The Year of the RFA



The top 3 draftees from 2008 will command a big pay-day this summer



As the offseason approaches, one of the themes to this summer will be the amount of high quality restricted free agents available. Steven Stamkos, Zach Parise, Shea Weber and Drew Doughty headline the list but the following players are also available:

• Keith Yandle
• Andrew Ladd
• Zach Bogosian
• Ryan Callahan
• Brandon Dubinsky
• Luke Schenn
• Tyler Bozak

Its a long list, but a RFA's carry price tags that go beyond their salary. Depending on what an RFA is signed for, the team losing the player receives compensation in the form of draft picks. If a team (other than Tampa Bay) sign Steven Stamkos, who presumably deserves over the $7,835,219 threshold, that team would give up their next four first round draft choices to the Lightning. There are five other levels of compensation that vary by salary, each of them less costly than the last.

For some franchises, the repercussions of giving away valuable picks pushes them away from RFA's. In other cases however, teams may see that it wont hurt them to give up the picks, so they go after the player. Of the high profile players we have named, many will stay put because they will sign big money contracts that will put them in the highest compensation thresholds.

There is some speculation around Vancouver that Weber could be destined for the Canucks. I am a supporter of this move, BUT Nashville is bringing him to arbitration, and the fact they can match any offer we make puts me in a cautiously optimistic state. Seriously though, imagine Weber in a Canucks uniform alongside Bieksa, Hamhuis, Edler and Ballard (who can't be possibly be as bad as he was).

Stamkos is another RFA that will likely stay put, as probably will Doughty. Both players' teams have made it clear they intend to sign them. The Lightning are not going to walk away from Stamkos, a top 3 player in the NHL today and the franchise cornerstone. The Kings are building towards something great and I would be extremely surprised to see Doughty walk away. They have plenty of cap room for any situation that should arise, however.

Among the other RFA's however, there are some players that could change teams. After signing $100 million dollar man Ilya Kovalchuk last summer, New Jersey is in a cap crunch and it's very much a reality that Parise could leave. Zach Bogosian was packed and ready to leave Atlanta, but now its Winnipeg and that may change his thinking. No matter where he goes, Bogosian is primed for a big year, and when he does breakout, he will be a major force.

NHL Realignment

The Jets open the regular season at home against Montreal

 

The current NHL divisional construct may be headed into its final season. The establishment of the Winnipeg Jets franchise, who will retain the Thrashers spot in the Southeast division for the entire 2011-2012 season, has led the NHL to seriously consider a significant league wide realignment for the 2012-2013 season. Detroit, a member of the Western Conference since its formation for the 1993-1994 season, has long lobbied for a move to the Eastern Conference. Nashville and Columbus have also indicated a preference to play in the East. For the fans longing for the days of the Adams, Patrick, Norris, and Smythe divisions, the proposed realignment would include four divisions, two containing eight teams and two containing seven. How might these divisions look? Here’s my best guess.

Division A

Carolina Hurricanes

Florida Panthers

New York Islanders

New York Rangers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Philadelphia Flyers

Tampa Bay Lightning

Washington Capitals

Division B

Boston Bruins

Buffalo Sabres

Columbus Blue Jackets

Detroit Red Wings

Montreal Canadiens

New Jersey Devils

Ottawa Senators

Toronto Maple Leafs

Division C

Chicago Blackhawks

Colorado Avalanche

Dallas Stars

Minnesota Wild

Nashville Predators

Phoenix Coyotes

St. Louis Blues

Division D

Anaheim Ducks

Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oilers

Los Angeles Kings

San Jose Sharks

Vancouver Canucks

Winnipeg Jets

The obvious flaw with the NHL’s radical realignment plan is the uneven number of teams per division, giving a pronounced advantage to the teams in Division C and Division D. The league has other, less drastic options to accommodate Winnipeg’s move to the Western Conference. The simplest transition would involve four teams making logical geographic moves and would preserve the NHL’s current six division format. 

