Around the league (signings, RFAs injuries)

[Meds]

Gio is that aging core vet that you need on a team of young talented guys.

I think an equivalent on the Canucks is Hamhuis - this contract may set the price.

S_C

Hamhuis and Gio are comparable defensively. Gio puts up a bunch more points.

[SKYO]

Sometimes I forget the new rule around these parts: any criticism of Benning indicates a slave-like devotion to Gillis.

lol 'any criticism' your entire summer! was criticizing JB.

[SKYO]

Gio is that aging core vet that you need on a team of young talented guys.

I think an equivalent on the Canucks is Hamhuis - this contract may set the price.

S_C

Hamhuis and Gio are comparable defensively. Gio puts up a bunch more points.

Giordano is a #1 dman, he could get a Norris trophy when it's all said and done in his career, meanwhile Hamhuis is more like a #2/#3 dman, he shouldn't get close to what Gio got, if anything Hamhuis stays around $4.5M ish mark.

[dbr]

Every time we see a team sign a FA we think he is either a) overpaid b) too long of a contract. Maybe we are all wrong and these are just the rates player go for???

It is the rate players go for, you're right - and it underscores the point of how hard it is to build your team through free agency, since every overpayment means you have to get great value somewhere else in order to ice a competitive team.

That said, it's certainly also true that there are better and worse UFA signings. Look at the huge deals Washington gave out to Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik last summer, while Tampa signed a better player for less in Anton Stralman.

[Island Nucklehead]

Sometimes I forget the new rule around these parts: any criticism of Benning indicates a slave-like devotion to Gillis.

lol 'any criticism' your entire summer! was criticizing JB.

Because he didn't have a very good summer... and how does that in any way make me a "Gillis" guy?

It is the rate players go for, you're right - and it underscores the point of how hard it is to build your team through free agency, since every overpayment means you have to get great value somewhere else in order to ice a competitive team.

Yeah. Free agency is a nice way to add complementary pieces to your team, typically at inflated prices or with significant question marks (age, injury history etc.) Typically, you don't build a core from UFA signings.

Giordano is a #1 dman, he could get a Norris trophy when it's all said and done in his career, meanwhile Hamhuis is more like a #2/#3 dman, he shouldn't get close to what Gio got, if anything Hamhuis stays around $4.5M ish mark.

Bieksa just got a $4M per extension. Paul Martin just got $4.8M. Andrew MacDonald is somehow worth $5M and Marc Staal is up at $5.7M. I'm thinking Hamhuis could easily sign for $5+M on the open market.

[Cornuck]

Sometimes I forget the new rule around these parts: any criticism of Benning indicates a slave-like devotion to Gillis.

lol 'any criticism' your entire summer! was criticizing JB.

Because he didn't have a very good summer... and how does that in any way make me a "Gillis" guy?

Because some people can only post in black and white - they lost the ability to see grey....

[Blob Mckenzie]

Sometimes I forget the new rule around these parts: any criticism of Benning indicates a slave-like devotion to Gillis.

lol 'any criticism' your entire summer! was criticizing JB.

Because he didn't have a very good summer... and how does that in any way make me a "Gillis" guy?

It is the rate players go for, you're right - and it underscores the point of how hard it is to build your team through free agency, since every overpayment means you have to get great value somewhere else in order to ice a competitive team.

Yeah. Free agency is a nice way to add complementary pieces to your team, typically at inflated prices or with significant question marks (age, injury history etc.) Typically, you don't build a core from UFA signings.

Giordano is a #1 dman, he could get a Norris trophy when it's all said and done in his career, meanwhile Hamhuis is more like a #2/#3 dman, he shouldn't get close to what Gio got, if anything Hamhuis stays around $4.5M ish mark.

Bieksa just got a $4M per extension. Paul Martin just got $4.8M. Andrew MacDonald is somehow worth $5M and Marc Staal is up at $5.7M. I'm thinking Hamhuis could easily sign for $5+M on the open market.

