Larenzo

Earning a 4-1 win Tuesday night over the Dallas Stars, the Canucks made it three straight wins in convincing fashion over the Lone Star State. Though it wasn't quite the 7-1 manhandling of the Stars last Monday, the Canucks proved that even without their top defenseman they're a Western Conference powerhouse. After representing Vancouver in Raleigh, Carolina, Ryan Kesler showed he hasn't missed a beat, scoring his second shorthanded goal of the season, and team-leading 28th. He also drew Adam Burrish into a penalty, which the Canucks capitalized on 8 seconds later with the man advantage. In fact, their special teams have feasted on the Stars so far this season, going 7 for 14 with the extra attacker. Cory Schneider fights through this Steve Ott screen to stop a shot from the faceoff dot Jannik Hansen also had a strong game, anticipating the play well, with an effective forecheck. During a 2-on-1 with Kesler, he took Stephane Robidas wide on the left wing, then dished a cross-ice pass that Kesler one-timed over Kari Lehtonen. Cory Schneider started the game, having excellent success this season at the American Airlines Center. Both he and Lehtonen faced 26 shots, but Schneider out-duelled his counterpart. It took a perfect shot from Loui Eriksson top shelf to beat him in the second period, but that was the only sniff he gave them. With sound positioning, he was in excellent position to see most of the shots directed at him. Stephane Robidas tries to cut off Hansen's pass to Kesler, but to no avail (photos courtesy of AP Photo/Canadian Press) His lateral movement has been the largest improvement he's made this season under goaltending coach Roland Melanson. He pushed off his left post perfectly to meet a rising shot from Brad Richards in the slot, taking the puck high off his shoulder, then mask. The game was also Cody Hodgson's first in the NHL, and he looked as comfortable as he could, though sporting a full face cage. He sustained a freak injury several weeks ago in practice, being hit in the face by a teammates' errant stick, breaking his orbital bone. Daniel Sedin gets tripped up by fellow Swede Niklas Grossman during third period action Though skating on the fourth line with Tanner Glass and Raffi Torres, Hodgson amassed nearly 10 minutes of icetime. He didn't look out of place at all, unrelenting while keeping the Stars defence on their heels as he forechecked. He went to the net often, and was nearly rewarded as he received a pass in tight on Lehtonen. Lehtonen just barely managed to get his stick down on the ice as Hodgson tried to wheel around from his backhand to forehand. As noted before on the Canuck Way, Hodgson looks like he's worth the wait. Speaking of waits, Canucks fans won't have much of one for the next game, as they're en route to Arizona for a tilt with the Coyotes tonight. They'll be looking to avenge a 3-2 loss in their last meeting.

After reporting back spasms during the game against the Dallas Stars, Alexander Edler will undergo microdiscectomy surgery. It seems every season, the Vancouver Canucks receive some bad news regarding members of their defense corps. As a matter of fact, the Canucks might want to find ways to keep their top defensemen from accompanying them to games during January. Last season, you might recall a January 15, 2010 game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was then that shutdown defender Willie Mitchell was lost, not just for the remainder of the regular season, but for both playoff series as well. Hit from behind by Evgeni Malkin (with no discipline from the NHL), the Canucks would have to scrape the barrel for defensive help. This January brings further bad tidings, though some claim there are glimmers of hope in Edler's situation. Gritty Edler showed no signs of back spasms sustained against the Stars, finishing his checks as well as the game Dr. Marcel Dvorak will be undertaking Alex's surgery on Monday. He is the same doctor that performed surgery on Daniel Sedin after the 2001 world hockey championships in Germany. "When you have someone who is a very motivated, highly functioning individual who is apt to be to determined to recover as quickly as possible, the outcomes for such people tend to be very much better than for others." He was quick to point out that someone with lower activity levels might recover in six to eight weeks, but usually is longer for athletes. "It is possible that someone could return to play after a disc operation in eight to 10 weeks, although the outcomes are different for every individual. Lee Sweatt is all smiles after his first NHL goal (photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images During call-ins to the Team 1040 radio, fans bemoaned the fact that Edler was in the midst of a break-out campaign, even scoring twice the night he was injured. The difference between Edler's injury and Mitchell's a year previous, is that at least there is a general timeline. This in itself should give Edler's supporters some hope. Dr. Dvorak continued. "When Daniel came back he had a foot drop and a profound level of weakness, but I'm not sure how long he took to recover. I don't remember him missing any time the following training camp, but that was all summer. But there again you had a very determined, bright young class act who was totally focused on getting back and I suspect Alex will be a similar individual, at least from what I've seen." East York, Ont. native Chris Tanev was noticeable in pre-season action, and has acquitted himself nicely With Sami Salo reportedly getting closer to returning for the Vancouver Canucks, one can't help but marvel at the way Lawrence Gilpin has successfully negotiated the Canucks salary cap issues. Many were convinced that Vancouver would have to make a deal to ship out some salary to make room for Salo's return. Based on Dr. Dvorak's estimates, Edler could be back, if not for the start of the playoffs, then shortly thereafter. Regardless of what transpires, the Canucks will face a transition period here, learning to adapt without their top defenseman. Edler accumulated 8 goals and 32 points through 49 games, and lead the team icetime, averaging 24:23 a game. Chris Tanev probably never imagined that he'd get such a long audition with the big club. But the Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year is putting together a fairly impressive debut. Fellow call-up Lee Sweatt, after scoring his first NHL goal (and game-winner) versus the Predators, also hopes to make the most of his time in the limelight. On the Canucks blue-line, it would appear, those opportunities are available from January through spring.

Thanks for the backup, Wonder-Twins-Sedins and Lui; One of my own personal 'mission statements' was to use my blog (also found at http://thecanuckway.com) to not only capture current Canuck events, but also to dabble in Canuck lore of yesteryear. Just by the fact that I had to do a bunch of research to make certain I wasn't just pulling that trivia from the top of my head indicates it's not necessarily "common knowledge" as nvk19 might believe it to be. Not only that, but isn't a little trivia here and there kinda fun? Thanks again for reading, and if I can help a Canuck fan learn something new everytime I write, I'm completely satisfied with that.

Wednesday's match-up with the Nashville Predators highlights the two very different paths that both the Canucks and Predators have taken in the NHL. One of the NHL's longest serving coaches, Barry Trotz, has done a lot with a little. The Nashville Predators, with the 8th stingiest payroll in the league, have essentially taken a page from the Minnesota Wild playbook. Henrik Sedin collides with Krys Barch and James Neal during third period action Monday (photos courtesy of Canadian Press/ Darryl Dyck) They ice a team rife with defensive talent, much of which they've shrewdly drafted, and instituted a tight, smothering defensive style. Oh, and they have also been dynamite drafting goaltenders as well, picking up Pekka Rinne (9-2-0, 1.62 GAA last 11 games) 254th (8th round) overall in 2004, and fellow Finn Anders Lindback (10-4-2, .915 Sv %) 207th overall in 2008. We're not sure what they're feeding them over there, but both are towering - Rinne at 6'5, Lindback is 6'6. They cover a LOT of the 4x6 net behind them; Rinne is slated to start against the Canucks. Aaron Volpatti celebrates an assist on Henrik Sedin's tally after finding Sedin streaking to the net Canuck fans recall an era in the not so distant past when defensive hockey was the credo, with Roberto Luongo tethering the teams' hopes of success. This during a time when the Sedins and Kesler were still coming into their own as offensive stalwarts, on the cusp of being elite talents. If you can't score a lot of goals, you better not allow very many, which has indeed been the focus of the Nashville Predators for several seasons now. Though they're not unique in this aspect, the fact that defenseman Shea Weber (Sicamous, B.C.) is their leading point producer this season (8 goals, 21 assists for 29 pts) speaks volumes. Nashville snuck out of the deep 2003 draft with another heist, nabbing Weber with the 49th pick, and is widely considered the best player on the team. Ryan Kesler tips a puck past Kari Lehtonen, marking a career high in goals [27] (photo courtesy of Canadian Press/ Darryl Dyck) All indications are that this will be another tight, close-checking affair. The teams have identical goals against averages, 2.35, though the Canucks definitely have the offensive edge coming in, scoring 3.29 goals a game (3rd). The Predators are 23rd at 2.59 goals for per game. But where it counts most, in the standings, the Preds are 4th in the Western Conference with 60 points, and are a good bet to make the playoffs. That being said, the San Jose Sharks and the Minnesota Wild only trail by 5 points, so they certainly aren't a lock. Only Boston (111) and Pittsburgh (114) have allowed fewer goals than Nashville (117). With the Canucks coming off a seven goal outburst against the Dallas Stars, it will be interesting to see how they adjust to the difference in style. Defensively, Vancouver had a very strong outing, feeding off the counter-attack, and generating offense from odd-man situations. http://www.youtube.com/user/canuckshd?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/6/vElXA90kKdw Last season, the Canucks and Predators played four times, splitting the season series 2-2. Wednesday's match-up is their first of the season, and they will play 3 more times following the All-Star Break (which is 5 days for Vancouver). The Canucks should have a decided personnel advantage, as the Predators are without several key players. Wingers J.P. Dumont (neck), Steve Sullivan (upper body), and forwards Marek Svatos (knee) and Matt Lombardi (concussion) are all side-lined due to injury. With a victory, the Canucks would pull even with the Philadelphia Flyers for most points (71) in the NHL, though with fewer wins. Following the Vegas/Bodog.com line favorites to win the Stanley Cup (9/2), I'm Larenzo Jensen with files from the Canadian Press and CanucksHD

