It wouldn't surprise me to see two out of the three are not with the team by the end of next season. Booth is in purgatory in that they can make a case for keeping him for one more season since he has no trade value unless you want to retain about 1/2 his AAV and you'd probably just get a late pick anyway and ownership probably isn't too keen on more buyouts. One of Hansen/Higgins could be packaged up in a bigger deal as a complimentary piece.RoyalDude wrote:In all seriousness, these players need to go;
Hansen - Steve Bernier stone hands inability to finish on glorious offensive opportunities. Can't stand it anymore. Not nasty enough, big enough to be a good bottom 6, not skilled enough to be a top 6. His tweener'ism will not sit well with Benning and Lindens desire for players having defined roles.
Higgins - To nice for the type of player we need in his position. A tweener. What is he? Not prototypical 3rd liner, not prototypical top 2 line player. If he was bigger, faster and played with some real piss and vinegar, he's a keeper. Totally disappears in the games that count. Come playoffs, you need a road map to find Higgins. His tweener'ism will not sit well with Benning and Lindens desire for players having defined roles.
Booth - Nothing to add here
Of the three D vets with NTCs (Bieksa, Hamhuis, Garrison) ... I could see one of them being moved over the next couple of seasons. Garrison or Hamhuis would be my picks. Hamhuis more because of demand for him and a TDL type deal to a SC contender if the Canucks aren't in a position to make Playoffs.Garrison - What a waste of money. No edge, lumbering. If he could move with the puck out of danger like Tanev instead of constantly standing flat footed, he'd be a player. Hard shot but the accuracy is Jiri Slegr proportions "DUCK!" No edge. What does he bring? Other than he's a good guy like Higgins and he's from White Rock! YAY!
Yeah, if he's qualified and signs, I wouldn't be surprised if he is somehow either traded later on next season or put on waivers.Schroeder - Just not enough Brenden Gallagher from him to stick.
No changes to the core is not an option. The Canucks' need to make at least one major change to their core before the season begins. That either Kesler (most likely) or Edler ... or both.If no trades are made with the core, here is what Benning should work from from last year
The Sedins
Burrows
Kesler
Kassian
Richardson
Sestito
Jensen
Edler
Hamhius
Bieksa
Stanton
Tanev
Corrado
lack
Markstrom
Our offense is in the most need of help all over, duh. On Defense we need to add some grit and muscle, net clearing presence and a proper PP QB on D, it's not in great shape either, not as bad as our forward group, but almost.
Not sure what to make of Santorelli. His tweener-ism may not suit Bennings Mission here of a straight forward two offensive lines and more ruggedness and biggerness on the bottom 6.
I could envision a scenario that both are packaged in a mega deal. The team? The Bruins for obvious reasons.
Kesler is probably the one Canucks that embodies the "Bruins" model of a player. There was reported interest in Edler by the Bruins which was contingent (allegedly) on Kesler also being moved to another team.
The return? How about Loui Eriksson and a package that includes one of their top prospects like Khokhlachev and a maybe their 2014 1st round draft pick (26th overall).