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
Canucks re-sign Mason Raymond
NHLHS Vancouver Canucks Correspondents Will & Valerie Wittstruck take a look at Mason Raymond’s new contract.
The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed Mason Raymond to a 2-year deal that will pay the speedy winger 2.5 million this season and 2.6 million in 2011-12. The deal happened right before both sides were going to present their case in Raymond’s arbitration hearing. Had the hearing gone on as planned, many believe that Raymond would’ve been awarded 3-3.5 million per year and that would’ve made it difficult for the Canucks to re-sign him considering their current cap situation.
Categories: Around the League, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alexandre Burrows, Chicago Blackhawks, Eric Fehr, Jason Botchford, Kyle Wellwood, Mason Raymond, Michael Grabner, Mike Gillis, Pavol Demitra, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ryan Callahan, ryane clowe, Steve Bernier, Travis Zajac
Canucks back at it
With 2 games already in the books and the series tied 1-1 between the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings, here are a few observations.
The Kings youth hasn’t been a liability… yet
Their core of young players have played extremely well under early pressure. Facing the raucous crowd in Vancouver is no easy task, now they have to perform in front of their own crowd. It will be interesting to see if the butterflies show up when they hit the Forum ice tonight. Opening on the road may have been a blessing for the Kings, especially since they made it out of GM Place with the all important split.
Penalties… “too many”
While much has been made of the “too many men on the ice” call that led to the Kings winning power play goal on Sunday, it could be argued that had the Canucks buried some of their chances earlier in the game that call wouldn’t even have happened. The Canucks found themselves in the box 7 times, while the Kings were only penalized 4 times.
The Alberts experiment
Brought in at the trade deadline for some depth on defense, Andrew Alberts was supposed to be a shot-blocking, punishing defenseman that could fill-in as a 5/6 defensemen. Unfortunately that hasn’t been the case as he’s taken way too many penalties, made too many defensive mistakes, and generally been a liability on the back end. Did Canucks fans expect too much or has he just had a hard time adjusting to the Western Conference style of play? No one really knows. Barring another injury or really poor effort by another d-man, he’s probably going to spend the rest of the play-offs in the press box as Aaron Rome is back from injury and going to play in Game 3.
What the Canucks need to do:
- Play physical – they need to get in on the forecheck and bang the Kings players, especially their skill players like Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, and Drew Doughty. It’s not easy to play 20-30 minutes a game at play-off intensity, but it’s much easier if you aren’t being hit.
- Need for speed – the Canucks, who have one of the fastest skaters in the NHL in Mason Raymond, have more team speed than the Kings and need to use it to their advantage.
- Fewer penalties – plain and simple, stay out of the box!
- Net presence – they need to get more bodies in front of Jonathan Quick, he is an excellent netminder and like most will stop any puck he can see. Additionally, the Canucks need to get in his “kitchen” both physically and verbally. See what the kid is made of.
- Score early – survive the first 10 minutes and get some pucks behind Quick to get the crowd out of it.
We’re still picking the Canucks to win the series in 6 games, but they still have plenty of work to do as they are up against a very solid team in the Kings.
What are your thoughts on the series and who do you think is going to win it?
I-5 Canucks
NHLHS Canucks Correspondents
hipcheck44@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @Hipcheck44 and @WCE71944
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Aaron Rome, Andrew Alberts, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Jonathan Quick, Mason Raymond
Ushering in a New Generation: Vancouver Canucks
In our newest feature, Ushering in a New Generation, our talented writer Katlyn Gambill takes a deeper look into team success based on a player’s age. Today, she looks at the Vancouver Canucks, who tie for the second oldest team in the league.
Third in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks currently rank as the fourth oldest team in the NHL (at 28.08 years). Oddly enough, only eight of the twenty-six members on their current roster are over the age of thirty. The Canucks don’t, however, have any players under the age of twenty-three (a rarity in the league today).
Categories: 30 Team Series, NHLHS Features, Ushering in a New Generation Tags: Alexandre Burrows, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Mason Raymond, Pavol Demitra, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Sami Salo, Vancouver Canucks
Saturday NHL Morning Papers (Western Conference)
In NHL Morning Papers we break down the stories published in newspapers around the country. By reading our synopsis the average hockey fan can catch up to all the happenings around the National Hockey League.
Categories: Morning Papers, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Brent Burns, Dan Boyle, Davis Payne, Don Maloney, Jack Johnson, James Wisniewski, Ken Hitchcock, Marc Crawford, Marc Eduard Vlasic, Mason Raymond, Mathieu Garon, Matt Duchene, Mikael Samuelsson, Mike Modano, Milan Jurcina, Patrick Kane, Ryan Suter, Scottie Upshall, Todd McLellan
Thursday NHL Morning Papers (Western Conference)
In NHL Morning Papers we break down the stories published in newspapers around the country. By reading our synopsis the average hockey fan can catch up to all the happenings around the National Hockey League.
Categories: Morning Papers, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Alain Vigneault, Antti Miettinen, Brad Stuart, Christian Ehrhoff, Corey Perry, Dan Ellis, Daniel Winnik, Davis Payne, Derek Dorsett, Duncan Keith, Gilbert Brule, Jarome Iginla, Joe Sacco, Joel Quenneville, Mason Raymond, Mike Comrie, Mike Ribeiro, Niklas Kronwall, Pat Quinn, Pavel Datsyuk, Ryan O'Reilly
Categories: NHLHS Features Tags: Alex Auld, Andrew Brunette, Antti Miettinen, Corey Perry, Curtis McElhinney, David Backes, David Poile, Devin Setoguchi, Jason Strudwick, Joe Pavelski, Manny Malhotra, Martin Hanzal, Mason Raymond, Mikko Koivu, Patrick Kane, Petr Prucha, Radim Vrbata, Ryan Clowe, Terry Murray, Todd Richards
The Value Of: Ray Whitney
The Carolina Hurricanes, currently clawing and scratching their way out of the cellar within Eastern Conference, face some tough decisions down the road. From now until March 3rd, one of two things will happen.
Categories: By Teams, Deadline Speculation, Value Of: Tags: Bill Guerin, Cam Ward, Eric Staal, Joe Corvo, Mason Raymond, Matt Cullen, Paul Maurice, Ray Whitney, Rod Brind'Amour, Ryan Kesler
