Canucks season preview: Line combinations
With the recent signing of the gritty and versatile Raffi Torres, the Canucks have a full compliment of NHL level forwards for the upcoming season. Aside from Cody Hodgson, who needs to have a fantastic camp, players like Jordan Schroeder, Alexandre Bolduc, Sergei Shirokov, Mario Bliznak, and Viktor Oreskevich are long-shots to make the opening day roster.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Aaron Rome, Alexander Edler, Alexandre Bolduc, Alexandre Burrows, Andrew Alberts, Christian Ehrhoff, Cody Hodgson, Dan Hamhuis, Daniel Sedin, Darcy Hordichuk, Henrik Sedin, Jannik Hansen, Jordan Schroeder, Keith Ballard, Kevin Bieksa, Manny Malhotra, Mario Bliznak, Mason Raymond, Mikael Samuelsson, Raffi Torres, Rick Rypien, Ryan Kesler, Sami Salo, Sergei Shirokov, Shane O’Brien, Tanner Glass, Viktor Oreskevich
Canucks season preview: Sizing up the roster
GM Mike Gillis didn’t waste anytime making changes to a Vancouver team that has bowed out in the 2nd round of the playoffs 2 yeas in a row. His first move was to send the Canucks 2nd round pick, Steve Bernier, and Michael Grabner to the Florida Panthers for Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskivich.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, NHLHS Features, Nashville Predators, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Western Conference Tags: Aaron Rome, Alexander Edler, Alexandre Bolduc, Alexandre Burrows, and Darcy Hordichuk, Andrew Alberts, Andrew Raycroft, Christian Erhoff, Cody Hodgson, Cory Schneider, Dan Hamhuis, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Ian Clark, Jannik Hansen, Joel Perrault, Jordan Schroeder, Keith Ballard, Kevin Bieksa, Kyle Wellwood, Manny Malhotra, Mario Bliznak, Mason Raymond, Michael Grabner, Mikael Samuelsson, Mike Gillis, Rick Rypien, Robert Luongo, Roland Melanson, Ryan Johnson, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Suter, Sami Salo, Sergei Shirokov, Shane O’Brien, Shea Weber, Steve Bernier, Tanner Glass, Tomas Fleischmann, Victor Oreskivich
What’s the deal with signing Willie Mitchell?
Last year that player seemed to be Alex Tanguay a player coming off injury but who has showed the league that he could play in his role. This season, that free agent happens to be former Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell.
Categories: NHLHS Features Tags: Anton Volchenkov, Kevin Bieksa, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Willie Mitchell, Zybnek Michalek
Pros & Cons: Los Angeles Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will interact.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Pacific, Playoff Coverage, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alexander Edler, Alexander Frolov, Alexandre Burrows, Anze Kopitar, Christian Erhoff, Daniel Sedin, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Fredrik Modin, Henrik Sedin, Jack Johnson, Jon Quick, Jonathan Bernier, Justin Williams, Kevin Bieksa, Mathieu Schneider, Michal Handzus, Mikael Samuelsson, Pavol Demitra, Rob Scuderi, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Smyth, Sean O'Donnell, Shane O’Brien, Willie Mitchell
Canucks Clinch NW Division Crown
With a 4-3 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, the Canucks clinched their 2nd straight Northwest Division title and their 3rd in the last 4 years.
Ryan Kesler opened the scoring at 5:02 of the 1st period with a short-handed goal with assists going to Sami Salo and Alex Burrows. For Burrows, that was his league leading 7th shorthanded point of the season.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alex Burrows, Alexander Edler, Alexander Ovechkin, Andrew Brunette, Antti Miettinen, Cody Almond, Henrik Sedin, Kevin Bieksa, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Niklas Backstrom, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Sami Salo
Who is the Canucks MVP?
With the season drawing to a close and the Canucks sitting alone atop the Northwest Division, it’s time to take a look at possible MVP candidates. Read more…
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alex Burrows, Christian Erhoff, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Kevin Bieksa, Mikael Samuelsson, Mike Gillis, Pavol Demitra, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Sami Salo, Willie Mitchell
The Tavares Show
Are we still doubting the number one overall pick from the 2009 NHL Entry Draft?
The speed of the NHL is something that takes adjusting to. As is the surrounding development of players.
When John Tavares first stepped on the scene out on Long Island with the Islanders, it was other teams that weren’t prepared for him. Things changed. The issue that started approximately twenty games into the season was the space Tavares was not able to obtain on the ice during his shifts.
It might have taken a bit of time but John Tavares seems to have found his game again.
Categories: Atlantic, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, New York Islanders Tags: Dwayne Roloson, Dylan Reese, Freddie Meyer, John Tavares, Kevin Bieksa, Matt Moulson, Vancouver Canucks
Fridays NHL Morning Papers (Western Conference)
(hat tip to the boys of Illegal Curve. Thanks to their amazing class and their blessing to take over this feature here at NHL Hot Stove. We hope you enjoy the latest daily series.)
Categories: Morning Papers, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Alex Auld, Alex Burrows, Antti Niemi, Brent Burns, Cody McLeod, Cristobal Huet, Dan Boyle, Darren Helm, Drew Miller, Dustin Brown, Ilya Bryzgalov, Jimmy Howard, Joe Sacco, Jon Quick, Kevin Bieksa, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Mike Babcock, Patrick Eaves, Rob Blake, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Miller, Sam Gagner, Sami Salo, Scottie Upshall, Stan Bowman, Todd McLellan, Willie Mitchell
