Free Agency - Canucks Style

It seems like the Canucks have lost a whole lot more than they have gained. Let's take a look at who they lost and gained and how this will affect them:

LOST:

1) Christian Ehrhoff

This guy is a huge loss to the Canucks organization. But in the end Gillis made the right move. Mike knew that our future didn't involve Ehrhoff and knowing this Gillis traded his rights to the Islanders for a 4th rounder. Funny enough I guess the Island couldn't persuade Christian's attention and his rights got moved again for a 4th round pick but this time to Buffalo. Finally, Ehrhoff signed some papers. I was shocked to see how long this contract was (to say the least). A lot of these long term contracts are gonna come back and bite every single GM in the ass. 10 years is a massive deal to throw on a guy like Ehrhoff, and although I don't want to underestimate his value, he's just not a d-man that you lock up for that long. If I'm Buffalo I cut that deal in half and see what happens. 

The worst part of this loss is losing an offensive d-man. Christian is so good at skating the puck into the offensive zone (especially on the PP). We're gonna really miss that. I guess this just means that youngster Chris Tanev might get his shot at his first complete season in Canucks gear. I don't mind that considering "he's so calm he could play with a cigarette in his mouth" - Kevin Bieksa. If this is true, this is what our starting six will look like.

Bieksa - Hamhuis

Salo - Edler

Ballard - Tanev 

(Reserves - Alberts - Rome)

2) Raffi Torres

This ALMOST hurts as much as Ehrhoff. I loved #13 and he played his heart out this post-season. There were two main things I disliked about Torres though. First, was that he's a very streaky scorer. Second, his attitude. The latter is the one that really bothers me. For example, during (I believe) the first round of the play-offs against Chicago in the warm up, he shot a rolling puck and it hit Luongo awkwardly in the neck. Instead of going up to his keeper and helping him out, he casually skates away like nothing was wrong. Stuff like that erks me. All in all though, Pheonix made a nice move picking Torres up.

3) Rick Rypien

This guy has been in the Canucks organization for a long time, and I was very surprised to see him go. Rypien missed most of the season because of "family issues", basically the word on the street is he's a recovering alcoholic. Kinda suites his style of play, I think Rypien has a nice chance at making Winnipeg's 4th line though so best of luck.

4) Tanner Glass

Never liked how he played hockey although I did appreciate him being the team player he is. He's great with the fans and has an awesome personality. Keep the mullet rocking in Winterpeg Glass!

5) Sergei Shirokov

I dreaded this day, but the young Russian signed in the KHL for a lot more money than he'd receive here. I really liked Shirokov's style of play and it's too bad he decided to go back to the mother land. 

RE-SIGNED

1) Kevin Bieksa

Very happy! That's pretty much all I can say. He's proved his value in the play-offs. Gritty, good skater, great shot, very happy to lock him up for 5 years.

2) Chris Higgins

Higgy came in at the trade deadline as a guy that could move up and down the line-up, and he proved to be a stud for the Canucks. He tied a franchise record for most GWG in the play-offs.

3) Maxime Lapierre

Yet another play-off performer. Wears his emotions on his sleeve, hmmmmm...am I seeing a trend?

4) Sami Salo

Signed an almost identical 1 year contract as last year. One thing I hope will change from last year is his injury frequency. Good old faithful.

5) Andrew Alberts

Have no clue why we signed Alberts. I rather stash away the $1.2 million he's making for a future trade which I believe is in the making. I guess we just wanted to make Don Cherry happy since he likes him so much. 

NEW SIGNINGS

1) Marco Sturm

Well I don't know a crazy deal about Sturm but he split the last season between the Kings and Caps. Sturms a guy that can move up and down the line up, much like Higgins. Possible playmaker for Kesler on the second line? Or maybe a winger on the 3rd? No clue yet, I'm going through the process of looking at some of his footage from last season and his times in Boston.

2) Steven Pinizzotto, Nolan Baumgartner, Mark Mancari

Pretty much a bunch of AHL players. Nolan's closing his career up, Steven and Mark are new to the organization and much like Sturm I don't know much about him. 

Here's a couple of cards from future Goalie Project hopefuls:

Lack is goalie number 3 on the Canucks depth chart. As for Honzik he was just picked up in this years draft in round number 3.

Lastly I have a very crooked scan of a Hedberg card I had laying around, forgot to add this one to the Goalie Project when I did my Hedberg cards.

Alex Auld - 3/3 COMPLETE! 26 TOTAL
Murray Bannerman - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Martin Brochu
Richard Brodeur - 1/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Gary Bromley
Bruce Bullock
Sean Burke
Frank Caprice
Jacques Caron
Dan Cloutier - 3/3 COMPLETE! 29 TOTAL
Ed Dyck
Ken Ellacott
Bob Essensa - 3/3 COMPLETE! 13 TOTAL
Mike Fountain
Troy Gamble - 2/2 COMPLETE! 21 TOTAL
George Gardner
John Garrett - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Glen Hanlon
Johan Hedberg - 2/3 COMPLETE! 5 TOTAL
Rick Heinz
Corey Hirsch
Charlie Hodge
Arturs Irbe
Jason LaBarbera - 2/3 COMPLETE! 4 TOTAL
Ken Lockett
Roberto Luongo - 3/3 COMPLETE! 38 TOTAL
Drew MacIntyre - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Cesare Maniago - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Bob Mason
Dave McClelland
Steve McKichan
Kirk McLean
Rob McVicar - 1/1 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Alfie Michaud
Tyler Moss
Mika Noronen - 2/3 COMPLETE! 5 TOTAL
Maxime Ouellet
Félix Potvin - 3/3 COMPLETE! 25 TOTAL
Andrew Raycroft - 1/3 COMPLETE! 6 TOTAL
Curt Ridley
Dany Sabourin - 2/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Curtis Sanford - 3/3 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Cory Schneider - 1/2 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Corey Schwab
Petr Skudra - 3/3 COMPLETE! 4 TOTAL
Gary Smith
Garth Snow
Kevin Weekes
Steve Weeks
Kay Whitmore - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Dunc Wilson - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Wendell Young

GO NUCKS GO!