Playoffs?

The western conference isn't easy anymore, and that's a real problem for the Vancouver Canucks.  Teams like L.A., Anaheim, St. Louis, Chicago, Colorado, and San Jose have all taken a massive leap since Vancouvers cup-run in 2011.  The Canucks have two 1st round playoff exits in the last two seasons, and based of this years performance, they could make it three seasons in a row (if they even make the playoffs).  Canucks GM, Mike Gillis, and his neck beard are under scrutiny after they did not trade forward Ryan Kesler during the trade deadline.  Kesler was supposed to depart the team before the deadline, but wasn't dealt because Gillis still believes that the Canucks will make the playoffs.

Lack Nation

After goaltender Roberto Luongo was traded to the Florida Panthers, the starting job was handed over to Rookie Eddie Lack.  Lack is having an amazing year in his first full season with the Canucks.  And as of right now, fellow Swede Jacob Markstrom (who was one if the Pieces in the Luongo deal) will be Lack's backup.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm as big if a Lack fan as there is (I have his jersey) but I don't believe any goaltender should be a starter in their first full NHL season.  Lack is 1-2-1 since the Olympic break, but don't let the record fool you, he was lights out, and goal scoring was the problem.

Markstrom

Jacob Markstrom was acquired in the deal that saw franchise goaltender Roberto Luongo, head for Florida.  Markstrom is another Swedish goaltender, and yes, if you were counting that's three Swedish goaltenders in Vancouver's depth chart.  Markstrom is a towering 6 ft. 6 inches tall, and takes up a lot of the net.

An uneventful trade deadline

Mike Gillis was probably playing golf during the trade deadline.  He probably realized that the deadline was an hour again when he traded recently acquired defenseman Raphael Diaz to New York Rangers, in exchange for a whole 5th round pick.  Of course, Luongo was traded to the Florida Panthers, but this was on Tuesday, so it's already old news.

Ryan Kesler On the Move?

Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler has been surrounded by many trade rumours, lately.  Earlier this week, an analyst reported that Kesler had requested a trade earlier on in the season.  Kesler is a high intensity player, and is a fan favourite in the city of Vancouver.  Kesler isn't old, but is just leaving the prime of his career, so trading him would probably spark a rebuild.  Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis didn't confirm, or deny of these rumours are true, but Kesler and his agent both say the rumours 'Are complete Bull S**t'. Kesler has a no-trade-clause, and two years left on his contract with a $5 million dollar cap-hit.  Kesler has a very cap-friendly contract, but few teams with cap need a player like Ryan Kesler.  

The rumoured asking price for Kesler is a roster player, a first round pick, and a prospect, and the teams rumored to be in the running to acquire Kesler are Detroit, Columbus, Philadelphia, and most likely to swing Kesler, the Pittsburgh "we can never have enough talent" Penguins. With Malkin, and Crosby down the middle, and a weakness at the wing, it would like like they would try to play Kesler alongside Sid, or Geno, unless they can get Malkin to play on the wing.  The rumour was, Pittsburgh offered Sutter, a first round pick in 2014, and Vancouvers choice of Depres/Dumoulin.  I think Mike Gillis could do better, and Pittsburgh could offer more. 

In other news, Alex Edler is on the block. And Philadelphia is the front-runner to get him.  Mike Gillis really messed up during the NHL draft next year, with trading Schneider for only the 9th overall pick in the draft.  And Detroit offered Tatar, Riley Sheahan, and a draft pick in exchange for Alex Edler, but Mike Gillis declined the offer, because the plan was to win a cup in the next two years.  Well, now Gillis looks stupid, because the Canucks are about to rebuild just halfway through the first season.  Obviously Canucks head coach was NOT hired for a rebuild, his fiery

temper could scare the s**t out of most rookies, and there is another 4 1/2 years on his coaching contract.  So are we going into the dark days in Canuck-Town?  Only a Kesler, and Edler trade will tell.