Trivia question: When was the last time the Vancouver Canucks had two of the top 5 goalscorers in the NHL? Answer: 2002/03 Markus Naslund leads the Canucks with 48 goals, closely followed by Todd Bertuzzi with 46 goals. Currently, Daniel Sedin sits third with 27 goals, and Ryan Kesler's 25 have him tied with Chicago's Patrick Sharp for fourth. Ryan Kesler and Daniel Sedin challenge Adam Foote for the puck, and the NHL for the scoring title Part of the storyline that fascinates me, if we continue the Naslund/Bertuzzi comparison, are the different player profiles. Almost everything about the way these Canuck goalscorers evolved is different. Yet, there are undeniable similarities for the goalscorers named. Whereas Naslund and Bertuzzi formed part of the 'West Coast Express', Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler have only started to play together, almost strictly on the power play. Even with Alex Burrows on the mend from shoulder surgery to start the season, head coach Alain Vigneault opted to use others in combination with twins Daniel and Henrik. NHL goaltenders - seeing a lot of Ryan Kesler, and so will All-Star game fans in Carolina (photos courtesy of Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) Opinions will vary on the following train of thought, but again, it's the differences that add intrigue. Markus Naslund and Daniel Sedin draw correlations outside of being Swedes. Their torrid goalscoring pace and ability naturally puts them in elite company, and for lack of a better term, let's deem them snipers. Todd Bertuzzi, at the height of his NHL success was a dominating power forward. The Sudbury, Ontario native was as feared for his powerful drives to the net as he was his soft hands in alone on goaltenders. So, that leaves Ryan Kesler. How do we classify what he is? The difficulty defining him is that he is still evolving. Early in his career, many had Kesler pegged as a perpetual checker, a career third line grinder. Little did they know that there were several other faces yet to be revealed. This is where the story of Bertuzzi and Kesler run parallel for awhile. Both players were drafted in the first round, exactly at the same position (23rd overall) and exactly 10 years apart. The New York Islanders grew impatient with Bertuzzi's rate of development and he was packaged with Bryan McCabe and a 3rd round pick (Jarkko Ruutu) in the infamous Trevor Linden deal. Kesler was drafted by the Canucks in 2003 (1st round, 23rd overall) and took a more linear route from the Canucks farm club, the Manitoba Moose. But, just like Bertuzzi, five years after being drafted, really hit his offensive stride. In 1999/00, Bertuzzi hit the 50 point plateau with 25 goals, 25 assists. In 2008/09, Kesler accumulated 59 points with 26 goals, 33 assists. But prior to his breakout campaign, Bertuzzi wasn't recognized for any particular aspect in his game. With his very savvy defensive intuition and elite two way ability, Ryan Kesler is an annual threat to win the Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) award. This season, there are rumblings that his name could be added to the Hart Trophy nominees list. Herein lies the difficulty to put a stamp on his game or title. Were Kesler to be nominated, let alone win, it would put him into some distinguished company. It also makes me wonder if he has any other transformations yet to be revealed. Whatever transpires, he's simply the most complete player the Vancouver Canucks have ever drafted. Whether he wins hardware at the end of the season or not, his value to the team has become immeasurable. Some hockey analysts are referencing Kesler as the "Soul of the team", a moniker not undeserved by this inspiring, gifted young star. The Kicker: 2002/03 - Todd Bertuzzi's career season (46 goals, 51 assists - 97 pts) helped the Canucks finish near the top of the NHL. This lands them the 23rd overall pick, which would be used to call Kesler's name. For once, the draft hockey gods smile upon the Canucks and their late first pick, giving hockey one of it's deepest drafts ever. Larenzo Jensen, with files from TSN and Getty Images

It was bound to happen at some point. Everyone knew that. Since December 5, 2010, the Canucks had not lost a game in regulation, until Thursday night in Madison Square Gardens. The Gardens, which are currently undergoing an internal face-life, have seen a lot of sporting events come and go. The tradition is irrefutable, and any commentator I've ever heard describe their visit, speak to the energy in the building. For many Canuck fans, quick flashbacks of '93/94 remind us of the cruel but bittersweet moments associated with MSG. The Gardens would also mark a less historic moment in Canuck history, ending what has to be the new benchmark for any stretch of regular season play. The Canucks went 14-0-3 during their recent 17 game stretch, thanks in no small part to their speedy, puck moving game, and excellent special teams. As the clock wound down, with Schneider pulled for the extra attacker, you could see the relief and excitement on the faces of the Ranger skaters as the final buzzer went. It speaks volumes to the kind of respect the Canucks are starting to earn around the league. Their road record, humble though it began, has become one of the best in the NHL, now 13-6-3. Interestingly, the New York Rangers own the best road record at 15-7-1, but so far they are just 2 games over .500 at MSG. As media asked Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault about the goaltending performance of Rangers Henrik Lundqvist, he was quick to redirect the spotlight. "I thought there were two great goaltenders on the ice tonight," referencing Cory Schneider's continued strong play. Chris Druy of the Rangers is boxed out by Dan Hamhuis while Schneider makes a skate save He allowed the game's only goal through 35 shots, good for a .971 save percentage. He was also named the Third Star of the game. The Canucks have very little time to reflect on the loss, just 21 hours to get on the ice at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The Capitals (24-13-7) have been averaging one less goal for per game than 2009/10. Having lost 4 of their last 5, and the Canucks' penchant for scoring first, Coach Bruce Boudreau knows they have a tough task ahead. "We haven't scored the first goal in a game for a long while. It's hard fighting from behind every night." January continues to be a busy month for the Canucks, in the middle of a 5 game, 8 night road trip. After tonight's match with the Capitals, the Canucks fly out to Minnesota (game only seen on Roger's SportsNet Vancouver) and wrap up in Colorado Tuesday versus the Avalanche (6pm PST, Roger's Sportsnet Pacific). With files from Getty Images, I'm Larenzo Jensen on The Canuck Way

An individual could search, though not find, a year in which the Vancouver Canucks had better success with special teams. Perhaps even more intriguing than when the Canucks may have had better specials teams, is why now? What things have changed, boosting a perennially mediocre special teams club to an elite level? Though there are obviously many reasons that underline their success, there are a few in particular that tip the scales in my humble opinion. Alex Burrows faces Kevin Poulin, #60 of the New York Islanders, tipping a point shot (photos courtesy of Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) 1. Management keeping the core players intact There will be those that don’t feel this to be as important as it is, but the familiarity and consistency that has been achieved is born of time spent together. Even reaching back to Marc Crawford’s tenure as head coach, the core group wasn’t together as long as this group has been. Naslund, Morrison and Bertuzzi had a lot of chemistry, but the Sedins and Kesler have been dynamite. No matter which defensive tandem mans the blue line, it always seems like the puck is being distributed quickly and efficiently. Ryan Kesler's personal growth, especially his shot release, has translated into better team performance 2. Individual growth/maturation of special teams players The team is averaging one power play goal a game. It’s a very reassuring thought for coaches to know that, on pretty much any given night, their team will score a goal with the man advantage. The Sedins are tied for 3rd in the league for points, both with 55, only 2 behind Steven Stamkos. Daniel is second in the league in power play goals with 11, also 2 back of Steven Stamkos. Ryan Kesler is on pace (46 – pace) to smash his previous best in goals, 26. More on his insertion into the top line powerplay in a moment. Though it really started to unfurl last season, Manny Malhotra has really found his niche, and his dominance in the faceoff circle has given the Canucks a decided edge, around 63% of the time. Also, Jannik Hansen has evolved into a completely dependable penalty killer, reminiscent of Alex Burrows’ evolution a few years prior. Jannik Hansen fends of Jack Hillen to register a shot Tuesday night at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York 3. Coaching staff prowess When Newell Brown was brought in rather unceremoniously in the offseason (from the Anaheim Ducks organization) as an assistant coach, nobody really knew what to expect. Now at the halfway point of the season, the results are speaking for themselves. During a meeting with coach Alain Vigneault, he suggested that Kesler be added to the top powerplay line. The results have been better than anyone could have hoped. Kesler’s fast, tenacious play in front of the net has wreaked havoc for opposition goaltenders. Between the screens and deflections he provides and the constant lateral movement necessary for a goalie to keep square to the Sedins, something is bound to give. Vigneault also continues to find the right combinations on the penalty kills, but careful not to overload players, particularly Kesler who performs both functions. Currently, the Canucks trail the Chicago Blackhawks by 0.1% efficiency as the top powerplay in the League. They’ve killed over 85% of opposition powerplays, good enough for 4th in the NHL. Even though there’s a natural curiosity to see how they fare over the next half of the season, it seems safe to assume those numbers won’t fall drastically. The personnel is in place, the chemistry is there, and the systems set in place by the coaching staff are effective and hard to defend against. The only concern some Canucks fans will voice is that they hope the special teams don’t desert them in the playoffs, the same way they did against the L.A. Kings, and the Chicago Blackhawks. With files from Yahoo! Sports and Getty Images, I'm Larenzo Jensen; thanks for reading The Canuck Way.

