(Trade) Sam Lafferty to Vancouver

[The Lock]

26 minutes ago, PhillipBlunt said:

Frank has gone on record stating that he sees big things for the Canucks. Big things. YUGE things!

 

The way I see it, this next month will be really telling. We need a good start for once.

[RookieFan]

Why are people upset? 5th round draft picks are garbage, anything after 3rd round is used as currency around the NHL, I am new to hockey and even I picked up on that.

 

Getting a proven 20 point bottom 6 center for a throw away late rounder is a WIN, nothing ever good came from 5th round.

[Jess]

22 minutes ago, eeeeeeeeergh said:

Nice i like this one

 

over 50% faceoff percentage, big body, very fast, kills penalties

 

Lafferty-Bleuger-Joshua is a 4th line that sounds pretty good to me

 

+ if Blueger gets thrown out of the faceoff circle, Lafferty is a natural C with a +50% faceoff winning percentage

 

Joshua already fills that niche. Over 50% in the dot and a natural C, but for some reason, we don't use him in that role.

[Dr. Crossbar]

Wow! People going extra hard today ...

 

 

[Trebreh]

Just now, CanucksRookieFan said:

Why are people upset? 5th round draft picks are garbage, anything after 3rd round is used as currency around the NHL, I am new to hockey and even I picked up on that.

 

Getting a proven 20 point bottom 6 center for a throw away late rounder is a WIN, nothing ever good came from 5th round.

I blame nhl2k24, kids over value late picks thinking they will find a datsyuk lol

 

tampa traded an entire draft class for jeannot 

[BCNeil]

3 minutes ago, CanucksRookieFan said:

Why are people upset? 5th round draft picks are garbage, anything after 3rd round is used as currency around the NHL, I am new to hockey and even I picked up on that.

 

Getting a proven 20 point bottom 6 center for a throw away late rounder is a WIN, nothing ever good came from 5th round.

 

Its very rare for them to even play in the NHL.  

 

[Grandmaster]

5 minutes ago, The Lock said:

 

The way I see it, this next month will be really telling. We need a good start for once.

Reasons why: 

1) beefed up the PK big time

2) improved the back end with additions and subtractions (OEL)

3) coaching staff and structure

4) uninjured Demko

 

All the Achilles heel factors have been addressed.

 

We are gonna crush teams like LA, Vegas and Dallas. The only team I would maybe concede is maybe Edmonton. Maybe…

 

Top 3 in the division. I guarantee it 

 

 

[Sophomore Jinx]

When convenient, (ie when a prospect isn't panning out) all I ever hear is "4th and 5th round picks rarely play a game"... blah blah ad nauseum.

 

But when it seems inconvenient, like in this instance, people lament the loss of that same lousy pick, as if it were suddenly, and magically to be a better bet than said acquisition?

 

That pick can be easily acquired if they really want it.

 

Lafferty is a relentless honey badger on the puck, has good size, is elite at PK, and chipped in 27pts in 70gp (32pt pace)

 

And the Chrome Brigade drafted him and know him and what he will bring, and he is a big upgrade on Studnicka, and even Aman too for that matter.

 

I like this trade, good job by JRPA in their continued assessments and movements.

Edited October 8, 2023 by Sophomore Jinx

[4petesake]

Article from DailyFaceoff by Frank Seravalli at last years trade deadline.

 

2023 Trade Deadline Countdown: 27 days

SAM LAFFERTY
Center, Chicago Blackhawks
Shoots: Right
Age: 27
Height: 6’1″ | 195 lbs.
Cap Hit: $1.15 million
Term: 1 more season
Trade Clauses: No restrictions
Stats: 42 GP, 8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points, 14:41 avg TOI
Career: 4th season (Pittsburgh, Chicago), 182 GP, 19 goals, 49 points, 12:02 avg TOI

Archetype and Ideal Role

Bottom-six forward, penalty kill contributor.

Lafferty brings speed, tenacity and the ability to slide onto either of a team’s penalty killing units. He can hound pucks, create havoc on the penalty kill and finish his checks. Ideally, on a contending team, Lafferty can add valuable depth to their lineup and be a useful player in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

 

Scouting Report

Lafferty has elite NHL-level speed. With the puck on the rush, he can push defenders back and create space for himself or teammates to enter the zone and create better looks on offense. He isn’t necessarily a natural distributor, so he is better without the puck in transition, but he can use his speed to force weak-side defenders off the blueline and then create lanes underneath or get behind defenders for breakaways. He also effectively harnesses his speed to recover quickly and attack the net, forcing defenders to acknowledge him.

