tas Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 1 minute ago, The Duke said: With Kuzmenko gone, they could use a lighter personality in the room. Whether he cracks a healthy roster in the playoffs isn’t something I’d bet on, but it sure seems like a low risk option that could pay some big dividends. just having a guy who knows, emphatically, exactly what it takes to win is a steadying, reassuring presence. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tas Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 (edited) 2 minutes ago, stawns said: I think there's a spot for a fwd and Phil can put the puck in the net. I'd be a little worried about speed if hrs on the same line as boes though i truly don't think tocc will make exceptions when it comes to the staples of the team either. if phil can keep up with this extremely high energy system, no shortcuts, I'd be very surprised and very impressed. Edited February 15 by tas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimito Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 (edited) Canucks: Phil Kessel likely just one of a few depth targets Jim Rutherford's pattern of bulking up his playoff roster has always been to make sure you have more depth than you need. Author of the article: Patrick Johnston Published Feb 14, 2024 There’s one thing Jim Rutherford knows very well from winning three Stanley Cups as a Hall-of-Fame general manager. Depth in the playoffs is massively important. In Rutherford’s Cup-winning seasons — 2006 in Carolina, 2016 and ’17 in Pittsburgh — he added top-end talent to his roster, but he also went hard after adding depth players, especially defencemen. So, yes, look at his record to understand how he’s advising Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin and his staff with less than a month to go until the NHL trade deadline. The Canucks added Elias Lindholm two weeks ago. They added Nikita Zadorov in November. But no, they’re not done, he said. “I don’t think it will be hard,” he replied to the question of whether the Canucks will face any challenges in adding another player or two to the mix in the weeks to come. “It’s about the cost and weighing what a player would bring,” he said. Which brings us to Phil Kessel, a player Rutherford and his staff know well from their Cup wins in Pittsburgh. Rutherford traded for the scoring winger in summer 2015 and Kessel became a key player on one of the best third lines, lining up with Nick Bonino at centre and Carl Hagelin on the other wing. Kessel did what he was brought in to do, add scoring depth to a roster that already featured Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Kessel thrived on the line with Bonino and Hagelin, two forwards who were astute two-way players. But that was more than half-a-decade ago. Kessel is now 36. He had a solid regular season with Vegas last year — once again suiting up for 82 games — but barely featured in the playoffs for the Golden Knights. Technically, he remains the NHL’s Iron Man, having suited up in 1,064 consecutive regular-season games, but hasn’t played a game since Game 4 of the first round of last year’s playoffs. Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy ended up preferring the likes of Will Carrier and Michael Amadio to fill out the wings on his third and fourth lines, such was the depth he had to work with. And that’s something the Canucks are very much aware of. The question now is what’s left in the tank. “This is a guy that has won before. He has that experience,” Rutherford said of Kessel, who is also eight points shy of hitting 1,000 career points in the NHL. “But now he has to go through a bunch of checkpoints,” the veteran hockey boss added. Kessel will practise with the Abbotsford squad for the next while — there’s no contract at the moment, he’s simply a free agent — and he’ll have to show what he has, both in drills and in physical testing. There’s little doubt about his character: even as a scratch last spring, he was a favourite in the dressing room, a key cog in the culture that championship-winning squad built. And so, a few points to consider with three weeks to go until the trade deadline: • To reinforce the team, the Canucks have about US$2.6 million to work with. You know the Canucks are going to look to spend that, certainly on at least one more right-shot defenceman — with more experience than current No. 8 blueliner Mark Friedman — and perhaps even another forward. Kessel, if they were to sign him, would likely come after exploring both those options. • What kind of defenceman might be on Vancouver’s radar? Sure, they would love to add Chris Tanev, but they would need Calgary to retain a large portion of his salary and, given the likely number of suitors for Tanev, the price to get Calgary to do so is probably beyond the Canucks’ means. It’s more likely a defenceman with a cap hit that would be easier to fit into the Canucks’ situation is more likely, players they know from before like Justin Schultz or Chad Ruhwedel, or defence-first blueliners like Ilya Lyubushkin or Erik Johnson. • Abbotsford plays the Calgary Wranglers at home on Saturday and again Monday before heading to California for a three day road trip. Kessel will get three days of practices before that. The Canucks, if they’re going to sign him, have really only one deadline in terms of an NHL deal: he has to be signed before the trade deadline on March 8. He doesn’t even have to be on the NHL roster, just on an NHL contract, by that point to be eligible for the playoffs. He can play on a pro tryout deal with Abbotsford until then. He doesn’t have to be on such a deal to simply skate with the team's • To reinforce the team, the Canucks have about US$2.6 million to work with. You know the Canucks are going to look to spend that, certainly on at least one more right-shot defenceman — with more experience than current No. 8 blueliner Mark Friedman — and perhaps even another forward. Kessel, if they were to sign him, would likely come after exploring both those options. • What kind of defenceman might be on Vancouver’s radar? Sure, they would love to add Chris Tanev, but they would need Calgary to retain a large portion of his salary and, given the likely number of suitors for Tanev, the price to get Calgary to do so is probably beyond the Canucks’ means. It’s more likely a defenceman with a cap hit that would be easier to fit into the Canucks’ situation is more likely, players they know from before like Justin Schultz or Chad Ruhwedel, or defence-first blueliners like Ilya Lyubushkin or Erik Johnson. • Abbotsford plays the Calgary Wranglers at home on Saturday and again Monday before heading to California for a three day road trip. Kessel will get three days of practices before that. The Canucks, if they’re going to sign him, have really only one deadline in terms of an NHL deal: he has to be signed before the trade deadline on March 8. He doesn’t even have to be on the NHL roster, just on an NHL contract, by that point to be eligible for the playoffs. He can play on a pro tryout deal with Abbotsford until then. He doesn’t have to be on such a deal to simply skate with the team. • If Kessel is an option, the Canucks can keep him in the minors — assuming he clears waivers — until the playoffs if need-be. Teams are limited to four regular recalls from the minors after the trade deadline until the end of the regular season, but once the regular season is over, there are no limits on recalls. • Beyond Kessel, there aren’t many obvious options in Abbotsford who could really play a role in the playoffs; Vasily Podkolzin might be one. “We are really pleased with his development,” Rutherford told Postmedia News. “We will see what our situation is but I would say possibly playoffs.” pjohnston@postmedia.com Edited February 15 by Jaimito 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHL rocks Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 4 hours ago, MeanSeanBean said: lol I'm surprised so many people took what I thought was an obvious fool around so literally. Lol I'm surprised you took our obvious fool around right back at you so literally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coryberg Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 49 minutes ago, Jaimito said: Phil bet $400 that Tocchet couldn't do 12 chin ups. Tocchet gambling? Shocker! