Vancouver is in the 8 spot right now, with a game in hand and 2 point lead (due to having tie-breaker) over the 7th spot Winnipeg, and a 2 point lead over Carolina.
Winnipeg hosts Boston tonight, travels to Calgary tomorrow, then season over. Byfuglien's out, Kane's upset, and their goaltender tonight/tomorrow is Michael Hutchinson (1 career GP). I'd be surprised if they get a single point.
Carolina hosts Washington tonight, travels to Detroit tomorrow for a late game, then Philly sunday for an early game. Aside from tonight's game hosting Washington, I don't see Carolina doing well.
Vancouver is the only one of these 3 with days between each remaining game, and they also have 2 @ home. Add to that their new President of Hockey Ops Linden, and I'd say they've got more to play for than either of Winnipeg/Carolina, as well as a weaker schedule.
Best the Nucks finish at is the 8th spot, with the 11th spot being a very real possibility.
Math says best they can finish is 6th, not 8th
but in general you're assuming the Canucks win a game, thats where your mistake is
I've said it before and I'll say it again. You guys are in for a rude awakening on the return you'll get for Kesler. 1) he's got a NTC. 2). He doesn't want to play for you and is picky on where he'll go. 3) he's oft injured, the style he plays is breaking him down and has had two major surgeries for his joints (hip and shoulder) in the past. 3) he has a reputation as a diver/whiner to the point there was rumours of the league using him as an example for a diving penalty. 4). He's just not as good as Vancouver fans want to believe.
and I'll say it again too
the 'returns' that were talked about around the deadline were from guys like McKenzie and LeBrun, not Canucks.com
what his reputation is on CP, and what it is around the league is a lot different based on both TSN/SNET having him as the number 1 prize at the deadline who shouldn't be dealt without a massive return
the 'returns' that were talked about around the deadline were from guys like McKenzie and LeBrun, not Canucks.com
what his reputation is on CP, and what it is around the league is a lot different based on both TSN/SNET having him as the number 1 prize at the deadline who shouldn't be dealt without a massive return
Not sure what the TSN guys said and what is "massive" in your opinion, however word out of Pittsburgh was 1st,2nd and Sutter. It won't get better than that.
Not sure what the TSN guys said and what is "massive" in your opinion, however word out of Pittsburgh was 1st,2nd and Sutter. It won't get better than that.
Massive isn't my word it's what the TSN/SNET guys have said
Friedman
Quote:
1. Someday, I'm going to force enough red wine down Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis' throat that he'll have no choice but to reveal which teams made serious offers for Ryan Kesler at this deadline. It's one of those situations where everyone asks because you'd be a bad GM not to. But the real interest is in who went beyond an initial call. The Pittsburgh Penguins' lust is barely concealed. But in conversations over the past few days, it became clear that a number of serious Stanley Cup contenders thought some of the teams that concerned them most were making a pitch.
2. There is serious doubt the Canucks would keep Kesler in the Western Conference. But it's impossible to think there were no attempts. Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman denied any interest via email, writing "I have tried my best to convey that we will not be active but no one seems to want to listen. But I asked because some of his conference rivals clearly believed they were in. As one exec said, "How could he not ask about having Jonathan Toews and Kesler as his top two centres?"
4. The preference is to deal him to the Eastern Conference and now, although the Canucks won't rush into anything they don't like. The Philadelphia Flyers, Penguins and New York Rangers have the proper pieces, with The Vancouver Province's Ben Kuzma reporting Kesler won't go to the Columbus Blue Jackets (I forgot about his negative relationship with R.J. Umberger). When it comes to trades like this, I always look for the team we haven't heard about. Is there someone we're missing?
5. "What the Canucks are asking for Kesler is reasonable enough that you can tell they will move him," one exec said. "What they wanted for [Alex] Edler is unreasonable enough that you can tell they don't want to move him." Unless, of course, the return is massive.
Anaheim Ducks Beat Writer
Quote:
Eric Stephens
@icemancometh
Bob Murray said he put his two firsts and two seconds in play. Said he was left "confused" about deal that didn't get done, i.e. Kesler.
and the Penguins beat writer had a 1st/3rd/Sutter/Despres
Quote:
he Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Rob Rossi cites sources claiming the Penguins could offer center Brandon Sutter, two 2014 draft picks (possibly a first- and a third-rounder) along with the choice of young blueliners Simon Despres or Brian Dumoulin for Kesler.
all of which the Canucks turned down, and Friedman/LeBrun/McKenzie have all said offers should go up at the draft when every team in the league gets a boost of about 8m in cap
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-2 more years at a very good cap hit, you will get a lot for him
-Anaheim/Pitt were extremely interested at deadline couldn't convince Gillis, you add in a whole other pile of teams at the draft that will be interested
Vancouver will get a lot for Kesler at the draft. Holding onto him was a good call (one probably made by the owners. I half believe a deal was in place, but Gillis was told he wasn't allowed to move Kesler by ownership).
...holding onto Kesler at the deadline was a good move by the Canucks. I still wish Sutter would have held on to Dion until the draft.
Jim Bennings also a possible candidate according to Mark Recchi....
I was hoping the Flames would hire Benning but with Linden's connections to Benning while both played for the Canucks it wouldn't surprise me if Linden hired Benning as GM and brought back another old Canuck Steve Tambellini as AGM.
We should expect the Canucks to be the better destination for a prospective GM, unless there are strong personal connections to Burke involved. The chances are the next GM for the Canucks will have a lot more autonomy or at least that has to be the belief of anyone looking at both jobs.
