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Canucks Offseason Update, 2016 NHL Draft, The Next Chapter

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Just-saying           By Andrew Chernoff   May 28, 2016

The Vancouver Canucks have been busy trying to “rebuild”, or “retool” the team as they prepare for the upcoming 2016 NHL Draft and later the 2016-17 season.

CANUCKS OFFSEASON WHEELING AND DEALING

Canucks General Manager Jim Benning has been adding youth to the already formidable youth movement established by the Canucks since he has been the Canucks general manager.

On May 25, Benning demonstrated he was not shy about pulling a trade, if he felt it could help the club, when Vancouver acquired 24 year old defenceman Erik Gudbranson and Florida’s 2016 fifth round pick (NYI) in exchange for Jared McCann and the Canucks 2016 second and fourth round picks.

Benning has received criticism about the trade and questions about an apparent philosophical change to acquire Gudbranson, in trading away McCann and the Canucks 2016 second and fourth round picks.

Gudbranson is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenceman who will play in the team’s top four next season, according to Benning, and felt the deal was too good to pass up at this stage of the offseason.

It was a steep price to pay, but this past season Gudbranson came into his own for Florida, as he ranked third on the Panthers in hits (150), fourth in blocked shots (73) and fourth in average ice time per game (20:06). The 2010 3rd overall NHL draft pick ranked second on the Panthers and led Florida defencemen in average ice time in the 2016 playoffs (26:54) in addition to ranking second on the team in blocked shots (8).

Earlier in March, the Canucks signed 2009 draft pick, 25 year old right wing Anton Rodin to a one-year, one-way contract on March 22; and on March 9, signed their fourth pick (third round, 66th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, defenceman Nikita Tryamkin, to a 2-year entry-level contract.

Tryamkin was able to play in 13 games for the Canucks this past season after signing, registering a goal and an assist (1-1-2). He registered a career-high five hits, Apr. 1 at ANA…Notched a career-high three shots and 21:01 TOI, Mar. 27 vs CHI…Recorded four hits and a career-high four blocked shots, Mar. 19 vs STL…Appeared in his first NHL game and recorded his first NHL point, Mar. 16 vs COL. He collected his first career NHL goal, Apr. 7 at CGY.

2016 NHL DRAFT

Vancouver will enter the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, currently owning the 5th, 33rd, 63rd, 93rd, 153rd, 183rd and 193rd overall picks, potentially giving the Canucks a great opportunity to add to an already impressive collection of young talent, that Vancouver is hoping will payoff in an optimistic future for the team.

Since the Canucks reorganization in 2014, the Canucks drafts have yielded the following:

2014

Round 1, 6th overall pick: Jake Virtanen

Round 1, 24th overall (from Anaheim): Jared McCann

Round 2: Thatcher Demko

Round 3: Nikita Tryamkin

Round 5: Gustav Forsling

Round 6: Kyle Pettit

Round 7: Mackenze Stewart

2015

Round 1 (23rd overall): Brock Boeser

Round 3: Guillaume Brisebois

Round 4: Dimitry Zhukenov

Round 5: Carl Neill

Round 5 (from Rangers): Adam Gaudette

Round 6: Lukas Jasek

Round 7: Tate Olson

THE NEXT CHAPTER

According to Trevor Linden, President, Hockey Operations, the Canucks are developing their next core—the next generation of the team.

“We’re getting younger and faster. There’s nothing like seeing a young core group come together, right from the start. It’s an exciting time to be a Canucks fan.”

General Manager Jim Benning, echos the same thoughts, as the Canucks strive to build a winning team, assuring Canuck fans alike, it’s happening.

“We are accelerating the development of our young players by surrounding them with the best NHL leadership, character and talent. There are no shortcuts. No one says this will be easy. What it will be, is what you’ve come to expect from Canucks hockey at its best: Exciting. Energetic. Emotional. You’ll see the future of the team emerging in front of you, every night.”

And Coach Willie Desjardins is just as psyched about the Canucks future, and his expectations are crystal clear and unambiguous.

“Every time we hit the ice I want our guys to play hard, with energy and speed. It’s about competing every shift with passion, whether you’re a veteran or a rookie. That’s what we’re trying to teach here: a relentless belief that a Vancouver Canuck is going to do things the right way, for his teammates, every single day. That’s what makes great teammates, and that’s what makes great teams.”

Marketing is one thing, and well and good. The Canucks need to make it happen.

Make it happen, and the sell outs will return for all home games.

Make it happen. Winning makes believers, is infectious, builds, is good for the bottom line, provides stability.

Just saying.

Nikita Tryamkin: Is He Vancouver’s Answer To Zedeno Chara?

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CANUCKS BANTER     By Andrew Chernoff    MARCH 8, 2016

http://www.eliteprospects.com

The last few days have had Canucks news filled with the excitement of Canucks prospect 6’7″ Russian defenceman Nikita Tryamkin coming over to North America before the end of this season and playing some games in the NHL with the Canucks.

The Canucks drafted Tryamkin in the third round, 66th overall, in 2014. He is 21-years-old, and has already played four seasons in the KHL with Yekaterinburg Automobilist.

One of the reasons for Tryamkin to be on the Canucks radar at this time is he will become an unrestricted free agent if he isn’t signed by June 1.

Hockey’s Future describes Tryamkin’s talent as follows:

Tryamkin is a huge defender with a cannon of a shot. His size and puck skills are his two biggest assets. Drafted in his third year of eligibility after competing for Russia in the 2014 World Junior Championship, he is a late bloomer and must continue to work on his skating and positional play.

Long-term Tryamkin projects as a traditional stay-at-home defenseman with the size and reach to take away passing lanes and prevent scoring opportunities.

According to Metro, there are a few issues:

His contract in the KHL doesn’t expire until April 30, so there is a task of figuring out how Tryamkin can get out of that existing deal before he can sign in Vancouver.

There is a precedent for a player getting out of their KHL contract.

Based on reports out of Pittsburgh last summer, Sergei Plotnikov paid $500,000 to terminate his deal in the KHL in order to sign with the Penguins. It’s unknown if Tryamkin and his representatives would view that as a viable option, if it’s available.

When it comes to cap space – the Canucks had $2.14 million available as of Thursday, according to General Fanager – Benning said the organization should have a better idea of that next week when they get updated medical reports on injured defenceman Alex Edler (broken fibula) and Brandon Sutter (broken jaw, and currently on the long-term injured reserve).

Once a deal is signed, Tryamkin’s immigration documents would then need to be figured out.

Provided that all goes according to plan and the Canucks can get him under contract before the end of this season, Tryamkin would then report to Vancouver to join the NHL club.

Tryamkin is coming off his most productive season in the KHL. In 53 games played, he had 4 goals and 7 assists. He’s a big, left shooting defenseman, which any NHL team could use, if he can be effective utilizing the potential of his size and shot, similar to Zedeno Chara of the Boston Bruins. He can also play defense on the right side.

As for Tryamkin sticking with the NHL club, general manager Jim Benning told the Province on Sunday:

“As far as him staying over here for the long term, we’re going to sign him and get him over here practising and then hopefully get him in some games between now and the end of the season.

“If he’s ready (for the NHL), that’s perfect. If he still needs time to develop, we’ll have to talk to him. With all Russian players, you hope that they stick it out for that development period and are part of your team long term.”

According to that Province article, Tryamkin is a stay-at-home defenceman who skates decently for his size and possesses a big shot.

Canuck fans, keep your fingers crossed: the next Zedeno Chara could be coming to Vancouver.