Are the Vancouver Canucks trying to get better or younger?
There appears to be mixed signals.
On one hand, the Canucks upgraded by adding 30-year-old free agent Loui Eriksson to play on the top line with the Sedins.
On the other hand, the Canucks brain trust of Trevor Linden and Jim Benning showed no interest in re-signing 33-year-old Dan Hamhuis.
The Canucks badly bungled the Hamhuis situation.
Instead of dealing him at the trade deadline to Dallas (or elsewhere), Vancouver let him walk for nothing on July 1st.
I find it bizarre the Canucks never even made a contract offer to the reliable Smithers product, suggesting instead they wanted more youth on the back end.
Granted Hamhuis, a minority owner of the P.G. Cougars, is past his prime but he still has a few good years left.
If he remained with Vancouver, he clearly would still be among its top three defenders.
The Dallas Stars will likely get their money’s worth after signing Hamhuis, a 12-year veteran, to a two-year, $7.5 million deal.
Not only will he be a stabilizing force with on ice contributions, but Hamhuis will be a leader in the dressing room, solid citizen in the community with a team first attitude.
In addition, he will highly motivated to prove he can still compete at an elite level.
He gave six good years to the Canucks and wanted to stay.
Why Linden and Benning decided to toss Hamhuis aside when his positives far outweigh his negatives is dumbfounding.
Being popular and great with the public are not reasons to keep someone, but when one has that, in addition to talent and desire, it is only logical to want to have those qualities in a player on a team.
In the 2015-16 season, Hamhuis was a minus 2 which doesn’t sound great, but compared to his teammates it was terrific.
In fact, Hamhuis led all Vancouver defencemen in plus-minus and was 4th overall on the team for players that suited up for at least 50 games.
Erik Gudbranson, acquired from Florida, will be logging many of the minutes that Hamhuis had.
Wouldn’t the Canucks have been better off to have had both?
Vancouver gave up on a 20-year-old, Jared McCann, in order to secure the 24-year-old Gudbranson.
The deal indicated the Canucks wanted an upgrade in the short term.
By letting Hamhuis leave, without even a real attempt to keep his services, is an indication they are looking long term.
So what are the fans left to think with these mixed messages?
Benning and Linden have seen Vancouver tumble all the way to 28th out of 30 in the standings.
I realize there comes a point with each player when difficult decisions have to be made, but there was no reason at this time to at least not have made Hamhuis a reasonable short term offer.
It’s a head-shaker and a decision that does not leave a lot of confidence or faith in the direction Canucks management is taking with this plummeting team.
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Super teams can be great for a league.
They generate lively discussion, emotion and widespread interest.
The Golden State Warriors are now at the top of the list.
Kevin Durant wants a title and the easiest route to achieve that goal was to join the 73 win Warriors.
He stunned the basketball world by agreeing to a 2-year, $54.3 million deal.
Durant and the Warriors will be as relevant as any team in any North American sport and that’s good for business.
They may not be as hated as the Miami Heat in 2010 but the mere mention of Durant and the Warriors in the same breath draws a reaction and opinion from even casual observers.
On paper, Golden State appears to have the makings of a dynasty for the next several years but let’s remember how quickly things can change.
Look at the Heat; LeBron James unexpectedly left two years ago; Dwyane Wade surprisingly decided this week to go home to Chicago and play for the Bulls, while the third wheel, Chris Bosh, has his future in limbo with blood clots that forced him to miss much of the last regular season and the playoffs.
Durant can opt out after just one year.
I doubt he will, but one is learning never to try and guess what basketball superstars will do.
The ball is clearly in their court.
From the Quote Rack:
Russell Wilson married Ciara in an English castle. You sure this is the right place for a European Union?
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
36 year-old Pau Gasol has agreed to a two-year contract with San Antonio. Is this the start of the Spurs youth movement?
Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
The NHL, in conjunction with the Nevada Gaming Commission is working on an app that will let fans bet on the games before and during play. There will be props such as next team to score; next player to score; next penalty etc. The name of the app? FaceBookie.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver http://alwaysfunny.com/
In a recent episode of the NFL series “All or Nothing,” it was revealed that Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians cut Lawrence Okoye for parking in the wrong spot at the team’s practice facility. Gosh, couldn’t he have just demoted him to the taxi squad?
Contributor Marc Ragovin
And in case you missed it:
The Denver Broncos waived punter William Johnson just months after signing him. I’m guessing there wasn’t enough good Will punting.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. He also is the 94.3
radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games. His column appears Fridays on
myprincegeorgenow.com.
Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller
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