Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Trade Rumours and Rumblings
With the Vancouver Canucks mired in a five-game winless streak, and the Christmas trade freeze now over, trade speculations have abound once again in Canuckland. The recent rumblings spare no one and include core players such as Brendan Morrison, Ed Jovanovski and Todd Bertuzzi. This isn't a surprise. In a salary cap world, for teams like the Canucks to acquire a high-quality player, one of those aforementioned, high-salary players would have to go the other way. But if the Canucks are in in "win-now" mode - they are - which of those core players will the team sacrifice to upgrade in other areas? And therein lies the dilemma that faces the team and GM Dave Nonis.
Some of the rumors that are floating out there:
Brendan Morrison for Scott Gomez (NJ)
After signing his $3.2 million/season contract, Morrison hasn't lived up to raised expectations. His numbers aren't awful (7-23-30 in 36 GP) and he has accepted every assignment Crawford has thrown at him - centering the first line or the third line, centering the powerplay, playing point on the powerplay, playing on the penalty kill, etc. He also averages the most ice-time out of all Canucks forwards (19:53 minutes/game). Somewhere along the way, he has still managed to be the team's scapegoat.
Scott Gomez is a slight upgrade over Morrison. Their games are similar, though Gomez is younger and may be a better playmaker than Morrison. He is also cheaper at $2.2 million this season.
That said, New Jersey is very close to the cap and any trade that involves them will see them take less salary, not more.
Brendan Morrison for Doug Weight (STL)
First, Doug Weight is a 34-year old center who is having perhaps his worst season with the worst team in the league. Second, he is making $5.7 million this season. The only reason the Canucks do this trade is because Weight is an unrestricted free agent after the season and the team can clear up room under the salary cap - not something a team in "win-now" mode would do.
Todd Bertuzzi for Nathan Horton and Mike Van Ryn (FLA)
Okay, this rumor was floating around before Bertuzzi started to play his best hockey in two years. That said, if Todd truly wanted out of Vancouver, Nonis probably would have already pulled the trigger on this deal. While he has had some recent injuries, Nathan Horton is an elite power forward in the making and can easily step into first line duties as a center or on the wing; Mike Van Ryn is a young, solid defenseman who can provide the depth the Canucks need.
Todd Bertuzzi for Joffrey Lupul and Ruslan Salei (ANA)
A bit similar to the Bertuzzi to Florida rumor. Joffrey Lupul gives the Canucks a young power forward with a lot of upside; Ruslan Salei is a solid depth defenseman, though I'm personally not a fan of Salei's penchant for questionable hits.
Ed Jovanovski, Todd Bertuzzi, filler for Roberto Luongo, filler (FLA)
Any trade that puts Roberto Luongo in a Canucks uniform is a good trade, though I doubt Nonis would give up both Jovo and Bert for Luongo. A more likely scenario will include one of Jovo or Bert plus Alex Auld or one of the Canucks' other goaltending prospects (ie. Ellis-Plante, Schneider). Also, with Jovanovski and Luongo both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents after the season, the Canucks and the Panthers will first want assurances that both players will re-sign with their new teams.
Other names that I've heard mentioned:
Martin Biron (BUF) - The Sabres need to unload a goalie, but with Martin Biron having just played the best stretch of hockey games of his career, their asking price will likely be steep. His $2.1 million salary will also take up the remaining cap space from Cloutier's injury.
Brendan Witt (WAS) - Brendan Witt wants out of the Washington and would fill the Canucks' need for defensive depth. His $1.7 million salary is manageable and the rebuilding Capitals will also probably be willing to accept prospects and/or draft picks in return.
Anyone from cap-strapped New Jersey - The Devils want to dump salary to accommodate the return of Patrick Elias. However, except for Martin Brodeur and possibly Scott Gomez, it's hard to imagine the Canucks wanting anyone else from their roster. And even if Brodeur and Gomez were available, the Canucks would then have to clear some of their own cap space to accommodate the additional salaries.
