This is great news for Canucks fans. Jannik "Honey Badger" Hansen has signed a 4 year extension with the Canucks worth 10 million dollars. The 2004 9th Round pick has 50 career goals in 318 NHL regular season games. Jannik is a speedy winger who is hard on the forecheck who provides lots of versatility for the Canucks. He is your typical third line checking winger who can play second line minutes in a pinch. A 2.5 million dollar cap hit is a bargain for this player. This is a great contract for the Canucks management.
This is my favorite Jannik Hansen moment...
Trade with Carolina
Late last night, Vancouver traded Kellan Tochkin and a 2014 4th Round Draft Pick to Carolina in exchange for centre/right wing Zac Dalpe and centre Jeremy Welsh.
Dalpe, 23, was selected by Carolina in the 2008 NHL Draft in the 2nd round. He split time between Charlotte and Carolina last season. In 2012-2013, he racked up 3 points in 10 games with the Hurricanes, and 42 points in 54 games with the Checkers.
Welsh, 25, scored 14 goals and 69 points in the AHL last season. He will start the season down in Utica. He will be relied on and called up if injuries start to pile up for the Canucks.
The implications of this trade mean that Dalpe will most likely start on the Canucks roster. Today, the Canucks decided to send Bo Horvat back to juniors. Hunter Shinkaruk is more than likely going to follow suit and be sent back too.
-What a way to end the preseason in style - a 5-0 victory over the Broadway Blueshirts. This also marks a spoiled return for former Canucks bench boss Alain Vigneault.
-I will give the Rangers credit where its due. They threw lots of pucks at Roberto Luongo. If Roberto was not on his game, they could have probably lit the lamp a few times. The Rangers are a good hockey club who really just did not have luck on their side. Roberto Luongo gobbled up every puck and only let one loose rebound the entire night. If Luongo plays like this on a nightly basis, he should be a lock to be Team Canada's starting goaltender.
-I was real impressed with the Canucks penalty kill last night. Alex Burrows nearly connected with David Booth on a 2 on 1 break shorthanded. Ryan Kesler made entries for the Rangers difficult with his defensive hard checking play last night. The Canucks ranked 8th on the penalty kill last season, there is no reason they should not have a top 10 penalty killing unit for this season.
Prospects Update:
-In the post game press conference, Coach Tortorella announced that Frank Corrado was being sent to Utica. Corrado managed to tally a goal and an assist in last night's contest with the Rangers. Tortorella wants Corrado to be able play 25-30 minutes a night and play in all situations in Utica. I believe that Corrado deserves to be on the Canucks roster, but I can deal with Corrado gaining some more experience in Utica. I do believe that Corrado will be around by the time of the trade deadline. He is too good to not be around on the back end.
-Brendan Gaunce was sent back to his junior club (Belleville Bulls - OHL) where he will remain the captain of their team. I feel that Canucks management was not quite happy with his development yet, especially his foot speed. Another year of juniors will not do him any harm as he will play in all situations there.
-From the sound of Mike Gillis' interview on TEAM 1040 yesterday, it looks as if Bo Horvat and Hunter Shinkaruk will both crack the opening night roster. Due to preseason injuries and suspensions, this is a great opportunity for both guys. Shinkaruk was able to tally a goal against the Rangers last night while Horvat remained invisible. It will be interesting to see if they can provide some much needed secondary scoring and make Gillis' decision to keep them around full time harder. If I had to choose one over the other right now, Hunter Shinkaruk should remain with the Canucks. I do not think another year of juniors for Bo Horvat would hurt his development. Shinkaruk has the necessary speed to stick around with the Canucks.
To close, here is Kevin Bieksa's scrap with Rangers tough guy Derek Dorsett last night. This started because Dorsett poked Bo Horvat with his stick. Of course, Kevin Bieksa was not going to have any of that... enjoy!
Guess who's back, back again, Alain's back, tell a friend. For the first time in over half a decade, Alain Vigneault's presence in Vancouver will not be behind the Canucks bench. The winningest coach in Canucks history will try and seek his revenge on his former club. Meanwhile, new Canucks head coach John Tortorella will try and return the favor against his former Rangers. Entering the preseason contest tonight, the Canucks have a 1-4 record, while the Rangers carry a 1-3 record.
This game can be viewed on TSN or on NHL Network at 10 PM ET/7 PT.
