We Are All Canucks

Why does Jay Janower always sound so pissed off?

2008-08-19T16:33:00.001-07:00

I was listening in to Jay Janower of Global BC Sports fill in for Dan Russell on Sportstalk last night. To start off the show, he went a 20 minute diatribe about how Canadian Olympic team still wasn't the getting the results that we expect and speculated some of the reasons that he thought we were getting the results that we have. He listed as an example the practice of awarding participation ribbons on children's sporting activities as taking away from the competitiveness of sporting events, and creating a culture that being there and not winning is good enough.

While I don't necessarily disagree with that statement, Team Canada's positive results in the fast few days that have already surpassed 2004 with many days left takes some of the sting out of that argument. Clearly, the Canadian Olympic Committee's hiring of Alex Baumann from Australia to take over Canada's Road to Excellence initiative beginning in January 2007 has already begun to yield results. However my big issues with Jay's rant are twofold. Firstly, he needs to chill out! When I used to listen to him fill in on Mojo, he was exactly the same way, continually pissed off. jay, the glass isn't always fully empty! Secondly, he went on a brief tangent and targetted certain 'cultures' as part of the reason that Canada has disappointed in the world sporting stage, citing cuts in Richmond's school district as influencing this. Whoa! Wait a sec here. Certain cultures and Richmond.....hmm.......... what could you possibly be suggesting Jay? Oh I get it, blame Asian immigrants. It's fashionable, especially on the internet. He did return to his argument, probably when he realized that he was wading into outright racist territory instead of implied. Culture is sure holding back the Chinese Olympic Team from leading the medal count, eh?

There are many places to point fingers in this argument, but pointing to certain cultures is lame, pure and simple.

Ok now really............WHAT NOW?!?

2008-04-16T23:48:00.000-07:00

What a surreal past few days. Unless you are living under a rock, you have probably heard by now that Dave Nonis has been fired by Francesco Aquilini. On that day, the big news was that the Canucks were about to sign a potential big piece of the offensive puzzle by signing Fabian Brunstrom. However, one of things, as it was reported, holding him back was that he wanted assurances that Dave Nonis would still be around after he signed. When I heard that, I thought oh oh, this could be trouble. Surely enough, on that evening of April 14th, word came down that Nonis had been fired.

While I am of the agreement that ownership has every right to do what they want, I think that have made a big mistake. And with the exception of a few shortsighted people who like to call the radio shows or a select few journalists, the reaction from many fans, media, and respected hockey people is that this is a wrong move of the highest degree. A studdering, bumbling Aquilini at his press conference tried to outline that he was looking for leadership that would build a sustainable winner and yet fired Nonis because not making the playoffs was unacceptable. How ironic. And of course, they fire the man who said all along that they were building for the long term to win four rounds, not one. If you want to see leadership and vision, go to Canucks.com and watch the difference between Nonis' and Aquilini's press conferences. I truly think the Canucks have taken a step back in their quest for the Cup. I don't know where they will go from here. Right now, I'm too sick to care.

What now?

2008-04-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

Well, after the initial shock of the Canucks not making the playoffs have set in, what should they do to move forward and improve the team for next year? Listening to the talk shows, there is no shortage of advice being offered from armchair GMs. One thing's for sure: Changes will be made to next year's team. Very likely, both Trevor Linden and Markus Naslund have played their last game for the Canucks. The Canucks now have cap space to sign free agents, a 10th overall draft pick in this summers amateur draft, and quite a few NHL ready prospects. Will they sign a few guys and bring on a few prospects, or will they sign some and make a trade? Who knows? Let's just hope that they make the right moves and avoid the injuries that limited their effectiveness from day 1 of training camp in 2007-08. Things don't look as bad as it may have seemed.

Anyone still around?

2008-03-17T19:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time between posts, so where have I been? Well, nowhere really. I've been lazy I guess. The Canucks have been down and up and down and up since I last posted, and it was hard at times to post. The Canucks have been through a lot this year with injuries galore and some resultant inconsistent play. The media and callers to the talk shows have been highly critical of the Canucks this year. Sometimes it was deserved. But other times, it sounded as if the sky was going to fall when it really all that was needed was a little perspective. I mean, how well do you expect a lineup that is lacking 5 of their 6 defenseman?

Anyways, they seem to have things going now. They are in good playoff position, most of their injured players are back, and destiny is in their hands. What else could you ask for?

Reconnecting with my Canucks

2008-01-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

After being out of town for so long, I feel that there was no better way to reconnect with the Canucks than to actually see a game. Val and I were at the game against the Islanders the other night, and we were not disappointed. It was an exciting and weird game, and the score flattered the Islanders as it probably should have been a blowout if it weren't for the heroic goaltending of Rick DiPietro and lucky post saves.

However, the game was good, with plenty of drama and an entertaining shootout. Tonight, they are in San Jose to take on the Sharks. Expect a great effort from a Nucks team looking for revenge from the last game.

I'm back!!!

2008-01-02T14:09:00.000-08:00

Hey all, I'm back from a 10 day family holiday in Boston. While I would have been able to update this blog while I was away, it's not quite the same watching a game that you listen to over streaming audio or follow on the game log. I'm glad to see that they did quite well over the break. Overall, they weathered a tough month and they are in great position for the New Year. By the way, I wish all of you a happy and prosperous New Year!!!

Boston is quite a lovely city. There was plenty of snow on the ground and when we hung out by the outdoor skating rink at Boston Common, it just felt so Christmassey. It's clear that the Bruins are the #4 team over there. However, I think it has to do more with the kind of team that they have over there than the state of hockey in the city. They love their hockey there. All the universities have teams and there is popular grassroots support for hockey there. This Original 6 city deserves a team that is much better than what they have now.

Welcome back Lou!

2007-12-19T00:10:00.000-08:00

We knew you'd be back for the heavily hyped showdown with Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils. In the end though, it wasn't even close. The good guys won 5-0 in a game where the Devils looked confused and out of sorts and the Canucks looked rested from a brutally long road trip.

Is was good to see Luongo get this fifth shutout of the season and the Sedin and Nazzy line light it up tonight. Did you notice at the end of the game Luongo scooping up the puck. You think he was doing it as a souvenir for himself? No way. It was for the kid that is in the Canuck Place commercial with him. What a guy! One day, we'll call him Stanley Cup Lou! ;-)

Tired Nucks lose to San Jose

2007-12-13T21:54:00.000-08:00

Oh well, I guess tonight's loss was bound to happen. The Canucks have showed some of their best moments this season have come in the face of adversity. This month has not been kind to them. Not only has the schedule been brutal, the injury and flu bug have hit the team as well. Tonight, they played without Kesler, who has the flu and "had it coming out of both ends" as coach AV put it. Luongo has been out for three games with his rib injury, and now Brendan Morrison is out with a wrist injury. It's not a pretty picture, but they were able to pull off a win in Anaheim last night. In the final period of last night's game, their tired legs began to show, and it was really noticable in tonight's game.

