Canucks Top 6 Forwards: What Can Be Done?

It is no secret that the Canucks are in search for a top 6 scoring forward.  The Sedins and Ryan Kesler have been missing quality linemates for a few seasons now.  Gone are familiar faces Mason Raymond and Mikael Samuelsson who filled the top 6 voids for the Canucks during the 2011 cup run and in previous seasons.

The Canucks have not replaced Mason Raymond or Mikael Samuelsson's goal production since both have departed.  Players like Zack Kassian, David Booth, Chris Higgins, and Jannik Hansen have put their best efforts forth to try and stick in the top 6 forward lines.  However, those players are just not consistent enough and are better suited for other roles on the team.

Canucks fans have been wondering when help will come.  The fanbase has desired another top scoring forward for several seasons.  The main reason the Canucks have had recent playoff failures against division rivals San Jose and Los Angeles is because they simply did not score enough goals in those series.

It is time the Canucks management needs to look outside the organization for help.  Every experiment has been tried over and over again.  Coach Tortorella is doing all he can by changing the lines on the fly to try and give the team a consistent spark.  These attempts are just simply not cutting it and changes need to be made.

Who Could Help the Canucks?

1. Evander Kane (Winnipeg Jets)

I know what you are thinking - Kane is the face of the Jets franchise, there is no way they part with him.  I am a firm believer that everyone is available (*for the right price*).  The 2009 1st Round pick of Atlanta has been surrounded with some controversy in his young career.  He has been rumored to not get along with Jets head coach Claude Noel and he has posted some controversial pictures on social media (money stack on Twitter).  But beyond his controversial flaws, he is an outstanding power forward.  He plays the game with an edge and can do it all on the ice.  He plays in all situations and is a former 30 goal scorer.  Kane is the complete package - he can hit, fight, score, shoot, and agitate.  The former WHL Vancouver Giant would become very popular in a hurry amongst the Canucks fanbase.  He would be my number 1 person to try and target.

Trade Proposal: Edler, 1st, Jensen/or Gaunce

2. Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche)

The 2005 2nd Round Pick of the Avalanche has had his ups and downs in the Mile High City.  He is a former 70 point centre and former 20 goal scorer.  The US Olympian is known for his slick hands and good speed.  Stastny is good in the faceoff dot and can play in all situations.  He is in a contract year coming off a deal that pays him 6.6 million dollars.  The Avalanche are in a big pickle as they are very deep down the middle (O'Reilly, Duchene, MacKinnon, Talbot).  I am sure Stastny will command somewhere close to what he is making right now as top 6 centres are a very hot commodity.  Do the Avalanche decide to trade him if they cannot come up with the funds to resign him?  The situation with Stastny in Colorado is certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Trade Proposal: Edler, Hansen, 2nd

3. Max Pacioretty (Montreal Canadiens)

The 6'2" 215 lb winger has good NHL size which is something that is needed for the Canucks.  The former 30 goal scorer has been rumored in the trade winds for several months.  He just recently signed a 6 year deal that comes with an affordable cap hit (4.5 million dollars).  He is a burly gritty winger who is known to score some dirty goals.  While he is not known for his physical play, he knows how to cycle the puck well and he is a good puck battler in the corners.  Would Montreal give up one of their bigger forwards who is one of their better finishers?  What would the Canucks offer the Habs?  Both teams need scoring - both have good defense and goaltending.

Trade Proposal: 1st, Schroeder, Booth, Jensen/or Gaunce 

4. Mike Cammalleri (Calgary Flames)

I know, I know, the Canucks and Flames will never make a trade (or will they?)  Calgary is in the rebuild phase while Vancouver is in win now phase.  Cammalleri is a streaky winger/centre who is a Los Angeles Kings draft pick.  The Ontario native is known for his speed, shot, and goal scoring.  He has bit the injury bug over the past few seasons, but he has reached the 30 goal plateau twice in his career.  Cammalleri is in a contract year (6 million dollars).  The 31 year old has eclipsed 80 points twice in his career.  He will be a hot commodity to a team looking to load up before the trade deadline.  Because of injury issues and steady decline, he should not command to much as a rental player.

Trade Proposal: 2nd, Jensen/or Gaunce

5. Thomas Vanek (New York Islanders)

Longtime Buffalo Sabre Thomas Vanek was traded to Long Island earlier this season in a blockbuster deal.  The Austrian native is a former two time 40 goal scorer and two time 30 goal scorer.  He knows how to score some goals and knows how to score consistently.  Vanek is in a contract year this season (5.7 million cap hit).  The Sabres chose to retain some of his salary in the recent trade - he is actually rated at over 7 million dollars.  He has been a consistently healthy player over his 10 year NHL career.  Will he accept the trade and stay in Long Island?  Will Vanek test the UFA waters this summer and command a ton more money than what his expiring deal is worth?  I think the Islanders may choose to trade him again, especially if they do not get into the playoff hunt.  This should all be determined around the time of the trade deadline.

Trade Proposal: Edler, 1st, Gaunce

Until next time, stay classy! -George          

Canucks Win 5 Straight; Lack Shuts the Door in Home Debut

After an exhausting 3 games in 4 nights, the Canucks were able to take the second and final meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes with a 2-0 victory.  The Canucks have propelled to 7th in the Western Conference and 4th in the Pacific Division.

Game Recap:

-Goalie Duel: Both backup goaltenders played at a very high level in this contest.  Justin Peters kept the score from being 3-0 early as he stopped Dan Hamhuis and Daniel Sedin early in the 1st period on some glorious chances.  Peters managed to stop 24 of 25 shots thrown at his net.  In the opposite net, Eddie Lack made his Canucks home debut and recorded his first career shutout.  Lack stopped all 31 Hurricane shots thrown at him.

-Powerless Play: Both teams were 0-4 with the man advantage.  The Canucks did a good job with their sticks all night and shutting down possible passing lanes.  The Canucks came dangerously close scoring shorthanded early on in the game.  The Canucks powerplay looked very respectable and actually generated some scoring chances, but once again, came up close to finishing.

-Fatigue:  The Canucks were an exhausted team in the third period.  The Hurricanes managed to outshoot the Cauncks 13-7 in the third frame.  Lack remain poised and stood tall in the net stopping everything that was thrown at him.