More scoring problems, and the TradeDeadline

Scoring has been a big problem for the Canucks, lately.  The Sedin fountain of goal scoring has dried up, Kesler has gone cold, Burrows can't find twine, Santorelli is out for the rest of the season, and the PowerPlay is worse than the Sabre's penalty kill (It's bad!).  Tom Sestito has been the only player to score goals, in the last while.  And that's an awful sign.

Last season.  Canucks GM Mike Gillis made a close-to-trade-deadline deal with the Dallas Stars.  Derrick Roy was a Canuck, but he didn't come cheap.  Kevin Cannaughton, and a second round draft pick went to Dallas.  The talented play maker was greeted with open arms, by Canucks fans.  After a first round playoff exit by the Canucks, the off season came.  Derrick Roy was a UFA, and his contract was ending.  Mike Gillis made no effort to resign Roy, and the young center was a free-agent.  Roy is no a member of the St. Louis Blues, along with former Canuck, Maxim Lapierre.  Roy cost us a future top four defenceman, and a second round draft pick for a three month rental player.  It just makes me think.  Is Mike Gillis taking his job seriously?  I mean the guy likes to say he's "patient", but that's just another word for lazy.

Image:CBC

The Canucks don't have much cap space.  This is mainly on David booth, with his 4+ million dollar contract.  Booth has been a scratch lately, but that might change with more, and more injuries.  So many analysts are talking about moving Kesler, or Burrows, but why would you move a player that's just in his prime?  Obviously they are just going through slumps.  Plus you are just going to get the same kinda player back.

Vancouver drafted two fine prospects.  One of them came at the cost of Cory Schneider, who moved on to the Devils bench.  Backing up Martin Broudeur, who will likely retire at the end of this season.  If Gillis moves Bo Horvat, it will be looked at as Schneider for whoever they get back.  Honestly, I don't see Gillis trading one of theses prospects.  Alex Edler is a decent defenceman, and he has a pretty good trade value.  Edler has attracted interest from Detroit, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.  Moving him would bring in a good young forward, and free-up a roster spot for future star,  Frank Corrado.

Canucks VS Oillers, Game Preview

Opening Face-Off

Let's face it.  Canadian teams aren't the bomb.  They haven't won a cup in decades, and the once "Dynasty's" are only winning the draft lottery, and that's because of how bad they are.  The once great Oilers' look to be a new-look team.  They started the season fresh. with a new coach, a new General Manager, and yes... another top ten draft pick.  But that hasn't changed a thing.  They are still one of the worst teams in the league, and they can't get anything going.  With young-stars like Eberle, RNH, Hall, and Yakupov, they should be like the Ferrari of the NHL.  But instead, they have decided to be the VolksWagen of hockey, Unreliable, Slow, and inconsistent.  The team is at the plight in the season where, they stop and think "Are we going to suck?  Or are we just gonna tank?".

Edmonton has some talent in the Minors, and the CHL.  And best of all, the big names are defencemen.  That's what the Oilers really need to improve on.  They had one of the worst GAA in the league.  And that doesn't all fall on defence, Dubnyk needs to be better, and Bryzgalov helps take the load of Dubnyk.

My Opinion 

Edmonton should trade the first round draft pick for a proven defenceman.  But a team has to be willing to part ways with a d-man.  Of course when someone says proven defense, everyone says that they are gettin' Weber.  And let me tell any Oilers fans reading this... the only Weber you could ever get, is the AHL d-man playing for Vancouver.  But who could they get?  Someone who is getting up there in age, and might have a contract that needs to be renewed next season.  And a veteran to Edmonton is some age that is needed.  The Oilers are the youngest team in the league, and that needs to change.

The Canucks

Vancouver is coming off a 2-0 shutout win by Eddie Lack, that was  Lacks' first home start, and his first shutout.  The Canucks are on a 5 game winning streak,  

and that has been really good for them.  Because they can score goals.  The Achilles heel of the Canucks has been covered (For now) and this has really pleased coach John Tortorella.  Tortorella has done well, in his first season of coaching the Canucks.  The players have finally adapted to his style-of-play.

