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WWYDW: Philip Holm?
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Photo credit: Matthew Henderson
J.D. Burke
Jan 10, 2018, 11:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 10, 2018, 02:34 EST
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The Canucks can’t score to save their lives, and they can’t defend much better either. They’re in the bottom-five of the league in both categories.
As The Province’s Jason Botchford pointed out in last night’s The Provies, the Canucks have an intriguing option on the farm in Philip Holm who might be able to help in both facets of the game. Best of all, Holm can do it from the back end, where the Canucks are woefully unproductive.
The problem? The Canucks don’t have a lot of wiggle room with which to experiment. Their blue line is already packed. Ben Hutton’s been a regular healthy scratch, and Derrick Pouliot just found his way to the press box, too. They’re expected to trade Erik Gudbranson soon, but then again, Chris Tanev isn’t long for the shelf with his injury.
As Botchford points out, the Canucks have Holm on a one-year deal, and they promised him a shot at some point. And with the way the Anton Rodin and Alexander Burmistrov situation played out, another unfulfilling tour of duty in Vancouver from a European free agent, and you’ll start to wonder if any will ever want to sign here again.
There are several layers to this question and no obvious answers. That’s why I’m asking you, the loyal reader at CanucksArmy, to ponder the Holm question, and how you would solve it. You can get creative. Whether it’s by trade, demotions or even just leaving Holm in Utica — feel free to shoot your shot!
Last week I asked: If you had one New Years resolution for this team — think baby steps — to try and get things moving in the right direction, what might that be?
Forever 1915:
Trade Gudbranson asap for a scoring centre that can be part of the next core. If this is a hockey trade, then I wouldn’t expect a defenseman back and I wouldn’t want to waste Gudbranson on a goaltender with Demko/DiPietro in the pipeline. There is no guarantee that Horvat will get help in the immediate few years (e.g. Pettersson will play centre at the NHL level or that Gaudette can be a Top 6 scoring centre). Ideally, I would like to see a reasonable Gudbranson package (e.g. plus Goldobin) go to Buffalo for Sam Reinhart.
apr:
For some reason, this team plays better on the road than at home. I’d assess where the team is at after this next road trip. The most obvious issues to me is the cheap first goal and the mushroom effect has on the team. I really don’t think the team is playing that bad, but clearly they all have to play well to be competitive. Its not like the Nucks are the Oilers, whos team has no soul and players hate living there for a couple of extra bucks.
defenceman factory:
One small step which needs to be made is to replace Cloutier as goalie coach. He has successfully coached both Markstrom and Nilsson to play just like he did. Like Dan, both current Canuck goalies are skilled and athletic but lack focus. It seems they have both become less confident and less fundamentally sound under Dan’s tutelage. Make sure he never gets near Demko.
SJ:
There’s something up with the defensive system right now. I think it was working early in the season (first 15 games or so), but teams have figured it out and started exploiting it. This is was written about in the Provies somewhere, quotes and all, but I’m not paid to do research. Anyway, I think they need to switch it up, as it clearly isn’t working. This isn’t a top-tier defense, but they’re better than they’ve looked recently, and I think it comes down to the system they’re playing. Work to limit grade-A opportunities, and maybe your goalies will make some more saves, and maybe–just maybe–you’ll be able to turn the puck the other way a little more.
Sandpaper:
Pay to get Tryamkin out of his current contract and get him signed.
Bring over his mom dad grandparents and in-laws.
It would show a sign of trying to revamp the defense and goodwill for any future Russians we may acquire.
Goon:
Things *are* moving in the right direction. This team showed they could play entertaining and competitive hockey until bad goaltending and injuries threw them off the rails. We all knew the Canucks weren’t going to compete for a Stanley Cup this year, so tank for a pick, finish 27th or 28th (we all know they’re not catching Arizona or Buffalo in the race to the bottom), and cross your fingers that they actually get some luck in the draft lottery this year.
With Petterson and Juolevi almost certainly joining the team next year, along with the possibility of Gaudette, Dahlen, and another high draft pick joining the team (plus outside shots of players like Lind and Gadjovich), I’m hoping no one in management does anything silly. Sell Vanek at the deadline, trade Gudbranson as soon as possible, resign yourselves to the fact that this season is lost and look to the future. Pray the Canucks pull a New Jersey and move up from a ~5 overall pick to first, because holy crap does Rasmus Dahlin look awesome.
argoleas:
Tanev for Liljegren/Heiskanen and a 1st?
Not sure that could happen, but if it was available, it should absolutely be done.
BC SPORTS FAN:
Jim Benning, please trade Del Zaster and Guddy. With Petterson and Boeser next year we have a good group of young forwards, now if we can get a couple of good D-men.

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