'Nucks IceMan

Written by: Larry “The Nuck IceMan” Johnson

Since my profession is accounting, I decided to put my capologists hat on and make the signings and deletions for the pending RF and UFA’s.

I spoke previously about some changes that were needed and I led off with toughness to survive the play-offs and return back to the Stanley Cup finals.

In reading the papers and listening to ownership, along with Mike Gillis, it seems they would like to return everyone to this team. Even if that were possible, it doesn’t make sense if you are trying to re-sign some of the UFA’s, qualify the RFA’s and sign some free agents.

The table of figures below that I was able to garner from CapGeek.com, represents in the first column, the cap hit with the raise and in the second column the, amount of the raise or reduction. I used the figure of $63.4 million as the new cap ceiling, which has been tossed around by some of the hockey analysts.  

Most of the forwards, whose names you will all recognize were re-signed with raises. They all proved that they could play the roles that were needed in the play-offs, and remember –  this team does not have to repeat winning the President’s Trophy, it just has to get into the play-offs. Sure home ice advantage would be great throughout, but it is not essential.

I did not re-sign Tanner Glass or Jeff Tambellini as I felt both are replaceable with  free agents that, although they would be a bit costlier, would be bigger, tougher, as fast, hard to play against, and with better offensive talent.

In staying with the bigger and tougher theme, this also includes the D-men, so Lee Sweatt was not re-signed nor Christian Ehrhoff. In listening to Gillis speak, it sounds like he would like to re-sign Ehrhoff, but I feel it would be a mistake. With the salary that Ehrhoff would probably command, say in the $4.2 to $4.5 million, you could go after an Eric Brewer - if he is still available come July 1.

For the past two seasons, Ehrhoff led the D-men in giveaways during the regular season and also in these last play-offs. I personally do not feel that he is worth the cap hit he would command nor do I feel he fits the tougher component that is needed.

Let’s not forget there are a couple of players on the Canucks farm team that may be able to fill that spot, in the number six through nine slot.

I will not go into who the Canucks should go after in the free agent market here, but will write about that in the coming days.

In using Dan Hamhuis’ contract of $4.5 million as the ceiling, because I believe that management recognizes he is the number one D-man, Kevin Bieksa was given a contract to match Hamhuis. Sami Salo’s contract was slashed in half and offered to him at the figure that you see. In re-thinking this as I type away, Salo’s contract will probably be around $2 million for one year.

Andrew Alberts proved his worth and if not for that wrist injury would have led the D-men in hits and blocked shots, qualities that come in very useful during the season and in the play-offs. So he was re-signed with the $200,000 raise.

That may not be enough for him and if that is so, there are other free agents that could fill that position, but would probably cost a bit more. I would try very hard to keep him.

These additions and deletions leave the Canucks with a cap space of around $19 million from which I believe they can fill the positions with the type of players they will need for next season. 

Footnotes: I don’t know about you, but it sure touched my civic pride to hear and see the hundreds of volunteers who took time out of their day to come downtown on Thursday and Friday, to help clean up the mess that the rioters left.

Not only that, but I didn’t realize the number of people who tried to stop some of the rioters, some ending up injured themselves. One young man received a punctured lung for his brave deeds, and to him should go a medal of recognition from the City of Vancouver and its people.  

The outpouring of affection towards this city, the police, fire and rescue squads, was the true reflection of who and what we really are about here in Vancouver.

Never ever let a few misguided people dictate whether we, as true Canuck fans, should be allowed to celebrate in a responsible manner, as happened during the play-offs. Next time, I know the people who are in charge will make sure that this type of unlawful action is not repeated. 

The vast majority of us would never condone this type of behaviour and I hope that the Premier of BC, Chief of Police and the Mayor follow through in prosecuting these hooligans to the maximum, along with demanding restitution.  

Photo Credits – AP, Getty Images, Google Images and Yahoo Sports!

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Filed under: Vancouver Canucks