Concerns:

-Jannik Hansen:  Hansen was placed on the top line to start the game and bounced around as the night went on.  He does not look like his normal self.  He is not shooting the puck in open space and firing his huge slapshot.  He took a nasty spill into the boards in Carolina a week ago which is making me wonder if he is playing hurt.

-Zack Kassian:  Many Canucks fans (including myself) are wondering just what his role is on the team right now.  He was expected as to be a running mate with the Sedins entering the season.  Torts has been against putting him on the top line.  Can he come into form and continue to develop into a top 6 power forward or is he going to stay in the bottom 6 as a 3rd/4th line grinder?

Canucks Three Stars (against Carolina):

1. Eddie Lack
2. Chris Tanev
3. Chris Higgins

Until next time, stay classy! -George

30 Games In... Canucks Team Recap

The Canucks are 30 games into the 2013-2014 NHL campaign.  They sit in 5th place in the tough Pacific Division at 15-10-5, 9th best in the Western Conference.  The Canucks have won only 4 of their last 10 contests, including going 1-5 in their last homestand.

Where does the team stack up?

Team Stats:

GF/G: 2.63 (16th)
GA/G: 2.50 (13th)

PP%: 14.1% (26th) - awful
PK%: 89.0% (1st) - great

Shots For: 32.9 (3rd)
Shots Against: 27.8 (7th)

Hits: 574 (20th)

Player Stats:

Big 3:

Daniel Sedin: 10 G, 16 A, 26 P
Henrik Sedin: 7 G, 21 A, 28 P
Ryan Kesler: 14 G, 8 A, 22 P

Big Surprises:

Jason Garrison: 3 G, 14 A, 17 P
Alex Edler: -12

The Road Ahead... 11 December Games Remain

The next month will provide the Canucks a little bit of everything.  7 of their next 11 games will be at Rogers Arena.  They will be on the road one week before Christmas when they face off against conference foes Minnesota, Dallas, and Chicago.

December has always been a historically good month for the Canucks.  It is time for them to take advantage of some home cooking against beatable teams.  The Canucks need to have a winning month to stay afloat in the very tough Western Conference.

Until next time, stay classy! -George

Canucks Sign Cole Cassels

Today, the Canucks announced the signing of 2013 3rd Round Pick Cole Cassels.  The 18 year old centre plays for the OHL Oshawa Generals.  He currently sits 4th in scoring for Oshawa with 12 goals and 28 points in 24 games played and has compiled 43 penalty minutes.

He is the son of former Canuck Andrew Cassels.

What does this mean for the Canucks?

Cole Cassels is projected to be a gritty 3rd line NHL centre.  He has been noted as a possible steal of the last NHL Draft.  He has earned this contract and looks for a bigger role as he continues his junior career.   

Canucks Take 3 Out of 4 on East Swing

The Canucks have reached the 30 game mark of the 2013-2014 NHL campaign and stand at 9th place in the Western Conference with 35 points.  Their record is 15-10-5 and they sit at 5th place in the Pacific Division.

Thanksgiving Showdown: Canucks @ Senators (5-2 Win)
Heritage Classic Preview:

Once again, this was another slow starter for the Canucks, who have had this bad habit since the season began.  Daniel Sedin jump started the Canucks 31 seconds into the 2nd period with a quick goal.  This was followed up about 45 seconds later with a goal from David Booth!  Finally, Booth shows up to the party to contribute.  After several weeks of poor play, Jason Garrison finally nets a powerplay goal to make it 3-1!  Craig Anderson gets the yank after the Canucks third goal and Robin Lehner enters the game.  Later in the period, Dale Weise would clean up the trash in front of Lehner and he gets a goal.  The Canucks potted 4 2nd period goals which decided this game.

Torts Returns to Broadway: Canucks @ Rangers (5-2 Loss)

This was one of the worst Canucks games of this season.  Halfway into the first period is when the floodgates started to open.  Alex Edler made a pathetic clear attempt in the defensive zone which gave the Rangers an opening.  Chris Kreider was the beneficiary of the poor effort from the Canucks as he was able to net a hattrick.  Kreider had two goals within 5 minutes of play in the first period.  Rick Nash scored 17 seconds into the 2nd period and Michael Del Zotto followed up on the powerplay later into the period.  The score was 4-0 Rangers halfway through the contest.  David Booth potted his 2nd goal in two games later in the 2nd period and Kreider completed his hattrick halfway through the third period.

Alain Vigneault got the best of John Tortorella in this coaching matchup.  The Canucks had too many errors and were not able to gain control of this game.  This was an uphill battle from the very beginning.  The highlight of this contest came at regulation's end when Kevin Bieksa squared off with big Ranger forward Brian Boyle.  A frustrated Bieksa wanted to provide a spark heading in to the next game against Carolina.  He did just that by scrapping with Boyle and at the end of the fight he punted Boyle's helmet.

Rally in Raleigh: Canucks @ Hurricanes (3-2 Win)

A day after the debacle in Manhattan, the Canucks responded with a tight victory over the struggling Hurricanes.  A boarding on Kevin Bieksa early in the 1st period woke the Canucks up.  They were able to get an early 5 on 3 powerplay opportunity which they were able to capitalize on.  Ryan Kesler cleaned up a dirty rebound off of Cam Ward which gave the Canucks an early 1-0 lead.  Later in the first, Tom Sestito was able to deflect a Jason Garrison slapper which made the score 2-0.

The 2nd period provided some much needed excitement.  3 goals between both sides in a matter of 1:16.  The Hurricanes rallied 39 seconds into the period as Jordan Staal potted a trashy goal in front of the net as the Canucks were not able to clear the puck out of the crease.  On the next shift, Eric Staal broke toward the net on a real bad defensive breakdown and Nathan Gerbe was able to score a goal which tied the game.  Just like that 2 Carolina goals within 10 seconds.  27 seconds later, Ryan Kesler was able to neutralize Carolina's early momentum and got the eventual game winner.

The Canucks would squeak out of Raleigh on the tail end of a back to back with a victory.  The Canucks defense did a good job at not giving the Canes forwards much space on the ice.  The penalty killers all deserve credit in this game as they killed 5 straight Carolina powerplays between the 2nd and 3rd periods.

Sustaining in Smashville: Canucks @ Predators (3-1 Win)

The Canucks headed to Honky Tonk Land to finish up this 4 game east road trip.  Another slow start for the Canucks, but they did manage to control play for most of this game.  The first period could have put anyone to sleep with limited shots and scoring chances.

