‘I’d like a man who can take face-offs, and it’s a precedence to have a grittier man who can settle issues down. It’s exhausting to search out.’ — Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.
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In an ideal world, you discover the precise and reasonably priced roster match.
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For the Vancouver Canucks, addressing a urgent want for a third-line centre is way from an ideal pursuit. They’ve exceeded the wage cap ceiling, and the commerce route is essentially the most viable avenue to create flexibility to tackle an current contract.
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They may additionally kick the free company tires and go into sticker shock.
A veteran centre who excels in matchups, is defensively diligent, kills penalties, takes defensive zone face-offs, and contributes offensively is on the want record.
There’s the need and the necessity, however the Canucks can’t lose sight of being prudent — both with the cap or belongings.
“I’d like a man who can take face-offs, and it’s a precedence to have a grittier man who can settle issues down,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet stated at his year-end handle. “It’s exhausting to search out.”
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Or, it may be comparatively straightforward.
Think about William Karlsson as your third-line centre?
The Vegas Golden Knights used leverage and beneficiant NHL enlargement guidelines to construct a basis that led to capturing the Stanley Cup on Tuesday within the franchise’s sixth season.
Within the 2017 enlargement draft, the Golden Knights knew the Columbus Blue Jackets didn’t need to half with Karlsson, who was their finest penalty killer and teased of offensive potential.
Nevertheless, the Blue Jackets had been going to lose a participant beneath safety guidelines, and didn’t need to half with winger Josh Anderson, goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, or defenceman Jack Johnson.
Columbus traded a first-round choose in 2017, a second in 2019, and acquired the Golden Knights to tackle the contract of injured ahead David Clarkson to make sure the Golden Knights may choose Karlsson.
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Karlsson grew to become a part of “The Glolden Misfits” — one in all six unique franchise gamers who hoisted the Cup this week.
Karlsson, 30, had 11 playoff targets in 22 video games, received 54.4 per cent of his attracts, centred the second power-play unit, and was on the primary penalty-kill pairing. He was additionally first in take-aways and fourth in blocked photographs.
He may moved up the line-up, and is on the books for 4 extra seasons at an annual $5.9-million US cap hit.
As for the Canucks, they know rookie Nils Aman and veteran Sheldon Dries weren’t the solutions. They should purchase time for centres Aatu Raty and Max Sasson to develop in Abbotsford.
Within the interim, listed here are 5 centres of consideration:
Scott Laughton, 29, Philadelphia, Acquired: No. 20, 2012 draft.
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The standing: Three extra seasons at $3-million annual cap hit.
The stats: GP: 519, G: 82, A: 117, Pts: 199.
The thin: Coming off an 18-goal, 43-point season on a foul group 18 factors shy of a wild-card spot. Flyers are in re-build mode and listening to commerce presents. Laughton received’t come low-cost, in the event that they transfer him. Canucks can dangle a proper winger and the Flyers may use one.
The underside line: Checks containers. Third in group hits amongst forwards, fourth in blocked photographs, first penalty-kill unit, second energy play, 47.3 per cent in circle.
Alex Kerfoot, 28, Toronto, Acquired: 2019 commerce. No. 50, 2012 draft (Devils).
The standing: UFA. Expiring four-year, $14-million contract.
The stats: GP: 442, G: 74, A: 145, Pts: 219.
The thin: Ten targets and 51 factors don’t inform the entire story. Performed third-line centre and second-line wing, second power-play unit. Logged third most PK time on league’s fourth-ranked unit.
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The underside line: Is there a reduction for the Vancouver native to come back residence? If not, he could also be too dear. Canucks’ curiosity dates to 2017 in faculty free company and 2021 had Brandon Sutter not re-signed.
David Kampf, 28, Toronto, Undrafted, Acquired: Free company, 2021.
The standing: UFA. Expiring two-year, $3-million contract.
The stats: GP: 399, G: 35, A: 76, Pts: 111.
The thin: Turned fourth-liner with deadline addition of Ryan O’Reilly. Seven targets and 27 factors. Fourth amongst membership forwards in take-aways, first penalty-kill pairing, and 51.5 per cent environment friendly in face-offs, together with 444 wins, 342 losses at even power.
The underside line: Not a number of free company leverage. Could possibly be fall-back place play in cap crunch.
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J.T. Compher, 28, Colorado, Acquired: 2016, faculty free agent.
The standing: UFA. Expiring four-year, $14-million contract extension.
The stats: GP: 423, G: 88, A: 106, Pts: 194.
The thin: Performed center, proper wing on second and third strains. Centred sixth-ranked first PP unit and on first PK pairing. Led membership forwards in blocks. Quick, gritty, opportunistic, 48.8 per cent in circle.
The underside line: Would high the record if not for profession 52-point season (17-35) that may see expiring $3.5-million cap rocket to $5 million.
Sean Monahan, 28, Montreal, Acquired: 2022, commerce to Calgary.
The standing: UFA. Expiring seven-year, $44.625-million extension from Flames.
The stats: GP: 681, G: 218, A: 261, Pts: 479.
The thin: Restricted to 17 factors (6-11) in 25 video games this season due to two harm setbacks. Suffered damaged foot and likewise wanted groin surgical procedure. Stored him from being 20-goal contributor.
The underside line: Would a wholesome Monahan take an inexpensive one-year deal to re-establish his recreation?
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Bear faces lengthy surgical procedure restoration
Ethan Bear is getting his injured shoulder repaired.
It’s a tricky choice for the Canucks’ restricted free-agent defenceman. He may have tried to play via the suspected dislocation suffered on the World Hockey Championship. The process will guarantee he’ll return sooner or later subsequent NHL season, however full restoration is anticipated to take 4 to 6 months.
“Typically after we see gamers endure dislocations so simply, it may well recommend that their shoulder joint is sort of unstable and to the purpose of needing surgical procedure,” stated Dr. Harjas Grewal, a B.C. doctor and hockey analyst, informed Postmedia.
“Surgical procedure includes repairing the labrum of the shoulder. When there’s a tear, and if you’re to the purpose of dislocating fairly simply prefer it seems with Bear, surgical procedure may be your solely possibility.”
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