Jeremy Hronek

I'm not sure how sustainable a Hughes-Hronek pairing will continue to be but I do agree that we should keep pairing them up if it continues to work. I think a while back, @wai_lai416 also posted some fancy stats that indicates that the Hughes-Hronek was also giving up a lot of chances? (i.e. Goaltending was bailing them out). If it eventually stops working however, it would be nice to have other options (i.e. someone like a Rasmus Andersson playing alongside Hughes while Hronek moves down to play with Cole). In terms of joining elite teams like Vegas, I still think our two biggest needs are a good two-way 3rd line Center (Suter moves to his natural wing on that line) and a #3 or #2A calibre defenseman that would be a better stylistic fit with Hughes. For the two-way 3rd line center, we *might* already have that with Bluegar (time will tell), but I still think we need another #3/#2A calibre d-man. Wet farts such as Ethan Bear, Adam Boquist, Andrew Peeke, etc. are "decent," but aren't going to move the needle for this team.

How many years away is he from being an NHL top 4 calibre guy?

Boquist is a right sided dman but he's not the type of dman we need. We need a bigger and more defensively oriented calibre d-man to play alongside Hughes on a top pairing (which would then allow Hronek to anchor a 2nd pairing with Cole or Soucy).

Not sure if I'd be a fan of Garland for Hyman. Hyman is signed long term and is north of 30 years old. That contract likely won't age well.

Jack Hughes also has a terrific two way game from what I understand. Again, Pettersson is a better overall player than Jack Hughes, but is the difference really 4 million's worth in difference? (assuming that Petey gets paid $12M starting next season). For me, the answer is 'no.' Hence, Jack having more overall value than Petey (despite being the inferior player) when you take term and money into consideration (from next season onwards).

I also agree with you that Petey is slightly better than Jack but he's not 50% better than Jack either (or whatever percentage difference there is between an 8 million dollar player and a 12 million dollar player). Hence, Jack Hughes will have higher value than Petey. Having said that, I love Pettersson and hope he signs with us long term. Hronek as well.

It's Alberta, They marry their 2nd cousins over there and also fornicate with farm animals. Obviously, there are going to be some significant mental impairment amongst the off-spring. I wouldn't go too hard on them.

Jack Hughes has far more value than Petey. Hughes will have an 8 million cap hit/AAV for a very long time while Pettersson is going to get around 12 million at minimum. Both men have equivalent production.

Not only that but I just found out that this was Dallas' 3rd game in 4 nights. Canucks passed the test tonight but I'm interested to see how we fare against a team with both teams equally well rested.

I agree that the Canucks should probably be more aggressive in terms of making a push towards being an elite team, but giving up both a 20241st and 2025 1st (along with Willander, who is our 2023 1st) is too aggressive........and could put us in future peril (hello San Jose :-)). You have to keep filling that pipeline even if you're being aggressive. I don't see why Calgary moves two of their RD's. Sorry brother but this proposal doesn't make much sense to me.

I'm going to go against my earlier comments in this thread (i.e. wait until the 20-25 game mark). I think the Canucks could be for real right now. Tocchet and the coaching staff have completely changed the culture here. Tonight's game against Dallas sold it for me. Even back in 2019/2020 when the Canucks last made the playoffs, they looked uncomfortable playing with the lead during the regular season and would often "play not to lose." They would become very passive in terms of challenging pointmen and 'closing the gap,' and would play a very passive and 'collapsed' style of hockey. Those days appear to be completely gone if tonight was of any indication. The Canucks continued to play aggressively and confidently even when up tonight. The next "big test" for us will be to see how the Canucks play when they get some key injuries to one or more of their core players (i.e. Petey, Hughes, Miller, Hronek, Demko, Kuzmenko), but the way this coaching staff has implemented their system, I'm not even sure it would impact us nearly as much as this would have in the past. This Canucks team is for real. Not quite 2010-2012 levels but we're closer than one might think (maybe the 2008-2009 team might be a good comparison).

