Canucks Army Monday Mailbag: June 5th – Part Deux

I remember a time when I had to ask for Monday Mailbag questions two, sometimes even three times before I’d have enough to run the article. Those days are long gone. Sometimes I write the Mailbag three hours after asking for questions, and by the time I’ve finished it I have enough for another one.

Whereas I used to just kind of shrug my shoulders and let it go because the season was bogging me down with other Canucks stuff to write about, I think I can pay those people who aren’t caught in the first wave the respect of answering their queries. So, if your questions aren’t answered in the first mailbag, and there’s enough for another, don’t sweat it! I’ll make a Part Deux. I did just that today.

I might be the wrong guy to field this question. I’m not entirely convinced that the Canucks are all-in on the rebuild yet. Even if they are, I like the small ‘r’ rebuild as a descriptor. A rebuilding team doesn’t re-sign a 37-year-old goaltender. A rebuilding team trades Chris Tanev and Alex Edler. The Canucks have staked their claim on the wrong side of how to handle all three players. You do the math.

It’s probably fair to suggest the Canucks were reluctant sellers at the deadline. The Canucks and general manager Jim Benning, in particular, deserve a tonne of credit for the coup they pulled off at the deadline. Full marks for extracting excellent value for Jannik Hansen and Alexandre Burrows. By that same token, they finished 29th overall and traded… two players. It wasn’t a fire sale. Somebody who was keen on selling off assets probably finds a way to make a little more happen.

I’d think it wise if the Canucks take either Henri Jokiharju or Jesper Boqvist at 33. At 55, if Josh Brook or Mason Shaw is available, either would be a worthy selection.

I had Old Man Burke over, and we hung out, drank beers, had overcooked barbeque and watched the Nashville Predators kick some Penguin ass. My friend Amir showed up too. He’s a Penguins fan. I revelled in his suffering. So, no, not a hot date. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

I appreciate that you’re asking me questions for the mailbag. Really, I do. I feel like I’ve answered this one three or four times now. I’ll answer this one with a couple of options, but if we could go a week or two without this question, I’d be A-Okay with that.

You trade Chris Tanev for a prospect because it offers financial flexibility to eat bad contracts from contending teams in exchange for more prospects and futures, and also because that prospect has a far higher likelihood of contributing to this team’s ability to contend in three-to-four years than Tanev.

That said, I’d think the Canucks would do well to secure Jonathan Drouin for Tanev. I even believe that it’s a deal I can see coming together. The Canucks might have to take Ryan Callahan’s albatross of a contract back to make it happen, but that’s totally worth it.

It’s going to be an ugly, long, frustrating season for Canucks fans. Sorry, that’s just reality. Maybe they can PDO their way into something resembling contention, but the talent just isn’t there. It probably won’t be for another two to three years.

There are going to be players and moments to enjoy, though. Based on Nikolay Goldobin’s run with the Utica Comets last season, perhaps new Canucks head coach Travis Green and he have a good working relationship that will foster the young Russians development into a bona fide NHL’er. That’s worth checking in to watch. I also think this market underappreciates what a gem Troy Stecher is from the Canucks’ blue line. He could be a legitimate first pair defenceman by the end of next season. Cheer on the individual players; they’ll let you down far less than the team.

The way Brock Boeser played to end last season, I think the Canucks are going to have to reconsider their original plan, which was to send him to the Utica Comets to start the year. I can see Boeser playing with Sven Baertschi and Bo Horvat on the Canucks’ first (?) line. Fans should be happy if Boeser can put together a 30 point season. That’s reasonable.

As for which youngsters make the team, I think Boeser, Goldobin and Olli Juolevi all have a great shot. I want Reid Boucher to come back and force his way onto the team. I think there’s something there. Jonathan Dahlen needs seasoning, and I’ll be surprised if Jordan Subban is still a Canuck by training camp.

Yes. Burn it with fire.

The Canucks. And they block Jason Botterill’s number.