In celebration of their 40th season in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks are inducting their greatest players of all time into the Ring of Honour.
Four decades in the making, newly named Rogers Arena (formerly GM Place) is becoming a place of legend and hockey lore. Beginning October 26th versus the Colorado Avalanche, the Canucks will induct former great players into the Ring of Honour, forever canonizing them in the chronicles of Canuck greatness. The very first inductee is none other than
With two games remaining in the 2010/11 regular season, it's time to show some love for individual achievements within the teams' structure. Disclaimer: These are NOT official releases; the selections are yet to be announced. They are just my personal opinion, and in turn, open for debate and discussion.
Ryan Kesler often keeps you on the edge of your seat with anticipation for what he'll do next
Cyrus McLean: Awarded to the highest scoring Canuck and pretty self-explanatory
Amidst all the story lines heading into the Canucks and Blackhawks third straight post-season match-up, Ryan Kesler's maturation process is perhaps the most under-reported.
Ryan Kesler battles Anton Babchuk for position during the last game of the season (photo courtesy of AP Photo)
I recall the solemn and hushed tone in Kesler's voice as he was interviewed by reporters some 10 1/2 months ago. He was being asked whether players on the team, himself included, were playing hurt in t
Prior to the Vancouver Canucks Veteran camp in Penticton, the NHL's youngest and most notable up-and-comers will be on display September 12-16, 2010.
Jordan Schroeder, Vancouver's first selection (22nd overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft in Montreal
The Young Stars tournament will be an 8 game round robin tournament, featuring some blue chip talent from the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers. Dan Ashton, Mayor of Penticton, spoke to
After infamously being dubbed "the best player to not yet score in the NHL playoffs", Ryan Kesler scores twice in the Canucks 3-2 overtime win in Nashville.
Kesler is surrounded by teammates after tipping home the overtime winner (photos courtesy of AP Photo)
One year ago, during their playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, Roberto Luongo was asked about the play of Ryan Kesler. "He's a warrior. That's all you can call him, a warrior." Canucks fans hearts sa
After jumping out to an early 2-0 series lead on home ice, the Vancouver Canucks return to Vancouver tied after a two game Beantown beating.
Roberto Luongo looks on after Rich Peverly opens the scoring in Game 4
It just never comes 'easy' for the Vancouver Canucks. Of course, being that it's the Stanley Cup Finals, one wouldn't expect it should. But at the beginning of the series, it seemed like the Bruins might never get a goal on Roberto Luongo. When Alex Burrows scored
With the Vancouver Canucks advancing to the Conference finals for the third time in franchise history, the debate is on: Who would they rather face, the Detroit Red Wings or San Jose Sharks?
Roberto Luongo celebrates from his knees shortly after making his last save in Game 6 (photo courtesy of Frederick Breedon/ Getty Images)
Of course, for the time being, the Canucks have the luxury of taking a well-earned 'breather' until either Saturday or Sunday. They jumped out to a 2-0
With just enough momentum swings to keep the fans at Rogers Arena guessing, they still went home with a renewed sense of optimism: The Canucks CAN beat the Blackhawks.
Viktor Stalberg and Sami Salo jostle while Roberto Luongo makes a pad save (photo courtesy of Rich Lam/Getty Images)
The shift after taking a holding penalty, Jannik Hansen opened the scoring for the Canucks, adding validity to the importance of "role players" in the playoffs. Hansen's hands, as CBC color commen
Some musings on the Vancouver Canucks, and what it would mean if the Stanley Cup Playoffs were to start today.
Kesler: "Hank, did you really just squeeze that backhander top shelf? Of course you did!"
Though they have six games remaining, the Canucks would face their playoff nemesis of the last two seasons, the Chicago Blackhawks They would still have set a franchise record for most wins in a season, with 50 Vancouver would already be guaranteed one trophy, the President's trophy (f
The Vancouver Canucks first true 'comeback' win of the season came in a slightly bizarre, but memorable fashion against the Anaheim Ducks, Wednesday night.
The teams had met only once earlier in California, with the Ducks skating to a 4-1 win. Whatever the reason, the Ducks seem to have it out for the Canucks, and for years, players the ilk of Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne, and Corey Perry have posed problems. Problems that were not kind to Vancouver's Goals Against Average. With an exhaustiv
Trivia question: When was the last time the Vancouver Canucks had two of the top 5 goalscorers in the NHL?
Answer: 2002/03 Markus Naslund leads the Canucks with 48 goals, closely followed by Todd Bertuzzi with 46 goals. Currently, Daniel Sedin sits third with 27 goals, and Ryan Kesler's 25 have him tied with Chicago's Patrick Sharp for fourth.
Ryan Kesler and Daniel Sedin challenge Adam Foote for the puck, and the NHL for the scoring title
Part of the storyline that
In the third period of Saturday's match between the Canucks and the Calgary Flames, CBC Commentator Mark Lee described the game as having a "Nasty tone".
