Let's start off this blog with what I wanted to happen with the deadline for the Canucks. I think I had made it pretty clear that what I wanted Gillis to go out and get was forward depth. What the Canucks had lined up as forwards for the playoff run before the deadline looked as follows:
Daniel Henrik Burrows
Raymond Kesler Samuelsson
Torres Malhotra Hansen
Glass Hodgson Oreskovich
Tambellini
I know a lot of people weren't comfortable with having Hodgson as the fourth line center for the playoffs. I was on the other side of the fence with that one and thought that we would be ok with him in that position. I did however really think we needed to upgrade with a 2nd/3rd line forward.
What Gillis ended up doing was even better. Not only did he get players that should be great for the playoffs he managed to add a lot more than anyone thought possible with the cap. According to capgeek.com the Canucks have roughly $950 in cap space. Not $950,000. $950, less than one thousand.
The trades Gillis pulled off were:
To Van:
Chris Higgins
To Fla:
Evan Oberg
2013 3rd rd pick
To Van:
Maxim Lapierre
MacGregor
To Ana:
Joel Perrault
2012 3rd rd pick
I'll start with the Higgins deal. I absolutely love this trade. Higgins can play on any of the bottom three lines and he will more than likely slot in on the 3rd line with the like of Malhotra and Torres. Higgins brings a very good 5 on 5 point total to the Canucks and has the ability to put up points and get streaky. He is also reliable in his own zone. In 07-08 he scored 27 goals, 12 of those were on the PP. He hasn't really been very good since that season but he also hasn't played on a very good team. He won't be relied upon to be a top scorer with the Canucks just a productive guy who doesn't cost them anything. In this roll I think he will thrive. I expect him to be a difference maker with Torres on this line. Evan Oberg was fairly far down the Canucks defensive depth chart and the 3rd round pick is something that I am willing to give up. What this deal also does for the team is it allows either Hansen or Torres to drop to the fourth line. Either one of those guys are very skilled 4th line guys.
The Lapierre deal I have mixed feelings about. If he tries to do things he can't do and takes bad penalties he won't see much ice time. However if he becomes the player that he can be this could be a huge pick up for the playoffs. AV knows this player very well and used him in a checking roll as a Junior. I expect AV to sit him down and explain to him the "Canucks way", if he buys I will be thrilled. He brings speed, grit and the ability to agitate ala Alex Burrows back in the day. I am thrilled with the way the trade played out. Gillis worked a deal that is very beneficial to the Canucks and the Moose. Joel Perrault has been a very effective player for the Moose and would have been a big loss for them, however the way Gillis worked out the trade Perrault will be staying in Manitoba on loan from the Ducks. He also picked up a prospect that has some grit in MacGregor.
Gillis definitely worked his magic today. Along with Laurence Gilman they worked the cap like geniuses and picked up two great depth guys. They didn't give up much in terms of assets either.
The Canucks forward lineup will probably looks like the following come playoff time.
Daniel Henrik Burrows
Raymond Kesler Samelsson
Higgins Malhotra Torres
Glass Lapierre Hansen
I like the looks of this lineup on paper but I am more excited to see it on the ice. Lapierre will be in tomorrow and Higgins in a week or so. Looking forward to it. Brings on the playoffs.
No comments:
Post a Comment