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.

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.

Canucks VS Panthers Game Review

Winning, its something the Canucks have had a hard time doing, as of late.  Going just 1-4 in their last five games, with their last win being a 4-0 victory against Toronto.  "Puck Luck", as John Tortorella calls it, hasn't been good to them, adding "The bounces just haven't gone our way".  Now unlucky bounces have been the story for Canucks, in the last five games.  But they must find a way to patch this sinking ship, and fast, as the conferences have changed.  With changes in the league, comes tougher teams for the Canucks to face.  Florida has had a less than normal season, so a Canucks victory should be in order.

                                                    Floridas' Point Of View

Aleksander Barkov was the second pick in last years draft, and Florida felt he was mature enough to step into the NHL immediately.  With four goals and right points in twenty two NHL games, Barkov had proven he's NHL ready.  Jonathan Huberdeau was Floridas first pick in 2011, this is his first full year in the NHL.  Huberdeau, and Barkov are the centrefolds of Floridas big re-build.  Florida is looking to turn thing around soon, but re-build don't happen overnight.  Hopefully the Panthers' organization will take their time with the team, and build up the proper way.

                                               The Luongo VS Thomas Rivalry

It's pretty clear that Roberto Luongo and Tim Thomas do NOT like each other.  After a Stanley Cup Final that saw Luongo lose to Thomas's Bruins, the two have been dog-on-bone at each other.  

Thomas was traded to the Islanders, and signed by Florida the following year.  He hasn't played in Vancouver since the Stanley Cup Final in the 2010-2011 season.

                                                                   Injuries 

Dale Weise is expected to return to the Canucks lineup, and Jordan Schroeder is still out with surgery.  Ed Jovanovski is the only injured player, on Florida.