Re: 2016 Training camp
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 4:41 pm
It really is a shame about needing to get games for Sbisa and Biega. It does make sense because we don't want to be put in a position where we have to force a trade just to get a guy to expose so we can keep Tanev / Edler / Gudbranson... but it sucks.
In my ideal world, those two would be sitting #7 and #9 on the depth chart. For me, it'll be tough to put Biega in over both Stecher and Larsen on the right side. Our powerplay is very important, and I do not want to see Tanev as our best option for a right handed point shot.
Sbisa over Tryamkin on the left is an easier sell for icing the best lineup, but sucks for development. It would be great for Tryamkin to report to the Comets. I'm not sure he's ready for a top six role and I want to see him play almost every game to speed his development, which won't happen for the Canucks unless injuries hit.
I hate the idea of losing Tryamkin to Russia, and I also hate the idea of losing Larsen to waivers. I think both of them have a solid shot of becoming core members of the team, Larsen as early as this season and Tryamkin in the near future. In my mind, Larsen is far more likely to get picked up than either Pedan or Biega. He has obvious value, and is not an AHL player at this point in his career.
The way I see it going down is one of two ways. Either Stecher doesn't make it, and:
Sbisa / Larsen
Tryamkin / Biega
Stecher
Or, Stecher makes it over Larsen, and:
Sbisa / Stecher
Tryamkin / Larsen
Biega
In either scenario, expect the 7/8 guys to draw into the lineup on a regular basis. None of those five players is likely to play 60+ games unless we have another injury ravaged year.
Benning's comments about wanting to get both Sbisa and Biega to the required number of games suggest Biega won't be sent down, which sucks. It seems to pretty well guarantee that Stecher starts in Utica, as in my first scenario, which isn't the end of the world. But, if Stecher legit forces his way onto the team, I don't want him kept down because of a numbers game.
Maybe the way out is to let Tryamkin make the choice of whether to report to Utica or go back to Russia? Maybe with the gun to his head, he stays here? Maybe even if he goes back, he'll be open to returning as an NHL-ready defenseman after getting a couple more seasons under his belt? We'd retain his rights. But we'd have two righties in the 7/8 spots, which isn't ideal, especially when it's important to get playing time for Biega.
I don't know the answer to these questions. It's a tough one. But looking at the math, it sure makes sense that they chose to lean away from Pedan yesterday. If Sbisa and Biega both stay, there was only ever going to be room for one of Pedan or Tryamkin, not both.
One thing that's certain is that none of these scenarios sound ideal. Maybe we just have to bite the bullet, send Biega down, and hope that Sbisa doesn't get injured badly enough to not get in enough games and is healthy at the time of the expansion draft so he can be exposed.
THAT would be a gamble, but maybe it's also a gamble we're forced to make.
In my ideal world, those two would be sitting #7 and #9 on the depth chart. For me, it'll be tough to put Biega in over both Stecher and Larsen on the right side. Our powerplay is very important, and I do not want to see Tanev as our best option for a right handed point shot.
Sbisa over Tryamkin on the left is an easier sell for icing the best lineup, but sucks for development. It would be great for Tryamkin to report to the Comets. I'm not sure he's ready for a top six role and I want to see him play almost every game to speed his development, which won't happen for the Canucks unless injuries hit.
I hate the idea of losing Tryamkin to Russia, and I also hate the idea of losing Larsen to waivers. I think both of them have a solid shot of becoming core members of the team, Larsen as early as this season and Tryamkin in the near future. In my mind, Larsen is far more likely to get picked up than either Pedan or Biega. He has obvious value, and is not an AHL player at this point in his career.
The way I see it going down is one of two ways. Either Stecher doesn't make it, and:
Sbisa / Larsen
Tryamkin / Biega
Stecher
Or, Stecher makes it over Larsen, and:
Sbisa / Stecher
Tryamkin / Larsen
Biega
In either scenario, expect the 7/8 guys to draw into the lineup on a regular basis. None of those five players is likely to play 60+ games unless we have another injury ravaged year.
Benning's comments about wanting to get both Sbisa and Biega to the required number of games suggest Biega won't be sent down, which sucks. It seems to pretty well guarantee that Stecher starts in Utica, as in my first scenario, which isn't the end of the world. But, if Stecher legit forces his way onto the team, I don't want him kept down because of a numbers game.
Maybe the way out is to let Tryamkin make the choice of whether to report to Utica or go back to Russia? Maybe with the gun to his head, he stays here? Maybe even if he goes back, he'll be open to returning as an NHL-ready defenseman after getting a couple more seasons under his belt? We'd retain his rights. But we'd have two righties in the 7/8 spots, which isn't ideal, especially when it's important to get playing time for Biega.
I don't know the answer to these questions. It's a tough one. But looking at the math, it sure makes sense that they chose to lean away from Pedan yesterday. If Sbisa and Biega both stay, there was only ever going to be room for one of Pedan or Tryamkin, not both.
One thing that's certain is that none of these scenarios sound ideal. Maybe we just have to bite the bullet, send Biega down, and hope that Sbisa doesn't get injured badly enough to not get in enough games and is healthy at the time of the expansion draft so he can be exposed.
THAT would be a gamble, but maybe it's also a gamble we're forced to make.