Canucks News N Notes 24-25

[Madcombinepilot]

Lots changed from the now vanished lineup I started last years thread with to this year.

We projected last years lineup would fight for a playoff spot, but with the end of the apparent locker room leadership debate over, JT stepped up and became a force. I was wrong about the leadership of Horvat. While a great guy and hockey player, hindsight says he was the wrong fit here. Jt and Hughes carried this team to a Pacific Div win and into the second round where they gave the Oilers all they could handle.

Starting with the goalies, we are set in net. Demko and Silovs are good. Need to get Silvos under contract.

The top 9 lineup projects like this:

Suter - JT - Boeser
Podkolzin - Petersson - Hoglander
Garland - Blueger - Joshua

PDG & Aman should be extra forwards but because of cap, they will be in the lineup.

Team needs 2 top 6 wingers. I have Suter and Podkolzin in there right now. Suter fits well on JT's line and will probably slot in there at camp, but regarding podz, unless he has an awesome summer and shows great at camp, Podkolzin still needs time to grow into that consistent power forward. It could happen this year, but power forwards traditionally develop slower and don't reach their potential until mid 20's, so he is a bit young yet. I would rather see a couple of signings (4.5-5.5 million dollar guys who play heavy -playoff style- hockey) to fill those holes and let Suter and Podkolzin be awesome 4th line depth guys who can play up in needed. Otherwise we have a plethora of guys in the system who can fill (or compete for) 4th line roles (Aman, PDG, Raty, Sassons, Bains, etc.)

Defence is being built with a 'top down' approach:
Hughes - Hronek
Soucy - [Empty]
[empty] - [empty]
Juulsen is the 7th defender and 'the bar' for anyone trying to make the team out of camp.
Friedman is the # 8 guy.

Its nice to have the expensive top pairing locked up. With that said, the team is looking for a second pairing RHD in free agency, and if the can get Zadorov resigned (I think they should if around that 5 mikl mark), then Soucy slides to the bottom pair or plays his offside. If Myers resigns (rumored to want to stay here), he would slot into the 3rd pairing RHD slot and needs to be paid accordingly. If the team finds a second pairing RHD who hits like a truck (Dillon perhaps?) that bottom 4 defence is down right frightening. Beef that hurts players and breaks german ribs. I like that. The downside, is we are then looking at a 10 million dollar second pairing and a 5 million dollar third pairing and then we have 35 million spent on defence.. its good, but expensive.

Looking at the top prospects, it's a pretty shallow pool here.

Most (Lekkerimaki, McWard, D-Petey) need seasoning in the AHL and a solid start to the AHL season. Perhaps by christmas one of them plays there way into an injury shot. The rest (Karlsson, Bains, Raty, Sassons, etc) are potential call ups for injury, but will probably be lost on waivers. All need more development time to progress into bottom roles of the big club. Without someone stepping up and having an amazing camp, there is a whole lot of 'meh.' in the system.

This years expectations have to be make the final 4 of the playoffs. This team learned what the playoffs are about, learned how to both win and lose a round and how to play through the grind. This team cant waste that experience by missing the playoffs next year.

Regarding Cap space, we have about 15 million in space right now (after the Joshua signing) and 18 players signed. theose 18 include Tolopio (depth goalie), Juulsen & Friedman (#7 & #8 defenceman), PDG and Aman. with this considered, they need to sign Silvos, Zadorov, 2 more defensemen (one might be Myers), a top 6 winger and 2 or 3 depth forwards... that's gonna cost about 21 million. This is where Allvin will be putting in the work. Someone needs to make this team out of training camp, and the team will spend to LTIR... its going to be tight, but they should be able to get it done.

Thoughts?

[Megaterio Llamas]

The band is getting back together folks

[Strangelove]

^ 3 years is too much term, butt hay, the eventual buyout will only be $1M per year on the cap.

All eyes on Cousin Strawberry's reaction.

[Megaterio Llamas]

The local pundits have been wrong about absolutely everything so far and I kinda dig it.

[Hockey Widow]

This is great news for the Canucks. Just wow. Allvin is now moving along slowly getting things done. A final offer has been tendered to Zadorov, no idea how much or term. It is now up to Zadorov to show he means it when he says he and his family want to be here. He has a good thing going with the fan base here and should be able to translate that into a few endorsement deals to help offset any money he leaves on the table.

I was hoping Myers would come in a little less. I am fine with the three year term. We do need more development time for some of our kids. In 2 years Soucy is up. Then the following year Myers. That gives us a clear developmental window.

I'm sorry but I just can't see how they can be big players in FA.

As it is now the Canucks feel McWard is knocking on the door and that Juulsen is ready for a bigger role. They are also high on LHD NICK CICEK as a potential 7/8 Dman.

[Megaterio Llamas]

There's 12 million left in cap space plus Poolman's $2.5.

This should be interesting.

[BoS]

I agree that Pod should be moved this summer. I see him as a diminishing asset.

I was hoping Myers would come back at half, I’ve no problem with the term either.

The only way I see Allvin making a big UFA signing is if more money goes out. Garland? Poolman??

[Hockey Widow]

It would suck losing both Lindholm and Zadorov after giving all those assets to Calgary. I mean walking away with nothing to show for it, except Kuzmenko's cap space.

[Megaterio Llamas]

Here's how it breaks down:

[Hockey Widow]

The problem with Podkolzin is that they want him playing bigger, more along Joshua's game. They like his offensive upside, a great release, drives to the net and can be a net front presence. But they want/need him to be a more agressive forechecker and use his body to punish other players, all more consistently. If he can take strides to playing bigger I think his office will come. He will probably never pan out as a great 1st round pick but I do see his potential along the lines of Joshua, without the fighting. Allvin has also made comment about improving his hockey IQ.

Moving him only shaves 1 million from the cap so not a lot of savings. I too remember when Miller said he loves playing with the kid on his line. Perhaps he gets a chance?

[Megaterio Llamas]

The problem with Podkolzin is that they want him playing bigger, more along Joshua's game. They like his offensive upside, a great release, drives to the net and can be a net front presence. But they want/need him to be a more agressive forechecker and use his body to punish other players, all more consistently. If he can take strides to playing bigger I think his office will come. He will probably never pan out as a great 1st round pick but I do see his potential along the lines of Joshua, without the fighting. Allvin has also made comment about improving his hockey IQ.

Moving him only shaves 1 million from the cap so not a lot of savings. I too remember when Miller said he loves playing with the kid on his line. Perhaps he gets a chance?

Even if he's a career fourth liner, he's paid as such anyway. He will need to roll up his sleeves and learn to check/kill penalties.

He was showing some great offense down in Abby before the slam. I can't overstate how devastating that looked.

[Cousin Strawberry]

^ 3 years is too much term, butt hay, the eventual buyout will only be $1M per year on the cap.

All eyes on Cousin Strawberry's reaction.

I will begrudgingly admit that Foote and Gonchar have done wonders in de-chaos-ing the Chaos Giraffe but ...

Let's see how he returns after a summer of chugging and bowging fatties out at Surrey-on-the-Lake

[Strangelove]

"Don't Bogart the joint Chaos Giraffe"

[Hockey Widow]

Quinn wins the Norris!!!

[theman]

Congrats to Quinn!!!