Goal:thecup

Better book some time with the trainer that helped Horvat's skating.

Give it to the ref!

The last Team B player to touch the puck? Maybe the last one before the faceoff?

The other team must decide whether to put their top line out against the DHL EXPRESS or sit them and put out a checking line. Then out comes their top line and they are met by, New LW - Sutter - Hansen. When that switches up, Baer - Bo - Rodin/Virtanen/Etem Et cetera with the 3rd and 4th line permutations. That's rolling 4 lines and difficult to shut down. (At least I got Anton Rodin's name in there.) (Where are the twins? Eriksson? Rodin? Eddy? Marky? - chillin' lakeside back in Sweden?)

The top line is going to be on the ice more often than any other line. Load it up and put up some points. One more big, scoring left winger and we have four lines that will not be easily shut down. Crikey! We've waited almost 20 years to see the Sedins play with a really good right wing. Let's not break it up before we even see it! I know, I know, not about Rodin, but, if, I, could, just, get, one, more, comma, in, it, would, be, allowed, under, the, Oxford, Comma,. Really, I read through this whole thread hoping for the latest on Rodin. Does anyone have any pictures, stories, anything about his current medical status, training schedule, even pictures of his girlfriend at the beach! Where is Anton? And, what is he up to?

I think Eriksson is there to get the most out of these last 2 years of the current Sedin contracts. After that, if the twins re-sign, I think all 3 of them will be headed towards 2nd line status, but still together as a unit. And I don't think Louis is anywhere near as much at risk of not fitting with the twins as that little snake Vrbata. I still get mad whenever I think of his pouting poor performance last year, what a jerk! These three know each other very well and I would not be surprised if the twins had some input on signing Louis. There is no need to go looking for balance by splitting them up. Vrbata was right about (at least) one thing, that is that training camp should be used to build chemistry on set lines. We should hit opening night with a running start where line-mates know where each other are and what they are up to at all times. It should be easy enough to do with the first line but 2nd and 3rd will be much more difficult, and the 4th may be juggled all year. We could still really use that big, scoring left winger for the second line, to add to Sutter and probably Hansen. Baer and Bo should be kept together trying Etem, Rodin, and Virtanen on the right side. Oops, should have put this quote at the start:

I don't think JB signed Eriksson to play on the second line. Just can't see Hansen being better than Louis, no way, imo.

Finally a proper winger for the twins.

Not much to do with Tryamkin, sorry, but you are right about the high expenses (both time and money) of keeping kids in hockey; only the relatively rich can afford years of these high costs. Another thing which I heard from a hockey coach with his own kids in hockey is that all the top prospects are coming out of hockey academies which can cost about $50,000 per year. No wonder all the high draft picks have NHL players' last names! On top of all the equipment costs, ice time costs, travel and accommodation costs, if your kid is really, really good, you're pretty well obligated to put them through summer programs and hockey academies. (As far as the government goes, I believe social programs should not be delivered through the Income Tax Act, but rather based on individual needs, and therefore hockey training would fall a long way down a list of what governments should spend money on, like food, clothing, medical, dental, optical, education, home environment, etc. Perhaps an organization like Hockey Canada could receive their funding from tournament advertising, etc., not the government, and dedicate funds to support talented kids who cannot afford it, I don't know.) But the way it is now, rich people like NHL families, definitely have the advantage; it is not all genetics that so many high draft picks are sons of NHL-ers. I have 2 nephews still in hockey, their parents work at average jobs and have mortgage payments and all that. Now that the boys are getting recognition (MVP at an international tournament, for example), the parents are becoming desperate to come up with the money necessary for the boys to stay in the running; even their grandparents are getting tapped-out. Virtually all Canadian draft prospects have come through the academies. (Pulled that stat out of my bum.) As for Tryamkin, I am a huge fan and hope he can become the next big Russian in Vancouver. He looked good getting his feet wet this spring and his interviews show a man well-balanced, thoughtful, and personable. With his natural size and abilities, maturity and willingness to learn, and goal-oriented behaviour, he could become a cornerstone on our defense for years to come. This year, I think he will establish himself top 4, and after that, who knows?