The Canucks were able to get on the board first as Brad Richardson netted his 6th goal of the season.  30 seconds later, you guessed it, the Canucks got scored on as they got stuck in their own zone.  Colin Wilson was able to net his 5th goal of the season for the Predators which neutralized the Canucks momentum.

Heading into the third period, the 2nd line of Kesler/Hansen/Higgins provided another hard working shift.  Jason Garrison continued his point streak as he shot a big slapper from the top circle and Ryan Kesler was able to break the tie 7:37 into the 3rd period.  Things got chippy as this game went along and Luongo was getting ran in his crease, which gave the Canucks some powerplay time.  Ryan Kesler made the Predators pay 14:15 into the 3rd which sealed the deal and gave the Canucks back to back victories.

Recap:
After a horrendous 6 game homestand, the Canucks responded with a successful road trip east.  The Canucks return back to Vancouver for a tough 5 game homestand in a little over a week.  This homestand brings in Phoenix, Colorado, Carolina, Edmonton, and Boston.  This will not be an easy one.  The Canucks need to make Rogers Arena a very tough place to come play at.  The Canucks need to give their fans something to cheer about and get back into the playoff race out west.  They cannot have another bomb at home.

Until next time, stay classy! -George

Eddie Lack Signs 2 Year Extension with the Canucks

Canucks backup goaltender Eddie Lack has re-upped in Vancouver for the next 2 seasons.  He signed a 2 year contract worth 2.3 million dollars - his cap hit will be 1.15 million dollars.  Lack signed as a free agent with the Canucks back in 2010.

Lack made his Canucks debut on October 6, 2013 against the Calgary Flames where he managed to pick up a victory.  Lack has appeared in 5 games this season, registering a 2.41 goals against average and .911 save percent.

Before his debut in the NHL, he played the past 3 seasons in the AHL for the Manitoba Moose and Chicago Wolves.

Analysis:
I like this signing by the Vancouver Canucks.  I feel the money and term are both acceptable and he will provide a solid backup presence to starter Roberto Luongo.  The Canucks might have a Schneider 2.0 somewhere down the road if he lives up to the AHL hype.  The Canucks are very deep in the nets throughout the whole organization.

1/4 way into the 2013-2014 NHL Season... Canucks Recap

We are 18 games into the Canucks season... it has been full of ups and downs so far, but the Canucks are doing better than I expected.  Through 18 games, the Canucks record stands at 11-5-2, 4th best in the Pacific, 6th best in the Western Conference.

Team Stats:
GF/G: 2.83 (12th)
GA/G: 2.44 (10th)

PP%: 10.3% (26th) - awful
PK%: 88.5% (2nd) - very good

Shots For: 32.1 (5th)
Shots Against: 27.6 (8th)

Hits: 333 (18th)

Player Stats:

Big 3:

Daniel Sedin: 7 G, 10 A, 17 P
Henrik Sedin: 3 G, 17 A, 20 P
Ryan Kesler: 9 G, 4 A, 13 P

Big Surprises:

Mike Santorelli: 5 G, 7 A, 12 P
Brad Richardson: 5 G, 4 A, 9 P

Best Games of the 2013-2014 Season:

Oct 19 - @ Pittsburgh (4-3 Shootout Loss)
Nov 2 - vs. Toronto (Pavel Bure Night)
Nov 7 - @ San Jose (4-2 Win, ending the 9 game losing streak vs SJ)

The Road Ahead... Home Cooking

The next 4 weeks will provide the Canucks will a lot of home cooking.  After they finish up the weekend in southern California, they will spend the next 2 weeks at home with a 6 game home stand.  They will then head back east for 4 games, and will return back home for another 5 games.

Until next time, stay classy! -George

Canucks Escape City of Brotherly Love With A Win (3-2 Win)

Game Recap:

-From one fluke goal to another fluke goal, this time it evened itself out.  The Canucks were the beneficiaries of this fluke goal.  Ryan Kesler took advantage of the very bouncy boards inside of Wells Fargo Center.  This first goal was very timely considering it happened right after the Flyers scored their first of the game.

-Both of the goaltenders played strong games.  Steve Mason faced 25 Canucks shots and let three pucks slip by him, while Roberto Luongo faced 22 shots letting 2 pucks slip by him.

-Tye McGinn was a thorn in the Canucks side last night.  He scored 2 real trashy goals, one off a loose rebound, and one from a Claude Giroux (wrist) pass.  McGinn did a great job of crashing the net and getting to the loose rebounds with some quickness.

-Heading into the third period, the Canucks had to play catchup down 2-1.  Coach Tortorella did some line juggling to try and spark the team and it worked to perfection.  He created a makeshift line of Chris Higgins/Henrik Sedin/Ryan Kesler to try and generate some goals.  This newly formed line decided the game for both sides as they were responsible for the last two Canucks goals.  Ryan Kesler played his best game of the season and Chris Higgins finally removed the monkey off his back.

-The Canucks were dominant in the faceoff circle - Sedin, Kesler, Richardson, and Santorelli were all above 70% effective in the dot.  The only Canucks centre who was not as effective was Jordan Schroeder who made his season debut.  Schroeder played a little over 10 minutes and did not contribute much on the ice overall.

Concerns:

-Line Juggles: while the new makeshift line of Sedin/Kesler/Higgins provided the spark the Canucks needed, they cannot continue the rest of the season with a line like this.  It just goes to show that there are flaws in the top 6 group when the Sedin Twins have to be separated.

-Powerplay:  it looks horrific.  The top unit has been trying and putting pucks on the net and has done everything right except score.  The second powerplay unit generates nothing and is a complete waste to put on the ice.  The Canucks should just keep the first unit on the ice the entire 2 minutes.

-Shots, Shots, Shots: I think the Canucks could have had closer to 35-40 shots on net last night if they were a little deeper as a club.  If the 2nd line had a bonafide skilled shooting winger who could score and contribute (not named Higgins or Hansen), the Canucks goal scoring woes would not look as bad.

