Like I sadid earlier, "Who cares about NBA free agency when you have NHL free agency going on?" LeBron will end up back with the Cavs, Wade will be back with the Heat, and the Clippers wil stil have just 5 players under contract when the day is done. In the NHL, meanwhile, players are moving around more than a hummingbird on meth (original). One LSF squad has been particularly active, and it's time to report on their action so far.
If you glance back to May 13, 2010 on this blog, I dropped my offseason preview post, and while the Canucks probably aren't completely done moving pieces around, you an see my starting lineup already has some problems. For starters, I had Grabner and Berniers starting on the third line and they were both dealt on draft day to the Panthers for Keith Balard. Whoops. Another change to the defense after a move today totally shifts things around. Lets examine the pluses as of late, since you already know I was heartbroken over losing Stevie B and Crazy Eyes Grabner.
+Keith Ballard (D): The Minnie native and Gopher graduate was drafted by Buffalo 11th overall back in 2002. He has averaged 6.6 goals/season in his NHL career, along with 29.8 points and he's a career -11. 8 goals, 20 assists, and 88 penalty minutes seems like a strong season last year, and maybe I'm overly worried about the +/-. I've been told he's easily a top 4 defender, and I chose to believe it.
+Joel Perrault (C): The former Ducks 5th rounder and Montreal native may get a shot as the 4th line center for the Canucks, or he may get a plane ticket to Manitoba. Last season he netted a goal in just two game for the 'Yotes, which projects to 41 goals over a season! Watch out!!
+Manny Malhotra (C): A possible third line center option, the former #7 overall pick from the Rangers comes over after a 14 goal/19 assist/+ 17 season from San Jose. He used to 15+ minutes of ice time, and sounds like an interesting 30 year old addition to this young team.
+Jeff Tambellini (LW): The son of the Edmonton Oilers GM and Calgary native (collective spit on the ground) had 7 goals and 7 assists with the Isles last season. Hard to believe he'll crack into the Vannie lineup next year, but you never know.
+Dan Hamhuis (D): Here he is! The crown jewel of our efforts on day one has come into our possession. A BC native, The Hammer is prepared for both a warm homecoming and intense scructiny for his play. Evidently the entirety of V-Town is talking about this, with reports that it's all people are talking about when they're out to eat or simply just out and about. He's getting big money at 6 years and $4.5 per year, and he'll need some big results. He may have had just 24 points last season, but he was a +5, and he brings a huge presence, and consistency (averaging 26.8 points per season). He would have been right around the #3 blue liner in terms of points, and us fans around Orca Nation are pumped.
So, welcome to the new Canucks. And to give us fans an idea of where were at now, here's what we've got going for us 4 months before the puck drops-
Under contract and RFAs:
G- Luongo and Schneider
D- Bieksa, Ehrhoff, Salo, Edler, Alberts, O'Brien, Hamhuis, and Ballard.
LW- Daniel, Darcy, Ma$e, and Tambellini.
C- Henrik, Kesler, Rypien, Tanner Glass, Malhotra, and Perrault.
RW- Samuelsson, Jannik Hansen, and Burrows.
Obviously you notice 8 defenders, just 3 right wingers, and just 4 left wingers. So, I think you know what that means our next move is. At least one defender is going to be swapped for a winger. The latest rumor is that Bieksa may be on his way out, but I'd sure hate that. Can't we put the target on SOB or Alberts? I guess we wouldn't get very much.
Ah well. Much more to come from the open signing/tradung period we're in right now, and it sure will be fun.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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