Next up is Edmonton on Saturday. Wow, they actually get a day of rest tomorrow! Thank you, schedulers! Luongo hopes to play in that game, and Kes should be back as well. If they can get their share of points through this tough stretch, they will be just fine heading into the Christmas break. Remember, last year, the Canucks didn't even get their act together until after the break.

The Crosby Show come to town

2007-12-09T12:14:00.000-08:00

Last night's game was Sidney Crosby's first game in Vancouver. Given all the hype and media coverage that this visit garnered, it was a relief to see that they game actually lived up to the hype (Bettman, we'd like a yearly visit please! Fix the schedule! And I'm not talking about the revised one for next year). The game had it all: fast pace, emotion, hard hitting, a Crosby penalty shot, and a high drama shootout.

I was impressed with the Pens. I think we all know that they are a good team that has more weapons than just Sidney Crosby. I was also impressed with Danny Sabourin. He did not look anything like the nervous backup to Luongo last season. However, I don't think he is #1 goalie material, and with Fleury not turning out to be the real deal, I think the Pens will have to address their goalie situation before they have a shot at contending for the Cup.

As for the Canucks, we saw what we have come to expect from them: A hard-working team backed by stellar goaltending and a never say die attitude. I was impressed with their resolve to tie and try and win the game. The only thing that disappointed me was that they were not able to get the win for Luongo, especially since he won the battles with Crosby. However, this is the new NHL, and that means we get a point for the shootout loss!!! Everyone went home reasonably happy.

Solid road win

2007-12-05T22:26:00.000-08:00

After a few days off and all the fuss that the media created over coach AV's comments about Linden's role on the team, it was good to see the Canucks get back onto the ice tonight with a solid road win over the Chicago Blackhawks. No, it was not a perfect game. Not even close. However, they kept things simple, scored opportunistically (is that even a word?), and got solid goaltending from Luongo. In other words, they did what it took to get the win, and the Canucks have that formula figured out to a tee.

The boys are now in that tough stretch where they play 11 games in 18 nights. If they can get to the Christmas break relatively healthy and with a successful December record, they will be alright.

Remember when ..........

2007-11-27T23:30:00.000-08:00

Remember when Bobby Clarke signed Ryan Kesler to an offer sheet of 1.9 million? It was a ridiculous offer at the time, an over 200% raise. However, the Canucks felt that they had to keep him because of the unrealized potential that he had yet to show. In the off-season, Kes re-signed a 3 year deal for 1.7 mill a season. That is still a lot of money for him at this stage in his career, but the hope was that he would earn that salary eventually. Well, I think 'eventually' has arrived. He has been our most consistent forward all season long with hard work and the numbers to show. In tonight's win against the Ducks, he once again showed us his 2-way game that's stifling in the D end, and increasingly deadly on the offense. His second goal was especially sweet, something to stick it to Pronger after getting cross checked scoring his first goal.

Games are coming fast and furious for the 'Nucks now!

2007-11-25T23:50:00.000-08:00

After an early stretch where it seemed like the Canucks played a game or 2 and then had to wait almost a week to play another one, it now seems like they play back-to-backs or every other night now. Since the last update (glorious Minnesota win), they have played 2 more games: Friday against St. Louis and Sunday vs. Chcago at home.

It seemed like fatigue got the best of them on Friday and they lost 3-1 to the Blues. However, on Sunday, the Canucks played a much better game and beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0. This game showcased some of the great young talent that the Hawks have. They play the kind of up-tempo game that we all want to see. What was surprising for me was that the Canucks were able to keep up with them and play the speed game as well.

Way to go guys!

2007-11-21T22:29:00.000-08:00

i think I'll keep this short and very sweet tonight. The Canucks, especially Naslund and the "Pinky and the Brain twins" made Derek Boogaard eat his words and look like the foolish goon that he is. Way to go Naslund on the hat trick. This line is really starting to click and do some damage with the trademark Sedin cycle game and Nazzy's sniping. Oh wait, did I say cycle game? Not tonight. 2 of Nazzy's goals were scored on the rush from Sedin passes. What sweetness. Way to humble the Wild! Many felt that the Canucks would be too tired to compete in this game. I say never ever underestimate this team and the oodles of heart that they have. Ever.

Reffing was terrible tonight

2007-11-20T20:50:00.000-08:00

The Canucks have been on a roll lately, but they lost in a shootout tonight to the Oilers 5-4. The Oilers started out strong, played with a purpose, and the 1st period ended 3-1. However, the Canucks came back in the 2nd and scored despite a Canucks parade to the penalty box. While I felt that most of the penalties were fair, the Nucks got a serious raw deal from the refs. They deserved a few as well, but no Oiler penalties were called until it was make up time in the third period. Regardless, they took a 4-3 lead on a beautiful Naslund shot on the PP. The Oilers tied it on another PP. Get the picture?

In the end, the Oil won it on another shootout. 5 of their 8 wins this season have been in shootout. While that's great for them, I don't think many other teams have benefitted from the new OT rules as much as they have.

Bring it on, Minnesota!

2007-11-16T22:37:00.000-08:00

Nice win tonight, guys! The Canucks outworked and outskated the Wild and were rewarded with a blowout 6-2 victory. What really bugged me about the game though was the chippiness that the Wild displayed as the game got out of reach. First it was Gaborik headhunting Ryan Kesler cause he couldn't stand the fact that Kes checked him well all game. What's wrong Gabby? Can't stand the heat? His elbow on Kes was cheap and premeditated. Then you have Aaron Voros' elbow on Luongo. Boogard was looking for people that he could hurt. BS nonsense. Then Koivu elbowed Ohlund before he retaliated with a big two-handed slash. All I have to say about that is way to stick up for yourself! There is talk of possible suspensions to Ohlund and Gaborik for their infractions. I doubt anything will happen. Finally, Stephane Veilleux shot the puck at Jeff Cowan at the end of the game. How classy is that? What a bunch of sore losers.
Next game against the Wild is Wednesday. Don't think about trying anything nasty, or we'll blow you out again.

The conditions are ripe for a Canucks resurgence

2007-11-03T23:26:00.000-07:00

Seriously! Ok, hear me out. They have appeared to hit rock bottom, and have nowhere to go but up. The offense seems to have all slumped at the same time, but even a modest recovery would result in goals that would be enough for Luongo to protect. Luongo hasn't played his best, but do you think that's gonna last? No way. As for the defense, the Canucks have lost 3 of their top 4 defensemen and have called up Alex Edler and Luc Bourdon to share the load. Edler has aleardy lived up to the hype and can only get better from here on. This is Bourdon's chance to shine and quiet all the doubters. After a solid game against the Colorado Avalanche, I think he's off to the great start.
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There seems to be a lot of people who like to bash Ohlund. Oftentimes what you hear is that he's too slow, he's Euro, he's not playing with passion, blah blah yadda yadda. Can these people just chill out? Ohlund has and probably always will be an underrated defenseman. That is ok. The reason for that is that he is making 3.5 mill, a very reasonable salary for a defenseman of his skill and experience. He has been our trusty top 2 D for many years. He can do it all and play in all situations from power play to penalty killing and is dependable as ever. No, he is not the fastest player in the game, but his speed is deceptive. He can do everything at full speed, and his smarts afford him optimal positioning. So please, leave Ole alone.