Canucks Three Stars (against Flyers):

1. Ryan Kesler
2. Chris Higgins
3. Jason Garrison

Heading on from Philly Cheese Steaks to Buffalo Wings... until next time! Stay classy! -George 

Canucks Travel To the City of Brotherly Love

The Vancouver Canucks begin their 7 game road swing in Philadelphia, PA, a city that is known to many moments in sports history.  The 3-3 Canucks will be playing a desperate 1-5 Flyers squad who has recently fired their head coach to try and shake up the locker room atmosphere.  Philadelphia will be missing new acquisition and Ex Tampa Captain Vincent Lecavalier and feisty forward Scott Hartnell, while Jordan Schroeder will make his Canucks season debut for the Canucks.  Canucks defensemen Alex Edler will still be serving his three game suspension and will remain out of the Canucks lineup.

Between the pipes for both sides - Steve Mason will be called upon to play in net for the Flyers, while Roberto Luongo gets the start for the Canucks.

This game can be seen on CSN Philadelphia and Sportsnet Pacific at 7 PM ET/4 PT.

Here are the projected lineups:

Canucks (the good guys):

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

Defensemen:
Jason Garrison - Kevin Bieksa
Dan Hamhuis - Christopher Tanev
Ryan Stanton - Yannick Weber

Goaltenders:
Roberto Luongo (starter)
Eddie Lack

Flyers (the bad guys):

Forwards:
Matt Read - Claude Giroux - Jakub Voracek
Sean Couturier - Brayden Schenn - Wayne Simmonds
Michael Raffl - Maxime Talbot - Tye McGinn
Kris Newbury - Zac Rinaldo - Adam Hall

Defensemen:
Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn
Nicklas Grossmann - Mark Streit
Erik Gustafsson - Luke Schenn

Goaltenders:
Steve Mason (starter)
Ray Emery

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Jordan Schroeder - the 2009 First Round Pick of the Canucks is set to make his season debut for the Canucks tonight.  He has been rehabbing from a leg injury which he suffered in the preseason.  He will bring some speed to the Canucks 4th line, and he may get a look on the third line too.  He has a nose for the net even though he has a very small frame.

Dan Hamhuis - let's just say he has not played well to start the season.  He has been a liability on the ice and has been missing lots of assignments.  He was spotted getting some treatment from the Canucks trainers after the last game against the Habs.  Is he 100% healthy?  Canucks fans can hope, but I am not sure what his issue is right now.

Mike Santorelli - the Canucks unsung hero for the past several games.  He might be one of the biggest free agent steals of this summer.  He has been playing in a role which may not be the best for him long term, but he has performed admirably while doing it.

Things to watch for - Flyers:

Claude Giroux - the Flyers Captain and leading goal scorer.  He is a threat every time he touches the puck.  He is not overly big or powerful, but is tremendously skilled and has some wheels.  The Canucks defense has to skate well tonight and not give him any easy chances at the net.

Wayne Simmonds - I like his game.  He plays big and can play in all situations.  The Canucks could use a guy like him on the 2nd line.  He is a force around the net and makes a goaltender's life a living hell.

Steve Mason - Canucks fans might remember him from his Columbus days.  He was acquired by the Flyers in exchange for Michael Leighton and a 2015 third round pick.  Mason has a 2.03 GAA and .935 save percent on the season.

Prediction:
5-2 Flyers Win (Giroux GWG)

Until next time, stay classy! -George

     

Canadiens @ Canucks Recap: One Bad Bounce Deflates Canucks

Game Recap:

-The fluke shorthanded goal told the story.  It simply was not the Canucks night.  The Canucks were defeated after the second Canadiens goal that was assisted by the Canucks.  British Columbia native and Habs netminder Carey Price stole the show stopping 39 shots, letting only one puck slip by him.  Montreal native and Canucks netminder Robero Luongo let four slip by him on 38 shots.

-The Canucks actually did a good job and had their best output of shots on the season.  They had several good scoring chances throughout the game, but just could not find the finishing touch they ultimately needed.  The Habs speedy forwards caused some trouble for the Canucks slow defensive unit.  They had lots of drive to the Canucks and Luongo was challenged several times throughout the game.

-Canucks defensemen Jason Garrison registered a team high 10 shots on goal against the Habs.  He continues to impress with his offensive output and continues to try and pitch in some goals from the blueline.  He is having a great season so far under the new Torts coached Canucks.

Concerns:

-Second Line: I'm trying to give Ryan Kesler any kind of hope.  He looks very discouraged and unmotivated out there.  He is playing with line mates that are not his caliber of player.  Kesler has been invisible to start this season. Kesler has one goal this season.  Chris Higgins has scored no goals this season.  David Booth has one goal on the season.  Jannik Hansen has 2 goals.  There is not much secondary scoring in the Canucks lineup.

-Powerplay: the Canucks powerplay (or should we say powerless-play) is ranked 25th in the NHL.  The Canucks do not have a quality 2nd powerplay unit that generates lots of chances or goals.  The 2nd powerplay unit usually makes it easy for the opposition by turning the puck over.  The 2nd powerplay unit needs a true centre who can move the puck around and stretch the ice out while in the zone.

-2 Week Long East Road Trip: the Canucks hit the road east for a 7 game swing.  The Canucks will make stops in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Columbus, NY Islanders, New Jersey, and St. Louis.  All of these teams have some speed in their forward corps that could cause the Canucks issues.  Will the Canucks come back home to Vancouver above .500?  October is usually the Canucks slowest month.  Can they at least break even on this long road trip?  We could find out what kind of identity the Canucks really have after this trip.

Canucks Three Stars (against Habs):

1. Jason Garrison
2. Henrik Sedin
3. Mike Santorelli

Until next time, stay classy! -George

HNIC: Canadiens @ Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks will be looking to get back on track after Thursday's 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks.  Tonight, they will be entertaining east Canadian rival Montreal Canadiens.  Zack Kassian will draw back in to the Canucks lineup, while Alex Edler begins his three game suspension.  Montreal's Captain Brian Gionta will not be in the lineup for the Canadiens due to a personal family matter.

Between the pipes will be a Team Canada preview matchup.  British Columbia's own Carey Price will get the start for the Habs while Montreal's own Roberto Luongo will get the start for the Canucks.

This game can be seen on CBC or RDS at 10 PM ET/7 PT.

