Jeremy Hronek

12 minutes ago, RockemSockem said:

Since we’ve just acquired Elias, in my opinion Allvin will want to extend him and I also think Lindholm will return to form with us.

 

What woukd a possible extension look like?

 

6-7 years @ 7-7.5?

Extend Lindholm in the unlikely event that negotiations with Pettersson go south.  
 

Outside of that however, I’m not sure if the Canucks will be able to extend Lindholm given our cap constraints.  
 

Lindholm just may very well be our 2020 Toffoli (ie this was around the time when Thomas Drance was inhaling the sphincter of Judd Bracket).

3 hours ago, BigTramFan said:

Very difficult to play a matchup game when you are not on home ice. I really feel if we are trying to contend then we need a legit 2nd line threat that can score, not 3A and 3B lines. I like Lindholm, but I think his best fit is on a line with Petey. Together they form the basis of a legit 2nd line.

 

Jenner is not a center that racks up assists. He is more of a gritty goal scorer, so if we got him you'd also want to put him on a line with Petey, who would drive play and set Jenner up to score. Jenner on a line with Suter and Mik would not generate offense.

 

Couture drives play but he is 35 years old next month and has 4 more seasons at $8m. We should not go there.

In that case, my best advice would be to move Mikheyev+ for a center that could possibly help get Kuzmenko going again.

Suter-???-Kuzmenko

Suter plays LW on this line and acts as the defensive conscience.  

13 hours ago, HKSR said:

To VAN:

Joel Eriksson Ek @ 75% retained (50% retained by MIN, 50% retained by CHI)

 

To CHI:

Elias Pettersson

Retention of 50% on Joel Eriksson Ek

 

To MIN:

Jonathan Lekkerimaki

Aatu Raty

Elias Pettersson (D)

1st Round Pick

2nd Round Pick

 

Canucks now have Joel Eriksson Ek for 5 more years at a $1,312,500 cap hit lol

 

Hoglander-Miller-Boeser

Mikheyev-Eriksson Ek-Kuzmenko

Garland-Blueger-Joshua

Aman-Suter-Lafferty

 

So much cap space to work with as we now have our top 2 centres locked down for a combined $9,312,500 for the next 5+ years

In:

-Joel Eriksson EK (50% retention)

Out

-Elias Pettersson 1

-Elias Pettersson 2

-Lekkerimaki 

-Raty

-1st

-2nd

Can someone please explain to me why “the Lotto line is not a long term solution?”

Was the WCE line from 2002-2004 not a long term solution?

Was Sedin-Sedin-Burrows from 2010-2012 not a long term solution?

The Canucks are currently an elite team and the Lotto line, for the most part, has tilted the ice whenever they’ve been on. 
 

What am I missing here?

26 minutes ago, BigTramFan said:

Definitely an improvement to our lineup with Kuz out and Lindholm in.

 

But that 2nd line still feels like more a 3rd line with Suter and Mikheyev on it.

 

IMO our #1 need is for 2 top 6 players at the TDL. One to play with Miller-Boeser and one to play with Petey-Mik. Keep Suter as our 4C (and Hogs on 4th line) with the ability to step up in case of injuries. Then we actually have depth in our forward ranks. I'd be happy if Lindholm @50% was one of them (would Raty + 1st round pick get it done?) playing with EP+Mik. Maybe someone like Henrique @50% as the other (2025 2nd round pick?) with JT-Boes. That feels like two legit top 6 lines.

 

For me our #2 need is another Dman, one that can step up to top 4 minutes in the playoffs if required. Tanev fits that need for sure, but he will be expensive to acquire and has a large-ish cap hit even at 50%. I really like Alex Carrier ($2.5m on an expiring deal) from NSH as a puck moving defensive defenceman. He is like a younger version of Tanev. Not as good, but cheaper to acquire and half the cap hit at 50% retained. Plays a ton of PK and does it very well. Good puck mover, doesn't get hemmed in very often. NSH looking to push for the playoffs, has a wealth of talent on D and a shit ton of cap space, maybe they'd be interested in trading Carrier @50% for Kuzmenko + say a 4th round pick.

