Critically Canuck

Canucks' Mike Gillis and The Art of Damage Control

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:19:08 -0700

by Scott Taylor

Yesterday, Vancouver Canucks’ President and General Manager addressed the media in his annual post-season delivery. In the wake of a second straight embarrassing playoff exit, he had plenty to answer for. And did so in his typically uncomfortably smug and evasive style.

Unlike seasons’ past, his support of his coaching staff was not explicit - the foregone conclusion being that head coach Alain Vigneault (who was absent from the proceedings) will be replaced in the coming weeks.

Gillis made multiple references to this season being a “messed up” one, negatively impacting his plans in a number of ways. Apparently, the lockout (which was anticipated by everyone) impaired his ability to move Roberto Luongo. Further, the parity induced by a shortened season made for a cluttered trading market with too many buyers and not enough sellers.

These comments, true as they may be, are simply excuses for a job that was not done. Coming from the smug Gillis, this is as close to an admission of guilt as we’ll get.

He spoke of “resetting” the organization as he did when he started here five years ago. The fact is that “resetting” amounted to sticking with the blueprint of the previous regime, retaining the same head coach and core players. The success of the early Gillis years proved it was the right decision, but proving how much credit Gillis should get for it is another matter entirely.

With particular reference to the four game sweep at the hands of the San Jose Sharks, Gillis referenced the notion of “luck”. After all, the Canucks were inches from a Jannik Hansen empty net goal that would have clinched game 2 and were then torpedoed by borderline penalty calls that cost them game 4. These points are duly noted but can’t hide the fact that the team failed to win a single game. Nor was there any qualification of their ride to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final on Kevin Bieksa’s lottery like stanchion assisted game winner.

There was also reference to how the game has changed and how the Canucks must adapt to that change. Gillis spoke of this new emphasis on size and toughness as if it was some scientific revelation that could only now be completely accepted and acted upon. In fact, it’s been the modus operandi for successful playoff teams more often than not for simply generations. And has been as clear as day to anyone specifically following this team since the flame out Stanley Cup loss to Boston two years ago.

As it relates to the self-induced goaltending controversy, there was finally an admission that Roberto Luongo has “likely” played his last game in this market. And optimistically, Gillis declared that there should be more options available this summer for a Luongo exit. We can only infer that Luongo will now desperately accept a trade to anywhere.

In short, the offerings of Gillis were predictable - long on excuses and short on culpability. There was, at least, an acknowledgement that some significant things need to happen. And whether or not the relative success of the Gillis era accrues entirely to him (or previous management regimes), it appears such success will allow him another opportunity to do what needs to be done.

End of Season Canuck Player Commentary

Thu, 09 May 2013 09:42:00 -0700

As we begin yet another summer of our discontent, we present our annual player-by-player commentary, an invaluable reference as the post mortem begins:

Alex Edler (signed through 2019) - In scoring the go-ahead goal in game four’s short lived comeback, Edler finally delivered - but it’s not nearly enough to compensate for a brutal playoff showing and another mediocre regular season. For a team that must make changes, Edler should be a prime candidate to be moved in an off-season trade (before a no movement clause kicks in). Or if he stays, might benefit from the confidence of a different coaching staff.

Kevin Bieksa (signed through 2016) - Bieksa is really a microcosm of the entire team - undisciplined at times, oft injured, a fierce competitor when it matters most but physically under sized for the style of game that makes him most effective. Despite his ridiculous soap-box whining between games 3 and 4, arguably the Canuck with the most character and likely to stay put no matter what.

Andrew Alberts (unrestricted free agent) - While his higher paid colleagues on the Canuck blue-line are performing their playoff best purse swinging, you can always count on Alberts to throw his considerable weight around. And in a Western Conference that now places more emphasis on girth than footspeed, his value has increased, but the Canucks will have little to spend this off-season.

Mason Raymond (unrestricted free agent) - Popular misconception is that Raymond has never recovered from the devastating back injury in the Stanley Cup Final 2 seasons ago. Fact is he sucked the entire season before that. While many were impressed by his jump in game 4, it was typical Raymond - flash and dash with little result. As a free agent, he should be gone. If only it had been sooner.