Here are the projected lineups:

Canadiens (the bad guys):

Forwards:
Rene Bourque - Tomas Plekanec - Max Pacioretty
Alex Galchenyuk - Lars Eller - Brendan Gallagher
Travis Moen - David Desharnais - Danny Briere
Michael Bournival - Ryan White - Brandon Prust

Defensemen:
Josh Gorges - P.K. Subban
Andrei Markov - Raphael Diaz
Jarred Tinordi - Francis Bouillon

Goaltenders:
Carey Price (starter)
Peter Budaj

Canucks (the good guys):

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

Defensemen:
Jason Garrison - Kevin Bieksa
Dan Hamhuis - Christopher Tanev
Ryan Stanton - Yannick Weber

Goaltenders:
Roberto Luongo (starter)
Eddie Lack

Things to watch for - Canadiens:

Brendan Gallagher - the former Vancouver Giant returns back to Rogers Arena.  He has a very small frame with a huge nose to the net.  He packs a lot of heart and intangibles for the Canadiens lineup.  I am sure Canucks fans would love to see him possibly one day wear the blue and green.

Alex Galchenyuk - one of the hottest scorers in the NHL right now.  The third overall pick of the 2012 NHL Draft has 7 points in 4 games.  This kid has a tremendous future and is a deceivingly quick skater.  He could give the Canucks defense fits tonight.

P.K. Subban - the last Norris Trophy winner.  I like the way he plays.  He plays with an edge and plays until the very last whistle.  I hope this kind of play can reflect on his younger brother Jordan who the Canucks drafted back at the 2013 NHL Draft.

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Mike Santorelli - the glimmer of hope from the Canucks recent struggles.  He scored the lone Canucks goal against the Sharks and the game winning overtime against the Devils.  He has been called for top line duty once again.  He played over 23 minutes of ice time against the Sharks - we will see if Torts continues to rely on him for that load.

Zack Kassian - the Canucks will welcome him back to the lineup after he was serving an 8 game suspension.  He has been questioned about his conditioning by the coaching staff in recent memory, but they say he has improved in that department.  I hope he can bring his physical side in his return against a Habs team who does not play very physical.

Yannick Weber - after playing on the 4th line because of forward shortage, he will play against his former club on the Canucks blueline because of Alex Edler's suspension.  The Swiss defensemen will be paired with Canucks newcomer Ryan Stanton on the bottom pairing.  It will be interesting to see how many minutes John Tortorella will give this pairing since they have no experience together.

Prediction:
3-2 Canucks Win (Santorelli GWG)

Until next time, stay classy! -George

Sharks Keep Biting...

Game Recap:

-1 week later: same score, same results.  After winning three straight games, the Canucks fell short to the San Jose Sharks.  This has nothing to do with Tort's new system.  This has to do with the personnel that is on the rink which I will get to in a bit...

-The Sharks defense was very good.  They did not give the Canucks forwards much room on the ice.  They contested most of the Canucks shots and did not give them really many great scoring chances.  They were able to keep the Canucks big three (Sedins, Kesler) scoreless.

-John Tortorella said in his postgame press conference that he thought the team "reacted slowly" and that "we're too slow and we do not react defensively".  This was especially true on the third Sharks goal scored by Patrick Marleau.  The Sedin line got stuck in the defensive zone and Marleau found a little soft spot at the top of the circle to fire a laser at the net.  Henrik Sedin was too late to try and get his stick on the puck.

Concerns:

-There were very few shots on goal by the Canucks and very few good quality scoring chances.  The Canucks only had 8 shots in the 2nd period, followed by 6 shots in the third period.  Antti Niemi really only got tested a couple of times in the 1st period and made the key saves the Sharks needed at that point.  The Canucks are not going to win very many hockey games with less than 30 shots on goal.

-Personnel issues: I like Chris Higgins a lot.  I think he is a tremendous hard worker and battles every shift.  He is not a prolific goal scorer and does not generate too much of his own offense.  He only has 1 point in the last 14 games for the Canucks.  I do not feel he should be playing in our top six.  Higgins needs to be playing in a defensive checking role on the third line.  This applies to Jannik Hansen too.

-Ryan Kesler: everyone can tell he is frustrated.  This was evident in his postgame press conference last night: "I can't say what I really think. It's frustrating. I'm sick of it."  He is not playing with any confidence.  I think there could be two reasons why: first, he is not getting any help from his linemates.  I think Kesler thinks that he has to go out there and do everything for the 2nd line.

-Mike Santorelli: thank goodness he has been lighting it up for the Canucks recently.  He played a whopping 23 minutes of ice time and managed to tally the Canucks only goal.  John Tortorella said he was not crazy about giving him that much ice time, but Santorelli has been one of the only forwards going for the Canucks.  This is not good if Mike Santorelli has to get 23 minutes of ice time and it is also not good if Santorelli is the only one consistently scoring in the Canucks top six.

Canucks Three Stars:

1. Mike Santorelli
2. Roberto Luongo
3. Daniel Sedin

Alex Edler Hit on Tomas Hertl

-I do not think this was as serious as what most people thought.  I do not think this is worth any kind of suspension, but I believe Edler will get suspended anyway due to history.

-As the video shows, Edler is skating hard toward the puck, not toward Hertl's body.  Edler skates in a standstill almost, while Hertl leans his head down and runs in to Edler's body.  Edler does not stick out his elbow in any kind of way and barely grazes Hertl's head with his shoulder.  I do believe that the defenseless player has to have some kind of responsibility in hits like this.  When a skater keeps his head down and leans forward on the ice, only bad things can happen.

-Shanahan will probably give Edler a 4-5 game ban since he is a repeat offender.  I do not believe this is suspension worthy since Hertl skated right in to Edler's body, but the NHL is becoming a softer league as the days go on.

Update: Edler suspended 3 games.

That's a wrap.  Next up is the Habs on Saturday.  Until next time, stay classy! -George    

Sharks @ Canucks - A Big Hertl To Climb

It has been one week since the season opener against the San Jose Sharks.  This time around, they make their first visit to Rogers Arena for the 2013-2014 season.  The San Jose Sharks have taken the last eight contests against the Canucks (including playoffs).  In my preseason rankings, I had the San Jose Sharks winning the Pacific Division.  Following Wednesday's practice, John Tortorella said that he "does not believe in a measuring stick."  I believe the Sharks are the measuring stick of the newly changed Pacific Division.  If the Canucks want to make it out of the Pacific, they need to beat the Sharks.  The Sharks do not have too many weaknesses, so this will be a true test of where the Canucks really stand in the division.

This game can be seen on CSN California or Sportsnet Vancouver at 10 PM ET/7 PT.