If Hamhuis can stay healthy and have a bounce back year he will easily command over 5 million a season . Hopefully Ignitowski can peddle him at the deadline and get back more than a second round pick .

As an aside this is a damn good signing by the Flames. Brad Treliving is doing a very good job with the Flames and as much as I hate that team they look like the real deal moving forward . I guess that's what happens when you make a few astute moves and a few really good draft picks .

[Hockey Widow]

^^^^^

Agreed Blob, Hamhuis is well worth north of 5 on a new deal. This why the Canucks are on the fence. Given our incredible lack of defensive prospects if this rebuild philosophy is for real one would think extending Hamhuis for 4 years would be a priority. Of course we don't know if Hamhuis wants to come back.

On Gio, I think his cap hit is a great deal for the Flames. He said himself he did not leave money on the table nor did he give a home team discount. He said what made this deal attractive to him was the ability to get paid 6+ in years 37, 38, 39. Sounds like he could have had a 3-4 year deal at 8 ish, or this six year deal. So while I don't have a problem with the cap, at all, paying him 6+ in the last couple of years could be a drain since all their rookie sensations will be in line for much bigger cap hits around that time. Of course if he stays relatively healthy then no problem. This deal smells like the deals of the good old days when players got paid for what they have done, not for what their future holds because I think he has 3-4 good years left.

But who knows what the cap will be in five to six years from now. Overall, a good deal for Calgary but a term a little long given his age. They may have been better served by eating 8 now.

[Blob Mckenzie]

I really can't see Hamhuis wanting to re sign here . Reverend Jim has already said he won't be offering contracts to Hamhuis and Vrbata so I can't see Dan being real keen on re upping where he doesn't seem to be valued . Furthermore if he has aspirations of playing for a cup he has not shot of that here unless he plans to play into his 40's . Brilliant move by Ignitowski bumping his gums like that in public regarding two of the teams better and classier players .

Back to Giordano I think you are right . He could lose a step or three in the last couple years of that deal and perhaps the three or four year deal at 8 million would have been a better option . I still think he is a smart enough player that the deal won't be a complete boat anchor . That's a hell of a back end even if they can't re up Kris Russell to a reasonable deal . He is a UFA next summer I believe .

[SKYO]

Well blob is pretty good with contract predictions, he was right about Matthias' $ contract during the season iirc, but as it turned out the market wasn't all that kind to matty in the UFA season.


Giordano last season up until his injury was having a monster year, cracknelling 45+ points the last two injury riddled seasons, I'm sure if he didn't have those injuries, his agent would have made him wait one more year to get those insane silly dollars a few GM's would have thrown his way July 1st.


Sure Hamhuis as a UFA might get $5M range, but he's turning 33, didn't have the best season last year, isn't a huge point guy, nor is he a punishing type, he's just a sound defensive vet dman who can get 25ish pts per season nowadays.

imesho a good contract for Hamhuis would be a 5 year, $4.5M - 4.75M AAV extension, especially if wants to stay here, like Gio does in Caltown.

As for JB not re-signing Vrb/Hamhuis, he said only this summer and see how it goes during the season, translation if Hamhuis plays strong and deserves the cash he'll get offered it, and of course if Hamhuis still wants to stay here.

But he [Benning] won’t be looking to re-sign pending unrestricted free agents Dan Hamhuis and Radim Vrbata this summer.

“We’re going to go into the season and see how it goes,”said Benning of the two pending UFAs, following a three-on-three tournament at the Canucks’ prospects development camp at Shawnigan Lake School on Tuesday afternoon.

“We’ve touched base with their agents a little, but we’ll see how it plays out.”
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2015/07/07 ... n-hamhuis-
vrbata-this-summer/

As for Vrbata it's a tough call, I imagine him scoring 25-30 goals again next season and I'm sure those attributes would seem enticing enough for another GM to offer up a 1st plus for him at TDD.

