I'm shocked that people are complaining about Booth. I was skeptical when we first acquired him and he looked totally mediocre for the first few games, but he is now one of my favorite Canucks.
His game has strengths and weaknesses. Great speed, good work ethic, crashes the net HARD and has a talent for garbage goals. Mediocre at best passer, limited vision, average defensive player beyond working hard to get back. I wish we got Corey Perry, but you're not gonna get him for Sturm and Samuelsson. We took two redundant, borderline useless players and changed them into a power forward to ride shotgun with Kesler. Booth's game is tailor-made for the playoffs. He takes the puck into dirty areas and scores off of 2nd, 3rd chances. Hopefully people will appreciate him more once the playoffs start.
No complaints here, for what we gave up he is a 100% upgrade. My favorite thing about Booth is that almost all his goals are dirty goals right around the crease, those will be CRUCIAL come playoff time. Get ready for some clutch goals from Booth and Hodgson in the post season.
Oh and ofcourse the regulars, Burrows and Bieksa
Not sure how much production people expect for $4.25 million... $4.5 million gets you Cole, Fleischmann, or Leino in free agency these days - a 50-60 point player if things work out well. Booth's on pace for that range with the Canucks despite being knocked out early in one game and having a slow start when he first joined the Canucks.
If he had better vision and passing ability, he'd be a 70+ point player that would probably be worth $6 million as a free agent now.
Love the guy, great pickup and the fact that he's quickly fit in with the rest of the group and obviously loves playing for the Canucks makes him even more of a badass. Can't wait to see what he brings in the playoffs.
Not sure how much production people expect for $4.25 million... $4.5 million gets you Cole, Fleischmann, or Leino in free agency these days - a 50-60 point player if things work out well. Booth's on pace for that range with the Canucks despite being knocked out early in one game and having a slow start when he first joined the Canucks.
If he had better vision and passing ability, he'd be a 70+ point player that would probably be worth $6 million as a free agent now.
I kind of feel that on this team, the way its structured, Booth might actually end up being a 65-70 point 2nd liner if the Canucks can figure out exactly what they want him to do on the 2nd unit PP. I don't even know if he needs better vision -- he makes the occasional right pass to the slot when he draws attention, but he's definitely not a great passer. He's a good forechecker though, cycles well, and I love how hard he drives to the net. It will be invaluable in the playoffs.
He also has hit a ton of posts/crossbars with his wristshot. He seems like a guy that could get hot for a week or two and see 5 or 6 of those go in.
Just an excellent trade and almost unbelievable that it happened for that price.
Considering what Booth has gone through this season... putting his game back together after severe PCS, the trade from Florida, learning a new system with the Canucks, a knee injury that cost him 18 games and now back and neck spasms. Sounds like David Booth gutted it out in the Av's game. Hopefully not a Sidney Crosby type soft tissue injury.
Booth began suffering upper-back and neck spasms Friday and they continued throughout the night.
"I couldn't even lay down because my back was seizing up," Booth said after the Canucks' 3-2 shootout win over the Colorado Avalanche. "I had to sit up for about five hours last night, just straight up against my bed, trying to sleep like that. It wasn't good."
Booth doesn't know what caused the spasms. He was on the receiving end of a hit on the end boards in Thursday night's game against the Detroit Red Wings.
"I don't know what it was a result of, but man it didn't feel good," he said.
Some heat therapy, massage and "some caffeine" helped, but Booth said he was still quite sore during the pre-game warmup.
But he decided to play and helped set up Vancouver's first goal by linemate Ryan Kesler.
"Every stride today, every time I moved my arms, it was just grabbing," Booth said.
I've got zero complaints about Booth, or the price we paid to acquire him (and I was a Samuelsson fan). The guy works his kit off, drives the net better than most of the forwards on the team, and has shown pretty good chemistry with Kesler. Also seems like a quality guy in the room and with the fans. What's not to like?
Plus, we were able to unload the abysmal deal that Gillis signed Sturm to in the process, and Booth is a young player signed long-term. Count me as a big fan who's excited to see what he can do in the post-season. IMO, his jam and willingness to drive to the net are perfectly suited for the playoffs.
What I like about the Booth+Kes+Higgins is that they're a line designed to win puck battles and take it to the net with speed, and they can probably do this playing against the best composition in the league.
What I like about the Booth+Kes+Higgins is that they're a line designed to win puck battles and take it to the net with speed, and they can probably do this playing against the best composition in the league.
