Friday, March 16, 2012

State of the Canucks - Post Trade Deadline

The Canucks made some major deadline deals this year.  They have acquired Sammy Pahlsson from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a couple of draft picks and they also sent Cody Hodgson and Alex Sulzer to Buffalo in exchange for Zack Kassian and Marc-Andre Gragnani.  No one expected the Cody Hodgson trade to ever occur.  He was well liked by the fans, but was questionable with the Canucks coaching staff.  In Kassian, they get a guy who is prospected to turn into a Milan Lucic-type player.  He brings a physical edge and willingness to fight to the lineup.  He also has a great set of hands.  Marc-Andre Gragnani brings stability to the third defensive pairing and another puck mover to the Canucks 2nd powerplay unit.  Sammy Pahlsson is a checking line center that won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.  He brings veteran leadership and penalty killing to the Canucks lineup.  This was a decent trade deadline.  I was surprised by the moves, but I am still very happy with them.  Hopefully these will be the final missing pieces to winning that elusive Stanley Cup.

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