It's unfortunate as the Sedins finally get a right handed sniper to play with, it's fun to see that trio play together.

[Island Nucklehead]

Agreed Blob, Hamhuis is well worth north of 5 on a new deal. This why the Canucks are on the fence. Given our incredible lack of defensive prospects if this rebuild philosophy is for real one would think extending Hamhuis for 4 years would be a priority. Of course we don't know if Hamhuis wants to come back.

Yeah, you'd think Hamhuis would be a guy worth re-signing, considering our back-end. With all the talk of "culture carriers" and "mentors" and "intangibles" and "character"... could you find a better candidate to stay during the lean years than a guy like Dan Hamhuis?

Giordano apparently has a full NTC until the final two years of his deal, and then has a 10-team No-Trade list. With the ability to retain salary in trades these days, I don't think it would be too much a burden to move him.

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Wideman
Russell-Smid
Engelland

Solid back end. It'll be interesting to watch Edmonton's young, high-powered offence go up agasint that D.

[Blob Mckenzie]

Yeah it's sad that our best defencemen would be Calgarys fourth best guy . There are going to be some beatdowns for the Canucks against the Alberta teams coming up over he next few years . Welcome to 1985 with Jim Benning in the role of Jack Gordon and Willie Desjardins playing an Oscar worthy role as Tom Watt . Calgary and Edmonton used to smack the piss out of Vancouver in the 80s and they look poised to do it again .

[Hockey Widow]

Thanks for digging that up Skyo. Saves me the time.

I think Benning wants the ability to asses a few things before he commits to re-signing Vrbata and Hamhuis. How are they playing? How is the team playing? We're is the team positioned? Anyone near ready to step up and compete for those spots? How are other teams in the Division doing? Are the playoffs realistic?

My sense from his comments was that he would wait until around December/January to decide. I think if at that point he decides to move on they will be gone well before the TDD. Teams looking for reliable D often begin looking by December/January and want to make a move well in advance of the TDD in order to not be out of it by then. Scoring is another issue. Vrbata showed he can score without the twins and showed his defensive reliability.

If he decides to keep either player I think he will begin negotiations around that time. It may also depend upon his ability, in Vrbata's case, in moving out another vet or two to clear roster spots. Linden said not long ago that he agrees, if neither player is to be re-signed then they need to be moved for assets. And while we may get a first or a second plus, it will be from playoff teams, not lottery pick territory. Still, Benning needs to get something for these type of assets if he has no intention of re-signing them. A lesson I hope he learned last season.

[TDA Rum]

Maybe you should become an Oilers or Flames fan then Blob... doesn't sound like you are having much fun being a Canucks fan...

[Blob Mckenzie]

Maybe you should become an Oilers or Flames fan then Blob... doesn't sound like you are having much fun being a Canucks fan...

Ahhhhh so if one wants to be a fan of a team they have to support said team in all of their personnel decisions regardless of if the decisions are dumb or not . I'm not sure if you were a fan of the Canucks from say 1983-1988 .... It was brutal following the Canucks but not because they were bad but because they didn't appear to have a fucking clue what was going on . It was brutal because they had very inept management who made some putrid trades and worse draft picks . I see a similar pattern developing with Jim Benning and Willie Desjardins .

If you and the get along gang want to delude yourself into thinking the Canucks are going to be a good team for the next five to ten years fill your fucking boots . I see no top end prospects other than Bo Horvat . I see zero defencemen coming up who project as a top 4 d. There aren't any forwards who look to be first line players in the future . The team is old, slow, soft and tiny . After the top three defencemen it drops off to depth NHL guys and AHL quality players.The best thing for this team long term would be to have a terrible start and or lose a key guy to injury and end up in the lottery . Hopefully then Elmer Benning can flog a few guys at the deadline for .50 on the dollar . It would be a marked improvement from the .25 on the buck he usually obtains.