Northeast

Status Quo

Atlantic 

Status Quo

Southeast

Carolina Hurricanes

Florida Panthers

Tampa Bay Lightning

Washington Capitals

Nashville Predators (From Central)

Central

Chicago Blackhawks

Columbus Blue Jackets

Detroit Red Wings

St. Louis Blue

Dallas Stars (From Pacific)

Pacific

Anaheim Ducks

Los Angeles Kings

Phoenix Coyotes

San Jose Sharks

Colorado Avalanche (From Northwest)

Northwest

Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oilers

Minnesota Wild

Vancouver Canucks

Winnipeg Jets (From Southeast – Atlanta Thrashers)

The Nordiques would love to follow in the footsteps of the Jets

The league can align itself any way it likes, ultimately the Canucks will always be at a disadvantage in terms of travel. The geographic rivalries with Edmonton and Calgary would be retained, and former Smythe division foe Winnipeg would be a welcomed addition to the division. If the NHL does follow through with the proposed four division format, the inclusion of Anaheim, San Jose, and Los Angeles would be advantageous to Vancouver because of all four cities are located in the Pacific Time zone. If the league is seriously considering installing a divisional construct that includes four divisions, the best option would be to further expand into Canada; adding a team in Southern Ontario and a team in Quebec City would give the NHL thirty-two teams to split evenly into four divisions.

Kevin Bieksa

Bieksa has spent the entirety of his NHL career in Vancouver

Kevin Bieksa has committed his services to the Vancouver Canucks for the foreseeable future. Bieksa and the Canucks agreed to a five year, 23 million dollar deal, four days before July 1^st, when Bieksa was set to become an unrestricted free agent. The 30 year old defencemen played a key role in the Canucks run to the Stanley Cup finals and had indicated he would take something of a “hometown discount” to stay in Vancouver. Bieksa’s cap hit is a manageable 4.6 million, a figure that should give the Canucks enough cap space to retain Christian Ehrhoff. When paired with Dan Hamhuis, Bieksa was at his absolute best, free to operate in a more offensive role. Now, Hamhuis and Bieksa are both signed through the 2015-2016 season and they provide the Canucks with a reliable defensive pairing to use against their opponents top line. The question with Bieksa has always been a health related issue. He has missed 101 regular season games over the past four seasons, having twice suffered unfortunate and inexplicable leg injuries, the result of two separate skate related wounds. When healthy, Bieksa is an integral part of the Canucks lineup and it’s the obvious reason that the front office decided resigning him was a priority. 

Kevin Bieksa wasn’t the only Canucks player signed on Monday. Trade deadline acquisition Maxim Lapierre returns in the form of a two year, 2 million dollar contract. Lapierre filled in admirably for Manny Malhotra as the third line centre when Malhotra was sidelined with a serious eye injury. Lapierre won’t contribute much offensively (only one goal in 19 regular season games following the trade from Anaheim,) but he is a dependable bottom six forward and will likely be Vancouver’s fourth line centre for the 2011-2012 season. 

Ehrhoff could command upwards of 5 million dollars on the open market

Now the attention of the Canucks front office moves to Ehrhoff. The soon to be 29 year old defenceman is coming off his first 50 point season and has been awarded the Babe Pratt trophy for the Canucks best defenceman (or in Vancouver’s case, healthiest defenceman,) in consecutive seasons. All signs point to Ehrhoff testing free agency and it is likely that he will receive a significant offer from another team in need of a puck moving, power play pivot. If Ehrhoff chooses to take slightly less and resign with Vancouver, it would be hard to argue against the quality of the Canucks defensive corps.

Draft Day Trades Recap

Yesterday was the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and, while entertaining it its own right, it was largely overshadowed by the announcement of a name for the Winnipeg Jets and a bevy of trades. In fact, it felt more like Trade Deadline than the Entry Draft. With all of these events happening at once, it’s tough to find time to digest every aspect of the trades, so we here at 41 Seasons will do it for you. Ranging from mundane to blockbuster, here are the trades as they shook out yesterday;

Evgeny Grachev (NYR) for 3^rd Round Pick (STL)

· Teams Involved: New York Rangers & St. Louis Blues

· The Details: Grachev, a Russian winger, was New York’s third round pick in 2008 at 75^th overall. This past season with the Connecticut Whale of the AHL, Grachev put up 16 tallies, along with 22 helpers in 73 games. He also played 8 games this season with the Rangers, but was held pointless and was a -3.

