I have been a Vanek fan for years and I’ve been really happy with how he has p[played this year. That being said, I think the Canucks have to trade him at the TDL. Vanek has some value and the Canucks need to capitalize on it. This team needs draft picks to accelerate the rebuild and Vanek just doesn’t fit in the teams long term plans.
North Van Halen:
As someone that has defended Benning & Linden, let me say, if they think keeping Vanek (or Gudbranson for that matter) is a good idea, I’m going to be next on the fire everyone band wagon.
He’s not core piece of any possible future championship here, he’s a stop gap fill-in that you can find any time you need one in the off season or at the trade deadline for a 3rd or a 4th. A flooded market may make him hard to move but all efforts should be made to flip him at this point. If the best you can get from him is a 5th or 6th you sign him after the trade deadline.
He’s not core piece of any possible future championship here, he’s a stop gap fill-in that you can find any time you need one in the off season or at the trade deadline for a 3rd or a 4th. A flooded market may make him hard to move but all efforts should be made to flip him at this point. If the best you can get from him is a 5th or 6th you sign him after the trade deadline.
I’d likely take the 5th though.
Goon:
As NVH says, keeping Vanek should be considered a fireable offense. There is *no* reason to keep him. If the Canucks want him back, they can resign him as a UFA in the off-season. They are not making the playoffs this year and there is literally no advantage to keeping him on the team. The Canucks *must* move UFAs for picks if they’re serious about improving the long-term outlook of the franchise.
Ser Jaime Lannister:
They shouldve been doing this years ago signing “stop gap” vets to 1-2 max and dealing for what ever you can. Vanek has benefited greatly from playing with Boeser as will anyone who plays with an elite talent like him. On his own hes been below average imo, 17 goals on the PP, defensive liability with his 5on5 play and the minus 14 isnt helping his case. Canucks will have minimum two forward prospects make the team next year and are desperately needed. Youth, speed, and skill! Time to see this team make some improvements, these bottom finishes are embarrassing for the fans and players.
Roland:
No don’t keep him, he needs to be moved at the TDL. I really like what he brings and hope he can be resigned
when he’s finished his gunslinger role. Hopefully he’d like to come back. One can’t ignore the points he has put up.
He’s done so most of his career. Another one year deal. He’s probably looking for a golden parachute though.