Canucks Army Roundtable: I Want to Love You (P-T-O)

Training camp is upon us, as the rookies get their shot at the Young Stars tournament starting up in Pentiction. In this edition of the roundtable, we focus in on PTO’s.

I always hear PTO to the tune of this, by the way.

As I said, PTO season is also upon us, where those veterans that we kind of forget about get another shot at making a team, in a uniform that looks strangely bizarre on them. In a year where the Canucks are expected to be very young, having more veterans might counteract that, taking rosters spots away from some kids. At the same time though, the veterans can provide some knowledge and experience to the young squad. I took the question to our writers as to who they’d like to see get a PTO from the Canucks. (If anyone)

Question:

Based on who is left out there, who would you want the Canucks to bring in for a PTO? (Or have they already brought in who you had hoped they would, but if you hoped they’d bring in Tuomo Ruutu I have some concerns)

I would like to see Cody Hodgson brought in. Although he is not the best player out there (Brad Boyes and Tomas Fleischmann would likely be better results wise if they were to get an offer), Hodgson would probably bring some excitement to the training camp and give fans something to talk about. While his production hasn’t been great, he’s been a decent bottom six option if he performs well enough at training camp to earn a spot.

I agree with taking a chance on Hodgson, though I’m not sure if he would necessarily want to come back. He didn’t want to be here back in 2011, but who knows if his maturity was all there at 21 years-old. Hodgson has (or had) the potential, but he has also had several seasons to get his career back on track. At first, I was hesitant at the idea, but then again, he’s probably desperate for a PTO so I guess why not give him a chance?

I think they should take a flier on former Vancouver Canucks Legend Cody Hodgson. He’s had a 20-goal season, the Canucks lack centre depth, and he’s a former first round pick, so he must be good. What’s not to love?

Cody Hodgson, how original. Christian Ehrhoff is my for real answer though. He adds reliable depth to a position that could use it and can help transition some of the younger guys now that Dan Hamhuis has flown the coop. If you can get him on the cheap, he’s a good pickup IMO.
If you want Cody, you get his dad too remember.

For a team like the Canucks that is trying to integrate younger players into the lineup, it really doesn’t make much sense to offer any more PTOs (especially considering the quality of the players still available).  It is unlikely that any of these players will make enough of an impact that they will help improve the team in any appreciable fashion. Players on PTOs rarely make the squad, anyway – think Peter Schaefer – and it would be difficult to justify one of them getting more playing time during preseason than one of the Canucks prospects. The one positive of these signings is that it gives the Canucks more veterans for their early preseason games, while some of their current players compete in the World Cup. But still, that only takes time away from the young guys – so why bother?

I hear Kris Russell is still available.

I’m in the same boat as Taylor, I don’t see the point in taking some ice time away from a kid who is trying to make the squad, with a player who more than likely won’t make the team.