The 3^rd round pick was used by the Rangers to select Steven Fogarty of the Edina Hornets of the Minnesota Boys High School Hockey League. Fogarty set career highs with 23 goals and 17 assists in a mere 24 games last season and finished with a +14 rating.

· The Spin: Both players are solid prospects for their respective teams, though Grachev seems more NHL ready, both in experience and in physical stature; Grachev weighs in at 6’4”, 222lbs at age 21, while Fogarty is 6’2”, 194lbs at age 18. We’ll have to wait and see on this trade to see who truly benefits down the road.

· The Grade:

o New York: C

o St. Louis: C+

Nikita Filatov (CBJ) for 3^rd Round Pick (OTT)

· Teams Involved: Columbus Blue Jackets & Ottawa Senators

· The Details: Filatov, the 6^th overall pick for the Blue Jackets back in ’08, has struggled to find consistency in his NHL play. While bouncing between Springfield of the AHL and Columbus throughout the year, the Russian winger managed to put up a paltry 7 assists in 23 NHL games and only has 6 goals and 13 points in 44 career games. Perhaps the opportunity to play in Ottawa, a place where he’ll be given “every chance” according to GM Bryan Murray is just what he needs to develop.

The 3^rd rounder was later used to select Thomas Tynan of Notre Dame. While he may not be the biggest in stature at 5’9”, 170lbs, Tynan was a big part of his team, leading them to the Frozen Four with 31 helpers and potting 23 in 44 games played. He was tied for third overall in scoring in CCHA.

· The Spin: It’s a trade that seems to work all around; the Sens get themselves a quality, first round prospect that can develop in their system and Columbus starts fresh with a new face. I think Filatov will end up being the more productive player down the round, but that’s the fun of prospects – you just gotta wait and see.

· The Grade:

o Columbus: C

o Ottawa: B

Robyn Regehr, Ales Kotalik & 2^nd Round Pick (CAL) for Chris Butler & Paul Byron (BUF)

·Teams Involved: Calgary Flames & Buffalo Sabres

· The Details: Regehr is the big name in this trade; having put up 2 goals and 15 assists in each of the past two seasons, he’s anything but inconsistent. Kotalik is looking to rekindle his offensive firepower as a Buffalo Sabre for the second time in his career. He put up an average of 35 points per year with Buffalo, but hasn’t managed to put up more than 6 points in either of his two seasons with the Flames.

Chris Butler followed up a 21 point, -15 rating 2009-2010 season with 9 points and a +8 rating this year. While his increase in +/- is promising in the defensive area of his game, the drop off in scoring is concerning. As for Byron, he’s a small but skilled center with the ability to put points on the board. Last year with Portland of the AHL he had 53 points in 67 games.

· The Spin: The Sabres were looking to add a veteran presence on their blueline and they got exactly that in 31-year old Regehr. The native of Brazil had been with Calgary since 1999, and now looks to be a mentor to up and coming talent like Tyler Myers. The 2^nd round pick is slated to be used in 2012, so we’ll have to wait until then to see the full impact of this trade. Calgary managed to shed some cap room, and the two prospects are promising, with Butler able to play in the short term.

· The Grade:

o Calgary: B

o Buffalo B-

John-Michael Liles (COL) for 2^nd Round Pick (TOR)

· Teams Involved: Toronto Maple Leafs & Colorado Avalanche

· The Details: Liles’ 40 assists last year were a career high, and his 46 points fell just short of topping the career high 49 point output of his sophomore season. His -16 career rating leaves room for improvement, but is likely due to a poor supporting cast on the blueline.