 

Finally #3 need is maybe some gritty size in our bottom 6 perhaps even a RH center that could take the odd draw, play some PK and steady the 4th line if Suter is moved up to the top 6. I think Sam Carrick would be ideal and pretty cheap to acquire, only $850k and expiring this season.

 

CURRENT CAP SPACE = $1.2m

CAP OUT = Kuz $5.5m

CAP IN = Lindholm $2.43m + Henrique $2.91m + Carrier $1.25m

NEW CAP SPACE AFTER TDL = $0.11m

 

Re:  Suter-Lindholm-Mikheyev

You’re correct that the line above would be more 3rd line-ish than a 2nd line, but my thought is that it would be an elite shut down line…..so much so to the point that you could throw them out there against another teams’ top line (ultimately resulting in more offensive deployment for our other lines).  
 

I also think that a guy like Jenner, Lindholm, or Couture would be able to help ignite a little bit of offense from Suter and Mikheyev which would give this line a little bit of offensive production (even if the primary focus would be on shutting down)

On 1/25/2024 at 8:14 PM, Pears said:

We'd 100% have to add more futures for Couture alone lol but I think I would do it for sure. 

Relative to guys like Lindholm, Guentzel, Jenner, etc., my thought is that we wouldn’t have to send as many picks or prospects due to Couture’s age, cap hit, and term.  

16 hours ago, wai_lai416 said:

tanev would solidify the backend.. however i'm not sold on this forward group.. Mikheyev and suter don't belong in the top 6 i don't care what anyone say about mikheyev he's not a top 6 period.. if our 2nd line is struggling now.. replacing EP and kuz on the 2nd line with suter and lindholm it's still going to struggle.. there's 0 play driver on that line.. and i think it's only a matter of time before teams start to overlap their top pairing defenceman and 2nd line against our 3rd line and that's where i think we'll start struggling for goals if the lotto line is shutdown.. the 3rd line is amazing right now but they are mostly playing 3rd/4th lines.. the moment other team up the ante and put their top 2 pairing/ forward lines against them.. will they have the same success?? i'm going to venture towards no.. 

This is a really good point which is why I’d be interested in revamping the identity of our 2nd line, in terms of making it a premier shut down line that can chip in goals.

So, even if opposing top pairing defensemen + 2nd lines counter our 3rd line, we could use a newly created premier shut down 2nd line (Suter-Couture-Mikheyev as an example) to shut down opposing top lines…..which would leave our Lotto Line and 4th line to annihilate what’s left.  
 

I’ve mentioned Logan Couture from above (as opposed to a Boone Jenner or Elias Lindholm), because I believe that acquiring Logan Couture would cost us the least amount of picks and prospects relative to other pieces (due to Couture’s age, cap hit, and term).  
 

Perhaps I’m wrong but I think Myers + Kuzmenko + B level prospect + 2024 1st gets you Couture + Rutta.

Pettersson-Miller-Boeser (Lotto Line)

Suter-Couture-Mikheyev (shut down line)

Joshua-Bluegar-Garland

Hoglander-Aman-Lafferty

I look at the current Canucks line-up and see the following:

Pettersson-Miller-Boeser (on par with WCE and 2011 Sedins-Burrows in terms of tilting the ice)

Suter-????-Mikheyev (Fans want this line to be able to produce consistent secondary offense to support the Lotto line)

Joshua-Bluegar-Garland (produce consistent secondary offense)

Hoglander-Aman-Lafferty (produce consistent secondary offense)

Although many fans want the Canucks to trade Kuzmenko (or Mikheyev) + picks/prospects to improve our 2nd line (from a scoring perspective), I’ve always maintained that any NEWGUY wouldn’t move the needle in terms of making our 2nd line a dangerous scoring threat since the linemate options would be Kuzmenko (completely lost confidence), Mikheyev, Suter (defensive stalwart bottom 6 player), Hoglander (half decent but bottom 6 calibre player for the most part).   The only solution to this would be to break up the Lotto line (which to me personally, doesn’t make sense).  
 

