[Proposal] Build in Two Year Time Frame For Sedins Last Shot

[underrated]

It's easy to look at our current struggling roster and try to make decisions on what the Canucks should do.  I think a wiser decision (and what I believe Linden and Benning are doing) is looking at the roster 2-3 years from now and assembling a cup contender.  When you look at the pieces, they're actually doing a much better job than expected.

 

Jim Benning and Trevor Linden seem set on trying to give the Sedins one more shot at competing before they retire, which is why they are hesitating to completely blow up the team and sell every veteran.  It must be why they add veterans throughout free agency (ie Miller, Eriksson), and trade draft picks for players a few years farther along in development (ie Vey, Baertschi).

 

To do this, they likely are aiming for pieces that will be ready to take that next step in two years (Sedins re-sign for at least one more year).  We need to be aiming for players about to enter their prime (22-25 years old).  IMO, to compete successfully in two years, the only way to do it will be if the Sedins are our second line rather than our first.  

 

With our current pieces, this is the roster I see for two years down the road (which helps us see the holes we need to fill).  Obviously the healthy development of guys like Virtanen and Juolevi is a big piece of this puzzle.

 

Players

Around the Sedins, these are the players who could be a part of this core going forward (but could still be moved in trades if needed):

Forwards: Horvat, Virtanen, Sutter, Boeser, Baertschi, Granlund, Gaunce, Rodin, 

Defense: Tanev, Gudbransson, Juolevi, Hutton, Stecher, Tryamkin, Subban

Goalies: Demko, Markstrom

Older but signed long-term: Eriksson, Dorsett

Players to trade: Edler, Miller, Hansen, Burrows, Sbisa

 

Roster

1A - BLANK - BLANK - Virtanen

1B - Sedin - Sedin - Boeser

3 - Rodin - Horvat - Sutter (equal playing time as top two lines, but on third line as shut down team, similarly to Kesler early on in his career)

4 - Granlund/other piece - Gaunce - Dorsett

Eriksson, Granlund, Baertschi other pieces not included

 

Juolevi - Tanev

Hutton - Gudbransson

Tryamkin - Stecher

Subban

(any variation of these seven based on development)

Demko

Markstrom

 

Plus our first round draft pick from this year will likely be a top 5 pick.

 

This team, projected two years down the road, actually looks quite surprisingly good, and gives me more confidence in Benning and Linden.

 

Moves

Based on the above roster of players for two years down the road, what is needed is a top line left winger and a top line center.  If Eriksson turns things around, he could potentially still be a top line player.  We just need to have the right linemates around him.

 

PRIORITY 1 - ELITE YOUNG CENTERMAN

While we do have Henrik Sedin and Bo Horvat at center, I think if we are going to be a true cup contender, we will need three solid lines.  Horvat would make an amazing third line centerman because he's more talented than that, but can be both a shut down center and scoring guy.  He plays the role of Kesler in our cup run.

Targets: Matt Duchene, Nolan Patrick, Sam Reinhardt

 

My opinion: Go all in on getting Nolan Patrick in this draft.  He will be drafted first or second overall.  We will be likely choosing top five.  If we don't get top two, then trade our pick along with a package of picks and players.

 

PRIORITY 2 - TOP YOUNG SCORING LEFT WINGER

If Eriksson regains his former self (especially with a top centerman skating with him), this may not be necessary.  Benning and Linden must have been hoping Eriksson would be this player, but if he doesn't regain that skill then we need to find someone.

Targets: Gabriel Landeskog, Jonathan Drouin, Jeff Skinner, Jaden Schwartz, Filip Forsberg, Max Domi

 

My opinion: Trade Edler, Baertschi for Tampa Bay for Drouin, Garrison (Contract).

 

PRIORITY 3 - ASSETS FOR OTHER PIECES 

Sell Miller, Burrows, Hansen, Sbisa, Granlund, and maybe even Eriksson if possible for as many draft pick or young prospects assets.

 

Cup contending roster only 2.5 years from now

1A - Drouin - Patrick - Virtanen

1B - Sedin - Sedin - Boeser

3 - Rodin - Horvat - Sutter (equal playing time as top two lines, but on third line as shut down team, similarly to Kesler early on in his career)

4 - Granlund/other piece - Gaunce - Dorsett

Eriksson (buy out or play if turned around)

 

Juolevi - Tanev

Hutton - Gudbransson

Tryamkin - Stecher

Subban

(any variation of these seven based on development)

Demko

Markstrom

[canucksnhl]

Not far-fetched! Definitely realistic. But everything would have to fall into place for us to be able to draft Nolan Patrick. I don't think we'd need to add Baertschi in if we were to trade Edler to Tampa for Drouin, maybe a prospect instead. And at the rate Baertschi has been developing, if he keeps it up, we won't need Drouin. I'm hoping Rodin becomes the next Panarin. 

[Patrick Kane]

13 minutes ago, canucksnhl said:

Not far-fetched! Definitely realistic. But everything would have to fall into place for us to be able to draft Nolan Patrick. I don't think we'd need to add Baertschi in if we were to trade Edler to Tampa for Drouin, maybe a prospect instead. And at the rate Baertschi has been developing, if he keeps it up, we won't need Drouin. I'm hoping Rodin becomes the next Panarin. 

 

 

[underrated]

46 minutes ago, canucksnhl said:

Not far-fetched! Definitely realistic. But everything would have to fall into place for us to be able to draft Nolan Patrick. I don't think we'd need to add Baertschi in if we were to trade Edler to Tampa for Drouin, maybe a prospect instead. And at the rate Baertschi has been developing, if he keeps it up, we won't need Drouin. I'm hoping Rodin becomes the next Panarin. 