Let's take a look at the projected lineups for tonight:
Rangers (the bad guys):
Forwards:
Benoit Pouliot - Derick Brassard - Rick Nash
Taylor Pyatt - Brad Richards - Mats Zuccarello
Darroll Powe - Dominic Moore - Jesper Fast
JT Miller - Brian Boyle - Derek Dorsett
Defensemen:
Dan Girardi - Ryan McDonagh
Michael Del Zotto - Anton Stralman
Marc Staal - John Moore
Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist
Martin Biron
Canucks (the good guys):
Forwards:
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alex Burrows
Chris Higgins - Ryan Kesler - Jannik Hansen
David Booth - Mike Santorelli - Hunter Shinkaruk
Tom Sestito - Bo Horvat - Brad Richardson
Defensemen:
Alex Edler - Kevin Bieksa
Frankie Corrado - Chris Tanev
Andrew Alberts - Yannick Weber
Goaltenders:
Roberto Luongo
Eddie Lack
Things to watch for - Rangers:
Henrik Lundqvist - he has never had a bad game in Vancouver. He always seems to provide a shutout performance every time he comes to town. He is one of the best goalies in the NHL, if not the best. Lundqvist is a huge reason why the Rangers are a consistently good team every season.
Rick Nash - Canucks fans remember his days as a Columbus Blue Jacket. He is a big powerful winger who has got some of the best hands in the game today. Do not give this guy a chance for a breakaway opportunity, it will haunt the Canucks if they give him any open space.
Marc Staal - I will give him his props. He has fought concussions, eye injuries, and just about everything else. He is one of the best Ranger blue liners and a very solid defensive defensemen.
Things to watch for - Canucks:
Roberto Luongo - he had a fantastic outing against the Phoenix Coyotes. Tonight, his opponent in the other net is a good measuring tool. I am expecting a great performance from Roberto tonight to get some momentum going before the regular season puck drop.
Hunter Shinkaruk and Bo Horvat - both have shown flashes of greatness and flashes of invisibility. Tonight is a golden opportunity for them to show that they want to stick around for a while. They both need to be visible and they both need to give 110% effort in order to have a chance to crack the opening night roster.
Andrew Alberts and Yannick Weber - this defensive pairing really stunk against the Sharks. They both finished a -3 on the night and both looked out of sync. I hope that they can clean up their act against the speedy wingers of the Rangers.
Prediction:
2-0 Rangers Win (Lundqvist 28 save shutout)
-What an ugly game from start to finish. The first 10 minutes were not exactly terrible as the Sedins and Burrows created several scoring chances. All of a sudden, bang bang, Tomas Hertl scores a fluky goal that Eddie Lack would like to have back. Two minutes later, Dan Boyle strikes off a bad Canucks defensive zone turnover. This pretty much summed up how the game would end up going.
-Yannick Weber and Andrew Alberts: What were they doing last night? Their defensive pairing was a nightmare (-3). They should never be paired together in any future Canucks games unless they are forced to due to an injury pile up.
-If the Canucks play like this in the regular season against the Sharks, they will get eaten up and will face getting swept. In order to beat the Sharks, you have to not give them powerplays. Their powerplay will score goals. You have to pressure the Sharks defense and keep the puck in their end of the ice because they will take penalties. Force Anti Niemi to make a great save every time. He will get worn down if you keep the pressure on him. The Canucks need to do a better job in order to draw some penalties against the Sharks. The Canucks also need to win the faceoff dot battle. The Sharks are a consistently good faceoff circle team in the NHL. More faceoff wins lead to more possession of the puck.
-Prospect update: Shinkaruk and Horvat did not register a single shot on goal last night. Gaunce finished a (-1) on the evening, and Frank Corrado played around 21 minutes of ice time. Corrado should be a lock out of all the prospects to crack the Canucks opening night lineup. I believe the others still need to prove themselves against the Rangers if they want to stay with the Canucks or go elsewhere.
-AV returns to Rogers Arena tomorrow night. Let's give him and the Rangers a warm welcome... or not.
FINALLY!
A complete team game. Roberto Luongo was strong in net, making 21 saves in the win. Mike Santorelli has made a great case for himself to crack the Canucks opening night roster. The Canucks had mostly veterans in their lineup, but they dominated and controlled the game in all areas.
Prospects Shine:
Hunter Shinkaruk has been the best Canucks prospect in all of preseason. His skating ability is very noticeable. He finished every check last night and went after the puck. He is not afraid to stick his nose in the corners or around the net. With the recent injuries and suspensions circling around the Canucks lineup, I would love to see him get his chance to start the season.
Bo Horvat played a great game against the Coyotes. In the faceoff dot, he won 86% of his faceoffs and he finished with 2 assists on the evening. This is not horrible considering he only had around 13 minutes of ice time.
Game Versus San Jose
We might as well get used to them. The Sharks are in the same division with the Canucks now. I am expecting both sides to dress veteran lineups. The Canucks changes to the lineup will include defensemen Dan Hamhuis, Frank Corrado, and goalie Eddie Lack.