The problem with the Canucks is.........

2007-11-01T23:37:00.001-07:00

I wish I could tell you. Their performances of late have been improved, but they took a step back tonight against the Predators. I was at the games tonight and I did not like what I saw. They seem to come out with good intentions with a couple of good shifts to start the game. Howver, the game took a sudden turn when the 'Nucks took a penalty. The Preds scored on their next shot on the power play on a shot that Luongo should have had. Then, minutes later, Erat scored on a breakaway to make to 2-0. After that, it seemed like the wind was taken out of their sails. And it seemed like the harder they tried to break out of their funk, the more it seemed things went wrong, to an almost comical point. That was until Salo got hit by a clearing shot from Alex Edler in the 3rd period. Apparently, he has a broken orbital bone and it sounds like he'll be out for a long time. Some chubby ****tards sitting next to laughed and clapped when they saw that. Karma, dudes. Don't mess with it. Bieksa also had to leave the game with a deep cut to the calf. Sounds bad as well.

The one stat where the Canucks had the advantage was shots. However, many came from the perimeter. Also, since the Preds scored on their first two shots, there wasn't much incentive for them to bump it up.

So where do they go from here? I hope they have hit rock bottom now. The only way for them to get out of this predicament is to work their way out of it. Without 3 of their top d, it's gonna be tough, but they have no choice, cause all they can do now is work their way back up.

We are only all Canucks when we win

2007-10-25T09:24:00.000-07:00

This morning, a co-worker asked me why I only post after the Canucks win. While I try to post after every game or major event, I was just too upset at watching another no-effort outing to post. I turn green and start throwing stuff around and my fingers get too big to type on the keyboard. Seriously though, something needs to happen to light a fire under these guys.

A win is a win

2007-10-22T00:45:00.000-07:00

On the scoresheet, today's win against the Bluejackets looks like a perfect road win. They won 4-1, came out hard and scored the first goal, the special teams were clicking, and Naslund scored a beautiful goal. There was one glaring stat though that tarnishes this win: they got no shots in the second period, and none in 30 minutes. They were, to their credit shorthanded for much of the second. That's one thing Dan Russell will conveniently forget to mention. Anyways, there's no excuse for not getting shots on net for that length of time.

This is a good way to start this 4 game road trip, and a good recovery over the sub-par effort against LA.

Now that's more like it!!!

2007-10-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

In the back-to-back wins over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday and Saturday night, the Vancouver Canucks are showing a return to form that brought them so much success last year. The defensive end is still a little shaky at times, but you can always rely on Luongo to bail you out. In Friday night's 5-2 win, I felt that that they were outplayed for 2 periods, but prevailed with superior goaltending and opportunistic scoring. In Saturday night's game, they outclassed the Oilers in all facets of the game.

So far this year, it seems like scoring has not been much of an issue as was predicted. Mo and Nazzy are putting the puck in the net and taking a lot of pressure off the Sedin twins, and the power play has been lights out. So far so good.

Some positives to take from tonight's game against the Flyers

2007-10-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

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Nice win against the Flames!

2007-10-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

The win against the Calgary Flames on Saturday brought back some fond memories of last year's team that when facing adversity, they never say die and more often than not, prevail when all is said and done. I don't think the game should have made it to overtime. The game was 3-1 for the Canucks with momentum on their side when the refs made an iffy call on Markus Naslund. The Flames scored in the onsuing power play and used the momentum to tie the game.

The Canucks survived the onslaught, killed a 4 on 3 penalty in OT, and finally won the game with 5 seconds left on a power play of their own.

Two positives that I noticed from that game was that the Canuck attack appeared to be getting their regular season legs and timing back, and Markus Naslund had a great game. He vowed to shoot more this year, and that attitude resulted in the second goal of the game as he shot the puck as he blazed up the left wing. He also save the puck from leaving the zone in the final play of the game and passed it over to Ohlund at the point for the shot and the eventual goal by Daniel. Good signs for sure.

Ceili's sucks!!! Spread the word!

2007-10-06T00:09:00.000-07:00

Tonight, we caught the VIFF film "My Kid Could Paint That". Afterwards, we went to Ceili's Irish Pub on Granville and Smithe to watch the rest of the Canucks game. Service was slow, atmosphere was artificial and contrived. After the loss, we decided to head out and go home. Once I got home, I realized that I had left my backpack in there. So I called the bar to ask them if they had seen it. The woman asked me to call back in afew minutes as they were busy. The second time, she asked me to call afer they closed since it was too busy to go upstairs and no one was around to help her. I called again and asked to talk to someone upstairs and got the same answer.

As it is a busy Friday night, I can understand if they are too busy to accomodate that request. However, I asked my buddy Ed who lived downtown to go there and look for it. The bouncers would not let him in to see if the bag was still there. How lame. I have heard bad things about that place before, but this experience will ensure that I will never again set foot in this bush operation. I am not upset that I will probably never see my bag again; I am more upset with the fact that this business lost sight of a customer who helps keep this place running.

Shannon and Raymond make the team!

2007-10-01T22:41:00.000-07:00

Today the Canucks made the final round of cute before the start of the regular season. Off to the Moose are Luc Bourdon (D), Mike Brown (RW), Patrick Coulombe (D), Jannick Hansen (RW), Michael Grabner RW, Jason Jaffray (LW) and Rick Rypien.
Dan McGillis (D) was given an outright release.

This means that some notable youngsters have made the team. They are: Ryan Shannon, Mason Raymond, Nathan McIver, and Alex Edler. This should not come as a surprise. Shannon and Raymond offer both speed and skill to the Canucks offense, and anyone who saw them in the pre-season could see the potential that they have and brought to the pre-season. I know, it's not the regular season, but I have no doubt that they can make a difference all year long. People are always going to ask questions like what about the regular season, then the playoffs, then about winning in the playoffs, until they raise the Cup. Let's just take it one game at a time. In the meantime, I am excited to have their speed in the lineup. Oh, and Edler has had a great camp. He's going to be a great defenceman. McIvor busted his butt to make the team. Congrats to him!

I can't wait until the Canucks open the season on Friday against the Sharks. Last time I checked, whales were higher than Sharks in food chain. Also, they're warm blooded while Sharks are cold blooded freaks.