Keith Ballard (signed through 2015) - The finances dictate that he can’t stay here any longer and will be bought out. Despite a ravaged blue line at many points during his three year stay here, he could never get the confidence of coach AV. And now it’s too late. A wasted resource here with blame for the player, coach and general manager. Time to move on, already.

Alex Burrows (signed through 2017) - It’s impossible to question his work ethic. It is easy to question his hands - his conversion rate of chances to goals makes us long for the days of Anson Carter. And no matter what, he can never shake the reputation bestowed upon him costing the Canucks far too many shorthanded situations. Like Edler, he’s a player that could fetch something on the trade market.

Ryan Kesler (signed through 2016) - For the 3rd period of game 2 versus San Jose, it appeared that the vintage Kesler had miraculously resurrected himself. But it didn’t last. As much as he’s often the heart and soul of this team, you sometimes wonder whether he really wants to be here. You’d think playing hockey for a living should be fun.

Roberto Luongo (signed through eternity) - Yes, Luongo was the Canucks’ best player for most of games 1 and 2. Except for the most important parts of the games when he got a little leaky. He will be gone before training camp though with only a bag of pucks in return.

Cory Schneider (signed through 2015) - In the regular season, was the MVP and is seemingly the centrepiece of the organization moving forward. But you have to wonder about the way he finished games 3 and 4 - were there lingering effects of an injury or was he collapsing under the pressure? We’ve another year to find out.

Chris Tanev (restricted free agent) - With the collective poor play of the defense during this playoff run in his absence, his continued growth will be vital next season. He’s due for a raise, like there is room for that.

Maxim Lapierre (unrestricted free agent) - Along with Kesler and Burrows, the player most responsible for the Canucks’ horrid reputation with the NHL officials. Does he provide enough value otherwise to compensate for that?

Jordan Schroeder (restricted free agent) - With Cody Hodgson now long gone, he represents the only Gillis draft pick to see measurable minutes at the NHL level and while he proved serviceable, there was little demonstrated to indicate that he’s capable of a top six forward role. He’s undersized for anything else.

Andrew Ebbett (unrestricted free agent) - It’s hard to imagine that any team with Stanley Cup aspirations would consider having a spot for a player like Ebbett. He’s a real indictment of how far the depth of the Canucks’ forward crew has slipped in recent years. There’s little to choose between him and Schroeder, except the latter’s youth.

Chris Higgins (signed through 2017) - Having bounced around the league before recently securing a long term deal here, it’s hard to imagine that he’s going anywhere. For the most part, he’s the kind of player the Canucks need more of. Here’s hoping that the security of his new contract doesn’t dull his inspiration.

Derek Roy (unrestricted free agent) - Likely to sign a contract elsewhere, becoming perhaps the worst deadline acquisition in Canuck history - and that is saying something. I suppose we should have seen this coming. When a team in dire need of size and grit adds a pint-sized play-maker instead, you get a first round sweep as a result. This move alone should require Mike Gillis to return his 2011 GM of the Year award. At least, Ryan Kesler doesn’t have to pout about playing on the wing any more.

Dan Hamhuis (signed through 2016) - The Canucks’ steadiest defensive defender had a difficult playoff. And we still don’t get why he sees any power play minutes. Despite that, he remains Mike Gillis’ most successful free agent signing. And after 5 years, that is not saying much.

Henrik Sedin (signed through 2014) - We’re at the point now where their continued playoff struggles cannot be defended. For this team to move forward with greater aspirations, they can’t be counted upon as the first line unit. It’s as simple as that.

Daniel Sedin (signed through 2014) - Yes, the boarding call was a joke. But the series was effectively over at that point with the Sedins having failed to deliver prominently in the post-season again. They can and, likely, will stay. But they need replacing as the go-to guys. Where’s that Cody Hodgson?

