...depending on who's available at 25? There are reports of other teams wanting to trade for Ballad. Why would Florida agree to wait until the 25th to make it official? Maybe the trade is contingent on who's available at the 25 spot for Florida? Probably just wishful thinking though, but I guess we'll see.
Schroeder is a quick player, not a fast player. Schroeder is a slower Raymond, Grabner is FAST, he can take it outside and burn it. That kind of speed helps you more then does Schroeder/Raymond speed. It can help you gain the zone and back off the defense far better then what Schroeder can.
I like Schroeder but we have no other player that brings the type of skill set that Grabner has. Hes a potential 30 goal scorer which by itself is worth more then Ballard.
We need Ballard FAR more than we need either Grabner OR that draft pick.
People need to realize...We need to win now...Like in the next 1-3 years now. Our window is here.
Exactly. We need to be realistic here.
Grabner's exciting style of play will be missed, but he was going to have a hard team getting his break on the Canucks, has 1 year left on his ELC and will be 23 in October. We have 2 20 year olds in Schroeder/Hodgson who are both excellent young players who Gillis drafted. Ballard makes our top 4 much more solid.
Sorry, but some of you guys are overrating Grabner.
He has never been a big scorer at any level. He'll be a good NHLer for sure, but I don't know if he's consistent enough or if he's the type of player we need.
Honestly I think Grabner is getting overrated a lot around here. Let's not forget that he's a pretty one-dimensional player, streaky, and small. He's a good offensive player and he will be a good NHLer but he certainly was expendable on this team.
Grabner is not small. For that matter neither is Raymond, but play low so people tend to think of them as small but they are average sized NHL forwards who are both strong on their skates.
I just hope this doesn't turn into the Garth Butcher trade in reverse.
How about some realism? While I don't think Ballard is a #1 Dman, he is darn good and you have to give something to get something. Grabner is a good prospect, but the Canucks dealt from an area of strength to help and area of weakness.
This, exactly this. If we're keeping Raymond and with Schroeder looking like he'll be ready for full time duty with the club in 2011/2012, I don't see where Grabner fits in on this team even as pure injury depth. Bernier is basically a salary dump as it was pretty clear he was done here so deal is essentially Grabner + 25th for Ballard. Florida can only hope they get a player of Ballard's calibre with that 25th pick and Grabner is a still inconsistent soft player with great wheels and a great shot who has a better chance of success in the Eastern Conference. It's not a steal for us or anything, but it's a good deal.
...depending on who's available at 25? There are reports of other teams wanting to trade for Ballad. Why would Florida agree to wait until the 25th to make it official? Maybe the trade is contingent on who's available at the 25 spot for Florida? Probably just wishful thinking though, but I guess we'll see.
I wish.
But unfortunately, it will probably be Bernier, Grabner, and 25th overall for Ballard and Oreskovich.
So we have a while to get to 25 and see this official. Do you think the player(s) Vancouver wants is referenced in the conditional agreement? Or do you think Gillis basically has 23 picks to back out if he gets buyer's remorse?
...depending on who's available at 25? There are reports of other teams wanting to trade for Ballad. Why would Florida agree to wait until the 25th to make it official? Maybe the trade is contingent on who's available at the 25 spot for Florida? Probably just wishful thinking though, but I guess we'll see.
That's actually not a bad thought - it seems like bad PR to announce you're trading players if there is a possibility you're going to renege on the deal.
...
Keep in mind too that the Canucks are high on Schroeder. If they see him pushing to make the team next season, there's no way there's room on the team for both him and Grabner.
That's not to say they should throw him away but I think they got value for him in this trade.
The thing that really makes me happy about this deal, though, is that Gillis just got a very good defenceman and he managed to drop enough salary to still be in the running for Hamhuis or another big UFA defenceman.
people are only mad because the original trade was us ripping off florida and it gradually got more and more fair.
I love Grabner to, but we have lots of left wingers. A lot have said, you have to give to get. Ballard is a need we have right now. Grabner is a need FLA has right now.
You have to give up assets you have excess of to get assets you don't have.
IMO this deal will look a lot better if Gillis can replenish his picks by moving Bieksa. If we can get a 40ish pick and draft a Petrovic it'll be a good day.
This is why you draft BPA - the Canucks just balanced their forward and defense ranks with this move.
Let's be honest, everyone, we're talking about Grabner, the guy that had 30 goals and 48 points in the AHL. He didn't even light up a lower league. Way too overrated suddenly.
Let's be honest, everyone, we're talking about Grabner, the guy that had 30 goals and 48 points in the AHL. He didn't even light up a lower league. Way too overrated suddenly.
I agree completely. He's a good prospect (not a top prospect IMO), with tantalizing speed that makes it easier for people to drool over. He's certainly no Keith Ballard.
