12/21/24
July 03, 2009
Mikael Samuelsson Signs With Canucks: Free-agent forward Mikael Samuelsson has signed a three-year deal with Vancouver Canucks after four years with the Detroit Red Wings, where he scored 67 goals and helped the team win a Stanley Cup. Samuelsson becomes the first pro athlete in free agency history to admit that he signed with a team for the money. "Obviously that was the key," he said.
Samuelsson is a product of good linemates and a strong system. 15 goals a season would be his likely output.
Also, I find it funny how he cited the desire to win the cup as a reason for joining Vancouver. Jump ship from the team that's always there to the team that's always unable to get there. Good theory.
posted by dfleming at 01:24 PM on July 04, 2009
Samuelsson is all right, but he isn't worth the money Vancouver gave him. I think the Wings will be just fine replacing him, Hossa's production is the one they're going to miss.
MeatSaber the cap is expected to go down in the coming years so teams will want to leave themselves some room under the cap to account for that.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:05 PM on July 04, 2009
The speculation in Vancouver is he was picked up to play with the Sedins - who have never rally had a productive winger (it's dogma in Canuckistan that any of the Hanson Brothers could knock in 30 playing with the twins). With their talent for the cycle and the quick pass, they should really be supporting a 50 goal guy, not the 25-30 goal scorers they have had. And the kind of guy they need is more of the "smart" than the "speedy" -- a guy who can find the holes and get off the quick shot and play with a bit of an edge to make some space. Not sure if Samuelsson is the guy -- he has probably been a bit stunted playing behind the talent in Detroit. His 40 points/year based on 15 minutes a game ice time, so translate to 50+ just with more time, and perhaps 60+ with some PP time and better linemates.
All the same, I am not sure he is right for the top line in Vancouver. Alex Burrows did really well on the line after he was put there last winter. Burrows is very under-rated, he is smart, fast and has pretty good hands.
So: Sedin-Sedin-Burrows And Demitra-Kesler-Samuellson Though Cory Hodgson (locally known as CoHo) should make the team and there is no reason not to try him on the top two lines)
Samuellson is probably a cheap pick in your pool next season though! And if Cohoe makes the team, I think he will thrive as a top-six finisher. And Demitra looks vulnerable -- I like the guy but at 4 million/year he may be a 7th wheel on the top two lines.
posted by rumple at 03:31 PM on July 05, 2009
Didn't Pavol Demitra play with the Sedins during his time in Vancouver? And wasn't Sundin with them for a stretch? If anyone's expecting Samuelsson to be more productive than either of them, then heartbreak will again befall the Canucks.
And Samuelsson was experimented with on the right side of Datsyuk and Zetterberg last season, and it was horrendous. He does play the point on PP though, so we might miss that...
posted by MeatSaber at 04:57 PM on July 05, 2009
Sundin arrived early in the new year, and took quite a while to play himself in -- then he was quite effective, largely by taking the heat off the twins. After Sundin came, he played with Demitra and Kesler mainly, while the twins played with Burrows. Demitra is good, but if he plays on the top two lines it probably means Samuellson drops to third line. If Sundin comes back (which he might do if he will sign for cheap) then the lines probably look something like though positions on lines are variable): Sedin Sedin Burrows Kesler Sundin Samuellson CoHo Wellwood Demitra Grinders
If any teams are looking for a good cheap pickup, it wouldn't surprise me if Jannik Hansen could be got cheap --- he has great speed, good hands, good sense, but has never really had a niche on the Canucks. With a good passing centre he could be extremely effective I think.
posted by rumple at 05:47 PM on July 05, 2009
As long as the Wings sign Ville Leino and Jiri Hudler, this is a non-issue for them.
That said, what the hell is Ken Holland doing? At the firesale prices the free-agents are going for this year, why isn't he snatching up anyone and everyone? With the 4 guys he's let leave, that opens about $10 million uder the cap. With that, he could've had Jordin Leopold, Rob Scuderi, and John Madden (BOOM!) AND had about $2 mil+ to give Hudler and Leino raises...