Zack Kassian (signed through 2014) - The time has passed for the Canucks to pooh or get off the pot as it pertains to the wild child. He clearly has a physical presence and skill set that is worth plenty. And he will clearly turn the puck over and take some boneheaded penalties. But it’s time to let the puppy off the leash. And with Alain Vigneault likely gone, it just might happen.

Tom Sestito (unrestricted free agent) - His size is a bonus, but he’s replaceable. And likely will be.

David Booth (signed through 2015) - His injury troubles have made it difficult to pass judgement on him, but the team has performed worse with him in the line-up. Either way, it’s a lot of money spent on what remains an unknown quantity. Clearly, a candidate for a buyout.

Jannik Hansen (signed through 2014) - Arguably, displays the most consistent work ethic of any player, but didn’t produce offensively at all come playoff time. On an elite team, he’s no more than a third line option.

Dale Weise (unrestricted free agent) - Weise probably has more speed and skill than he gets to demonstrate. And as a fourth line role player, he is undersized. It’s hard to figure where he fits.

Steve Pinizzotto (unrestricted free agent) - For a 28 year old guy that had never played an NHL game before this season, there was considerable buzz. But he failed to make any measurable impact.

Jason Garrison (signed through 2018) - Garrison was about the only pleasant surprise in the abbreviated playoff run. Why he didn’t get more power play time this season is a mystery known only to Coach Vigneault. With the struggles of Alex Edler and the continued injuries to Kevin Bieksa, his role on this team will become more prominent.

Cam Barker (unrestricted free agent) - Expectations were met from this depth defender, low as they were. He will likely not return.

Frank Corrado (signed through 2015) - His insertion into the line-up down the stretch and into the playoffs was a big surprise. The kid delivered in limited minutes and along with Tanev provides some reason for optimism on the blue-line.

Stay tuned as we dissect the eagerly awaited post-season sugar coating from President and General Manager Mike Gillis.

Canucks' Loss Exposes Lack of Leadership

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:21:00 -0700

by Scott Taylor

With another early playoff exit in the books, there will be the standard protestations about the coach, the general manager, the Sedins, the referees, leaky clutch goaltending, lack of secondary scoring and persistent sloppy defense. But most of all, with the Canucks crushing defeat to the San Jose Sharks, the signs of cracks in the Canuck leadership core are everywhere.

There seemed to be little respect for the opposition, a Shark team that had finished the regular season as dominantly as they had started it. The San Jose franchise, it seems, has quickly morphed from moribund underachievers to a confident veteran group now buoyed by youthful character and a commitment to sounder defensive play.

As the games of the regular season were counting down, most in Canuck nation were licking their collective chops about a match-up against the Sharks - seemingly an easier draw than the more physical and youthful Los Angeles Kings or St. Louis Blues.

How good the Sharks really are will be proven in the coming weeks, but it seems clear that the Canucks (as evidenced by their poor starts to each and every game against San Jose this series and all season, for that matter) were an ill prepared lot. To a man, this team took their opposition too lightly, an indictment of the Canuck coaching staff to be sure.

As the series progressed, the public commentary from players and coaches alike had the Canucks sounding like petulant pouters (something everyone else in the league already had them pegged for anyway).

So was it any surprise that the day after Canuck defender Kevin Bieksa openly ripped the officiating the Canucks found themselves on the receiving end of questionable calls at the most crucial times?

Make no mistake, the NHL is the most poorly officiated professional sport. And the neanderthalic old boys network that runs the game won’t be seeing the light any time soon. But there are far better ways to get your point across than publicly embarrassing guys that are simply trying to do their job.

It was a bold, desperate, but stupid play by Bieksa, one that was apparently endorsed by the Canuck organization, and one, in the short term anyway, that cost this team the series.

Of course, it wouldn’t have mattered in the end. This team was not prepared enough for what the Sharks were bringing. Nor were they determined and disciplined enough to do anything about it. Their play in the third period last night confirmed all you needed to know. At full desperation, the team finally appeared in full flight, but after nearly four games, it was simply too late.

