While We're Waiting...

I’m not entirely convinced there won’t be moves with regards to the goalie, especially since Lack seems like he’s ready for a backup job.

I think Bieska gets at LEAST 4.5M. The way he has played this season, this post-season, he gets at least what Hammer gets. And they form a really good tandem. Given this, I think Ehrhoff is gone, unless he’s willing to take 4.5M also, to stay with a winner. I’ll take Tanev over Alberts any day, and I don’t see Alberts seeing resigned in my opinion. However, I don’t agree with losing too much depth/experience. We have a Stanley Cup level team, and a very limited window. I wouldn’t want a lack of depth to hamper those chances. We need players who can play right now, and thus I will not advocate trading Ballard, especially if Ehrhoff leaves. Salo is an option, but I don’t think he’ll come back if we win. He’ll also have to take a paycut.

I love Higgins, and I think we can make something work if he takes 2M, instead of 3M. Pretty sure Oreo is a RFA, and I’m not worried about his raise, it should be minimal. Hansen should be the biggest priority amongst the forwards, and then Higgins and Lappy.

CoHo’s time is next season. He would be asked to step up, potentially in a 3rd line winger role. This might mean F U Sweden will be asked to play a 4th L role, or the lack of space on the roster might be the biggest hindrance to Higgins being re-signed. I can’t see the franchise playing as a 4th LC.

Gotta love Tambo’s attitude. His streakiness / lack of scoring is a big hindrance for someone who’s only skill set IS scoring makes him somewhat unnecessary to have on the team. With other options available, I don’t think Tambo gets the chance to come back.

If a team in dire need of a goalie gives us an offer we can’t refuse for Ginger Jesus… that’ll probably throw a wrench into my plans. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. Oh well, I’ll worry about it when we get there. Can’t wait till Monday! 4 MORE WINS!

We have to get Hodgson onto Manny’s line; no reason to have him stuck on the 4th line. They tried that already and it doesn’t help his development. Assuming he comes to camp and earns that right. Also assuming Hansen stays that means Torres is gone. For all we know they may need to make room for Rodin or B. Sweatt.

Keep Lappy, drop Glass. Keep Tambo and Oreo and let them battle it out in camp. If Vancouver goes all the way, I’d love if Samuelsson retired (a few cups, nothing left to prove, prone to injuries, quality of life, yadda yadda yadda). You have a nice problem if they can retain him and Higgins, but I prefer Higgins at this point. Higgins may also want to return east, same thing he apparently said after last season in Calgary.

Salo is definitely gone. I don’t see Ehrhoff returning unless he takes a discount. MG will get Bieksa done before UFA hits. How they replace Ehrhoff (L. Sweatt is the most logical but Sauve & Connauton had looks this year) could be the biggest question.

I hope they keep Schneider another year, but you have to move him if they can get a high pick or prospect in return.

But it was obvious in the summer who the odd man out was and even Bieksa knew it. I remember him saying “I’m not stupid” or something to that effect when asked if he thought he was getting moved. I don’t know why you guys are being so naive now Bieksa and GMMG aren’t buddies, it’s a business and of course they are going to make any statement now to start preparing to re-sign one of their best assets. There was nowhere else that money could have come from. Simple. Look, I hope I’m wrong. I am one of the few who can say I have always been a Bieksa fan. I’m just saying there’s a lot of reasons why it won’t be hard to convince him to take big money.

Bieksa is the most prolific defenseman on the western conference champions at least, he’s unrestricted and he’s in his prime with the very real possibility that this is the beginning of his prime. It’s entirely possible that people are going to offering 6.5 or more. So the Canucks might be asking him to leave 2 million or more a season over what will probably be a long contract on the table.

@benkuzma
Ben Kuzma
Hmmm. Bieksa in middle of a move because of renos, Sounds like he expects to sign a contract extension.

It’s possible I’m projecting my feelings about the fan base on the Canucks. At the beginning of the season I had to defend Bieksa from countless angles. When I would bring up his good points or how he missed a lot of time and how that might have affected him I would be told politely and sometimes not so politely how wrong I was people piling on to say what a terrible player Bieksa was. Now some of those same people who ragged on Bieksa all last year and to start this year expect him to take a “hometown discount”? F-U. If he does agree to less money to stay it will be no thanks to the fans and that’s a little sad since he’s a Canuck product.

All of this is without considering which free agents may be available, or how much Vancouver is going to become a destination after this season, either. Our top seven are set, but we can build a darn fine third/fourth set, too.

To me, the defense is where the off-season gets interesting.

Going this deep into the playoffs, this sort of rosterbation is all of a sudden more interesting than worrisome.

We will employ Juice next year, and we will contend for the cup once again, imo.

I think because of the kind of city Vancouver is (more of a European style city, laid back) and the ideals the team is building itself on, Vancouver is going to become a primo destination for FA’s in the coming years. When other players hear how the team cares for each other and how they all enjoy playing here, it becomes something that is beyond the $$.

I work somewhere that I enjoy working because the atmosphere is great. I could make more money somewhere else, but I enjoy my lifestyle here. I think this could very well be the same for the players and could play a factor into signing/resigning players.