Should the Canucks Pursue Ryan Callahan?

Courtesy: G Fiume/Getty Images

The Vancouver Canucks are struggling to score goals.  Their top guns Daniel Sedin, Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, and Henrik Sedin all just cannot find the back of the net these days.  These players have a combined two goals in the last ten games - both from Ryan Kesler.

Canucks nation is on edge because the team is on the brink of not being in playoff contention.  The month of January was an absolute disaster with the Canucks posting a 4-9-2 record.  The four wins came against St Louis, Calgary, Edmonton, and Phoenix.  Only St. Louis is a playoff contender at the moment, while all the other teams are out of the playoff race.

A hot name that has come up in recent trade rumors is Rangers Captain Ryan Callahan.  He is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.  He will garner tons of interest from around the league as he is a well respected player.

The 28 year old Rochester, NY native is known for his grit, leadership, and physical play.  He is a scrappy player who likes to get under the opponents' skin.  Callahan will take part in the Olympics and will be on the US roster.  He has 130 goals in over 400 games, all with the New York Rangers.

The New York Rangers are in a bind with Ryan Callahan.  Callahan's contract demands are seeking a long term extension to stay in the Big Apple.  Callahan is seeking somewhere in the neighborhood of a seven-year contract, averaging over $6 million per season.  The Rangers also have another big unrestricted free agent to sign in defensemen Dan Girardi.  Girardi is seeking a new contract that is a six-year deal, worth somewhere in the $5.5 million range.

Callahan has had three 20+ goal seasons and has reached the 50+ point plateau once.  Canucks coach John Tortorella developed a great relationship with Callahan while he was coaching in New York.

Would Cally Help the Canucks?

I do not believe that Ryan Callahan would help the Canucks.  The Canucks are having issues scoring, but Callahan is a player the Canucks already have.  The Canucks are full of grinding type players, and do not have a lot of players with great shots or lots of skill.

I believe Callahan could be on the decline.  He reminds me of last summer's David Clarkson, who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Callahan has to depend on others to be able to score the majority of his goals.

The Canucks need a bonafide shooter.  They are a team that is desperate for an injection of skill, especially in the skills competitions.  They need to get younger, while Callahan is middle aged.  The Canucks need a Jeff Carter type player - someone with a big body, a big shot, and lots of skill.  Evander Kane would be a great acquisition for the Canucks.  I would also accept Ryan O'Reilly from the Avalanche if they are really thinking about trading him.    

Canucks Visit Winterpeg; Pre Olympic Roadtrip Begins

The Vancouver Canucks head into Winnipeg battered and banged up.  The Canucks are without the services of Henrik Sedin, Kevin Bieksa, Chris Tanev, Mike Santorelli, and Andrew Alberts.  The injury list seems to grow by the game and the adversity that comes with it also rises.

The Winnipeg Jets have gone under some changes since the last time they saw Vancouver back on December 22.  Winnipeg has a new bench boss in Paul Maurice, who formerly coached the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs.  Since Paul Maurice took over as Jets coach, they have posted a 6-2 record and are playing much better hockey.  Jets defensemen and Canuck killer Dustin Byfuglien has moved up from the blueline to play forward and has lots of success with the transition.

Several Canucks return back to Winnipeg where their early hockey careers began.  These Canucks include Alex Burrows, Ryan Kesler, Alex Edler, Jordan Schroeder, Jannik Hansen, and Eddie Lack who all played for the AHL's Manitoba Moose.

Vancouver Canucks: 55 GP: 27-19-9; 63 pts
Winnipeg Jets: 55 GP: 25-25-5; 55 pts

Both teams are coming off losses.  The Jets lost their last game on Tuesday night to the Predators 4-3.  The Canucks lost their last game on Wednesday night to the Blackhawks 5-2.  Winnipeg is ranked seventh in the Central Division and twelfth in the Western Conference.  Vancouver is ranked fourth in the Pacific Division and eighth in the Western Conference.  The Jets are 6-4 in their last ten games, while the Canucks have posted a 4-6 record.

This game can be viewed on TSN at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT.

Jets (the bad guys)

Forwards:
Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler
Dustin Byfuglien - Mark Scheifele - Michael Frolik
James Wright - Olli Jokinen - Devin Setoguchi
Anthony Peluso - Eric O'Dell - Chris Thorburn

Defensemen:
Jacob Trouba - Mark Stuart
Tobias Enstrom - Zach Bogosian
Keaton Ellerby - Adam Pardy

Goaltenders:
Ondrej Pavelec (starter)
Al Montoya

Canucks (the good guys)

Forwards:
Daniel Sedin - Jordan Schroeder - Zack Kassian
Chris Higgins - Ryan Kesler - Alex Burrows
David Booth - Brad Richardson - Jannik Hansen
Tom Sestito - Zac Dalpe - Dale Weise

Defensemen:
Jason Garrison - Alex Edler
Dan Hamhuis - Frank Corrado
Ryan Stanton - Yannick Weber

Goaltenders:
Eddie Lack (starter)
Roberto Luongo

Things to watch for - Jets:

Mark Scheifele - the Kitchener, Ontario native is coming off a 2 point night against the Predators.  He is having a nice season with the Jets and has put up 11 goals and 31 points.  The 7th overall pick from 2011 has a ton of speed and skill and continues to improve game by game.  He is really fun to watch and a big part of the Jets future.