· The Spin: Liles, having played his entire career in slowly depreciating Denver market, is now moving into the highest pressure hockey city on Earth so it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the scrutiny of the media and fans as he tries to improve upon another solid season. While at 30 years old, he may no longer be at his prime, he has shown no signs of slowing down and should be a virtual lock for another 30-45 point season. As far as the pick goes, Toronto may not be headed for as awful a finish as years past, so the value of the pick may dwindle.

· The Grade:

o Colorado: B

o Toronto: B+

Brian Campbell (CHI) for Rostislav Olesz (FLA)

· Parties Involved: Chicago Blackhawks & Florida Panthers

· The Details: Campbell, a perennial all-star at defense, waved his no-trade clause to move down to sunny Florida. Why would he go to Florida instead of staying in Chicago? Two words: South. Beach. Maybe he was unhappy playing behind Seabrook and Keith as a #3 defenseman, but whatever the reason he seems headed for a spot top defensive pairing for the Panthers. His career average of better than a half point per game will be welcomed for a team with a stagnant offense, though over the past two season, Campbell’s production has dropped from 52 points in ‘08-‘09, to 38 in ‘09-‘10, to a paltry 27 in ‘10-’11, mostly due to injury woes.

Olesz is also no stranger to injury hindering his output: two seasons ago his season was cut short by 43 games due to a groin injury, and he hasn’t fully recovered since. He put up an average of .34 points per game over the last 3 seasons (55 points in 159 games).

· The Spin: Campbell seems to be just another discarded, expensive piece of the ex-champion Blackhawks. The deal looks simply like a salary dump on behalf of Chicago, and since Florida will need to up their payroll to hit the salary cap floor, the deal works for both parties, though I believe Chicago could have gotten more for him.

· The Grade:

o Chicago: C+

o Florida: B+

Troy Brouwer (CHI) for 1^st Round Pick (WSH)

· Teams Involved: Chicago Blackhawks & Washington Capitals

· The Details: Brouwer has always been known as a grinder with a small upside of scoring. At the age of 25, Brouwer has steadily improved from his rookie season, putting up 39 goals the past two seasons after only 10 in his first year. He’s solid defensively as well and, as a Canucks fan, I know how irritating he can be to opposing teams. The first round pick was later used to select Phillip Danault of Victoriaville of the QMJHL. Danault is an 18 year old left winger who recently won the QMJHL equivalent of the Selke Trophy while also posting a solid stat line of 23-44-67 in 64 games.

· The Spin: While Danault may need some time to develop, he should be a solid contributor for the Hawks down the road. The Caps, looking for a second or third line presence have found exactly that in Brouwer, and he should help Washington in their push to finally get past the second round.

· The Grade:

o Chicago: B

o Washington: B

Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle & 1^st Round Pick (SJ) for Brent Burns & 2^nd Round Pick (MIN)

· Teams Involved: San Jose Sharks & Minnesota Wild

· The Details: Setoguchi is the headliner in this trade, the 24 year old has already reached the 30 goal plateau in his career, and has 159 points in 267 career NHL games. Though he struggled mightily with consistency last season, he still put up a respectable 22 goals and 41 points in 72 games. He was resigned to a 3 year, $9-million deal just a day before he was dealt.

Burns is coming off of a stellar year in which he potted 17 goals and 29 helpers while being selected to his first career All-Star game. Playing in an offensively loaded Sharks lineup should help further improve his stock since Minnesota wasn’t known for their offensive prowess.

Charlie Coyle was selected 28^th overall in last year’s entry draft after being named the EJHL Rookie of the Year, finishing fifth overall in scoring with 21 goals and 63 points in 42 games. At 6’2” and 205lbs at the age of 19, Coyle is a powerful skater and should eventually make a splash in the Wild organization.

The 2^nd round pick is for 2012 and will be used in next year’s draft.