My prediction: 3-2 Canucks
Greetings, allow me to beg your indulgence. With hockey season quickly approaching, I thought I would pick out 5 of the NHL's best "Heart and Soul" guys. The players listed may not be the most productive on the scoresheet or may not be the most skilled players, but they wear their team and heart on their sleeves.
1. Scott Hartnell (Philadelphia Flyers)
Analysis: I love the way Hartnell plays the game. He can be utilized in any situation whether it is 5 on 5 or on special teams. He hits hard, he can fight, and he is a great character in the dressing room. His tenacious play is what Flyers hockey is all about.Hartnell is also involved in lots of charitable work - #hartnelldown. How can anyone not love his brillopad on his head?
2. Milan Lucic (Boston Bruins)
Analysis: The Vancouver native has his own brand of hockey. The face (or should I say "nose") of Bruins hockey plays like a tank and is destructive like a tank. He is an idol in Boston (and in Vancouver) because of his rugged blue collar play. His presence on the ice resembles that of a grizzly bear on skates - he is big and broad shouldered and has a real short temper. I think Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller wishes Lucic skated in going away from him, not coming at him. It is safe to say that Milan Lucic looks pissed off all the time. I do not think I have ever seen him smile.
3. Mike Richards (Los Angeles Kings)
Analysis: I cannot believe the Flyers traded this guy. He likes to drink beer and party - who doesn't? The former Kitchener Ranger is a winner. He has a Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal to prove it. Richards is not a big hockey player, but he makes up his lack of size with his desire and leadership on the rink. The former Captain of the Flyers is a shorthanded threat and a dangerous penalty killer. What impresses me most about Richards is his will to get to the dirty areas. I applaud the Los Angeles Kings for trading to get this guy.
4. David Backes (St. Louis Blues)
Analysis: The US Olympian is the face and Captain of the St. Louis Blues. Consistently putting up 20-30 goals, 50-60 points, and 100 penalty minutes every season, Backes is a fierce competitor. He plays like a semi truck on a nightly basis. While he is not fleet of foot, if this big rig is coming at you in the corner, you better brace yourself. He has experience at playing centre and on the wing. This is a guy that Blues coach Ken Hitchcock and the fans expect to bring his A game every night.
5. Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks) - Homer Pick
Analysis: I call him the engine that drives the Canucks. When he is missing from the Canucks lineup, it affects everyone's play. The former Selke winner has been injury plagued the past couple seasons, but Vancouver fans are so happy to hear that he is 100% healthy. Kesler is used in all situations for the Canucks whether it is 5 on 5 or on special teams. He is probably the most accurate shooter among the Canuck forwards. On a side note, he is proud of posing nude.
Well, this game was over early... around 12 minutes give or take a few seconds of game time. It is safe to say that Oilers forward Jordan Eberle stole the show with his 3 point night. Once again, the Canucks did not put too much pressure on the Oilers net resulting in limited shots.
Here are my Canucks 3 stars of the pathetic evening...
1. Mike Santorelli
2. Brad Richardson
3. Brendan Gaunce
I feel that Mike Santorelli played an outstanding game. His speed is very noticeable and he was a key contributor in Brendan Gaunce's goal. While he has some trouble in the corners with puck control, his speed makes up for his lack of strength on the puck. He admirably played as a defensemen on the penalty kill when the Canucks were down 2 defensemen due to injuries. He will probably make the Canucks opening night roster in the 4th line centre position.
Brad Richardson might be one of the smartest Gillis signings during his tenure as GM of the Canucks. While Richardson did not register a point, he won an astounding 89% of his faceoffs and only lost 1 draw. The Canucks were a horrible team in the faceoff circle last season so he will most likely provide some much needed assistance there.
1st Round Pick of 2012 Brendan Gaunce notched his 2nd goal of the preseason on another rebound shot. I like his ability to drive toward the net and get in the dirt areas. Other than his goal, he was virtually invisible the rest of the night. Gaunce is not fleet of foot and still needs to progress in his skating in order to become a full time NHLer. I would like to see him use his bigger frame and play physical on the ice. He is blessed with a big body, so he needs to use it. Find a way to get noticed to make the Canucks roster this season.
Overall, the Canucks only played about a 1 1/2 periods in last night's tilt with the Oilers. Luongo was not as sharp he could be - I do not believe Cory Schneider could have done any better in the beginning of the game. Kevin Bieksa needs to also rebound in the next game and play a little bit more motivated.
For the rematch on Saturday against the Oilers, the Canucks need to SHOOT THE PUCK even more. I want to see at least 35-40 shots on goal. Having under 30 shots on goal in the regular season does not bode well for anyone. I would like to see the Canucks pick up their physicality as well. 13 hits in a 60 minute hockey game is UNACCEPTABLE! The prospects need to stop thinking so much and just play hockey. Just go out there and have fun!
