Florida Trades Gudbranson to Vancouver for McCann
Dobber
2016-05-25
Fantasy Impact: Florida trades Erik Gudbranson to Vancouver for Jared McCann. The Panthers also get second- and fourth-round picks for the upcoming draft, and the Canucks get a fifth rounder.
The Canucks get: A steady second-pairing defender who at the age of 24 still has room to grow into something more. Just not in terms of offense. Gudbranson consistently posts around 10 points, 75 BLKS and 150 hits per season. They paid a heavy price for such a player – it's interesting to see that this is where the market is at. Gudbranson faced the highest quality of competition, on average, among Florida defensemen (per Hockey Abstract).
The Panthers get: A nice improvement to their draft position and an excellent young prospect with second-line center potential. Because the team already has Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, Nick Bjugstad and Derek MacKenzie at center, I suspect another deal could be in the works. Bjugstad is signed for another five years and Barkov isn't going anywhere. Could the RFA Trocheck be on the block? The Panthers also free up $2.5 million in cap space.
Fantasy Players Impacted: McCann, who turns 20 next week, is a promising two-way center with plenty of offensive upside. Right now he's probably the third most famous person from Stratford – just behind myself and Justin Bieber. All kidding aside, he was Vancouver's most improved prospect in 2014-15 after being drafted 24th overall in 2014. He made the Canucks as a 19-year-old and with limited ice time he managed nine goals and 18 points. But all that potential fantasy value could be wasted now as he could end up being groomed as a third-line center. He went from a good (fantasy) situation to a bad one with the stroke of a pen. If McCann is going to be groomed as a winger, he's still in a worse position because the Panthers are far deeper than the Canucks. He's not good enough, or proven enough, at this point to displace or even challenge Florida's current trio of young, skilled centermen.
This trade moves a Florida defenseman out, but brings in another forward. So you have to look at the next forward to graduate – and that's Rocco Grimaldi. This definitely hurts Grimaldi's chances of making the team out of training camp.
Gudbranson getting moved out opens up a big space for Mike Matheson to make the jump. Matheson is more than ready, we saw that after he led Team Canada's defensemen in scoring at the recent World Championship. Vancouver's defense corps still looks like it's been slapped together with chewing gum and some used hockey tape, but at least it's better now. But this means that one of the bubble defensemen will get knocked out of the mix, such as Nikita Tryamkin, Alex Biega or Philip Larsen.
Fantasy Players this helps, in order:
1. Mike Matheson (scouting info/profile here)
Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:
1. Jared McCann (profile/stats here)
2. Rocco Grimaldi (scouting info/profile here)
3. Vancouver's bubble defensemen
17 Comments
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Canuck’s most improved prospect? That was Hutton. McCaan started hot then cooled off.
He was likely headed back to the minors with Sedin, Horvat, Sutter and Granlund ahead of him.
The big question is does this effect resigning Hamhuis.
Canucks are bigger and tougher with this trade.
I don’t think they re-sign Hamhuis.
Hutton’s 2014-15 included a steep decline in production and a drop in plus/minus by minus-23 from 2013-14. He was not an improved prospect at all that year. I said most improved in 2014-15 (the year before last)
I see that now, but hard to say he’s improved when he only had one year in the nucks prospect pool, improved over what? he wasn’t a canuck before 2014
It was widely regarded at the time that the player they drafted turned out to be much better than they thought. Not many players make the NHL at 19
I don’t think they sign hammer either.
Hutton didn’t play on the canucks in 2013-14…McCann was relegated to the 4th line for the latter part of the season so where is he going to get points? Tryamkin is not a bubble player. Florida made out like bandits in this deal. Sorry guys, this is a pretty bad analysis.
Hey audiopile, I’m going to disagree on a couple of things here, much of it is from your misinterpretation of what was said. I’d go point by point over what you misread, but I think it would be best if you just re-read it. But nothing you said here is relevant except your opinion on Tryamkin. Which I disagree with, but no way of determining a winner there.
In all, I appreciate the comment, but wish it was speaking to what was actually written in the article.
I re-read the article. You are correct it’s pretty accurate, I apologize. Somehow I got the impression you were commenting on the balance of the deal, but you were not. Taking my Benning frustration out in the wrong place. But again, I think you meant Hamhuis not Hutton in your follow-up comments.
Also, I’m definitely biased, but I think this was an amazing analysis. I’m pretty proud of how thorough I was, I think I covered everything and I stand behind it 100%. Thanks again though.
the Canucks need Gudbrandson alot more than they needed McCann, who didnt exactly shine on the wing. Thing is the same could be said for the Panthers too. As a Canuck fan though, i hate the fact they gave a very good 2nd rounder in the deal. Benning is giving them away like their candy!
As for Hammer, unless he is willing to take a 2yr deal at $4mil or ideally slightly less…I think he walks. Somebody will offer 3yrs and something closer to $5mil. As much as he would rather stay, he could be passing up alot of change. The Canucks lack of defensive depth was exposed last year- and i dont think they want to risk having their 6/7th dmen comming from the group of Tryamkin,Biega,Pedan and Larsen, so if not Hammer- then maybe another cheaper veteran for the bottom pair. I highly doubt Sbisa and Edler play 80+ games each.
I had already thought that Vancouver would be a bottom 5 team next year, but now I’m thinking bottom 3. Seriously, who’s worse?
I don’t know if there’s anything they’re doing that I like
4th most famous person from Stratford, right behind Dobbs (Yah ), Bieber (Blah ), and Lloyd friggin Robertson. Poor Lloyd always gets left out.
While no one here likes this deal from the Canucks’ perspective, I really don’t understand why the Panthers made this trade, either. They deal away from a relative weakness (defense) to bolster a strength (forward). They also get younger at a time when they are right on the cusp of being a real contender.
Panthers likely aren’t done dealing.
I could see them moving Bjugstad since they now have Barkov, Trochek, McCann (now) Howden, Bolland as well.
Bjugstad would bring back a much better blueliner in return should he be dealt since he’s been surpassed by Trochek on the depth chart.
Not to mention Gudbransson was about to be expensive (needlessly I may add).
I like the deal for Florida. Vancouver fans ought to be rioting in the streets though.
Canucks, may be bigger, and tougher, but they’re not faster, they didn’t add more skill, and it’s not like Gudbransson is an upgrade over Hamhuis.
I didn’t get it either. Had to be about cap space
this is a pretty good analysis of the trade …
http://forum.canucks.com/topic/377142-debunking-egs-fancy-stats/
i like this deal fine for the Canucks