There were a number of noteworthy statistics that helped the Vancouver Canucks end 2010 with their most successful December campaign ever. Perhaps it was the fact that the Canucks outscored opponents by a 1.71 margin while earning 24 points, going 11-1-2 during December. It might also have been Roberto Luongo's hottest stretch of hockey in recent memory, averaging a paltry 2 goals a game and .924 GAA in that span. Whatever the reasons, the Canucks find themselves someplace they haven't been since the 1992 season: Sitting atop the NHL standings. Roberto Luongo spoke to the teams recent success, their 5th straight win, earned during a 2-1 win in Colorado Sunday. "We've got guys chipping in every night; it's not always the same guys producing. You need that over the course of an 82 game schedule. It's not always going to be the same line." Perhaps what Canucks fans are witnessing is a more "coming of age" in the maturation process of the core players. Ryan Kesler is possibly the embodiment of the theory. Much has been made of his 'less chirpy' style of play, reserving his emotion for matters during the game, not between whistles. The perennial Selke trophy threat has elevated his game, and is on pace to decimate his previous career best in goals (26), at a 42 goal clip. Having honed his release, particularly his wrist-shot, he's added elusive direction changes to the skill set, with very favorable returns. Manny Malhotra as well has continued his emergence as one of the premier defensive forwards in the League. He's on pace for a career-best 15 goals and 41 points. But size, speed, and a shutdown presence are what he's most appreciated for. Cory Schneider battled back from this goal to remain unbeaten in regulation this season Of course, there's always the bonus of having possession of the puck 62.5% of the time after a faceoff. Mikael Samuelsson on Malhotra's leadership role with the club: "It comes with how you carry yourself, how you approach things. He's very serious and focused to do the right things all the time - he's not just throwing words out there - but the things he says are usually right on." Jeff Tambellini has also been a very pleasant surprise. The former 1st round draft pick has hockey sense galore, and is tied for the team lead in hits. His takeaway percentage is also quite high, with the versatility to be inserted anywhere between the 2nd and 4th line. His rocket, top shelf (glove side) wristers have become somewhat of a common occurrence. Daniel Sedin battles for puck possession with Dan Boyle in the first period. Canucks held on 4-3 The Canucks, now 25-8-5, have Calgary (18-19-3) up next Wednesday, and then complete the Western teams hosting Friday as they entertain the Edmonton Oilers at Roger's Arena. The Canucks put a six-game winning streak on the line against the Flames, who just had a four game winning streak snapped by the inexplicably hot New York Islanders (7-2-1 last 10). In the next installment of The Canuck Way, focus shifts towards the Canucks new bread and butter: Special teams. With files from Yahoo!Sports and the Hockey News, I'm Larenzo Jensen

Spoiler alert: If you haven’t seen Will Ferrell in “Old School”, please reference this blog after viewing. While every season has statistical anomalies, one thing I find rather fascinating about hockey, both fantasy and non, are streaks. Pundits will tell you that any similarities from one season to the next are purely coincidental. With all of the inevitable personnel variances, schedule et al, there will always be streaks to some extent. The X-factor is how long the streak persists, and of course, how many of them there are during any given season (I consider the Playoffs to be a season unto itself, ie “the post-season”). In a sense, streaks are a gauge of how talented the club is; the longer the winning streaks, the higher the indication the team is a true contender. Roberto Luongo takes one off the chest in the against the Maple Leafs, December 18, 2010 The Vancouver Canucks have already rolled through a couple of streaks, and because they are officially on one now, we can observe that X-factor’s essence. In fantasy simulators, better teams hit longer streaks, and are very much contending teams in the playoffs. Just HOW good is this Vancouver Canucks team? Perhaps in a future blog we’ll see what AI (Artificial Intelligence) has to say about the current team this season. But of course, we’re all concerned about the portents these streaks hold for the Canucks’ 2010/11 season. Alex Burrows gets extra attention from ex-Kelowna Rocket Luke Schenn after scoring earlier in the game At the time of publishing, the Vancouver Canucks have played the fewest games in the Western Conference, with thirty. A number of teams not in the current playoff picture have only played one more, including St.Louis, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Minnesota. Those teams are between 3 and 5 points behind the Canucks. Of note, Chicago has played 5 more games, Anaheim 6 more, and a few others that have played 3 extra. Despite a few good streaks, other Western conference rivals have been stringing together streaks of their own. Los Angeles, Columbus and Nashville just came off of 5 (or more) wins in a row. Colorado just made it six in a row and counting. Though officially Vancouver has only won 3 in a row, they’ve won 9 of their last 11. Even though it’s early in the season, I can’t recall a year where only 6 points seperated 1st through 8th. Goals like this one have earned Jannik Hansen more opportunities on the second line (photos courtesy of Getty Images/Yahoo!Sports) Hopefully all of this talk about streaks and relativity hasn’t been too confusing. As for proof that teams that go through lengthy streaks during the regular season also have post-season success, the 2008/09 Stanley Cup champions are a good example. During that mid-season, they hit a long winning streak, accompanied by 5 other hot stretches. They made the Cup finals the year previous. Recently, they finally had their winning streak halted at eleven straight wins. Rest assured, the hockey world views the Pittsburgh Penguins as true contenders to raise Lord Stanley’s Cup. HBO’s in-depth (and slightly controversial), behind the scenes Road to the Winter Classic chose them and the Washington Capitals aptly, secure in this fact. Mike Komisarek: "Alright Tanner. You, me, and IPad Scrabble RIGHT NOW!" It’s true that the Vancouver Canucks could possibly have several more winning streaks this season, and yet still be unable to go deep in the playoffs. Neither am I saying there is any concrete formula between streaks and playoff success. But as John Shorthouse pointed out at the end of the Team 1040 radio broadcast Saturday, it should be encouraging to Canucks followers that they’ve put together these streaks “Without playing their best hockey.” Imagine what they might be capable of if they really hit their stride. Though with a completely different intention than Will Ferrell in “Old School”, Canucks fans are urging the team: “Let’s go streaking!” With files from Getty Images, I'm fantasy hockey nerd Larenzo Jensen for The Canuck Way

The Vancouver Canucks first true 'comeback' win of the season came in a slightly bizarre, but memorable fashion against the Anaheim Ducks, Wednesday night. The teams had met only once earlier in California, with the Ducks skating to a 4-1 win. Whatever the reason, the Ducks seem to have it out for the Canucks, and for years, players the ilk of Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne, and Corey Perry have posed problems. Problems that were not kind to Vancouver's Goals Against Average. With an exhaustive 10 round shootout win the night previous in Edmonton, the Ducks had energy early and Perry opened the scoring less than 5 minutes in. Ryan Kesler, who was easily the best player on the ice, as he has been for past few games, responded for the Canucks on the powerplay. He deflected a Christian Ehrhoff point shot, bringing Roger's Arena into the game. They hadn't been seated more than a moment as Jeff Tambellini scoured the slot for rebounds, and got one off a Mason Raymond wrister eleven seconds later. Joffrey Lupul notched it at two with his first goal in a year since returning from back surgery. Corey Perry found Teemu Selanne cross-ice during a 2-on-1 with Alex Edler off for a tripping penalty. Selanne notched the 616th goal of his career with a labelled wrist shot over Luongo's left shoulder with 17 seconds remaining in the second frame. Rookie defenseman Cam Fowler had a strange goal go in off Alex Edler, who pursued Todd Marchant right up to the Canucks goalcrease off the rush.Up until the 8:42 mark of the third period, Ducks goaltender Curtis Mcelhinney had been brilliant in goal. The former Flames' backup made key stops on both Henrik and Daniel Sedin, particularly in the third period. But his luck ran out as Christian Ehrhoff sizzled one from the point, catching McElhinney squarely in the mask. The puck dropped down to Daniel Sedin who added his 15th of the season. It was a game-changing moment, because it stirred a lot of contention as to whether the referees should have blown the play dead or not. In International rules, the play is whistled dead immediately if a goalie stops a hard shot with his head. But in the NHL, it's up to the referee's discretion. The play unfolded very quickly, and though McElhinney was down from the initial shot, he got up, skating toward their bench, hunched over and bleeding. He had to be helped to the dressing room. New second line addition Jeff Tambellini scored the only goal of the shootout with a perfect shot over (replacement) Jonas Hiller's shoulder. Though Selanne, Perry and Lupul all scored in regulation, Roberto Luongo stopped each of their shootout attempts. "My teammates bailed me out with two goals in the third," said Luongo, who stopped 16 shots through regulation and overtime. "We haven't come back from behind once in the third period at all this year, so we were due for one." Vancouver entertains the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday, then fly to Edmonton right after for an early Sunday evening affair. With files from AP Photo, I'm Larenzo Jensen on The Canuck Way