Rick Rypien vs Brandon Prust - Part I (AP Photo / The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
Particularly in the third period did both teams dish out physical punishment. Both coaches, Alain Vigneault and Brent Sutter, regularly dispatched their third and fourth lines, trying to match brawn. In a couple of instances, the result brought most players o
The 2010-11 Vancouver Canucks have reached regular season heights never before witnessed in the franchise's 40 year history.
Team mascot Fin helps the Canucks with a modest, but rousing celebration (photo courtesy of AP Photo)
With their 3-1 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Kings, combined with Philadelphia's 1-0 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers, the Canucks claimed their first Presidents' trophy. The Kings, missing their two top offensive players (Anze Kopitar a
As Canucks fans continue to live in the here and now, digesting every morsel of Vancouver playoff hockey, it's easy to forget the stepping stones that brought them this far.
Mike Gillis, Alain Vigneault, and Rick Bowness have proven the cream rises to the top
So often in professional sports, media and critics either directly or indirectly raise the question: What have you done for me lately? For the moment, let's fail to adopt that mentality, and recall a former General Ma
No matter how they got here, or what direction they want to take in the future, the Vancouver Canucks are literally playing the most important game of their lives.
Only three times in history has an NHL team erased a 3-0 series deficit to advance to the next round of the playoffs. There has been a lot of talk about the Canucks' chances of earning the dubious distinction as the fourth team to facilitate such a collapse.
Rife with drama and storylines, this series has seen it all, f
Alex Burrows penned his name alongside a 23 year old Vancouver Canucks scoring record of back to back hat tricks, originally set by Petri Skriko in 1986/87.
Two of the hottest players in the NHL celebrate Alex Burrows' 2nd straight hat trick performance (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Coyotes got the short end of the straw Thursday night during their visit to the Garage, outplaying the Canucks for large stretches. But the rules of physics applied, and objects in motion tend to s
As the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton gains it's full stride, several mini-dramas continue to unfold within the Vancouver Canucks organization.
With another disappointing second round ousting behind them, the Canucks organization has rallied resources to ensure a better outcome. With additions such as Keith Ballard, Dan Hamhuis, Manny Malholtra and others, expectations for the club have never been higher (which, even by Vancouver standards is quite lofty). Though an unfair measuring
Wednesday's match-up with the Nashville Predators highlights the two very different paths that both the Canucks and Predators have taken in the NHL.
One of the NHL's longest serving coaches, Barry Trotz, has done a lot with a little. The Nashville Predators, with the 8th stingiest payroll in the league, have essentially taken a page from the Minnesota Wild playbook.
Henrik Sedin collides with Krys Barch and James Neal during third period action Monday (photos courtesy of Canadian
In a poll conducted Tuesday by Team 1040 Radio, 40 per cent of Vancouver Canucks fans polled said they would give up sex for a year if the team won the Stanley Cup.
Canucks fans celebrate a goal during Game 3 of the Western conference semifinals May 5th, 2010 at GM Place
The poll was a crossover from a recent English poll that suggested that 12 per cent of soccer fans would give up sex for a year if the Three Lions won the World Cup. Neither of the polls indicated the percentages
As the Vancouver Canucks reach the midway point of the 2009/10 schedule, here is a reflection to date of the individual top 11 performers for the club, in my humble opinion.
Willie Mitchell, B
Willie Mitchell hits Zach Stortini, -has been taking the body with more authority this season (AP Photo / The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
Willie Mitchell came to Vancouver touted as a shut-down defender. The Canucks were well acquainted with the Port McNeil blueliner, having been Todd Bert
Canuck fans everywhere have begun to appreciate the unexpectedly deep pool of talent in Manitoba.
O.K. So they're not all recent Hobey Baker award recipients, nor do they threaten to have their names mentioned in the same breath as Orr, Lidstrom or Bourque. But, you realize the gravity of the situation when you're genuinely concerned for the well-being of Lee Sweatt's foot, or sending Alex Edler "Get Well Soon" cards (no, I didn't mail him one yet).
Believe it or not, Chris Tanev a
Vancouver and Colorado may have started the season both atop the Western Conference standings, but my, how things have changed.
The Vancouver Canucks enter tonights match-up with the Avalanche with 101 points, 11 more than second place Detroit (who hold 2 games in hand). Winners of six straight, even without their full defensive corps. Alternately, the Avalanche have lost 8 in a row, one win in their last 19, and only managed three points in February. I know, February is a short month and al
With the Washington Capitals and Vancouver Canucks tied at 2 at 12:24 of the third period, referee Brad Meier assessed Caps Tom Poti a double minor that changed the game.
Washington's head coach, Bruce Boudreau couldn't beleive what he was seeing as Poti first received a cross-checking minor for hitting Alex Burrows in the shoulders. Then, after dismissing Meier's call with a "take off" waving gesture, Poti was given an additional two minute minor for Unsportsmanlike conduct. On the subseque
After defeating their nearest Western Conference competition, the Vancouver Canucks appear to be in the driver's seat with eight games remaining.
Canuck fans have voiced their concern this week over the team's chances heading into the post-season without Manny Malhotra. Signed in the off season to a healthy, though well-deserved contract, the uber-checking line center instantly brought a number of intangibles to the club. Widely considered one of the best face-off players in the game, Mal