· The Spin: While it may be a hefty price to pay for a possible one-year wonder of a defenseman, the Sharks are better for pulling the trigger on this deal. Setoguchi’s inconsistency was likely the deciding factor, though that begs the question as to why they locked him up for 3 years a day prior to trading him. Burns was likely dealt since he was heading into the last year of his contract, but should thrive in the Northern Californian team’s offensive system, and should be looked to improve upon this past year’s numbers. Coyle is also a strong up and comer and should provide Minnesota with a player to look forward to.

· The Grade:

o San Jose: B

o Minnesota: B+

It was originally thought that Ryan “Captain Canada” Smyth was headed back to the Oilers in a deal involving ex-Vancouver Giant Gilbert Brule, but due to an alleged “illness”, the deal has been held up on the side of Los Angeles. Other than that, this caps the excitement of all the Draft Day trades.

Philadelphia: Ingenious or Insanity?

Today the Philadelphia Flyers completed two deals that left many wondering simply, why? The core of their team, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, shipped out of town in a matter of minutes. Richards, the team captain, the heart and soul of the franchise is packing up for hollywood. Meanwhile Jeff Carter, the team's resident sniper and 1st line center is heading to Columbus to join forces with Rick Nash in what could be a deadly duo.

Since about December 2009, there has been rumours floating around that everything wasn't quite right in the Flyers dressing room. After taking some heat for off ice issues regarding the local nightlife, the dynamic in the room changed. But making it to the Stanley Cup Final surely cured whatever was ailing the team. Right? Perhaps not, seeing as Paul Holmgren just signed off on two blockbuster trades completely altering the landscape of the Philadelphia Flyers.

What does this mean for the Flyers? Well for starters they have lost a lot of experience, but they have also gained some of the brighteset young talent in the league. Jakub Voracek is a big skiled kid who, given the right mix could score 30 goals this year. Wayne Simmonds is another guy who could pot 20 but is also defensively responsible and posted a +22 mark a couple years ago. And, probably the most important piece coming back the Flyers way, Brayden Schenn. This kid has drawn high comparisons and has the pedigree to back it up. He was the best player on the ice for Canada at the world juniors and had nearly posted a 2.00 PPG with the Saskatoon Blades this year.

The Kings and Blue Jackets add pieces they desperately needed, and for what I'd say is a reasonable price. Richards is that 2nd line center that has eluded LA for a few years now. Richards is a leader and will be a great fit on a young Kings squad. Rick Nash has needed a pivot that could keep pace with him for what seems like forever. Today the Jackets finally added that player. Nash and Carter together have the potential to be scary good, and on Columbus' side of things its a pretty good trade.

Who knows who will win these trades, we can only speculate until the teams get back on the ice. However we do know come October, Philadelphia will be a new look team. The question now is , for better or for worse?

2011 Draft Top 30 - Michael Stewart

1) Gabriel Landeskog: Most complete player in the draft. Ready to step on to an NHL roster and make a difference. Imagine a goal scoring Peter Forsberg who fights.

2) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: Great player with hands and vision of a seasoned NHLer. Needs to bulk up but will be a difference maker when he gets to the show.

3) Sean Couturier: He dropped on a lot of lists because of a sub-par second half, but his talent didn’t go anywhere. This kid can score and he’s big.

4) Jonathan Huberdeau: He has all the tools and is a game breaker. He could be a star given a season or two to mature.

5)Ryan Murphy: Murphy has shown me enough to deserve a spot in the top 5. He can control a game from the back end and is a bona fide power play quarterback.

6) Dougie Hamilton: Is a force on the blueline and has honed his two-way game. He is calm, moves the puck well and is mobile for someone his size.

7) Ryan Strome: Similar to Matt Duchene and could be as good as him too. Uses his speed effectively, and can score from everywhere on the rink.

8) Adam Larsson: Most over-rated player in the draft. He will be a bust mark my words. But he is in everyone’s top 10 so I guess I should put him there too. I guess.

9) Mika Zibanejad: Offensively talented and physical too. Zibanejad is a force and some team will be lucky to get him on draft day.

10) Nathan Beaulieu: A safe solid pick who will be a reliable defenseman for years to come. He can chip in some offense but is not a defensive liability either.