Here are the projected lineups:

Sharks (the bad guys):

Forwards:
Patrick Marleau - Logan Couture - Joe Pavelski
Tomas Hertl - Joe Thornton - Brent Burns
Tyler Kennedy - John McCarthy - James Sheppard
Matt Pelech - Tommy Wingels - Matthew Nieto

Defensemen:
Dan Boyle - Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Justin Braun - Matt Irwin
Scott Hannan - Jason Demers

Goaltenders:
Antti Niemi (starter)
Alex Stalock

Canucks (the good guys):

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

Defensemen:
Alexander Edler - Kevin Bieksa
Dan Hamhuis - Jason Garrison
Ryan Stanton - Christopher Tanev

Goaltenders:
Roberto Luongo (starter)
Eddie Lack

Things to watch for - Sharks:

Tomas Hertl - he is the story of the week in the NHL.  The 2012 1st Round pick of the Sharks is already making a name for himself in the NHL.  He scored an amazing 4 goals in the Sharks rout of the Rangers on Tuesday night and has turned some heads around the league.  He leads the NHL in goals and points as of today.

Joe Pavelski - I love the way this guy plays.  He is the Sharks version of Ryan Kesler.  He can play in all situations and is a hound around the net.  He is versatile and can play centre or wing.  If Joe Thornton was not the Captain of the Sharks, Pavelski would be my nominee. 

Marc-Edouard Vlasic - the defensive backbone of the Sharks.  He is positionally sound and is a big time minute muncher on the blueline.  Adding to this, he is one of the smoothest skaters in the NHL.  The Twins and Kesler will have to play physical against him and skate hard to get around him.

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Mike Santorelli - he has been called upon for top line duty in Burrows' and Kassian's absences.  He scored the game winner in overtime against the Devils after setting the screen against Cory Schneider and tipping a Garrison wrister.

Ryan Kesler - I hope he takes his own advice from last season's playoffs and competes like a bastard.  He needs to stop coasting and floating around the ice and needs to shoot and play physical.  He is the engine that drives the Canucks, so he needs to run like one.

Jason Garrison - He is the leading defensemen in points in the NHL.  He has been playing great hockey so far this season.  Garrison is throwing more pucks at the net using his wristshot, not just by using his wicked slapshot.  He will be partnered with Dan Hamhuis who has struggled as of late to provide a very good shutdown defensive pairing.  They will be very busy tonight against a Sharks team who throws a lot of rubber at the net.

Prediction:
4-2 Sharks Win (Hertl gets 2 more tonight)

Until next time, stay classy! -George

PS:  If you have not seen Hertl's 4 goal performance, here it is...

    

Runnin' With the Devil - Cory's Return Spoiled (3-2 OT Win)

Game Recap:

-The focus was on the two netminders.  Who would take the first game between old friends Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider?  This matchup lived up to the excitement and hype it got before the puck even dropped!

-Cory Schneider was impressive to say the least.  He kept the Devils in the game and was the reason they stole a point in this contest.  He received an ovation before the puck drop, and even got his name serenaded out of respect as the Canucks made their comeback.  Schneider's Vancouver counterpart Roberto Luongo kept the Canucks in the game late in the third period due to sloppy play and multiple icings.

-I have to hand it to Jaromir Jagr.  He knows where to go and how to score goals.  He always gives the Canucks issues while in the offensive zone.  He is still strong on the puck and has some good hands even at the young age of 41.  While he may not be as quick as he used to be, he still has the brains to play the good old hockey game.

Concerns:

-The Canucks had some moments last night where they were pinned in their own end, whether it was by an icing or by a giveaway.  They still need to clean it up in their own end and not have those long 2-3 minute shifts in their own end of the ice.

-Ryan Kesler:  let's just say that this is a game he would like to throw out of the highlight reel.  He looked lost a majority of the night and looked like he was just floating around the ice.  This was not the Ryan Kesler we are used to seeing playing with some jam and some reckless attitude.

-Alex Edler:  Okay, maybe Torts is getting a little carried away with how high his ceiling is.  Edler looked careless and exhausted at the end of the game last night.  He was responsible for multiple icings and some costly giveaways.  While he contributed on the scoresheet, he looked horrific near the end.

Three Stars:

Here are my Canucks Three Stars from the game...

1. Roberto Luongo
2. Mike Santorelli
3. Daniel Sedin

Well, that's a wrap for now.  Next up, the San Jose Sharks.

Until next time, stay classy! -George 

Devils @ Canucks - Cory's Return

The goalie controversy will just not end and it returns to Vancouver tonight!  Cory Schneider makes his return to British Columbia as a member of the red and black Devils.  For the first time in two years, Schneider and Luongo will not be fighting for the same net - they will be fighting for different nets.  The Canucks will look to extend their win streak to 3, while the Devils are searching for their first regular season win.

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

Here are the projected lineups:

Devils (the bad guys):

Forwards:
Dainius Zubrus - Patrik Elias - Jaromir Jagr
Adam Henrique - Travis Zajac - Michael Ryder
Ryane Clowe - Andrei Loktionov - Damien Brunner
Rostislav Olesz - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier

Defensemen:
Bryce Salvador - Marek Zidlicky
Andy Greene - Anton Volchenkov
Mark Fayne - Peter Harrold

Goaltenders:
Cory Schneider (starter)
Martin Brodeur

Canucks (the good guys):

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

Defensemen:
Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa
Alexander Edler - Jason Garrison
Ryan Stanton - Christopher Tanev

Goaltenders:
Roberto Luongo (starter)
Eddie Lack

Things to watch for - Devils:

Cory Schneider - the obvious one to look out for.  He was traded to New Jersey at the 2013 NHL Draft for a First Round Draft Selection (which the Canucks selected Bo Horvat).  He is the future of the Devils organization once Martin Brodeur retires.  Schneider will become a consistent Vezina Trophy candidate once he gets his full time role in the Devils net.

Damien Brunner - the former Red Wing is already making a name for himself after signing a contract with the Devils during training camp.  He has 4 points in 3 games and looks like he could be one of the biggest free agent steals from the offseason.

Jaromir Jagr - does he ever age?  This could be the last time we see this legendary player play in Vancouver.  Who could ever forget the good old days with him and his beautiful mullet?

