Official Nucklehead 2011-12 season thread w/sked

[canuckfan]

Originally Posted by stevecanuck16

Where do you see this huge regression?

I think if anything the Canucks have regressed in the area of toughness, snarl and muscle. The Bruins showed the entire world just how easy it was to push around the Canucks, and thats when we had Torres and Glass in the lineup - now both guys those guys are gone, and haven't realy been replaced - yet - and thats not even counting losing Rypien or even Desbiens on top of that. The Canucks, as it stands, are even physically weaker right now than they were last season, and considering the way the Bruins shoved us around in the finals, thats an issue. You can bet the entire Western Conference is taking note of that.

Things are getting better though - the Winchester rumours are good, and signing guys like Bitz and Duco could help - but its the toughness and size amongst the top 6 six that has me the most concerned right now. Its those weaknesses the Bruins exposed in the final 4 or 5 games that have yet to be addressed has me hoping a trade or something could still be in the works by the start of the season.

Steve, I understand what you're saying in regards to Ehrhoff, but don't underestimate what he was capable of bringing to the table. It was no coincidence our PP greatly improved in the two years he was here. The guy has an absolute bomb from the point, can skate well with the puck and jump into the rush effectively, and usually made terrific breakout passes. He really helped tie the offense together back there, and the Canucks hadn't had a guy like him on the blueline, of that kind of offensive calibre, since the days of Jeff Brown and Jyrki Lumme. His loss is going to sting and his skills won't be easy to replace - thats why a healthy season from Salo and a bounceback year from Ballard is going to be really key for us next season.

I don't agree with GFs statement that we are "way worse" than we were last season. But I would agree that we haven't got any better either, especially when it comes to size and toughness up front - and we have some key guys like Samuelsson, Raymond, and Hamhuis coming off some pretty serious injuries and a long season where a lot of intense hockey was played - and this isn't exactly a young team. Plus, the entire conference will be gunning for us next year. It'll be tough to duplicate last years success, both regular season and playoff, and so far the changes Gillis has made hasn't filled me with a lot of hope.

But - there's still plenty of time left to go before the season starts, so its not all doom and gloom! Gillis has made some of his best deals in the weeks leading up to the seaosn opener - I'm sure there's some more tricks and moves left up his sleeve....

[stevecanuck16]

Don't forget in-season trades. Last year's deadline "rentals" ended up playing huge roles and being re-signed. It's pretty feasible to upgrade any position by the deadline.

[GIANTSFAN]

I gotta head to work but I will say that the defense is injury prone. You honestly believe Salo can play an entire season? Also, Bieksa is highly overrated because if he's not paired with Hamhuis, he's exposed rather easily. The Canucks have no toughness & I think teams will start pushing around the Sedins because who's gonna do something? Lapierre? Kesler? no because this team has no balls. The loss of Ehrhoff is huge. It's funny how Canuck fans downplay his loss, like they when they wanted to trade Bieksa for a used jockstrap, now he's a keeper & Ehrhoff is expendable. He was a valuable piece all season & there's nobody to replace the points he brought. I honestly believe they don't have the goaltending to take them past the 1st or 2nd round this season. Last year they had an easy route to the Finals but was a goal away from being knocked out in round one. Chicago is a better team, LA is better & some say SJ is better. I think Gillis has to make an impact move because picking up Sturm, seems to me to be a panic move. He's injury prone & pretty useless. Lots of time until the season starts.

[stevecanuck16]

I haven't heard many Canucks fans saying Ehrhoff is replaceable. In fact, this off-season, most Canucks fans are taking the "Chicken Little" approach. Pretty much what you can expect after making so many big acquisitions last off-season. I know you think you're still going against the grain by complaining about Gillis, but you forget how fickle Canucks fans are. Many have already turned on him, and jumped right off the bandwagon. But then again, I've never understood why it's so important to you what the average person thought.

Remember the famous Carlin quote: "Think about how stupid the average person is, and then realize....half of them are stupider than that."

Personally, I've just never been all that high on Ehrhoff. He often looked to be playing scared, especially in the playoffs.

Are they injury prone? Sure, but what does that even mean anymore? We picked up two of the most durable defensemen in Ballard and Hamhuis last year, and they were injured more than ever before. As it stands now, the top 6 is pretty set and there's a decent amount of depth to cover any injuries on the short-term. Of course, any long-term injury brings cap space for a replacement.

Don't judge this roster until the trade deadline. Again, last year's deadline changed the team for the better long-term, and this year we'll have more cap space to play around with.

