Canucks Young Guns

[Diehard1]

Lockwood contemplating returning to NCAA for one more year. Does this mean he’s going to go UFA route?

Interesting - did you hear the Friedman report or was there somewhere else you heard it as well? He’s not a top prospect by any means but if he doesn’t sign this offseason you have to trade him for whatever you can get, can’t lose him for nothing.

[Mickey107]

Lockwood contemplating returning to NCAA for one more year. Does this mean he’s going to go UFA route?

Oh crap! That's not good. Personally, I think that's a tad risky on his part. Shake your head, Will...

[Hockey Widow]

I think it's posturing. Benning wants him in Utica on an ATO. Lockwood wants his NHL contract. I think if that's the real stumbling block Benning gives in. Hell, look at some of the colleges guys he signed and were bust but he gave them a chance.

I can imagine the conversation went something like this:

JB: Ya so like we think Will will help Utica in their playoff run and like so we think like its good fit for now. So like how about ATO and Will can help Utica go all the way.

Lockwood Advisor: Oh, did we forget to tell you that Will is contemplating return to Michigan next season?

JB: Well like so we think he still needs to develop and like so Utica is the best place for him and then he can come to camp like to earn a job.

LA:Oh, did we forget to tell you that Will is contemplating return to Michigan next season?

JB: Like so what is it with young players today that don't want to earn a roster spot and they think everything should be handed to them.

LA: Oh, did we forget to tell you that Will is contemplating return to Michigan next season?

JB: Well like let's sit on it for 24-48 hours and then we can revisit it.

LA: Thats great. Oh, and did we forget to tell you that Will is contemplating return to Michigan next season?


The other issue I heard was that Benning has to be mindful of his available contracts and once Hughes is signed he only has 3 left, I think. He has a list of college UFA's that'd he'd like to go after. So perhaps the thinking is either, they are not sold that Lockwood is ready for the NHL,If ever, or they think he is but they want to save a contract spot just in case.

[Chef Boi RD]

Yeah shit, if Lockwood goes back I don’t think we stand a chance if he is free to sign wherever. Benning is in a tough spot

[Diehard1]

I think it's posturing. Benning wants him in Utica on an ATO. Lockwood wants his NHL contract. I think if that's the real stumbling block Benning gives in. Hell, look at some of the colleges guys he signed and were bust but he gave them a chance.

I can imagine the conversation went something like this:

JB: Ya so like we think Will will help Utica in their playoff run and like so we think like its good fit for now. So like how about ATO and Will can help Utica go all the way.

Lockwood Advisor: Oh, did we forget to tell you that Will is contemplating return to Michigan next season?

JB: Well like so we think he still needs to develop and like so Utica is the best place for him and then he can come to camp like to earn a job.

LA:Oh, did we forget to tell you that Will is contemplating return to Michigan next season?

JB: Like so what is it with young players today that don't want to earn a roster spot and they think everything should be handed to them.

LA: Oh, did we forget to tell you that Will is contemplating return to Michigan next season?

JB: Well like let's sit on it for 24-48 hours and then we can revisit it.

LA: Thats great. Oh, and did we forget to tell you that Will is contemplating return to Michigan next season?


The other issue I heard was that Benning has to be mindful of his available contracts and once Hughes is signed he only has 3 left, I think. He has a list of college UFA's that'd he'd like to go after. So perhaps the thinking is either, they are not sold that Lockwood is ready for the NHL,If ever, or they think he is but they want to save a contract spot just in case.

True regarding the contract limit, though I believe that contracts slide to next year unless the player actually plays a game for the Canucks this season. I may be wrong about that but that’s what I thought. I’m not sure there are too many FAs out there that are good enough to insert into the lineup, even with the team as bad as it is.

[Carlyee]

Yeah shit, if Lockwood goes back I don’t think we stand a chance if he is free to sign wherever. Benning is in a tough spot

In addition the whole "pay your dues" approach used with Dahlen goes out the window. So College players can hold the club hostage but Euros cannot? Two sets of rules. It applies to all teams but GMJB sort of set a precident so to speak with Dahlen.

[SKYO]

Don't know why William Lockwood trynna be like that, I mean Tyler Motte did better than him in college, Lockwood is a lock to be either a 4th or 3rd liner in the NHL, might as well learn the pro 2way game in Utica right now.

Lockwood:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... pid=177811

Motte:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... pid=145528

[Mickey107]

Don't know why William Lockwood trynna be like that, I mean Tyler Motte did better than him in college, Lockwood is a lock to be either a 4th or 3rd liner in the NHL, might as well learn the pro 2way game in Utica right now.

Lockwood:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... pid=177811

Motte:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... pid=145528

Ya, and young Mr Lockwood knows that an injury can happen. He knows very well. He is very lucky. Shoulda been an omen?

[Hockey Widow]

Yeah shit, if Lockwood goes back I don’t think we stand a chance if he is free to sign wherever. Benning is in a tough spot

In addition the whole "pay your dues" approach used with Dahlen goes out the window. So College players can hold the club hostage but Euros cannot? Two sets of rules. It applies to all teams but GMJB sort of set a precident so to speak with Dahlen.

And we all know why NCAA players have this leverage. But if they are not good enough they will be buried in the AHL. So ya two sets of rules for the promising elite out of college but it’s temporary, once the season is done their leverage is gone.

[Mickey107]

I hate waiting. Patients aint never been one of my fortes, Damn it..

[Hockey Widow]

Do we have roster room for both Hughes and Lockwood? Maybe that’s a problem. I guess we could return Brisbois.

Re: Hughes, he’s said yes. We should get an announcement today. Flight will be booked for Monday.

[Chef Boi RD]

Do we have roster room for both Hughes and Lockwood?

At this point, you make room. The season is done. If Green and Benning are not willing to play out the rest of the season with the future in mind then I just might become a GillisBro. These two need to stop being stupid. A blatant tank with your future dominating the lineup may be in order, we ain’t winning with the vets, so why the fuck not? If I here Green go on about the little things that Eriksson does, etc I’ll lose it.

[Mickey107]

Well, not only has he wore the number before but it only seems appropriate if he dons the number 7

It's a bit of an old school defense man's number anyways. Just seems right...

[Ronning's Ghost]

At this point, you make room. The season is done. If Green and Benning are not willing to play out the rest of the season with the future in mind then I just might become a GillisBro. These two need to stop being stupid. A blatant tank with your future dominating the lineup may be in order, we ain’t winning with the vets, so why the fuck not? If I here Green go on about the little things that Eriksson does, etc I’ll lose it.

You needn't abandon your hatred of all thing Gillis in order to be skeptical, or even overtly critical, of Benning and his plans.

[SKYO]

Once the Canucks are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, only then will Green give Gaudette, Demko etc more minutes to prepare em for next season.

TG itchin' to get Q on board.

Green on Q Hughes: ‘he’s an exciting part of our future and I hope I get to see him sooner rather than later. I plan on getting him in if he’s here. That’s for sure. I want to play him as much as I can’