Training camp could be interesting with all the new faces and those coming up from the AHL, junior's etc. Looks like plenty of competition for a couple roster spots
Tocchet games who isn't playing well or injured will be scratch and Sprong will fill in nicely and I do believe they are still looking for a puck moving defense.
The competition between Hoglander, Podz, Sprong and guys like Lekeremaki / Karlson for a spot on the roster is going to be great for their development too
I think due to waiver issues that Åman and Podkolzin will be stuck in Abbotsford for the year, and DiGiuseppe will probably be the 13th man. The 'nucks Have to use Suter as the 4th line centre instead of as a singer, he's better that way and he and Sherwood can help Sprong defensively. And Sprong was Only -5 last year with 43 points in 76 games, heck the year before for the Kraken he scored 46 points in '66' games and was a +13! How bad defensively can he be? And with an average of 12 minutes on ice? Yeah I WANT this guy in the lineup!
It's my opinion Vancouver have just loaded up on wingers (there are way too many on the main roster now), suggesting a trade for a Dman coming up, involving moving either Podkolzin or Hoglander, I bet.... or even Garland or Boeser, if they want to make a bigger splash for a 2nd pairing Dman, so Myers can drop down to 3rd pair duty (where he belongs)... That's my gut instinct. No reason to have made all these winger signings otherwise...
I wouldn't trade Podz just yet I'd give him until the Trade Deadline I think he's going to breakout Soon Remember it took Kesler 4 Years to hit 30 Points but he improved each year unlike Podkolzin who diminished his point Production But yes, we need another Top 4 D Man I wish we had $5 Mill in Cap space with the current Roster but we don't so one of our Top 6 Players will be gone if we want a Top 4 D Man
I think all these signings are to create competition and hunger among the bottom 6 players. And if they work hard like hoagie did last season right off the bat and give management no choice....then that is what is best for the team. This also creates depth in the bottom 6 as well. Anyone who goes on cruise control will be in the press box. It also provides the ability to tinker depending on who you face and who will be on the card that evening and game. All in all, the future looks bright.
This dude can torch the net but he can also look like he's on a Sunday walk in his own end. Very low risk high reward and if he can improve his 200ft game it could be the best move in the off-season period!
Expect this guy to be a carbon copy of Kuzmenko, where he doesn't do backcheck or play defence, but he'll put up points on ur top unit powerplay but he'll play limited minutes on ur 3rd or 4th line. The difference is that he doesn't cost you $5.5mil/season...
Ya exactly such a low risk-high reward bet. If they can somehow get him to play defense, he’s one of the top players in the league at points per 60 minutes!
Why do you think he's going to even get any minutes if he doesn't backcheck or play defense? Tocchet will either bench him or get them to trade him away. There will be no copy of Kuzmenko with Tocchet here. LOL.
@@gskeyz2987 I’m not expecting great things from sprong. The truth is there’s a reason why he put up above average numbers, but he’s getting paid half of what he got paid last season and 31 other teams passed on him…
I think the signing sucks. Someone has to come out of the lineup, and that player is Vasily Podkolzin, who's willing to hit, and fight. Sprong won't. They should have gone for a puck moving defender like Oliver Kylington instead. Scoring isn't the issue grit, hitting, and 200 foot play is. That's what wins games in May and June, not just scoring.
I’m hearing höglander’s name being tossed around a lot through out theoretical stuff I’ve been reading online, and imo I think shipping höglander in a trade for a RD would make sense after signing sprong cuz höggy has more trade value than podkolzin ATM and podkolzin deserves one more chance to prove himself this upcoming season
The only good thing is the salary. 5 teams already gave up on this guy. This is not a huge signing. This guys been in the league like 8 years. You are not going to change his game and bad habits at this point of his career. There must of been a reason or reasons why 5 teams gave up on him. He got 46 points in just 66 games. That is pretty damn good. But Kraken gave up on him. He probably signed with Canucks because that's probably the best offer he got.
Only reason why Podkolzin still here is because he was 1st rounder 10th OA lets keep it real. Looking like a wasted pick albeit a pretty garbage draft class.
I still have faith in him. He does the little things right, just been snake bitten on the scoresheet lately. Doesn’t really make anyone feel better if was a “garbage draft class” when Boldy was selected right after him.