Here is Brendan Gaunce's 2nd goal of the preseason...
Coming up next... the Oilers... again!
Until next time, stay classy! -George
Greetings, tonight the Edmonton Oilers make their preseason visit to Rogers Arena. This game will be televised on Sportsnet-Pacific, Sportsnet-West, and NHL Network (USA). Puck drop is set for 10 PM ET, 7 PM PT.
Let's get familiar with the lineups for tonight's matchup with Edmonton:
Canucks (the good guys):
Forwards:
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Zack Kassian
Hunter Shinkaruk - Brad Richardson - Jannik Hansen
Nicklas Jensen - Bo Horvat - Colin Stuart
Brendan Gaunce - Mike Santorelli - Brandon DeFazio
Defensemen:
Jason Garrison - Kevin Bieksa
Peter Andersson - Patrick Mullen
John Negrin - Chris Tanev
Forwards:
Ryan Smyth - Taylor Hall - Jordan Eberle
David Perron - Boyd Gordon - Ales Hemsky
Jesse Joensuu - Mark Arcobello - Tyler Pitlick
Ben Eager - Will Acton - Mike Brown
Defensemen:
Andrew Ference - Justin Schultz
Darnell Nurse - Nick Schultz Martin Marincin - Taylor Fedun
Goaltenders:
Devan Dubnyk (starter)
Ty Rimmer
Things to watch for - Canucks:
-Roberto Luongo makes his preseason debut (surprisingly) for the Vancouver Canucks. I hope the Canucks faithful welcomes him back with open arms. I am not sure whether he plays the full 60 minutes, but he should play around 2 periods.
-After a good preseason debut, how will Hunter Shinkaruk respond with new linemates Brad Richardson and Jannik Hansen? He seems to have impressed Torts and management staff by his "enthusiasm" that he brings to the lineup. Can he continue to bring his production and enthusiasm to turn even more heads as preseason rolls along?
-Piggybacking off of Shinkaruk, how will other young Canucks prospects perform in the second preseason game? Canucks 1st Round Pick of 2011 Nicklas Jensen was invisible in game 1. Bo Horvat was sound in the defensive zone, but did not create much in the offensive zone. Brendan Gaunce was able to tally a goal off of a juicy rebound, but did not do much the rest of the night. Can some of the prospects step up and look visible on the rink?
Things to watch for - Oilers:
-Taylor Hall is getting some experience playing at centre due to Ryan Nugent Hopkins' shoulder injury. Is he able to win faceoffs and set up his linemates Eberle and Smyth?
-Coming to Edmonton via trade this offseason, David Perron is trying to cement his position as the second line left wing. The Oilers sacrificed power forward Magnus Paajarvi and a 2nd Round Draft Pick for Perron's services. Can Perron put up consistent production this season and bounce back after going sour with the Blues brass?
-Selected 7th Overall in the 1st Round by the Oilers in the 2013 NHL Draft, Darnell Nurse is ready to prove himself as worthy of cracking the Oilers blueline come opening night. The Hamilton, Ontario native has a good size frame to be a full time NHLer. He is not afraid to drop the gloves and stand up for his teammates. He could potentially bring some sandpaper to the Oilers blueline that they have been lacking for quite some time.
Until next time, stay classy. -George
Go Canucks Go!
Two goals on sixteen shots... not going to cut it! What is it with Vancouver teams dating back to last season not shooting the puck a lot? You have to shoot the puck in order to score goals.
Here are my Canucks 3 stars:
1. Eddie Lack
2. Frank Corrado
3. Hunter Shinkaruk
Honorable mention: Yannick Weber
I feel that Eddie Lack played a very strong game in net. He was poise and made some very athletic saves using his new robotic hip. His only downfall of the night was his rebound control - he let some very juicy rebounds go which almost led to some more goals for the Sharks. The first goal for the Sharks was set up by a faceoff loss by Bo Horvat, and a poor clearing attempt by the Hamhuis/Corrado defensive pairing. It is hard to fault Lack for this goal. The second goal he let up he never saw as he was screened by Andrew Alberts on the play, so it is hard to blame him on that one. This was a good debut for Lack making 25 saves on the night.
Frank Corrado logged over 24 minutes of ice time and had a very sound defensive game. It was interesting to see him being used on the powerplay unit. I would like to see him get some powerplay time once the season rolls around. He could give the Canucks another right handed shot that they could use at the point. I was impressed by how much bigger Corrado looks on the ice this season. He looks like he has added about 20 pounds of muscle. I do not remember him being that big when he was in the lineup during last season's playoffs. I believe he stands a good chance to make the Canucks roster for this upcoming season.