11) Joel Armia: A big forward with some polish, Armia can score and has hands but the consistent effort needs improvement. Could add some grit.

12) Sven Baertschi: Great playmaking forward. Baertschi’s vision is second to none and he makes things happen. Could be the next Nicklas Backstrom.

13) Duncan Siemens: Solid defenseman with a bit of both worlds to his game. He plays on his team’s 1^st unit power play and penalty kill.

14) Mark McNeill: One of my favourite players in the draft. Hard working two way player with a nose for the net. He has all the potential to be a star.

15) Zack Phillips: Phillips won the Memorial Cup with Saint Johns this year, and put up great numbers, but you often wonder if that’s a result of his quality linemates.

16) Vladislav Namestnikov: Nephew of former Red Wing great Slava Kozlov, Namestnikov has a quick shot and a goal scorer’s knack for the net.

17) Ty Rattie: Good player on a good team. Small but skilled, Rattie uses his creativity to make offense, and has great hands.

18) Miikka Salomaki: Two way forward with a complete game. Salomaki is a bit of a risk-reward pick but he has potential.

19) Rocco Grimaldi: Could be the smallest player ever to be drafted in the first round. Doesn’t matter though, he creates chances from nothing.

20) Jonas Brodin: He will never be mistaken for an offensive defenseman but reliable guy who you can put out on thi ce in crucial situations.

21) Jamie Oleksiak: An absolute monster at 6’7 240lbs, Oleksiak is a force. He is atypical of big men, as he moves well and makes a good first pass.

22) Brandon Saad: Speedy two way forward. Saad translates into a checking line forward at the NHL level, however he has shown some pop in junior.

23) Markus Granlund: Granlund’s hockey sense and skill are so high he deserves a spot in the top 30. He needs to bulk up and get faster to improve.

24) Boone Jenner: One of the hardest workers in the draft, Jenner can score, and play defense. Needs to work on focus but overall he is a solid pick.

25) Joe Morrow: Mobile, puck moving defenseman with offensive potential. If he can stay healthy.

26) Mark Scheifele: Power forward who does his best work in the corners, Scheifele needs to score more to show he can be a make the big time.

27) Tomas Jurco: Legendary hands. Say whatever you want about the kid, but those hands. Oh my those hands.
28) David Musil: He has been dropping for quite some while but I don’t buy it. He isn’t flashy, but he is quietly solid and plays an effective two way game.

29) Matt Puempel: Puempel is a pure scorer with gifted offensive abilities. His consistency has come into question and will be a factor in draft position.

30) Max Friberg: Friberg is another guy off the board, but hey, the Red Wings make a living drafting guys like him. Speedy forward with some offense.

Guest Contributor Kalin Bullman's Top 30

1) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-No brainer, Oilers will draft him and eventually trade a prospect or two for a defenseman or two. He said he’d love to play for oilers, God knows why...

2) Gabriel Landeskog-Hard working player with skill, good in all areas. Pretty sure he’s from Canada not Sweden with that accent...

3) Adam Larsson-Best defenseman in draft, NHL ready.

4) Jonathan Huberdeau-Good forward with a great season. Needs to improve his English, a Swede speaks it better than him.

5) Dougie Hamilton-6-4 defenseman with offensive capabilities. Enough said.

6) Mika Zibanejed-Half Swedish half Iranian. Soon Nik Antropov won't be the only player from that neck of the woods...

7) Ryan Murphy-A sweet offensive defenseman. Tiny bit short though for a defenseman.

8) Sean Couturier-He won't go earlier because he needs improvement, but good a solid goal scorer.

9) Ryan Strome-106 points in 65 games...and he’s clutch.

10) Nathan Beaulieu-Good guy to round out my top ten. Intelligent puck moving defenseman with height.

11) Mark Scheifele-Solid center man. Could have been better had he not been on a terrible team.

12) Jonas Brodin-I love me a good defensive defenseman. Kid needs to bulk up though, I weigh almost as much as him.