Dustin Byfuglien - no matter where he plays, whether it is forward or defense, he is a threat.  The big rig is a major threat on skates.  He has a powerful slapshot that he uses in powerplay situations.  Byfuglien has fond memories playing against the Canucks during his time playing with Chicago.  His incredible size is a factor in every game.

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Alex Burrows - the monkey on his back just will not let him loose and let him free.  He is still sporting that ugly aquarium on his face due to his recent jaw injury.  He has no goals this season for a team that is starving to score some.  Maybe returning to his old farmhouse will inspire him and his stick to start putting the puck in the back of the net during this critical roadtrip.

Jannik Hansen - known as the "honey badger" for the Canucks, he is not having the season that he would like to have.  He has 9 goals and 14 points on the season.  The former Manitoba Moose only has 2 goals in his last 15 games.  Hansen had some trouble against the Hawks and iced the puck several times during the game and also botched a 2 on 1 opportunity.  Hansen needs to utilize his slapshot a little more and throw some more rubber at the net.

Prediction:
3-1 Jets (Byfuglien GWG)

Until next time, stay classy! -George     

Second Period from Hell Costs Canucks; Bieksa Injury; Corrado Recalled; Hank, Santo Updates

The Vancouver Canucks finished their last homestand before the Olympic break by dropping a 5-2 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks.  The homestand did not go too well, with the Canucks winning only one out of the four games.

The game started out well in the first sixteen seconds.  Chris Higgins was able to score on a backhand shot by a nice pass from Ryan Kesler.  However, the Hawks controlled play in the first period and really skated well the whole night.  The Hawks defensemen all move very well and they all shoot the puck when they can.

The Canucks would have some jump three minutes into the second period.  Tom Sestito struck for the Canucks off a hard working shift from Zack Kassian.  Four minutes later, **** hit the fan...

David Booth got called for goaltender interference which provided the Hawks with a golden opportunity to get back into the game.  Marian Hossa was able to convert on the powerplay.  Brandon Saad scored next for the Hawks to tie the game up.  Captain Jonathan Toews striked a minute after Saad's goal.  Three goals in the span of 4:17.  Patrick Sharp would add the cherry on top later in the second period to make it four goals for the Hawks.

The third period did not provide much of anything for the Canucks.  Vancouver had eleven shots in the third, but were still dragging.  The Canucks looked like the team that had played two games in a row, which was not the case.  Brandon Saad would add an empty netter late in the game to secure the victory for the Blackhawks.

No surprise here, but Blackhawks defensemen Duncan Keith led all skaters with 25:36 icetime.  Alex Edler led all Canucks skaters with 23:23 icetime.  Corey Crawford stopped 29 of 31 Vancouver shots, while Roberto Luongo stopped 35 of 39 Blackhawks shots.

Bieksa Injury

Bieksa will not be on this road trip.
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 30, 2014

Kevin Bieksa has been battling through numerous injuries throughout his career.  He did not skate well last night and looked to be hurting.  If I had to take a wild guess, it is something abdominal or groin related.

Corrado Recalled

#Canucks have recalled defenceman Frank Corrado from the AHL Utica Comets.
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 30, 2014

With injuries mounting on the Canucks blueline, 2011 5th round pick Frank Corrado has been called up to the big club.  The injured Canuck blueliners include Kevin Bieksa (undisclosed), Chris Tanev (thumb), and Andrew Alberts (concussion).

Henrik Sedin Update

Sully believes that Henrik will join the trip - he is still listed as day-to-day.
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 30, 2014

This is great news for the Canucks as they enter a rough five game road stretch.  Henrik Sedin is the Canucks powerplay quarterback and one of the best passers in the NHL.  He was injured against the Phoenix Coyotes by taking a cross check to the ribs from Martin Hanzal.

Santorelli Surgery

Media Release: Mike Santorelli underwent successful shoulder surgery.
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 30, 2014

Mike Santorelli has been the biggest surprise for the Canucks this season.  The Vancouver, B.C. product played in the top six and had lots of success playing alongside Ryan Kesler and the Sedin twins.  His expected recovery period will be 5-6 months.  His season is over, but I expect him to sign an extension to stay in Vancouver in the offseason.

