Hockey Widow wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 10:23 am
Word on the street, Demko has agreed to a new contract. Term has been agreed upon. They are still ironing out all the financial details but overall cap is agreed as well. Deal expected to be signed tomorrow. So we are not trading Demko.
This was always the most likely outcome. Whatever Šilovs’ or Lankinen’s upside, Demko has the track record. I think one of the most telling signs that this was going to be, was when Foote invited Demko in addition to Petey and Hughes to the golf course after the season was over. Clearly they see Demko as part of the leadership of not the core.
We’ll see if this was the right course, but it’s a defensible decision. Look at Edmonton and Toronto to see what happens when you don’t have top-flight goaltending. Šilovs may soon become that - it’s not unlikely - but nobody would say he can do that next season. Lankinen is good and earned his contract, but another season of him being the default starter doesn’t bode well for the playoffs.
Just trade Šilovs to the Eastern Conference, please. I would rather be haunted by his success from afar.
Lancer wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 10:46 am
This was always the most likely outcome.
Yes, I think most forecasters here had the Canucks rolling the dice on a Demko return to form. It would be one of the many things that would have to go right for the Canucks to have more than 4 playoff games in 2026, but it is possible. (in fact more likely, it seems to me, than an EP40 return to peak form.) I just hope the Canucks keep their eyes on the playoffs and give Demko plenty of regular-season rest. I would have him play less than half of the out-of-conference games, at least until the end of February.
There is no doubt Demko is the best goalie when healthy, but they are gambling big on Demko’s health. Can’t imagine Demko staying healthy long enough for a playoff run that Silovs just had. We know Silovs can. You can see Silovs cleaned up a lot of his weakest area, tipped shots from the point during the playoff run. Silovs has a higher ceiling than Lankinen, so it’s a big gamble and likely short term thinking choosing Demko over Silovs. If Demko can stay healthy, managements gamble was right, but those are odds I think are wrong to take organizationally. At least they got a great 17 year old goalie prospect in the draft, so they have that hedge on their bet- cashable in five or six years.
“Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room.”
- President Merkin Muffley
Raty signed (2/775K AAV).
Sasson signed (1/775K)
Bains signed (2/not yet disclosed, but surely league minimum, right?)
I could care less about Bains as I don't see an NHL player there, but he had a good season in Abbotsford and he shouldn't be a waiver worry if he needs to be called up and sent down.
Raty may very well be up next year; smart to have this price control for 2. Better than a QO....
Sasson's speed is NHL caliber -- wish he could turn that into a forecheck/checking line role, because I don't think he has enough for an NHL skill/vision game. I don't know if that really comes naturally to him, though. Still, with the skating, I thought he was significantly better than Bains in their call ups.
UWSaint wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:28 am
Raty signed (2/775K AAV).
Sasson signed (1/775K)
Bains signed (2/not yet disclosed, but surely league minimum, right?)
I could care less about Bains as I don't see an NHL player there, but he had a good season in Abbotsford and he shouldn't be a waiver worry if he needs to be called up and sent down.
Raty may very well be up next year; smart to have this price control for 2. Better than a QO....
Sasson's speed is NHL caliber -- wish he could turn that into a forecheck/checking line role, because I don't think he has enough for an NHL skill/vision game. I don't know if that really comes naturally to him, though. Still, with the skating, I thought he was significantly better than Bains in their call ups.
Raty in paticular and Sassons were players I thought had NHL upside 2 years ago so glad to see them resigned...
And very happy that Woo received a qualifying offer, hopefully he fills the role Juulsen did last season and gets some games at the NHL level...
Surprised Cole McWard and Tristan Nielsen were not qualified, particularly Nielsen. He added a lot of jam and scored some big goals. I guess they don’t see NHL upside so they are making room for prospects with potentially more upside.
Happy signing of the day - Breeeeeebois - on a two way deal. Longest serving Canuck continues his reign.
“Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room.”
- President Merkin Muffley
Picker of Cherries wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:37 pm
Surprised Cole McWard and Tristan Nielsen were not qualified, particularly Nielsen. He added a lot of jam and scored some big goals. I guess they don’t see NHL upside so they are making room for prospects with potentially more upside.
Agreed - of the 4 that weren't given QO's - he was the big surprise- but tough decisions get made, and hopefully he finds a good spot elsewhere.