During a recent NHL.com poll, Vancouver Canuck's Daniel Sedin was listed as the second best Left Winger in the NHL. Whether you agree with this ranking or not (at the quarter point in the 2010/11 season), there is evidence that he could possibly be in the hunt for hardware come late June. Daniel Sedin focused early in the season at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California Oct. 13, 2010 With the disclaimer (yet again, after forecasting Henrik Sedin early on to win the Hart Trophy) that I do not wish to 'jinx' Daniel Sedin, this is simply a review of accomplishments to date, with a dash of prognosticating sprinkled in. Pundits will usually concede that the quarter point in the NHL schedule is a strong indication of where the higher seeds will finish, as well as a decent gauge for player point totals. With 13 goals and 27 points over the first 22 games, he's on pace for a career season. Last season, though he missed 19 games, he still amassed more points than in any other (2006-07 84 pts, 2008-09 82 pts) season. He's currently ranked 5th in the League for goals, and 9th for points. On pace for 48 goals, 52 assists – 100 points. That is, of course, barring injury/illness, or any dozen other factors. Fans often marvel at how uncannily close the twins' point totals are, year after year. Were Daniel to have played the complete season as Henrik did, he was on pace for 111 points, and potentially also trophy nomination. Earlier, the poll mentioned regarding Left Wingers was lead by Alexander Ovechkin. Not much of a surprise there, but his pace has cooled from last season. Undoubtedly he'll catch fire at some point in the season, but he's on pace for 104 pts, only 32 of which are goals. One says 'only' when the individual mentioned scores 50+ annually. Anze Kopitar and Daniel Sedin race for a loose puck in the Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals (all photos courtesy of Yardbarker.com) Hockey pool guru Murray Townsend (The Hockey News) has been a professional prognosticator for 20 years. He had forecast Crosby and Ovechkin to tie for second in League scoring with 110 points. They finished with 109. Interestingly, two players that he's had difficulty projecting are the Sedin brothers. He thought that they had peaked in 2008-09 at 82 points a piece. Little could he imagine Henrik would go on a magical run to win the Art Ross and Hart Trophies. Basically, Daniel accomplished in 63 games what Townsend and others thought would take 82. But he's not sure that Henrik's performance will be duplicated. "Almost positive they've peaked," Townsend told The Hockey News. Voted NHL and TSN goal of the year (courtesy of Pouya - CanucksHD) One facet of the twins evolution that many overlooked initially was their preparation. In particular, their physical conditioning has been top notch, and aided them immensely. Each year, when they've finished the playoffs, they take two weeks off, then head back to Ornkoldsvik, Sweden, to commence off-season training. Since his rookie 2000-01 season, where Daniel scored 20 goals and 34 points, it's evident his ability to compete has heightened since becoming bigger and stronger. His ability to shield and protect the puck while cycling down low has increased. His shots, wrist, slap, snap and backhand, have become more potent, more forceful. His acceleration, though it will never be elite level, has reached a higher gear. In short, he is no longer a bright-eyed teenager playing a man's game. Whatever the rest of the season should hold, Vancouver Canuck fans will continue to be delighted and amazed as Daniel Sedin, part of the best one-two punch in the League, displays his quality. With files from CanucksHD, Yardbarker.com and The Hockey News, I'm Larenzo Jensen

During the last half dozen seasons, the Canucks have had a lot of reasons to cheer in November. Though this particular one started well, it seems to be taking a turn for the worst. Imagine the setting: You've just returned home from a vacation to someplace tropical, hot. You've got everything queued up, and you breeze through Customs. As you head over to the luggage retrieval belts, you see the local sports channel replaying highlights from the hockey game you missed. The first boxscore flashes - Your team started out down 1-0. Before you know it, they're wrapping it up, with scenes of the starting goaltender being benched, and a 7-1 final is posted. Akin to the cold weather, this is not what you wanted to await your arrival. Mikael Samuelsson tries to kick the puck loose in front of the Coyotes goal There are a lot of cliches that get overused in hockey, and the term 'bounce back' is no exception. But if Vancouver ever needed one, surely it was to be against the Phoenix Coyotes. Quick turnaround time, another game at home, a real chance for redemption. The Canucks didn't need to look far for an example; the Blackhawks were trounced the game prior, but came back in a big way. They played as if... it were pride on the line. There was some desperation in their game, and even when they were up comfortably, they didn't sit back, they kept the throttle twisted. Unfortunately, the Canucks haven't shown the same sort of desperation, and their position in the standings is starting to reflect that. For those that feel Roberto Luongo is largely responsible for their recent struggles... Now, I'm not saying that the Phoenix Coyotes aren't a good team. In fact, they've just recorded their seventh straight victory, which makes them officially hot. Also giving credit where it's due, Ilya Bryzgalov is proving pundits wrong by continuing his strong play from last season. He was equal to most tasks that Vancouver threw at him Sunday. But the game was winnable. Bryzgalov definitely factored into the win, but I think the Canucks have come into an identity crisis. Some of the work ethic, the attention to detail that comes from preparation, components that have been seemingly misplaced. Henrik Sedin tries in vain to get one by Ilya Bryzgalov (all photos courtesy of Yardbarker.com) Perhaps a fair question is this: Have the weight of expectations unnecessarily burdened this club? If you were to ask some of the players, I doubt any would attribute their recent lack of success to expectations. Even though it's a team game, there have been some expectations that haven't been met or realized yet. Both having had exceptional seasons last year, fans can't help but have high hopes for Mikael Samuelsson and Mason Raymond, who scored 30 and 25 goals, respectively. Currently, they each have 4, with Samuelsson on pace for half of what he netted last year, and Raymond also for 16. Again, the season is only a quarter of the way through, but their personal struggles typify the difficulties the team as a whole is enduring. Ehrhoff will have to continue to play the Avs tight tonight if they're to regain the Northwest division As far as points go, though Christian Ehrhoff is on pace to repeat the 44 points (14 -30-44) from last season, he certainly isn't set to repeat his +36 rating. Currently, he sits dead even at zero, and if the Phoenix game is any indication, his plus/minus won't be improving anytime soon. On the winning goal, he got caught watching the puck, not tying up his man in front of the net. Though injuries to the blueline have meant different pairings and partners, Ehrhoff is another player that needs to be more accountable. One would think playing considerable minutes with the Sedins would help improve that number, but it hasn't so far. Between concussion problems and the flu, Keith Ballard has also had his share of troubles. In the nine games that he has played, it's obvious that he's still looking for his 'A' game. Fans are really hoping he hits his stride soon, because zero points and a -2 rating surely don't add up to the 1st round draft pick spent to obtain him. All signs indicate Ballard has successfully recovered from his hip surgery Again, I'm not here to pick on particular players. Everyone knows the Canucks are capable of being better. It's common knowledge that any team is equal to the sum of it's parts. Right now, those parts are mired in a funk, during a time of year when they normally have everything aligned. Refreshed from a Cancun excursion, I'm Larenzo Jensen for The Canuck Way

After dropping a 2-0 decision to the Montreal Canadiens, the Vancouver Canucks needed to regain some road swagger, and found it in the Nation's capital. Having run into a hot goaltender two nights previous, the Canucks were focused on working together, finding ways for everyone to contribute. All four lines were able to do just that, underlining the fact that, when everyone contributes, good things happen. It could be argued that Vancouver was fortunate that the Ottawa Senators, winners of four straight, decided to start Pascal Leclaire, instead of Brian Elliot. Leclaire, who seems to have lost the starting goaltending spot to Brian Elliot, has been injury prone over the last two seasons, and just finished nursing a groin injury. Seeing as how the game was knotted at 1 goal apiece midway through the second period, the 6-2 win had more to do with a better collective forecheck. Kesler broke the deadlock with a tenacious forecheck, hammering Sergei to the end boards. Aaron Rome, half of the pleasant third defensive pairing surprise this season, pinched in to help keep the puck in Ottawa territory. Jannik Hansen found Kesler down low with a pass, and Kesler patiently waited for Leclaire to drop, then moved across the crease and deposited the puck. "We knew we were in a game after the second period and we needed to continue to get better," said the center. "We couldn't sit on that one goal and made a solid effort to get it." Mario Bliznak feeling Super after scoring his 1st NHL goal, celebrates with benefactor Tanner Glass (all photos courtesy of Yardbarker.com) The play of the second line seemed like a response to criticism it's come under of late, particularly their efforts on the road. Coming into the game, they had combined for a -14 rating away from Rogers Arena, with only a few points between them. "The first two goals in the third were simple plays. Get in on the forecheck, get the turnover, get to the net and shoot," Kesler pointed out post-game. Mason Raymond appeared re-energized in the win, using his speed to draw players out of position, something that Alain Vigneault contends they've been looking for. "It's the type of shift you have to have," noted Vigneault, who earned his 300th NHL victory. "That's playing the right way. Get behind the defence, and our defence was involved in the forecheck and Jannik made a really good play. Kes had two goals and he could have had four." Kesler, complete with his November mustache, was unrelenting on the forecheck Perhaps more important than the six goals was the play of Roberto Luongo. The Senators first goal could easily have unnerved the Montreal native, after Peter Regin struck Luongo's leg with his stick to force the puck across the line. But Luongo showed resiliency and battled back after the questionable tally. "I had the puck on top of my pad and he kind of stuck me in my leg and it trickled in," he recalled. "It could have gone either way, but I cheated a bit on the shot." Roberto Luongo stops Chris Neil's attempt to stuff the puck in short side It has to be said, lesser goaltenders might not have been as unflappable as Luongo has been since having the captaincy removed. But Luongo remains focused on the task at hand, and if he rues not being the captain, he's certainly not showing it. "I felt pretty good the whole game. It's exciting to play in these kind of games and I held the boys in there and then we had a really big third period." Early indications are that Roberto is going to enjoy another excellent November. Another Canuck prospect proved the farm connection is a lot stronger than it used to be. Mario Bliznak, drafted in the seventh round of 2005, scored his first NHL goal in his third outing. The Czech registered 8:44 of playing time centering the fourth line, with Peter Schaefer sitting the game out. "I was just driving to the net, and the puck went in the air and it was alucky play," recounted a humble Bliznak. "It feels good to get the first one and hopefully I can continue. The coach is trusting me to put me out against the big boys and it feels good. I got used to the speed and we got comfortable as a line." That line also featured Tanner Glass, who scored for the first time in 61 games, and assisted on Bliznak's goal. Aaron Rome's development comes at an opportune time; here he battles with Nick Foligno and Ryan Shannon With files from Yardbarker.com and The Province, I'm Larenzo Jensen