Pre-season is here! Woohoo!

2007-09-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

Last night, I went to to the first pre-season game for the Canucks vs the Ducks. I got to see what I expected to see, and that's a couple vets and a whole bunch of fringe players and propects trying to make a positive impression. They definitely looked rusty playing their first game while the Ducks were playing their fourth. Consequently, they took the play to the Canucks in the first half while the Canucks carried the play in the second half. In the end, we lost 3-2 in OT in a mean nothing game.

A few players stood out for me. The Sedins look like they're ready to take it to the next level. Once they got their legs back, they were all over the Ducks' zone, and it looked like they would put it away in the third. Ryan Shannon, a trade pick up from the Ducks, was all over the ice and is intent on making the team. I think he's going to make it, but I'm not the coach. ;-)

Training camp is near! And how about those unis?

2007-09-09T00:57:00.000-07:00

Regular season is now only a month away and the rookie training camp is in full swing. I'm pretty stoked about this upcoming season and it will be exciting to see the gradual buildup of Canucks buzz in the city. I think this team is going to have a great season. The defence is set, with a top 6 that is the envy of the league and arguably the best goalie in the world. As for offense, I think goals will be easier to come by for them this year. And look for one rookie to crack the team this season. My money is on Mason Raymond making it. Management love this kid's speed and skill, and he has been wowing everyone at the rookie camp so far.

Now, on to the new uniforms. I'm still not totally sold on them yet. Actually the only part that bothers me is the 'Vancouver' that's pastered over the top of the orca logo. I don't know if that was necessary and add some clutter to the design, but I must admit that it is growing on me. And it really won't matter once they hoist that cup in June! ;-)

Canucks' Cap Situation

2007-07-11T16:45:00.000-07:00

So far, Dave Nonis has done a great job with his off-season signings, considering the salary cap room that we had to work with. Aaron Miller solidifies the D, Curtis Sanford will be an excellent backup goalie, Byron Ritchie adds a dimension of grit, and Brad Isbister could be next year's Taylor Pyatt. Speaking of Pyatt, Nonis did well to re-sign him and extend Ryan Kesler, Kevin Bieksa, and Lukas Krajicek. Bieksa is a rock on D and can do everything. In my opinion, he will one day become the Canucks captain. Here's another bold prediction: It won't be long before he is made captain.

Now, I think Nonis will have to focus his efforts on bolstering the offense, probably through trade to avoid hitting the cap. I'm sure he's on top of that though.

As of July 11, this is how our salary cap situation looks like:

Signed Players
Roberto Luongo $6.75 million
Marcus Naslund $6.0 m
Daniel Sedin $3.75 m
Henrik Sedin $3.75 m
Willie Mitchell $3.5 m
Sami Salo $3.5 m
Brendan Morrison $3.2 m
Ryan Kesler $1.75 m
Taylor Pyatt $1.575 m
Matt Cooke $1.52 m
Aaron Miller $1.5 m
Lukas Krajicek $1.1 m
Jeff Cowan $725,000
Byron Ritchie $675,000
Curtis Sanford $600,000
Kevin Bieksa $525,000
Brad Isbister $525,000
Alex Burrows $500,000
Marc Chouinard buyout $366,663

19 players $45.31 m

Restricted Free Agents
Ryan Shannon $477,500

Unrestricted Free Agents
Brent Sopel $2.4 m
Jan Bulis $1.3 m
Trevor Linden $600,000
Rory Fitzpatrick $450,000
Tyler Bouck $495,000
Josh Green $450,000
Tommi Santala $450,000
Wade Flaherty $450,000
Yannick Tremblay $450,000

Congrats to the Ducks

2007-06-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

Well, another NHL season has come to a close, and I just want to congratulate the Ducks for winning the Cup over the Sens in five. On paper, this match up had the makings of a classic, and I was looking forward to a Canadian team winning the Cup and bringing it home, but it was not to be. It was not really that close in retrospect. I think the Canucks played the Ducks better than the Sens did. But you have to feel for the Sens anyways. For all the great things that Daniel Alfredsson did for Ottawa, he will still be considered a failure as a captain and a team leader until they win one. It may never happen with this team that they have now, but they still have a lot to be proud of.

Next up, an analysis of the Canucks, their signings, and their salary cap situation for the 2007-08 season. Geez, this year has really flown by.

A letter from Dave Nonis to the fans

2007-05-23T17:30:00.001-07:00

How can you not get teary eyed when you read this?

"Dear Inside Edge member,

Last summer, we made it clear to our players and staff what it would mean to be a Canuck from the first day of training camp forward. We asked that our players be accountable to their teammates, their fans, and their community. Through a great deal of work from our players and coaches, this year?s team accomplished that and created their own identity.

Our team went through a great deal of change last off-season. We added 14 new players on our opening day roster along with a new coaching staff and philosophy. Given that much change, it always takes time to adjust and gel. After an up and down first half of the season, our team excelled over the final 46 games (32-8-6) and as their performance improved and confidence grew, so did our expectations. In the end, we all were disappointed that we didn't advance to the third round. However, we are proud of our team and the progress we made. Most importantly, this year?s team has set the standard for seasons to come.

Like all teams that have success in this league, we are building our club from the net out. It is very simple, you cannot win without great goaltending and we believe we have the best in Roberto Luongo. We've always believed that Roberto was one of the most talented goalies in the game, and after he settled into a new city, with new teammates and new coaches, he provided us with some of the most memorable performances this city has ever seen. Several key players in front of him are signed to multi-year deals and we will continue to add to that group.

One of the realities of the new CBA is that you must have good young players on your roster if you are going to have a chance to win. We have worked hard over the past three years to acquire and foster young talent and we are now beginning to see the fruits of our efforts. We're looking forward to seeing some of these young players in our uniform as early as next season.

Finally, I want to thank you. This season the Vancouver Canucks witnessed an incredible display of passion and support each and every night. During Game 7 against Dallas, GM Place was the loudest I?ve ever experienced. It was a night we?ll long remember. This season proved once again that Vancouver is one the greatest hockey cities in the world, and there can be no doubt that the passion of our fans lifted our team.

From all of us here, thank you for your tremendous support. Thank you for your passion for our game, and your Vancouver Canucks. We truly are, all Canucks.

Sincerely,
Dave Nonis"

Hats off to the Canucks

2007-05-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

Last night, the Canucks' season came to an end with a 2-1 double overtime loss to Ducks in game 5. It was a weird game, for sure. Luongo was the big star of the night, making 56 saves in a monster performance and single-handedly kept the Canucks in the game. The way he was playing, it would take a lucky goal to beat him. As it turned out, the Ducks got 2 lucky (and cheap, in my opinion) goals.