That's great in theory, but will your "trade targets" actually be able to land anything of significance? For example, let's say that YOU were the GM of a team like San Jose, Calgary, or whomever. You want to rebuild and you want prized prospects and/or picks in return for some of your in-prime assets (i.e. Tomas Hertl, Rasmus Andersson, etc.). Would YOU want a -Former 10th overall pick that has struggled to make the NHL in his D+4 year -B' "meh" level prospect -decent prospect but a long shot to be a superstar -almost a write-off/bust at this point Would YOU give up a young in-his-prime asset for any of the above four?

Alright, I'll start of this post saying that I probably wouldn't do this deal because I love Willander, and also feel that there'd be too much risk in acquiring Andersson, only for him to leave once he becomes a UFA down the road. However - if you, as a Canucks fan, have subscribed to the philosophy of, "we need to start winning now since all/most of our core players will be UFA's/RFA's within the next 4 years," then maybe this post makes sense. Who knows...... Also - if 1. Management feels that this Canucks team, with an added #3 calibre d-man, can legitimately compete with the likes of Colorado, Vegas, and Tampa Bay 2. It would take a LOT for Calgary to consider trading such a key piece to a divisional rival Then I think Willander would have to be the key piece involved if Calgary was going to hand us Andersson and proceed to begin a tear down (though with Kadri, Huberdeau, and Weegar there, would a rebuild even be possible?). To ensure that the Canucks have long term depth on the right side, they sign Hronek long term (before said trade was to take place), and then they roll the dice and bank on the fact that the Canucks' strong performances over these next few seasons entice all of Pettersson, Boeser, Andersson, and Hughes to stay on with what I'd imagine to be a pretty formidable Canucks team (I haven't included Demko here just yet because if Silovs is ready to take the reigns three years from now just as Demko was for Markstrom, then I think you'd have to proceed with the younger goalie. Also haven't included Kuzmenko because if Boeser continues his current level of play + emergence of Lekkerimaki, then Kuzmenko might become the odd man out at some point). Your (cup contending?) Canucks: Kuzmenko-Pettersson-Mikheyev PDG-Miller-Boeser Suter-Bluegar-Hoglander Joshua-Lafferty-Beauvillier Hughes-Andersson Cole-Hronek Soucy-Myers Demko DeSmith Losing Willander would suck.....a lot, but would three years of prime Rasmus Andersson be enough to move the needle for this team? If the presence of Andersson gave the Canucks a strong chance of finishing in the 2nd round this year, how significantly would this weigh on both Pettersson and Hronek wanting to sign here long term? What about Boeser in a couple of seasons? Hughes when he becomes a UFA? Even if Andersson were to become a UFA at age 30, would he still be worth signing to a 5 year deal? I'm digressing a bit but my point remains. If you want a 'prime' piece like Rasmus Andersson, I think it's going to cost us our most prized prospect. We can "cream our pants" so to speak about packages involving Podkolzin, 2024 1st, and Hoglander landing you a premier young right handed defenseman, but I'm not sure how realistic that would be. Anyways, that's my thought on this. p.s.______________It's a bit off-topic but even with the loss of Willander (for Andersson), I could still see at least 1-3 of Raty, Podkolzin, and Lekkerimaki stepping into the line-up next season on ELC's which would give us even more cap flexibility, etc. Also, if you were to use Willander as a mini-sweetener and move out Garland's contract in the process, it would give the Canucks a lot of cap flexibility since both Myers and Beauvillier would be off the books the following season. The Canucks could then use that money on signing both Pettersson and Hronek long term instead of needing to invest money to bring in a Top 4 d-man,.

@RWJC @Gurn, I definitely am overexaggerating as to how much this guy sucks. He's a half decent defenseman but he's not going to move the needle for us. We need a top 3 calibre defensive-defenseman whereas Miller is a 3rd pairing offensive defenseman.

Colin Miller should be working at BC Ferries.

Your proposal definitely is well thought out and I definitely see the logic behind your idea but it would never happen in a billion years in the real world (I'm assuming by this proposal, you'd want this to happen now?). If Alvin went ahead and did this, fans would track him down and tar and feather his ballsack and then get a German Shepherd to rip off the feathers with his teeth. In other words, you just don't trade away your two best players when your team is 7-2-1 and seems to have finally turned a corner for the first time in almost 10 years. Also, there would be too many conflicts of interests. How would Kuzmenko feel about this deal? He specifically signed here because he felt that the Canucks were a rising team. What about Rick Tocchet who specifically came here because ownership promised that they were trying to build a competitive team for the here and now? In theory, your proposal definitely has some logic to it but it will never happen in the real world (unless the Canucks were out of playoff contention at the trade deadline?). Definitely something to try on NHL 24 however.

