Quote:
Originally Posted by pastarocket  Dim Jim Benning as a GM definitely has his "strengths" and weaknesses.
Strengths: A keen eye for drafting talented players to change the identity of the Canucks
Weaknesses: Questionable ability in making trades for players. Terrible negotiation skills when it comes to signing players, current player on roster or new players acquired by trade, to contract extensions. -gives out NTCs like
Halloween candy to players. Trick or treat!
Case in point, Sbisa and now Sutter.  |
Well, if you were trying to convince me that Jim Benning should be Director of Amateur Scouting, you have succeeded. Unfortunately, that's not his job.
Benning is giving Willie the team he wants. A team filled with hard-working individuals. That's what we saw last year; it didn't matter how many times you screwed up (Sbisa), if you tried your best, you got ice time. If you slacked off (Kassian), you got stapled to the bench or put in the press box.
All of Benning's acquisitions this offseason work their asses off, though are definitely less talented offensively and higher paid than the outgoing players.
The major drawback to this strategy is we've been a team that's lacked secondary scoring for all but a few years ('08-'09 through '10-'11) since the lockout and now we're heading in the opposite direction with our leading offensive players turning 35 before the season starts.
If you look at offensive production over the past 3 seasons (minimum 82 games played):
1st line (top 90) production:
H. Sedin - 0.833 p/g (24th), $7M (19th)
D. Sedin - 0.802 p/g (33rd), $7M (19th)
Vrbata - 0.734 p/g (52nd), $5M (66th)
2nd line (top 180) production:
None
3rd line (top 270) production:
Higgins - 0.447 p/g (196th), $2.5M (182nd)
Burrows - 0.445 p/g (198th), $4.5M (86th)
Hansen - 0.402 p/g (230th), $2.5M (182nd)
Sutter - 0.372 p/g (247th), $3.3M (148th)
4th line (top 360) production:
Vey - 0.309 p/g (285th), $1M (268th)
Prust - 0.259 p/g (321st), $2.5M (182nd)
Dorsett - 0.227 p/g (343rd), $2.65M (177th)
Now, if you transpose that:
1st line (top 90) cap hit:
D. Sedin - $7M (19th), 1st line production
H. Sedin - $7M (19th), 1st line production
Vrbata - $5M (66th), 1st line production
Burrows - $4.5M (86th), 3rd line production
2nd line (top 180) cap hit:
Sutter - $3.3M (148th), 3rd line production
Dorsett - $2.65M (177th), 4th line production
3rd line (top 270) cap hit:
Hansen - $2.5M (182nd), 3rd line production
Higgins - $2.5M (182nd), 3rd line production
Prust - $2.5M (182nd), 4th line production
Vey - $1M (268th), 4th line production
4th line (top 360) cap hit:
None
So Vrbata is the lone player whose performance is exceeding his salary. The Sedins, if you take out the Tortorella season, are in that category as well.
Higgins and Vey have pay grades that are pretty close to their offensive performance over the past few years. Hansen has middle of the road 3rd line production with higher-end 3rd line pay. Not outrageous.
Now, the guys who are pretty clearly not living up to their salaries are Burrows, Sutter (and, unless he starts trending up real fast, it's going to get a lot worse with a 33% pay increase coming), Dorsett, and Prust. 3 of these 4 are Benning acquisitions/signings and, as for Burrows, the Tortorella season brought him down much like the Sedins (though he's still definitely overpaid even when you consider the other 2 seasons).
Now, look at our outgoing players:
Bonino - 0.566 p/g (125th), $1.9M (210th)
Kassian - 0.354 p/g (255th), $1.75M (222nd)
Matthias - 0.349 p/g (260th), $2.3M (193rd)
Richardson - 0.340 p/g (270th), $2.083M (200th)
Bonino produced at an average 2nd liner pace while being paid as an above-average 3rd liner. His replacement, Sutter, produced at a below-average pace for a 3rd liner while being paid as an average 2nd liner.
Kassian produced at a below-average 3rd liner pace while being paid as an average 3rd liner. His replacement, Prust, produced at an average 4th liner pace while being paid as an above-average 3rd liner.
Offensively, we definitely took a step backwards with those trades while also giving up draft picks. We improved in other areas, though. But if the Sedins get shut down, we're even more fucked than we used to be unless Horvat and Baertschi are able to provide that secondary punch, but I'm not holding my breath.
Matthias and Richardson have no direct replacements, but I have no problem letting either of them go given the contracts they got. I'll miss Richardson, though, as his PK abilities were top notch and his points/minute were also very respectable, making the most of his ice time. That said, given his injury-plagued year and desire for a multi-year, multimillion dollar contract, no thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by UFO Who has he drafted with his keen eye that we know will change the identity of the Canucks? Until his picks pan or start looking like they will pan out, we can't assume based on his previous track record which I would say is maybe a bit better than avg.
Horvat, Cassels, even Subban were all drafted by Gillis and co. Yeah MG gave away lots of picks, but that's what happens when you throw it all up in the air and go for it |
Exactly, draft record is still unproven at this point.
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