Stats

Vancouver is on a five game winning streak, and their last win came against Carolina.  Vancouver sits 10th in the league.  

Meanwhile Edmonton's last game was a 5-4 win in OT, against the Carolina Hurricanes. Jordan Eberle is their leading scorer, with 27 points points.  And they sit 27th in the league.

Trade Talk

Vancouver and Edmonton have both Been surrounded by trade talks.  Vancouver is looking to move a d-man.  And Edmonton is looking for defence.  But of course, those two teams would never trade with each other.  Due to the fact that they are in the same conference, and I don't want to see a former Canuck destroy my team.

Injuries

Vancouver is without three players (Sestito doesn't count, as he isn't a human).  They are missing Burrows, Schroeder, and Edler.  This hasn't hurt them much.  But has really proven that they have some good depth.

The Oilers will be struggling, without Bryzgalov, Petry, Gordon, and Ryan Smith.  Bryzgalov was playing well for Edmonton, and that has help because Dubnyk has been Dubnyk this season. His awful goaltending has really shown how bad he actually is, and that the Oilers should not have been comfortable starting the season with him as their starting goalie

Prediction

The Canucks win 5-2.  Kesler gets a hat-trick, and the Sedins' pick up the other two goals.  Hall, and Eberle get on the board for the Oilers.

Winter Classic Preview

This might be the first year in a while where, I haven't really cared about the Winter Classic.  With so many "Stadium Series" games, it's kinda falling away from being prime game of the NHL season.  The winter classic is almost as big as the NHL All-Star game.  But that could be changing soon, if these  Stadium Series' games get popular.

The Teams

Rivals' Detroit, and Toronto go head-to-head as they face-off in the Michigan Stadium, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The stadium is regularly used as a football arena, but the transformation has began.  And it is starting to look like a hockey rink.  The Red Wings, and the Maple Leafs don't meet too often, but just enough to be considered rivals.

HBO's 24/7

24/7, probably what I am happiest to see with the Winter Classic.  Every year, HBO rolls out a season of 24/7, it follows the players, and the coaches around for... you guessed it, 24 hours 7 days a week (Up until the Winter Classic).  And they put it all on TV.  The best part about it: That none of it is edited.  

The Date

The Winter Classic Goes down on New Year's Day, at 10 A.M. Pacific time.  And a lot of people will be watching this game.  But what I am really looking forward to is the Heritage Classic.  When the Canucks take on the Senators in B.C. Place.  That'll be a fun one.

Trade Talk, Evander Kane

Former Vancouver Giant, Evander Kane is not getting the ice time he deserves, in Winnipeg.  The Jets haven't been shopping Kane around, however they are open to any offers.  Vancouver can't score a goal from anywhere.  Kane is a pure goal-scorer, and would be a perfect fit to play with the Sedins'.  That's what puts the Canucks in the big picture, here.

With Winnipeg now in the western conference, they may be concerned about having to see Kane again.  Even though they only play Vancouver three times a year.  Kane would be a fan-favourite here in Vancouver, as he played junior hockey in Vancouver, with the Giants, of the WHL.

Evanders' work ethic was questioned when playing with Winnipeg, and with that happening he is being yo-yoed throughout the lineup.  It's been tough for Kane, trying to crack a top-line with, Blake Wheeler, Andrew Ladd, and Bryan Little is almost impossible for anyone on the Jets roster.

Kane has made it clear that he doesn't want to be in Winnipeg, if he is not on the top line.  If he is limited to second line ice-time much longer, he will probably request a trade.

What Might He Cost?