In the first goal, Sammy Pahlsson scored after Luongo was pitchforked into the net by another Duck. I have never before seen a goal like that count due to the goalie interference, but I have now. The Ducks' second goal came after a big hit Rob Niedermayer put on Jannick Hansen. The hit would have happened regardless because Hansen had his head down, but he elbowed him, and I thought that should have been a penalty. Luongo thought the same, and briefly looked at the ref to see if it would be called. Unfortunately, the puck ended up going to Scott Niedermayer, who shot the puck past a surprised Luongo literally 2 seconds after the hit.

It was an unfortunate way for them to lose. The way things have gone for the team this season, it felt like the Canucks would get another timely goal when they needed it and we'd be headed back to Vancouver for game 6. But it was not to be.

You really have to tip your hat to this team. They were not supposed to make the playoffs, never mind win the division or a playoff series. They were in year 1 of rebuilding around Luongo. However, they came together as a team, worked their butts off, and sped up the rebuilding program enormously. Now, with 12 playoff games under their belt, they have an idea of what the team needs to address for next year. I think it safe to say that defense is not going to be a problem.

Canucks down 3-1

2007-05-02T01:06:00.000-07:00

Ouch. That hurts. The Canucks played what I thought was their best game of the series and built a 2-0 lead after the second period on goals by Nazzy and Morrison. They played the 3rd seemingly the way they played the first 40 minutes, and that is aggressive. They nearly scored several times to take a 3-0 lead in the game. However Anaheim scored on a bit of a lucky bounce. No matter, the Canucks seemed to brush it off and they came close again in restoring the 2 goal lead. However, another lucky bounce for Anaheim let them tie the game.

Yes, Anaheim was more assertive in the 3rd with a better forecheck, but it didn't seem like they were going to come back until it actually happened. I was there tonight, and it was painful to watch the game and they way it turned out. Btw, wtf was up with the reffing tonight? Hey refs, your job is to ref, and not swing the momentum in another team's favour. I know it sounds like sour grapes now, but it had to be said.

In any case, it's not over yet. You still need to win 4 game to take the series. The Canucks just need to take it one game at a time now. I heard an interesting stat on the radio this morning. The Canucks have trailed a series 3-1 on 6 different occasions and have won 3 of them. We also know that this team will fight till the end. Let's hope they will do that for us again.

Power Play is Powerless

2007-04-29T22:07:00.000-07:00

The Canucks were handed numerous opportunities to take the lead in the game 3 and therefore the series, but they blew it tonight. The overly physical play of the Ducks got them in trouble numerous times, and were penalized accordingly. This included two 5 on 3 power plays of considerable length that they were unable to capitalize on. It's disappointing for sure. On the bright side, they played another workmanlike game. If they combine that with the odd power play goal, they should win. This is the playoffs though and the margin for error is slight. Another outing like this will put them into a tough deficit. Respond for gamne 4 and we'll head back to Anaheim tied 2-2. Ahh they playoffs. Gotta love it.

Canucks Tie Series 1-1!

2007-04-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Just in case you haven't noticed yet, and judging by all those who called into the radio shows to write the Canucks off yet again, they haven't, these Canucks are a gutsy bunch and find ways to win. Once again, their backs were to the wall, and they came through tonight, beating the Ducks 2-1 in double overtime.

It wasn't a pretty game, but what else is new? Once again, they played without Salo and Bieksa on D, so the rest of the guys had to step up and tonight they did. I think this game is their most complete playoff game so far. There were no lulls. Good on Naslund in scoring a beautiful goal tonight. It was like 2003 all over again. Luongo was his stellar best. Krajicek stepped up to play big minutes. How about Cowan? Two goals in two straight games. Sure it was a little lucky, but good things happen when you shoot the puck.

Now the series shifts to Vancouver. Can't wait to hear the fans blow the roof off of GM Place.

Canucks Lose to The Ducks

2007-04-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

Ouch. As much as I was hoping that the Canucks could sneak one out for game one, I knew the odds were stacked against. Their last game was 2 nights ago, were already missing their 2 best forecheckers in Matt Cooke and Ryan Kesler, and now Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa are out with undisclosed injuries.

They got off to a good start, jumping off to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Cowan, but it was all downhill from there. A few bad mistakes led to 3 unanswered Anaheim goals in the third period. Anaheim is a team that will make you pay for your mistakes, and the Canucks did tonight. The game was played far more wide open than the Dallas series, and it seemed like the Canucks could mount a comeback with the opportunities that they were given when it was 3-1, but it was not to be tonight. 5-1 was the final.

I know for sure that Kesler and Cooke will not be back anytime soon. They are pretty tight lipped about Bieksa. He could be back next game or he might be out for awhile. Salo should be back on Friday. Let's hope that they have a better game. They have to play smarter and execute better. After that, things should fall into place.

An open letter to my favorite team

2007-04-24T02:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Vancouver Canucks,

Thank you for rewarding the true fans of your team with a smart, hard-working performance in game 7 of the Western quarterfinals vs. the Dallas Stars to take the series! A lot of people started to lose faith in you after game 6. Ankles were breaking after all the bandwagoners jumped off while still in motion. I had faith that you would bounce back and come up with a kick-ass effort. Win or lose, I would be proud of your effort and what you have accomplished this year. It's safe to say that you bounced back in a huge way.

I want to wish you luck against the Ducks. This time, we are considered to be the heavy underdogs. I seem to recall, however, a time when many so-called experts believed we would have no chance to make the playoffs. Let them predict what they want. The fans know better.

Your fan,
York

Game 7

2007-04-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

I didn't get to update this blog after last night's game 6 loss as I was in Whistler celebrating a friend's stag, and it's probably better that I didn't. They simply did not show up last night as they did in game 5 and came oh so close to putting it away.

So tomorrow night is the big 7th and final game of the series with the Stars. Of course, I think the Canucks will come out hard and take this game and move on the playoffs. The reason is that they no longer have any room for error, and that should work out to the Canucks' advantage. They operate at their best with their backs to the wall, and tomorrow will be their biggest test yet.

A game of inches

2007-04-19T23:58:00.000-07:00

I'll keep this short, cause I'm still having trouble believing what I saw tonight. In the third period with a Vancouver delayed penalty and Turco on the bench, Loui Eriksson passed the puck back to Modano on the point but missed him and bounced back off the boards instead. The puck had plenty on it and appeared to be heading into the empty net, but ended up hitting the outside post. The Stars got a huge boost from this lucky break. On the power play in overtime, they scored a nice goal on a deflection by Brendan Morrow and win the game 1-0 and narrow the series to 3-2.

Sucky how these things work out. After listening to post game comments, they sounded down and disappointed, but not overly dejected. They had 3 chances to put Dallas away and now it's down to 2. Let's march on into the AAC on Saturday and take one more from them on the road.

Canucks take a 3-1 stranglehold on the series!

