Coconuts

They've got some good speed combined with some top end talent, they're not like the cup winning Kings of old as they're not that rugged, physical, defensive shell of a team though. As for how they handle the puck, I'm not gonna pretend I have in depth answers to that. As of right now they're second in goals but that's likely inflated by a high team shooting percentage, which also sits at second. Tenth in shots on goal, powerplay is middle of the road at fourteenth. They're sixth in goals allowed and seventh in shots on goal allowed, their PK is also ninth. They're pretty disciplined too, sitting at 11th as far as penalty minutes go. Some of it is Talbot, giving them stable tending thus far, some of it is the Kings playing some really good all-around hockey to begin the season. They haven't been amazing in the dot, sitting at 19th, but Kopitar, Dubois, and Danault is an enviable top three centers. They've been getting some pretty balanced scoring throughout the lineup. I think there's a good chance they grab a divisional spot again if they can stay healthy, at this rate it's looking like it'll be Vegas, LA, and us. I'm not as sold on Anaheim, I've been impressed by their youth but I'm not convinced they can sustain their level of play all season. Calgary and Edmonton haven't had encouraging starts but Calgary has been creeping closer to .500 and it's too early to count out McDavid and Draisaitl. If either team can string together a couple win streaks they should be right back in the mix for at least a wildcard. But yeah, I've been impressed by LA the past couple seasons. I think the big question of what happens post-Kopitar is still there, and Doughty is getting older too, but as of right now they're still key contributors and the Kings look good. I think this question is why they went out and grabbed Dubois, although Byfield looks to be putting it together and that's gotta be a really encouraging sign for Kings fans. 11 points in 12 games thus far.

We've both been here long enough to know the answer to that question

One of the modern greats, pretty much everything one could want in a #1 center Getzlaf fought more but Kopitar won Selkes and could win another one this season

Folks have been sleeping on LA the last couple years. Adding Dubois and Gavrikov was big, few teams can match their center depth tbh.

If I had to guess I'd say that LA wins this matchup

I wonder if Bear is hibernating

A wise man once wrote that "Riley Stillman is the hero Vancouver deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. Our tank commander. A dark knight.".

I'd rather keep both. I understand the argument that Columbus would be interested in goaltending prospects, but my position is that the Canucks should very much be as well. Demko will be 28 in December, top end tenders seem to age better but it's hard to project things like health. One could argue that Demko could still be playing at an elite level at age 34, which would give us another 6ish seasons of top flight goaltending, but one could also argue that the Canucks need to start developing young tenders now as well. The more quality tender prospects we have the better our odds of having one turn out for us. Sooner or later we're going to need an heir apparent. Management needs to balance trying to build and maintain a competitive NHL roster with building the future, I view holding on to young tenders as being more of the latter but it could very well be both.

Doubt we waive him at 4.15M and I expect it'd take more than a late pick to move him, but my take on his trade value seems to be different than some others. You don't have to agree, but I think it's more likely that if he's moved it's as part of a hockey trade with multiple pieces being involved. Maybe Beau+ for a D, cap coming back doesn't have to be viewed as a negative if the player is a better fit.

See, that's fair. But I wasn't presenting Mantha as an upgrade, just a different fit. You seem to think better of Beau as a Canuck than I do though, I find him to be rather underwhelming. Wasn't sold on him being part of the package either. I view him as having neutral value at best. I agree Columbus and Nashville could be fits, particularly because of Columbus's D surplus. I see Silovs as a non-starter though, we don't have much in the cupboards as far as tender prospects go and he's very good one.

Which is why if Beauvillier is moved I think it'll be more along the lines of a hockey trade that brings cap back as opposed to paying to dump his entire cap hit.

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/anthony-mantha No he doesn't, he's in the last year of his deal. It'd be moving out our undesirable player for their undesirable player and hoping for a better fit. Not ideal, but cheaper than paying to dump cap. If it doesn't work he's off the books at the end of the year, which was the whole point of my Garland/Mantha proposal.

I think a hockey trade with Beau is more likely, I don't think the Canucks like the market for dumping cap space. It's been no secret that the Canucks would like to move a forward going back to probably the summer, we haven't opened up cap space. I'm inclined to believe that the Canucks don't like the price it'd take to dump pure cap, and cap space is still valued at a premium. Mantha would give us some size on the third line at least. I'll be surprised if we pay someone to take all of his cap without sending someone back. The only teams with more than 4M cap space open are Columbus, Detroit, Arizona, Buffalo, Nashville, Anaheim, and Chicago. Could maybe see something involving Columbus, Nashville, or Chicago. Trading with either of the first two would be a hockey trade imo, Chicago would be a cap dump. Could trade with other teams, certainly, but the number of teams who could straight up eat all his cap hit is limited and Beau likely doesn't move the needle for some of them. If the Canucks want to add sizeable cap they might not have a choice though, assuming they want to straight up clear cap instead of taking cap back in a deal. But yes, I'm not all that interested in trading picks either.

Makes sense, I was arguing that we should be looking to move him back during the summer. He's easier to move than Garland given he's a pending UFA. Problem is he's inconsistent offensively for a middle six tweener, and he doesn't really seem to add much when played in a third line role. Isles fans have described him as being streaky. His past numbers indicate that he's capable of being a complimentary winger, but if he's not producing he's very meh. I've proposed Garland for Mantha in the past, I'd also do Beauvillier for Mantha (although Caps would have to retain some of his cap hit). If the Canucks look to strictly dump cap it'll probably cost them as teams with cap space will be charging for the favour of taking his cap on, more than likely they'll be looking at a cap out/cap in move imo. Could see a team like Chicago asking for a 2nd. Could see management being willing to maybe give up a 3rd.

Must have been receptive to Minny, had a 21-team NTC. They were probably just doing him a solid as it seems he's been beaten out by both Perbix and Raddysh. Tampa's D looks leaner after Hedman, Sergachev, and Cernak.

Hyperbole. I already spoke to this when writing "Sure, a sport that features players firing pucks at high speed and that features physical contact is never going to be completely safe, but there are reasons players have become better protected as time has marched on. ". And now many players will be wearing them whether they want to or not, I don't have an issue with it. Happened with helmets, happened with visors, we'll see if it happens with neck guards. If folks want to play in x leagues they'll wear the guards, if they don't want to they have the choice to try and play elsewhere.

5-4 Canucks Pettersson

I don't see that package having much value, and we'd likely have to give up something good to dump 4.15M worth of cap space. I don't see Woo as having much value in a trade, he's off to a better start in Abbotsford this year but eh. Sharks just got a similarly aged RD who put up 29 points in 62 games at the NHL level last season for a 5th and a plug, I reckon Woo is worth less. Cap space is still valued at a premium, which is probably why we've had a tough time opening up more of it thus far. I do think Beauvillier should be easier to move than Garland due to his being a pending UFA though but I could still see the ask being like a 2nd.

Probably, but more than likely we'd still have to pay for the favour of their taking on his cap hit He's a pending UFA and they're likely in the mix for a first overall pick, they should be looking to charge for taking on any neutral or negative cap

Caps are more likely to look for a center imo Though I'd do Garland for Mantha Could see a world where the Caps have interest in Lindholm, they could use a better puck distributor up front and he's a proven goal scorer They could just pay him Backstrom's cap space

Sharks are officially buyers

Canucks should look elsewhere, he'll be hibernating soon