13) Duncan Siemens-Sweet defenseman. He gets points, has an edge, and good defensively.

14) Sven Bartschi-He’s from Switzerland! Oh and his 27 points in 20 playoff games is good too.

15) Jamie Oleksiak-He’s a 6 foot7 defenseman! My favourite type of player. And can occasionally contribute offensively. He weighs 245! New Pronger or Chara? Probably not, but he’s good.

16) Rocco Grimaldi-He has a sick name. Buffalo will draft him because they have a thing for short players. Sweet player though.

17) Joel Armia-Risky pick, but he’s got the size for a good forward.

18) JT Miller-Good, hard working American boy. Scores and hits. I hope he becomes a goon in the NHL.

19) Tyler Biggs-Decent scorer. Rugged, hardnosed player. Might be a new Byfuglien style player in front of the net.

20) Joe Morrow-Good offensively as a defenseman. Needs to work on improving in his own end.

21) Oscar Klefbom-Another sweet name, another sweet defensive defenseman. All teams could always use more of this type of player.

22) Connor Murphy-He’s going to jump up in the draft. Good all around defenseman.

23) Mark McNeil-Good centerman. Could eventually be a 3rd or 2nd line center.

24) John Gibson-A goalie will go in the first round, and its Gibson. Reliable Goaltender.

25) Brandon Saad-Solid winger, good shot and good skating ability.

26) Boone Jenner-He’s going to be a good player through work ethic and his emotional drive alone.

27) Nicklas Jensen-Good shot, good size, smart kid. Needs to work on his speed.

28) Zack Phillips-Good forward who got 95 points in 67 games. He has character, but not speed.

29) Vladislav Namestnikov-Coolest Russian name ever including his first name...good player, but could always go to KHL if he does not want to try for NHL.

30) Victor Rask-The final pick in the first round will be him. Good speed and can become even stronger and heavier. Good puck handling and finish.

Canucks Offseason Outlook

2010-2011 Vancouver Canucks Roster Contract Situation

FORWARDS

Ryan Kesler (5 years, 5.0M cap hit)

Daniel Sedin (3 years, 6.1M cap hit)

Henrik Sedin (3 years, 6.1M cap hit)

Manny Malhotra (2 years, 2.5M cap hit)

Alex Burrows (2 years, 2.0M cap hit)

Mason Raymond (1 year, 2.55M cap hit)

Mikael Samuelsson (1 year, 2.5M cap hit)

Jannik Hansen (RFA)

Maxim Lapierre (RFA)

Victor Oreskovich (RFA)

Chris Higgins (UFA)

Raffi Torres (UFA)

Tanner Glass (UFA)

Jeff Tambellini (UFA)

DEFENCEMEN

Dan Hamhuis (5 years, 4.5M cap hit)

Keith Ballard (4 years, 4.2M cap hit)

Alex Edler (2 years, 3.25M cap hit)

Aaron Rome (1 year, 750k cap hit)

Lee Sweat (RFA)

Kevin Bieksa (UFA)

Christian Ehrhoff (UFA)

Sami Salo (UFA)

Andrew Alberts (UFA)

GOALTENDERS

Roberto Luongo (11 years, 5.3M cap hit)

Cory Schneider (1 year, 900k cap hit)

The Canucks made it all the way to game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals, a mere sixty minutes away from hockey’s holy grail, but four goals against later and the Canucks enter the offseason of Cup-less season number 41 with their share of decisions to make. The immediate (and completely irrational) reaction is to want to make significant changes to the roster. I can assure you that will not be the case. If Mike Gillis has proven anything during his tenure as general manager, it has been the ability not to overreact to the fan base’s impulsive demands. Vancouver’s cap space is near fourteen million, but that number is due to rise to close to nineteen million if the reports of a substantial increase in the salary cap (from 59 million to 64 million according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie) are valid.

