Training camp predictions - Sept.16.08
Entry posted by Eric Southward
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<table width=70% align=center border=0><tr><td><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/09/sothward_head.jpg align=left hspace=4> This has got to be the best time of year: hockey fans start organizing their fantasy pools; the NFL gets going, while MLB gets interesting; and, Blue Jacket fans everywhere begin to wonder if this is FINALLY going to be their year to make the playoffs. I think it's fair to say that Doug MacLean was to Columbus as Stu Jackson was to Vancouver.
As for Canucks fans, we're looking forward to our team's training camp. All the uncertainty surrounded this year's team has caused nothing short of a bi-polar condition within Canuck-nation – either all is lost, Gillis should be fired, and Luongo should be traded, or else Wellwood's our saviour, Linden is coming out of retirement to lead us to the Cup, and pimply teenage boys everywhere think they have a shot with Canucks.com beauty Kristen Reid.
Here are the main questions Vigneault and Co. have to answer before October 9th in order to bring balance to us mentally ill Canucks fans.
1. The A's and the C
<img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/12/121307_SJ08_t.jpg border=0 align=right vspace=1 hspace=4>This is probably going to be the coaching staff's last decision of training camp, but it may be their most important one. The two main candidates to become the Canucks' 12th captain are probably Mattias Ohlund, and Willie Mitchell. It's an interesting choice because they both seem to lead in different ways. Ohlund quietly leads by example, while Willie is comfortable being more of vocal leader. I've always been a fan of picking your best leader as your captain, not necessarily your most talented player. Some guys naturally don't mind talking to the media, or verbally challenging guys when it's necessary, while others seem burdened by the responsibility of leadership. Anybody else get the sense that Markus Naslund is going to be a way better player in New York than he could have had here in Van? He was a great player, a great member of the community, etc., etc., but the 'C' just seemed to weigh him down. I think Nazzy to NYC is win-win for everyone involved.
Prediction: My vote would be for Mitchell, but look for Mattias Ohlund to be voted the Canucks 12th captain in franchise history. You've also got to think that if Ohlund is voted captain, that a contract extension can't be far behind. The A's will go to Mitchell, Kesler and the twins.
2. The Second Line
Chances are every NHL team will be starting the season without Sundin. That leaves the Canucks with Demitra as the only player penciled in on the 2nd line. The list of likely candidates to play with Demitra is long: Pyatt, Raymond, Grabner, Wellwood and, dare I suggest, Mr. Cody Hodgson. 5 players. 2 spots.
If I'm Vigneault, there's one thing I don't like about my options: except for Pyatt, they all seem the same. Every great line ever in the NHL has had a balance of speed, skill, size and grit. Zetterberg and Datsyuk have Holmstom for a reason. Therefore, I place Pyatt on that line by default, and hope that he's coming to camp grumpy.
<img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/12/dec1107_canuckpractice01_t.jpg border=0 align=left vspace=1 hspace=4> I also don't like the idea of Hodgson playing with the club this year. Everyone's comparing him to Gagner from last year, but he's in a totally different situation than Gagner. The Oilers were rebuilding last year, and were happy to give Gagner the playing time to develop. Hodgson's in a more competitive situation and Vigneault won't hesitate to juggle his lines if things aren't working. The last thing we need is for Hodgson's growth to be stunted.
Prediction: If it were up to me, I'd place Kesler on the second line with Demitra and Pyatt, and place Johnson on the 3rd line with Burrows. Kesler's got speed, is a proven 20 goal scorer, and is a right-handed shot. However, look for Demitra to centre the second line with Pyatt and Raymond on the wings. I've got this gut feeling that Grabner is going to have a great camp, and is going to look like an attractive option. But, he'll ultimately be first in line for a call-up from the farm.
3. Lines 3 & 4
<img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/08/aug0608_season05_t.jpg border=0 align=right vspace=1 hspace=4>You've got to think that Kesler and Burrows are slotted in for the 3rd line, and that Johnson and Hordichuk are set in stone on the 4th. Our remaining group of forwards includes Wellwood, Pettinger, Hansen, Jaffray, Brown, Krog, Rypien and Cowan. If you include a spot on the team for the 13th forward, there are 3 spots between 8 guys. I think it's safe to that, unless we see more bras being thrown all over GM Place throughout the pre-season, that Cowan is unlikely to start the season with the club. Hordichuk is penciled in as our tough-guy, so I'm also going to cross off Brown and Rypien from the 4th line for now.
Prediction: Competition is going to be tough between Pettinger, Hansen, Jaffray and Krog. I question whether, or not Wellwood can contribute much if he's not playing on the top-2 lines. I'm going to make a call that Krog will start on the team's 3rd line with Kesler and Burrows, while Pettinger roams the wing alongside Johnson and Hordichuk, with Wellwood in the press box for opening night.
4. What to do with that $10 million?
So as it stands right now, we've got a handful of teams over the cap, and Sundin probably won't make his decision to play until after the season starts. We've also got Gillis on record saying that, unless a great deal for a top-six forward comes up, he's willing to start the season with the present group of guys.
<img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/images/upload/2008/07/81259933_thumb.jpg border=0 align=left vspace=1 hspace=4> Prediction: More and more teams that were waiting for Sundin are going to have to move forward. The Rangers will sign Shanahan. Schneider will move – probably to LA (as I'm writing this Schneider has been placed on waivers). I think the time leading up to October 9th will be totally anti-climactic with logical moves being made, but nothing considered a blockbuster. Everything changes if Sundin wants to play somewhere other than Toronto, but we have no indication that that's going to happen.
Prediction: I think Gillis waits until November to try and make a move, only to find out his options are totally underwhelming. And, Sundin will probably sign in Toronto.
-The Canucks Wino,
Eric Southward
Also guys and gals, feel free to post a comment, or to send a message to Canucks Wino on the forum – I'll try to respond to as many as I can. I'm a buyer for a wine and spirit merchant in Calgary (that's right, I'm writing from behind enemy lines), so I'm going to routinely provide some good value wine, beer and spirit picks in case anybody likes watching the 'Nucks with a good beverage, or three. Everything should be readily available in BC.
Pick of the Day: 2005 A-Mano Primitivo (Apuglia, Italy) $17.99. If you like rich, smooth red wines, give this a go. If you like red Zinfandels from California, you'll love this – Primitivo and Zinfandel are the same grape, just different names.
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