February 2011
12 posts
5 tags
Canucks Acquire Higgins and Lapierre
In last minute trading deadline deals, the Canucks added two experienced forwards that will add depth to their forward ranks.
Chris Higgins, who has bounced around the league the last few seasons, has scored 20 goals or more three times - no small feat. And has potted 11 goals this season in 48 games. While not a physical force, he represents some scoring depth for the Canucks, a player that...
3 tags
Canucks Versus Bruins a Stanley Cup Preview?
Well, of course, anything is possible. And with the Bruins’ recent forays into the trading market, they have certainly elevated their status to front of the class in the Eastern Conference in the minds of many. And the Canucks, who are standing pat for the moment at least, still hold onto the top seed in the Western Conference. So on that basis, Saturday night’s tilt could well have...
4 tags
Audition Time for Cody Hodgson?
After a demotion to the farm team to play six games in nine days, prospect number one Cody Hodgson returned to the big club in time for the last game (a tough home ice loss to the fabled and desperate Montreal Canadiens). And at the end of it all, he had under five minutes of ice time to show for it - none of it in the third period with the game hanging in the balance.
So what gives? The...
4 tags
Bieksa Injury a Blessing to Canucks' Decimated...
With today’s announcement that top blueliner Kevin Bieksa will be sidelined for roughly three weeks with a broken foot, it would seem that the news can’t get much worse. Indeed, the number and calibre of defensemen on the Canucks’ injured list alone would represent a back-end that most teams would love to have (Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis, Keith Ballard, Alex Edler, Andrew Alberts and...
3 tags
Harold Snepsts to Join Canucks' Ring of Honour
It was revealed today that our man Harold Snepsts will be the fourth inductee to the Canucks’ Ring of Honour later this season, making him the final honouree of this 40th anniversary season.
Big Harold joins Orland Kurtenbach (the inaugural captain), Kirk McLean (the franchise’s best clutch goaltender) and Thomas Gradin (the pioneering skillful Swede) as Ring of Honour members.
...
Anonymous asked: Do you think Tambellini will stay another year?
3 tags
Did the Canucks Goof on Grabner?
Clearly it is far to early to evaluate last summer’s deal that saw Keith Ballard (and Victor Oreskovich) arrive in Vancouver from Florida in exchange for Michael Grabner, Steve Bernier and the Canucks’ 2010 first round pick. But with Grabner lighting the lamp with authority on Long Island, he’s starting to look like yet another Canuck first round pick that the locals ran out of...
5 tags
Canucks' Roster Juggling
The biggest news in Canuckland these days (besides another injury to a top defenseman) is the coming and going of players between Vancouver and Manitoba. With Sami Salo slated to make his long awaited return tomorrow night against Calgary, Aaron Volpatti and Cody Hodgson find themselves Moose bound while grinding forward Victor Oreskovich joins Salo in the move to the big club.
The demotion of...
Canucks' GM Mike Gillis in a Trading Mood?
In recent years, the Canucks have typically been a buyer come the trading deadline. And with them perched atop the league standings while many of the Stanley Cup favourites are struggling (San Jose, Chicago, Washington) or facing significant injury troubles (Detroit, Pittsburgh), it would seem that if there was ever a time to mortgage the future to increase their chances in the short term, it...
2 tags
Canucks' Win Over Hawks Another Statement Game?
In previewing last night’s match with the hated Chicago Black Hawks, respected Vancouver Sun scribe Iain MacIntyre theorized that the nervous faithful shouldn’t consider it another “test” for the hometown team. After the Canucks tremendous two month run, they had clearly proven themselves an elite Cup contending team. Should the Canucks lose to the Hawks again, it should...
16 tags
Vancouver Juggernucks...
Since the Canucks got embarrassed on home ice (again) by the defending Cup champion Black Hawks back in late November, they have been on an unprecedented stretch of success, compiling a 23-4-6 record in the process.
A run of this type is not typically down to simply good fortune or the exemplary efforts of a few. It takes a consistent effort from almost everyone. And that is precisely what is...
3 tags
The Arrival of Cody Hodgson
With tonight’s match against the Stars in Dallas, Canucks’ centre Cody Hodgson will make his long anticipated NHL debut.
Selected 10th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Hodgson was the first pick of the Mike Gillis era in Vancouver. His injury troubles have been well publicized and are likely the only reason his development has been so stunted. Witness the fact that the nine...