Hunter Shinkaruk may be the flashiest prospect Vancouver has in the cupboard. While he looked a little hesitant to start the game, I feel that he got better as the game went on. He drove play down the ice and took some hits to make plays. His top shelf game tying goal on Alex Stalock is a goal scorer's goal. He used his feet and squared up in order to put the puck top shelf. He also used his feet as a diversion against the Sharks defense in order to fake a possible cross ice pass in the crease.
Yannick Weber deserves an honorable mention for his underrated defensive play. He will get some games this year as the #6 defensemen and be of service to the Canucks as another powerplay guy. He is a smooth skater who is not overly fast but it very good positionally. He will be a nice addition to the bottom defensive pairing for the Canucks.
Next up is the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night... my coaching advice to the Canucks is this: SHOOT THE PUCK!
Here is Hunter Shinkaruk's goal from last night... sweet moves
The Canucks are entering a battleground this upcoming season. The new Pacific Division for the 2013-2014 NHL season is full of hatred, tenacity, and competitiveness. The Vancouver Canucks will be seeing the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, and Phoenix Coyotes more often. There is no love loss between the Canucks and the California hockey clubs. The Canucks are already familiar with the Province of Alberta as a natural Canadian rivalry. Phoenix is a pesky team and always plays a close game with Vancouver.
So what can we expect in this new Pacific Division? What players will stick out in this battleground of a division? Which players could cause some trouble for the Canucks?
Here are some of the X-Factors of the Pacific Division...
Anaheim Ducks: Ryan Getzlaf
X-Factor: Getzlaf is one of the most underrated centres in the NHL. He is a terrific playmaker with good hands and excellent vision on the ice. He controls the puck welland has a sneaky shot. Getzlaf is a willing combatant when sticking up for teammates and is the Captain for the Ducks for a very good reason. On a side note, he has worn a helmet so long, it is doing wonders for his receding hairline.
Here is Getzlaf using a Vancouver defensive screen to his advantage:
Calgary Flames: Curtis Glencross
X-Factor: Glencross is one of Calgary's gems. The Saskatchewan native is a gritty winger who has speed and good hands to boot. He can put up 20 goals consistently and is a threat on both the powerplay and penalty kill. I would put his name in for consideration as the next Captain of the Calgary Flames.
Here is Glencross stealing the puck from Henrik Sedin and ripping a shot past Cory Schneider:
Edmonton Oilers: Jordan Eberle
X-Factor: Eberle has all the tools to score 50 goals in a season. The young Oilers winger is not a large guy but plays a big man's game. He has good wheels and is a hound on the puck. While he is stuck in Taylor Hall's shadow, I think Eberle is a better rounded player. He knows when to shoot or when to pass, and knows how to get his mitts in the dirty areas. Eberle has my vote to be the next Captain of the Edmonton Oilers.
Here is Eberle driving into the zone showing off his slick puck handling and wripping the puck past Roberto Luongo...
Los Angeles Kings: Jonathan Quick
X-Factor: Quick is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL right now. The Conn Smythe Trophy winner is among the league's elite. He helped carry the Kings on their tremendous 2012 Stanley Cup run with an impressive 1.41 GAA and staggering .946 SV%. Quick is the backbone of the Kings lineup and will be for the next decade.
Here is Quick with an impressive breakaway save on Daniel Sedin...
Phoenix Coyotes: Shane Doan
X-Factor: Keanu Reeves...err... Shane Doan is what any team wants their Captain to resemble. He can score, shoot, hit, fight... the list can go on forever. The heart and soul of the Coyotes comes out through Doan. He is a player whose energy can be magnetic to his teammates. Doan is a loyal to his family, his team, and his city.
Here is Doan mixing it up with LA Kings forward Mike Richards...
San Jose Sharks: Logan Couture
X-Factor: The Ontario native is a first round pick of the Sharks. At the tender age of 24, he is already a consistent 30 goal scorer and is one of the top faceoff centres in the NHL. The future of the Sharks is through Logan and his willingness to win. He is involved in all situations and can be shifted throughout the Sharks lineup.
Here is Couture's magic on the powerplay against the Canucks...
Vancouver Canucks: Ryan Kesler
X-Factor: Kesler is the motor that drives the Canucks. He is a former Selke Trophy winner as the league's best defensive forward. While plagued by injuries the past couple seasons, Kesler finally gets a full summer and a full training camp. If Kesler can avoid the injury bug, there is no doubt that he can reach the 40 goal plateau once again.