2007-04-17T22:06:00.000-07:00

The Canucks played a much better game 4 and were rewarded with another 2-1 win over the Stars. They came ready to play, and gave a full 60 minute effort. This game was filled with drama even though the score wouldn't indicate that. After Ohlund opened the scoring midway through the third, Sydor came back to tie the game for Dallas. The Canucks came back quickly with a goal that was all Linden. His strong forcheck kept the puck alive in the zone. After some passes and a shot by Mitchell, Linden swept in the rebound for the lead and the game winner.

This game also was an outstanding display of defense. Both Turco and Luongo played well, although the better goalie won. Willie Mitchell also was a monster, keeping Modano in check all game long and saving a puck that was trickling in to the goal.

They now get a chance to finish off the Stars on Thursday. I have tickets and some new fan paraphernalia to bring along as well (an early bday gift from my good friends- Thanks!). Go Canucks go!!!

All heart. Canucks take a 2-1 series lead!

2007-04-15T23:25:00.000-07:00

I tell ya, never count these Canucks out. There were scary moments for sure in the 2-1 overtime win over the Stars. Actually, most of the game was nail biting worthy. The Stars had the upper hand early on in the game, and scored the first goal off a nice Stu Barnes tip on the power play.

The Canucks then took over in the third. After a number of close calls, the Canucks finally scored when Jan Bulis converted a rebound off a Jannick Hansen shot. This kid is the real deal. Hansen, I mean. They didn't let up though. Once Naslund and the Sedin's were reunited, they were magic together and nearly scored a number of times. Dallas looked scared to lose in OT, and Taylor Pyatt converted a pass from Smolinski and Linden to finish them off.

I love how I can watch this Canucks team and know that even when the chips are down, they will fight to the end. This is a team with oodles of heart. And it doesn't hurt to have arguably the best goalie in the NHL.

Series tied 1-1

2007-04-13T21:14:00.000-07:00

I'm not too sure what to think about this game. We lost 2-0 but it actually was quite even. The difference was two slow starts in the first shift of the first and second periods that resulted in goals for the Stars. The Stars were opportunistic and cashed in on the chances that they were given and full credit to them for doing that.

The Canucks had their chances, but it seemed at times that they were lacking the energy that is one of their trademarks. No doubt that this was due in large part to the marathon OT game that they played the other night. I know. The Stars played in that game too. However, they had the chance to roll all four lines. The Canucks lost Burrows and Cooke early and could only play 3 lines.

No one said that winning this series would be easy. And I have a feeling that a very energized Canucks team will come out to play on Sunday. Speaking of injuries, we got rocked last game. Burrows and Cooke are still out, but day-to-day. Jannick Hansen, the dynamic Dane, played some huge minutes and had a very speedy and impressive debut, passing and skating like an experienced vet. Kesler is going to out another 4-5 weeks, so I guess we'll be welcoming him back for the Western Conference Finals ;-).

Canucks Take Game 1!!!

2007-04-12T02:06:00.000-07:00

It just took a little longer than anticipated! For the record, they played the sixth longest game in NHL history with Henrik scoring at the 78:06 mark in quadruple overtime to win 5-4. That's right. They played two games and almost another period. Incredible. It was a great game, and there were far more goals than many of the "experts" predicted.

What can you say about Luongo? I know you can nitpick and say that some of the goals that the Stars scored were on the softer side, but he faced 76 shots, so cut the dude some slack. Naslund played his best game of the season. He skated hard, hit people with determination, and scored a nice goal. Expect to see more of that from our captain. Losing Cooke and Burrows to injury hurt. Let's hope they aren't gone too long from the lineup. However, it was great to see Kesler back and looking as if he never missed a beat. Time to go to bed. Love the playoffs!!!

The night before

2007-04-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

Finally, it is the night before the playoffs begin. There is a real buzz in the city. I can't wait to see what this playoff brings. My prediction for the Canucks is that they will take the series in six, five if the stars align, or is it misalign? I could tell you my other predictions for the other series, but this is a Canucks blog, so who cares.

Anyways, tomorrow will be an awesome day, and I'm sure this year will give us an upset or two. Just don't expect it in this series. Luongo > Turco!

What a day to be a hockey fan

2007-04-08T03:06:00.000-07:00

Congrats to the Canucks for clinching the division and setting a new record for points for a regular season! I didn't get to see most of the game because we are in Kamloops this weekend visiting friends. I got to catch the OT and how sweet it was to see. I have the game recorded on my DVR and I will catch it when I get home. From what I hear of the game, it was a good one, but the Sharks played a physical game and were given the benefit of the doubt by the refs. Poo on them. I'll be watching the Thornton's hit on Cooke closely. Sounds like he got away with one there.

Also, I watched the Leafs-Canadiens game. I think the refs gave the Leafs helping hand in that one too. What a game tho, with lots of goals and lead changes. I was hoping that the Habs would take the game, but it just wasn't in the cards.

Finally, hats off to the Avs. The fought to the bitter end and almost made the playoffs, despite the terrible deficit they they built up for themselves. Go Canucks Go!!!

Oh so predictable

2007-04-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

So the Canucks just finished beating the Kings 4-2 in another game where they 1) Take the foot off the gas a bit against a non-playoff team and 2) Find a way to win in spite of it. Folks, it's not a fluke that this happens. You just need to accept that these games will happen and stop feeling apologetic if they win.

The reason why I say this is because I was listening to Sportstalk on the way home with Rick Quinton filling in for Dan Russell and ALL he could do was rip on them for not showing up this and they can't do this in the playoffs that and etc etc. I haven't heard so much bitching since Dan Russell would issue a nightly tirade on Todd Bertuzzi. His favorite topic these days is the overtime, which he calls 'circus time' and brings up about, ohhhh.......... a thousand times a night. Sporkstalk is so predictable regardless of who the host is. And for the record, I listen to 1040 and only switch to 980 during commercial breaks. I'm tired of listening to their one way rants.

Loss to Calgary

2007-04-01T23:06:00.000-07:00

I guess every once in awhile you need a game where you get taught a lesson that you have to play a full 60 minutes in order to deserve a win. Last night, they played so so for the first 2 periods and unreal for the third. They almost pulled it off, losing 3-2 after falling behind 3 goals. They have done that a few times this year and gotten away with it. Losing one of those games will teach them not to let that happen in the playoffs.

A few things I noticed about this game:
1. Calgary fans are freaking obnoxious. Get a grip and a life. If something happens to you in the streets, you provoked it.
2. Jarome Iginla is a great player. He is also a wannbe tough guy who hurts his team by taking himself off the ice with fighting majors. Fine by me. Oh, and take the visored helmet off, tough guy. Or maybe he's got bad memories of losing to Francois Beauchemin with one punch.
3. Most of our defenders have learned about Calgary's speed shorthanded. Unfortunately, Sopel wasn't around for the last lesson.
4. Canucks are a different team without Salo and Ohlund. Rest up for the playoffs, guys.

