[Signing] Canucks re-sign Gudbranson (3 yrs, $4mil AAV)

[Cali Panthers Fan]

When the Panthers made the playoffs a couple years ago, they tabbed Gudbranson as the go-to defender to try and shut down Tavares. Gudbranson got torched so badly by Tavares int that playoff series that the organization moved him in the off-season because they felt he could never be strong enough defensively to be useful, since he added next to no offense.

I can summarize that series in a couple of observations:

1) Tavares and his line destroyed their matchups in just about every way

2) Barkov and his line were countered pretty effectively by Hamonic and his partner (Boychuk I recall).

3) Greiss out-goalied Luongo....but really it was #1 and #2.

[neo45]

Side note but I doubt Hamonic played with Boychuck very much. Probably De Haan?



This signing is a combination of a weak UFA DMan crop and the Canucks really needing toughness. If they traded Gudbranson they would be hard pressed to find anybody to bring in and play his minutes.

[Erick Estrada]

Canucks have a lot of expiring contracts so I suppose better to overpay a player you know that's already a fit in your locker room and knows the system rather than a UFA. He's not very good but neither are a lot of the options in free agency as you are looking at guys like Ian Cole, Enstrom, Luke Schenn, etc.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by neo45

Side note but I doubt Hamonic played with Boychuck very much. Probably De Haan?



This signing is a combination of a weak UFA DMan crop and the Canucks really needing toughness. If they traded Gudbranson they would be hard pressed to find anybody to bring in and play his minutes.

I remember it being either Leddy or Boychuk, but it could have been De Haan.

[Meers]

Lol. What a joke.

Gudbranson's underlying metrics are appalling. He is objectively one of the worst defensemen in the league. Call up a top pairing AHL blueliner and he will help your team to win more.

It's astounding how any GM could give this guy more than a one year deal at the League minimum.

Unless, the Canuck's plan is to tank for the next three seasons ...

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

26 yr 6’5” physical, Right Handed Dman who plays top 4 minutes signed to 3 yrs at $4mil?

I know we like to hack on ol’dim Jim and th Nucks, but this isn’t a bad signing at all.

He doesn't play top 4 minutes. He's 6th on the Canucks' defense in TOI/G and 7th in even strength TOI/G. He's also dead last on the defense in pretty much every statistical category.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Jackpot_Smooth

Would this be a comparable for the Oilers trying to re-sign nurse? PUshing them to 5 d-men making 4million +?

I think Nurse will get a lot more than this.

[Enoch Root]

Well, this makes Russell's contract look a lot better, so there's that

[Vinny01]

Saying on the FAN he could be traded before the deadline still despite the extension

[theinfinitejar]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Saying on the FAN he could be traded before the deadline still despite the extension

I think he has less value now than before he signed.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

It isn't a bad contract - essentially the price that is paid for a defender who has some skills (big, physical, hard shot) but doesn't have the ability to play a good north south game and has a poor outlet pass.

The price tag is fair - he is a good stop gap that allows time for others to develop and the Canucks have to continue to draft and find prospects. The contract isn't overly burdensome and he appears to be a good locker room player. Fans of rebuilding teams need to realize that you can't trade away every veteran, otherwise you end up like the Oilers, throwing young players into high pressure situations where they can falter.

Plus what other options are available, they don't have the defensive depth to call anyone of value up and UFA is a horrible route where they will overpay for someone else.

[tkflames]

And this is why Hamonic cost all those picks at his cap hit for the next 3 years...

[Calgary4LIfe]

The 'stay at home' defensive defencemen are less common these days, but they are still very useful. A prime Robyn Regehr would still be an extremely valuable asset, for instance.

However, a stay at home defensive defencemen must still be rather mobile, and he absolutely must be a rock defensively. Gudbranson is not that. His numbers show that.

I love Engelland as I thought he is a very capable defensive defencemen. I thought his cap hit was a bit on the high side, but still respectable given what he brings. Gudbranson better have a tonne of leadership abilities and 'intangibles' because I don't see any other reason to pay him that much money. You aren't paying him to generate offence - you aren't even paying him to help the transition. You aren't paying him that much for being such a defensive stalwart.

Intangibles. Must be.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I remember it being either Leddy or Boychuk, but it could have been De Haan.

Based on Natural Stat Trick his most common partner in the 2016 Playoffs was Leddy. They were together pretty much the entire time.

Most fans wanted Gudbranson off the team in the offseason, and thought the 1 year at $3.5M was a bad contract.

The fact that he has only been even worse this season, and now the team has doubled down and given him 3 years at $4M is even worse.

This makes the Stone contract look good, even though that one already isn't looking the best.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Well, this makes Russell's contract look a lot better, so there's that

It makes Michael Stone's contract look amazing.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

Gudbranson can't hold a candle to Engelland. What a hilariously bad contract for realistically a 6/7. Which extension is worse, this or Benning's?

[GranteedEV]

nm

[AC]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

3 years 4 million that's 1.33M a year.. that's not bad for a #6/#7 defenseman. He's better than Bartkowski, not as good as Stone or Kulak.

Are you making a joke?

It's $12M over 3 years.

[Anduril]

Those are quite the prime areas to be allowing shots from. Even right in front of the net.

[theinfinitejar]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It makes Michael Stone's contract look amazing.

They shoulda called Brad. Could have a better defenceman for less money. And we make room for Rasmus. Everybody wins.