Team: 2019-20 Vancouver Canucks

Initial Creation Date: Dec. 16, 2018

Published: Dec. 16, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I know what people think about Gardiner, but does he not improve this defence??? We're talking about switching Pouliot for Gardiner here (through FA, but still)! Gardiner allows Edler to resign without as much pressure to be a number 1/2 Dman, and gives Tanev some offence beside him. I honestly believe that they need a young but proven Dman, and Gardiner is that. If not Gardiner, maybe wait for next year and grab someone else, but I like the idea.

Also, Boeser gets Nylander money, maybe he gets a bit more but it's hard to say. Schaller will have to go for roster spots (rookies gotta play to improve after all), and Biega likely gets claimed off waivers or goes to the Comets.

I hope that Juolevi and Hughes both crack the roster, and if they do we will likely see a lot of switching around with who stays in the lineup. Gudbranson may sit, which sucks because we're paying him 4 million x 3

Up front there is some fantastic depth, but I hate those Roussel and Beagle contracts even more. Gotta depend on injuries to get Dahlen, Motte, Leivo and Gaudette enough ice-time, even though all 4 will be NHL ready and most of them 3rd liners. Bad term, I don't even hate the numbers, but the term will hurt come EP signing time.

Demko becomes the backup, and we depend on him and Marky to improve. I'd say it's the weakest part of this lineup, but this lineup improves a lot with these moves and time. I think this is going to be a contender this year or the one after based on this team and the growth of their prospects. Guys like Lind, DiPietro, Palmu and Dahlen are gonna be dangerous in a year or two.

If Demko struggles, or Marky gets hurt, they could always sign a cheap backup or fringe starter, but the hope is that these two can defend the pipes reasonably well. There are tons of fringe starters in the market if needed (Talbot, Smith, Howard, DeSmith, Kinkaid, etc) plus some cheaper backups (Mrazek, McElhinney (THE GOAT), and Pickard (THE WOAT)).

Cap-wise this team is fine, with the exception of those horrible contracts to Gudbranson, Beagle and Roussel (and even Gagner) because they still got so many years left. The hope is that if the cap keeps rising we can maintain what we have now and sign Petterson to around 9x7 when he's due. But we don't know yet!

Yes, there is 25 guys in NHL. But i don't know who of Hughes/juolevi and Dahlen/Motte/Gaudette will make it full time, so this is the "large scale roster" with 2 guys being in the AHL at a time.

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