Kane isn't a veteran of the league.  He is more of an unproven star.  He has never had a real 'Break-Out' season.  That should come in handy if Vancouver tries to pry him off the Jets roster.  The Jets may be interested in a player like Alexander Edler.  Edler is, for some reason, known as a good player.  Edler just signed a six year $30 million dollar contract, with Vancouver.  The main flaw in the contract being that there is a no-trade-clause. 

 So if Edler doesn't want to leave Van City, we are stuck with him.  Another player they may be interested in, is Jordan Schroeder.  Schroeder really broke-out with Vancouver, last season.  The 23 year old center is currently injured, but will be on the Canucks roster once healed.

With this up-coming draft being a bit weak, the Canucks may choose to trade their 1st round draft pick.  With a package of Edler, Schroeder, and the first rounder.   That trade could be what Winnipeg wants, and Kane could become a Canucks fairly soon

Canucks VS Sens', Game Preview

Vancouver, and Ottawa.  These two teams will clash in the 2012 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic.  

An abundance of outdoor games, this season.  With four NHL Stadium Series games, a Winter Classic, and the final event being the Heritage Classic.

  

There are rumours that Ottawa is on the verge of acquiring Rangers defenceman, Michael Del-Zotto.  Del-Zotto was actually a healthy scratch, for the last couple Rangers games.  It is obvious that he and New York Rangers coach, Alain Vigneault.

The Senators, and the Canucks have had their fair share of problems.  Vancouver can't score, and Ottawa is having defensive troubles.  Now... when you think about it, this should be an interesting game.  Bad defense VS  bad offense, that normally makes for an interesting game.

Ottawa is 24th in the league, with 22 points.  Looking at the record, of both teams, Vancouver looks to have the edge.  And that couldn't come at a better time, in the season.  Cause Vancouver has not played well in the last ten games.

Ottawa fans were livid, when long-time captain Daniel Alfredsson left the team, to play with Detroit.

Soon after the news broke that he was gone, Bobby Ryan was acquired from Anaheim.  In exchange for a first round draft pick, and Jakob Silfverberg.

"Argh", The Canucks Story

"Are you kidding me?".  That's what everyone who has watched the last seven Canucks games, has said.  Another season, same problems.  Goal scoring, it can't be stressed enough that the 'Nucks need to produce more goals.  With half their plays in a slump, they need John Tortorella to navigate the team towards winning waters.  Currently in 16th, the Canucks picked the wrong season to semi-tank the season.  As Connor McDavid isn't eligible until the 2015 draft.

Who's In A Slump?

Alex Burrows, David Booth, and the team in general.  Alex Burrows started the season off wrong, blocking a shot with your face will result in a few missed games.  Burrows has had many chances to score, yet has failed on all of them.  With no goals and three assist, he is tied with David Booth in points.  David Booth, the $4.5 million dollar third-liner.  Booth was plagued by injury, the moment he put on a Canuck jersey.  It was assumed he would be bought-out last season. But buy-outs' aren't allowed on injured players.  Tortorella obviously isn't a member of the "David Booth Fan Club" (if their are any people in it...) limiting his games by a high-note.  Booth has one goal, and two assists, this season.  The team... oh the team, the west has gotten'  a lot tougher to play in, this season.  And the Canucks are some of the first to realize that (first being Calgary, and Edmonton, who have been crappy for years).  San Jose, Colorado, and Anaheim are looking like the supreme teams in the league.  And Vancouver... not so much.

Who Needs To Go?

Alexander Edler needs to go, before everybody realizes that he isn't all worth all the hype.  And the main thing they need is offence, at this point.  Frankie Corrado is more than ready for the NHL, as he proved that in the playoffs, last season.  Edler, for some reason, could fetch a good top 6 forward. The Hurricanes are looking for a top two, puck-moving defenceman.  And that could potentially see Carolina trade former Canuck, Tuomo Ruutu, back to Vancouver.  With some prospects coming back with Ruutu.  But this is all in the hands of Edler.  As he has a no-trade Clause.  If he doesn't want out if Vancouver, he stays, and Vancouver... doesn't do to well.

