Canucks News & Rumors: Edler, Boeser, Podkolzin, Miller Trade - The Hockey Writers

[grandmaster]

https://thehockeywriters.com/canucks-news-rumors-edler-boeser-podkolzin-jt-miller/

 

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning did well at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in his home arena. About the only controversy he caused was to trade a first-round pick, but otherwise, he might have picked up one of the best steals of the draft. 

 

 

In this edition of Canucks news and rumors, I will share some of what I’ve been reading about the team. Although the draft has been completed, Benning certainly will be busy over the next few weeks solidifying his roster for the coming season. 

Item One: Alex Edler Signs a Two-year Extension

Alex Edler said he wanted to stay in Vancouver with the Canucks, and he was good to his word. Although he likely could have gotten a larger payday with another team, he signed with his “hometown” Canucks. From what I read about Edler, it’s a family thing. He has developed deep roots in the community and is noted for his community service work. His signing for two seasons is a good move for both the Canucks and for Edler.

Vancouver Canucks’ Alexander Edler (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

The team’s number one defenseman signed a two-year, $12-million extension. I’m not certain what Edler’s thinking, but I’m wondering if this might be the 33-year-old Swede’s last contract. That said, because he’s a smart, experienced defenseman, I’m sure he could sign another contract when this two-year pact is completed. I’m guessing it will depend on how the Canucks are doing when his contract expires.

 

The shorter-term deal gives both Edler and the Canucks flexibility to make another decision in 2022 when young players like Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, and perhaps even Russian draftee Vasili Podkolzin become the core of the team. As well, a two-year contract allows more payroll certainty than a longer term. I have to think that no veteran player would want to be in the situation Patrick Marleau found himself in recently where the Toronto Maple Leafs were desperate to dump him (and his contract).

 

The Canucks remain interested in remaking its defense, but any rebuild will now include Edler.

Item Two: Brock Boeser Rumored to Sign Shorter Deal

On June 19, Nick Kypreos tweeted that, although signing Brock Boeser was part of the Canucks’ immediate wish list, a negotiated contract might still be far away. Currently, the rumor is that the team won’t sign a max-term deal with him. Instead, Kypreos suggests that the two sides were seeking a contract close to four or five years at about $7 million per season. 

Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

Given Edler’s short-term contract, it seems that Benning is laying out a philosophy of retaining as much payroll flexibility as possible, even with his star players. The salary cap has changed the nature of negotiating contracts; and, as Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock tersely noted:

“It’s a new landscape in the NHL. I’ve never seen the kind of things that take place now.” (from: ‘No first-round pick, but Leafs GM Dubas gets some crucial work done at draft’, The Toronto Sun – 6/22/19)

Item Three: Canucks Choose Vasili Podkolzin in Round 1

The Canucks first pick of 2019 NHL Entry Draft was young Russian forward Vasili Podkolzin. He’s only 17 years old and will remain under contract for two more seasons with St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Regardless of his contract status, he was a great draft pick for the team. 

Related: Canucks’ Podkolzin: Drafting a Russian Bulldog

Podkolzin has a reputation as an in-your-face offensive player. He has experience both with under-18 Russian national teams and playing against much older men in the KHL. It was a bit of a surprise that he fell to the #10 spot where the Canucks could pick him. He was ranked as the number two European player on the NHL Central Scouting prospect list.

Vasily Podkolzin, Vancouver Canucks, 2019 NHL Draft (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers

Podkolzin competes hard, is difficult to play against, and has the potential to become a high-scoring NHL player.

Item Four: Canucks Trade for J. T. Miller

The Canucks traded for salary-cap victim J. T. Miller, a 26-year-old forward from the Tampa Bay Lightning. To get Miller, the team traded goalie Marek Mazanec, a 2019 third-round pick, and a 2020 conditional first-round pick to the Lightning. The condition is that the Canucks make the playoffs. If they don’t, the 2020 first-rounder becomes a 2021 first-round pick.

Related: Canucks Acquire J.T. Miller

The Canucks should be happy to pick up Miller. He’s a 50-point player who will certainly become a top-six fixture for the Canucks. His versatility allows him to play all three forward positions. He also has a track record of being effective on the power-play, which is something the team sorely lacked last season. 

During an interview after the trade, although Benning noted that Miller would play in the top six, he wasn’t sure where Miller would fit. But, listening to Benning carefully, he seems to be thinking that he would be the third partner on a Pettersson, Boeser, and Miller line. 

J. T. Miller with the Tampa Bay Lightning (Credit: Chris Rutsch)
 

 

Unlike his time with the Lightning, Miller will see lots of ice time. The Canucks simply don’t have the skill the Lightning had, which makes Miller more valuable to his new team than he was with the Lightning. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a breakout season.

 

Miller’s a good player, and there’s no way the Lightning would have traded him if it wasn’t a salary-cap dump. Vancouver is simply fortunate to have the cap space to sign him. Moving Miller was the price the Lightning paid in their desperation to sign Brayden Point, who just completed his entry-level deal.

