DeltaSwede Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 I swear Booth has the most untapped offensive ability on this team. If he gets his game together this year he will for sure become my favorite player on the team. If he can put it all together, what's not to like? Size, Speed, Skill.. one can only hope he actually goes back to being the player everyone knows he can be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedMachine Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Good news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Here's Elliott Pap's article on Booth from today's Vancouver Sun (published online yesterday): Canucks’ oft-injured David Booth back on the ice, shooting for NHL season-opener 'He killed us in Florida. The biggest thing for me is can he stay healthy because I've seen him play,' says coach John Tortorella By Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun September 18, 2013 A broken ankle, suffered last March, was David Booth's third serious injury since he joined the Canucks in a trade from Florida on Oct. 22, 2011. Booth also suffered through major knee and groin problems. Last season, he appeared in just 12 of 52 games (including playoffs). Photograph by: Nick Procaylo , PNG VANCOUVER — After busting up his left ankle last March, Vancouver Canucks winger David Booth has just one thing in mind this fall: be ready when he and his mates open the NHL's regular season Oct. 3 in San Jose. “I guess that's the biggest goal for me,” Booth said Wednesday after participating in his first practice of training camp, six days behind the rest of the group. “I'm starting now and that gives me plenty of time to get myself where I need to be for Oct. 3. It was quite the feeling being back out there today, moving the puck and being on the team again. I've been waiting for that for a long time. It's been a while.” Booth went down March 16 in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings. He collided with Wings blueliner Brendan Smith deep in the Detroit zone and couldn't get up. He broke the ankle, tore ligaments and required surgery. It was his third serious injury since he joined the Canucks in a trade from Florida on Oct. 22, 2011. He's also suffered through major knee and groin problems. Last season, he appeared in just 12 of 52 games (including playoffs). Canucks coach John Tortorella saw plenty of Booth when he was in Tampa and Booth was still with the Panthers. He liked what he saw. “He killed us in Florida,” said Tortorella. “The biggest thing for me is can he stay healthy because I've seen him play. I watched him in Florida and I've watched him since then. He can be an asset on how we want to play. I mean, he could be a really good player. “The question is health and that's out of my control. I know the trainers and everyone are really working with him to try to help him stay healthy. If we can get a good player like that healthy and staying in the lineup, it's going to help us.” By his own admission, Booth hasn't provided much of an impact since joining the Canucks. He felt he was playing his best hockey when felled by a knee-on-knee hit Dec. 6, 2011 by then-Colorado Avalanche forward Kevin Porter. It's been mostly frustration and non-production ever since. Booth, 28, is a three-time 20-goal scorer and has hit the 30-goal mark once. He has two years remaining on his contract at $4.25 million per season. He said the last nine months have been especially difficult. “It's probably been the toughest time in my career,” conceded Booth, who also suffered a severe concussion during the 2009-10 campaign (Mike Richards hit) when playing for the Panthers. “I just want to get back to being the player that I know I can be. No one puts as much pressure on me than I do. I just want to help this team be the best it can be and that's my goal. If I am given the opportunity, I think I can really be a force in this league. I'm looking forward to the year and really showing my teammates, myself and the city what I can do.” During Wednesday's practice, Booth skated alongside Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows on what could very likely be the team's opening-night second line — given everyone remains upright. Booth was enthused at that prospect. “I was very excited when I was on their line today,” said the Detroit native. “The potential is huge. That's something I know I'm going to have to work hard for, to keep that. Those players are so dynamic and to be able to play with them, and hopefully get that opportunity, I was really excited.” epap@vancouversun.com Twitter.com/elliottpap © Copyright © The Vancouver Sun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pinchin Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 All he needs is some tasty waves, a cool buzz and he'll be fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pinchin Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 is this a free agent pick up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cunuck Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Gillis says Booth is cleared to play (Team 1040 interview) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 From the Elliott Pap article: "I know the trainers and everyone are really working with him to try to help him stay healthy." Sounds good but I'm curious as to what they can actually work on that will help Booth avoid cheap shots and freak injuries? "'He killed us in Florida,' said Tortorella. 'The biggest thing for me is can he stay healthy because I've seen him play. I watched him in Florida and I've watched him since then. He can be an asset on how we want to play. I mean, he could be a really good player.'" If Booth can get back to being the player he was in Florida (when healthy), he'll be a huge part of whatever success the 2013-14 Canucks have. From 2007 through 2009, Booth was the Panthers' best player at even strength. His 5v5 Points/60 was 2.45 during that stretch, which was best on his team and in the top-20 for the entire NHL (for all skaters). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 Honestly, who hopes a player gets injured. What's the matter with you? If those guys want a spot on the team they have to earn it, otherwise they belong back in junior. Booth is more useful than players who haven't even played in the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KFBR392 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 For what reason? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanKeslord17 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Wonder if Torts is gonna ask Kesler to be more of a playmaker type centre this year. I mean, we all know Kesler can rack up the assists, just look at his stats when he first broke out. Tortorella will be honest with Kes, and if he lives up to his promises, he would definitely ask Kesler to be a pass first type player. Someone's gotta do it, and it sure as he'll won't be Booth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananas Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Wonder if Torts is gonna ask Kesler to be more of a playmaker type centre this year. I mean, we all know Kesler can rack up the assists, just look at his stats when he first broke out. Tortorella will be honest with Kes, and if he lives up to his promises, he would definitely ask Kesler to be a pass first type player. Someone's gotta do it, and it sure as he'll won't be Booth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Hard Truth Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Sedin-Sedin-Kassian Booth-Kesler-Burrows Higgins-Richardson-Hansen Sestito-Schroeder-Lain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 QUICK! Trade him while he's still healthy!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamJamIam Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 QUICK! Trade him while he's still healthy!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Only because unlike Salo, Booth isn't a game changer when he is healthy. I'll be happy to be proven wrong if he lights it up. It's been 5 years since his 31 goal campaign. It's possible that was a career year, and that's the best he can do. I'd be happy if he played over 60 games without injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amitriptyline Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 How long until the next one? Two weeks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adniel_g Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Sedin-Sedin-Kassian Booth-Kesler-Burrows Higgins-Richardson-Hansen Sestito-Schroeder-Lain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrik Kesler Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Burrows is a wicked passer. Very underrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boudrias Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 He's an underrated passer because he's played the majority of his minutes the last 5 years with 2 of the top 10 passers in the entire league so his work has been overshadowed. 31 goals may have been a career year, but his production after that has been an average of 23 goals per 82 games suggesting that 30 goals isn't out of the reach if he stays healthy and gets some puck luck (his shooting percentage was horrendous last year, and he got no bounces). A healthy Booth makes the Canucks a better, and for the sake of the Canucks being good this year, I really hope he stays healthy (2 of his 3 injuries while in VC were the result of freak/dirty plays). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 Aaaaaaannnnndddd he pulled his groin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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