Pre-Olympics Roadtrip

The Canucks are set off to embark on a five game roadtrip that includes stops in Winnipeg, Detroit, Boston, Montreal, and Toronto.  With the injuries mounting up at the worst possible time, the Canucks are going to have to dig deep to get as many points on this roadtrip if they want to stay in playoff contention.  I believe a good goal for the Canucks on this roadtrip is 6 out of a possible 10 points.  The Canucks need to make up for their disastrous homestand and gain some ground in the tough Western Conference.

Until next time, stay classy! -George 

Old Foes... Blackhawks/Canucks Preview; Tanev Injury

"Any team that you have history with makes for a fun game. We know what the history is here." - Luongo
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 29, 2014

The Vancouver Canucks will square off tonight against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.  The Blackhawks have won two cups in the last four seasons and are arguably a favorite to win it again this postseason.  Vancouver is still seeking its first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

These two teams bring out the best in one another.  There is bitter hatred between the players and fanbases.  Both teams have struggled lately, so a rivalry game is a good dose of medicine both teams may need to get back on track.

Chicago Blackhawks: 55 GP: 32-10-13; 77 pts
Vancouver Canucks: 54 GP: 27-18-9; 63 pts

Chicago is coming off a 5-4 OT loss to Calgary last night.  The Blackhawks are ranked second in the Central Division and third in the Western Conference.  They have posted a surprisingly mediocre 3-3-4 record in their last ten contests.

Vancouver is coming off a 4-2 loss on Monday to the Edmonton Oilers.  The Canucks are ranked fourth in the Pacific Division and eighth in the Western Conference.  Their record in the last ten games is not impressive either: 4-5-1.

Tanev Injury:  

BREAKING - #Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev has fractured thumb and won't be back until after Olympic break.
— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) January 29, 2014

This is a huge loss for the Canucks blueline.  He has been a bright spot for the Canucks and has really bought in to Torts' new defensive scheme.  Chris Tanev and his defensive partner Dan Hamhuis have been the most consistent Canucks defensive pairing this season.

This game can be viewed on TSN or WGN at 10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT.

Here are the projected lineups:

Blackhawks (the bad guys)

Forwards:
Patrick Sharp - Jonathan Toews - Marian Hossa
Brandon Saad - Michal Handzus - Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell - Andrew Shaw - Kris Versteeg
Brandon Bollig - Marcus Kruger - Ben Smith

Defensemen:
Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook
Johnny Oduya - Niklas Hjalmarsson
Nick Leddy - Michal Rozsival

Goaltenders:
Corey Crawford (starter)
Antti Raanta

Canucks (the good guys)

Forwards:
Daniel Sedin - Brad Richardson - Alex Burrows
Chris Higgins - Ryan Kesler - Zack Kassian
David Booth - Jordan Schroeder - Jannik Hansen
Tom Sestito - Zac Dalpe - Dale Weise

Defensemen:
Ryan Stanton - Kevin Bieksa
Dan Hamhuis - Yannick Weber
Jason Garrison - Alex Edler

Goaltenders:
Roberto Luongo (starter)
Eddie Lack

Things to watch for - Blackhawks:

Patrick Kane - the 25 year old Buffalo native ranks fourth in points in the entire NHL.  He has racked up 25 goals and 60 points in 55 games played.  The 2007 1st overall pick has 2 goals in his last 3 games.  Kane is a thorn in the Canucks side and will be a handful to contain.  Kane is very skilled and has surprisingly good puck control.

Patrick Sharp - at the young age of 32, he is still getting it done.  The Canadian Olympian and former Flyer has 2 goals and 7 points in his last ten games.  He has a very good shot and a quick release.  Sharp also has a good nose for the net and can break through defenders with ease.

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Ryan Kesler - he was the hero against Chicago the last time around with the shootout winner.  The US Olympian steps his game up in big games.  The Canucks will need him to do so in this huge showdown against the Hawks.  Kesler has scored 18 goals this season and leads the Canucks in goal scoring.

Chris Higgins - the Smithtown, NY native has 5 points in his last 5 games.  He quietly has 14 goals this season and has been one of the Canucks better players through this slump.  He missed on a glorious chance against the Oilers on the breakaway, but he is getting lots of chances at the net.

Prediction:
4-2 Blackhawks (Kane GWG)   

Perron Tricks the Canucks; Schroeder's Huge Return

It was an abysmal showing from the Canucks against their division rival from Edmonton.  Coming into the contest, it was a back to back scenario for both teams.  The Oilers youth and younger legs showed in the second half of the game.

Jordan Schroeder's return to the lineup provided a little boost as he netted two goals in the game.  The goals that Schroeder scored were pretty fluky, as he had some help from some of the Oilers' skates that deflected his pucks past Ilya Bryzgalov.  But hey, you take the goals any fluky way they may come.