However - what if the Canucks still acquired a 2nd line piece, but gave the 2nd line a different identity/role?  So - instead of expecting this 2nd line to produce consistent offense to complement the Lotto line (which our bottom 6 does anyways), what is the new role and new identity of this second line was to be a premier shut down line…..that could produce offense on occasion.  
 

Suter-Jenner-Mikheyev

Suter-Couture-Mikheyev

Suter-Lindholm-Mikheyev

The way I see it, Suter and Mikheyev

1) Are both exceptional defensive players….probably amongst the best in the league.  
 

2) Could probably produce a little bit of consistent offense (even with a primary defensive/shut down focus) if they had a good defensive minded center (with an offensive element) playing alongside them.  
 

So, with this identity, the dynamics of our forward group changes a bit:

Pettersson-Miller-Boeser (Lotto line - dangerous as fuck)

Suter-[JennerLindholmCouture]-Mikheyev (Shut down line - allows other lines an opportunity for more offensive deployment….can still produce a little bit of offense despite offense not being this lines primary focus).

Joshua-Bluegar-Garland (dominates other 3rd lines - produces offense)

Hoglander-Aman-Lafferty (dominates other 4th lines - produces offense)

My suggestion for the deadline:

1.  Find a way to move Kuzmenko+ to Columbus for Boone Jenner (the plus involving picks/prospects)

2. Find a way to move Myers+ for Tanev (the plus involving picks/prospects)

On 1/26/2024 at 7:00 AM, The Lock said:

Couture's only just started his season. While he's been pretty consistent over the years, he seems like a risk until we can see how his season starts.

 

Like sure, he could become a beast for us... or he could become the next OEL. We don't really know. lol

Very true but due to his age, cap hit, and term, acquiring him might not cost us significant assets.

Ps - I’ve updated my proposal.

How is this even a legit thread, lol.

Crosby will retire a Penguin.  The dude’s a legend. This isn’t a Ray Bourque situation where Crosby will try and chase a cup. 
 

You *might* be able to sign Malkin once his contract expires (0.1% chance) but this Crosby shit ain’t happening. 

On 1/23/2024 at 6:55 PM, canuck73 said:

Are you kidding me?

What are we witnessing?

12 g 45a 57p +35 in 47 gp

That is a great result in a full year

And we have 35 games to go...

Hughes is on pace for 98 points +61

What a progression

What are we witnessing?

Dominating puck possesion

If we don't go all in now...

 

This is what also scares me about this current Canuck team.  If Hughes goes down with injury, we are a middle of the road team.

We need someone like Chychrun to fill in on the top pair with Hronek just incase we lose Hughes to injury.

6 hours ago, aGENT said:

 

The lotto line has never been a long term solution IMO. You can put it together for a stretch (as we have), or situationally (trailing late in a game for example) but long term, it's just not feasible for regular use. You need two consistently threatening top 6 lines to be a match up problem. Miller and Pettersson need to be split to make that work.

 

And the problem with that is that Kuzmenko has both struggled (sophomore slump?), had an expected shot % regression, and I don't think he's naturally a player that fits our systems play. Mikheyev is fine...he's a bit slower coming off major knee surgery, but should be back, close to 100% by playoffs and he's not paid to be the play driver on that line. He's also still been "competent" despite that fact. Most top 6 lines will have a pair of more skilled play drivers, and a complementary "mucker" that usually lends some combination of 2 way play, puck retrieval, net presence etc. Mik, is just fine as that guy. We need a skilled upgrade on Kuz that can hang with Petey and play our system. Either that or Kuz needs to have a "lightbulb" moment.

 

 

These are all excellent points.

The way I see it however, is that the Garland line (3rd line) and 4th line are consistently producing offense, so much so to the point where our impotent 2nd line hasn’t been an affected the team whatsoever.  
 

The Lotto line is every bit as dangerous as the WCE line from 2002-2004 and the Sedin line from 2010-2012, and so would it even make sense to split them up?

