The Colt 45s

The money issue in the Province was interesting. Even with a $700,000 contract, he would make less here than he does on a $325,000 contract in the KHL. Does not bode well for the future of the NHL. https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/a-lesson-in-hockey-taxes-and-escrow-from-oscar-fantenberg

This broke up the routine of the COVID fall.

Up to 1984, Canada had a nuclear weapons program. At the height of the program we had four tactical nukes that contained hundreds of warheads.

Maybe they could consider awarding the cup to two different teams, one Canadian and one American. With today's rules in places like New York and New Jersey, games are impossible because there are capacity limits. The affected teams--Islanders, Devils, and Rangers--will have to relocate.

The players are not naive about each team's financial constraints. The issue for them and especially their agents is to get as much money and term as possible. That way the player gets paid and the agents get paid. But there was a time a couple of years before our 2011 cup run that our key players took less money to stay with the team. It was very similar to what happened in 2003 when Kariya took an 8.8-million dollar cut in pay from Anaheim's qualifying offer to play with the Colorado Avalanche for a 1.2-million dollar contract because he wanted to win the cup. In the Canucks present financial situation, I think if our wayward players accepted a sizeable pay cut, they would have been signed.

This post is filled with parody. At least there is some parity in the NHL. It means that one or two hot lengthy streaks while playing .500 hockey the rest of the time should help us make our case to be in the playoffs. Hard to pick how things will pan out during this upcoming season, as for me I feel a lot more comfortable as compared to seasons past.

Chronic pain is a serious issue. Opiods or NSAIDS or a combination of both in some formulations may help provide relief. I know for me, having sciatica and low back pain, Percocet, Cymbalta and Gabapentin has been a lifesaver. It has helped me regain movement and lets me enjoy living again despite masking the problem. But then again finding a pain management doctor and a spine doctor who is willing to take your case in some places is difficult. But these hockey players are professionals and there is no excuse for them not checking WebMD or other sites out about their medication. At least to have a conversation with your doctor, not the team's doctor, about your pain problems.

While we had success this season, and started to see our draftees take giant steps, what was the worst part of this past season?

It was sad to hear, but Hughes is the better player.

Off the practices I watched in person, Jannick and Burrows were the last two off the ice. They worked their butt off to have good careers. Excellent work ethic.

To see Petey passing when he should have shot was a little frustrating. Great teammate but too cute at times.

It is a very interesting chart. All but six teams have more than $20-million available. And out of those teams, how many of them would be willing to pay $6-million for a goalie? And after have tasted what this team can do! Like others, I see a short term deal when we will have money to pay more. This way we could shovel more money towards him as his age wains.

A trade package could exist if the sweetener is right. Packaged these contracts with Demko would probably be the asking price. I don't think we make that deal.

Depth was our issue, but it won't be our issue long term. There is some hope in our pipeline. What this playoff taught us is that we can play with and win against the big teams. However, size was an issue as much as Vegas's high pressure forecheck was. Push back lacked at times. There is a price that needs to be paid, and having someone who would have punished Vegas would have been nice. I think we were completely spent in the end. They laid it all on the table and tried. Value of a learning experience must not be underestimated. Think back to our 2011 playoffs. Playing Chicago in the previous years helped us discover who we were. We actualized in 2011. Too bad we were also exposed in 2011 and it affected our subsequent runs. But this year our kids got a taste of what could be, and this team should be better for it.

A strategy for the expansion draft could be as follows: Sign Markstrom, but protect Demko. So the issue becomes whether Seattle would be willing to pay the price for Markstrom's contract.

Yes. In before the lock.

If things return to normal, the cap will significantly go up. There will be competitive bidding for the US broadcast rights.

They already do this.

Canucks are better than people give them credit. Our problem is that injuries hurt us. If we can stay healthy, we can play with the best of them. And as long as we win four games each round, we all will be happy.

NBC has had a history of sexual harassment. Matt Lauer's exit meant any accusation or perception or comment is radioactive.

Price of having veteran leadership. Fans have been frustrated ever since the first game of the new season when Eriksson shot the puck into our empty net. https://www.si.com/hockey/news/watch-loui-eriksson-scores-into-his-own-net#:~:text=With Matthew Tkachuk pressuring near,the season on the play.

Another victim of being male in the American media. These old guys are dropping like flies. Wait, that might be discriminatory to flies. Then again it is fly season here in Missouri. Silly cows. Wait, Chick-fil-A sounds good.

Another playoff idea is that every team makes the playoffs. Would lead to a better product. We would not have five or six teams tanking for the first pick, and dare you tank and have to face the first placed team in the first round.

Kind of a speculative novel here. Fantasy with the salary retention. Basically what you are saying is that the Canucks pay another team $2-million a season to keep Beagle and $1.5-million for Roussel? If you signed two rookies at the league minimum, you only save $2-million a season but that savings might be mute if taking two veteran players back. Yes the cap is stagnant. But nothing like flushing your veterans out, especially in that they both are over 30 and have modified no trade clauses in their contracts. And, since Jay was 10 years old, he has wanted to play for Vancouver.

Prior to massive injuries this season, wasn't there a time this season the Canucks were 1st in the conference/division? Majority of our key players were healthy, just as they are right now. This team may be better than what we give them credit.