[Trade] Markus Granlund to Van for Shinkaruk

[hockey.modern]

Hunter Shinkaruk @H_S_9:

1/2 Thank you @VanCanucks and @UticaComets for everything. Really enjoyed my time, the people I met, and team mates I had. #thankyou

2/2 I am very excited to be part of the @NHLFlames organization. Dreamed of putting on my home town teams jersey since I was young! #YYC

[MrMastodonFarm]

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/ca...895/story.html

Hunter Shinkaruk was done a year ago.

At least, as a Canuck.

It was last March when the team traded for Sven Baertschi.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning admitted that when trying to move Shinkaruk, and that’s been going on for some time, he was initially chasing defencemen.

“We identified around the league some good young defencemen we would trade him for,” Benning said. “I made the calls. The GMs didn’t want to part with these defencemen. We decided this was the next best road for us.”

And that is why the timing seems so off. If a defenceman is a priority, and it is, why not wait it out?

The Canucks first contacted the Flames about moving Shinkaruk months ago, long before Vancouver made the decision to bring Anton Rodin here next fall, so you can scratch that one off your list of reasons why.

I really doubt Shinkaruk could have done anything to change their minds.

It was, in fact, the acquisition of Baertschi, who plays the same position and with a similar skill set, which first committed the team to go down this road.

“I think that’s a fair comment,” Benning said when asked about that.

“(In the NHL), you need the strength to get to the net,” Benning said when asked if he thought twice about giving up on a player with this kind of goal scoring upside. “The good goal scorers in the NHL have a good release on their shot.”

That should show you everything you need to know about what the Canucks scouts thought of him.

The Canucks did try to create their own off-season training program for Shinkaruk in the summer to bolster his strength.

They wanted Shinkaruk to work with their guys and on their plan. But Shinkaruk passed, instead choosing to continue his regular routine of working with trainer Andy O’Brien, who also trains Sidney Crosby, Matt, Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Really weird. I think the flames win given how well Shinkaruk has been playing this year.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I don't know a lot about Shinkaruk but he's pretty small to be playing with an edge in the NHL. Of course Fleury managed to do it.

Marchand and Gallagher are also small, tenacious wingers who agitate and put up top six, or even top line offensive numbers.

Time will tell, but maybe Shinkaruk can be that for us.

[GranteedEV]

Interesting. Sam and Hunter train together eh? They probably know each other then.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Maybe Benning just got the wrong guy?

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Flamescuprun2018

The one thing that struck me watching some highlights and his NHL Draft video and interview when Hunter was selected was the agreement that he is off the charts with compete level. Compete 5/5 at draft.

If this guy has a major attitude problem I doubt he would score so high on compete! Benning said today that Shinkaruk was not a problem in Utica. He never complained.

Hunter also scored 100 goals in 3 seasons more than Kirby Rychel (88) or Sean Monahan (84) at that draft.

On the highlights he scores many highlight goals with his backhand shot which has a super quick release. Great speed too.

Granlund never had that compete level and is not as gifted with his shot.

Treliving said it best, there was a real risk that Granlund would have to be sent down next year when other centres pass him on depth chart. Resulting in him being waived and lost for nothing.

I will take my chances with Shinkaruk's development instead. We have two years to see if he can find a home as our 2nd line LW.

Should help to push Klimchuk and Poirier too...

What is compete level and how the heck do you measure it. Seems like "five tool player" baseball talk.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/ca...895/story.html

Benning's Bruins background really pops up here. Don't follow our workout program? Traded. Young guy who likes to party - Seguin? Traded. Don't accept our RFA offer - Hamilton? Traded.

[PeteMoss]

Everyone prepared to be annoyed tomorrow when the Flames announce they've called up Mason Raymond?

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Everyone prepared to be annoyed tomorrow when the Flames announce they've called up Mason Raymond?

Damnit.

[Monahan For Mayor]

I'd rather see Raymon than Hunter that's for sure! Not a chance in hell Hartley would play Hunter, you know how he is about players knowing the systems and all that stuff before he will play them.

[Gaskal]

Raymond's actually scoring pretty good down in the AHL. Who knows, we may see a Ramo-like clawing back into relevance.

[zyzz]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/ca...895/story.html

Wow. Benning bascially saying he's doesn't have what it takes to hack it.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Granlund wasn't/isn't gonna be much of an NHLer. Flames were pumping him up with great zone starts and he struggled mightily.

Adios Granlund, you will not be missed.

That's a little uncalled for, no?

[dissentowner]

Love adding a guy that dreamed of playing for the Flames though. His compete level is already labelled as high but it always nice to add a guy you know is absolutely going to go all in every night not only because he seems to already do that but he is playing for the hometown organization now. What a head scratcher from the Canucks side though. I don't get it.

[JurassicTunga12]

Shinkaruk's most recent goal:

https://streamable.com/5n3h

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Love adding a guy that dreamed of playing for the Flames though. His compete level is already labelled as high but it always nice to add a guy you know is absolutely going to go all in every night not only because he seems to already do that but he is playing for the hometown organization now. What a head scratcher from the Canucks side though. I don't get it.

Think you might be expecting a bit much from him. Raymond is from just down the road and Colborne is a native. They hardly get that warm fuzzy feeling from playing for their hometown team every night.

He's just saying that to get the fans on side. I don't mind it, I just wouldn't read too much into it, he's trying to make a good impression on his new team.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Think you might be expecting a bit much from him. Raymond is from just down the road and Colborne is a native. They hardly get that warm fuzzy feeling from playing for their hometown team every night.

He's just saying that to get the fans on side. I don't mind it, I just wouldn't read too much into it, he's trying to make a good impression on his new team.

Those aren't great examples. Raymond and Colborne both has horrible compete levels.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

Shinkaruk's most recent goal:

https://streamable.com/5n3h

Shinkaruk has a weird little shot. He keeps both hands pretty high up on his stick the entire time.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

What is compete level and how the heck do you measure it. Seems like "five tool player" baseball talk.

Compete level is how hard you work on the ice. How determined you are to get to loose pucks, how determined you are to win board battles, how determined you are to get to the front of the net, how fast you skate back on defense, how hard you work on your shift, how willing you are to sacrifice your body to make a play or prevent a scoring chance. It also ties in with how consistent you are shift to shift. Players with high compete levels don't take many shifts off, they are more consistent in their effort level than lazier players.

It can't be measured. You have to watch players to get an idea of their compete level. Which is why you can't scout based on pure stats because stuff like compete level is lost. It's an "intangible" but a highly important one.

For example Sam Bennett and Paul Byron have high compete levels. A guy like Baerstchi had a lower compete level. Colborne and Raymond have lacked compete level at times this year. Bob Hartley demands high levels of compete. Pretty sure the Flames scouts also look for competitiveness as a key attribute.