Here is my biggest fear:

1. The Canucks trade significant assets for a guy like Jake Guentzel.

2. We split up the Lotto line to accommodate Jake.

3. Instead of creating two good scoring lines, we create two somewhat mediocre lines (Mikheyev-Pettersson-Boeser / Hoglander-Miller-Guentzel), and then end up reverting back to our old Lotto line as a result (which basically leaves Guentzel playing with “thespians” such as Suter, Mikheyev, Kuzmenko, or Hoglander on the 2nd line).  
 

So for me - I would rather just keep the Lotto line together since they literally tilt the ice every time they’re on (and even moreso with Hughes and Hronek back there driving play).  
 

For our current 2nd line - you know what I’d do?  Instead of making it a secondary scoring line (which we are already getting from our bottom 6), I’d strongly consider making it an elite shut down line.  
 

Suter and Mikheyev are elite defensive players.  What if these guys had a fellow elite defensive player to join them?  Now all of a sudden, we would have one of the best shut down lines in all of hockey.  Anyway, that’s one possibly way that I’d approach things.
 

5 hours ago, The Lock said:

 

Where did he say that? He only said he was bummed by 1994 being 30 years ago. lol

true - I guess my point being that 2011, which had as many memorable moments as 1994 (Burrows OT goals, Bieksa’s OT goal, Kesler’s last second goal), was only 13 years ago.  
 

To me, it seemed like a subtle jab at the 2011 team and experience but maybe I read too far into it.

4 hours ago, CanuckMan said:

Half of this fan base was in a diaper in 1994 or not even born so they haven’t seen them play. 

 
I was being breast fed by my father in 1982 when we played the Isles.

I think many people are severely overlooking the fact that we were severely injured against a (moderately) injured Bruins team in 2011.

But whatever - to each their own.

9 hours ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

I'm just really bummed its been almost 30 years since the 1994 run.

So the 2011 run is not legitimate in your eyes?   

2 hours ago, CanuckMan said:

LOL bro r u serious? 
Kuz and Mikh can fill in on the lotto line if there’s an injury? As in score on the 1st line?

They can’t even score on the 2nd line on a good day. Petey is carrying that line those 2 guys have hands of stone lately.

 
1. Pettersson and Miller, on the same line, probably could carry either of Kuzmenko or Mikheyev.

2. They can’t score on the 2nd line mainly because Puis Suter is the center (Suter is a good bottom 6 player but not the type of guy you would want as your 2nd line C).

So to answer your question, “yes - I am serious bro.”

On 1/25/2024 at 4:28 PM, Tocchet.A.Hockey.God said:

Do we even want the Canucks to win the Presidents trophy

 

It is kind of bad luck maybe give it to Boston. It be sweet if Boston won it and was knocked out in the 1st round again and the Canucks advanced.

Superstitions are for thespians.

Collect as much hardware as you can and don’t worry about the shortcomings of previous teams.  New core, new era, new story, period.  

7 minutes ago, Hammertime said:

We're a Keith Ballard away from being contenders.

Ballard, in 2011, was a bottom pairing defenseman (or a #4 at best). My argument is that we need another Top 3 defenseman that can fill for Hughes on the top pairing incase of injury.

16 hours ago, Elias Pettersson said:

2024

 

Hughes is the difference maker for me…

I still think the 2011 team is our current best team of all-time.  That team dominated every single statistical category and was the clear cut favorite in the league amongst hockey pundits.

While our current team is very very good, I think they are more 2012ish than 2011, in that, many hockey pundits probably wouldn’t consider them to be the cup favorites despite having the current best record in the league (The 2012 team underachieved while we are overachieving a little imo).

With the 2011 team, any one injury to any one player wouldn’t have sunk the team whereas with our current team, I think a long term injury to Hughes would badly fuck us (to the point where we’d immediately become a 10-13 calibre team if we lost QH).  
 

So for me, our 2011 team was our GOAT, closely followed by our current team and 2012 team.  
 

