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WWYDW: Sales! Sales! Sales!
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Photo credit: Matthew Henderson
J.D. Burke
Dec 27, 2017, 13:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 26, 2017, 23:11 EST
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It’s still Boxing Day as I sit here and write this, so let’s stick what that theme, why don’t we? The festivities never end here at CanucksArmy!
If it’s Boxing Day and you’re involved, you’re either a buyer or a seller. There really isn’t any middle ground. It’s a lot like the NHL’s trade deadline. The way things are shaping up, it’s looking like the Canucks’ profile is teetering closer to that of a seller. They’re five points out of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, and even if they were healthy, which they’re not, it would be hard to envision a scenario where they’re playoff competitive right to the end.
We’ve heard that the Canucks are already looking to move Erik Gudbranson sooner than later. Thomas Vanek, on a one-year deal, is an obvious candidate for renting out to a deadline buyer. But who else goes? That’s where things get tricky. Aside from those two, they don’t have any unrestricted free agents on the horizon that are feasible rental candidates.
The Canucks do have a glut of middle of the lineup wingers and bottom-four defenceman, though, and at some point, they’re going to need space for incoming prospects. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Canucks moved a pending restricted free agent, for example, to clear the logjam.
So, if the Canucks come out of the Christmas break and continue to trend towards the sellers part of the market at the trade deadline, who do you see getting moved out? What would you do if you were in charge at the deadline?
Last week I asked: What do you think the Canucks best course of action is to fix their goaltending woes before this season veers into disrepair if it’s not already at that point.
Goon:
Markstrom and Nilsson both started the season strong, and have had bad stretches recently. I don’t think it’s too much to expect them both to return to roughly league-average over the longer term.
What’s causing consternation is that they’ve both hit a rough patch at the same time, which is just bad luck. If Markstrom had been struggling and Nilsson had been playing well, or vice-versa, we wouldn’t be talking about this.
They’re both competent goalies and they’ll both return to form. No need to freak out and ship one of them off for nothing, call up Demko before he’s ready, and cause a real mess.
Jyrki21:
Mathematically, the Canucks are now apparently at a 1% shot of making the playoffs. So I don’t think shoring up the goaltending should really matter all that much for this season, and certainly wouldn’t be worth surrendering any assets. Both guys have looked stellar at times this year – I think these blowouts have more to do with team weakness in their current battered state than they do goaltending as such.
Ragnarok Ouroboros:
I think the Canucks missed having Hutton and Tanev take the puck out of their end zone. The Canucks defense were turn-stiled too often. That said, Nillson let in a lot of garbage goals that game that should not have gone in. I’m talking about all those point shots that had no business of going in. Canucks should have won that game but could not get a timely save at all. I would put Hutton back in and sit Del Zotto, and play Gubrandson until he can be traded.
Forever 1915:
The blowouts are a function of the team strategy. Green is having his team play a high-risk/reward aggressive game which means odd man rushes. Since the Canucks are mostly comprised of bottom 6 / AHL players who can’t score, I’m not surprised at the results. But then again, the alternative is to play a boring, destined-to-lose-anyways defensive game – I’m glad we’re not seeing that. Doesn’t help that Nilsson gives up a 50 footer or Boucher flubs the 6-on-5 at the offensive blue line but stuff happens. When we get regulars like Horvat/Baertschi/Sutter back this season and start injecting more Top 6 scoring talent over the next 2 years (e.g. Pettersson, Dahlen, Gaudette and possibly Gadjovich and Lind), this season will be a distant memory. Too bad we’re not seeing veterans like Eriksson or Gagner step up or getting more consistent production from veterans like Vanek in the meantime.
defenceman factory:
Management should do nothing. Now is not the time to spend assets to try and upgrade goaltending.
The coaching staff however, should be working hard. I don’t know how to coach a goalie but these two guys need some. There is also work to be done with the forwards.I’m sure game tape from the Montreal game produces some prime coaching opportunities. Too many missed assignments and too many high risk passes in the offensive zone.
 Doodly doot:
So…. at least the hockey isn’t boring.

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