Gillis scoops Feaster

Just reading rumors now that Jay Feaster was in on Booth as well, which makes the trade all the more sweet knowing we scooped the Flames.  It also got me thinking: How could Calgary have not put together a better package for Booth than what the Canucks offered?

The rumor mill is also saying Calgary is again competing with Vancouver in the Turris sweepstakes which I think you can safely now say the Canucks are out of.  There's also ties between the Rangers and Flames but what mutual benefit could the two of the leagues worst offensive teams possibly share?  The Rangers definitely have the better quiver of assets to utilize but any trade seems like a lateral move.  Jay Buowmeester has been involved in trade rumors pretty well since signing in Calgary but even without a healthy Marc Staal the Rangers are pretty solid on D.  I would have to say the Rangers are looking a little thin on Wing and Rene Bourques $3.3 Mil is pretty hefty on Calgary's third line; could this be the deal?

Borque, to me, represents a skill set that is destined to take off in the right situation.  He's big and powerful and can cut wide - a poor man's Rick Nash.  If he's on the block I'd love the Canucks to get in, especially if Calgary is making a play for Turris.  Wouldn't it be ironic for the Canucks to be involved in a three way deal that saw local product Turris head to Calgary?

I believe Mike Gillis is in a position to build this roster in to a Cup frontrunner and not just the exhausted and banged up group everyone is making them out to be.  We've seen an unusual lack of patience with the veterans management hoped would carry the load until the regulars were healthy so I don't think prospects like Cody Hodgson and walking wounded like Mason Raymond are going to be given as much time as they would.  Time is of the essence and there seem to be a number of deals that make sense for the Canucks, and that is of course the GM's out clause after all - ready and willing to make any move that makes sense and improves the team.

I don't think Gillis' masterpiece is complete without another upgrade in the top six and depending on how the powerplay goes a true quarter back, especially since Mikael Samuelson is now in FLA..kind of.  Bourque has three straight 20 goal seasons and the speed to hang with Booth and Kess, but the five years remaining on his contract at an average cap hit of 3.3 million could be a major deterrent.

We've seen some interesting combinations at the morning skate.  I don't really think that Cody Hodgson centering a third line with Manny Malhotra on the wing makes much sense, probably won't work and if it doesn't further changes could come sooner rather than later.