On Saturday, right after the Canucks beat the Wild 3-2 in OT, the Canucks made a big trade, trading Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm to Florida for David Booth, Steven Reinprecht and Vancouvers 2013 3rd round pick they sent to Florida at last years trade deadline for Higgins. Booth is the real prize for the Canucks and their fans in this deal; Reinprecht was a throw in and Vancouver wanted their 3rd round pick to have the ability to offer offer-sheets to RFA's. Being in Florida, it's surprising that so many Canucks fans knew who Booth is. If you don't know who Booth is, he's most famous for being decapitated by Mike Richards as shown here:
Ugly. This hit, which sidelined Booth for pretty much the rest of the season due to a concussion (duh), has raised a lot of fears among Canucks fans that the Canucks have received damaged goods to the tune of $4.25 million over 4 years (this year and 3 years after). However these same people also overlook the fact that Booth did play a full season last year and posted respectable numbers, 23 goals and 40 points, while playing on a terrible team. There are some concerns about his +/- as his +/- last year was -31. To me +/- is an overrated stat as many things out of a players control can influence a players plus minus such as playing on a terrible team that let in 34 more goals then they scored. Oh hey, that's the Florida Panthers that Booth played on last year. Fact is, he'll be playing on a much better team and will be playing on the same line as a Selke winner, so his +/- should improve drastically and to the hope of the Canucks and their fans, his points should improve drastically as well.
Now for all that has been made about Samuelsson and Sturm getting off to slow starts, Booth hasn't exactly been setting the booth on fire either. Get it? I'm sorry, won't happen again. Anyways, Booth has only one assist and is a -6 to start the season. So temper immediate expectations Canucks fans, it may take a little bit of time before Booth gets his game going.
For all that we've talked about the trade, we haven't talked a whole lot about Booth himself and what he brings to the table. Booth is what I like to call a throwback power forward; he doesn't drop the gloves and doesn't take the body like the power forwards of yore, but he's built like a throwback power forward in the sense that he's not that tall (6'0), but is very solidly built, tipping the scales at about 215lbs. He's a good skater for his build and isn't super fast, but has good speed; probably just below Kesler if not at Kesler's skating level. Even though he's not the most physical guy in the world, he will take the body and at his best will drive hard towards the net. He has a good scoring touch, as evidence of his 30 goal season, and playing on a better team with an All-Star, Selke winner, should boost his overall numbers. Booth is also familiar with Kesler and Higgins, having played with the former when they were in the US development program at age 12 and on the 2004 gold medal, US junior squad and having played with the latter in Florida. Already dubbed the AmEx line, big things are expected from that line.
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