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Roberto Luongo - the other half of the intriguing goaltending matchup.  This is the person who everyone thought would be shipped out of Vancouver instead of Cory Schneider.  Luongo is coming off a strong performance against the Oilers and would love to show everyone that the Canucks made the right choice.

John Tortorella - he masterminded juggling the lines during the last game with the Flames.  It provided the team a much needed spark.  The juggled lines consisted of splitting the Sedin twins apart.  Will he need to do it again to get the Canucks going against the Devils?

Brad Richardson - this guy could be another huge free agent steal of the offseason.  He has been a shorthanded threat on the penalty kill and has even scored a goal while shorthanded.  I like his work ethic and tenacious forecheck.  He is definitely the "bite" Tortorella likes to have in the lineup.

Prediction:
3-0 Devils Win (Schneider 45 save shutout)

Until next time, stay classy! -George        

Canucks Week in Review: October 3-6

Game 1: At San Jose (4-1 Loss)

What an awful start to the season.  The Canucks were penalized 8 times this game.  The Sharks were able to get a full two minute 5 on 3.  That is the bad news.  The good news from this game was the great penalty killing.  The Sharks were not able to score on the man advantage.

Roberto Luongo stopped 31 of 35 shots this game.  He was very strong in net.  He made the key saves when called upon during this troubling game.  He looked like the Roberto Luongo from last season's playoffs, getting no goal support in the process. Deja-vu all over again.

The Sedin line was strong all night.  They generated several chances and shots on goal and the Twins were able to gather a couple of assists on the powerplay on Jason Garrison's big slapshot goal.  Alex Burrows was able to create some havoc in front of the net and had several good chances, but could not convert.

The defensive core looked very sluggish.  Dan Hamhuis had one of his worst games as a Canuck with a couple of key giveaways.  Alex Edler looked lost on the ice as he was also responsible for some giveaways.  This was not a pretty night for the defensive core.

Game 2: Vs. Edmonton (6-2 Win)

This is more like the Canucks we are all used to seeing.  This game is the epitome of what the Canucks/Oilers rivalry looks like.  There is lots of goals, some fights, and tons of chippiness.

The game did not start out the way the Canucks wanted.  Jeff Petry scores very early after dancing around Alex Edler.  What got the Canucks going happened a few minutes later when Brad Richardson scored his first goal as a Canuck SHORTHANDED!

From there the Canucks were cruising.  Two quick back to back goals from Jannik Hansen and Dan Hamhuis.  The Canucks finished the first period with a whopping 22 shots on goal, with 44 total on the night.  This is the team we have been begging to shoot the puck even during the preseason games.

A powerplay goal from Daniel Sedin and a Ryan Kesler goal in the second period pretty much iced the game.  Roberto Luongo faced 23 shots and stopped 21 of them.  He did not have to make too many key saves in this game.

This was a complete team effort by the Canucks.  The forwards and defensemen all contributed something in the home opener.  They were all hard on pucks and played aggressively the whole game.

Game 3: At Calgary (5-4 OT Win)

This is an ugly win for the Canucks.  However, the Canucks took part as being the Flames home opener and were glad to spoil it for them.  Torts had to change up the lines to get some spark going, and it actually worked.

This was Canucks goaltender Eddie Lack's first game.  He was very strong in his NHL debut facing 36 shots and stopping 32 of them.  He had a couple of loose rebounds that he might like to have back, but he competed the whole 60 minutes and did not lose focus.

Vancouver's own Mike Santorelli and fellow third liners Brad Richardson and David Booth all were big contributors tonight.  Santorelli potted two goals, one of which was the OT game winner.  David Booth also had a nice deflection goal that gave Vancouver the early 1-0 lead.  Brad Richardson may be Vancouver's early unsung hero 3 games into the season.  He is an underrated passer and a phenomenal penalty killer.

The Canucks made a valiant three goal comeback in this contest against Calgary.  They laid another egg in the second period by committing some penalties and not getting enough shots on the Calgary net.  Torts was able to shift some people around and it gave the lineup a much needed spark.

Well that is a wrap.  Next game coming up will be a dandy as the New Jersey Devils make an appearance at Rogers Arena.  Cory Schneider makes his much anticipated early comeback to Vancouver.  How will he perform against his old teammates?

Until next time, stay classy! -George       

Vancouver Canucks Player Stats (2013-2014 NHL season)... PREDICTIONS

Hockey season begins tomorrow for the Canucks...

Here is how I think they will finish the season.  I will predict goals, assists, penalty minutes, and +/-.

Forwards/Defensemen:

Henrik Sedin: 12 G, 66 A, 52 PIM, +30

Daniel Sedin: 25 G, 60 A, 48 PIM, +28

Alexandre Burrows: 25 G, 30 A, 90 PIM, +32

Alexander Edler: 20 G, 35 A, 40 PIM, +1 

Jannik Hansen: 18 G, 28 A, 36 PIM, +15

Ryan Kesler:  15 G, 25 A, 40 PIM, +12 (will miss 30 games due to injuries)

Chris Higgins: 15 G, 25 A,  20 PIM, +15

Dan Hamhuis: 15 G, 25 A, 36 PIM, +30

Jason Garrison: 15 G, 23 A, 40 PIM, +20

Zack Kassian: 12 G, 22 A, 75 PIM, +18

Kevin Bieksa: 8 G, 25 A, 90 PIM, +15

Mike Santorelli: 12 G, 20 A, 18 PIM, +5

David Booth: 10 G, 15 A, 12 PIM, +2 (will miss 40 games due to injuries)

Brad Richardson: 10 G, 15 A, 30 PIM, +1

Zac Dalpe: 8 G, 13 A, 20 PIM, Even

Christopher Tanev: 7 G, 12 A, 20 PIM, +17

Jordan Schroeder: 6 G, 10 A, 20 PIM, -5 (will miss 25 games due to injuries)

Yannick Weber: 5 G, 10 A, 20 PIM, -5

Nicklas Jensen: 5 G, 8 A, 10 PIM, -5 (if he gets called up)

Dale Weise: 4 G, 6 A, 100 PIM, -8

Tom Sestito: 2 G, 5 A, 125 PIM, -6

Andrew Alberts: 1 G, 5 A, 60 PIM, -10

Ryan Stanton: 1 G, 3 A, 50 PIM, -10

Goalies:

Roberto Luongo: 41 W, 2.35 GAA, .920 SV%, 8 Shutouts

Eddie Lack: 6 W, 2.50 GAA, .915 SV%, 1 Shutout

 Until next time, stay classy! -George

How Much are the Sedins Worth??

