Logical Progression wrote:
Cap space? What's that? I can't remember the last time the Canucks were in this position. Possibly the Burke era? Interesting article on the free agency market as it relates to Vancouver.
http://vansunsportsblogs.com/2014/06/19 ... -capspace/Quote:
With technically only five roster spots to fill, the Canucks will have over $21 million in cap space heading into free agency. While that’s not including any potential return in the Kesler trade and some of that money will be eaten up re-signing Mike Santorelli and restricted free agents like Zack Kassian, Chris Tanev, and — maybe — Jordan Schroeder and Yannick Weber, that will still leave the Canucks with plenty of room to spend big money on a big-name free agent or two.
This is absolutely terrifying. Why? Because it is remarkably easy to royally screw up in free agency.
With signs pointing to the need for a full out rebuild, it will be interesting to see how they navigate free agency market and whether they bite on some big names. And with ostensibly only 5 roster spots open, one has to wonder just how much the organization can really modify this team at this stage. Also the Canucks definitely need some more experience in goal, but whether a Hiller level player is required is debatable at this point. As much as I would love to see them go hard after Stastny, his asking price could be in the 9m per season range which is stupid. I would prefer them to just stand pat on FA, stockpile picks this season and service as much as they can from what they have. Ain't gonna happen though.....
For the Canucks right now, it's all about drafting and development. With with all those NTC's I am thinking
reshape is the best we could hope for.
Hmm, seems you're coming around to my way of thinking that they need to focus on a rebuild. It doesn't have to be long only a couple years but they need to get a glut of prospects to make up for the lack of 23-28 year olds on the team. Adding UFA's won't help that, except for Stastny who is 27 but I agree he'll get $9mil this year. There is just so much cash floating around, prices will be high this year.
This is a really big decision, they have enough cap space to get the UFA's to make the playoffs, but they certainly won't be good enough to go far. I much prefer that they sit on the space for a year and get some good draft picks next year but the marketing optics of that won't look good unless Linden and Benning come out and say that making the playoffs are not good enough, winning the cup is what matters and to do that the team has to get bad before it can get better. The fans will accept that if they're straight about it. And I think some of those NTC's will get itchy to go after the cup if they know its a rebuild, they're getting older and don't have too many more opportunities.