Out goes the Northwest Division, which the Canucks dominated for the past five seasons. NHL realignment has brought the Canucks to the NEW and IMPROVED Pacific Division. The revamped Pacific Division loses the Dallas Stars and adds the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers. The San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Phoenix Arizona Coyotes remain and round out this very tough division.
Let's look inside the new Pacific Division...
1. Anaheim Ducks
Overview:
Led by Coach Bruce Boudreau, this club is the defending Pacific Division Champions. Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and the ever so ageless Teemu Selanne will lead the Ducks to defend their title. Trading consistent 30 goal scorer Bobby Ryan to Ottawa was the biggest splash made during the offseason. Coming back from Ottawa was highly touted prospect Jakob Silfverberg, prospect Stefan Noesen, and a first round pick. Goalies Viktor Fasth and Jonas Hiller will split duties in between the pipes for the Ducks. The Ducks defensive core led by unsung hero Francois Beauchemin and budding star Cam Fowler makes this a very steady group. The key acquisition for the Ducks this summer was adding big rig Dustin Penner. He won a Stanley Cup in Anaheim back in 2007 and brings a veteran presence to the lineup.
Can they become back to back Pacific Division Champions?
Losing Bobby Ryan is a huge loss. Jakob Silfverbeg has a lot to prove to the fans in Anaheim. The Ducks are fortunate in having a rich prospect pool. I believe the Ducks will miss Bobby Ryan more than they think. It is very tough to replace a consistent 30 goal scorer in today's NHL. Teemu Selanne is not getting any younger. Will he able to finish this 82 game season? My prediction for the Ducks is that they take a step back this season and become a bubble team. With teams like Phoenix and Edmonton lurking in the distance, the Ducks may have their hands full this season.
2. Calgary Flames
Overview:
I fell in to a burning ring of fire, I went down down down... the rebuild is on in Calgary. Departing at the last NHL trade deadline was longtime captain Jarome Iginla. Longtime Flames net minder Mikka Kiprusoff announced his retirement this summer. The Flames had a busy NHL Draft in New Jersey with a total of three first round picks. With those picks they selected Sean Monahan, Emilie Poirier, and Morgan Klimchuk.
Flames GM Jay Feaster has made some questionable acquisitions during his tenure with the Flames coughDennisWidemancough, but has been able to nab some steals. Some key moves made this summer was trading for Calgary native T.J. Galiardi from the Sharks. Feaster brought in Shane O'Brien and David Jones from the Avalanche in exchange for Alex Tanguay and Cory Sarich.
Mikka Kiprusoff's new replacement in between the pipes will be Karri Ramo who has recently spent some time in the KHL. Headliners for the Flames include forwards Michael Cammalleri, Curtis Glencross, and defensemen Mark Giordano.
Where do the Flames swim in Pacific waters?
The rebuild is central focus for the Calgary Flames right now. They are still two to three years away from even hinting at playoff contention. I have them finishing in dead place in the new Pacific Division. They could very well become the worst team in the NHL during next season. It will be a very long season...
3. Edmonton Oilers
Overview:
There is a new GM in town. Craig MacTavish's reign in Edmonton has gone from bench boss to personnel boss. Hey, there is also a new head coach in town. Dallas Eakins will make his debut in the NHL as he tries to takes the next big step in his coaching career. He was deemed the best young prospect coach while he was coach of the AHL Toronto Marlies.
Craig MacTavish wasted no time putting his stamp on the team this summer as he was
able to sign free agent Edmonton native defensemen Andrew Ference. MacTavish also signed Russian defensemen Denis Grebeshkov and Anton Belov for some more defensive depth. MacTavish traded team captain Shawn Horcoff to the Dallas Stars for prospect defensemen Philip Larsen and a 2016 seventh round draft pick. He also made a deal with the St. Louis Blues that sent big winger Magnus Paajarvi and a 2nd round pick to the Blues in exchange for winger David Perron. Free agent forward acquisition Boyd Gordan and new goaltender acquisition Jason LaBarbera round out the laundry list of moves for Craig MacTavish.
The Oilers are trying to escape rebuild mode and are trying to take the next step to reenter the postseason dance. With a very young core headlined by Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Sam Gagner, and Jordan Eberle, this group is bound to take the next step in a short period of time.
Can an Oil Rig float in the Pacific?
The Oilers have certainly made some noise this offseason. There is a good future ahead for this hockey hungry fan base. Are the Oilers there yet? I have them finishing sixth in the Pacific Division. The defensive core and goaltending situation are big question marks heading in to this season.
The second coming of Bobby Orr has been placed on Justin Schultz. While he has tremendous offensive skills and is a good powerplay quarterback, can he round out his defensive game and become an elite defensemen in the NHL? How will Andrew Ference respond on his home turf? Will he have more responsibilities than he did playing for Boston? Ladislav Smid has been a very consistent Oilers defensemen for the past several seasons. Will he able to continue his consistency after signing his four year extension?