The Sedin Twins are the staple of the Vancouver Canucks franchise.  Selected 2nd and 3rd overall in the 1999 NHL Draft, the Sedins have grown to be some of the NHL's most elite players.  On an international level, they are two of the top players in the world representing Sweden.

Coming off a 5 year contract making $6.1 million per season, they are both looking to remain in Vancouver and they hopefully look to sign their last contract of their hockey careers.

During this 5 year span, Henrik has become the franchise's captain and has won the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy.  Henrik has also attended multiple NHL All Star games and has become the Canucks leading points scorer in franchise history.  On top of all this, Henrik is one of the NHL's top Iron Men and has an impressive streak of durability.

Daniel's success is quite similar to Henrik's.  Daniel has also won the Art Ross Trophy and has won the Ted Lindsay Award.  He has also been a part of multiple NHL All Star games.

Next Contract

The Sedins are looking to sign their last contracts of their pro hockey careers.  The Canucks are in a tight spot.  The Cup window (arguably) is closing for the team.  A full rebuild might be in the works for the future.  The Sedins are both at the age of 33 and I'm sure the Canucks do not want to go hardcore long term.

If I am the Canucks, I would give them 3-4 years because I think they can still be productive players during this time span.  If the Sedins are true to their word (and want to stay in Vancouver), I think they would agree on this term.

The Sedins are probably seeking a higher dollar amount for each contract year.  I believe that they are worth somewhere in the 7-8 million dollar range per season.  They took hometown discounts last time to stay, I doubt they will take much of a discount this go round.  I would also offer them a no trade or no movement clause as an enticement to maybe take a little bit less and to give the team some flexibility.

I have faith the Canucks will get it done.  I do not see them wanting to end up anywhere else.  The Sedins are heavily involved in the Vancouver area with the BC Children's Hospital funding.  They are going down in the history books as two of the greatest Canucks who ever stepped foot in Vancouver.

With this, I give you a Sedin Top 10...

 Until next time... stay classy! -George

30 NHL Teams... 30 Bold Predictions... 2013 Edition

Anaheim Ducks – Bruce Boudreau will be a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, but will not win it.

Boston Bruins – will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals this season, Bergeron wins the Selke Trophy.

Buffalo Sabres – Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller will both get traded to playoff bubble teams this season.  Prediction:  Vanek to Minnesota, Miller to Edmonton.  Ron Rolston also gets fired near season’s end.  Darcy Regier gets fired right before next year’s draft.

Calgary Flames – Jay Feaster will get fired right before the trade deadline, Brian Burke comes in and trades for Dion Phaneuf.

Carolina Hurricanes – Kirk Muller will be fired 20 games into the season, not because its his fault.

Chicago Blackhawks – will become back to back Presidents Trophy winners, but will not win the Stanley Cup this year.  Will make it to the Western Conference Finals.

Colorado Avalanche – Nathan McKinnon will be a Calder Trophy Finalist.

Co#lumbus Blue Jackets – Bobrovsky does not put up anywhere near the numbers he did last season, Cbus still makes the playoffs.  Nathan Horton comeback will be short lived due to injury.

Dallas Stars – Jamie Benn will lead the team in goals and points. 

Detroit Red Wings – will have more points than the 2^nd seed Islanders, but will not win the Atlantic Division.

Edmonton Oilers – Will trade for Braydon Coburn at the trade deadline, Devyn Dubnyk will not finish the season as the starting goalie

Florida Panthers – Tim Thomas will request a trade to Colorado… he will miss his cave settings

Los Angeles Kings – Drew Doughty wins the Norris Trophy, also Jonathan Quick is Vezina nominee, but doesn’t win it.

Minnesota Wild – will trade for Thomas Vanek at the trade deadline, will clinch the playoffs on the last day of the regular season.

Montreal Canadiens – PK Subban will finish 3^rd on the team in points and will be resigned during this season.

Nashville Predators – Shea Weber will demand a trade half way into the season, and will not be traded.  Seth Jones wins the Calder Trophy.

New Jersey Devils – Brodeur will fall due to injury, Cory Schneider takes the #1 goalie spot 25 games into the season.  Brodeur era officially ends this season in NJ.  NJ will miss the playoffs by 4 points.

NY Islanders – Jack Capuano wins the Jack Adams Award.  John Tavares wins the Art Ross Trophy.

NY Rangers – Henrik Lundqvist chooses not to resign in New York.  Lundqvist will win the Vezina Trophy.  Rangers miss the playoffs.  Lundqvist will end up in Philly making 9m per year.

Ottawa Senators – will make the playoffs on the last day of the regular season.

Philadelphia Flyers – Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds will not make it past this season without getting traded.  Will sign Henrik Lundqvist at start of next season’s free agency. 

Phoenix Coyotes – Mike Ribeiro will lead the team in points, Keith Yandle will be traded to Boston for Brad Marchand

Pittsburgh Penguins – Marc Andre Fleury gets traded for picks, Pens bring in Halak.

San Jose Sharks – will end up trading Dan Boyle at the trade deadline to Florida for picks/prospect.  Will resign Jumbo Joe and Patrick Marleau.

St. Louis Blues – will trade Halak to Pittsburgh for picks/prospects.  Can we smell LA/STL round 3 in the playoffs this upcoming playoffs?

Tampa Bay Lightning – Steve Yzerman leaves after the season ends and departs for Detroit as Ken Holland’s personal assistant.  Neither Ben Bishop nor Anders Lindback steals the #1 goalie spot.

Toronto Maple Leafs – Jonathan Bernier will become the Leafs #1 goalie halfway through the season, will pull a James Reimer come playoff time.

Vancouver Canucks – David Booth will not play 10 games this season; will have season ending surgery on groin.  Canucks will get swept by the St. Louis Blues in the quarterfinals in the first round.  Mike Gillis will be fired once playoffs end.  Laurence Gilman becomes new GM.

Washington Capitals – Alex Ovechkin wins the Hart Trophy and Rocket Richard Trophy.  Mike Green (if healthy) gets Norris consideration, but won’t win the Norris.  Will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Winnipeg Jets – Claude Noel will be fired at season’s end after Jets miss the playoffs.