Well, by the sounds of it the Vancouver Canucks missed out on Jiri Hudler. The Dallas Stars were able to lock down the Czech utility forward, agreeing to terms on a one-year pact valued at $2-million.

That’s one less middle-six scorer on the open market. I’ve heard the Canucks are looking for one such player right now, too. So, I guess it’s back to the drawing board. There are a couple of free agents left, but it’s going to require some high-end creativity to find the type of player they feel their lineup needs.

So, do you have any suggestions? What should the Canucks do to put the finishing touches on their lineup? Trade suggestions, free agency… hell, standing pat even. What’s your suggestion?

Last week I asked: If you were Jimmy Vesey where would you sign and why?

Vesey, if he thinks he is good enough to make the team, will sign with Buffalo. If he isn’t sure, he will go to Toronto. He won’t go to Calgary because no NCAA free agent could crack the line-up.

We don’t need Vesey, we have Boeser. BB has already surpassed Vesey’s best season, and that’s as a rookie.

But, if I were Vesey, pretty sure I have a big bowl of chow-dah waiting for me in Boston.

Brian Burke had it right, a lot of eastern media hype about an unproven NHL player. The Toronto SN site is filled with stories of the next leaf. Its becoming laughable.

You know it’s a good day here on CA when I look at the last 10 articles and I don’t see Jeff Velette’s name there.

Maybe it’s ground hog hibernating time and he’s crawled into a hole some where?

Oh, may bad, Jeff’s not a ground hog, he’s a weasel so he should be around garbage.

Side note – is JD related to Brian Burke?

I would sign in Nashville. Sure, the relationship is already rough from the start what with not signing there originally, but I’m sure Nashville fans would forgive him after recouping some assets in trading his rights.

There probably is a CBA clause that covers up this loophole, but since this rule is barely exercised in the first place, maybe there isn’t? I don’t have time to look it up.

Nonetheless, Nashville has an incredibly solid D corps (possibly tops in the league), a strong goaltending duo, and top-end young forward skill with Johansen and Forsberg especially. Plus, Vesey would probably get to meet Carrie Underwood, who seems really cool. I don’t get why he didn’t sign in Nashville in the first place.

Vesey – “I would like to sign up with Vancouver, because deep down I’m a Canucks fan … and it’s August”