Edmonton's hot line of Sam Gagner, Nail Yakupov, and David Perron provided lots of chances for the Oilers.  Perron made some sweet moves in the offensive zone that left the Canucks defense shaking their heads (and skates) in disbelief.  This line contributed six points on the night for the Oilers and was a force to be reckoned with.

Roberto Luongo played both games on back to back nights.  He was not sharp against the Oilers.  He looked a bit fatigued as the game went on.  He showed lots of frustration, especially after the Oilers third tally from Jesse Joensuu.  Luongo was fighting the puck at times, but he did provide everyone with one highlight reel save that even made the ESPN Top 10 Plays.

"Great Save Luongo!!!"

 

Ilya Bryzgalov was strong in the net for the Oilers as he stopped 25 of 27 Canucks shots.  He was tested a little bit near the end of the third period when the Canucks were making a push.  Bryzgalov was up to the challenge and made some key saves to help secure the Oilers a 4-2 victory.

Justin Schultz led all skaters with 25:16 of ice time.  He finished with a +1 and 0 points on the night.  Alex Edler led all Canucks skaters with 25:11 of ice time.  He finished with a -3 and 0 points on the night.

Standings:

Los Angeles gained two more points on Vancouver last night with their 1-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks.  The Kings are now three points ahead of the Canucks.  The Canucks still sit seventh in the Western Conference and have one more point than the Minnesota Wild.  The Canucks, Wild, and Kings have all played the same amount of games (54).

Recap:

The Canucks conclude their four game homestand tomorrow night against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.  The Canucks have gone 1-2 on this four game homestand and hope to break even with a victory against the Hawks.  If they play like they did against the Oilers, they could get run out of Rogers Arena.  Both teams seem to bring out the best in one another, it should be a dandy to watch!

Until next time, stay classy! -George    

Oilers/Canucks Game Preview; Schroeder Returns

(Getty Images via National Hockey League)

The Canucks are seeking their second straight victory tonight against the Edmonton Oilers.  Vancouver has had great success against the Edmonton this season with a 3-0 record against their Alberta rivals and hope to continue their undefeated streak against the Oilers.  This is the fourth meeting between the two clubs this season, with the fifth and final meeting coming on April 12.

Both teams are coming off wins last night.  The Canucks defeated the Coyotes 5-4 in an overtime thriller.  The Oilers defeated the Predators soundly with a 5-1 victory.  

The Canucks and Oilers are playing for two different things right now.  For the Canucks, they are battling in the tough Western Conference and are trying to catch up to Pacific rivals Los Angeles and San Jose.  For the Oilers, their season has pretty much concluded and they are fighting to spoil the Canucks playoff chances.

Vancouver Canucks: 53 GP: 27-17-9; 63 pts
Edmonton Oilers: 54 GP: 16-32-6; 38 pts

Vancouver is ranked fourth in the Pacific Division and seventh in the Western Conference.  Edmonton is ranked seventh in the Pacific Division and last in the Western Conference.  The Canucks have been mediocre in their last ten games posting a 4-4-2 record, while the Oilers have posted a 3-6-1 record.

Jordan Schroeder Returns

The Canucks will get a much needed boost with the return of centremen Jordan Schroeder.  The 2009 1st Round pick of the Canucks has struggled to find his groove with the team due to injury problems.  With Captain Henrik Sedin still on the shelf with injured ribs, Schroeder should see some top six action to showcase some of his speed and skills.  Schroeder has been out of NHL action since October 19 against Pittsburgh.  He is coming off a two game conditioning stint with Utica where he managed to pick up an assist over the weekend while playing against Abbotsford.

This game can be viewed on Sportsnet Pacific or Sportsnet West at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT.

Here are the projected lineups:

Oilers (the bad guys)

Forwards:
Taylor Hall - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jordan Eberle
Nail Yakupov - Sam Gagner - David Perron
Matt Hendricks - Boyd Gordan - Ryan Jones
Jesse Joensuu - Ryan Smyth - Luke Gazdic

Defensemen:
Jeff Petry - Justin Schultz
Nick Schultz - Martin Marincin
Corey Potter - Anton Belov

Goaltenders:
Ilya Bryzgalov (starter)
Ben Scrivens

Canucks (the good guys)

Forwards:
Daniel Sedin - Zac Dalpe - Alex Burrows
Chris Higgins - Ryan Kesler - Jannik Hansen
Jordan Schroeder - Brad Richardson - Zack Kassian
Tom Sestito - Kellan Lain - Yannick Weber

Defensemen:
Alex Edler - Kevin Bieksa
Dan Hamhuis - Chris Tanev
Jason Garrison - Ryan Stanton

Goaltenders:
Roberto Luongo (starter)
Eddie Lack

Things to watch for - Oilers:

Taylor Hall - he is hot right now.  Hall has racked up 11 points in his last 10 games.  The Oilers #1 overall pick from 2010 has 50 points in 47 games this season.  The Calgary native is a handful and arguably the Oilers best pure shooter.