From the clips shown here (thanks), I like the way he creates room for himself in tight places, like just inside the blue line at the boards in the offensive zone. Also, he always seems aware of what's going on, if not actually creating what is going on. He and Boeser work very well together; Stecher finds the open man with excellent passing and drives the net himself. He also fits into JB's plan to fill specific "age gaps" in our development pipeline and will most likely spend the year in Utica (unless of course he just excels at camp). Plus, no need to give up a 2nd or 3rd round pick for a very good prospect. (Is it just me, or is this the best off-season ever? High draft pick, lots of young talent, camp is going to be incredibly competitive, etc.)

"Connor Baby" - B. Cole April 6, 2016.

It's a process. It's not a panic anymore. Nikita's strong showing has greatly reduced the need to plug the holes on D. Waited 2 years for Tryamkin. Will wait probably 2 more for our first round pick (hopefully a stud right side defenseman) to break into the league. Meanwhile, Edler, Tanev, and Sbisa will stay and Hammer may return on a home town discount for one or two years. I like the idea of getting Pedan into the lineup, and that 13th forward, 7th defenseman role seems to be working. There are a couple spots up for competition on D but Biega, Weber, and Bartkowski are going to be hard-pressed to crack the lineup. If we can get one more NHL-quality D from the pipeline, we won`t have to break the bank (or salary structure) on any UFAs. Another big guy like NT and Pedan if he ends up on D, and we won`t see the Ferland Treatment any more. Benning likes players who can really shoot the puck so these big defencemen like NT and AP can also really blast 'em! Mow 'em down, I say, if they're gonna stand in front of our Russian Artillery:

Pedan is playing better all the time. And he is learning how to stay out of the penalty box (which I believe is the reason he is kept out of the lineup). He was downright beastly as a forward last night, with heavy fore-checks, and more than ready to drop 'em.

I think it started when he struggled at the end of a bag skate. 17 hour time change, flying half-way around the world, little rest before, et cetera are factors that seem to have been left behind while images of a winded NT on one knee persist.

Yeah Wink. No rainin' on our p'rade!

I'm pretty sure it was Getzlaf, and he later got back up with Higgins in his face, and they waltzed for a bit. I missed posting the part where Stewart comes in hard on Tryamkin and gets some good Siberian Timber in his full-face guard for his trouble. After Stewart is disposed of, Getzlaf comes in to do his "Marshall in This City" (Lou Reed) impression, which usually works, but Not Last Night. I think we finally saw the Real Deal last night: NT was irked when Pirri continued down the wing after the whistle, and (for the first time, imo) laid the body into him rather than just squeezing him out of the play. When Anaheim saw the impact, they went into their usual over-reaction mode but it didn't work against Tryamkin. Stewart is a big, tough guy so he got a strong reaction when he came flying in. Then Getzlaf entered the fray only to be pushed aside like stale cake. Two more Ducks, one in each big mitt, got a quick lesson in how difficult it was going to be to extract retribution from The Big Guy. And then, NT got that look in his eyes that said he wasn't going to put up with much more of this and "somebody was gonna get a hurt real bad" (Russel Peters) if they kept at it. So they didn't. And we all lived happily ever after.