Some of the rumors that are floating out there:
Brendan Morrison for Scott Gomez (NJ)
After signing his $3.2 million/season contract, Morrison hasn't lived up to raised expectations. His numbers aren't awful (7-23-30 in 36 GP) and he has accepted every assignment Crawford has thrown at him - centering the first line or the third line, centering the powerplay, playing point on the powerplay, playing on the penalty kill, etc. He also averages the most ice-time out of all Canucks forwards (19:53 minutes/game). Somewhere along the way, he has still managed to be the team's scapegoat.
Scott Gomez is a slight upgrade over Morrison. Their games are similar, though Gomez is younger and may be a better playmaker than Morrison. He is also cheaper at $2.2 million this season.
That said, New Jersey is very close to the cap and any trade that involves them will see them take less salary, not more.
Brendan Morrison for Doug Weight (STL)
First, Doug Weight is a 34-year old center who is having perhaps his worst season with the worst team in the league. Second, he is making $5.7 million this season. The only reason the Canucks do this trade is because Weight is an unrestricted free agent after the season and the team can clear up room under the salary cap - not something a team in "win-now" mode would do.
Todd Bertuzzi for Nathan Horton and Mike Van Ryn (FLA)
Okay, this rumor was floating around before Bertuzzi started to play his best hockey in two years. That said, if Todd truly wanted out of Vancouver, Nonis probably would have already pulled the trigger on this deal. While he has had some recent injuries, Nathan Horton is an elite power forward in the making and can easily step into first line duties as a center or on the wing; Mike Van Ryn is a young, solid defenseman who can provide the depth the Canucks need.
Todd Bertuzzi for Joffrey Lupul and Ruslan Salei (ANA)
A bit similar to the Bertuzzi to Florida rumor. Joffrey Lupul gives the Canucks a young power forward with a lot of upside; Ruslan Salei is a solid depth defenseman, though I'm personally not a fan of Salei's penchant for questionable hits.
Ed Jovanovski, Todd Bertuzzi, filler for Roberto Luongo, filler (FLA)
Any trade that puts Roberto Luongo in a Canucks uniform is a good trade, though I doubt Nonis would give up both Jovo and Bert for Luongo. A more likely scenario will include one of Jovo or Bert plus Alex Auld or one of the Canucks' other goaltending prospects (ie. Ellis-Plante, Schneider). Also, with Jovanovski and Luongo both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents after the season, the Canucks and the Panthers will first want assurances that both players will re-sign with their new teams.
Other names that I've heard mentioned:
Martin Biron (BUF) - The Sabres need to unload a goalie, but with Martin Biron having just played the best stretch of hockey games of his career, their asking price will likely be steep. His $2.1 million salary will also take up the remaining cap space from Cloutier's injury.
Brendan Witt (WAS) - Brendan Witt wants out of the Washington and would fill the Canucks' need for defensive depth. His $1.7 million salary is manageable and the rebuilding Capitals will also probably be willing to accept prospects and/or draft picks in return.
Anyone from cap-strapped New Jersey - The Devils want to dump salary to accommodate the return of Patrick Elias. However, except for Martin Brodeur and possibly Scott Gomez, it's hard to imagine the Canucks wanting anyone else from their roster. And even if Brodeur and Gomez were available, the Canucks would then have to clear some of their own cap space to accommodate the additional salaries.
4 Comments:
I don't think Luongo becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season, only restricted. Can you double check? Thanks. By the way, I don't think he's on his way to become a Canuck.
My understanding was that because the Panthers took him to arbitration and signed him to a one-year deal, that he was going to be a UFA. I'll double-check. Thanks Kel.
And I know that Luongo in a Canucks uni may just be a dream, but if it ever happened........
I honestly think that the Canucks should get rid of Trevor Linden. This guy doesn't do anything right for the team. He can't score goals, he can't play the puck and he's not that great defensively. He should be released!
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