Most hockey fans anxiously await July 1st. Not because it’s Canada Day, but because it’s the official start of the summer free agent market. For many teams, this represents an opportunity to drastically change their fortunes. We, for one, will not be glued to the tube or on-line streaming coverage. We just don’t see this as a bumper crop. All that said, we’d like to offer up a little food for thought…
There has been talk of the Canucks’ interest in Dan Hamhuis. We’re just not sure how he fits with the Keith Ballard pick-up unless there is a taker for Kevin Bieksa (and we can’t imagine why there would be). And if Hamhuis was considered signable, why not have traded for his rights for a 3rd round pick rather than 3 first rounders for Ballard? While it’s nice to have defensive depth, it’s not clear how any team can afford to have six defenders each making over $3 million per.
When the Canuck season ended, we ran a little poll here asking for your input about which of the Canuck UFA’s should be retained. The most popular selection was Kyle Wellwood. And why not. Somehow he had morphed into our number one centre by the season’s final game (if ice time is any indication). But there has been little mention of Wellwood recently and the Canucks clearly can’t count entirely on Cody Hodgson’s wonky back to carry the 3rd line centre responsibility. So if Wellwood is gone (and we’re not proposing he should be, but if he is), why not consider Mike Modano? Many would balk at this move given his age. But what this team needs most is some veteran leadership. Hasn’t he captained a Cup winner? No matter his age, he’s got more foot speed than Kyle Wellwood. Looking at the other potential free agent forwards out there, you won’t find another with near this kind of winning pedigree…
Enjoy your Canada Day, Critically Canuck will be spending our day, in typically Canadian fashion, in the great outdoors far away from 21st century technology so you’ll have to wait until the weekend for more of the good stuff from us…