Welcome to NHL, Jack

2007-03-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

I didn't know Jan Bulis had it in him. In the second period, he delivered what might be the hit of the year on Jack Johnson, LA's prized rookie defenseman playing in his first NHL game. Johnson's going to be a good one, but tonight he learned a valuable lesson: Keep your head up when you skate with the puck. He was trying to go coast to coast when Bulis caught him with a nice hip check, sending him flying with skates in the air.

Anyways, it was a decent game by the Canucks. They came out real flat in the first but slowly picked things up. The Kings gave it their all, and you got to flashes of what might be a very good team in the near future. The Sedin line were at their clinical best, and appear to be getting better as the season goes on. Scary stuff.

Playoffs here we come!!!

2007-03-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

I'm actually not too sure why so much hype has been made of the Canucks officially clinching a playoff berth last night with a 3-0 win over the Avs. It's now a mathematical certainty, but unofficially, we've been in for weeks now. Anyways, good to know that the monkey is off Luongo's back, and the team to a lesser extent. Now they can concentrate on the big dance. I can't wait. Anyone else here think this team can do some pretty good damage in the playoffs?

The difference a year makes

2007-03-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

In light of last night's 5-4 shootout loss to the Avs, let's try and look at just how far the Canucks have come in the space of one year.

Last year at this time, the Canucks were imploding. The team appeared to be in turmoil, and looked to be destined for an early exit if they made the playoffs anyways. Who's knows what would have happened though because they didn't even make it. grrr

I was in Mexico for the final week of the season. I remember all too well the disbelief that I was in when ESPN posted the live scores, and how they let another lead slip. I saw part of the final game against the Avs at Playa del Carmen. I was ecstatic to see hockey in the Mayan Riviera, and the Canucks one final time of the season. Then the realization hit me that they weren't going to play any more games that season. Yup, we've come a long way. There's more to come, and I can't wait.

1st overall?

2007-03-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

With 8 games left to play in the regular season, the Canucks are only 5 points out of the 1st overall in the league. I know the real prize for them is the Stanley Cup and not the Presidents Trophy, but wouldn't it be nice to see our team get the most points in the league? That's pretty good for a team that supposedly can't score or relies on Luongo too much.

Here are the facts. The Canucks are now on a half season run that has seen them go to 28-5-5 since the holidays. They have scored on average more than 3 goals a game in that time. The magic number for them to clinch the division is 7 over the Wild. That means any combination of Canuck wins and Wild losses will clinch the division and ensure home ice advantage for the 1st round.

BTW, last night's 2-0 win pver the Predators was another statement game for the Canucks to the league. We have now beat Detroit and Nashville, 2 teams that were 1st overall at the time, handily. Time to take these guys seriously. Ignore them at your peril.

Canucks > Oilers

2007-03-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

You have to hand it to the Oilers. Their season has fallen off the rails, and are winless in 10 games, but they gave it their all last night. However, once again, the Vancouver Canucks found a way to win. After a pretty loose and wide open first 2 periods, they buckled down in the third and limited scoring chances in their own zone.

The Sedins are starting to become Oiler killers. During the last visit there, Daniel scored a hat trick in a 5 point effort, with Henrik also getting 4 points. Last night, they factored in on both Canuck goals.

Luongo was his usual stellar best. Sometimes, it almost seems like he has a force field around his net. That is what that save in the second period looked like. Those who saw the game will know what I'm talking about. For those who didn't I'll try and dig up a YouTube clip.

Bye bye Wings and what's up with Tootoo?

2007-03-17T22:55:00.000-07:00

Another solid win tonight over the Red Wings. The Canucks played their game and showed once again that they can beat the best.

I was watching tonight's NHL highlights and another despicable incident happened in the game between Dallas and Nashville. Jordin Tootoo went after Mike Modano and hit him along the boards. It was a little late but still fair. However, if you hit the team's star, you better expect retribution. In this case, Stepahane Robidas came over in Modano's defense. While he was skating over, Tootoo delivered a cheap and dirty sucker punch, knocking him out with a concussion. What is this pest doing in the league? All he does is charge around headhunting. He might have some talent, but he is so set on borderline hitting anything in sight, it makes me sick. Yeah, he fights, but there is no honour in the way he engages. Garbage. I hope the NHL throws the book at him.

A Couple Ways of Looking at this Latest Win

2007-03-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Negative View: They were lucky to get the win. With a 2-0 lead midway through the third they should have had it in the bag but almost let it slip away.
Positive View: The Canucks dominated most of the game and hit 5 posts along with heavily outshooting them. They got the timely scoring that they needed (and on the power play) and took home the two points.

Of course, I am going to look at this win from a glass half full perspective. They really did dominate. But the posts and Curtis Sanford really kept St. Louis in the game. It didn't help that the Blues' gameplan was to play an ultraconservative game. I was at the game, and they had a 0 man forecheck going for chunks of it and lined up 5 guys on the red line to trap the middle. When the Canucks' D regrouped behind Luongo, they could have stayed there all game long cause no one would enter the zone. Boring!

Elsewhere in the div, the Oilers lost their 9th straight and the Flames lost again. Yikes. Looks like the battle for 1st will be between us and the Wild. Gotta feel a little sorry for the Oilers fans too. I don't feel anything for the Flames though.

3-2 OT Loss to Wild

2007-03-13T23:50:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine how hard it must be for the Avs trying to make the playoffs or the Flames looking to stay in the divisional race? With all of these 3 pointers (OT games where losers still get a point and the winner gets 2 points), it's hard when both of the teams that you are chasing gets points.

This loss feels like an outright one for the Canucks. They stormed out to a 2-0 lead but sat back a bit and let the Wild back in the match. The Wild are a good team, and an opportunistic bunch. If you give them an opening, they will take it. I know some people are going to be on Luongo for "letting in" the tying goal. But they sat back, gave the puck away in the neutral zone to Brian Rolston coming in at full speed, and he let go one of his heavy slap shots on Luongo who had already moved in to cut down on the angle. It would take a great shot to score in that situation, and it was.

Another thing they should be a little concerned about are special teams. The power play has not been clicking for a few games now. I have 3 suggestions: Keep it simple, dump it in deep but softly, and use the Salo cannon. Would you like to stand in front of that? Didn't think so. But what do I know? The penalty kill hasn't been doing as well lately either, but that appears to be more a function of bad bounces rather then anything inherently wrong.

So now we have the Blues next. I'm going to that game. Can't wait Bring it on. There's never a dull moment in Canuckland.

I guess you can't win them all

2007-03-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

If this was November, I would be feeling pretty upset about losing 4-2 to the Ducks. However, losses have been very rare for this team since Christmas, and it was bound to happen. The Ducks came out with a game plan and that was to play physical and push around the Canucks. The Nucks showed that they do not back down from anyone and fought back. If our power play was more successful tonight, the result could have been very different.

