It was pretty disappointing at the end of the last offseason, when Team Rutherford just came out with "this is hard" as an excuse and then proceeded to take this team over the salary cap cliff. Apparently all that Benning had to do to get a big buyout was not trade Eriksson, sign some (more) players to overpriced contracts to take the team over the cap, and play chicken with Aquilini's wallet.
The real comparison has to be paying him 7 million, a couple years from now, to sit in the press box. Viewed in this context, they aren't "losing" anything. They're gaining a player.
Makes no sense. Vancouver will have less money than other teams chasing free agents still with that dead money. They are still behind. Players will get paid more and Vancouver will still not get needle moving players.
The OEL buyout is a smart move only if the Canucks can use the freed up cap space wisely. In my opinion, using the cap space to lure other teams to trade to the team expiring contracts that cap-strapped teams cannot afford to keep, and forcing these teams to sweeten the deal by giving the Canucks some draft picks and prospects would be the ideal way to go… But knowing the history of this team, I suspect they will use the cap space to chase down a declining winger and will sign up to a 6-year contract with a no-movement clause. We will see…
Be a team that was in the top of it's division with a great farm system. Make major trades over the summer that throw your lines off, have many of your best players break over the year, so you just squeak into the playoffs. Then, with players back, you can ride a hot goalie to the finals.
Or you can have a team that can just squeeze into the playoffs, riding a hot goalie, and lose in the first round. This is what the Canucks are aiming for.
Prime example why Canucks have never won a cup… mis-management, horrible drafting, poor signings (term & length) along with NTC's. Linden was right all along, needed a proper rebuild and now here we are going through coaches & gm's like the flavor of the week. Winning is so hard and it takes almost a perfect mix to get there, even when you have that recipe.. you can still lose in the end.
Look what happened at the end of last season when OEL was out injured. Wolanin, Brisebois and Hirose stepped in, played well and we didn't miss OEL at all. That's how the owner can buy out that contract. They gain nothing by having him in the line up. As for his bounce back this season, that's a hope and a prayer.
If Pesce becomes available Alvin needs to get a deal done. Graves is also interesting for the left-side. Devils fans have turned on him like they did with Severson but they will be in for a ahock when they see the drop next season.
Imagine if the Canucks had listened to Trevor Linden back when he was telling them they needed a complete rebuild. I wonder where the team would be today had they bit the bullet and did that rebuild? Wherever it may have taken them, it cannot have been worse than the last 5 seasons here with the bloated contracts, squandered draft picks, shortsighted trades and traded away draft picks for aging, overpaid and underperforming players. The lesson here is simple: trust the people who know the game and understand the market in Vancouver. You know…. people like Trevor Linden.
25 Comments
Buyout poolman Pearson they haven't played a Game wasted for them what's the point keeping them oel Doesn't have it anymore Declined
They were listening to "Don't Bring Me Down" by ELO when they finally decided to buy out OEL.
Great interview. I love Ian’s insights
Great interview. I love Iain’s insights
It was pretty disappointing at the end of the last offseason, when Team Rutherford just came out with "this is hard" as an excuse and then proceeded to take this team over the salary cap cliff. Apparently all that Benning had to do to get a big buyout was not trade Eriksson, sign some (more) players to overpriced contracts to take the team over the cap, and play chicken with Aquilini's wallet.
The ghost of Jim Benning. The gift that keeps on giving. Thank you Jim for paralyzing this franchise through your stupidity and incompetence!
Good stuff. Ian MacIntyre is always a good guest and a good read.
Why did the owners ever allow Benning to trade for Oliver Eckmond Larson and his contract in the first place.
The real comparison has to be paying him 7 million, a couple years from now, to sit in the press box. Viewed in this context, they aren't "losing" anything. They're gaining a player.
Makes no sense. Vancouver will have less money than other teams chasing free agents still with that dead money. They are still behind. Players will get paid more and Vancouver will still not get needle moving players.
The OEL buyout is a smart move only if the Canucks can use the freed up cap space wisely. In my opinion, using the cap space to lure other teams to trade to the team expiring contracts that cap-strapped teams cannot afford to keep, and forcing these teams to sweeten the deal by giving the Canucks some draft picks and prospects would be the ideal way to go… But knowing the history of this team, I suspect they will use the cap space to chase down a declining winger and will sign up to a 6-year contract with a no-movement clause. We will see…
Maybe had the NHL not been so ridiculously firm about not increaasing the salary cap
Who wants to watch golf?
Be a team that was in the top of it's division with a great farm system. Make major trades over the summer that throw your lines off, have many of your best players break over the year, so you just squeak into the playoffs. Then, with players back, you can ride a hot goalie to the finals.
Or you can have a team that can just squeeze into the playoffs, riding a hot goalie, and lose in the first round. This is what the Canucks are aiming for.
Love Iain! Great to have him back again. Thanks
I remember my heart sinking when I heard about the OEL trade. It only took 2 years for my fears to come true. What a waste.
Prime example why Canucks have never won a cup… mis-management, horrible drafting, poor signings (term & length) along with NTC's. Linden was right all along, needed a proper rebuild and now here we are going through coaches & gm's like the flavor of the week. Winning is so hard and it takes almost a perfect mix to get there, even when you have that recipe.. you can still lose in the end.
Look what happened at the end of last season when OEL was out injured. Wolanin, Brisebois and Hirose stepped in, played well and we didn't miss OEL at all. That's how the owner can buy out that contract. They gain nothing by having him in the line up. As for his bounce back this season, that's a hope and a prayer.
Please do not sign any injured players again.
Worst part about this is we gave them Dylan Guenther
Great show guys !
If Pesce becomes available Alvin needs to get a deal done. Graves is also interesting for the left-side.
Devils fans have turned on him like they did with Severson but they will be in for a ahock when they see the drop next season.
They should sign Bear at a team friendly contract and be able to write off his contract at the start of the year has to help the cap.
Imagine if the Canucks had listened to Trevor Linden back when he was telling them they needed a complete rebuild. I wonder where the team would be today had they bit the bullet and did that rebuild? Wherever it may have taken them, it cannot have been worse than the last 5 seasons here with the bloated contracts, squandered draft picks, shortsighted trades and traded away draft picks for aging, overpaid and underperforming players. The lesson here is simple: trust the people who know the game and understand the market in Vancouver. You know…. people like Trevor Linden.
Benning made too many swings for the fences on free agency and trades