Outside of his pure speed, Lafferty’s best attribute is his ability to get in on pucks quickly on the forecheck. That isn’t always a product of speed – it’s also tenacity, will and motor. He has a strong understanding of how forechecking evolves and where he needs to go next to pressure the puck and force turnovers. Short of forcing a turnover, he makes life difficult on defenders by finishing his checks.

 

Lafferty is second only to Vegas’ Reilly Smith in shorthanded goals scored this season with three. His speed makes him a threat on the penalty kill. His best role on the ‘kill is as the tip of the spear in the neutral zone formation, he has a knack for attacking the drop pass and then recovering back quickly to pressure the puck as it enters his defensive zone. In the zone, Lafferty can punch out to pressure the puck, but can lack attention to detail at times.

This season, Lafferty has taken 321 draws and won 52.6 percent, which is a strong number relative to the rest of the league. He has also played a significant chunk of his career on the wing, so he provides natural forward flexibility. Every forward can play wing, but not every wing can play center.

 

Buyer Beware

One of Lafferty’s biggest drawbacks is a lack of natural awareness. He fails to process danger especially well through the neutral and defensive zones and can get caught puck watching or taking poor angles on puck carriers as they attack the middle of the ice. That leads to higher quality chances against when he can’t use his wheels to recover in time.

This season, Lafferty has nine penalties taken against 10 drawn. A player with his speed should have a much better ratio of penalties drawn, but he isn’t always in the right place at the right time, and doesn’t possess the puck long enough to make defenders account for him as he transitions through the neutral zone.

Lafferty is a classic chip and chase player – and chipping it in is far less effective than carrying it in to force the defense to handle a player with his speed.

 

While Lafferty does finish hits hard, he also is not as consistent as maybe desired competitively. There are periods and games where he floats. And for a player who spends a significant chunk of his ice time on the penalty kill, he doesn’t block nearly enough shots. He has just 18 blocked shots this season.

One other item to beware: Lafferty is in the midst of a career year and is shooting 13.1 percent. He has raw physical ability, especially skating, but even at age 27 still hasn’t put it all together yet. He could be far more effective with his toolkit.

 

Potential Fits

• Tampa Bay Lightning: The Bolts looked to Chicago last year for depth with inexpensive term in Brandon Hagel. That’s worked out pretty well. Lafferty doesn’t have the talent or impact of Hagel, but with a fourth line that many see as lacking speed, he could fit quite well into the bottom of their lineup.
• Edmonton Oilers: One of Edmonton’s biggest issues this season has been their penalty kill. There’s no doubt that Lafferty would help in that regard. He also isn’t afraid to bring a physical edge that would also be appreciated.
• Toronto Maple Leafs: We know the GM Kyle Dubas doesn’t like to spend picks on rentals. But with a year remaining for Lafferty, he could add to the Leafs’ lineup and form a solid duo with Alex Kerfoot on Toronto’s second penalty killing unit.
• Boston Bruins: Tomas Nosek should be back in a few weeks, but as insurance, the Bruins have the luxury of adding Lafferty for this year given their cap flexibility. Their cap situation is tight next year with bonus overages due, but he could give them certainty heading into next year with a lot of their forward group expiring.

Comparable Trade Returns

It was only 13 months ago that the Blackhawks acquired Lafferty from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Alex Nylander, when the Hawks were trying to dump his expensive one-way contract. The trade has worked out beautifully for GM Kyle Davidson.

 

 

 

[MeanSeanBean]

4 minutes ago, CanucksRookieFan said:

Why are people upset? 5th round draft picks are garbage, anything after 3rd round is used as currency around the NHL, I am new to hockey and even I picked up on that.

 

Getting a proven 20 point bottom 6 center for a throw away late rounder is a WIN, nothing ever good came from 5th round.

It's like going grocery shopping when you have tons of snacks at home. Instead of spending what little money have on dinner or something you've run out in the pantry, you buy another bag of chips because to eat on the way home. It's not about drafting another Jonathan Myrenberg, sometimes it's about saving your money for something you do need. 

 

bottom of the lineup wingers seems to be one of the only things Canucks have a surplus of. Many of would have rather seen our resources spent on something that was a more vital need to the team.

[The Lock]

2 minutes ago, Grandmaster said:

Reasons why: 

1) beefed up the PK big time

2) improved the back end with additions and subtractions (OEL)

3) coaching staff and structure

4) uninjured Demko

 

All the Achilles heel factors have been addressed.

