch run from the trade deadline to the end of the regular season was not that interesting. Apart from the Tortorella year, the Canucks were always safely in playoff position and played a mostly veteran line-up in preparation for the playoffs. The Torts year was different as the Canucks were safely out of a playoff position and played a mostly veteran line-up in preparation for hitting the links in the summer. (And I am only joking about the lack of interest. The 2011 and 2012 stretch runs were great, with the Canucks going for the President's Cup and being serious Cup contenders.)

 

But this year is different, and it is interesting. This stretch run is all about auditions. I have never seen anything like it. Looking at just the forwards, I would say that fewer than half the spots for next year are clear. The other half (or more) are up for grabs and no-one -- not Benning, not Willie, and certainly not the fans knows how things will play out. The Canuck brass has been clear about holding auditions. Guys like Vey and Etem could wind up next year anywhere from 2RW on the Canucks to the AHL, depending on how things go.

 

With some vets demoted and some injured, the young guys are getting lots of opportunities.

 

One point that I have not seen discussed is that the Canucks are likely to wind up with a greater concentrations of first round draft picks among the forwards than we have seen for a while. I don't think this is an accident. I think it reflects the way Benning approaches things.

 

The following spots are solid for next year:

 

1. The first line coming out of camp will likely be the Sedins and Hansen.

2. Sutter will be 2C and Horvat will be 3C. Dorsett (who we learned from the Town Hall is a "foundational" player) will be 4RW.

3. Everything else is open (and Dorsett could move over to 4LW if necessary).

 

4. Last night (against Arizona) both Baertschi and Virtanen had good games (again). I think they have inside track for 2LW and 2RW. Benning would love that line as it would be fastest line the Canucks have had in a long time. All three guys -- Sutter, Baertschi and Virtanen and genuine "burners". And that line would have some size, some toughness, and good defence. And obviously there is a strong possibility of a UFA pickup slotting into the line-up, possibly in the top 6. 

 

5. The third line wingers are very uncertain, but one possibility is Gaunce at 3LW and Etem at 3RW. Etem is a bit of a long shot but if this happens, the second and third lines could be all first round picks and 8 of the top 9 forwards would be first round picks. This includes the Sedins (#2 and #3), Virtanen (#6), Horvat (#9).Sutter (#11), Baertschi (# 13), Gaunce (#26), and Etem (#29). And there is a decent chance McCann slots in on the 4th line (#24 overall). This says something about the value and importance of getting first round picks and making good choices with those picks.

That would leave Hansen (9th round), Dorsett (7th round) and Granlund (2nd round) as the only non first rounders in the top 12. (I think Granlund will be 4C. He will certainly be on the team somewhere.) Under this scenario, maybe Burrows stays as 13th man and Vey might be brought back, but there are lots of possibilities, including Zalewski.

 

But my point is that Benning is known for emphasizing the "eye test" rather than looking at advanced stats. And I admit that he seems to have a good eye. In general the guys who look good to the eye test typically also look good to amateur scouts and they tend to go high in the draft. This includes guys with speed, with size, and with a good shot.

 

Defence is different because D's develop more slowly. And that is we do not see a lot of Ds picked in the first round. But that is likely to change this year for the Canucks as they will probably go for Chychrun, Juolevi, or Sergachev in the first round if they do not win a lottery pick. 

 

In any case, to me this just emphasizes the importance of high draft picks. And I like the auditions. But it must be putting a lot of pressure on the young guys who are competing for jobs.

 

I think it is in the best for us to put Sutter on the first line RW for faceoffs as Henrik can't win many!That would balance out our lines better and give us a better chance at winning every game!

[smithers joe]

we need a little more toughness up front...time will tell who is here when the smoke clears..i agree with the minister...as benning has said they know who they are targeting in the summer...a top 6 forward like lucic and a top 4 d-man like shattenkirk would change the look of this team...