Coach Alain Vigneault has always been one to defer to his veteran leadership group, which was clearly a mistake this time around. The consistent required urgency in their play was mostly missing. And when things didn’t go their way, the childish complaining commenced.

The loss reflects poorly on the ownership group, who, for the time being at least, don’t have to answer any more questions about exorbitantly priced playoff tickets that aren’t selling.

In the end, it would be a whole lot easier to blame this loss on shoddy goalkeeping, an ineffective penalty kill, a lack of size and grit or an aging veteran core. And while all those may apply, the bigger issue here is one of leadership, one that has arrogantly permeated from the top on down. And one that may not be simply fixed by just a coaching change.

Why Aren't Canucks' Playoff Tickets Selling?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:55:00 -0700

What was once the hottest ticket in town, Vancouver Canuck playoff tickets are very much getting a ho-hum response from the ticket buying public this time around. We can think of a few reasons for this seemingly startling event.

For one, the collective fan-base is possibly drained, both emotionally and financially, from the depths of the playoff run of two seasons ago. Though it’s worth noting that last year’s tickets for the first round loss to Los Angeles sold just as briskly as usual.

It is easy to complain about the high ticket prices as the reason for the slumping sales. As an example, lower bowl seats cost a season ticket holder $125 per game per seat in the regular season. By the first round of the playoffs, the cost for the same seat rises to $168 for the first round and then relentlessly more each round, when in the event of a Stanley Cup Final, that same ticket will have tripled in cost. And what’s worse, those are the discounted season ticket holder prices. The same tickets sold to the casual fan are easily another 30% more.

In the end, these prices aren’t materially different from what was being charged two seasons ago. But in the light of a lengthy lockout, there should have been some give back on the ticket prices - instead there was further though nominal ticket price increases.

But the biggest component to the sagging sales is undoubtedly the play of the team. Yes, the Canucks have won another division title. And yes, they are certainly considered a competitive playoff team, if not a Stanley Cup contender. But since the regular season meeting with the Bruins in Boston last January, you can count the number of impressive 60 minute efforts on one hand; notably, this season, home ice victories over Chicago and Los Angeles come to mind. But other than that, the games are typically lacking in entertainment value. This could represent a team in decline or a team that is wisely saving themselves for another playoff run.

The fans, desperate as they are for a winner, are rightfully taking a collective wait-and-see approach with this team. Should the Canucks string together a number of strong playoff outings, the bandwagon will likely begin to fill up again. And if they don’t, the value of the once hottest ticket in town will erode even more…

How Far Can These Canucks Go?

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:25:25 -0700

That, of course, is the question on everyone’s mind these days, casual fan or otherwise. And at no point in Canuck history has there been such a polarized response.

As the defending two-time President’s Trophy winners and near Stanley Cup champ two years ago, this exact team, more or less, has been recently elite and on everyone’s short list to win it all.

But based on the uneven and sometimes injury plagued play of this lockout-shortened campaign (backed only by the superlative play of Cory Schneider), the Canucks, in the eyes of many, are on target for another embarrassing first round exit.

The core personnel from the 2011 team remains intact, improved by the upgrade in goal of Schneider over Roberto Luongo and the pick-up of a legitimate second line playmaker in Derek Roy.

So on that simple basis, this team should have another shot at winning it all. And that is certainly what Canuck management would be selling you.

But you should recall last regular season wasn’t as impressive as advertised. The Canucks were bailed out consistently by their elite goaltending tandem and feasted on poor divisional opponents. The power play, that had ruled the league in 2011, was beginning to show the cracks in a foundation that would crumble completely this season.

And, of course, there was the overriding issue of lack of size and playoff grit up front - an issue that first haunted them in the Cup Final loss to Boston and was a contributing factor in last year’s early playoff exit - and one that remains unaddressed.

Mike Gillis has been quoted as saying that luck is one of the biggest components of playoff success. And he’s right. This particular version of the Canucks has been most susceptible to injury - perhaps an indictment of the Canucks’ declining depth. This team, it seems, will need more than just a little luck to get back to the promised land.

