The Canucks after the frenzy

Who's (back) in: Kevin Bieksa (re-signed to a 5 year deal worth 23M with a no-trade clause), Maxim Lapierre (re-signed to a 2 year deal worth 2M), Andrew Alberts (re-signed to a 2 year 2.45M contract), Sami Salo (re-signed for 1 year at 2M), Chris Higgins (re-signed to a 2 year 3.8M deal), Mark Mancari (1 year at 525K), Marco Sturm (signed for 1 year at 2.25M), Andrew Ebbett (525K deal is 1 year), Nolan Baumgartner (signed for 1 year at 525K on a two way deal)

Please see article below for analysis of the re-signings of Bieksa and Lapierre.

Salo is a veteran defenseman, 36, and while he seems to be cursed with injuries, the bottom line is this deal gives the Canucks depth on the blueline. A one year contract is a safe signing with a small cap hit in case he does go down with an injury or two. Alberts offers a 6'5” frame and even more depth on the Vancouver blueline corps, which is something the Canucks seem to always need at their disposal. Both Salo and Alberts are solid depth signings as the likes of Chris Tanev and possibly Kevin Connauton are emerging on the blueline. And to quote Gillis, “I think Keith Ballard is going to be a good player for us next year and I think Chris Tanev can step up and play more minutes and have a more active role.”

Higgins gave Vancouver some jam in the top 9 during the playoffs, but he's been a goal scorer during his career and it's hoped he can gain back some of his old scoring touch with MTL where he had a 27 goal season. Mancari is a 6'4” 225lbs minor league goal scorer one goal away from averaging three 30 goal season in the AHL. He could spot duty on the Canucks roster, but he has yet to prove he's an established NHLer. Sturm isn't the answer for VAN's second line winger, but he adds a veteran presence with some scoring pop. Pretty good signing for a depth scorer. Ebbett gives Vancouver another depth role player. He's undersized but brings speed and feistiness to the lineup.

Who's out: Christian Ehrhoff (traded to NYI and signed by BUF for 10 years 40M), Raffi Torres (signed by PHX to a 2 year 3M deal), Alex Bolduc (signed with PHX for 1 year on a two-way deal worth 575K), Sergei Shirokov (signed a 3 year deal with CSKA Moscow), Tanner Glass (signed with WPG for 750K), Jeff Tambellini (Europe), Lee Sweatt (unknown), Mario Bliznak (Czech Republic), Rick Rypien (signed by WPG for one year at 700K)

Mike Gillis was offering Ehrhoff 4.5M-4.9M to stay in VAN, but Ehrhoff wouldn't take it. That begs the question, why wouldn't he sign here? Well, the contract may not have been to his liking: the number of years on his new contract is 10, Gillis wasn't offering that. 18M of the contract is also given within the first two years, which offers security for Ehrhoff should the NHL, God forbid, enter another lockout. He will be missed on Vancouver's blueline but 10 year deals rarely pay-off even with a low salary in the final 3 years.

Torres departed for PHX for a 2 year contract which, again, gives a little more security to a player's future than the one year deal Gillis was offering. Torres gave the Canucks some bite and little scoring, but with the emergence and expected signings of Victor Oreskovich and Jannik Hansen, Raffi's services are replaceable. Bolduc was only a NHL fourth liner here and there. With Cody Hodgson and Jordan Schroeder in need of NHL development in the coming years, Bolduc became expendable and is no longer needed in a depth role. Shirokov has gone back to Russia after only playing 8 games for the Canucks where he contributed one goal. His minor league scoring would have been missed but the Mancari signing is actually an upgrade in that department. Glass was a pretty good fourth liner but is in the same situation as Torres in that Oreskovich and Hansen can replace what he brings. Tambellini, when he was scoring, provided an energetic game with a nice scoring compliment, but that side of his game eroded and stronger and tougher players on the Canucks roster replaced him on the fourth line.

Undecided: Jannik Hansen, Victor Oreskovich, Jonas Andersson, Guillaume Desbiens, Nathan Paetsch, Andrew Peters, MacGregor Sharp, and Tyler Weiman

Updated depth chart available on The Hockey News website.

Behind the scenes: According to Eklund, NHLSourcesSay, Farhan Lalji, News 1130 Sports, TSN, the Vancouver Sun, and Jim Jamieson.

Canucks had interest in John Madden, Michael Rupp, and Michal Handzus. Gillis also called Joel Ward, Sean Bergenheim, Anthony Stewart, and Rick Rypien. He did not talk to Tomas Fleischmann. The Canucks offered Ville Leino a multi year deal over 2M. Also looked/looking at a possible trade that may involve NYR and NJ as Gillis has hinted a defenseman may not be on the free agent market that can help the Canucks. Gillis has tenured qualifying offers to Jannik Hansen and Victor Oreskovich. Tanner Glass would have liked to re-sign in VAN but two other teams talked to him before he got signed. Sergei Shirokov did receive a qualifying offer while Lee Sweatt and Mario Bliznak both did not.