Ryan Smyth - the veteran on the young Oilers team.  Drafted by the Oilers in 1994, he is still getting it done at the young age of 37.  Smyth has always been a thorn in the Canucks side with his grittiness around the net.

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Jordan Schroeder - is he as advertised?  Can he become a top six forward at the NHL level?  He is small in physical size, but has a huge heart and drive toward the net.  Canucks fans can only hope he regains his form at the top level and becomes a much needed scorer and contributor.

Kevin Bieksa - the hero from last night's contest against Phoenix.  He had two goals on the evening and was rewarded the Haida Hat for his efforts.  The Canucks anchor on the blueline has been as steady as they come and is not hesitant to try to create some "O" from the "D".

Prediction:
3-1 Canucks (Schroeder GWG)

Until next time, stay classy! -George

Canucks Sunked by Predators - Vinny Prospal Update

The Canucks are afraid of the back of the net.  Their powerplay is powerless.  They are having trouble scoring 5 on 5.  The team is battling through injuries.  Vancouver is squeaking by teams they should beat soundly, and they are having trouble beating the good teams.

This contest versus Nashville was another game that featured points being squandered away.  The game was scoreless at the end of the first period with both teams trading some chances.

Chris Higgins broke the tie and struck first for the Canucks about midway into the second period.  Higgins tipped a Dale Weise shot on goal which went past Carter Hutton.  The Canucks carried this 1-0 lead heading into the third period.

Nashville tied the game up 3:28 into the third period with a goal from Craig Smith.  The Canucks got stuck in their own end and a failed clear attempt by Kevin Bieksa was the cause of this Predators goal.  The Canucks would get into some penalty trouble later in the third period and the Predators made them pay for it.  Vancouver almost killed off a Burrows hooking minor, but Predators defensemen Seth Jones found a shooting lane late on the powerplay and fired a missile which Nick Spaling deflected past Roberto Luongo.  The Canucks would remain flat the rest of the third period and could not generate many quality scoring chances at Carter Hutton.

Both goaltenders played very well and both deserved a win.  Predators goaltender Carter Hutton stopped 33 of 34 Vancouver shots.  Roberto Luongo made 24 of 26 saves.

Predators defensemen Roman Josi led all skaters in icetime with 29:30.  Dan Hamhuis led the Canucks skaters with 25:37 icetime.

Dan Hamhuis does not like the back door pass very much....

 

Vinny Prospal Update

Laurence Gilman just spoke to the media about Vinny Prospal, who will be signed to a PTO in Utica. #Canucks
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 24, 2014

That was last night's news.  Today, Vinny Prospal decided not to return.  He is heading back to retirement.

After further thought and talking with his family, Vinny Prospal has informed Canucks that he's retiring and won't be joining Utica on PTO.
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 24, 2014

Until next time, stay classy! -George

Preds Visit Canucks - *Game 2 of 6 - #FreeTorts*

The Canucks have reached Game 52 of the 2013-2014 campaign.  They are entering the stage of the season where points are really starting to matter.  The Canucks are also going through some adversity with their coach on suspension and their Captain on the injury shelf.

Vancouver is beginning a four game homestand that they can hopefully gain some points back after a horrid start to this month.  The Canucks only have three wins in their last ten games, while the Predators have only four wins in their last ten.  Both teams are having issues finding the back of the net this season - Vancouver is ranked eleventh in the West with 129 goals, while Nashville is ranked thirteenth with 125 goals.

Vancouver Canucks: 51 GP: 26-16-9; 61 pts
Nashville Predators: 51 GP: 22-22-7; 51 pts

Predators Acquire Del Zotto:    

Nashville Predators acquire Michael Del Zotto from the New York Rangers for defenseman Kevin Klein. http://t.co/CuRd4xX3j1
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) January 22, 2014

On Wednesday, the Predators made a deal with the Rangers that sent defensemen Kevin Klein to the Big Apple in exchange for defensemen Michael Del Zotto.  Klein was a steady eddie right handed shot defensemen with not much upside.  Del Zotto is a young upcoming defensemen who has some offensive abilities.  Del Zotto will be in the lineup against Vancouver being partnered with rookie standout defensemen Seth Jones.

Trotz said Del Zotto will play with Jones tonight
— JoshuaCooper (@JoshuaCooper) January 23, 2014

This game can be viewed on Sportsnet Pacific or Fox Sports Tennessee at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT.

