Goal:thecup

Toronto? Another 1st?

Yeah, thanks; I checked the standings and you are right; Avto would pretty much have to fall apart over the next 4 weeks. I guess the next hope would be an early exit from the first round.

Wouldn't you rather have both? I would. IMO, Ka-Puke should answer the bell if he's going to repeatedly rip into big men like Kass. There is some of the Sweet Science in RIP's hooks to the ribs that put the boots to your pejorative "face punching" comment too.

National Post January 23, 2020: Jim Benning would love to have defenceman Nikita Tryamkin back on his roster. The question for the Vancouver Canucks’ general manager is: how? There’s likely to be one if not two open spots on the Canucks’ roster next summer. Oscar Fantenberg will be out of a contract and then there’s the Troy Stecher/Chris Tanev dilemma — it’s unlikely the Canucks will be able to retain both right-shot blue-liners. The left-shooting Tryamkin can play both sides of the ice. One presumes that Fantenberg’s spot would be taken by Olli Juolevi, who is enjoying a solid season with the Utica Comets, even if observers believe he still needs to improve his gap control. On the right side, there could be an opening either for Brogan Rafferty, who has a one-way deal next season — meaning that if the Canucks were to reassign him to the AHL next fall, he’d get paid the same as if he were in the NHL — or, were he to sign, Tryamkin. As things stand, there appears to be strong interest from Tryamkin’s camp in returning to the NHL. The Canucks retain Nikita Tryamkin’s NHL rights as he wrap up a season in the KHL, and his agent says his client looks at the current state of the club “positively.” “We feel Nikita can play for any club in the NHL,” Tryamkin’s agent Todd Diamond said via text message. “Vancouver has his exclusive NHL rights, he is familiar with the city, ownership, management and staff, and we will engage in talks after Nikita’s KHL season. “The team and coaching staff is much different from when Nikita was last in Vancouver and we view that very positively.” The big Russian defenceman is under contract with the KHL’s Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg through the end of the 2019-20 season. “Obviously he’s on our reserve list,” Benning said Thursday morning. “Our pro scouts continue to watch and keep tabs on him. When his season is over and his contract is up, I’ll speak with Todd.” “Nikita is a guy we know can play in the league. He’s a good skater for his size and he can make a good first pass.” Benning and his pro scouts held meetings last week in Vancouver, taking stock of the players they may want to add to their roster, should the opportunity arise. The team’s stock of looming free agents was also part of the discussion. “We have some decisions to make from now until the end of the year,” he said. "Oh Nicky you're so fine, you can play on our team anytime, Oh Nicky, Oh Nicky." Fearlessly following up on my much-maligned: "Nicky come back You don't want to stay too long Willie D was wrong, And we just can't win it all without you." 30 days to Feb 27...

Jan 27 today; one month (31 days) to Feb 27...

In your house and breakin' your records.

I think he is playing better than Benn. Very consistent, good hitter, clears traffic, big shot; admittedly, Benn covers these same things, just not as well, imo. Very excited to have the Canucks playing again; meaningful games; big challenge against the Stanley Cup Champions, first place in the division, etc.

45 days until Feb 27th ...

I don't know, but I do remember having prime rib at the restaurant and watching some of the game from those high seats; great view for watching the plays develop and which players anticipated properly and which did not. The prime rib was excellent too. And the Guinness. And the Nux thumped the Penguins too. The seats were center ice about 16 rows up (corporate seats) so the view was good from there too! lol Out of my price range these days; well, it was then too but the company was paying for it!

Reminds me of buying Standing Room Only tickets for next to nothing outside the Pacific Colosseum (then moving to the good, empty seats at center ice).

Thanks AJ. Even though the All-Star game itself is not very good hockey, the whole process of being recognized as an All-Star, in any league at any level, is pretty darn cool, imo, especially for the players.

Come on, you grinches! Quinn wants to go, deserves to go, and it will not hamper his performance post-ASG at all. He should hob-nob with the best players in the world and be recognized as the new guy. Quinn Hughes has changed our team and represents a seachange in the sought-after qualities of NHL defensemen in the 2020s. Vote as much as you can and give the guy his due. [PS Vote for Larkin too; what a tool, what a fool, dissing the All Star Game where only the best in the best league in the world for a hundred years (?) have been recognized.]

54 on Saturday; 52 now...

'Bout time. Frickin' creep.

This stinking piece of $&!# just about injured Hughes when interferring with him, stretching Hughes leg back like that and forcing him to the ice. And of course, No Call! "We know who they are Taves", "15 Cent Cabbie-and-Hooker-Beating Kane", and "Done-Con-Cussin Keith" get away with murder. Would love to beat the crap out of these pukes in the playoffs!

I was where you were Blunt, until I did the "forgot my password" thing. Then all was good and Q got another 10 votes from me.

And ... "Crispy"

Let's "get crispy again". lol

Since this is turning into a bash McDavid thing, what I don't like is everybody calling him Connor. His name is McDavid. There are lots of players with the first name Connor and some with the last name Connor. Gretzky Crosby Malkin Good enough for them; good enough for McDavid. Oh, and while I'm at it, why is it always Ryan Nugent-Hopkins? He should be called Hopkins, imo.

Favorite part of the post game, McPout interview: I'm not going to make excuses (but) they got lucky tonight we had a long road trip we're tired we're injured he kicked it in etc

I am so much richer (than that security guard) But I still can't get my picture On the cover of EA Sports NHL 20 Rollin' stoned...

This year, when we have injuries, we call up players who would have been on the team as regulars last year. This alone is an improvement of great importance. We are going to have more injuries for sure, but we are also going to get some key players back soon. I don't really like the look of the team right now because last year's regulars are back in the lineup. Once Goldie and Baer and Louie are sent back down and Ferk and Beegs, Rouss and Sutts are back, we will win more games. Next year, the prospects will push from the bottom with new, better, and underpaid talent and we will be a "contendah". I think we will make the playoffs and might even win the first round, especially if Tryamkin returns in time. Next year we will be seriously good.

You might consider Manny as deserving also.

If this is what you say, you might be advised not to say it here. (Maybe it's a typo; otherwise...)

More overrated than Babcock (imo) is Shanahan.