CanucksArmy Monday Mailbag: February 19th

The goal for any NHL team, at the end of the day, is to win a Stanley Cup. Now, this front office has stated that they would settle for a steady string of playoff appearances. Those are the goals we have to keep in mind when evaluating Canucks general manager Jim Benning, regardless of his particular skill set. He’s the general manager; it’s not enough to just excel in one area if it doesn’t translate to wins or losses, be it in the short or long-term.

I can’t imagine any way in which we look back on Benning’s time with the Canucks as a success unless he can reverse the course of the franchise to the point where they’re at least a playoff team in the next three years. That’s the organization’s stated goal, and they’ve spent a lot of money and assets to that end. I don’t think that’s an unrealistic standard, especially since it’s the one they’ve set for themselves.

Unfortunately, I just can’t see any way this team can get on the right path with this front office. I’d love nothing more than to be proven wrong — I want this team to succeed and its fans to take in that success. I suspect the next three years are going to be eerily similar to the last three years.

JD just listening to you on 1040 great job just as to see the other side, what are examples of dmen who don’t have great offensive stats but are successful.

Well, I needn’t look far for an example. The Canucks have an excellent defenceman in Chris Tanev who doesn’t put up points. I’d argue that Ben Hutton is another defenceman who does well, in spite of lofty counting stats.

There are lots of similarly capable defensive defencemen outside of the Canucks’ organization. The Anaheim Ducks have an excellent pair of defencemen in Josh Manson and Hampus Lindholm who don’t put up big offensive numbers. They’re not that rare.

As long as you can have a positive impact on your team’s on-ice fortune, there’s room for you in this league. Sometimes it isn’t as obvious as point production, but it’s still there.

One could have made a compelling case for Bo Horvat as a No. 1 centre as recently as the end of last season. If someone can put up 50 points in a season in the NHL, they usually qualify. This season, Horvat’s on pace for 60 points over a full 82-game season. Offensively, he’s there.

Where I have questions about Horvat’s aptitude as a first-line centre is defensively. Contrary to his reputation, Horvat just hasn’t been a good two-way player in the NHL. There are signs of improvement, certainly, but he’s a ways to go still.

Regardless, I think Horvat does enough in totality to qualify as a No. 1 centre. I just wonder if he’s the type of first-line centre that can take a team to the Stanley Cup. Right now, I think he’d be better off playing the Ryan Kesler to someone’s Henrik Sedin, but as you rightly point out, he just keeps smashing expectations, so who knows?

It’s hard to say. I always get the sense that Tanev’s actual value is far greater than how the league perceives his value — whether it’s because of low counting stats or not having a draft pedigree, I can’t say.

One would like to think a top pairing, defensive defenceman like Tanev could fetch a first-round pick and a high-end prospect. I’m just not sure though.

Nope. Elias Pettersson isn’t even under contract yet.

From what I’ve heard, it’s almost right between the two in terms of size.

Maybe.

From what I can gather, the Canucks like Max Domi. That doesn’t mean they’re actively trying to acquire him or anything of the sort. But they do like Domi as a player.

This isn’t a question. I’m also not entirely sure how you know whether the guys do or don’t rally behind Anders Nilsson. Not to be rude, but that’s quite the assumption without being able to read the player’s minds or ask them personally if that’s true.

Bombay Gin Dance – Juicy J

These are quite the assumptions to make from afar. Besides, Jacob Markstrom is brutally honest, especially about his own game, and his commentary doesn’t usually speak to your belief that he refuses to see himself as anything less than a starter — almost to a fault.

I can’t say whether the environment is better or worse for Thatcher Demko with Markstrom or Nilsson. Neither can you. There’s only so much we know.

Yeah, Loui Eriksson does seem a touch streaky as a scorer.

Again, no.

You could make a lot of money suggesting this type of thing to the Canucks front office.

I’m going to go with no, there isn’t a conspiracy, on my usual principled belief that the NHL isn’t out to get anyone; they’re just woefully incompetent and inconsistent.

This is shaping up to be a rough off-season for bargain bin free agents.

One player that sticks out is Ryan Strome. The Edmonton Oilers probably aren’t going to qualify him, after a first season with the team that’s fallen way short of expectations. That will make him a free agent, and one that shouldn’t cost that much to sign. He’s relatively young and has upside. This would be a good fit.

Other options that intrigue me are Thomas Hickey, Ian Cole, Cody Franson and Jan Rutta.

I haven’t heard anything that you yourself haven’t yet heard, in all likelihood.

The Canucks, obviously, but it would be far closer than it probably should be.

Right now, I lean towards Quinn Hughes. That’s suspect to change though.

I fear that Benning is talking about Evander Kane. I don’t know if there’s a power forward out there that’s a good fit that they can pry in reasonable or sensible trade, or in free agency for that matter.

Maybe there’s a mascot or two I could handle, but an NHL player would probably kill me. Just a guess.

I’ll always value a centre or defenceman ahead of a winger, but unless it’s really close talent wise, I strongly believe in taking the best available player.

I lean towards taking the best player available throughout the draft, but in the later rounds, it’s not such a big deal to prioritize by position.