Related: NHL Rumors: Senators, Oilers, Canucks, More

 

Obviously, critics of the trade will think a first-round draft pick was too steep a price to pay for Miller. However, Miller helps the team immediately and might be a Canucks’ tipping point for making the playoffs. 

Goalie Mazanec came to the team from the Nashville Predators in February, but he didn’t play for the team last season and I doubt he was in their plans for the future. The Canucks are deep at goal with Jacob Markstrom, Thatcher Demko, Michael DiPietro, Michael Leighton, Richard Bachman, and drafted goalies Arturs Silovs (2019 draft) and Matthew Thiessen (2018 draft).

[grandmaster]

Excellent moves by this organization. More to come, I’m sure....

[Solinar]

An extra 50 pts, along with whatever point total we can garner in free agency, would mean a lot more on ice results as a lot of those close 1 goal games, might have been decided the other way.  We should be trending upwards, and if we are savvy in contract negotiation and term, as well as good at selecting the right UFA's this summer, we should see some very positive results.  Just have to make sure we start developing some of our past draft talent into actual NHL'ers, hopefully with impact.  And I'm talking about ones that weren't drafted in the first round.  Don't want to be Edmonton.

[EP Phone Home]

29 minutes ago, grandmaster said:

Excellent moves by this organization. More to come, I’m sure....

The upgrades on defence are coming. That’s for certain.

[Fanuck]

This is fine and great work JB.

 

But let's get BB locked up with some term and bolster that defence please. 

[189lb enforcers?]

Don’t double down with Myers.

Honestly, I’d rather go with JG on D. 

 

Both even, but don’t turn Myers in the a Braydon Coburn situation here. 

[Nucker 67]

I was pretty negative earlier today about Benning's moves and lack of moves, but after some more thought and after reading the article, I feel much better about the Miller trade. Giving a 1st hurts, but really, the Canucks are getting a proven top 6 NHL player who can score. There are no guarantees with mid to late 1st round draft picks.

 

I also love the Podkolzin and Hoglander picks. Bold move by VAN with Boldy, Soderstrom and Krebs still on the table, but good to see Benning have the kahunas to pick the best player regardless of where he's from, at the home town Draft no less. I can see Tryamkin coming back to win shiny cup with comrade.

 

I see now that the Canucks are in win now mode, at least their thinking is. They have the youth developing and getting their feet wet. Future draft picks will only help them so much now. The core is in the system. The D still needs upgrades, maybe with a couple of UFAs, but in a couple of years I can see the Canucks being a darn good team. Benning isn't finished this off season, so I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next.   

[Elias Pettersson]

Boeser at $7 million for 5 years is a steal...

[Maketherightmove]

3 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Boeser at $7 million for 5 years is a steal...

It's a great move for both sides though because he can test FA at 27 and if he keeps developing will be in for an absolutely massive payday. 

[Crabcakes]

Hell, when picking in the 1st round I HOPE the guy turns out to be top 6.  So many don't.

 

 

[sonoman]

30 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Boeser at $7 million for 5 years is a steal...

I suspect BB might be good with that.  He comes from a very humble background with his mom working a 3rd job to buy him a new stick when he breaks one.  This is a windfall for the whole family.  The car he won last year at the all star game apparently went to his sister.  This is one very well grounded young man

Edited June 25, 2019 by sonoman

[IBatch]

This is all good news except if Boesers next contract brings him to free agency and we don’t.   A bridge is fine, although I think it has a big chance of backfiring on us like it did for MTL on Price and Subban, not a big fan of these deals at all when star players are concerned, rather lock him in now....a deal like AM has would be very unfortunate.

[JeremyCuddles]

Sign Boeser to a deal that ends when Bo's ends? 4 year deal would still have him as an RFA right? So that'd be a great deal for us as well as Boeser. Depending on Boeser's play maybe even better for him rather than signing a long term deal now. If he signs long term now it's likely in the 7mil range, tops. If he signs for 4 years at say 5-6mil he could potentially sign his next deal for 8+mil depending on his play.

[IBatch]

39 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Boeser at $7 million for 5 years is a steal...

People on he CDC didnt like the idea of a Tarasenko type deal which would lock him in for 7.5 x 8 ... which is what I was hoping for.  Losing Boeser in five years would be heart breaking much like it was for Bure if he becomes a 50 plus goal scorer which playing with a EP is definitely a possibility.    I’d say this deal heavily favours Boeser, he’s getting paid for something he hasn’t done yet and we aren’t buying any UFA years, it’s my least preferred deal, if it’s less than six then rather have a bridge of 3 years so we can sign him long term later, even though it’s going to cost us a lot more overall then if we just get it over with now 7.25 x 7-8

[IBatch]

2 minutes ago, N7Nucks said:

Sign Boeser to a deal that ends when Bo's ends? 4 year deal would still have him as an RFA right? So that'd be a great deal for us as well as Boeser. Depending on Boeser's play maybe even better for him rather than signing a long term deal now. If he signs long term now it's likely in the 7mil range, tops. If he signs for 4 years at say 5-6mil he could potentially sign his next deal for 8+mil depending on his play.

