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Like what Laura said earlier, I'm filling in for James for the NW Division GM Thoughts, if this is the first one you've read here's the deal:
Much like last year, CLS thought it would be best to poll some of our favorite team-specific bloggers and ask, "What would you do if you were your team's general manager?"
With the deadline approaching on Wednesday, these posts will be updated up until early Wednesday afternoon so keep an eye on the blog during that time. Feel free to tell us what you would do if you were the GM in the comments. If your team hasn't been covered yet, or even if it has and you have a different take, shoot me an e-mail at thevancitycanuck [at] gmail . com and we'll make it happen.
(And, as always, thanks to our contributors.)
Avalanche
Tapeleg from Jerseys and Hockey Love
I'll be honest here, I'm a hold-on-to-your-potential-assets, keep-the-chemistry kind of guy. I don't like to let go of guys who have potential or have come up through the ranks, and certainly wouldn't give them up for nothing. But there are a few guys who no one would miss.
Ruslan Salei - I don't care if he was the Captain of an Olympic team, there are too many solid young defensemen right now, and Salei has played all of three games for the Avs this season. They didn't miss him then, they won't miss him now. Get a pick and move on.
Peter Budaj - If the guy isn't going to play, get him some gone. It's not entirely Budaj's fault he sits on the bench all day (arguably), but if Craig Anderson is going to play as many games as Martin Brodeur, then maybe Budaj would be better off elsewhere. At least he would have a chance to make a name for himself. Mind you, if the Avs are comfortable with him, you might as well keep him around. The Avs have salary cap space for days. They could sign the Pope as a third line center if they wanted. If you need someone to watch a game in a baseball cap, the devil you know...
(Jump!)
Scott Hannan - I just like picking on Scott Hannan. He should never shoot the puck, no matter what the guy behind @AvsHkyPodcast yells at the ice. But his game has improved this season, and he's effective as a stay at home defenseman.
Somehow Svatos and Meszaros linking arms does NOT want
me to want to drink what they are having
Marek Svatos - I don't want to give up on Svatos. No one WANTS to give up on Svatos. But maybe it's time for him to have a change of scenery. The guy has a ton of potential, but that was a concussion or two ago, and he has never been the same. Great guy, stand up player, but he isn't very effective. I'd take a 2nd round pick for him, but don't let that fool you. I'd take a 3rd.
David Koci - The guy is good for a twitter meme (#WhatKociDoesDuringTheGame) but not much else. Has he ever won a fight? 7th round pick or a bag of pucks. Used pucks.
Darcy Tucker - LEAVE DARCY TUCKER ALONE! LEAVE HIM ALOOOONNEEE! Eh, he can ride it out, I don't care anymore. At this point, my dislike of his play has turned to apathy. I could take a hotdog, with some tasty mustard for him and be happy.
A few guys who are always mentioned:
Wojtek Wolski - I like Wolski, and while he doesn't always come through, he's got talent, and it shows when he puts the effort in. It's sometimes hard to tell if he's motivated, so people think he has a poor work ethic. If the NHL had a 60 game schedule, he would shine. But I still want to keep him.
John-Michael Liles - JML has the most underrated game out there. He hasn't been as effective on the power play lately, but overall, I feel like he gets the job done. I can't help but think he had some really bad coaching along the way, and is trying to do too much from days when Jeff Finger was trying to make a name for himself. I know the Avs Nation wants him gone, but I like the guy. I'd keep him at least another season. Good defensemen are hard to find. Don't let them go if you aren't sure.
The biggest thing for the Avs right now is the chemistry they show on the ice. The kids are alright, and there is no reason to dangle them right now. For a team everyone expected to be dead last in the division, would you change too many things that have you sitting sixth? I wouldn't. But then again, I'm that way.
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Vancouver Canucks
If Willie Mitchell is indeed out the rest of the season due to a concussion, the Vancouver Canucks need a top 4 defenceman. The Shane O'Briens of this world can only be considered to be top 4 defencemen for so long before it hurts the club.
The half naked rookie card, always comes back to haunt them
Personally with Demitra's superhuman play during the Olympics elevating his trade value, I'd like to see Demitra traded away since he is in the last year of his overpaid contract. Either that or if we can create some rule where he is allowed to wear his Team Slovakia jersey instead of his regular Canuck one that might keep his production up. If we do decide to keep Demo, then Gillis needs to get a 3rd line center because Wellwood isn't doing the job. If he can somehow trade away Wellwood and hands-of-stone Bernier for something, anything really, he may be the first Canuck GM to actually do something worthwhile at the trade deadline.
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