[Signing] Canucks sign Vrbata (2yrs, $5mil AAV, limited NTC)

[Hackey]

Hockey pucks.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Keep in mind, Vrbata is a streaky, streaky scorer, much like Stempniak. And as much as I hate Kesler, he still was a decent player. But Vrbata won't be able to replace Kesler's scoring. The Sedin's are on the decline. I see a 9th/10th place team in the Canucks, so I'm good with that.

It's really anyone's guess as to how the Canucks will fare. The Sedins are on the decline but I think last season may be an anomaly. Bonino really is coming off a career season and may or may not repeat. Vrbata is a good player but not exactly a plug and play guy. With that said, Kesler is really a one man wrecking crew. He pretty much gets his 20+ goals all by himself. Very hard player to find complimentary linemates so the Canucks might actually be better offensively not having Kesler.

[Jordan!]

He's only streaky if his line mates are slumping. The guy is a world class finisher. With the Sedins 40 goals isn't out of the question.

[Galakanokis]

Last season was a wash for Vancouver. I remember saying to a buddy when Tortarella walked through the dressing room for the first interview that this season for Vancouver was either going to be great or a complete disaster. Well, we know how that turned out.

So far solid moves by Benning, might be a little to late but good signings none the less. If the Sedins rebound then I can easily see Vrbata putting up 40 goals. These guys made careers for NHL scrubs like Bernier, Pyatt and Carter. Vrbata is a legit NHL forward.

Center depth still sucks. Santorelli is a winger not a center. Vey? I thought he is a winger. Could be wrong there but don't think so. So going into the season I see Sedin, Bonino, Matthias and Richardson down the middle unless Horvat can prove he belongs which I don' think he does yet.

Competition is good. Vancouver and Edmonton both made solid roster moves this off season. This year we see what a few rookies can do and see where we need to improve next year. I like Calgary's course, no need to rush given what the others have done as long as we see progression.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

He's only streaky if his line mates are slumping. The guy is a world class finisher. With the Sedans 40 goals isn't out of the question.

LOL the 34 year old Sedins or the 28 year old Sedins? If he did score 40 he would be the first player ever to score 40 goals playing with the Sedins. Seems a little far fetched at this stage of their careers as Vrbata isn't a spring chicken.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Read Only

Are people pencilling the Canucks in for a significant improvement in the standings?

It seems like you are arguing against yourself here as nobody is saying that Vrbata is elite, nobody is saying the Canucks are going to in for a significant improvement in the standings and nobdoy has said they are curing their ills.

Actually, if you go through the thread, there are several posters suggesting that the Canucks are due for a rise up the standings.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

Actually, if you go through the thread, there are several posters suggesting that the Canucks are due for a rise up the standings.

A rise is a lot different than substantial increase.

It may be semantics but for me for the Canucks have a substantial improvement would be them making the play-offs.

Moving ahead of the Jets, Preds and maybe even Coyotes but still being in the 9-12 spot in the West isn't really a substantial improvement.

From what I have seen nobody is saying play-offs outside of maybe driveway and most people are saying the Canucks are out of the bottom give and in the no mans zone of 9-12 in the West and 7-15 overall.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Read Only

A rise is a lot different than substantial increase.

It may be semantics but for me for the Canucks have a substantial improvement would be them making the play-offs.

Moving ahead of the Jets, Preds and maybe even Coyotes but still being in the 9-12 spot in the West isn't really a substantial improvement.

From what I have seen nobody is saying play-offs outside of maybe driveway and most people are saying the Canucks are out of the bottom give and in the no mans zone of 9-12 in the West and 7-15 overall.

They were a handful of points ahead of the Flames and some in this thread believe they will make the playoffs as a bottom seed or contend for the 8th spot. The Oilers and Flames would kill for that improvement which is more than just a small rise. I believe they can finish higher in the Western Conference over last year but it's certainly no given and they have just as much of a chance to finish below the Flames and Oilers as they do to finish above them.

[Read Only]

Well like I said having them make the play-offs is ridiculous but I must have missed those posts because I don't see them in here. I see people saying they aren't bottom 5 and likely better than 6th.

Personally I think they finish ahead of other 3 Canadian teams in West and are right there with Nashville depending on how Miller and Rinne play. So probably 11th in West and about 22nd overall (Cgy, Edm, Buf, NJ, Ott, Win, Car and NYI).

Not a chance they have an equal chance of finishing below Calgary as above. They have much better chance of finishing above them.

[Enoch Root]

Yeah, I see them in the Nashville, Phoenix neighbourhood, still looking up at Dallas and Minnesota, but above the Flames and Oilers

However, there have been some suggesting that they might be able to catch Anaheim and/or San Jose.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Read Only

Well like I said having them make the play-offs is ridiculous but I must have missed those posts because I don't see them in here. I see people saying they aren't bottom 5 and likely better than 6th.

You must have missed diane_phaneuf's posts.

[ClubFlames]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

He's only streaky if his line mates are slumping. The guy is a world class finisher. With the Sedans 40 goals isn't out of the question.

Vrbata is a world class finisher? Maybe in Phoenix he was from the talent pool that was on that team.

Stamkos and Ovechkin are world class finishers, Vrbata is not even close. He will be lucky to get 30 with the Sedins at this stage of thier careers.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

You must have missed diane_phaneuf's posts.

I read them and saw him saying the Pacific wasn't as strong as people said it was but I did miss him saying that the Canucks were going to pass Ana, LA or SJ.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

close to a cup no

but the Pacific is not a very good division, LA is the only elite team

Anaheim got a lot of puck luck last year, and all they added is Kesler (who everyone on this forum basically agreed is declining)

Calgary I think will be worse than last year, which is planned

Edmonton isn't a threat yet, I don't think Arizona is a great team, and SJ want to blow up their team and trade away their two best players after already losing their best PMD

it's going to be difficult not to make the playoffs in the pacific next year

there ya go

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

He's only streaky if his line mates are slumping. The guy is a world class finisher. With the Sedins 40 goals isn't out of the question.

Who were his linemates (primarily) last year?

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

there ya go

That's it?

diane saying that SJ is going to be bad this year so the Canucks might make it by default is the comment about the Canucks making significant improvements and going to make the play-offs?

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

He's only streaky if his line mates are slumping. The guy is a world class finisher. With the Sedins 40 goals isn't out of the question.

That's ridiculous.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Read Only

That's it?

diane saying that SJ is going to be bad this year so the Canucks might make it by default is the comment about the Canucks making significant improvements and going to make the play-offs?

Yup, saying that the Canucks will make the playoffs is saying the Canucks will make the playoffs.

[HelloHockeyFans]

This is exactly the kind of signing you want the Canucks to make. No scoring beyond their top line, but a good pairing of Miller / Lack will have the Canucks hovering around the 9 - 11 spots.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

Yup, saying that the Canucks will make the playoffs is saying the Canucks will make the playoffs.

Says it will be tough not because other teams are bad not that they will make it.