That deal is fine ... signing him until he’s a UFA is ludicrous...don’t like it one bit 

[JeremyCuddles]

16 minutes ago, IBatch said:

That deal is fine ... signing him until he’s a UFA is ludicrous...don’t like it one bit 

Yeah, not sure if 4 brings him to UFA. Someone more knowledgeable will have to let me know. He's 22 now, so I think for sure 5 years brings him to UFA status. So a 5 year deal would not be ideal unless we plan on trading him some time during the contract. With that said though a lot can happen in 5 years. He may start a family here. Not every American will be like Kesler. Still would rather play it safe and not buy any UFA years unless it's 7 or 8 year deal which doesn't seem to be in the cards.

[kloubek]

29 minutes ago, N7Nucks said:

If he signs for 4 years at say 5-6mil he could potentially sign his next deal for 8+mil depending on his play.

The idea of a shorter term, less money, and then a big payday later (which is almost inevitable) does seem to help Brock out the most.  I have little doubt he will continue to play at the same pace - if not ppg pace in short order.  That gives us one hell of a steal early on if we can get him 6 or under. If any guy would give a "pay your dues" discount, it would be him.  All class.  Bo taking a reasonable contract sets a good example of that too. On the other hand, I don't believe there is a lot of risk in signing him long term.  7 million now will look like a steal of a contract in 5 years where the cap WILL go up, and players like him will be going for 10.

 

What scares me is that we would have upcoming contracts with Quinn, Bo, Boeser, Miller, and possibly Pettersson all inside a couple of years of each other.  Even with Edler leaving, we are going to have to some fancy work to afford all that - let alone ensure the remainder of the team maintains their relative position.

 

Oh well.  Let's get that playoff team first before figuring out how to retain it, I suppose.

 

As far as Benning's moves - I like all the drafts... we will see how they turn out; I have come to expect good things from Benning and Co.

 

The move for Miller I initially hated, but the more I think about it I realize this gives us a certain top 6 guy... something we are not guaranteed with even a lottery 1st.  And the third... bleh.  Don't get me wrong - I believe Benning would likely do well with that first but we can't expect Petterssons and Boesers as a regularity.  The Benning haters would go nuts. Miller gives us a sure-fire top 6 guys with size and speed to compliment our best players.  Reasonable cap, reasonable term.

 

Edited June 25, 2019 by kloubek

[Elias Pettersson]

31 minutes ago, IBatch said:

People on he CDC didnt like the idea of a Tarasenko type deal which would lock him in for 7.5 x 8 ... which is what I was hoping for.  Losing Boeser in five years would be heart breaking much like it was for Bure if he becomes a 50 plus goal scorer which playing with a EP is definitely a possibility.    I’d say this deal heavily favours Boeser, he’s getting paid for something he hasn’t done yet and we aren’t buying any UFA years, it’s my least preferred deal, if it’s less than six then rather have a bridge of 3 years so we can sign him long term later, even though it’s going to cost us a lot more overall then if we just get it over with now 7.25 x 7-8

Boeser has already played 3 years of his original contract so signing him for 5 years would burn one year off of his UFA years...

[IBatch]

10 hours ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Boeser has already played 3 years of his original contract so signing him for 5 years would burn one year off of his UFA years...

Semantics...it’s still a bad deal for us and a good one for him ... two years and nine games.  Edit:  guess I’m just freaking out with the idea that we might only have Boeser for 4-5 more years and then he’s gone for good...

Edited June 25, 2019 by IBatch

[Elias Pettersson]

2 hours ago, IBatch said:

Semantics...it’s still a bad deal for us and a good one for him ... two years and nine games.  Edit:  guess I’m just freaking out with the idea that we might only have Boeser for 4-5 more years and then he’s gone for good...

It's not semantics it's fact.  You said we weren't buying any of his UFA years, which is not true, we would be buying one year on a 5 year deal.  Also, BO will be a UFA the year prior to Boeser if Boeser were to sign a 5 year deal.  Are you freaking out about that as well?

 

At the end of the day if we have the cap space and we are a legitimate playoff team and cup contender there is no reason for either BO or Boeser to leave Vancouver.  They are not prima donnas.  Lots of guys re-sign with their current team after UFA status.  The Canucks would have the advantage of adding that extra year to the contract as well unless that gets changed in the new CBA.

 

At the end of the day if we are a playoff calibre team that is chasing a cup in 4-5 years there is no reason for either BO or Boeser to leave if we have the cap space to sign them.  If we still suck after another 4 years then that is a different issue altogether and most likely we will lose both.  So here's hoping the Canucks have a great summer and get back into the playoffs next year.  Now maybe people can understand why it is so important to make the playoffs instead of just collecting high draft picks.  It's because we actually want to be able to compete so our star players stick around and we don't end up like Edmonton.