The question is: should Ericsson really be playing with Horvat? It should be Baertschi playing there IMO. Other than that pretty solid. I also think Granlund should play with the Sedins, I feel like they're a good fit for each other

I second that motion

Eriksson SHOULD play with Horvat. Not because Baertschi doesn't deserve 1st/2nd line time, but because Loui's contract pretty much demands that the Canucks deploy him as if he's worth the 6M. He's unmovable as it stands now. Best case scenario he plays his way onto the radar of some contenders but even then, given that he waives his NMC...what are the Canucks going to do, retain how much on his 5 years remaining? Alternatively, if he's going to stay (the contract is also buyout proof), it may was well be with Horvat (and ideally with another big RW) who can make room for him. Watching him and the Sedins move the puck along the perimeter with no hope of getting to the net just isn't entertaining. My changes to deployment would be to move either Sutter or Gagner to the Sedin's RW, to give Henrik a more seasoned center to cover him in the defensive zone. At this stage in his career, he needs the Pavelski treatment that Thorton is getting in San Jose. Same deal, maybe the Sedins make one of them look like intriguing deadline trade bait and we get some picks and prospects.

Interesting ideas

Canucks' have an upwelling of prospects at all positions. I think they're definitely going to stand pat until they get the trade offers they want, for anyone older than Horvat. Main reason is they don't feel the need to tank, and they can't rush the crop of prospects they have into being ready any earlier.

I come here mostly to run through ideas that won't happen, so I'm not knocking you.

The one angle where a trade is made before October is Juolevi pushing his way into the lineup. He looks ready and maybe good enough to justify blocking out a top 6 spot at season's start.
LHD depth =
Edler (31) $5M
Hutton (24) $2.8M
Del Zotto (27) $3M
Wiercoch (26) $0.65M
--NHL/AHL--
Pedan (24) $0.75M
McEneny (23) $RFA
Holm (25) $0.92M
Brisebois (19, 20 this month) $0.69M
* Tryamkin (22) $RFA

Clearly the Canucks prepared to give Juolevi a year in the minors playing against men (not 20 until next May he's too young for AHL, so he'd be loaned to a Pro team in Europe. No cap hit, they pay his salary, no mid-season).
If Juolevi stays, they have to rethink who they keep in light of vulnerability to waivers. Even though I anticipate Juolevi only staying if he gets minutes in the top 6, it looks like Juolevi vs. Wiercoch for a roster spot.

RHD depth =
Tanev (27) $4.45M
Gudbranson (25) $3.5M
Stecher (23) 0.925M
Biega (29) 0.75M
--NHL/AHL--
Subban (22) 0.75M
Chatfield (21) 0.65M

RHD depth is thinner. Chatfield looked good in the prospect scrimmage, but Canucks would still like to add some RHD depth to fill out Utica even before losing their #1.

Jordan Subban was tied for #3 in AHL D goals, the rest were 27/28 year old journeymen.

young RHD near top of AHL goal scoring:
Ryan Pulock #6, 15 G, age 22, NYI
Kyle Wood #7, 14 G, age 21, ARI
Mackenzie Weegar #7, 14G, age 23, FLA
* Brandon Montour #12, 13G in half a season, age 23, ANA

Kyle Wood
6'5" age 21, 223 lbs, 84 overall in 2014 draft by Colorado
acquired by Coyotes Feb 2016. [ COL: Boedker (left in summer for SJ) | ARI: Tanguay (retired), Conner Bleackley (ECHL), Kyle Wood ]


Maybe it's time for trade ideas with Arizona given that they are making a push and bringing in a new lot of new blood