Would the Penguins Be Better Off If Jim Rutherford Were Still in Charge?
I was scanning the hockey sites Wednesday night for trades and other pre-draft activity when I noticed the Canucks made two moves, each involving former Penguins.
First, they re-signed pending UFA center Teddy Blueger to a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.8 million. Later in the day, the Canucks peddled forwards Ilya Mikheyev and Sam Lafferty to Chicago, along with a second-round pick in the 2027 Entry Draft, for a fourth-round pick in the same draft. Resulting in roughly $4 million in cap savings (they retained 15 percent of Mikheyev’s salary).
Vancouver promptly used the cap relief today to lock up their emerging and sure-to-be-in-demand UFA power forward, Dakota Joshua, on a four-year deal for $13 million.
With all due respect to Canucks general manager, Patrik Allvin, these moves have Jim Rutherford’s fingerprints all over them. Beat the opposition to the punch while jettisoning your dead wood.
A rangy Russian winger with some ability, Mikheyev had managed just one goal in his last 62 games with the Canucks, including the playoffs. None is his last 26.