So while the memories of the 2011 near miss are most fresh in our minds, it would be wise to lower our expectations for this team - a team, that on paper, looks a whole lot more like the 2007 Canucks than they do the Stanley Cup finalists of two years past.

That team, buoyed by the other worldly goaltending of Robero Luongo, featured a veteran forward group that struggled to score (thirty-six year old Trevor Linden led the team in playoff scoring) and was bounced in the second round by the eventual Cup champion Anaheim Ducks.

Some things could happen this time around. Kevin Bieksa, Chris Higgins and Chris Tanev could get healthy and remain so. The Sedins and Ryan Kesler could resurrect their power play magic. Zack Kassian could emerge as a consistent physical, yet disciplined force. And Derek Roy just might provide second line offensive production, as advertised.

But other things will most certainly happen. The Canucks’ overall depth will be tested by the rigors of playoff hockey. The aged forward group will struggle to score, particularly at even strength. The team, as a whole, will get pushed around by bigger younger teams like Los Angeles and St. Louis. Cory Schneider will stand on his head.

You add all that up and a reasonable conclusion is another first round loss, or, if they are a little lucky, an unsuccessful trip to the second round.

Mike Gillis and Going "All In"

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:50:04 -0700

After acquiring centre Derek Roy yesterday, Canucks’ Assistant General Manager, Laurence Gilman, was quoted as saying that his team was “fertile” and would be going “all in” at this trade deadline. Specifically, he expected one or two more deals to get done.

One day later, the trade deadline has expired and nothing more has happened. The typical excuses will be forthcoming. “It was a sellers’ market”. “We don’t want to mortgage our future”. “We like our team as is”. “Ryan Kesler is coming back”. “Derek Roy is a versatile player”.

And some or all of them may apply. But we should realize that the words of the Canucks’ upper management have not been in sync with their actions for quite some time.

You will recall last season’s trade deadline. The Canucks, defending Western Conference champs, traded an emerging player, Cody Hodgson, for a player that was, and remains, an enigmatic prospect - Zack Kassian. This was hardly the action of a team that was trying to load up for a Stanley Cup run.

Further, when it became clear that Cory Schneider was an elite NHL goalie, the team opted to keep him and attempt to move Roberto Luongo. Seemingly, another decision that did not fit well with a team that was aiming to win during their window of opportunity. Seemingly, Schneider would be more valuable on the trade front than the aging Luongo and his gaudy salary.

And now, another deadline has passed with the only acquisition being Derek Roy. Roy will be a valuable component on a team that has been without a 2nd and 3rd line centre all season. He is a play-making pivot on a team that is in dire need of such. But it is hard to imagine that he will be enough to elevate the level of play to Stanley Cup contender.

Mike Gillis’ handling of the Luongo matter is fodder for another blog piece. But it appears that Gillis’ arrogance has gotten in the way of getting a deal done.

With one year to trade his prized keeper, Gillis has not been able to pull the trigger, seemingly unaware that a player’s market value is simply represented by whatever the highest bidder is prepared to pay.

You don’t need to look too far to see what other teams have done in similar circumstances. You will recall Chris Pronger’s speedy exit from Edmonton. Or Jaroslav Halak’s quick departure from Montreal when it became clear he and Carey Price similarly couldn’t occupy the same net.

By continuing to defer on the matter, Gillis is speculating enormously and, in the end, doing his franchise a disservice. But the conclusion is pretty elementary.

The Aquilinis, despite claims to the contrary, aren’t really all that concerned about a Stanley Cup win. Ongoing competitive play and a handful of playoff dates year-after-year is fine.

And from a bottom line perspective, it likely is. But the next time you hear someone from the Canuck brass declare that they are “all in”, you must know they are only bluffing.

Canucks' Weekly Wayback - Alain Vigneault Almost Gets Fired (Again)

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:40:00 -0700

With the panicky faithful at full froth over the Canucks’ latest struggles and the calls, from some, for the head of coach Alain Vigneault, it’s time to revisit Vigneault’s brushes with coaching death in Vancouver. Although being the most successful coach in Canuck history, the streaky performances of his teams have brought plenty of scrutiny about his coaching future through his seven years here.