To be perfectly honest, I couldn't care less about the regular season this year. We all know the real season doesn't start til April, and I'm sure the Canucks feel the same way.

[canuckfan]

Originally Posted by GIANTSFAN

It's funny how Canuck fans downplay his loss, like they when they wanted to trade Bieksa for a used jockstrap, now he's a keeper & Ehrhoff is expendable.

I don't think it was as much about fans clamouring to trade Bieksa as it was half-expecting that Bieksa was going to be the odd man out until Salo got hurt last summer. Don't forget how crowded the blue line looked this time last year - someone was going to be moved, and everyone figured it would be Juice. It was only through devine intervention - Salo's ruptured Achilles - that kept Bieksa in a Canucks uni last season.

I don't think people necessarily WANTED Bieksa traded - we just expected him to be. But of course, things didn't turn out that way, and for the better, obviously.

If we get 60-65 games out of Salo this season it ill be a friggin' miracle. But with Ehrhoff gone, Edler still honing his skills, and Tanev, Sauve and Connaughton still in various stages of development - his presence on the PP esp will be vital.

[GIANTSFAN]

Gillis did lock up Hansen at a decent price. I've never been a fan of him, in the dub or NHL but that was a good bargain.

Canuckfan, there were a lot of people who wanted to see Bieksa moved after his play vs the Hawks. He was most likely going to be moved but the Salo injury saved his roster spot.

Connauton I think is still a year or two away from making the team, but he was awesome when he played for the Giants. He has an NHL wrist shot & set new point records for a dman with the Giants. He is also not afraid to drop the gloves. I really like him & would've prefered to see him on the Giants last season.

Still I don't think the Canucks will win the Cup without a bonafide #1 defenseman. Carolina & Pittsburgh are the only teams in recent memory that won without a true #1 dman but Ward was outstanding & Pittsburgh has so much fire power & a great goalie as well. Luongo is a cancer, & it's so easy to get into his head & get him rattled. Gillis best deal would be to get rid of him & get some young players or high picks for him. He's done here, & the fans, players & owners know it.

[FurnaceFace]

Signing brad Winchester is a must, owen would be cool too .. IMO we are a Dman short. christian put up points yeah, but yeah glad hes gone. brian mccabe still on my wish list. would fit in real nice, on the pp or anywhere for that matter. Cody played well imo in the playoffs but needs better skilled peeps to line with. i dis-agree with trading him.... the guy is samuelson, with higgins in and marco thats probably the second line unless marco plays 3rd or raymond comes back. samuelson is the odd man out. if we sign brad and possibly nolan , i think the team is set upfront. of course i'll always boast about a heavyweight and would love to have one(chris neil) , but team toughness with heart can do more damage, so really im pissed at the coach for not sending some kinda message, win or lose some shyte you just cant let slide.
thats what pissed me off more than anything. lou will bounce back .... shoulda been a goalie fight in one of those games.....

so add brad Winchester and trade samuelson for a dman / chris neil or sign mccabe ,

[GIANTSFAN]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Signing brad Winchester is a must, owen would be cool too .. IMO we are a Dman short. christian put up points yeah, but yeah glad hes gone. brian mccabe still on my wish list. would fit in real nice, on the pp or anywhere for that matter. Cody played well imo in the playoffs but needs better skilled peeps to line with. i dis-agree with trading him.... the guy is samuelson, with higgins in and marco thats probably the second line unless marco plays 3rd or raymond comes back. samuelson is the odd man out. if we sign brad and possibly nolan , i think the team is set upfront. of course i'll always boast about a heavyweight and would love to have one(chris neil) , but team toughness with heart can do more damage, so really im pissed at the coach for not sending some kinda message, win or lose some shyte you just cant let slide.
thats what pissed me off more than anything. lou will bounce back .... shoulda been a goalie fight in one of those games.....

so add brad Winchester and trade samuelson for a dman / chris neil or sign mccabe ,

HUH? McCabe? Have you seen him play? May as well bring in Snepsts & Kearns. Neil isn't getting traded to the Nucks because Gillis believes in pussification not aggressive entertaining hockey. You really make no sense in many of your posts.

[FurnaceFace]

I agree... i hardly understand myself most days. trust me on bryan mccabe tho... playing in florida and NYR werent good fits for him... watch one of the better teams grab him if he dont go back to the rangers. if you dont like em barret jackman is my other wishlist guy. via trade.

as for chris neil.., im wishing here..... would be nice tho, wouldnt it ???
whatever nonsense im pushing..... atleast it aint euro.