With their first road win in five tries Tuesday in Edmonton, Vancouver is looking to gain momentum on the road in Denver tonight. Satisfied to come away with two points and their first road victory of the season, the Canucks edged out the Oilers 4-3. After building a 3-0 lead, Edmonton kept chipping away, while the Canucks eased off the offensive throttle. The young Oilers club hustled, and out-worked a Canucks club that has to continue to attack in order to be successful. Certainly, having Roberto Luongo behind them minding the net adds a certain air of confidence to the team. But because they are marginal in their own zone, they must learn to stay true to their attacking form. They gave young Andrew Cogliano and Ales Hemsky room and space in the neutral zone, with poor results. In Colorado tonight, if they afford Hejduk, Stastny, or Stewart that kind of room, they'll find themselves on the wrong side of the score sheet. In his return from shoulder surgery, Burrows wasted no time getting to familiar areas, and lines Perhaps Vancouver's three straight penalty kills wound up being the difference in the game. It was the fifth straight game that they've denied a powerplay goal, which moves their overall penalty kill to 10th best in the league. Of interest, they are ranked 2nd at home, while their road penalty kill is ranked 28th. Ryan Kesler weighed in on the teams' efficiency while short a player. "I just think we're playing as a unit out there. We're taking short shifts and we're rolling through really well. We've got really good duos of forwards and we're just getting the job done. It's good that we have a righty and a lefty (handed players) who can win draws consistently. A big part is puck possession and clearance." Kesler's reference to the faceoffs is noteworthy, because the addition of Manny Malholtra has been a godsend. As he's prone to do, he leads the NHL in faceoff win percentage (64.6%) and has added a new element of speed and puck possession to the kill. Alain Vigneault agrees. "That's probably the important change in our PK right now. Probably two out of three times, the puck is in the other end right off the bat. Our first reflex right now in penalty killing is we're going to get it down the ice and that changes the whole dynamics." New linemates Manny Malholtra and Raffi Torres celebrate Torres' second of three goals (photos courtesy of Yardbarker.com) Cory Schneider (0.86 GAA, .968 sv %) has had an excellent start to his first full season, will get the start against the Avalanche (6-4-1). Two hundred feet away, Peter Budaj is Colorado's incumbent starter after Craig Anderson tore his ACL during warm-up in their previous game against the Canucks. Budaj has won two straight games since that encounter, and the Avalanche enjoyed a four day break. The return of Alex Burrows is encouraging on a number of fronts. On the road, he's a spark plug on the penalty kill, and will certainly improve Daniel and Henrik Sedin's game. "I was surprised at how good he was," said Henrik. "I thought he kept his shifts short. We had a few shifts where we could feel the chemistry back. It's going to take a while. he's been missing a lot of games. But it felt good right away. The small plays we make with each other were there, so I'm happy." Burrows scrutinized himself a little more closely. "Not great, not right away. I just wanted to stay composed and keep my shifts pretty short and simple. It's going to take a couple of games for me to come back to a good game but I'm looking forward to it." Oilers Captain Shawn Horcoff and Kevin Bieksa (Assistant Captain) collide during second period action Tuesday in Edmonton The Canucks defensive strength will definitely be tested in Denver. Chris Stewart (a player Dave Nonis passed over with the #14 pick in 2006, and instead chose Michael Grabner) is tied for 2nd in the NHL for points. He is also second behind Steven Stamkos for goals (9), and has a 26.47% shooting accuracy thus far. Alain Vigneault feels special teams will factor heavily into tonight's result. "Special teams, whether it's getting a timely goal on the power play or getting a timely kill, is huge on the road for keeping momentum going. I think that will go a long way for us. We can be better than a game below .500 on the road and I think being better at killing penalties will help us do that." Mason Raymond and Ryan Kesler each had their 3rd goal of the season last time out against the Avalanche, with Jeff Tambellini and Peter Schaefer also tallying for the white, blue and teal. Roberto Luongo gets help from Shawn Horcoff who inadvertently blocks a shot on goal With files from The Province, TSN and Yardbarker, this is Larenzo Jensen in Vancouver

In celebration of their 40th season in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks are inducting their greatest players of all time into the Ring of Honour. Four decades in the making, newly named Rogers Arena (formerly GM Place) is becoming a place of legend and hockey lore. Beginning October 26th versus the Colorado Avalanche, the Canucks will induct former great players into the Ring of Honour, forever canonizing them in the chronicles of Canuck greatness. The very first inductee is none other than the original captain, Orland Kurtenbach. The Cudworth, Saskatchewan native's sterling resolve, vast strength and power was only overshadowed by his undying leadership and "Never give up" philosophy. The newly formed Hall of Heroes in section 316 will highlight the achievements and memories of these great athletes who electrified Canucks fans during their illustrious careers. All this will be in addition to section 121 where the Canucks Memories exhibit is located, an audio/visual account of the franchises history, reliving favorite Canucks moments and triumphs. "Big Kurt" was quiet and unassuming off the ice, but he was a take-charge leader while on it Therefore, with Orland Kurtenbach set to be announced as the first ever Ring of Honor inductee, it begs the question: Who's next? With so many Canucks providing savory memories over the years, it can be quite difficult to narrow it down to only a selection or two. Who do you feel deserves the honor of being the second inductee next to Kurtenbach? Don't let the stats fool you. 'King' Richard Brodeur was extremely acrobatic, exciting to watch, and the Canucks ace in the hole If you're like myself, you caught the Canucks bug a little bit late... 1981/82 was the year my father and I watched our first Canucks game together. I don't know that another player could capture my attention the way Richard "The King" Brodeur did - I was constantly drawing him in his net making some spectacular save. My 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Webster, let me doodle on my Hilroy notebook, though, because I was normally a distraction and a jester. But it's true: There are many Canucks who could be up for the distinction. Don Lever, Stan "The Steamer" Smyl, Trevor Linden, Pavel Bure, Kirk McLean, Pat Quinn, Geoff Courtnall, Markus Naslund, Petri Skriko, Tony Tanti, Harold Snepsts; the list goes on for potential candidates. Regardless, the second inductee will no doubt stir memories on the grandest scale. Everyone knows that the Vancouver Canucks organization knows how to celebrate, and the surprises in store for Canuck Nation are tantalizing. Doubtless, ten years, twenty years, perhaps even another forty years from now, people will ask you: "Where were you when they inducted Orland Kurtenbach into the Ring of Honour?" "What game was being played when they inducted __________ as the second Ring of Honour member?" "Did you secretly brush away a tear as they raised Markus Naslund's banner into the rafters?" Truly, it's an historic time to be a Canucks fan. Don Lever had 9 seasons with 20 goals or more, an ironman streak of 437 games, and had a tireless work ethic Pavel Bure, aptly dubbed the 'Russian Rocket', was the fastest, purest goal-scorer the Canucks organization had ever produced Currently, it's a secret when the second Ring of Honour member will be inducted, but it won't be too long of a wait. This much we know for sure, it's sure to be a fantastic evening, one that many won't soon forget. The beauty of it all is that it doesn't stop here. Judging by the current crop of Canucks, there are more legends in the making, and hopefully this season makes it that much more difficult to decide: Which Canuck will be next to be immortalized in the Ring of Honour? Tom Larscheid of cool Kirk McLean: "He's like one of those bubble hockey goalies, always standing perfectly straight and just letting the puck hit him." For a deeper analysis of the Ring of Honour inductees and background, the following link should be helpful: http://canucks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=63163 With files from greatesthockeylegends.com, I'm Larenzo Jensen

