WWYDW: Kris Russell vs. Dan Hamhuis Round 7,543,986
By J.D. Burke
7 years ago
Jason Botchford kicked a hornets nest yesterday when he invoked the season-long battle between hockey analysts over which defenceman reigns supreme. In the blue corner: Dan Hamhuis. Formerly in the red corner: Kris Russell.
It’s the trade deadline all over again. Well, to some extent. I mean, nothing has actually happened just yet. It’s strictly speculation, albeit terrifying all the same. Then again, I’m of a different, more analytically inclined hockey mind than most.
I’m curious… what are your thoughts on this debate? Would you rather the Canucks pursue Russell in free agency than re-sign Hamhuis?
Last week I asked: Should the Vancouver Canucks send down Jared McCann next off-season? If not, what alternatives do you have in mind?
Logic:
Jared McCann has the potential to be a Patrice Bergeron-type player. Bergeron spent a year in the AHL after his rookie season. In the long term, it would be best for McCann to spend a year in Utica, where he should have been gone had it not been for CHL age rules, and let him take on a top 6 role. He can see about earning a middle 6 NHL position for 2017-2018. Same goes for Virtanen.
Fred-65:
McCann best be in Utica next season he showed zero or maybe even -1 from the December point forward. He’s just not ready. I suspect he will be some time in the future and a good player to bootbut between him and Vey…. Vey wins out
Alexk:
If you consider the canucks centre depth being Hank, bo, sutter, granlund, then its hard to see where mccann fits on opening night. the plan for mccann should be to start him in utica and have him play top line minutes. Groom him for that top 6 centre role and allow him to make mistakes with the comets.
Gaunce is the better centre option as a 13th forward, because he can slide in within the bottom 6 with more ease.
Only way i see mccann playing centre is if he plays lights out in exhibition and takes the spot from the previously mentioned centres. The more likely is that he gets traded at draft, or is a callup during the regilar season due to injuries.
Burnabybob:
Assuming Sutter is healthy, and barring a VERY strong camp from McCann, I would send McCann down to Utica. He needs ice time to develop.
Sean:
I would try McCann on the wing at the NHL level next season.
He already has better offensive skills than Granlund, Gaunce & Vey, in my opinion.
If he had better support and the benefit of playing wing, I feel like he could have done what Fabbri did in St Louis.
And there are no such thing as “too many centres”.
There will be injuries and underperformance.
All 30 NHL teams would stash competent centres on the wing if they had the ability to do so.
Friend Neighbourhood Canucks Fan:
He should go to the AHL to regain his offensive prowess. Unless he completely dominates everything up to October.
Vey is done, its over for him to be a top 6 guy. But McCann clearly has the potential and I think stuffing him on the 4th line of a tanking franchise would hurt his development. Let him play his way on the team.
If McCann’s faceoffs numbers don’t improve, I would be in favour of a shift to the wing for him. His puckhandling and shooting skills are there for him to be a force. It will probably not happen but I think it could be good. I’ve dreamt of West Coast Express being recreated with the line of McCann – Bo – Virtanen
Lemming:
“Everythings been said but not everbody’s said it yet”
Put McCann in Utica to develop, sign Vey, Jake stays with the Canucks or goes to Utica depending on how his camp goes.
I thought Jake was really picking it up the 2nd half of the year, so there’s a decent chance he sticks with the Canucks next year. McCann still needs time in the oven, though.
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