Since he's still young, I think the BJ's will wait on him a bit to see if he can get out of his funk. Trading him right now would be selling him at a low point and so I'm not sure if this makes much sense for Columbus.

I forgot to mention the Sedins'.

"Hold my beer," Ottawa Senators 1992-1993.

Tocchet seems to have completely changed the culture in the dressing room. Foote and Gonchar deserve massive props here as well. I know I'm getting *way* ahead of myself here, but fuck it, this is the best coaching staff that we've ever had. Better than Vigneault and as good as the Pat Quinn days at minimum. I'm wondering if Tocchet showed the boys clips of the Canucks-Sharks 2013 series before the game?

I like this proposal a lot from a Canucks standpoint but I can't see Calgary agreeing to this. Tanev likely won't stick around next season and so the Flames will need to ensure that they have enough quality RD's (i.e. Andersson, Weager). Might just be easier to sign Chris Tanev in the Summer to a short term deal. Willander can step into Tanev's role once Tanev's contract expires (Willander would presumably be ready to 'take the reigns' at that time?) I'll give you props though, this is a well thought-out proposal.

Wow, boner alert!

Maybe but I see things a bit differently. IF the Canucks can get progressively better over the next 3-4 years (i.e. consistent playoff appearances, winning a few rounds), and IF you can start getting core players to commit long term as a result (i.e. Pettersson, Hronek, Kuzmenko), then I do think there's a good chance that we can convince Hughes (captain) to stay. With regards to our current pipeline (Raty, Podkolzin, Lekkerimaki), I don't think it's farfetched at all to believe that all 3 guys could be ready to step into our line-up next season on ELC's. That, combined with Myers being off the books. Let things progress naturally. Even if the Canucks start being aggressive with short term moves, they aren't going to be on the same level as Vegas, Colorado, and Tampa. Let's build some equity first. Make the playoffs this year, maybe win a round, and then progress from there. If Hughes does ultimately end up walking, then you use that 7+ million on other assets.

If we're looking to add toughness in exchange for Garland, Garland to Columbus for Erik Gudbranson might be the more realistic deal.

Completely agree with this. Some posters on here seem to be crazy horny about wanting to see the Canucks going for it this year and blowing up the farm in the process (or tearing off the trousers with their teeth so to speak). I'm excited as the next guy over what we've done so far but slow and steady is the name of the game. Alvin has done a pretty good job of replenishing the cupboards, and we've got guys like Raty, Podkolzin, Lekkerimaki, and Willander in the system waiting in the wings. It's not inconceivable at all to believe that all three of the aforementioned forwards could step into our line up next season on ELC's........and that would be a huge advantage obviously. So, what would I like to see? 1) Canucks make the 1st or 2nd round this year. 2) Pettersson and Hronek sign long term deals with us in the Summer. 3) Kuzmenko signs a long term deal with us when his contract expires 4) Hughes signs a long term deal with us when his contract expires 5) Hoglander, Podkolzin, Willander, Raty, and Lekkerimaki all become long term core players for us. 6) Three years from now as Miller leaves his peak, he becomes a role player for us and continues to be a leader. 7) Silovs develops and successfully takes over the reigns when Demko becomes a UFA (or, we sign Demko to a 4 year deal). -The Canucks continuously and progressively become more competitive over these next few seasons. -We are able to retain our core players -We slowly and progressively replace sub-par contracts (i.e. Myers) with more cost-effective players. Even if the Canucks 'blow up the farm' and go for it this season, we aren't going to be better than Colorado, Vegas, and Tampa Bay. So, ultimately responding to your post, and the spirit of this thread, I wouldn't trade promising young assets for 'win now' players from the Flames. If it makes financial sense in the off-season, take a run at Chris Tanev. No need to spend an arm and a leg for Rasmus Andersson or McKenzie Weeger.