I just want to say something about the instigator rule: It sucks. Please NHL, get rid of it and allow the players to police themselves once again. The purpose of the rule was to take away the players' right to police themselves and put it into the refs's and league's hands. However, what you get now are players that get away with stuff without fear of having to answer for their actions. For example, in tonight's game, Dustin Penner hit Tommi Santala into the boards with a questionable hit from behind. Kevin Bieksa takes exception to the hit (a non call by the ref!) and gets in a fight with Penner to send a message. Bieksa fed Penner with his fists so much that I was worried that he was going to get it stuck down his throat. Anyways, for sending a message, Bieksa got 5 for fighting, 2 for instigating, and a 10 minute misconduct, taking away our #2 D man for 17 minutes. In the ensuing penalty, the Ducks scored to take a 1-0 lead. Whatever. I'm glad Bieksa took the actions that he did, sending a message that you will pay the price for your wrongdoings when you play us. The Ducks may have won this battle, but we'll see who wins the war. Last time I checked, ducks are usually the hunted.

Another game, another win

2007-03-09T16:11:00.000-08:00

Anyone get the feeling that the Canucks are flying under the radar a little bit? At the beginning of the season, very few experts predicted that they would make the playoffs. Those who did thought that a first round cameo appearance would be all that they could hope for. Throughout their 'streak', many have been waiting for the bubble to burst and yet is has still not happened. Maybe it's the fact that the team has disappointed with bad playoff performances lately. Whatever, this run that they've been on is more of a streak. These Canucks are for real and can inflict some real damage in the playoffs. I don't think there are many outside of this city or provice that has figured that out yet. Let them think that way. We'll take the win.

5-1 Over the Lightning!

2007-03-07T09:09:00.000-08:00

Another great game last night. They dominated every facet of the game, continuing the Canuck's domination over Eastern Conference teams. Can you believe that they are 24-4-4 since Christmas? Here's another stat: Tampa Bay has never won in Vancouver, going 0-8-2. Mitchell and Bieksa continue to be successful as the top shut-down pair, stopping Lecavalier and St. Louis from doing their thing. 17 shots on Luongo? I think you need a few more than that.

What's going on with Jeff Cowan? He's on fire! 5 goals in 3 games. Not bad for a waiver wire pick-up from the LA Kings who makes close to the league minimum. When we picked him up, I knew he was a tough guy and the book on him was that he had a great shot if he got it off. I guess he's been finding the time to get the shot off lately. Great story though. I hope he's finally found a home on this team.

Canucks Over Wild!

2007-03-04T22:10:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a game! I love how this team brings it when it matters the most. This is playoff hockey (with a shootout) that they're playing and I think this team has the goods to go very far. I also love how the Wild got an extra point in the overtime as well, because that's the worst possible result for the Flames. ;-)

As far as shootouts go, I love it. You can argue about other rules that they have introduced, but this one has made the game more exciting. Ever see anyone leave or stay seated during a shootout? Of course not. I just hope it doesn't get introduced in the playoffs.

Vancouver Sports Media

2007-03-02T10:49:00.000-08:00

I listen to the sports radio whenever I can. It helps me get through the work day. For the most part, I like it. You also get to notice a lot of trends. For example, many callers act like lemmings. Whatever opinion the host has, the caller will basically echo that in a bid to kiss a$$. Maybe there's more going on, like a good prescreen to make sure the only callers who get through agree with the host. Maybe the callers don't have much choice but agree, because there aren't too many hosts that will allow you to disagree with their opinion. If they do, you won't be on for long or they will ridicule you and cut you off. Ever listen to Sportstalk with Dan Russel? Better get ready to kiss up. Don't get me wrong, I respect Dan. But he can be a bit much. I can't say the same thing about Rick Quinton, the weekend host of Sportstalk. After Nolan Baumgartner was picked up on waivers by the Dallas Stars, he was all over the Canucks for not picking him up, as he played with us last year and his salary would have been very attractive. Fact is, the Canucks didn't have a chance to pick him up as the Stars were lower than us in the standings. If you're paid to be a talk show host, you better know your stuff.

Back in November, when the Canucks were only playing .500 hockey, much was made of the supposed lack of good drafting from the Canucks. The hosts said "It's there! Can't you see it? No good prospects!" The emergence of Bieksa and Edler has done much to quiet that talk down. However, what they said wield significant influence and there are lots of people walking around saying that Vancouver can't draft. Looking at their prospect list, they have some great potential waiting in the wings. I think we'll be fine. I can't say the same thing about sports media in Vancity. I guess that's the nature of the beast.

Hey, it's a win

2007-03-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

Last night, the Canucks got back on track with a 4-3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes. It wasn't the greatest game, but it was a win. The team came out hard in the first period, had a bit of a lull in the second, and suddenly woke up after Shane Doan scored a goal in the third period to take a 3-2 lead. After that, it was as if I was watching a different team. The Sedins worked their magic to tie it up on the power play. I don't think I could ever get sick of watching their 'patented' slap pass - tip play. They have such chemistry together, it's almost scary. And that's taking into consideration that they're twins. Naslund started and finished a nice rush to take the lead for good.

While the team hasn't put together full 60 minute efforts lately, I'm not feeling too down on them. They're been playing a lot of hockey on the road lately. Listening on TEAM 1040 this morning, John Shorthouse, the Canucks play by play man, noted that they have been on the road for 19 of the 28 days in February. That's a lot of frequent flyer points in one month. They looked tired of being on the road, and it finally took it's toll against St Louis. Fortunately, they got the win with only one day off after getting back. Look for the game against Minnesota on Sunday to be a good one. Their last game was a beauty.

First Post

2007-03-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

Here it is! After many many months of talking about starting a blog devoted to my beloved Vancouver Canucks, I have finally done it!

The awkward thing about first posts is where do I start? Do I go way back and talk about how this Roberto Luongo trade might go down as one of the best trades in NHL history? Or how a team that welcomed half an entirely new roster learned to play as a team and win like we hoped that they would? There are so many places that I could start. How about the state of the team as it is now?

The Canucks are in good shape now. Playoffs are almost a sure thing, but division standings are another. It seems very much like first place in the Northwest Division will go down to the wire. Every time that it seems like a team is going to break from the pack, something happens to bring them all back together. In the most recent case, the Canucks were only able to get a point out of Dallas and none vs. a trade depleted St. Louis Blues. Calgary and Minnesota kept winning, so guess what? Calgary's now tied with us and Minne is close behind.

Tonight, we get Phoenix. They've been playing decently as of late, but this is another game against a so-called weaker team. This one should be in the bag, but with the Canucks' record against non-playoff teams lately, it would almost make me want to put some money on the Coyotes. Almost.

Go Canucks!