Here are the projected lineups:

Predators (the bad guys):

Forwards:
Craig Smith - David Legwand - Nick Spaling 
Gabriel Bourque - Mike Fisher - Patric Hornqvist
Eric Nystrom - Paul Gaustad - Viktor Stalberg
Rich Clune - Matt Cullen - Colin Wilson

Defensemen:
Roman Josi - Shea Weber
Michael Del Zotto - Seth Jones
Ryan Ellis - Victor Bartley

Goaltenders:
Carter Hutton (starter)
Devan Dubnyk

Canucks (the good guys):

Forwards:
Daniel Sedin - Ryan Kesler - Alex Burrows
Chris Higgins - Zac Dalpe - Jannik Hansen
David Booth - Brad Richardson - Zack Kassian
Tom Sestito - Kellan Lain - Dale Weise

Defensemen:
Alex Edler - Kevin Bieksa
Dan Hamhuis - Chris Tanev
Jason Garrison - Ryan Stanton

Goaltenders:
Roberto Luongo (starter)
Eddie Lack

Things to watch for - Predators:

David Legwand - the lifelong Predator has been in the rumor mill as far as trades.  The Detroit native has a goal and seven points in his last four games.  The second overall pick in the 1998 draft has been one of the NHL's most quiet underrated players.  He would be the perfect addition to any team trying to bolster their depth down the middle come trade deadline time.

Michael Del Zotto - the newest Predator is also a former first round pick.  He has been in the Rangers doghouse for a while now because of inconsistent play.  When he is on his game, he shows some offensive flair.  He is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, and the Predators will try to resign him to a long term extension.  He will try to turn his career around in Music City.

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Zack Kassian - he is starting to gain more confidence as each game goes on.  With the flaws in his game come the rewards.  His passing is improving and he is starting to shoot a little bit more.  He has five points in his last seven games.  He had the game winning goal in the last game against Edmonton and has really thrived against the Oilers in his short career.

Ryan Stanton - the Canucks waiver wire summer acquisition makes his return to the lineup after missing over a month of action with a high ankle sprain.  The former Moose Jaw Warrior has eleven points in thirty six games this season.  He has been reliable on the back end, giving the Canucks a solid 15-18 minutes per game.

Prediction:
2-1 Canucks (OT) (Higgins OT GWG)

Until next time, stay classy! -George

Are the Canucks Victims? Where is the Justice?

We are at a day and age in the NHL where player safety is top priority around the league.  Hits to the head are trying to be cut out of the game.  There has even been some talks around hockey about banning fighting, which has been a staple of the game ever since it began.

Let's be real.  The Vancouver Canucks are not the most well liked organization around the NHL.  People find a way to hate the players, fans, coaches, and even the city.

I often wonder how the league comes up with suspension and fine decisions.  Last Thursday in Phoenix, Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal crosschecked Canucks forward David Booth in the head.  On Friday, he was fined $5,000 for his actions by the NHL Department of Player Safety.

Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal has been fined $5,000 for high-sticking Vancouver Canucks forward David Booth
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 17, 2014

I do not believe this was enough and I feel Hanzal got off lightly.  Hanzal has a suspension history.  David Booth ended up leaving and did not play in the rest of the game.  Here is video of the incident, as well as Hanzal's crosschecks to Mike Santorelli and Henrik Sedin:

Other WTF Moments:

I am going to introduce you to some more questionable hits that the Canucks have fallen victim to without punishment going the other way.  I really believe the NHL has done a mediocre job at best at enforcing hits to the head and other dirty infractions.

Kyle Clifford Hits Chris Tanev From Behind

 

Ryan Getzlaf Hits Dan Hamhuis Up High

 

Bryan Bickell Hits Kevin Bieksa Up High 

 

Brad Marchand Punches Sedin - Stanley Cup Finals 



Brian McGrattan Hits Andrew Alberts in the Head



Evgeni Malkin Runs Willie Mitchell into Boards - knocks him out for season



Jordin Tootoo Knees Chris Tanev

 

Analysis:

I have tried to compile some of the best videos where the Canucks are the victims.  You can be the judge on whether you think these are dirty offenses like me, or not dirty offenses. 

Video 1: In the Clifford hit on Tanev, this is clearly a violation of checking from behind.  Tanev has his back and numbers facing Clifford as he retrieves the puck against the wall.  Clifford needs to realize that Tanev is leaning and not facing him.  Instead, Clifford tries to finish his check all the way through, which results in Tanev's head hitting the boards.  How did this at least not get a fine?

Video 2: Dan Hamhuis goes to retrieve the puck behind the net.  Ryan Getzlaf comes in on a hard forecheck.  Getzlaf makes shoulder to head contact, where the head is the principle point of contact.  Getzlaf is seen leaving his feet during this incident.  Hamhuis was knocked out of the game and out of action for a while.  I do not believe Getzlaf received any kind of supplemental discipline for this hit.