With three regular season games under their collective belt, the Vancouver Canucks have a win, a regulation loss, and a 'tie' (overtime loss). Tonight during their swing through California, they rematch against the team that gave them the latter. Peter Schaefer gets welcomed to the 2010/2011 regular season by Kings phenom defenceman, Drew Doughty The Canucks travel to Los Angeles with their 40th anniversary home opener freshly spoiled by the visiting Kings. But whether revenge, or a somewhat restless fanbase is the motive, no one knows for sure. It's not that the Canucks are having a poor start, but rather, it's the heightened expectations for the club this season that might take it's toll. There are definitely positives to take out of their early record, including the fact that newly appointed captain Henrik Sedin appears to be adapting seemlessly to his new role. Another factor, perhaps equally as important, is that after surrendering the captaincy, Roberto Luongo hasn't allowed it to impact his performance negatively. Traditionally, Luongo starts slow and finds his rhythm in later November, but stopped 72 of his first 74 shots, and doesn't appear phazed by the role-change. The top line for the Canucks has been producing well, but secondary scoring has been challenged so far (all photos courtesy of Yardbarker) Analysts from the Team 1040 radio station spoke after the loss to the Ducks about the importance of picking up points during this "easier" section of the schedule. With the Canucks top line garnering most of the points thus far, the pressure is mounting for Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond, both of whom had career seasons last year. Ryan Kesler, who had 25 goals and 50 assists, deflected any negativity that might pervade their early drought. "We're getting Grade A scoring chances. It's just a matter of time before they start going in." Kesler received a promotion to the 1st powerplay unit with the twins. "We're still getting a lot of chances. That's the important thing." The Canucks continue to search for their fourth line identity, and are still trying different combinations to that end. Center Rick Rypien became the third pivot in as many games, replacing Jeff Tambellini, who only lasted one game in relief of incumbent Alex Bolduc, who is out with a high ankle sprain. Though Rypien is better adapted to a grinding fourth line role, he still isn't a natural center, and his failures in the faceoff circle ended the experiment last season to convert him. Jeff Tambellini hasn't fared much better, so the team might look to either Cody Hodgson, Mario Bliznak or Joel Perrault from Manitoba. With Hodgson or Bliznak, the Canucks would again be calling on inexperienced players to fill the void, making the cut of Brendan Morrison that much more curious. Willie Mitchell is hit by Alex Bolduc, who later suffered a high ankle sprain, in the Canucks' season openener. The Kings won in the shootout, 2-1 The Canucks expect a similar tight checking game against the Kings (2-1-0), based on their season opener. If their playoff matchup indicated anything, it's their uncanny resemblance to the Canucks, from team structure to player development. The main difference, not just this year but in general, are the expectations placed upon the teams. In a market dominated by NBA basketball and baseball, the Kings don't occupy the same sort of limelight that the Canucks do. It makes for an interesting case study between the weight of expectations on a professional team and results from such pressure. At the end of the season, don't be surprised if we see further startling similarities drawn between not only the Los Angeles Kings' ability, but also their point totals in relation to the Vancouver Canucks. While it is early in the season, one can't help but wonder if tonight we're witnessing a fore-gleam of another potential early playoff match-up. Ryan Kesler on 2nd lines opening three games: "We're getting Grade A scoring chances. It's just a matter of time before they start going in."

The Canucks organization has found itself dealing with an unfamiliar 'problem', a lot of depth players. Conversely, compared to years past, they've rarely had to decide what to do with so many cusp players they cannot use. Vigneault said Monday that O'Brien and Hordichuk had not yet been re-assigned and there's a 24-hour window to do that For example, after re-signing a fortuitous contract July 12th with the Vancouver Canucks, it seemed very likely that Shane O'Brien would continue to play a role on their blue line. Of note, Tanner Glass (who has just survived the final cut for the fourth line) and Alex Bolduc also signed contracts that day. But he, along with Darcy Hordichuk, found himself being put on waivers this past week. Is he that far removed from the 15 or so minutes a night he was filling during the playoffs? There could even be combination of reasons why Mike Gillis doesn't foresee O'Brien ($1.6 million) staying in the fold. But Andrew Alberts ($1.05 million) stepping up and finding his steady game again certainly couldn't have helped, nor being $1.82 million over cap (according to Capgeek.com). Glass takes Alex Goligoski of the Penguins for the ride at (formerly) GM Place January 16th Tanner Glass seems to have won over enough fans in the stands and management to find a regular gig on the fourth line. While he perhaps didn't outclass other competitors during the pre-season, he showed enough grit and determination to get the job done. If Darcy Hordichuk could've done anything different to change this outcome, he wasn't aware of it. This years' pre-season lesson was in economics, and the reality for an NHL club: You can only afford to have so much depth. The rest you'll probably lose for nothing, if not cover up to half of the remaining contract. That lends itself to another somewhat challenging contract - the pro tryout contract. Brendan Morrison, whom I had the pleasure of watching live twice in the pre-season, seemed to be a great fit for the club. Several times in the pre-season coach Alain Vigneault has referenced "Doing what's in the best interests of the team, then the best interests of the player". Interestingly, the Calgary Flames announced signing him to a $725,000 1-way contract. TSN reported that Morrison turned down a 2-way contract, where he could be sent to the farm club. December 10, 2007 - Brendan Morrison proudly sporting the Orca during a match at the Staples Center against the L.A. Kings (photo courtesy of Yardbarker.com) The Calgary Flames, who went a perfect 7-0 in the pre-season, suffered injuries to Olli Jokinen, Daymond Lankow, and Matt Stajan. "Calgary was a team that we had been speaking to all summer and over the course of the last weeks it just accelerated," said Morrison's agent, Kurt Overhardt. "It's a good opportunity to prove himself." Suddenly, a 42 point, versatile center that can be streaky doesn't look so bad... Perhaps the media 'fishbowl' effect does have some positive spin-offs. Morrison confessed: "We had so many games over the years, so many battles. Coming out of that other side of the [saddledome] tunnel - that will be strange." Hodgson scores (a shootout goal) against JP Levasseur in a preseason match at the Honda Center, Sept. 28th Cody Hodgson got healthy enough to clear last-minute for duties, and it's still unclear whether he's done enough to stay with the big club. He still might get the maximum 9 games played, before they have to decide one way or the other. Vigneault voiced that he's uncertain that 7 or 8 minutes a night in the NHL will serve him properly. Cody obviously desperately wants to remain with the team, but might have to withstand some seasoning with the Moose, putting further distance between injury/consistency concerns. The fourth line story continues to unfold, as 25 year old Gillaume Desbiens looks to have earned a spot on the opening night roster. With Rick Rypien injured, and the team vowing to be grittier, Vigneault witnessed enough in pre-season from his 11 hits. "He's a big body who brings a physical presence and he's smart. So far, he's been good and continues to improve." Desbiens Quebec junior teammate Alex Bolduc will pivot between him and Tanner Glass. At 6'3, 216 lbs, he hasn't been afraid to mix it up at every level he's been at. "They want the fourth line to create a lot of energy and momentum and being physical, but also being reliable defensively... If I need to step up and fight somebody here, I'll do it and that's what I'm going to do." It appears the pre-season lesson Desbiens learned here was from line-mate Tanner Glass, -what you need to do to stick. It wasn't so long ago that he was called up to cover an injury on the fourth line.

Hey guys; No worries about Hodgie.... He'll be with us before too long. The point of the article was that, with so much ado about his back problems, and the subsequent comments from Vigneault, fans need to be patient. If I make it sound like he won't be playing till next season, I'm referring to having an actual roster (regular) spot with the Canucks. Yes, there is a good chance that he'll impress soon enough to get a good look at him, but these physical problems have hindered his developmental curve. Almost more than anyone else, I'd love to see him succeed, and make the parent club. But I do NOT want him to make the club as a 4th line center... I don't think that would be good for him, with so little playing time. Of course, something could happen injury-wise to another center, forcing them to take a serious look @ Cody to replace that individual. For example, in their split-squad pre-season game versus the Flames, Malholtra took a stick blade to the mouth, after which he bled profusely, immediately. As per "West Coast"s comment, I also am NOT inferring that he will go anywhere else. I obviously understand the contract implications. But, as with Eric Lindros, and many, many other prospects, some individuals refused to play for the teams that drafted them, after bad relations were developed one way or another. But, WHEN his contract comes up for renewal, if the blood has become bad between the two parties, if often ends in a deal being made with another team. Again, none of these are options that I'd like, but sometimes the worst does happen when words are exchanged, or one of the parties takes exception to comments made by the other, be it a coach or general manager. Of course I'm looking fwd to having Cody here for the long haul!

