Max Pacioretty injured, Canucks received offers for Ryan Miller, Jets re-sign Paul Postma and more.
Canadiens winger Max Pacioretty suffered a knee injury.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens winger Max Pacioretty suffered a knee injury during a recent training session in Florida. Though no surgery is required, Pacioretty will require 12 weeks to recover. That means he could miss at least the first two weeks of training camp and possibly the start of the 2015-16 season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pacioretty has a unusually high pain threshold and a reputation as a quick healer, earning the nickname “Wolverine” from Habs fans. It’s possible he could recover in time for training camp.
SPORTSNET: Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning revealed he received firm trade offers for veteran goaltender Ryan Miller during a recent Q&A with season ticket holders. That prompted boos from the fans in attendance still displeased that Benning instead dealt popular backup Eddie Lack late last month to Carolina
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lack played well last season in relief of Miller, who missed considerable time last season to a knee injury. However, he has yet to fully establish himself as a starting goalie. Benning would’ve taken a huge risk by trading Miller and going with an inexperienced tandem of Lack and Jacob Markstrom next season. There was more to Lack’s trade than just his experience. He’s eligible for UFA status next summer and re-signing him would’ve cost more than the rebuilding Canucks were willing to pay, especially with Miller under contract for two more years.
OTTAWA CITIZEN: Senators forward Mike Hoffman and Alex Chiasson filed for salary arbitration earlier this week, but recent history suggests they’ll reach a settlement with the Sens before their scheduled arbitration hearings.
CALGARY SUN: With the Flames development camp now completed, GM Brad Treliving turns his focus toward contract talks with forwards Lance Bouma, Josh Jooris and Paul Byron, who’ve filed for salary arbitration.
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: The Jets re-signed defenseman Paul Postma to a two-year contract worth an annual cap hit of $887, 5000.
TORONTO STAR: William Nylander finally has some company on the Maple Leafs prospect list.
TY for your perspective. A tough decision given the popularity of Lack (and I really liked Eddie) but a very understandable business and management of assets decision.
It was still a poor decision. The Canucks want to get younger but keep the 35 year old Miller over 27 year old Lack. Then the ship out 26 year old Kassian for 32 year old Prust. Then they fire a big chunk of the front office AFTER the draft and free agency. Wtf are Benning and Linden doing?!
Do you want change or not? Do you want a competitive team or not? It’s not a simplistic matter of numbers, it’s a comprehensive overall plan of transition.
Like the rest of the reactionary fans that think with their hearts and not their heads, you need to take a step back and look at the big picture, then you will eventually see what’s actually going on. It’s only been 14 months, and they just finished a 101 point season. Have just a little patience and think things through.
If they shipped out Miller on the firm trade offer then you wouldn’t have his contract on the books for the next two seasons leaving money to sign Lack at a lower rate than what you need to pay a more experienced goalie like Miller. All the while proving that you truly are buying into the getting younger plan you laid out. Also getting younger means losing experience.
@Jefferson – Benning and Linden are doing what the Canucks always have and from the looks of it always will do. Place the team in a position of mediocrity.
I said many times, just because Linden was a popular player with Vancouver fans, it by no means ensures he’ll be good in the captains chair. In fact history shows this usually isn’t successful. Stevie Y seems to be pulling it off, but Linden could fall in the Mike Milbury category as well.
Heading into UFA I bet they could’ve got Lack for 3.5-4 mil over 2-3 years, I would’ve dumped Miller given the chance also. In regards to Kassian I think they made the right move. He’s a less than stellar thug and Brandon Prust is a better hockey all around player.
The West is getting better but Vancouver will continue to celebrate mediocrity.
“Benning and Linden are doing what the Canucks always have and from the looks of it always will do. Place the team in a position of mediocrity.”
If you actually believe that then clearly you have no idea what’s actually going on. Look a little deeper and listen to what’s being said and it might make more sense to you.
I have the Canucks as the 2nd worst team in the Pacific potentially 3rd worst depending upon what Dallas does with it’s defense. The only thing Linden & Benning have done so far even remotely positive is signing Vrbata. Every other move was a loss for me. Benning has moved the wrong players at the wrong time for less than fair market value. It’s hard to judge is draft yet especially considering he has moved all his 2nd & 3rd round picks, his own & the one acquired in the Garrison trade. I still think his pick of Virtanen 5th overall was a mistake. Ritchie was the player he should have selected.
That said I have the difference in the standings between 7th & 13th in the West at 6 to 8 points. The top 6 seem obvious the remaining 8 less Arizona will all battle it out for 2 playoff spots. Every team in the west has gotten better except for the Canucks, they’ve gotten worse, substantially so. Their defense is seriously substandard now. After Edler, Tenev & Hamhuis it’s out right ugly.
If your going to rebuild or transition as Benning & Linden like to call it you need to maximize the assets your moving out & bring in the right assets in return. I don’t believe Benning has come close to accomplishing either.
“The only thing Linden & Benning have done so far even remotely positive is signing Vrbata.”
Good grief, not even worth a response, lol. Let me guess — another Leafs fan who thinks Phaneuf is a Norris candidate and Kadri is a first-line centre?
Actually a former Bruins fan but a 30+ year Canuck’s season ticket holder.
Lyle astutely sums up Benning’s position regarding Miller / Lack and since I don’t follow the Canucks I can only feel sorry for my friend who is Canucks crazy and freaking out. What does trouble me about Benning is he apparently lacked the savvy to say exactly what Lyle spelled out.
I agree. The Nucks have SERIOUSLY gone down hill… Trade Miller for Lack and a 1st, Ryan’s out of his time. Also, wait for Arizona to push for a spot
Do I like Lack more than Miller? Yes. (age/cap hit) Am I worried because we dealt the wrong goalie? No. Goaltending hasn’t been the issue for the last few years, it has been scoring and defence. We added scoring and are still not looking very good on defence.
Anyway, JB, hold onto your picks!
Everyone says the division got stronger, the Canucks didn’t, we are likely going to miss the playoffs. If that is the case, JB will move more players for picks at the tdl. Win, win. No tanking here. That’s okay. We have the best crop of prospects not in the NHL, than at any other time it this club’s history. No McDavid’s, but let’s allow them to develop and see if any of these guys can make a name for themselves.