Video 3: Kevin Bieksa gets the puck and takes a stroll behind the net.  As he is coming around, Bryan Bickell comes flying in and delivers a shoulder to the head hit.  Bieksa feels the impact of this hit as he is slow to get up.  The warrior that Bieksa is, he did not embellish this hit or lay on the ice to try and milk it.  How is this not a suspendable offense?  Hit to the head?  Once again, no supplemental discipline for Bickell.

Video 4: Brad Marchand is not going to be invited to come visit Vancouver anytime soon.  He became a thorn in everyone's side and has the hockey face that anyone would love to sucker punch.  His rabid punching of Daniel Sedin's head in the Stanley Cup Finals was rather gutless.  The Sedins are not known for their physicality or fisticuffs.  They use their hands to create magic and scoring.  The worst offender in this video is not even Brad Marchand.  It is referee Kelly Sutherland (who the Canucks have had issues with in the past).  What does Sutherland do? Absolutely nothing.  Apparently it is okay to repeatedly punch someone in the head.  It is not even worth a fine.

Video 5: I love the NHL's hypocrisy.  According to Colin Campbell, John Tortorella's actions against the Flames were "dangerous and an embarrassment to the league."  Well, I think dirty high hits are an embarrassment and dangerous to the league too.  This incident between Andrew Alberts and Brain McGrattan happened back on December 29.  Alberts and McGrattan are both big hombres and can be responsible for some big hits and collisions.  Alberts skated along the board to retrieve a puck that was rimmed around.  As he reached for the puck, McGrattan skates in and makes high contact with Alberts.  Alberts head is sandwiched in between McGrattan's shoulder and the glass.  Alberts was knocked out of the game and still has not played since this incident because he has concussion like symptoms.  No supplemental discipline came for Brian McGrattan.

Video 6: This incident between Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin and former Canucks defensemen Willie Mitchell goes back a few seasons.  Mitchell steals the puck from Sidney Crosby and tries to make a defensive play in behind the boards in the corner.  Before he could clear the puck, Malkin comes skating really fast towards the boards and checks Mitchell.  Is this hit "checking from behind?"  Is this what the NHL is trying to get out of the game?  Mitchell was done for the rest of the season after this hit.  Malkin was penalized, but did not receive any kind of supplemental discipline.

Video 7: This knee on knee collision between Red Wings forward Jordin Tootoo and Canucks defensemen Chris Tanev happened last season.  Tanev gets the puck to the right side of Roberto Luongo close to the boards.  He has no time to make a move as the Tootoo train is rumbling down the tracks.  Tootoo extends his leg slightly as he is making his check.  Whether it was done intentionally or not, no one will ever know.  Is this hit the classic case of "kneeing?"  Is it a clean check?  I thought Tootoo should have at least received a fine for this knee on knee collision.

Recap:
Keep in mind, some of the hits are not responsible of Brendan Shanahan.  Colin Campbell is the former head of player safety in the NHL.  Do I believe the Canucks are victims?  Yes I do.  I feel the Canucks are not the only victims in the NHL though.  Several teams have had incidents very similar to these where justice has not been stepped in.  I feel there is still no standard set by the NHL that is clear to the players, coaches, and general managers.  Everyone is still questioning what a legal check is and what is not a legal check.  The NHL still has a lot of work left to do.

Until next time, stay classy! -George      

Lightning Strikes on New Years; Luongo Ready to Go; Kesler - US Olympian

"It was our worst game of the year. We deserved to lose that one." - Torts
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 2, 2014

Tortorella's quote sums up the night.  The Canucks played a sloppy game which produced sloppy results.  They will throw this tape in the garbage.

The first period provided little action.  The Canucks buzzed a bit on their lone powerplay, but just like many previous powerplays in the past, they could not convert.  The shot totals were even on each side 11-11.

The second period provided some much needed excitement as the ice began to open up.  Brad Richardson would start the scoring as Dan Hamhuis provided a nice hip check in the neutral zone which helped create Richardson's opportunity to spring toward the net.  Four minutes later, Valtteri Filppula would tie the game on a poor defensive breakdown by the Canucks.  Filppula had all day to shoot at the net as he was not challenged at the top of the circle.  Twenty seconds later, the Lightning took the lead on another defensive breakdown caused by Kevin Bieksa.  Tyler Johnson netted his eleventh goal of the season on a two on one break.  About thirty seconds after Johnson's goal, Zac Dalpe would score his first goal as a Canuck.  The dagger for the Canucks would come with three seconds left in the second.  Nikita Kucherov shot a wicked slapshot from the circle on the powerplay which took the wind out of the Canucks sails.

In the third period, the Lightning added another goal from Alex Killorn.  He provided a deflection in between the two circles, which Eddie Lack had no chance of stopping.  Lack was screened by Dan Hamhuis and had no vision of where the puck was.