As the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton gains it's full stride, several mini-dramas continue to unfold within the Vancouver Canucks organization. With another disappointing second round ousting behind them, the Canucks organization has rallied resources to ensure a better outcome. With additions such as Keith Ballard, Dan Hamhuis, Manny Malholtra and others, expectations for the club have never been higher (which, even by Vancouver standards is quite lofty). Though an unfair measuring tool, several publications, including the Hockey News, have the Canucks pegged to take the Western Conference crown, and others, to win the Holy Grail. Before I add my own diagnostics, let's consider some of the issues behind the scenes. "C" or no, Roberto Luongo is the consummate professional, always leading by example, a welcome presence in any dressing room The hot topic right now is surrounding the meeting on Monday that saw Roberto Luongo stepping aside from the Captaincy. Personally, I like this decision, but mostly because of the limitations it removes from the Canucks. Having your goaltender as captain is a novel idea, if mostly ceremonial in nature. But functionality is always a concern, and not having a captain that can talk to the refs during every event, call, or dispute is a handicap. For the most part, goalies are limited to their crease areas, save for during TV timeouts. They cannot be in and around all of the action, where most of the penalties, infractions and otherwise, occur. For that reason, it's difficult to say "I object" to something that you either a) didn't see or weren't close enough to hold an objective viewpoint. There's a reason Roberto was the first goaltender in over 40 years to hold the distinction: It's not very practical. For all the OTHER reasons, he was a good choice, and at the time, probably the best man available. Ryan Kesler would be a good choice for captain, but perhaps with one or two more seasons under his belt. Currently, Henrik Sedin is the selfless, team-first, lead by example professional that should take the reins. Watch for him to be named as such soon. The Young Stars Tournament in Penticton is quite a hit, with a number of stories being generated even as you read this. The freshly stocked Edmonton Oilers, who won't look much different on opening night than the way they do at this tournament, have their own drama unfolding. Disgruntled Sheldon Souray has been asked not to report to training camp. The Edmonton crew were too much for the Canucks to handle in their opening game on Sunday, which, given the situation, isn't a big surprise. With Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi all accounted for, they're sporting a good chunk of their regular season roster. One has to believe now that this Souray debacle will grow even more unattractive, with all efforts focused on moving Souray and his big cap hit. He's owed $9 M dollars over the next two years, and comes with a $5.4 M dollar cap hit in each... Best case scenario, the Oil find a trading partner with someone else with a large cap hit and a player that just needs "a better situation". Historically, most big-name players that find themselves in Edmonton either have a wife that doesn't like it there, or outgrow the city within a couple of seasons. Worst case scenario, Edmonton doesn't find a suitor, and are stuck this year and next with a useless salary. Unlike Chicago and Cristobal Huet, they can't just ship him off to the KHL (or CAN they?) and avoid the financial headache. "Hey Brandon, what do you do to beat the long Alberta winters?" '"-Meh, not much. Usually just fight..."' (photo by Yardbarker) So far in the tournament, Jordan Schroeder, unfortunately, has been underwhelming. Not to worry, though, as everything that he's done so far indicated a steady, upward incline, and the work ethic is definitely there. Perhaps part of the problem is that many Canuck supporters are starting to panic in the absence of Cody Hodgson from the camp. Schroeder's time is coming, but I truly believe it'll be after another year of conditioning as a pro with Manitoba. He'll more than likely get a cup of coffee with the big club at some point this season, but I'd be uber surprised to see him play more than 12 games this season. Aaron Volpatti might be this camps Sergei Shirokov, scoring two second period goals and adding a scrap during Vancouver's 5-3 win over the San Jose Sharks squad. " (Kellan) Tochkin made a great play, took a hit to make a play and I went in 2-on-1 and saw an opening on the near side and just shot," said Volpatti of his game-winner. Aaron Volpatti warms up for his two-goal 2nd period with a 1st period scrap with San Jose's Joe Loprieno Canucks fans are sure hoping that Cody Hodgson is like the first big-box Christmas present that gets put under the tree. It seems to take forever before you can open it, but it's potential entices you. It seems to make all the other presents appear like consolation prizes. Open it too early, and the surprise is ruined. In Hodgson's case, though, I don't understand why so many are expecting him to show up to camp and play soon. He was misdiagnosed by physicians early, and Canucks doctors finally caught the real problem. Let's allow the lad some time to heal, then see how he plays hockey after that. I don't know what Alain Vigneault was thinking when he downplayed Hodgson's injury early on, saying it was just a "teenager's reaction to a less than stellar performance at training camp" (last season). It would just be Vancouver's luck to have the best prospect in 15 years leave the organization because he doesn't feel appreciated by management or the coaching staff. I'm not saying Vigneault needs to walk on eggshells with him, but he should leave words like that up to the GM to voice. Cody will be fine, great even, he only needs time to heal properly. That Christmas present will be worth the wait. Cody Hodgson during 'better back days' playing in the CHL Top Prospects game (photo courtesy of Yardbarker)

Nearing the end of the third week in August, with training camp yet to begin, the Vancouver Canucks roster is already looking different. Buffalo Sabres selected Keith Ballard 11 overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft (photo courtesy of Yardbarker) General Manager Mike Gillis wasted no time augmenting the blueline with the addition of Dan Hamhuis, in a very surprising turn of events at the beginning of Free Agency. Though the Philadelphia Flyers had obtained exclusive rights to negotiate with the 27 year old Baudette, Minnesota native (at the cost of a 3rd round pick), it was a longer-term deal with Vancouver that enticed him away from the City of Brotherly Love. With the uncertainty surrounding Willie Mitchell's status, and Salo's penchant for untimely injuries, Canucks fans were ecstatic with the signing. Hamhuis might love country music, but the snow-capped mountains of Vancouver will be easy to call 'Home' Then, of course, was the move that no-one really foresaw happening: The trade sending Steve Bernier, Michael Grabner and 2010 VAN 1st round pick (Quinton Howden) to Florida in exchange for Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich. At this point in time, no matter how Ballard plays, props must be given to Gillis for his aggressive pursuit of free agents and use of assets to give the Canucks what they need: Reliable, healthy, time-tested defense. Both d-men have a track record of rugged durability, which should help eliminate one of the X-Factors that essentially eliminated the Canucks in the 2010 Playoffs. More than that, it's a sign of commitment by Gillis to compete for the now, which in times past perhaps wasn't as transparent. As usually occurs in the NHL, when money is transfered to an area of concern, some players become, for lack of a better term, expendable. The Canucks have several prime examples of this. The financial side of the new NHL dictates more movement of veteran players, and for less money (photos courtesy of Yardbarker) Willie Mitchell has been practicing with other NHL teams, so it's almost a foregone conclusion that he won't be back next season. Again, as stated in "Pity For Mitchell" (a few blogs back) it's a bit of a travesty that things have played out this way for the shutdown defender. We'll certainly miss the big Willie-style poke-check. I'll never, ever, forget the way he caught Jonathan Toews in the trolley tracks. But it's sure an argument for "Those that live by the sword, perish by the sword". Mitchell: "Kev, what's the worst thing that could happen to a guy in a contract year?" Bieksa: "I don't think you wanna know, Mitch..." Another victim of the early numbers game is center Ryan Johnson. The shot-blocker extraordinare was not offered a new contract by the Canucks, and has yet to find employ in the NHL. Apparently, if you listen to Red Wings upper management, the NHL is trying to force older players to sign for less money, with the constant push from younger players willing to play for much less. Perhaps I had a different perspective, but I can't recall a summer when so many legitimate NHL players were without a contract this close to training camp. But with the option for players to go and play in Europe or in the Kontinental Hockey League, and for a decent salary, the financial landscape truly has changed. Just imagine how murky the Canucks fiscal situation would be if the League nullified Luongo's Conditional contract approval? Rumors still swirl around Kevin Bieksa, but one has to believe that with every day that goes by that he hasn't been traded, the more likely he won't be. The iron has never been hotter, and the Ottawa Sun reported there were no less than six teams interested in him. I can say this much: If he doesn't get traded, the Canucks might have the most expensive checking line defensive pairing in the NHL. The Canuck Way will certainly be there to break any story that involves the heady defender. Manny Malholtra was selected 7th overall by the Rangers in 1998; almost a lock as 3rd line center (photo courtesy of TSN) I certainly don't wish to come off as cliche, but it's hard to recall a summer that held so much optimism in regards to the Canucks chances for success in the upcoming season. Mike Gillis thrust out his scythe into the Free Agency field and appears to have reaped bountifully. The addition of Manny Malholtra is a bit understated as well. Fans do have to say goodbye to a few familiar faces in order to do so, but there is excitement at the prospect of what some new blood will infuse into the chemistry of the 2010/11 Vancouver Canucks. With files from Yardbarker, TSN, and the Ottawa Sun, I'm Larenzo Jensen http://thecanuckway.com