Anaheim tried to test Tryamkin last night. They did not enjoy the results. That series where a Duck continued late into the offensive zone after the offside whistle so Nikita followed through with the body check, crunching him into the boards, then Getzlaf, who is accustomed to being The Boss, went after NT and got swatted away with one hand, and then Nikita had a Duck in each hand and Anaheim was hoping he wouldn't get his gloves off... [Aside: Getzlaf looked like a jerk going after Higgins after Nicki had tossed him aside, kinda thing Perry usually does.] Man, it has been so long since we had any real deterrent back there; so nice. (Pedan is asserting himself very well and will be a regular once he learns to let the other guy take the penalty.) Tryamkin not only showed everyone that he is not to be trifled with but had his best game (imo) so far as a hockey player, displaying great athleticism and awareness of the awesome extent of his physical dimensions. So many poke checks at what appeared like impossible distances from his core until they happened. But not just that, he skates well, anticipates well, passes well, shoots well, and when he becomes comfortable with team systems and imbeds the quick requirements of the smaller ice, he won't get caught out of position as often or playing catchup or desperation hockey. He's got a great wrist shot and knows how to wait for it, and we saw a hint of what is to come from his slap shot last night. He let that one slapper go that nobody wanted to get in front of and I believe is still going somewhere over the Lions and up into the interior! (Pedan also has a tremendous slapper.) I am absolutely thrilled to have these great Russian bears on our defense (and do not want to see either sit out ever again). Go Nicki Go! (And you too, Andre!)

That's why Gaunce was recalled; to push him from behind.

This is no kid. He is 21 and has already played 4 years of pro hockey.

I heard Tryamkin was coming over to North America. He said he was looking for some la bamba who'd been making joke threads about him.

Knock Knock Who's there? Nikita Nikita who? Nikita Lott. He's a big guy.

Thanks again Stierlitz, keep up the good work! I still feel the pain of losing Larionov to Detroit because Igor did not want the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (I think?) to get half the salary the Canucks and Pat Quinn were offering. The "professor" was a tremendous player, a great leader, and the smartest guy on the ice. Larionov was instrumental in getting the first players out of the old Communist system and was really big news here in Canada. And then Igor pointed out to management that Bure was actually eligible so we got him with the 113th pick! I still miss Larionov. When we had Bure and Mogilny we hoped we could pry Federov out of Detroit and reunite their junior line, but alas, it was not to be, and Pavel and Alex didn't play together here as well as they did back in Russia. When Nikita said in that old interview he wanted to be "The Next Big Russian in Vancouver", I got really excited. He partially allayed NHL teams' fears about "wasting" draft picks on Russians that probably would not come over. Then we had to wait 2 years while he honoured his contract with the KHL. When he finally makes it here and puts on a Canuck jersey, it will be fantastic! Please come Nikita, work hard and learn the North American game, and we will make you, and Pedan, and perhaps new draft picks like Sergachev, more than welcome in Vancouver and in British Columbia. We will begin a new era of top Russian players playing for Vancouver. We will embrace you and love you and pay you lots of money and hopefully you can help Vancouver win The Stanley Cup. You can even take The Cup back home to show your friends and family (which may soften the news that you are leaving). Be The Next Big Russian in Vancouver!!

Macon Whoopee?

This is a mess, but as Big Burt said, "It is what it is." (Hope it is true.) Nikita Tryamkin has come to an agreement with #Canucks, he's en route to Vancouver. Retweets 43 Likes 32 11:22 AM - 4 Mar 2016 43 retweets 32 likes Reply Retweet 43 Aivis Kalniņš ‏@A_Kalnins 31m31 minutes ago @A_Kalnins Obviously still some paper work to be done, but he is joining Canucks as soon as transfer card is all set. John Garretts stache ‏@JGarrettsMuzzy 19m19 minutes ago @A_Kalnins @nine30shineshop nice find cory 2 Cory ‏@nine30shineshop 18m18 minutes ago @JGarrettsMuzzy @A_Kalnins : could be same info we already have..just some lost in translation issues..but let's pour more fuel on the firs

Don't know it this item from Elite Prospects was already posted: A diligent offensive forward that is productive at both ends of the ice. Predatory offensive instincts compliment his competitiveness and motivation to stay ahead of the play. Sees the ice very well and is creative with his abilities, willing to battle in front of the net and do the things that other players of his size would not. His defensive zone play is fascinating because he is always very proactive positionally; that being said, his style of defensive play is not very refined, and ill-suited to a more physical brand of hockey. All-in-all, a distinguished two-way competitor that will have the potential to develop into a crafty offensive producer as he gets stronger. (Curtis Joe, EP 2015)