[GIANTSFAN]

I like Neil, though he's getting up their in terms of years of service & most guys slow down as they get older, but I don't think Ottawa is going to move him & he's a good fit riding shotgun with Carkner.

As for McCabe, his best days are long over. I remember when they traded him as part of the Sedin draft & I remember thinking I wish they could have kept McCabe over Jovo as I felt he had more upside. Either way, that's water under the bridge & McCabe's ship has sailed. He's missed 56 games over the last four seasons & brings some offense but no physicality & is pretty much a minus player since the lockout. Not exactly what the Canucks are looking for I would guess.

As for Barrett Jackman, that's another player I would have loved to have about 8 years ago. Now the guy is old, slow, brings zero physical presence & he's missed 38 games over the last two seasons, just what the Canucks need, another injury prone dman to go with McCabe & Nolan & Strum up front.

I'm not really sure why people want to bring back Jovo, McCabe & acquire Jackman & Nolan? These are all guys I would take on my team back when the game was a hell of a lot more entertaining & physical play wasn't frowned upon. These guy have basically run the course & it's time to hit the showers & call it a career.

[FurnaceFace]

I have a strange feeling there will be a trade by or before this time next week.

[stevecanuck16]

Just a quick note on Chris Neil, the guy makes as much as Samuelsson and Malhotra. He'd be a great pickup, but its just not realistic at that salary.

Looks like the Owen Nolan rumours rang true, with a bit of a twist. He's coming to training camp and bringing Todd Fedoruk with him.

Now, we've discussed Nolan a fair bit already, but I'd just like to reiterate that its a real no-risk situation. If he plays great, sign him. If he plays just alright, offer him a 2-way contract or let him walk to another team. If he sucks, cut him loose.

I think we might see a few old fellas per year try-out for the Canucks after seeing all the doors it opened for Morrison last year. He went from Canuck try-out to Flames first-liner.

As for Fedoruk, that really came out of left field. Like many of you, I kind of had the idea that getting mashed by Boogaard and Orr were his last moments in the NHL, but that was way back in 2007 and he played 3 NHL seasons after that. He may not fight the superheavies too much anymore, but he still tangles with the Thorntons and Parroses of the league. Not sure where he played if at all last year, hockeydb doesn't show him as playing. The year before he was with Tampa. At the very least, he should make pre-season more entertaining. Again, no real risk taken here and at worst it makes training camp more competitive.

I gotta admit though, Fedoruk is not a name I would have guessed in a million years. The Fridge is back!

[canuckfan]

I don't mind the news at all today - they're just tryout offers, whats the harm?

Not that I expect either of them to stick though - too bad it wasn't 5 years ago. Nolan, I don't doubt still has the heart and the temperment, but I just don't see the legs being able to keep up with the action, even if its even in a third or fourth role. And Fedoruk didn't even play anywhere last year and last we saw is just a shell of his former self.

But, who knows - maybe a year off has done wonders for his health and his head and he comes back this fall with a renewed robust energy. Never know what some of these guys can do with a second chance like this. New life.

Overall, I see it as a positive thing - Gillis knows he can't sit on the lineup the way it is and has recognized the need to toughen up. These guys may not be the answers, but the need for toughness has been acknowledged and I see it as a step in the right direction.

Like others here, I wonder if this will put to death the Winchester rumours. From what I've read and heard, the interest may have been more on Winchester's part and less the Canucks, but guess we'll have to wait and see.

[GIANTSFAN]

There's no harm in invited them to camp but I'd be surprised if either of them make the team. Fedoruk is done. He doesn't fight anymore. Hell, he wears a visor & has zero interest in being an enforcer. He doesn't intimidate anyone. Gillis should have addressed the tough guy situation by signing a guy who will fight & won't get killed. Fedoruk would have been great 6 years ago.
As for Nolan, too old, too slow, & injuries are catching up to him. Both guys are past the twilight of their careers & are now just wanting to cash a paycheck.
So far this summer, Gillis has failed miserably & the team is still way too soft up front, & the guys he's acquired are duds or injury prone.
I think there are a lot of players who don't want to play here. It was clear that the majority of players couldn't stand the diving & pansy play of the Canucks & many players voiced their opinions of it. I think the only players that want to play here are guys that have no where else to go & have to remove their balls when the enter the arena. Duco is a perfect example of a guy who meant what he said, then removed his balls & apologized for telling the truth.

[HordiBrusk29]

Trust me when I say Fedoruk has NO chance in hell of making the team. He's a shell of what he used to be. He barely hits and has no interest in fighting whatsoever. Sadly at this stage in his career Winchester would be a better option. At least he is willing to play his role. Fedoruk just cannot.