[IBacon Strips]

It seems most of the pieces are already in place for next year and the only auditions left are for 4th line LW (Burrows, Gaunce, or Etem) and top 6 D (Pedan, Biega, Hamhuis, Tryamkin).  The other candidates for these spots are most likely gone in Kenins, Bart, Weber, and possibly even Hamhuis (unless edler gets traded, please). A long shot audition would be McCann on the wing, but I have a feeling he's going to get top line Utica and that we're going to sign a top 6/9 LW. 

 

Sedin-Sedin-Hansen

Baer-Horvat-Virt 

Empty-Vey-Sutter (Either one can play C) 

Audition-Granlund-Dorsett

Audition #2

 

Hutton-Tanev 

Edler/Hamhuis-Tryamkin

Sbisa-Larsson 

Pedan Biega

 

[Jiggs50]

1 hour ago, theminister said:

This might be the greatest post in cdc history. Dear lawd lmaao

[Jiggs50]

What happens when we get Matthews or one if the Fins? That lineup will have some pretty big changes imo. 

[Inge34]

I also like the auditions going on right now. I can't see our roster having a huge change next season. Like the OP said, Benning likes first rounders and this team will have a bunch of them when everyone is healthy. 

 

This is just a roster based on no UFA's coming to the Canucks. I don't think they go after any UFA vets because it does not fit with a full youth movement. Also with the following year Miller's contract will be gone and they have to keep room on the team for Demko and Boeser.  There would only be 8 vets on this roster with the majority playing their third NHL season or less. Unless we get Chychrun I don't see the other D-men making the jump from junior but who knows look at Virt, McCann and Hutton, they did it. This team will have been rebuilt in less than three years, not bad. It will be another tough year of inconsistent play. That been said, I can see Etem and Vey either being assigned to Utica, claimed off waivers or just let go. The same could be said for Burrows. He knows he is the vet that is losing a step, he may just retire or maybe if Montreal wants him then may send him there for nothing to free up a spot. If we get one of the big three picks then just slot that person in and jettison Vey or Etem. Anyways, this is how I see it going...

 

Sedin Sedin Sutter

Baertschi Horvat Virtanen

Etem Vey Hanson

Gaunce Granlund Dorsett

Burrows

 

Edler Tanev

Hutton Sbisa 

Tryamkin Hamhuis

Pedan

 

Markstrom

Miller

 

McCann, Larson, Biega, will start in Utica

Boeser will stay in school. Demko may stay in school or play in Utica. 

I don't think Subban, Cassels, Grenier or Zalewski will make the roster next year and be in Utica as well.

 

But what the hell do I know. Again this is not what i'm wishing for, it is just what I believe will happen. 

[JamesB]

4 hours ago, theminister said:

James, I think that there is the very real likelihood that we go after both a top 6 F and a top 4 D in FA changing the landscape of the roster make up.

 

We will have the cap money coming off of the books to spend and will have more again next season so we won't be under a major crunch. It would also help re-invigorate the line-up considerably.

 

Yes, there are auditions going on but, coupled with the new NHL trend being more about top 9 vs top 6/bottom 6, it's just about internal competition for either the 2nd sort 3rd line, and are somewhat interchangeable.

 

Etem may make a name as a top 9, and my belief is that he will approach 20 goals next season, but he may also be a 4th liner as will Gaunce/Vey. Too many moving parts to do much speculating until we see the camp invites. Nabbing a top 3 pick may also change the conversation.

All very good points. Yes, I am sure Benning would like to get a top 4 D and top 6 F in free agency, but that is hard to count on. Right now that Canucks are probably not that attractive to mid-career high end player who want to win now. Benning only gets those guys by overpaying and I hope he does not go too far.

 

I agree that Etem, Gaunce and Vey could easily be in competition for a 4th line spot.

 

And of course it would be great if the Canucks get a lottery pick and bring in Matthews, Laine or Puljujarvi. Any of those guys would have a shot to make the team next year (although personally I would prefer to see them get a year's additional development before playing in the NHL).

