Casual Canuck

It's six am. I'm still flummoxed by the recent free agent signings by the Canucks, nearly two full weeks later. Two fourth liners signed for four years. One for $3 million, and the other for $3.25 million. Fourth liners. Four years. Both for $3 million or more per year. Ah well. It ain't my money. But still, one would think the Canucks front office would have someone to tell management that maybe signing two players for term who are likely to begin slowing down sooner rather than later at this stage in their careers probably isn't a good idea. Didn't they learn with Dorsett? With Prust? Gritty fourth liners don't last long playing into their thirties -heck, even into their late twenties- just because of the style of play that got them to where they are is high risk. Honestly, it's just bad business. The Canucks had the luxury of waiting through the summer before picking up the phone to bring a veteran leader or two. Canucks management coul

This is just a personal analysis of how an NHL organization should be run. Moves should be planned months in advance. The Canucks should have been talking trades back in late November, and early December after having a few months to evaluate their own roster. Who fit the long-term plans, and who didn't. That's the easy part. Who currently on the NHL roster fits in the Canucks long-term plans? Boeser. Horvat. Maybe Stetcher, Hutton. What about prospects? What about veterans? Plans and more plans. Best-case scenarios, and worst-case scenarios. There should have been meetings between the team's management strictly on trades, and proposals finalized and submitted by the managers to Benning as to what should be done. That part should have been done early: late November, early December. And then from there, Benning should have been getting in touch with other teams as to what players the Canucks were willing to part with for what specific returns. He'd submit the team'