Think about it for a second, why would anyone say good things about Erik Gudbranson’s game? He’s been a bit of a band-aid the past two seasons, he doesn’t score or add any real value to his current team, the Vancouver Canucks, and he shies away from critical hits during the game. OK, he’s third on the Canucks in both hits and hits-per-game but I’m pretty sure those numbers are inflated.
His CF%, 42.47, is lowest on the Canucks as is his Rel CF% -7.9%. When he’s on the ice, it’s definitely not a great thing. He’s a right-handed defenseman, tall and, sure, can hit people but it does seem a bit strange he’s being hyped up so much, no?
Any GM looking to boost the blueline “needs to call the Canucks,” says @renlavoietva.
Erik Gudbranson is “probably the best defenceman available right now with teams that are not going to make the playoffs.” #NHL#Canucks
Listen: https://t.co/uexsDxSXfgpic.twitter.com/3Hu04wT0vD
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) February 9, 2018
What does Renaud know that we don’t? Do Canucks games fail to broadcast anywhere but Vancouver? It just doesn’t make sense reading a comment like this. Everyone in Vancouver, everyone that follows, covers or berates the Canucks has been in sell mode with Gudbranson for most of the season because he just doesn’t move the needle in terms of physicality (that’s noticeable anyway) and his failed defensive assignments continue to resemble Sbizzas night in and night out.
Is Green concerned Guddy is often on the wrong side of shot ratio?
“It matters. We base part of it on that but not a lot. I don’t coach off analytics strictly. Guddy starts a lot in his own zone I would imagine. I haven’t looked into it in depth.”— Jason Botchford (@botchford) February 5, 2018
It’s like a Willie D redux but with a hulking statue of a defenseman.
This is the reality most games:
Erik Gudbranson fails to effectively clear the crease of 5-foot-9 forward Yanni Gourde and the Lightning score.
— J.D. Burke (@JDylanBurke) February 9, 2018
Yikes! The reports from the Canucks camp are that they would like to re-sign Erik to stay with the Canucks, potentially as long as fellow dud Loui Eriksson wears the whale, err… orca.
GM Benning confirms he’ll try to re-sign Erik Gudbranson rather than trade him.
“As long as a player can play in today’s game, you’re always going to need a defencemen who can play physical, especially in our division. There’s always going to be room for a guy like that.”— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) January 31, 2018
Why would the NHL’s top reporters be so gung-ho on moving Gudbranson, what information does the general public not have access to? They all see the same games, the same mistakes and the same lack of fear in opponents eyes when they face-off against EG. Is this just being left alone and accepted as reality?
Erik Gudbranson has very little going for him that would make him “tradeable”: He’s quite handsome, have to give him that, he’s a RHD as mentioned above, he’s a former third-overall pick, tall, and… OK, that’s all I have. This feels like doctors being paid to promote a drug even if they have no idea what it actually does or if it even works.
There’s a conspiracy to move Gudbranson that is being accepted by everyone outside of Vancouver and it doesn’t sit well with me and it shouldn’t sit well with you either. The Canucks never have anything good happen to them and this is probably one of those times where the trade is about to go down and someone yells “GOTCHA!”
Someone needs to deep-dive this situation and get to the bottom of why Erik Gudbranson is a good player to trade for. The math just doesn’t add up and if it does, it will probably end up looking like $5M x 5 years. That’s the worst math of all.
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Photo – Daily Hive Vancouver