Ben Bishop stopped 28 of 30 Canucks shots.  Eddie Lack stopped 29 of 33 Lightning shots.  Dan Hamhuis led all skaters in ice time with 29:29. 

Luongo Update:

Nux send G Joacim Eriksson back to Utica Comets so obviously Roberto Luongo is ready to go for weekend games in SoCal. #Canucks
— Elliott Pap (@ElliottPap) January 2, 2014

It looks like Bobby Lou is ready to go for the upcoming road trip to southern California.  If I had to make bets, I would think that Luongo gets the start against the Kings on Saturday.  I would not be shocked if Eddie Lack started on Sunday in Anaheim.

Kesler Named for US Olympics

Canucks centre Ryan Kesler has been selected to represent the United States at Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics.  He was also a member of the US team back in 2010 in Vancouver.  He is projected to be one of the top two centres in the US lineup.  He played with Patrick Kane back in 2010, so we will see how the lineups shake out.

Until next time, stay classy! -George

Off to Southern California for the week.  I will be attending the Ducks/Canucks game on Sunday.

New Years Lightning Strike; Bolts/Canucks Game Preview

Happy New Year!  What an exciting 2013 it was for the Vancouver Canucks.  Sure, there was no Stanley Cup hoisting.  The Canucks are a team in a bit of a transition phase.  2013 brought a coaching change, an end to a two year goalie controversy, and of course some new faces.

It is time for the Canucks to kick of 2014 as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.  This game is being shadowed because the spotlight today was in the Big House for the 2014 NHL Winter Classic.  Tonight's matchup with the Lightning is game #42 for the Canucks.  It is hard to believe the season is half way done.

Vancouver Canucks: 41 GP: 23-11-7; 53 pts
Tampa Bay Lightning: 39 GP: 23-12-4; 50 pts

This is the second game of a two game homestand for Vancouver.  They lost their last game 4-3 in a shootout against the Philadelphia Flyers.  The Canucks are ranked fourth in the Pacific Division and sixth in the Western Conference.  The Canucks have posted a solid 7-1-2 record in their last ten contests.

The Lightning begin a three game Western Canada road swing in Vancouver.  They also lost their last game at home against the New York Rangers 4-3.  Tampa Bay is ranked second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference.  The Lightning have recorded a 6-2-2 record in their last ten contests.

This game can be viewed on TSN or SUN Sports at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT.

Here are the projected lineups:

Lightning (the bad guys)

Forwards:
Ryan Malone - Tyler Johnson - Martin St. Louis
Teddy Purcell - Valtteri Filppula - Alex Killorn
Ondrej Palat - Nate Thompson - Nikita Kucherov
J.T. Brown - B.J. Crombeen - Richard Panik

Defensemen:
Matthew Carle - Victor Hedman
Eric Brewer - Radko Gudas
Mark Barberio - Andrej Sustr

Goaltenders:
Ben Bishop (starter)
Anders Lindback

Canucks (the good guys)

Forwards:
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Jannik Hansen
Chris Higgins - Ryan Kesler - Mike Santorelli
David Booth - Brad Richardson - Zack Kassian
Tom Sestito - Zac Dalpe - Dale Weise

Defensemen:
Jason Garrison - Kevin Bieksa
Dan Hamhuis - Christopher Tanev
Frank Corrado - Yannick Weber

Goaltenders:
Eddie Lack (starter)
Joacim Eriksson

Things to watch for - Lightning:

Martin St. Louis - the Captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning is an ageless wonder.  St. Louis is 38 years young, but plays like hes 28.  He signed with Tampa as an undrafted free agent back in 2000.  He has 17 goals and 38 points in 39 games.  He has 950 points in 1,018 games in the NHL.  Future hall of famer?  I think it is a safe bet.

Ben Bishop - the Denver native has officially established himself as the Lightning's number one goaltender.  All 6'7" of his frame takes up the whole net.  He has played 29 games this season posting a 20-5-6 record with a stout 1.89 GAA and .935 SV%.  He is very good and probably should have made the US Olympic team.

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Eddie Lack - do not look now, but the Canucks have another great backup goaltender.  Eddie Lack fell short in his last game in the shootout (with no goal support).  He had a strong game and has had a tremendous season.  He has played in 13 games and has recorded a 1.84 GAA and a .929 SV%.  He has filled in admirably while Luongo remains day to day with a groin injury.

Jannik Hansen - the 27 year old Great Dane has found his scoring stride.  He has two goals in his last two outings.  He is averaging a little over 15-17 minutes per night and is trying his best playing with the Sedins.  I do not believe this is something that needs to stick.  Hansen's best role is when he is on the third line in a checking role.

Prediction:
4-2 Lightning (St. Louis GWG)

Until next time, stay classy! Happy New Year! -George