Kesler to Ducks, Garrison to Tampa

[Dean Ambrose]

Kesler and 3rd to Ducks for Bonino, Sbisa, 24th overall and 3rd

Garrison, Costello and 7th to Tampa for 50th overall, for some reason.

[Josh]

Re: Kesler to Ducks, Garrison to Tampa

Weird move on the Garrison trade. Vancouver will be terrible next year. The Ducks on the other hand...

[Victor]

Re: Kesler to Ducks, Garrison to Tampa

Ducks definitely out of running for Spezza.

[matchesmalone]

Re: Kesler to Ducks, Garrison to Tampa

Vancouver will be terrible next year.

I doubt it. With Vrbata on the wing and the very offensive-minded new coach, the Sedins will bounce back. Not to 90-100 point form, but at least to something in the 70 point range. Miller is still a top goalie in the league, and their defense is as good as most teams in the league, with Bieksa, Edler, Sbisa, Tanev, Hamhuis and Ryan Stanton/ Yannick Weber.

Sedin - Sedin - Vrbata
Higgins - Bonino - Burrows
Kassian - Mattias - Hansen
Sestito - Richardson - Dorsett

Hamhuis - Tanev
Sbisa - Edler
Stanton - Bieksa

Miller
Lack

Looks to me like, maybe not a playoff team, but probably a 15-20 place team. And the prospect cupboard that, just two or three years ago was one of the worst in the league, is now starting to look very bright, with the likes of Jensen, Horvat, Shinkaruk, Gaunce, Virtanen, McCann, Demko and Corrado. Maybe not among the tops in the league yet, but I have a feeling Jim Benning will change that pretty soon.

[Josh]

Re: Kesler to Ducks, Garrison to Tampa

I disagree. I like the Canucks (was born in Vancouver) but I really think that they’ll be an awful team next season. They traded away 2 of their top 5 scorers in an anemic season, and lost Santorelli and Schroeder. The forward lineup is full of holes and mostly second and third liners. The defense is good, especially on the left side, but could use the addition of another established RD. This is how I would line-up the current roster:

Higgins - Bonino - Vrbata
Sedin - Sedin - Kassian
Burrows - Matthias - Hansen
Sestito - Richardson - Dorsett

Edler - Bieksa
Hamhuis - Tanev
Sbisa - Corrado
Stanton

Miller
Lack

But I still think it would be a crap season, even lined up that way. It might actually be better to just throw it all in and play the kids:

Higgins - Horvat - Virtanen
Sedin - Bonino - Vrbata
Shinkaruk - Sedin - Kassian
Sestito - Matthias - Burrows
Hansen

Edler - Bieksa
Hamhuis - Tanev
Sbisa - Blain
Stanton

Miller
Lack