Standup guy Thornton has earned joy ride

est of commodities: the big, tough, experienced top-four defenceman, 24-year-old Erik Gudbranson.

Critics say Gudbranson is an old-school, stay-at-home, zero-offence defender, the kind that is fast going out of style. On the other hand, there was veteran Panthers defenceman (and captain) Willie Mitchell’s tweet when he heard Gudbranson had been traded: “WTF.” Not sure who F is but the WT must stand for Why Trade … The truth is, no one has any idea if McCann, who wasn’t NHLready last season but has some, as yet undetermined, degree of upside, can be a top-six forward on a good team. If he’s a future star, I didn’t see it here. If he’s a third-liner, as Corey Hirsch rightly pointed out, they’re a dime a dozen.

Also, just a reminder: even the latter half of the first round is a crapshoot in the draft. Scouting is not yet so scientific that 33rd overall is guaranteed to get you a good player.

And yet, the Canucks do need to start stockpiling young forwards for the day, drawing closer all the time, when Henrik and Daniel Sedin hit the steep decline.

As it is, on a really firstclass NHL team, they would be the second line, not the top unit.

Will Hunter Shinkaruk and/or McCann ever make the Canucks rue their departures? One day, we may have those answers. Not today. St. Louis Blues centre David Backes, left, being stopped by San Jose goalie Martin Jones, broke down in tears during an interview Wednesday after what might have been his final game with the Blues.