8 minutes ago, MattJVD said:

Maybe it's a semantic difference, but I don't think secondary scoring has been a need since the 2nd month of the season. When the Garland line and Hogs on the 4th really started going, we've been getting some of the best secondary scoring in the NHL. 

 

We need another primary scorer, either centering line 2 or someone with high-end skill that can be paired with a Petey-lead 2nd line. And yes, I agree we need a legit #3 D man. We have a super-star #1 D, and solid #2, then a bunch of 4/5 guys. No one in anchoring that 2nd pair.

If the Canucks are hell bent on acquiring a Top 6 piece, I’d go about it from a different perspective:

Form an elite shut down line with Suter, Mikheyev, and #NewGuy.  Suter and Mikheyev are already excellent defensive players.  If #NewGuy is also elite defensively, then you could give the lotto line and the Garland line more offensive deployment.  

3 minutes ago, MattJVD said:

Maybe it's a semantic difference, but I don't think secondary scoring has been a need since the 2nd month of the season. When the Garland line and Hogs on the 4th really started going, we've been getting some of the best secondary scoring in the NHL. 

 

We need another primary scorer, either centering line 2 or someone with high-end skill that can be paired with a Petey-lead 2nd line. And yes, I agree we need a legit #3 D man. We have a super-star #1 D, and solid #2, then a bunch of 4/5 guys. No one in anchoring that 2nd pair.

Agree with you 100% about our defense (many 4/5 guys + a significant drop off after Hughes and Hronek). 
 

My concern about acquiring another primary scorer is that

1.  It will cost us assets

2.  We would likely need to split up our red hot Lotto line because of…

3. This newly acquired primary scorer and this newly created second line probably won’t be able to do much with any combination of Mikheyev, Kuzmenko, and Hoglander as linemates.  

Tl;dr = We don’t need secondary scoring.  We need to bring in a Top 3 calibre dman that can anchor a 2nd pairing and form an elite pairing with Hronek just in case Hughes gets hurt.

For many weeks now, we’ve seen countless proposals involving the Canucks acquiring a second line piece to provide complementary scoring to our reformed “Lotto line.”  
 

For me though, I still maintain the following position:

1. The Canucks do not need help with secondary scoring because even though they have a weak second line, all of their other lines produce consistent offense. Furthermore, in the event of injuries, 

A. Kuzmenko or Mikheyev could fill in on the Lotto line incase there is an injury to one of the players on there, and that line would still probably be dangerous.

B. Suter can play on the Garland line incase there are any injuries to Bluegar, Garland, or Joshua.

C. Hoglander + our AHL depth of Raty and/or Podkolzin could easily play anywhere on lines 2-4 as complementary pieces. 
 

D. If we really needed to, we could always split up Miller and Petey again if we needed to create depth on other lines to combat against injuries.

So long story short - I do not really see a need for the Canucks to make a trade for secondary scoring.

The Canucks’ biggest need in my opinion is to bring in a 2A/#3 calibre defenseman that could form an elite pairing with Hronek just in case Hughes were to get injured.  

If Hughes were to get injured, the Canucks would immediately go from being an elite team to a 10-13 calibre team in my opinion (ie 2nd round fodder or even a 1st round upset loss). 

Now - could guys like Soucy, Zadorov, and Cole play with Hronek?  Absolutely.  Would the pairing be elite?  Nope.  They would get caved in by opposing top lines.  
 

7 hours ago, MidKnight Ego said:

Canucks aquire scissons as the press stray further from a playoff spot, Calgary and Seattle nipping at their toes and perhaps we can get the gritty 40p 3rd liner for cheap maybe they want kuzmenko?

 

to Canucks 

 

Colton Scissons

 

To Preds 

 

Kuzmenko and a 2nd

If the Canucks acquire Scissons, I’m changing my handle name to CircumScissons.  

3 hours ago, Fan Abroad said:

Would you trade a couple 1st's + for Crosby? 

I could be wrong but I think he is a UFA so it would likely be as a rental. 

 

Crosby will retire as a Penguin and anyone that disagrees with this was clearly born in 5 months.