Prior to the Vancouver Canucks Veteran camp in Penticton, the NHL's youngest and most notable up-and-comers will be on display September 12-16, 2010. Jordan Schroeder, Vancouver's first selection (22nd overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft in Montreal The Young Stars tournament will be an 8 game round robin tournament, featuring some blue chip talent from the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers. Dan Ashton, Mayor of Penticton, spoke to the upcoming event. "When we built our events centre, part of our vision was to have the Canucks come and utilize it as a training facility... now to have five NHL teams come to Penticton for five days... this is a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase our facility and community." Vancouver's premier prospect is listed by www.hockeysfuture.com as the third best prospect in the NHL (all photos courtesy of Yardbarker.com) At this time, the details of which prospects will be playing has yet to be announced, but it figures to be an important proving grounds. With the possibility that some of the prospects looking for regular NHL jobs this fall will be involved, there is the potential for several nigh-household names. Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, Mikael Backlund, Nick Petrecki, Luca Sbisa, Jake Gardiner - all prospects that might be involved in the tournament. Will Taylor Hall, the first overall selection in the 2010 Entry Draft, be on display in Penticton Sept. 12-16 ? From a Canucks fan point of view, the real draw will be witnessing the unfolding storyline between Prior Lake, Minnesotan Jordan Schroeder and Markham, Ontario's Cody Hodgson. The two centers will look to make an early impression on Canucks' brass, meanwhile competing for what should essentially be the 4th line center position with the club. With Manny Malholtra's tenacious, time-proven checking track record, it appears that's the slot available. One has to factor in, though, Hodgson's $1.6 M cap hit into the equation, which might be enough, provided he has a solid camp, to make him the incumbent fourth line center. Calgary's Mikael Backlund is by far and away their best prospect, and should earn a regular roster spot this fall Canucks President and General Manager Mike Gillis commented on the Young Stars tournament that precedes the Veteran camp (which starts Sept. 18). "Penticton has a deep hockey history and we look forward in continuing to celebrate that legacy with our NHL players and prospects this fall." A tournament package, which starts at $66 plus applicable taxes (www.valleyfirstTIX.com), receives a ticket to each of the eight games, and the first 1000 fans to purchase tickets also receive an exclusive pass to the Canucks Veteran's Training Camp, providing reserved seating and priority access to the Veteran's Camp. With Scott Neidermeyer's retirement, Luca Sbisa should be a regular fixture on Anaheim's blueline this season To be frank, though I'm very interested in how things shake down during Veteran's Camp, I'm salivating to see how the neophytes perform during the Young Stars tournament. Of course, I'm wary of another Sergei Shirokov-esque performance: One of the prospects performs very well, has a great pre-season, and then fades shortly after. But make no mistake about it, there are a couple of jobs up for grabs, and with Michael Grabner being shipped to Florida, the door is open. The only remaining question: Who will walk through? San Jose's Nick Petrecki is already a monster defenseman (6'3, 220 lbs); the New York native is only 21 years old With files from Canucks.com, Yardbarker and Hockeys Future, I'm Larenzo Jensen Keep your Canuck cool even during the summer heat - http://thecanuckway.com

During an interview with Ben Kuzma and Jason Botchford (from The Province) on Team 1040 Radio, Barry MacDonald spoke about Mike Gillis' cap room situation, and the Vancouver Canucks need to move Kevin Bieksa, soon. According to Team 1040 Radio, at least 6 teams are competing for the services of Kevin Bieksa (all photos courtesy of Yardbarker.com) With the somewhat surprising additions of Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard to the Vancouver defensive core, Kevin Bieksa looks to have played his last game as a Canuck. After losing in the second round to the cup-winning Blackhawks, the situation wasn't as transparent. Everyone knew changes were on the way, and probably to the defensive structure, but initially Bieksa was only one of a few names bandied about. But the impending Free Agent arbitration meeting next week over Mason Raymond has given Bieksa's position a more cellophane appearance. To those that felt Bieksa had a mediocre playoffs, they should take into account how often he was observed doing this Because Arbitrators used in the process are not "hockey" people, but rather "numbers" people, it would appear that Mason Raymond will be set to receive at least $3 M per season, with Jason Botchford and Ben Kuzma hinting that number could gravitate closer to $4 M per season. Players such as Atlanta's Clarke MacArthur, who was awarded a $2.4 M per season ruling in arbitration (that ATL declined the option on) for his 16 goal, 19 assist campaign, as well as Toronto's Nikolai Kulemin who has been signed to a 2 year, $2.35 M per season deal (78 games, 16 goals, 20 assists) had inferior seasons to Raymond. Raymond scored 25 goals, added 28 assists for 53 points and played all 82 games. But with the departure of Michael Grabner in the Ballard deal, Mike Gillis' hands are tied to whatever the arbitrator decides. Unlike Atlanta, the Canucks cannot afford to let go of a top 6 forward, which is exactly what would happen if they don't accept the decision next week. Mason Raymond would become an Unrestricted Free Agent, with the caveat that the team that signs him would have to pay the amount decided in arbitration. Mason Raymond will likely make over $3 M per season after salary abritration next week Word out of Anaheim Wednesday night was that, because of the interest of at least six teams, that the asking price on Bieksa has inched upward. Essentially, Gillis has stated that he'll move Kevin to the highest bidder. Initially, it was a higher draft pick, but now the price has reached a high draft pick and a prospect. With the retirement of Scott Neidermeyer, Anaheim really needs to bulk up their defense, and appear to be the front-runners for his services. Other interest has come from Columbus, as well as Washington, and ideally Gillis would like to move him to the Eastern conference. But as was pointed out in the Team 1040 interview, time is of the essence. It is true, that with a type of bidding war starting to take place for Kevin Bieksa (who Botchford referred to as a "poor man's Pronger") that Mike Gillis currently "holds the cards". "Boom-Boom" Bieksa had no idea after the playoffs that his fate would be so intertwined with Mason Raymond's In theory, it's best to try not to 'leave anything on the table' when it comes to renumeration for a player of Bieksa's calibre. But with rosters, contracts and new signings changing the NHL landscape daily, it's imperative not to price yourself out of everyone's market. I believe the time to square away a deal for Bieksa is very soon, because team needs are shrinking. Gillis said he wanted to "Make a hockey deal", and is probably part of the reason why he's got a good response from other GM's. But interest is there, and it seems the competition has stepped up. Now, all Canuck fans can hope for is that the 'closer' in Mike Gillis, the former player agent, steps up and makes a decision soon. He certainly holds the cards, but as Barry MacDonald said, "You can't hold the cards forever". Kevin gave CFOX listeners some great entertainment during interviews, especially one where he singled out Adam Burish (photo courtesy of Yardbarker)

So, 'gnarbot', are you saying that Mitchell had no real beef? I'm not sure what you're getting at, because Mitchell did in fact appeal to the League and the NHLPA to look more closely at their stance on not only headshots, but also 'dangerous play'. I believe that hitting a player who is facing the boards (aka "boarding") qualifies as dangerous play, particularly because I myself have played for many years, as well reffed the game at various levels. It's my belief that Mitchell did in fact have a valid complaint. Were a policy in place on headshots and dangerous plays, I'm sure that Malkin's hit would have been examined more closely, possibly by a judicial committee, if not Colin Campbell. But because Malkin is a 'superstar' and there was no policy in place at the time, he got off scott-free. The point of the article was that Mitchell is the one holding the empty purse. If you were at work (I'm assuming here that you have a job) and you were injured on the job, due to no fault of your own, and another employee was involved in a dangerous act, I'm certain you would be looking for some sort of compensation. How else could you pay your bills? If there was no policy in place to protect your income, I'm certain you'd feel a lot differently than you appear to in your comments. If that same boss did nothing to protect you and your families well being, I'm certain you'd be rather choked to find out that he's getting a nice raise, when you're left destitute because he didn't buy into Workers' Compensation or something of that nature.

In the same offseason that Commissioner Gary Bettman receives a pay hike to $7.23 M per, Willie Mitchell will receive less money because of Bettman's indifference. It's not easy being a Vancouver Canuck defenseman these days. In the 2009/10 season, the Canucks lost the most man games for blueliners. The competition arising from those stifling injuries is intense, with Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis being brought into the ranks. Willie Mitchell was hit from behind January 15th by Evgeni Malkin, and missed the remaining 48 regular season games, as well as two rounds of the playoffs, due to being concussed. Gary Bettman's inability to put together proper discipline for headshots and dangerous play was a direct contributor to Willie Mitchell's plight. There's a certain amount of travesty, if not irony, stemming from the fact that players like Willie Mitchell lose money (which I'll get to briefly) while the professed Commissioner gets a pay hike. Mitchell would rather take a Pronger punch than watch Bettman sit on the fence regarding the headshots issue The fact remains that, because of Bettman's indifference to the headshots issue, players like Willie Mitchell, ie - the "product", are set to lose money. Do you really think that Mitchell will land the kind of contract now that he would have been looking for this offseason? Perhaps more importantly, will he get the number of years that he was looking for? If Willie has this picture up on his wall, it's surely backed by a dart board... Please don't misread this; I am not a 'bleeding heart', nor do I secretly have a man-crush on Willie Mitchell. But I do sympathize with him, and particularly with his sentiments uttered at a press conference approximately 6 weeks ago. He is now considered "damaged product", and has been labelled the same way Eric Lindros was after his concussion. Essentially, fairly or unfairly, there are concerns regarding his health, and some GM's would probably be thinking that he's one big hit away from retirement. My last muse on the matter: The biggest pity is that Canucks fans will almost certainly never know what could have been. If you don't believe that losing your best shutdown defenseman before the playoffs is a big deal, then the Stanley Cup winning GM Stan Bowman's words won't hold any meaning for you. "I think you win with defense. I think the success of our team is that we've got some very skilled forwards, but they get the puck a lot. We want to keep that part of our game intact." With all that said, I truly hope Willie will again play meaningful hockey, be it in Vancouver, or even Edmonton or Washington for that matter. He knows full well that Mike Gillis' hands were tied at the beginning of Free Agency, and with 3 (defensive) contracts expiring at the end of next season, hehad to make a move. Believe me, should you ever read this Willie, that we WOULD have waited for you to heal if we could have. It sure would have made Round 2 very interesting. But time waits for no man... perhaps except the Commissioner. Sometimes it looks like he's got all the time in the world. With files from Yardbarker, I'm Larenzo Jensen