[HC20.0]

It's gonna entirely depend on McCann I think, on how the forwards will look. The forwards I think will look something like this:

 

If McCann plays well and earns a spot:

Sedin-Sedin-Hansen

UFA-Horvat-Sutter

Baertschi-McCann-Virtanen

Etem-Granlund-Dorsett

Burrows, Gaunce

 

If McCann's in Utica:

Sedin-Sedin-Hansen

UFA-Sutter-Virtanen

Baertschi-Horvat-Etem

Burrows-Granlund-Dorsett

Gaunce, Vey

 

Hard to gauge. I don't know if Vey will be back, but if he is, he'll be the extra forward. Also entirely possible that Burrows gets moved too. We'll definitely bring in a UFA I think, with our cap space. 

[theminister]

7 minutes ago, JamesB said:

All very good points. Yes, I am sure Benning would like to get a top 4 D and top 6 F in free agency, but that is hard to count on. Right now that Canucks are probably not that attractive to mid-career high end player who want to win now. Benning only gets those guys by overpaying and I hope he does not go too far.

 

I agree that Etem, Gaunce and Vey could easily be in competition for a 4th line spot.

 

And of course it would be great if the Canucks get a lottery pick and bring in Matthews, Laine or Puljujarvi. Any of those guys would have a shot to make the team next year (although personally I would prefer to see them get a year's additional development before playing in the NHL).

I'm not a pessimistic about that possibility....or the cap consideration. It depends in how much we want to spend this year vs next year because we will get additional room. 

 

By making the roster mostly younger players who will approach RFA we don't have to give big raises for awhile, for the most part. Horvat may get one in another year but, even then, it won't be more than a couple of million. Most of our guys will get moderate raises. And this doesn't preclude moving out a guy like Edler. 

 

There will be a bit of a fine line to walk...but I'm alright if we overpay for 4 years or less. 

 

How the lottery shakes out will make a big difference. But even if we nab say a Chychrun or Juolevi then we can give them major bonus money and sit on them for a year. Even with an expansion draft... I think we are in pretty good shape. I have full confidence in the possibilities. 

 

[gameburn]

3 hours ago, Jiggs50 said:

What happens when we get Matthews or one if the Fins? That lineup will have some pretty big changes imo. 

Now that is optimism.  I like that.

[Mattrek]

As much as I loved Sutter with the Sedins, it's not going to happen next year. Horvat while he has done a great job isn't quite ready for 2C yet. Sutter will be 2C as was the plan before the injuries and Horvat will learn the game at 3C where he won't have so much pressure on his shoulders and can just grow into the scoring  and defensive behemoth I feel he's going to become.

[desiboynux4lifee*******]

6 hours ago, nom_de_plume said:

Casting couch?  Lol... WD seems to have a way with the young guys...  And he's got one helluva porn 'stache!

Thank you for a well though out thread.

 

 Nuckfan82 take note...

 

It sure is exciting times; landing one of these big names in the draft if we can, the return of Sutter which will help ease the pressure on Bo and development of Baer and Vey specifically.  Cap coming off the books could also help land a significant FA name.

 

I'm not totally sold on Gaunce just yet.  He's a big body but I haven't seen a drive or willingness to play a physical game.  This is probably because he doesn't want to end up on the wrong side of the puck.  

 

We saw the disappearance of the physical game with Virtanen until recently.  I wonder if it's a coaching approach to reinforce the fundamentals and then add the physical layer further down the road.

SO LOOks like we know what site you like to visit in your spare time lolololololhahahahaha

[theminister]

1 hour ago, Mattrek said:

As much as I loved Sutter with the Sedins, it's not going to happen next year. Horvat while he has done a great job isn't quite ready for 2C yet. Sutter will be 2C as was the plan before the injuries and Horvat will learn the game at 3C where he won't have so much pressure on his shoulders and can just grow into the scoring  and defensive behemoth I feel he's going to become.

What's not going to happen?

 

Sutter as a winger? Probably not. 

 

The playoffs? Maybe.