 

We are gonna crush teams like LA, Vegas and Dallas. The only team I would maybe concede is maybe Edmonton. Maybe…

 

Top 3 in the division. I guarantee it 

 

As much as I appreciate the optimism and have nothing against it, I'm cautiously optimistic. I'll believe it when I see it because this literally happens every year where things look good before it doesn't. lol

[TopCheese]

Elite speed? lots of size pk guy still a weird trade i feel like we have an influx of fwds 

[Silent Man]

2 minutes ago, Grandmaster said:

Reasons why: 

1) beefed up the PK big time

2) improved the back end with additions and subtractions (OEL)

3) coaching staff and structure

4) uninjured Demko

 

All the Achilles heel factors have been addressed.

 

We are gonna crush teams like LA, Vegas and Dallas. The only team I would maybe concede is maybe Edmonton. Maybe…

 

Top 3 in the division. I guarantee it 

 

 

Only tax and death are guaranteed in this life

But I do hope you are right 

[nzan]

Paterson stating Aman and Beauvilleur missing from practice (and McWard playing 4th line?)

 

Could it be that Aman is all the sweetener they need to add to Beauvilleur in order to land an RHD of some substance?

 

Seems like we'd need to at least add a high pick or prospect to get the type of Dman we all are hoping for.

[Bane]

Allvin is always cooking. Lafferty is a significant upgrade on the 4th line. 

[Dr. Crossbar]

7 minutes ago, Sophomore Jinx said:

When convenient, (ie when a prospect isn't panning out) all I ever hear is "4th and 5th round picks rarely play a game"... blah blah ad nauseum.

 

But when it seems inconvenient, like in this instance, people lament the loss of that same lousy pick, as if it were suddenly, and magically to be a better bet than said acquisition?

 

That pick can be easily acquired if they really want it.

 

Lafferty is a relentless honey badger on the puck, has good size, is elite at PK, and chipped in 27pts in 70gp (32pt pace)

 

And the Chrome Brigade drafted him and know him and what he will bring, and he is a big upgrade on Studnicka, and even Aman too for that matter.

 

I like this trade, good job by JRPA in their continued assessments and movements.

 

Love the behavioral hypocrisy analysis in the first two paragraphs. Spot on! 

[Huggy Bear]

Lafferty was targeted by the Leafs to add toughness for the playoffs last year.
 

Even if Studs added 10 lbs of muscle (to his 171 lbs last season), this seems like a decent improvement in size (15 lbs), PK experience, FO ability, hits, and production.

 

He plays the style Tocchet wants, and makes us tougher to play against.

 

 

 

 

[The Duke]

3 minutes ago, Bane said:

Allvin is always cooking. Lafferty is a significant upgrade on the 4th line. 

The best part is that’s exactly where he’ll slot in. We’re not adding this guy hoping he’ll be a 3C or even a 4C if Bleuger is healthy.  He’s depth - quality depth.

[RakuRaku]

So we finally got our RH 3C huh?? He seems to have some offensive skill... Is he physical enough??

[-dlc-]

I like the "finishes his checks" part.

 

Check.

[RakuRaku]

So... Bad news for Studnicka then!! Someone is about to steal his lunch!!

[Rusty Shackleford]

4 minutes ago, 4petesake said:

Article from DailyFaceoff by Frank Seravalli at last years trade deadline.

 

2023 Trade Deadline Countdown: 27 days

SAM LAFFERTY
Center, Chicago Blackhawks
Shoots: Right
Age: 27
Height: 6’1″ | 195 lbs.
Cap Hit: $1.15 million
Term: 1 more season
Trade Clauses: No restrictions
Stats: 42 GP, 8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points, 14:41 avg TOI
Career: 4th season (Pittsburgh, Chicago), 182 GP, 19 goals, 49 points, 12:02 avg TOI

Archetype and Ideal Role

Bottom-six forward, penalty kill contributor.

Lafferty brings speed, tenacity and the ability to slide onto either of a team’s penalty killing units. He can hound pucks, create havoc on the penalty kill and finish his checks. Ideally, on a contending team, Lafferty can add valuable depth to their lineup and be a useful player in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

 

Scouting Report

Lafferty has elite NHL-level speed. With the puck on the rush, he can push defenders back and create space for himself or teammates to enter the zone and create better looks on offense. He isn’t necessarily a natural distributor, so he is better without the puck in transition, but he can use his speed to force weak-side defenders off the blueline and then create lanes underneath or get behind defenders for breakaways. He also effectively harnesses his speed to recover quickly and attack the net, forcing defenders to acknowledge him.