The common Canucks fan will point to Roberto Luongo as the sole reason for the team’s inability to win the Stanley Cup. Clearly Bobby Lou was not at his best in games six and seven but neither was the rest of the squad, generating a meager 8 goals over the seven game series. The Bruins did what any good opponent should strive to do. They successfully stifled the Canucks game plan and Vancouver’s inability to respond handed the series – and the Cup – to Boston. Articles, like this one written by the Toronto Star's Damien Cox, suggests the Canucks key offseason decision is to trade Luongo, but Cox conveniently forgets Luongo’s full no trade clause. The Canucks pressing free agency issue pertains to the defensive corps. Sami Salo, Christian Ehrhoff, and Kevin Bieksa are all unrestricted free agents. The rise in the salary cap would be a major benefit for Vancouver. It would allow them to keep Hoff and Juice (both have said they would take less to stay in Vancouver). Salo has also indicated he would like to return to Vancouver, but he will be thirty-seven by the time the 2011-2011 season arrives, and if re-signed, would likely be considered a depth player. Restricted free agent Shea Weber has been a name Canucks fans have wanted for a number of years, but it is unlikely the Predators captain will leave Nashville any time soon. Dan Hamhuis, whose absence was undoubtedly felt during the Stanley Cup Finals, is signed through 2015-2016 at 4.5 million dollars per year. The much maligned defenceman Keith Ballard is under contract for four more years and a 4.2 million dollar cap hit. For the first time in his career, Ballard failed to record over 20 points and his average ice time dropped from twenty-two minutes played to sixteen. He never completely gained the trust of coach Alain Vigneault and is a suitable candidate for a trade if the organization doesn’t believe he is the right fit. Alex Edler is a legitimate top four defenceman. Chris Tanev could figure in a larger role next season.

Vancouver’s free agency decisions regarding their forwards are limited to the third and fourth lines. The Sedin twins and Ryan Kesler are entrenched in their positions on the first and second lines for the foreseeable future. Alex Burrows is also signed through 2012-2013 at a team friendly two million dollar cap hit. Second liners Mikael Samuelsson and Mason Raymond (who suffered a broken vertebrae in game six of the Stanley Cup and is headed for a lengthy recovery period,) are signed for next season. The organization could resign Chris Higgins as insurance for the top six but their priority should be retaining RFA’s Jannik Hansen and Victor Oreskovich. Hansen and Oreskovich impressed during the Canucks playoff run and would fit amicably on the third line next season with Manny Malhotra. I would also like the Canucks to keep Tanner Glass in a fourth line role and would not be opposed to welcoming back Maxim Lapierre, but in the role that he was intended to fill when he was acquired at the trade deadline, as the fourth line center.

Contrary to the mindset expressed by Cox in his column, I don’t predict an immense drop-off for the Canucks. It is my belief that the Canucks will return next season as a stronger post-season threat and contend for the Stanley Cup.

41 Seasons Inaugural Post

June 15 2011. A day that will be etched into the memory of the Vancouver Canucks, the NHL, its fans and anyone not living under a shell. I felt as though everything I loved was being torn away from me, and subsequently as though I was watching my home be destroyed by pure idiocy. I welcome all readers to 41 Seasons, a blog dedicated to all things hockey, with a slight bias to our hometown Canucks. As anyone reading this should know, today the Vancouver Canucks failed in their quest to become Stanley Cup champions for the 3rd time in franchise history, and the riots that ensued have been disgustingly brutal. As a Canuck fan and Vancouverite, my heart has been broken, my reputation tarnished, and my hopes relinquished. I honestly don't know how to feel, and I wish as though I could forget everything that has occurred. For those that have never experienced a loss like this, there are no words to describe the pain that is felt. However, we have to move forward and I would like to provide some insight on what to expect from 41 Seasons. Discussion, analysis and opinion on all things hockey, from four North Vancouver hockey fanatics. Israel Fehr, Jeff Clowers, Luke Tully and myself, Michael Stewart will all be contributing to the blog. You can expect breakdown of games, players, prospects, transactions and fantasy. Hopefully the blog is better than its first day in existence.