A season after winning the Jack Adams NHL Coach of the Year award in his first year in Vancouver (thanks almost entirely to the play of Roberto Luongo), Vigneault faced the firing line for the first time.

His boss, Dave Nonis, had been dismissed after a disappointing 2007-08 campaign where the Vigneault coached squad lost 6 of 7 games to end the season and miss the playoffs. Shortly thereafter, the Mike Gillis era began and Gillis, in a fashion that would become typical of his style in Vancouver, didn’t follow convention and replace Vigneault with his own hire. Instead, after lengthy meetings with Vigneault, Gillis decided that AV was his man.

Two productive regular seasons later, it seemed Gills was vindicated in his decision to retain the previous regime’s head coach. But the Canucks suffered a second consecutive playoff meltdown to Chicago. Both of these playoff losses occurred after blowing early series’ leads, the net result of undisciplined play, questionable defensive posturing and volatile goaltending.

So when the slow start came the following season - a 7-1 loss on home ice to Chicago was part of a late November four game losing streak that left the Canucks with a 10-7-3 record - the trigger happy fans and media (ourselves included) thought it was finally time for a change. After all, Vigneault had been on the job for the fourth longest tenure of any active coach and had failed to get his team past the second round of the playoffs.

But Vigneault’s squad simply caught fire, burning their way to a President’s Trophy and the Stanley Cup Finals. Though along the way, the Vigneault bandwagon was almost empty after nearly blowing a 3-0 first round lead against Chicago.

And after last season’s disappointing first round exit, Vigneault was briefly the hot topic once more - his playoff game elimination record had now dipped to a miserable 8 wins and 12 losses. For a few days, the status of both Vigneault and Gillis (who was now looking for a contract renewal) was up in the air. But Gillis got his renewal and Vigneault got to keep his job.

The mostly uninspired play of recent weeks again has Vigneault’s future in this market up for question. Uncharacteristically, we will withhold comment on that for now. But despite his long history of success, at some point, Gillis will be faced with the same decision that every general manager faces - to save himself, he must sacrifice his coach.

Does David Booth Give Canucks a Boost?

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:09:00 -0800

It has been over a year and a half since winger David Booth arrived in Vancouver from Florida. At the time, Booth was proclaimed as a budding power forward, one who had already netted 30 goals in a season. At 27 years of age, he was expected to be entering his prime and would be a valuable component of the team’s high octane offense.

So what kind of contribution has Booth brought so far to the Canucks?

Last season, he managed 16 goals (and 13 assists) in 56 games - a reasonable result in light of the games played. At times, he exhibited world class speed and a determination to drive to the net.

But since then, (including 5 post-season games last season), he’s got a paltry two assists in twelve games. And while he has been slowly recovering from injury this season, it’s becoming clear that the Canucks perform just fine with him out of the line-up.

In fact, in his time in Vancouver, he’s suited up for 68 games with the Canucks and missed another 32 due to injury. In those 32 games without Booth, Vancouver dominated the opposition with a winning percentage over .700.

With Booth in the line-up, they’ve been good, too, winning at nearly a .625 clip. But surely not dominating. And for a player that came with such expectations (not to mention price tag - Booth’s annual salary cap hit is $4.25 million), you’d have expected some measurable benefit to having him in the line-up.

But it simply hasn’t happened.

There are some reasons for that. Booth hasn’t seen the top line minutes to which he was accustomed in Florida - exceeding 15 minutes in ice time per night only roughly half the time in Vancouver. And he has battled some injury problems both this season and last.

But the fact that the team has performed better without him tells us that the skill set that Booth brings is redundant on a team that features a good number of fleet footed wingers.

More flatly stated, guys like Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen are better at doing what Booth might be able to do. And they do it for a combined salary that is less than what Booth gets.

Booth shares much in common with Keith Ballard - another ex-Panther who has struggled to meet expectations and carries a burdensome salary.