Outside of his pure speed, Lafferty’s best attribute is his ability to get in on pucks quickly on the forecheck. That isn’t always a product of speed – it’s also tenacity, will and motor. He has a strong understanding of how forechecking evolves and where he needs to go next to pressure the puck and force turnovers. Short of forcing a turnover, he makes life difficult on defenders by finishing his checks.

 

Lafferty is second only to Vegas’ Reilly Smith in shorthanded goals scored this season with three. His speed makes him a threat on the penalty kill. His best role on the ‘kill is as the tip of the spear in the neutral zone formation, he has a knack for attacking the drop pass and then recovering back quickly to pressure the puck as it enters his defensive zone. In the zone, Lafferty can punch out to pressure the puck, but can lack attention to detail at times.

This season, Lafferty has taken 321 draws and won 52.6 percent, which is a strong number relative to the rest of the league. He has also played a significant chunk of his career on the wing, so he provides natural forward flexibility. Every forward can play wing, but not every wing can play center.

 

Buyer Beware

One of Lafferty’s biggest drawbacks is a lack of natural awareness. He fails to process danger especially well through the neutral and defensive zones and can get caught puck watching or taking poor angles on puck carriers as they attack the middle of the ice. That leads to higher quality chances against when he can’t use his wheels to recover in time.

This season, Lafferty has nine penalties taken against 10 drawn. A player with his speed should have a much better ratio of penalties drawn, but he isn’t always in the right place at the right time, and doesn’t possess the puck long enough to make defenders account for him as he transitions through the neutral zone.

Lafferty is a classic chip and chase player – and chipping it in is far less effective than carrying it in to force the defense to handle a player with his speed.

 

While Lafferty does finish hits hard, he also is not as consistent as maybe desired competitively. There are periods and games where he floats. And for a player who spends a significant chunk of his ice time on the penalty kill, he doesn’t block nearly enough shots. He has just 18 blocked shots this season.

One other item to beware: Lafferty is in the midst of a career year and is shooting 13.1 percent. He has raw physical ability, especially skating, but even at age 27 still hasn’t put it all together yet. He could be far more effective with his toolkit.

 

Potential Fits

• Tampa Bay Lightning: The Bolts looked to Chicago last year for depth with inexpensive term in Brandon Hagel. That’s worked out pretty well. Lafferty doesn’t have the talent or impact of Hagel, but with a fourth line that many see as lacking speed, he could fit quite well into the bottom of their lineup.
• Edmonton Oilers: One of Edmonton’s biggest issues this season has been their penalty kill. There’s no doubt that Lafferty would help in that regard. He also isn’t afraid to bring a physical edge that would also be appreciated.
• Toronto Maple Leafs: We know the GM Kyle Dubas doesn’t like to spend picks on rentals. But with a year remaining for Lafferty, he could add to the Leafs’ lineup and form a solid duo with Alex Kerfoot on Toronto’s second penalty killing unit.
• Boston Bruins: Tomas Nosek should be back in a few weeks, but as insurance, the Bruins have the luxury of adding Lafferty for this year given their cap flexibility. Their cap situation is tight next year with bonus overages due, but he could give them certainty heading into next year with a lot of their forward group expiring.

Comparable Trade Returns

It was only 13 months ago that the Blackhawks acquired Lafferty from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Alex Nylander, when the Hawks were trying to dump his expensive one-way contract. The trade has worked out beautifully for GM Kyle Davidson.

 

 

 

 

Almost sounds like what we wanted Virtanen to be.  Great addition to the 4th line, speed, forechecking, PK, win's draws over 50% and RHC that we don't have that also can play all positions.  Reminds me of Lapierre and I loved having him on the team.

 

I like a few others, haven't been overly impressed with Studs.  He looked good early, in and after the prospect tourney but once the skill level raised near the end of pre-season he was falling behind.  We may finally have a 4th line that can play 10min a night.

[Bounce000]

So we’re just straight up helping another team get cap compliant?

[canuck73_3]

1 hour ago, Master Mind said:

Would be nice if we could stop throwing away picks to bring in plugs.

You’d have a valid point if it was a meaningful pick. A fifth is and always will be a nothingburger. If Lafferty only plays 10-15 games as a Canuck, odds are that is 10-15 more than a fifth round pick would have played. 

[Win2024]

Upgrade on Studnicka. Nothing to be mad about, a 5th isn't worth much. 

Edited October 8, 2023 by Win2024