What the Canucks get in stunning commerce for Filip Hronek
5 min read
If you happen to’re a Vancouver Canucks fan hanging on faint hope for a start-it-again rebuild, don’t gaze upon their newest deal.
The Canucks used the first-round choose acquired within the Bo Horvat transaction to amass Filip Hronek, a nice younger 25-year-old defenceman from the Detroit Crimson Wings with one other 12 months left on his contract earlier than changing into an RFA.
There may be nothing fallacious with Hronek the participant. As you’ll see in our scout’s breakdown under, he’s having an excellent 12 months and initiatives as a useful defenceman going ahead.
However it will likely be requested: is he what these Canucks wanted proper now?
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The difficulty, if you wish to name it that, is seeing how Vancouver goes to enhance itself sufficient for a near-term turnaround. Hronek makes $4.4 million towards the cap, that means the Canucks have already got $83.6 million dedicated to subsequent 12 months’s roster. That very properly may very well be over the wage cap already (buyouts or additional trades may repair that).
Meantime, on this commerce, they’ve forfeited probably two top-40 picks in what’s considered a really deep draft.
| READ MORE: JASON BUKALA’S TOP 40 PROSPECTS FOR THE 2023 DRAFT |
In buying Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty, Vitali Kravtsov and flipping a mid-first-rounder for Hronek, the Canucks have clearly (and never for the primary time) signalled their need to get this factor again on the rails earlier than later. They’ve their very own first-round picks from right here, however just one second-rounder within the subsequent three years. This is not going to be a deliberate construct up via the draft.
A pair different promoting groups in St. Louis and Washington may be extra plausible bounce-back candidates within the close to future, and even they’ve determined to lean into buying draft capital for now. The Canucks, it appears, are going to attempt to hustle alongside.
Asset administration might be a subject of debate in Vancouver as soon as once more this week. As a result of whereas they took a step again from the draft and into buying a mid-20s defenceman with somewhat time period left on his contract, we’ve to acknowledge that the Canucks gave up a first- and second-rounder for Hronek, whereas the Ottawa Senators gave up a first-rounder and two seconds for Jakob Chychrun.
Administration’s purpose is to get again to contending for the playoffs in a 12 months or two. Is that potential? And the way a lot will Hronek assist with that purpose? For that, we flip to our scout, Jason Bukala.
SCOUT’S ANALYSIS
Vancouver Receives
• Filip Hronek
• 2023 fourth-round choose
Hronek is a stable NHL defender. He’s cell. He has the mind for use in all conditions. He additionally has some push again (97 hits) and willingness to get within the lane to dam photographs (54). His 12 months over 12 months offence has spiked. That is the highest point-per-game scoring common he has had in his profession (.63). He leans center pairing defenceman and is finest outlined as a two-way/mid-range transitional blueliner.
Hronek is barely 25 years outdated and might be an RFA when his present contract runs out on the conclusion of subsequent season. His qualifying supply to retain his rights at the moment might be $5.28 million.
The Canucks additionally obtain a fourth-round choose within the upcoming draft.
Right here’s a take a look at Vancouver’s draft board following this commerce with Detroit:
Detroit Receives
• Conditional 2023 first-round choose
• 2023 second-round choose
The primary-round choose Vancouver offers up is the one they acquired within the Bo Horvat commerce. The circumstances on it are as follows:
The choose turns into an unprotected 2024 first-rounder if it’s within the high (12) this season. With the present standing of the Islanders, there’s a probability this choose may fall between 13–16 this season.
If the draft occurred immediately, the second-round choose would slot at thirty eighth total.
Conclusion
The Crimson Wings did very properly on this deal. They doubtlessly added two picks within the high 40 of the very deep 2023 draft class.
Hronek is a pleasant addition for the Canucks as a result of he improves their defence corps. I’ve to be trustworthy, and clear, nevertheless. After I string collectively the Bo Horvat transaction and this commerce with Detroit, that is the way it seems to be to me:
To Vancouver: Filip Hronek, Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty, 2023 fourth-round choose (DET)
Value: Bo Horvat, 2023 first-round choose, 2023 second-round choose
Or, breaking it down a distinct approach…
The Canucks acquired Raty, Beauvillier and the Islanders conditional first for Bo Horvat. (The gamers and the choose instantly develop into belongings to the Canucks). Vancouver then spent one of many belongings (the conditional first) and one other asset (the second) to amass Hronek and a fourth-round choose.
It comes all the way down to asset administration. In my expertise our workers would have written Hronek on the board in our convention room after which ask ourselves a easy query:
Does our staff look higher in three years with Filip Hronek and a fourth-round prospect, or are we higher in three years with two picks within the high 40 of this draft, with one probably being a high 16 choice?
Skilled scouting isn’t a precise science. There may be an absolute risk that I may very well be fully off-base with my conclusion. However, as considered one of my colleagues urged, Filip Hronek’s NHL comparable is Brandon Montour of the Florida Panthers. I like Hronek, and I feel Beauvillier is a pleasant center six addition. Aatu Raty’s trajectory continues to be to be decided, and the fourth-round choice will clearly need to take time to work itself via the system.
For context, here’s a take a look at Montour’s stats in Florida:
After I observe the truth that Horvat, a possible high (16) choose on this draft and, because it sits proper now (choose 38) on this draft – is what it value the Canucks for these belongings – I’m greater than somewhat bit involved in regards to the return.
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