CanucksArmy Monday Mailbag: Ilya Kovalchuk, Elias Pettersson, The Sedins and The Draft

I’m going to assume that you mean Ilya Kovalchuk and answer with a resounding yes. The only problem with this plan is that I can’t imagine any reason why Kovalchuk would want to come to the Canucks.

I’d probably just give Bo Horvat the captaincy.

It shouldn’t cost any less than the Edmonton Oilers first round pick. That contract is that bad.

If you’re Canucks general manager Jim Benning, you shouldn’t think this is a team you can turn around in a hurry — let’s start there. For that matter, if you’re John Tavares, and you’ve rarely if ever had a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup, why would you think that the Canucks are the team to give you that opportunity? They might be one of the few teams in the league that give the Islanders a run for their money regarding sheer ineptitude at the top of the organization.

With that, I can’t see any way the Canucks can land Tavares period. The only way they’d have even a fighting chance is with a contract offer that’s in Connor McDavid territory for Tavares.

The winning to finish the season and start the season are, unfortunately, probably going to embolden the Canucks this off-season into thinking this team isn’t far off from competing. They’ve already fallen for this trap three consecutive off-seasons, so it’s not like they deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Yes!

I feel like the Sedins would probably start as advisers to the general manager if they ever worked their way back into the hockey world.

It’s hard for me to make that comparison. Those moments were of sheer, unbridled joy. And the dragon slaying, along with the stanchion goal, were so, so special. The Sedins’ final days were special too, but for entirely different reasons.

I’m going to cop out, and just say that they were all amazing moments in Canucks history, and I was able to savour each, and I feel incredibly grateful for those opportunities.

I don’t have any idea where Alain Vigneault will end up, but concerning where I’d like to see him land, one of either the Calgary Flames or Dallas Stars would be neat.

I’d like to see Jake Virtanen’s production take a step forward before I go that far. A lot of what Virtanen does on the ice with regards to controlling on-ice shots, goals, expected goals, etc. suggests he’s above that level of play, but Virtanen’s production still lags closer to fourth line territory.

If I were the Canucks, I’d look to sign these players to one or maybe even two-year deals with the plan of flipping them at the deadline for futures: Valtteri Filppula, Joel Ward, Leo Komarov, Kris Versteeg and Thomas Hickey.

That depends on who is available to the Canucks, naturally. If Quinn Hughes is there, that’s who they should take; if not, go with Oliver Wahlstrom.

I’m not sure what it would cost the Canucks to get Erik Karlsson sans-Bobby Ryan, so it’s hard to say how that affects the price. Regardless, I don’t think the Canucks make sense as a suitor.

The Canucks shouldn’t take on Ryan’s contract. It’s too long and far too onerous. It’s one of the few contracts that might impede their ability to compete when the Canucks are ready to do just that. Anything less than a first round pick and a prospect isn’t good enough. Taking on $7-million is a tall ask.

You’ve seen Edmonton suffer criticism for wasting Connor McDavid’s entry-level contract years because, well, they wasted his entry-level contract years.

If the Canucks land Rasmus Dahlin, it does put on added pressure to contend within a three-year window. You’ve got one of the best luxuries in the entire NHL at your exposure, so you better make hay with it. I’m not sure that means selling off everyone who isn’t ready to immediately compete, though.

I say under.

I’ve heard the Canucks like Noah Dobson, and it seems likely he’ll be there around ninth overall. I’d like that pick, too.

Elias Pettersson will probably get a shot in the Canucks middle-six to start. It’s not like Brock Boeser started the season on the fourth line (when he eventually got into the lineup), and Pettersson is coming to town with even higher expectations offensively. I could see Pettersson on the third line with a centre the Canucks sign in free agency and Jake Virtanen.

Nope. And nope.

It depends on where the Canucks are drafting and who’s available. Still, I think there’s enough variance in this draft that one can reasonably address a positional need while taking the best player available on their board.

I lean towards Nikolay Goldobin. Let Goldobin try and build off this late-season success with Bo Horvat. The two seem to have some legitimate chemistry.

Brandon Sutter.

Yes, and no. I think when Benning, etc. show concern for size, it has more to do with a player’s ability to hold up over the course of a brutally difficult, physical, injury-laden 82 game season. It’s got more to do with protecting the players from unnecessary physical harm than having a team of goons.

I don’t want to say whether it was the greatest send-off ever or not. I haven’t been exposed to all of them, so I’d just be talking out my ass. On the other hand, I thought it was exceptionally well done by everyone involved. The Canucks did an excellent job of celebrating the Sedins’ careers and making sure their last two games at home were special.

The media killed it, too. Both of the local radio stations had awesome lineups of guests. Everyone on the beat offered excellent insights on the Sedins’ careers. Hell, I thought our coverage was downright excellent. There was a lot of Sedin content this week on CanucksArmy.

Pettersson is probably going to start his career playing a lot on the wing. Hell, that might be where he plays most of his hockey at the NHL level.

You’ve got me beat. I’d love to see the Canucks make some additions to their staff. I just can’t for the life of me figure out why they think the status quo is working.

Adam Boqvist has the biggest bust potential in the top ten. Ryan Merkley the biggest start potential outside of the top ten.

Somehow I think it’s going to suck even more than this season. If such a thing is possible.