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Sunday Practice - Return of injured, no pizzas


Ossi Vaananen

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Line up:

Sedin - Sedin - Vrbata
Baertschi - Sutter - Virtanen
(Higgins) Burrows - Horvat - Hansen
Dorsett - McCann - Cracknell
(Gaunce)

#Canucks practice lines: 22-33-17/47-21-18/14-53-36/24-91-15. Wille Ds first on-ice hip test, too.

Hamhuis (lower body), Higgins (foot fracture), Markstrom (hamstring) on ice for #Canucks practice.

Hamhuis switches from blue (caution) practice helmet to regular white lid. Good sign in lower-body injury recovery. #Canucks

"News" keeps rolling in..Hamhuis back to white helmet like rest of skaters and Higgins also subs in for 47 LW with 21-18 #Canucks #TSN1040

No Luca Sbisa this morning, but Dan Hamhuis is back on the ice. #Canucks

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It's too bad for Gaunce, he is a victim of the numbers game, but I expect him to make it full time along with Hunter next season, possibly even this season after the TD. 

When everyone is healthy I'd like to see

Sedin - Sedin - Vrbata

Baerstchi - Sutter - Burrows

Virtanen - Horvat - Hansen

Dorsett - McCann - Prust

Higgins

Way too many forwards, Higgins won't be a healthy scratch too many nights, and that's not including Gaunce who could play right now. Sven will come in and out of the lineup. 

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It's too bad for Gaunce, he is a victim of the numbers game, but I expect him to make it full time along with Hunter next season, possibly even this season after the TD. 

When everyone is healthy I'd like to see

Sedin - Sedin - Vrbata

Baerstchi - Sutter - Burrows

Virtanen - Horvat - Hansen

Dorsett - McCann - Prust

Higgins

Way too many forwards, Higgins won't be a healthy scratch too many nights, and that's not including Gaunce who could play right now. Sven will come in and out of the lineup. 

This. Gaunce has played so well, but with Higgy back, that's just too many bodies. Gaunce will definitely be full time next year.

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We'll see how ready Higgins is for tomorrows game against Philly.

In the meantime, Gaunce is losing the numbers game.  He carried himself well for 2 games and looks completely ready to play in the NHL.  He will have to wait for his opportunities now.

I'm liking Cracknell on the 4th line.  He's bringing size and playmaking and is helping to make that line a threat to score.  He's a good compliment to McCann who I think is the real star of the line.  Who ever has been on the wing, the line still performs.

 

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We'll see how ready Higgins is for tomorrows game against Philly.

In the meantime, Gaunce is losing the numbers game.  He carried himself well for 2 games and looks completely ready to play in the NHL.  He will have to wait for his opportunities now.

I'm liking Cracknell on the 4th line.  He's bringing size and playmaking and is helping to make that line a threat to score.  He's a good compliment to McCann who I think is the real star of the line.  Who ever has been on the wing, the line still performs.

 

Yes because whoever HAS been on the line has been really good. Let's not get carried away. Who is laying these chance on a plate for McCann? Prust, Dorsett, Cracknell can all play so let's not give the impression McCann is carrying the other two or even responsible for their performance. It just doesn't fly.

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This. Gaunce has played so well, but with Higgy back, that's just too many bodies. Gaunce will definitely be full time next year.

I agree that Gaunce has played well. I would favor playing him for another game or two. I also agree that it is hard to keep Higgins out of the line-up if he is healthy. I know that a lot of people think Higgins was not good enough as 2LW last year, and I agree. But as a bottom six LW he is very good.

The relative ranking of Baertschi, Virtanen, and Gaunce is not clear to me. I think Gaunce is better defensively than either Virtanen or Baertschi. He does not hit like Jake but he is big, strong, and contributes to the physical game. His goal against Arizona was all about physical strength in front of the net -- something neither Baertschi or Virtanen has shown enough of. Gaunce suffers because he is waiver-exempt (unlike Baertschi) and can go up and down to Utica (unlike Virtanen).

I admit that Baertschi and Virtanen are both faster skaters than Gaunce and that the speed game matters. But I would like to see Gaunce get more of a chance right now.

And Cracknell is also in the mix. He has size, strength and plays well defensively.

 

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I agree that Gaunce has played well. I would favor playing him for another game or two. I also agree that it is hard to keep Higgins out of the line-up if he is healthy. I know that a lot of people think Higgins was not good enough as 2LW last year, and I agree. But as a bottom six LW he is very good.

The relative ranking of Baertschi, Virtanen, and Gaunce is not clear to me. I think Gaunce is better defensively than either Virtanen or Baertschi. He does not hit like Jake but he is big, strong, and contributes to the physical game. His goal against Arizona was all about physical strength in front of the net -- something neither Baertschi or Virtanen has shown enough of. Gaunce suffers because he is waiver-exempt (unlike Baertschi) and can go up and down to Utica (unlike Virtanen). But I would like to see Gaunce get more of a chance right now.

 

You have said it all in a nutshell. Gaunce must be pretty down at the moment as it seems that due to circumstances, no matter how well he plays he is going back to Utica. 

However JB did say he would find a way to keep any player up who he thought deserved it so there is still hope. I feel for the guy.

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Yes because whoever HAS been on the line has been really good. Let's not get carried away. Who is laying these chance on a plate for McCann? Prust, Dorsett, Cracknell can all play so let's not give the impression McCann is carrying the other two or even responsible for their performance. It just doesn't fly.

Not to mention those goals aren't coming if the competition level is stepped-up.

But McCann seems to have a good shot and nose for the net.  More skill than those other players, absolutely.  Some real flashes of talent.  Good to see.  The line as it is works well.  Real good at complimenting each other's styles.  The Canucks know that you can't put a bunch of the same player types together and expect success.

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Yes because whoever HAS been on the line has been really good. Let's not get carried away. Who is laying these chance on a plate for McCann? Prust, Dorsett, Cracknell can all play so let's not give the impression McCann is carrying the other two or even responsible for their performance. It just doesn't fly.

do you ever  post any original thoughts?  Or is the reactionary, constant bashing of others your little schtick.

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Yes because whoever HAS been on the line has been really good. Let's not get carried away. Who is laying these chance on a plate for McCann? Prust, Dorsett, Cracknell can all play so let's not give the impression McCann is carrying the other two or even responsible for their performance. It just doesn't fly.

Name me another notable nineteen year old Canucks rookie who scored 5 goals in 10 games playing on the 4th line with 4th loners to start his career?

It is fine to criticize but those goals count. Whatever wins games. And that shot...

What is so wrong in sheltering a teen so he can be as great as he can be? That's how Boston won the Cup; sheltering their young so they can take the chances they would otherwise be too intimidated to take.

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Excellent. I expect Markstrom to be sent to Utica for conditioning.

Utica can use the goaltending help. Last year they had maybe the best goaltending in the AHL. This year they seem to lose the goaltending battle almost every night. (I admit I have not seen any actual games, just going by the numbers -- but they are outshooting the opponents almost every night and still have a losing record.)

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I have absolutely no problem with JB sending Gaunce down. He'll be better next year.

Cracknell will be a tough choice because he has played well and is waiver eligible. Then again, he's one of those guyd that you can sit in the press box.

Im a little surprised to see Jake on the second line. He hasn't done muh scoring and is much more suited on a checking line.

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