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimito Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Certainly no shortage of excitement this season. Tanev would be significant get if they can pull it off. Enjoying the ride. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanSeanBean Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 3 minutes ago, WHL rocks said: Lol I'm surprised you took our obvious fool around right back at you so literally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 10 minutes ago, Coryberg said: Tocchet gambling? Shocker! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gawdzukes Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 53 minutes ago, tas said: i truly don't think tocc will make exceptions when it comes to the staples of the team either. if phil can keep up with this extremely high energy system, no shortcuts, I'd be very surprised and very impressed. At least RT is being completely straight up with everyone. He says I gotta see him skate first, and then we'll go from there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHL rocks Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 33 minutes ago, MeanSeanBean said: You're weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 49 minutes ago, Coryberg said: Tocchet gambling? Shocker! Heffy gets triggered. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 I'm 100% in on this. Not the best showing today (to be expected to some extent, given a year off) but hopefully he gets into shape & can play. At the very least his personality as a depth option could make things fun & could help bring the boys together. 8 pts away from 1000, would love to see him get there in a Nucks jersey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Korea Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 At this point, is there any chance for Kessel not to get signed? Maybe if he completely gets outworked by the Abby squad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawbone Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 3 hours ago, Gawdzukes said: lol, no doubt hey How can one tell anything from that short clip? They're not even doing full pace drills, or for any length of time. Yeah we've seen RT play unit #2 more the last couple games anyway. It's not like the first unit was doing much anyways. It's an option anyways for a more direct PP with less passing. Making assumptions for sure, but the fact that he looks gassed when the drills are short and not at full pace doesn't seem like a good sign. Maybe he can get in to full game shape within a week or two, apparently he's a bit of a genetic freak in terms of fitness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawbone Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 3 hours ago, stawns said: What I would do Hogz Petey Lindholm Kessel Miller Boes DK Blue Garland Mik Suter Laff Aman PP Boes Miller Lindholm QH garland PP Kessel Petey hogz Hronek Myers Putting Kessel in the top 6 at this stage feels kinda crazy... but that's where he belongs if he can still play. He's an offensive player and I don't see 4th line being a fit, and the 3rd line ain't changing. He just might find instant chemistry with Miller. Here's hoping! And I love the all-Sweden line, I hope that sticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 23 minutes ago, Strawbone said: Putting Kessel in the top 6 at this stage feels kinda crazy... but that's where he belongs if he can still play. He's an offensive player and I don't see 4th line being a fit, and the 3rd line ain't changing. He just might find instant chemistry with Miller. Here's hoping! And I love the all-Sweden line, I hope that sticks. I just think thats where the spot is and it makes the 4th line much better by putting Suter in the middle there. Obviously Kessel might not be ready for that yet, but that makes the most sense to me All predicated on everything working out of course 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck You Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 I dunno guys.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawbone Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 3 minutes ago, Canuck You said: I dunno guys.... I mean, NOBODY looks fit next to a Sedin twin. That's some unflattering footage for sure. But I will not judge a book by it's cover, especially before I read more than one page! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking mama Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 6 hours ago, Rekker said: Boeser JT Kessel the All American. Hogs EP Lindholm the All Swede. Interesting. All-Americans line Tre Kronor line (three crowns) (symbol of team Sweden’s jersey) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Korea Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 1 hour ago, Canuck You said: I dunno guys.... HAHA that big body in that grey ass jersey and those Vegas/Vancouver colours makes him look like a complete beer leaguer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherCanucksFan Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 6 hours ago, fanfor42 said: A roster player will have to be waived and likely claimed. When Soucy comes back Woo can go down. Nobody else on the roster can avoid waivers so you are wrong. Adding Kessel will very likely cost us a roster player. Garbage decision to add a useless player on a whim. BTW watch the tape of him in practice today. Pathetic, That is the concern I have. People who say it won't cost us anything might be missing on the roster issue. Additionally if the Canucks do consider another player at trade deadline then they likely can't keep Kessel anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanSeanBean Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 (edited) 13 hours ago, WHL rocks said: You're weird. I'm well aware. You sound just like my father. Edited February 15 by MeanSeanBean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88Canuck Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Great listen, especially the fitness part! Maybe some naysayers should take a listen… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 7 hours ago, AnotherCanucksFan said: That is the concern I have. People who say it won't cost us anything might be missing on the roster issue. Additionally if the Canucks do consider another player at trade deadline then they likely can't keep Kessel anyway. Friedman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.