Canucks Army Monday Mailbag: November 21st

Well, that was an eventful week. The Canucks can score goals again. Who’da thunk it?

Now, if only they could remember to prevent the odd goal or two. That’d be nice. Would’ve certainly come in handy for Saturday night’s game against the dreaded Chicago Blackhawks. I mean, they scored three goals and managed to surrender four in the final 25 or so minutes of the game.

I guess this is the part where I answer your questions. Let’s get on to that.

If Alex Burrows can keep this up, there’s no telling what the Canucks could get for him at the deadline. All things being relative, of course.

Burrows is going to draw a lot of interest from teams with an internal budget. He’s on the backend of a back diving contract, which means he makes less than his cap hit indicates. His cap number is $4.5-million, but he only makes $3-million in actual salary this season. When you prorate that figure to reflect the time left in the season, it’s a bargain.

Speaking in more exact terms, I’d expect Burrows could secure something like a third or maybe even a second round pick. I could live with that, too. Especially since the Canucks would just be selling 20-plus games of Burrows.

I’d say you’re going to have to file this one under fantasy. Even if the Canucks parted ways with Jim Benning in December — and what a massive “if” that is — I don’t see them bringing Laurence Gilman back. Whether they should or not, it’s a bad look given they just relieved him of his duties a year and a half ago.

I’m not sure we should write off Benning just yet, either. It doesn’t sound like he has a tonne of job security. That’s certainly the sense you get. Then again, most general managers get the chance to run through at least one coaching fire. Benning isn’t there. Not yet.

By that same token, don’t be surprised if you hear Dale Tallon’s name come up a bunch. Be disappointed, sure. Just not surprised.

Using stats.hockeyanalysis.com, I found the 2013-14 Buffalo Sabres had the lowest time with the lead, with just 518 minutes at even strength. That same team finished with a 43% Corsi For. Not good company to keep.

I’m not going to predict whether they do or don’t have a shot at it. I’ll say this much — the Sabres of 13-14 didn’t have the Sedin twins.

I actually had an article on that very topic go live about two hours ago!

If you’re not all that interested in reading it, though, I’ve got an answer for you all the same. I think the Canucks do have the pieces. They might not have anyone they can trade for him straight up, but they can definitely pull this off with a volume approach.

Should the Canucks try and pull that kind of trade off? I guess it depends on what they’re parting ways with. It always depends on that kind of context…