Canucks Welcome Toews as Team Facelift Continues

Above: Newly acquired Johnathan Toews

As the groundhogs pop their heads up nationwide today, assuring us all of 6 more weeks of winter, things are looking spring-fresh in Canuckland despite the bold predictions of these famous rodents.

Since the 11th of January, the Canucks have seen the following changes;

OUT: Olli Joulevi, Joni Jurmo(P), Robin Salo(P), Tyler Boucher(P), Chris Kreider, Jarid Lukosevicius, 2022VANrnd3, Ian Cole, Jake Virtanen, Brandon Sutter, Alexander Texier, Jonas Siegenthaler, Nic Petan, and Spencer Martin.

IN: Mike Reilly, Mats Zuccarello, Zach Aston-Reese, Ozzy Weisblatt, Daniil Gushchin(P), 2023SJSrnd1, 2023SJSrnd2, Otto Leskinen, 2022COLrnd6, and Johnathan Toews.


Despite rumours that the Canucks are not yet finished with their "retooling" phase, field reporter Shelly Zimmer managed to reach out to Canucks GM, Aaron Sanderson, for a sit down interview during a quieter day at the office.


ZIMMER: "Your Canucks were considered a pretty good team in early January, being top 3 in the Pacific Division, and having a very impressive goal differential only bested by Calgary in the Western Conference. Why rock the boat?"
SANDERSON: "Well Shelly, it wasn't about rocking the boat for me. The team was good, yes, but in my mind, it wasn't a contender yet. We identified some needs, and we took some time and really assessed what needed to change, and that has lead to where we are right now."



ZIMMER: "So are you a contender now?"
SANDERSON: "That is the question isn't it? We have seen really good things come from some of these deals, getting Mike Reilly here, and parting ways with Chris Kreider, both showed immediate positive impacts on the ice for our team. We are watching (Mats)Zuccarello fit in better each day with the club, and Zach(Aston-Reese) has been incredible for us, but the team is still not winning at the clip we hope for."

ZIMMER: "Why do you think your team is still not seeing team success from these deals, despite the individual successes?"
SANDERSON: "As an organization, when Chris Kreider left, Daryl(Sutter) and I had a sit down, and he gave me a heads up that he would be trying some things out in games that looked good in practice.... Namely moving Mat Duchene from his home as our 2nd line Centre up onto the first line left-wing position, between Karlsson and Kane. That move has really done great things for that line, Patty(Kane) in particular, so we wanted to keep it together, but we had to miscast Brandon Sutter and Sean Kuraly into the 2nd line Centre spot, and our secondary scoring dropped off of the map unfortunately."



ZIMMER: "So it is safe to assume that this is what precipitated the Toews deal?"
SANDERSON: "Yes and no. We would've done the deal even with Duchene at 2C, but it went from a good idea to almost a need. We had serious talks on (Blake)Wheeler, and also about 6 or 7 other candidates for the position, before we opted to make this deal happen."



ZIMMER: "So you got future hall of famer Johnathan Toews. In exchange you send out Alexander Texier, Jonas Siegenthaler, Brandon Sutter, Nic Petan, and Spencer Martin. Did you win this trade?"
SANDERSON: "Time will tell, Shelly, ask me again in 3 years for the real answer"



ZIMMER: "Some of your colleagues expressed negativity towards this deal, implying you got too much for too little. what do you say to them?"
SANDERSON: "Listen Shelly, I am not here to make enemies out of anybody. I have had many PFHL GM's message me to tell me they cannot understand why anybody would have a problem with this deal, and others also wondering why Kyle(NSH GM Bowden) would ever make this deal with me. We got Johnathan Toews. No matter how you cut the pie, we got the best player in the deal, hands down, and that is bound to ruffle some feathers."



ZIMMER: "So why would somebody want to give you Johnathan Toews for what you gave back then?"
SANDERSON: "I don't want to speak for Kyle, but I can see why he would do it easily. Johnathan(Toews) has a $10.5m per year salary that carries him into the retirement years. Nashville did not want to take any more salary back then they had to, and there were only about 5 teams in the league at the time with enough room to financially make that move. Finances aside, there is currently a major rift in the valuation that some GM's are giving salary, and futures. Skill is 'VERY HOT' hot right now. Alexander Texier heads to Nashville with a massive amount of potential, I would say he has the ability to be a top 2 centre for a team in the next 2-5 years depending on how he is supported. (Jonas)Siegenthaler could play pro right now, but is likely able to slip into a top 4 spot on a team next season. Both of these guys are under $1.5mil each for a while. Brandon Sutter is an excellent special teams, faceoff, and bottom 6 forward. Petan and Martin? Well, I imagine they could learn to drive the zamboni just in case...."



ZIMMER: "You really feel that way about the trade?"
SANDERSON: "I do. I think we will see a major change in opinion on values of players and youth soon, as we go forward. You know, they develop stronger in the farm system right?"



ZIMMER: "Alright, what can you say about the 3 players that have managed to get minutes on your pro team; Zach Aston-Reese, Mike Reilly, and Mats Zuccarello?"
SANDERSON: "Well, nothing but good right now. Mats(Zuccarello) is finding his way still, but we see improvement all of the time with him, we have high hopes, especially since he is from the superior Scandinavian Country: Norway. Zachy is on a heater since he arrived, scoring 5 points in 5 games with us, 3 of them goals... He is also finding a lot of chemistry with Jake Debrusk, and that's fantastic. Mike Reilly has definitely had the greatest impact from an on-ice perspective though. He has scored 4 gaols, and 6 assists in 9 games. He has taken over the power play and made it his own, and perhaps best of all, since being paired with Foxy, he has allowed Adam(Fox) to focus on his own game and taken some pressure off of our #1 D-man, and now Fox is producing at a clip that could see him catch up to Nate Schmidt and top the league in defenseman points by year end."



ZIMMER: "Are there any regrets?"
SANDERSON: "Once again, ask me in a few years. Joulevi and Siegenthaler were 2 of our 3 best farm defensemen, and they were projecting to make our pro team next year, or the following year. We still have Knyzhov, and Jett Woo when he returns from injury, but the farm has been harvested so to speak. Losing Texier is tough, we have very very high expectations of him for the future, but we had a greater need. Still having Yamamoto putting pucks in the net every night makes that a little lighter, but our farm is no longer a team that looks like it will contend for the AHL playoffs. There is a big challenge there for our youth, and that move may take a few years to recover from organically."



ZIMMER: "Will we see a reunion of Johnathan Toews and Patrick Kane?"
SANDERSON: "That is up to Daryl, but it wouldn't be outside of possible. For right now, as long as that first line(Karlsson, Duchene, Kane) continues to dominate the ice every minute they play, Daryl will be leaving it alone I am told. Expect Johnathan to play on the second line between Jordan Greenway, and Mats Zucarello, but get equal time on ice as the big line."



ZIMMER: "So with all of these moves, is there anything else left to address on your club?"
SANDERSON: "Absolutely... We want to add one more dominant defenseman to our club, and possibly a scoring winger. The jury is still out on whether we have the right goaltenders in net... Consistency is key there, and we have not really seen it for more than a few games at a time."



ZIMMER: "Thank you for your time Mr. Sanderson, and good luck in the future with the team!"
SANDERSON: "Thanks Shelly, it's been my pleasure."



Shelly Zimmer, Associate Press