 

Thanks! 

 

I had included Baertschi in my Tampa deal.  I had said Edler, Baertschi for Drouin, Garrison (for cap reasons).

 

I agree it could take a lot to convince someone to trade Patrick, but with a high pick only a few spots lower, plus a package of other picks, I think it could be worth it.  Maybe add out 2019 first round pick as well, if we think we will be competing by then.

[goalie13]

For Sedins' last shot at what?

 

There is no way that Patrick would be capable to carry this team to Cup contention by his second pro season.  Even Crosby and Toews couldn't achieve that until their 3rd year and by all accounts, Patrick is no Crosby, or Toews, or McDavid, or Matthews.  It may be several years before he is a dominant member of the line-up, if he is ever dominant at all.

[underrated]

13 minutes ago, goalie13 said:

For Sedins' last shot at what?

 

There is no way that Patrick would be capable to carry this team to Cup contention by his second pro season.  Even Crosby and Toews couldn't achieve that until their 3rd year and by all accounts, Patrick is no Crosby, or Toews, or McDavid, or Matthews.  It may be several years before he is a dominant member of the line-up, if he is ever dominant at all.

For their last shot at a cup, having come up one game short before.

 

I'm not saying Patrick would be the only reason we would make it to a cup, but that roster has two top scoring lines, and a very dominant third line.  If our defense continues to develop well, that's a really deep top six.  At this point several of our players like Patrick and Juolevi are still on their entry deals which allows us to spend more on the rest of the roster.  Feel free to swap 1A and 1B as which is our top line, but by all accounts Patrick will be able to make the jump next year, and be a solid player in year 2.

[goalie13]

I feel you're giving that roster more credit than it will be worth at that time.

 

We're not likely to get the kind of performance from the roster that is being built for at least a few years.  It just won't be ready by the time the Sedins reach the end of their current contract and a couple of trades here and there will not change that.

 

The only trade that will give the Sedins a shot at the Cup is one that sends them out of Vancouver.

[Pears]

This is my train of thought as well, although my vision of the roster is a little different. We definetly still need a couple of top line players, but we do have the pieces to acquire them. I think Matt Duchene is the exact type of center we should be looking at to eventually replace Henrik. He's only 25, has pretty good speed and awesome hands. He'd be the perfect compliment to Boeser. Henrik's not as fast as those two, but his still elite playmaking abilites would be lethal beside them. I think next year is the year the Sedins will be split up for 5 on 5 play but stick together on the powerplay.

 

H. Sedin - Duchene - Boeser

D. Sedin - Horvat - Virtanen

Baertschi - Sutter - Eriksson

Gaunce - _____ - Rödin

Granlund

 

Juolevi - Gudbranson

Hutton - Tanev

Tryamkin - Stecher

 

Markstrom

Demko

[Alflives]

10 minutes ago, Pears said:

This is my train of thought as well, although my vision of the roster is a little different. We definetly still need a couple of top line players, but we do have the pieces to acquire them. I think Matt Duchene is the exact type of center we should be looking at to eventually replace Henrik. He's only 25, has pretty good speed and awesome hands. He'd be the perfect compliment to Boeser. Henrik's not as fast as those two, but his still elite playmaking abilites would be lethal beside them. I think next year is the year the Sedins will be split up for 5 on 5 play but stick together on the powerplay.

 

H. Sedin - Duchene - Boeser

D. Sedin - Horvat - Virtanen

Baertschi - Sutter - Eriksson

Gaunce - _____ - Rödin

Granlund

 

Juolevi - Gudbranson

Hutton - Tanev

Tryamkin - Stecher

 

Markstrom

Demko

This is a pretty good looking team.   Would you switch out RNH for Duchene?

[Fanuck]

You don't win a cup,  or even contend for one,  without an elite PMD. 

Unfortunately Subban/Stecher/Hutton don't count as elite and no way OJ will be an impact player by your suggested time frame. 

 

So that begs the question - who is that truly elite PMD we'll have in place before the twins are done? 

[underrated]

1 hour ago, Fanuck said:

You don't win a cup,  or even contend for one,  without an elite PMD. 

Unfortunately Subban/Stecher/Hutton don't count as elite and no way OJ will be an impact player by your suggested time frame. 

 

So that begs the question - who is that truly elite PMD we'll have in place before the twins are done? 

I think you're right.  As I look at my own proposal, the weakest point I find is that a true cup contender needs a top d-man.  Pittsburgh may be the exception to this in recent years, but that's cause they're so loaded up front.  

 

Recent winners like Chicago have Keith-Seabrook, LA has Doughty, Boston had Chara when he was really good, Detroit has Lidstrom.  Pittsburgh has had decent but not elite guys.

 

I think it's possible for us to get a top guy.  With the young roster mentioned, there should be tons of cap space to offer a free agent (ie Shattenkirk).  But even by trade I think we have quite a few assets.  Maybe throw the farm at a team for someone like OEL, Ekblad or Jones.  Or more realistically pursue a veteran stud d-man to lead the younger players.  Someone like Pietrangelo, Vlasic, Carlson.

 

Who would you suggest?

[Fanuck]

55 minutes ago, underrated said:

Who would you suggest?

Truly elite PMD might just be the most valuable commodity in the NHL right at the moment.   As a result you have to think not many teams are going to make these types of assets available.

 

A couple guys that might - emphasis might - be available imo may include Pouliot out of Pit;  Theodore out of Ana;  Bowey in Wsh;  and Sanheim from Phi.

 

All of these guys have potential but are unproven at this point and would cost us various established assets of our own.   None would be fully developed in time for your 'Sedin' run however.