Devan Dubnyk has all of the potential to be a #1 goalie. Can he handle a full NHL schedule? While he shows signs of brilliance one game, the next game he looks like a total bust. Can he become consistent enough to help push the Oilers to the postseason?
4. Los Angeles Kings
Overview:
The 2012 Stanley Cup Champions and 2013 Western Conference runner-ups. Tinseltown's offseason has been mediocre at best. Gone is backup goaltender Jonathan Bernier as he sails east to Toronto because he did not like living in Jonathan Quick's shadow. The Maple Leafs sent forward Matt Frattin, goaltender Ben Scrivens, and a second round draft choice back to Los Angeles. Steady Eddie Defensemen Rob Scuderi said his goodbyes and departed back to Pittsburgh. Forwards Brad Richardson departed to Vancouver and Dustin Penner departed for Anaheim.
Kings GM Dean Lombardi had some decisions to make with some key free agents. Players he was able to resign include forwards Jordan Nolan, Trevor Lewis, and Kyle Clifford; defensemen Slava Voynov, Jake Muzzin,Alec Martinez, and Keaton Ellerby. In free agency, Lombardi acquired veteran Capitals defensemen Jeff Schultz. Lombardi also traded a conditional pick to the Blackhawks in exchange for Dan Carcillo's car bomb.
The Kings have had lots of success in recent memory as one of the youngest teams in the NHL. This is an impressive feat to say the least. The Kings core players Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, and Jonathan Quick are all leaders and lead by example on the ice. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter help round out the top six and are very intelligent hockey players.
Kings of the Pacific?
This is a very good team. They are a well coached, big, physical club. The road to the Stanley Cup in the Western Conference will have to go through Los Angeles. They are backstopped by one of the best goalies in the world, who could very well start for the United States at Sochi. They have a very good defensive group headlined by Drew Doughty and Slava Voynov. I have them positioned second in the Pacific Division.
The Kings do not have many holes in the lineup. My only concern with the team is with the forwards. The club really only has one bonafide consistent goal scorer on the team in Jeff Carter. The Kings met the Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals and could not keep pace with the amount of goals being scored.
The Kings needed a goal scorer desperately during their
postseason playoff run. I think GM Dean Lombardi could have got a little bit more from the Maple Leafs in the Jonathan Bernier deal. Matt Frattin has potential to be a good gritty
forward, but can he become a consistent 20-30 goal scorer that is
expected of him?
Can depth forwards Dwight King, Trevor Lewis, and Tyler Toffoli take the next step and provide that little bit of extra scoring the Kings need to continue to be successful?
5. Phoenix Coyotes
Overview:
The desert dogs finally have stable ownership! HHHHOOWWWLLLLelujiah!! The Coyotes took a step back last season and missed the playoffs. GM Don Maloney was hard at work even with threat of relocation looming. The biggest move of the offseason was signing free agent playmaking center Mike Ribeiro. This was a shock to everyone as he was expected to remain with the Washington Capitals. Maloney's other big splash was resigning workhorse goaltender Mike Smith for six years.
Don Maloney was not done this offseason. He was able to resign key free agents forwards Mikkel Boedker, Lauri Korpikoski, and Kyle Chipchura; defensemen David Rundblad, Chris Summers, and Michael Stone.
The Coyotes remain in a very tough Pacific Division. With the ownership distraction finally settled (for the time being), it is time for the club to put their full attention towards playing hockey. Coyotes Captain Shane Doan is one of the best captains in the NHL. He gives 110% effort on the ice for every game. Swedish defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and American defensemen Keith Yandle provide the heavy minute munching on the blueline. Let's not forget about Dave Tippett who may be one of the most underrated coaches around the NHL. He makes the most out of what talent he does have and gets his squad motivated to play a tight checking defensive hockey game.
Bark at the Moon...
The Phoenix Coyotes are a competitive hockey club. Mike Smith plays out of his mind most nights in between the pipes, the defensive core is a steady group, and they have a good coach. I have them positioned fifth in the Pacific Division.
The thing that concerns me about the desert dogs is their lack of scoring. What they lack in scoring they make up in their defensive play. They have never been a real juggernaut when putting up goals on the score sheet. Can Mike Ribeiro bring some more scoring to this scoring barren lineup? I think the Coyotes will be a better club than last season, but not too much better.
In order for the Coyotes to return to the postseason, they need to light the lamp consistently. They have some nice pieces, especially on the blue line. The Coyotes need to try and find a legitimate top six goal scorer and a couple more bottom six forwards who can put up some points. Mike Ribeiro is one of the best playmakers in the NHL, but he will not light the lamp on a nightly basis. How will Mike Smith respond with his brand new large contract? The Coyotes depend on Smith to be good on most nights.