Picker of Cherries wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:37 pm
Surprised Cole McWard and Tristan Nielsen were not qualified, particularly Nielsen. He added a lot of jam and scored some big goals. I guess they don’t see NHL upside so they are making room for prospects with potentially more upside.
Agreed - of the 4 that weren't given QO's - he was the big surprise- but tough decisions get made, and hopefully he finds a good spot elsewhere.
McWard is a defenseman in an organization with above average defensive prospects. If Woo's ahead of him on the depth chart, he's got lots of folks to got through to get a shot at a game in the NHL -- DEP, Mancini, and Willander will fight for the third pairing RD; Woo's next. Plus, it wouldn't surprise me terribly if the Canucks don't sign a grizzled tweener RD as a 7-8 so that the losers of that competition are playing in Abbotsford. That would be a better use of a 50 man than a second 24 yo RD who is subject to waivers.
No QO means he can hopefully find an organization with less depth.
Picker of Cherries wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:37 pm
Surprised Cole McWard and Tristan Nielsen were not qualified, particularly Nielsen.
I'm actually a bit surprised McWardo wasn't qualified cuz they seemed quite high on him b4. I remember one year, they actually thought about keeping him around with the big club at the start of the season. They keep the Woo train around though and they have never given him a sniff @ the NHL lvl, while McWard had a couple stints up here. Oh well, guess Woo is a great vet for Abby. McWard always seemed like a bit of a bird bones for me, good luck to him wherever he lands.
Picker of Cherries wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:37 pm
Surprised Cole McWard and Tristan Nielsen were not qualified, particularly Nielsen.
I'm actually a bit surprised McWardo wasn't qualified cuz they seemed quite high on him b4. I remember one year, they actually thought about keeping him around with the big club at the start of the season. They keep the Woo train around though and they have never given him a sniff @ the NHL lvl, while McWard had a couple stints up here. Oh well, guess Woo is a great vet for Abby. McWard always seemed like a bit of a bird bones for me, good luck to him wherever he lands.
In addition to my comment above, Mancini, Willander, and McWard all seem to play a similar game where Woo plays more physically. It might have been as simple as wanting a different flavor of defenseman in the system rather than better to worse versions of the same.
Picker of Cherries wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:37 pm
Surprised Cole McWard and Tristan Nielsen were not qualified, particularly Nielsen.
I'm actually a bit surprised McWardo wasn't qualified cuz they seemed quite high on him b4. I remember one year, they actually thought about keeping him around with the big club at the start of the season. They keep the Woo train around though and they have never given him a sniff @ the NHL lvl, while McWard had a couple stints up here. Oh well, guess Woo is a great vet for Abby. McWard always seemed like a bit of a bird bones for me, good luck to him wherever he lands.
In addition to my comment above, Mancini, Willander, and McWard all seem to play a similar game where Woo plays more physically. It might have been as simple as wanting a different flavor of defenseman in the system rather than better to worse versions of the same.
Regarding letting McWard go and keeping Woo, Woo is a better player and as you say plays a harder game which stood out during the Calder Cup playoffs...
They can still sign him. They just didn’t qualify him. To me that says that he wants to come back it will be less than his QO. But he is a big RD so he may get more as a FA.
It is surprising given he almost made the team out of camp two seasons ago.
Hockey Widow wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:38 pm
They can still sign him. They just didn’t qualify him. To me that says that he wants to come back it will be less than his QO. But he is a big RD so he may get more as a FA.
It is surprising given he almost made the team out of camp two seasons ago.
2 seasons ago we had a pretty shitty blueline…..and the dearth on the right side was so appalling that “almost making it” says more about his shortcomings than his potential strengths.
Somewhere in NW BC trying (yet again) to trade a(nother) Swede…..
Hockey Widow wrote: ↑Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:38 pm
They can still sign him. They just didn’t qualify him. To me that says that he wants to come back it will be less than his QO. But he is a big RD so he may get more as a FA.
It is surprising given he almost made the team out of camp two seasons ago.
2 seasons ago we had a pretty shitty blueline…..and the dearth on the right side was so appalling that “almost making it” says more about his shortcomings than his potential strengths.
McWard also seemed to regress slightly this past season. Or at least he didn't improve; Akito Hirose wound up taking his spot in the playoffs.
I'd like to see Tristan Nielsen return to Abby on a good AHL contract. He's fun to watch and a fan favorite.
LOL Jett Woo always takes his sweet time signing his QO. Glad he's back, he's a key player for them.
