CanucksArmy Monday Mailbag:

I still think the most optimistic timeline for the Canucks to improve to the point where the Toronto Maple Leafs are already is close to three-to-four years. Even then, it’s not a guarantee. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the golden standard for how to rebuild a hockey team; the Canucks are the example of how not to rebuild in every non-Vancouver market.

My guess: the Calgary Flames.

I haven’t heard too much about the Canucks having interest in John Carlson. Until they make a trade with one of their blueliners, they won’t even have the room for him. I think Carlson’s price point is going to be a touch rich for the Canucks, even if they do clear out some space to sign him.

Age matters when you’re talking about players at the stage of their development that Adam Boqvist and Quinn Hughes are in currently. I just don’t think that, in this case, it even comes close to covering the gap in production between the two when we use the SEAL (Situational Era Age League) adjusted scoring as a way to compare them. Hughes is still the superior choice.

I think it depends on a case by case basis. In some cases, players are just trying to get their payday — totally fine in my books. Others are willing to take a financial hit for the opportunity to chase a Stanley Cup — also totally cool. Some players fall somewhere in the middle.

In most cases, whatever increase in salary the Canucks offer will likely be matched by the other teams bidding for star players. In others, the competing teams will get close enough to close the gap and make the choice an easier one for the player in question.

I think the fans should have some level of concern based on what the Canucks have spent their cap space on in the last few off-seasons. Let’s recap:

2015: Matt Bartkowski at above market value

2016: Loui Eriksson for six years at $36-million on a buyout proof contract that goes into his late-thirties

2017: Sam Gagner for three years, Michael Del Zotto for $3-million, Anders Nilsson for two years at $2.5-million and Thomas Vanek on a one year deal at $2-million. Let’s say the Canucks batted .250 this off-season.

They haven’t earned the benefit of the doubt.

The Canucks best-case scenario for this off-season is that they weaponize their cap space by taking on bad contracts for assets while using any remaining space to sign veterans to one-year deals that they can then flip for assets at the deadline. Hell, maybe they mix in a couple of rebuild-type moves with the players on their roster, too.

For next season, the Canucks show progress with their on-ice progress but are ultimately undone by a lack of finishing talent and bad goaltending. I’d like to see the Canucks improve their on-ice ratio of shot control, etc. to show that there are signs of improvement underneath the surface. As they add scorers and improve in net, it will make a turnaround all the easier. And then, of course, they sell everything off that isn’t going to be of use as this team turns the corner.

I honestly can’t give you an answer to this. It just doesn’t make any sense that someone wouldn’t want the Canucks to have the best possible odds at first overall given where this franchise is in their development.

This isn’t a question.

Yeah, I think that Dmitry Zhukenov has moved on from North American hockey, and based on his first season back in the KHL, I bet the Canucks have moved on from him.

Ben Hutton.

I’d just go into next season with an open battle for the backup spot in training camp. Whoever loses has to go to Utica, even if it’s Anders Nilsson with his $2.5-million salary. If Thatcher Demko is ready, let him take the backup role and run with it; if not, let him have another year in Utica.

I lean towards the former of those two options.

Honestly, I’d love to see both of those things happen as soon as possible. Realistically, I think it’s more likely that an NHL player comes out first.

Jason Spezza and the Canucks shouldn’t get anything less than a second round pick for the trouble. That said, Julius Honka wouldn’t be half-bad either.

I suspect they’ll go after players like Evander Kane, James Neal and Tyler Bozak. They’ll sell them as players who are going to show the younger players the right way at the NHL level. Book it.

The Canucks will definitely make a pitch to John Tavares. I just don’t think they’re going to get anywhere.

Oliver Wahlstrom, Ty Smith and Noah Dobson.

Not a chance.

Ask me this again at the end of next season. Based on his first handful of games, I give the edge to Ashton Sautner over Erik Gudbranson.

Valtteri Filppula.

One player I can think of that is in the midst of a similar transition is Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander — hell of a player, that Nylander. So far, it’s been tough sledding. Nylander hasn’t been able to stick at centre for any prolonged period of time. He’s been great on the wing, though, so it doesn’t really seem like much of an issue.

I don’t want to rule out the possibility that Elias Pettersson can develop into a centre, but he’s played so much wing over the last few years that it’s getting harder and harder to envision. Hopefully it works out. Canucks general manager Jim Benning was adamant when he drafted Pettersson that he was a playmaking centre.