With this major piece of off-season work out of the way, it is time to get working on the cap.
Do you move Bieksa for prospects with Salo injured?
Shane O'Brien - clear more cap space?
And where for art thou Willie?
Yep, nope...and wish I knew.
But this (Raymond) was a big piece of the puzzle. It has always struck me that Gillis works from layers of plans and I'm operating on faith that your points are the main issues that Gillis has identified as well.
I remember reports a couple of weeks ago that Willie would be skating by mid month and yet no one is reporting that he is. As usual, could mean something, could mean nothing. But if Bieksa is traded for a cap friendly, serviceable player and Willie Mitchell is signed to some cap friendly number, then we do look pretty formidable going into the season...even without Salo.
w0w0w0w0w0w0 great deal for both sides IMO. Perron deal really set the bar and it perhaps brought the market into line after the crazy MacArthur award.
With this major piece of off-season work out of the way, it is time to get working on the cap.
Do you move Bieksa for prospects with Salo injured?
Shane O'Brien - clear more cap space?
And where for art thou Willie?
Personally, I don't think the Salo injury changes things w.r.t. Bieksa. He is going to be moved and we really can't afford to take back much (or any) salary in return.
I'm of the mind that we keep SOB. His issues last year were off the ice. If he has a brain at all, he will now recognize how his lack of discipline and professionalism cost him at the bargaining table. I'm not sure who his agent is, but if he is truly and advocate, he would also have made this point to SOB. As far as his play on the ice goes, I think he really settled down into a useful role. He cut his PIMs from 196 in 2008-09 to 79 in 2009-10, he moves the puck well and, when needed, provides some toughness which will be needed in Bieksa's absence.
Re: Mitchell, I think you mean "where" rather than "wherefore" (which means "why"), but I'm not sure there is a place for Willie. A 1 year, incentive laden deal seems attractive, but if he is healthy, we would like him to hit all of his incentives, in which case, we would be either over or up against the cap limit.
I'd be willing to start the season with Rome and O'Brien as the third pairing and hope Salo is healthy by January. But a healthy Mitchell for the stretch drive and into the playoffs is very, very attractive.
What a steal, I was preparing for 500k more than this. It's perfect though if you ask me, it fits right in with our internal salary cap setup along with Samuelsson, Burrows and Malhotra.
With this major piece of off-season work out of the way, it is time to get working on the cap.
Do you move Bieksa for prospects with Salo injured?
Shane O'Brien - clear more cap space?
And where for art thou Willie?
Excellent deal for the Canucks. Likely below what Raymond might have received had they gone to arbitration. But smart on Raymonds part because it gives him the opportunity to cash in two years from now.
Sure I'd still move Bieksa, particularly if Gillis knows that Willie is progressing and might be back. Bieksa is in demand and it might be surprising what sort of prospect Gillis can get for him.
I can't understand the hate on for SOB. I think the guy has proven that he can be a more than adequate 5/6 D man.
I wouldn't count on Salo playing again. He's 35 and this injury is serious.
Great deal for the Canucks, by what I am reading it appears that Gillis gave Raymond his patented 11th hour speech like he gave the Sedins last year and Raymond went for it. Not really sure why Raymond would accept as I can't see him getting less in arbitration but I'm not complaining.
Probably because Raymond always DID want to sign with Vancouver. Filing for Arbitration was probably just a ploy by his agent all along.
Once this Dman situation is resolved this forum may be dead, cuz NUck fans will have nothing left to talk about!
Six top forwards locked in for at least 2 years. Goaltending a non issue. Most teams are not this set for years to come.
Best result IMHO would be to get Salo to announce his retirement, hurry up n trade Bieksa, and sign Ehrhoff long term. That's still leave the Willie situation, but would give more clarity neverthrless.
Mase definitely stole that guy's girlfriend, that was some serious jihad.
