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.

Tortorella, After 25 Games

John Tortorella has won a Stanley Cup.  Something that Alain Vigneault, has never won.  Once Canucks fans got word that Torts had won a cup, they immediately assumed that he would be the one to end the cup draught for Vancouver.  When Vigneault was fired and John Tortorella was signed as the new head coach, fans were wondering which Tortorella they would get.  Would it be the Tortorella that thinks everything sucks.  Or would it be the rare, calm Torts.  So far it has been the calm Tortorella.  He has not gone off at any reporters like he did in New York, with Larry Brooks.


Tortorella has had a similar season to the one he had last year with New York.  Goal scoring has been the Canucks' Kryptonite thus-far.  With defence being their strong point.  Tortorella's mindset is defence, and a high forecheck.   When Vigneault was the coach, goal scoring wasn't a thing.  It was defensive, and laid-back play, with the occasional odd goal.


Tortorella's Canucks' have a record of, 12-9-4 sitting 15th in the league.  Any Canuck fan would be ok with that, as of now.  Because the last time the Canucks had a bad start like this, was in 2011.  That's the same season that saw the Canucks, and Bruins square-off in the Stanley Cup Finals.


My favorite thing about the team, with Tortorella is, that they don't back down.  Under Vigneault, when the team had a lead, they would just play defence.  Sitting back like that never worked, and thats probably why he isn't still coaching.

Canucks, Rebuild in the Future

In 2011, the Canucks came one goal away from winning their first Stanley Cup.  Three seasons later, and everyone's just getting older.  The team isn't young, like it was in those 2011 playoffs.  Sedins', Burrows, Kesler, and Kevin Bieksa are all in their thirties now.  And the window to succeed is closing, fast. With a rebuild in the future, let's take a look at what they have, and what they need.

Good Drafting

The Canucks lucked out, last draft with Bo Horvat, Hunter Shinkaruk, and Jordan Subban.  But the proven rookies are on the farm team.  With Frankie Corrado, and Niklas Jensen proving that they deserve a spot on the Canucks roster.

Missing Pieces

Eddie Lack has proven he is a worthy NHL goalie, but what happens when Luongo retires.  They will need to trade for/draft a future starting goalie.  There are no "outstanding" goalies, in the upcoming draft.  So goaltending will have to wait a year, or two.

Other Future Prospects

Even though everyone hates him, Mike Gillis has done one thing right with the Canucks team.  Drafting.  He has done exceptionally well when it comes to the draft.  But he never gives the players a chance, with good ice-time.  Cody Hodgson had top-end talent, until Gillis made an awful trade the saw the gritty tough Zack Kassian come in, and the Skillful speedy Cody Hodgson leave.  Now, don't get me wrong, Zack Kassian isn't a bust.  But Cody Hodgson would be able to help them a center, and assist with goal-scoring.

Niklas Jensen was re-called by the Canucks, from the farm team.  He was givin' 4th line time.  You can't give 4th line time to a rookie, and expect him to produce.  He was sent back down a week later, and hasn't been called up since then.

Stats, Luongo VS Schneider

Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo used to be teammates on the Vancouver Canucks.  The Canucks had plans to move Luongo during the draft, but Luongo's contract had no takers.  Edmonton and New Jersey were the two front-runners to acquire Schneider, but the Canucks did not wan't to trade within their division.  New Jersey sent a 1st round draft pick to Vancouver, straight up for Cory Schneider.  With Schneider gone, and Luongo now the starter for Vancouver, lets see how their stats add up.

Schneiders' Stats

	GP	W	L	OT	GA	SA	SV	SV%	GAA	SO	PIM	MIN
REGULAR SEASON	10	2	5	3	19	255	236	.925	1.87	1	0	609
LEAGUE RANK	30TH	45TH	17TH	5TH	38TH	32ND	31ST	12TH	5TH	10TH	15TH	29TH

Schneider was drafted in the 2004 NHL entry draft, ahead of Capitals defenceman Mike Green, and Detroit forward Johan Franzen.  Schneider played with Vancouver AHL affiliate team, the Manitoba Moose, until finally establishing himself in 2010.  Schneider was a fan favorite in Vancouver, and was going to be Vancouver #1 goalie before being traded at the 2013 NHL entry draft.

Luongos' Stats

	GP	W	L	OT	GA	SA	SV	SV%	GAA	SO	PIM	MIN
REGULAR SEASON	19	9	6	4	44	514	470	.914	2.33	2	0	1,133
LEAGUE RANK	3RD	13TH	12TH	3RD	9TH	9TH	9TH	23RD	17TH	2ND	15TH	5TH

Luongo was drafted 4th overall in the 1997  NHL entry draft.  He was traded from NYI, to Florida, and now plays with the Vancouver Canucks.  Luongo wanted out of Vancouver, when everyone thought Schneider was going to be the Canucks starting goalie for the future, however no teams wanted to take-on his salary.

Photos via NHL.com