6. San Jose Sharks
Overview:
The Sharks have been the staple for the Pacific Division for many seasons. They know what it takes to get to the postseason. Just like the Canucks, they do not know how to succeed in the postseason. Both clubs are very similar in age and design. The Sharks have good goaltending, good defense, and good forwards. But being good is not the same as being great.
This offseason has been fairly quiet for the Sharks. After losing in the second round to the Los Angeles Kings, questions have begun to come up about the Sharks core players: Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dan Boyle. This upcoming season could be a big one for the Sharks organization. The Sharks Big 3 will all need new contracts with the club next offseason. The Sharks have secured their future with players like Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
GM Doug Wilson did not do much this offseason to improve the club. He traded T.J. Galiardi to the Flames for a fourth round pick. Wilson also traded for Pittsburgh winger Tyler Kennedy at the NHL Draft, which he later signed to a two year extension. He resigned depth defensemen Scott Hannan to a two year extension.
Great Whites of the Pacific
The Sharks have a very balanced hockey club. Logan Couture is ready to break out and become one of the best players in the NHL. Joe Pavelski is ready to have a career year in hopes to be selected for the US Olympic team. Brent Burns is ready to become the Sharks version of Dustin Byfuglienplaying for the Blackhawks. Todd McLellan's name is always on the hotseat. Can the Sharks take the next step and finally get over the hump? I have them positioned first in the Pacific Division.
The thing that concerns me about the Sharks is their forward personnel. If the Sharks had a legitimate top 6 forward who could put up some goals, this would be a scary good hockey team. I envision someone like Bobby Ryan as the answer to help their lineup. Martin Havlat cannot seem to stay healthy to give the Sharks that little touch of scoring that they need.
The Sharks match up well against any other team in this division. They can have competitive games with all of the teams that are in this new Pacific Division. They are very tough to beat inside of the Shark Tank. If they can secure home ice advantage, that will only help their cause by the time the postseason rolls around.
7. Vancouver Canucks
Overview:
The Canucks decided it was time to retool this offseason. The two year long goaltending saga finally got put to a close at the NHL Draft when Cory Schneider was dealt to the New Jersey Devils for a first round pick. Roberto Luongo was the Canucks guy all of this time while it was expected that he was going to be on the way out of Vancouver. Departing from the Canucks was seven year head coach Alain Vigneault as he heads to Broadway. Replacing Alain Vigneault behind the bench is the fiery and former Rangers head coach John Tortorella.
GM Mike Gillis said it was time to get younger during his end of season press conference. The Canucks let some popular names in the dressing room head to free agency that included Mason Raymond, Max Lapierre, and Keith Ballard. Derek Roy, who the Canucks acquired at last season's trade deadline, was also let go. Gillis was able to resign some key free agents for the Canucks: forwards Jordan Schroeder, Tom Sestito, and Dale Weise; defensemen Chris Tanev and Andrew Alberts
The Canucks did not make any huge free agent splashes this offseason. Forwards Brad Richardson and Mike Santorelli were signed by the Canucks to help fill bottom six holes. Defensemen Yannick Weber was signed to fill a depth role on the blue line.
The core of the Canucks that includes Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, Kevin Bieksa, and Roberto Luongo have been through it all. The expectations are always high in the Vancouver hockey market. The Canucks seem to have what it takes to be a winning club... but what is the problem?
Drowning Orcas
The Canucks are just like the Sharks in having a very balanced hockey team. The Sedin twins are some of the best players in the world. The defensive core led by veterans Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis eat up minutes and play against the toughest competition around the NHL. Roberto Luongo is undeniably a world class goaltender. I have them positioned third in their new Pacific Division.
My concerns with the Canucks involves two things. First, they need a top six goal scorer. They need someone who can take pressure off the Sedin twins and Ryan Kesler. A Kesler injury is inevitable at this point. The Sharks defeated the Canucks in the playoffs because they shut down the Sedin line.
The Canucks have searched for a winger that can play on both top lines for years. They have come up with nothing via trade or free agency. Ryan Kesler needs help on his line, he cannot do it by himself. The Sedin twins are not getting any younger, Kesler is not dependable because of health concerns.
My second concern is the third line center vacancy. Is Jordan Schroeder ready to play full time for the Canucks? Are any of the Canucks prospects like Brendan Gaunce or Bo Horvat ready for a role in the NHL?
The Canucks are a very good team when they are healthy. John Tortorella will surely bring some excitement and some fire to this hockey team. He will be fine behind the bench if he can make more friends with the media than make enemies.