Edler's Season Stats

SEASON	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW	S	S%
REGULAR SEASON	23	3	5	8	-10	16	0	0	0	66	4.5
LEAGUE RANK	226TH	213TH	242ND	253RD	726TH	152ND	236TH	49TH	221ST	51ST	444TH

Stats, Canucks.com

Kassian, Receiving Very Little Ice Time

Zack Kassian was under a microscope, the second he became a Canuck.  When he, and defenceman Marc-Andre Gragnani, were traded to Vancouver.  In return, the Canucks sent center Cody Hodgson, and defenceman Andrew Sulzer.  Hodgson wasn't happy with his ice-time with the Canucks.  But the return value was not adequate.  At the time, Vancouver was acquiring players that would play well against a team like Boston.  But that wasn't the case.  Since Kassian has been a Canucks, Vancouver has not made it past the second round, of the playoffs.  Kassian has not been on a line long enough to create any chemistry.  Whether it's first line with the Sedins for a day, or playing on the fourth line.

Kassian was drafted 9th overall by the Sabres', and at the time was known for his skill.  But since joining Vancouver he has been more of grinder.  And he isn't playing that role very well.  His job is to work the boards, and get into the dirty areas.  But he hasn't been playing that way.

The Canucks are still adjusting to changes, with a new coach, comes a new system.  And it seems Kassian has had trouble adjusting to the system.  Kassians' dump and change type of style has been over-shadowed by John Tortorella's high for-checking type of play.  Kassians' ice-time has been brought down by five minutes, since last season.  And some changes are on the way.

Defence Not as Offensive Anymore

It has been a rough start for defenceman in the NHL this season.  After changes to goaltender equipment, it seems like the focus has changed from Two-Way play, to defence only mindset.  The usual offensive-defensive players like Erik Karlsson and P.K. Subban have been the main offenders in the scoring race this.  Yet after that the pool really drops off,  teams like Phoenix, and St. Louis are both built on offensive-defenceman aren't getting the same kind of offense that they have had in the past.

Take a player like Mike Green for example, he had a 31 goal season a couple years back.  And now this season he is struggling with not a single goal, and only ten assists.  That could be because Alexander Ovechkin has been lighting it up with 13 goals in 15 games, and 7 of Green's assists have been to Ovechkin.  

Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have been the best offensive duo on the blueline, this season.  With twenty seven points between the two of them.

Oilers don't even know what they need

After rumors that they were trading Jordan Eberle to Philadelphia for Claude Giroux.  The oilers traded away one of their defensive pieces.  Sending Goaltender Olivier Roy, and defenceman  Ladislav Smid to the Calgary flames, in exchange for Goaltender Laurent Brossoit and Forward Roman Horak.  The move was made to free-up cap space to sign Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to a one year deal.  

But do they realize what their real need is?  Defence, they can't be sure Bryzgalov will perform at his highest level.   

They already have two Bryzgalov-like goaltenders in Dubnyk and LaBarbera.  So it doesn't really cover their need for defense.  Rumours were that they had traded Hemsky and a second round draft pick for Wayne Simmonds,  Simmonds can play a great Two-Way game, and he is younger than Hemsky.  Yet if you look at it from a Flyers-point-of-view it's essentially trading Jeff Carter for Ales Hemsky (Simmonds was acquired from the L.A. Kings for Jeff Carter) and that would make Holmgrens track-record as a GM even worse.  

So the ultimate question is.  What the hell is happening in Edmonton, all the expectations for this young/talented team were so high coming into this season.  The team needs better defence, and they need it now if they want to salvage the season.  After that they should target a goalie such as a Reimer, maybe they look do trade Hemsky there.  Or maybe they target a top-two d-man and trade Eberle.  I'm just gonna hope for them to tank the season now, and get a top-five draft pick  at the end of the season.  

Oh, well.  I still have my Canucks!