Free Agency | Rob The Hockey Guy

It's Mid-July, Time to Start Some Rumours! How 'bout Streit, Wideman or Morrow to the Canucks?

July 15, 2011 Rob 2 Comments Free Agency, Rumours

Hello everybody. I’m back. It’s been a while since my last blog, and I’m sure you can understand why. The Canucks exciting and exhausting Stanley Cup run ended one month ago today. That was followed up quickly with the NHL draft, the NHL awards and the start of free agency. I was exhausted. I needed to re-charge. And no, the signing of Marco Sturm didn’t exactly give me the kick start I needed. But I’ve recovered and I’m back for some fun summertime blogging. You know what’s great about summertime blogging? RUMOURS. Mike Gillis and the brass are pretty tight lipped, so there aren’t many juicy ones out there.

Vancouver Canucks 2011 Free Agent Wish List

June 28, 2011 Rob 5 Comments Free Agency

This Friday is one of the most exciting days of the year for hockey fans, July 1st, the start of free agent season! Only trade deadline day and the draft (especially this year with Jeff Carter and Mike Richards getting traded) can come close to matching the intrigue of July 1st. Last year Mike Gillis signed Dan Hamhuis, Manny Malhotra and Jeff Tambellini on the first day of free agency. The previous year Gillis re-signed Daniel and Henrik Sedin, just hours before July 1st.

Canucks Forwards: Who Stays, Who Goes?

June 23, 2011 Rob 4 Comments Free Agency

Earlier this week we took a look at the Canucks goaltenders and defencemen, deciding who is likely to return and who is likely to move on. Today, we look at the Canucks’ forwards. Mike Gillis doesn’t have a lot of work to do with his forwards, but he does have options. His most important forwards are already under contract for next year, so it’ll be just a matter of tinkering with his depth forwards. Given the lack of production from his second line at even strength, he may want to find a better winger to play with Ryan Kesler.

Your 2011-12 Vancouver Canucks – Who Stays, Who Goes?

June 20, 2011 Rob 5 Comments Free Agency

Due to the Canucks long playoff run, the team is in for a very short offseason. The NHL entry draft is in four days and free agency begins in only eleven days. Mike Gillis has some work to do, as all GMs do. Luckily for the Canucks, most of their core is locked up long term, but there are a few key players that will become restricted free agents. Kevin Bieksa, Christian Ehrhoff, Sami Salo, Andrew Alberts, Raffi Torres, Chris Higgins, Tanner Glass and Jeff Tambellini are all unrestricted free agents on July 1st. Maxim Lapierre, Jannik Hansen, Victor Oreskovich and Alex Bolduc are all restricted free agents.

Gillis Re-Signs Raymond for Cheap

July 27, 2010 Rob 2 Comments Free Agency, Signing

The Canucks announced on Monday that they have re-signed Mason Raymond. The restricted free agent re-signed just minutes before his arbitration case was to be heard. But that’s not the surprising part, the surprising part is that Mike Gillis was able to get Raymond to sign a two year deal, worth $2.55 per season. There’s no doubt in my mind that Raymond would have been awarded more in arbitration, perhaps well more. In fact, most pundits (including myself)were predicting $3 million or more.

Canucks Sign Three! Hamhuis, Malhotra, Perrault on their way to Vancouver

July 1, 2010 Rob 5 Comments Free Agency

Mike Gillis has hit a free agent home run, signing the much coveted Dan Hamhuis to a 6 year deal worth $4.5 million per season. Hamhuis will step-in as their number one shutdown defenceman, replacing Willie Mitchell. He will bring defensive stability and toughness to the blueline.

Bieksa Being Shopped? Hamhuis on his way to the West Coast? Those Rumours and MORE!

June 30, 2010 Rob 8 Comments Free Agency

We’re one day away from the start of NHL free agency and the rumours mill is churning. With respect to Vancouver Canucks, no name has been rumoured more than Kevin Bieksa. With the acquisition of Keith Ballard, many (including yours truly) have theorized that this makes Bieksa a little bit redundant. Personally I think it’s time to ship Bieksa out of town.

Who will stay? Who will go? Mike Gillis' Offseason Game Plan

June 29, 2010 Rob 0 Comments Free Agency

The countdown to the free agent frenzy is on. July 1st marks the first day of free agency 2010 and the Canucks are sure to be busy. The Canucks currently have five regulars scheduled to become unrestricted free agents and four regulars set to become restricted free agents. Clearly not all of them will be back and some new players will be added via free agency. There is also the potential for young players to step into the lineup and more trades to happen. So what will Mike Gillis do? Well, lets try to figure that out right now:

Forsberg Update: "Thanks But No Thanks"

November 16, 2009 Rob 0 Comments Free Agency

According to the Team 1040, Peter Forsberg has told the Canucks “Thanks but no thanks” in regards to him returning to the NHL. He will apparently return to pro hockey, but with Modo of the Swedish Elite League.

Hodgson Injury, Vigneault's Contract, Cloutier's Comeback and More!

September 8, 2009 Rob 1 Comment Free Agency, Rumours

Nice to see Cody Hodgson back on the ice this week at Canucks prospect camp. Hodgson injured his back from the 120+ games he played at the NHL exhibition/OHL regular season and playoffs/AHL playoffs and had surgery on it over the summer.

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