Between the two players, the Canucks have nearly $8.5 million invested per season. And this season they have a combined two assists to show for it. Neither player seems to have earned the consistent confidence of the coaching staff.

Throwing in the salary of back-up Roberto Luongo, and the Canucks have nearly $14 million of annual salary cap invested in players that aren’t consistently making a difference. With salary cap levels to drop next season, something will have to give.

In effect, Booth has been and will likely continue to be a fringe player on this team and while that might be a compliment to the quality of the team’s depth, it is a luxury that will not last much longer.

For the Canucks, Same Old Stories

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:46:00 -0800

Ryan Kesler is hurt. Again. Zack Kassian is back in the doghouse. And, the infinitely spinning goalie carousel does just that.

Kesler, whose performance had faded after an initial promising return from his latest round of injury woes, has broken a bone in his foot. The injury occurred last week in Dallas, explaining the former all-star center’s struggles in the past few games.

What has to be quite disturbing to all is that Kesler has morphed into the injury riddled Sami Salo. It is not like he’s had a chronic problem ailing him the last couple of seasons, instead suffering all manner of seemingly unrelated injuries - hips, wrist, shoulder and now foot.

It is becoming clear that the feisty straw that stirs the drink may never appear in the line-up consistently enough to have the required impact. It is impossible to imagine this Canuck team maintaining any kind of extended success without a healthy Kesler.

Earlier this season, with both Kesler and David Booth out of the line-up, Zack Kassian saw some first line minutes and played well enough to deserve more of them. But instead, he has found himself in Alain Vigneault’s doghouse once again. Things bottomed out last night as the robust winger saw only six minutes of ice time.

Contrast that to Buffalo’s treatment of Cody Hodgson, the player controversially dealt in exchange for Kassian last season. This season, Hodgson has played over 20 minutes most nights and never less than 17 in a single game.

It is really hard to tell exactly what the plan is for Kassian, notably a year younger than the man he will be forever compared to. But he certainly looked comfortable and effective playing top line minutes earlier this season, bringing his unique combination of skill and sandpaper as advertised.

Now he is back to patrolling the fourth line - a lose/lose proposition if there ever was one. Is it any coincidence that the Canucks’ poorest play this season has corresponded with the times when Kassian’s ice-time has been reduced? If there is an upside to the Kesler injury, it would be the chance for Kassian to get more minutes again.

Based on Cory Schneider’s post game comments last night, he is clearly bristling from something. Whether he’s unhappy with his recent inconsistent play or the ongoing melodrama of who’s the number one keeper in this market is not clear. But it’s not an optimal situation obviously.

We’ve been adamant, ever since it appeared that this market couldn’t accommodate both of these elite keepers, that Luongo should be moved sooner rather than later.

We reiterate that 33 year-old netminders don’t appreciate. The Canucks have gambled on this matter, waiting until situations force the hands of other teams into desperate positions. The opposite, unfortunately, is now true.

Chicago seemingly can’t lose with their current goaltending tandem. The Leafs are off to their best start in a decade. The cash strapped Florida Panthers have wisely opted to play their prized prospect between the pipes. And the Oilers are happy to ride Devan Dubnyk, their goalie of the future who is finally delivering consistently.

So where there was once a number of potential suitors for Luongo, it’s hard to find more than one now, the perpetually goaltending challenged Flyers being the only logical destination.

As the injuries mount and the Canucks struggle, the luxury of two elite starting goaltenders is becoming stupidly extravagant. Worse yet, the Canucks may no longer be bargaining from a position of strength.

Further, the commitment to the development of the Canucks’ two cornerstone players of the future, Kassian and Schneider, ought to be consistent. Kassian seems to possess a demeanour and skill set that should be of value each and every night. And Schneider, as the proclaimed number one goalie during the off-season, should get the same chance his predecessor did to get his game on track.

One thing is for sure, should the Canucks continue to struggle in the coming weeks, the pressure on Mike Gillis may finally reach a tipping point, forcing the organizational flip-flopping to end.

For Canucks, No Manny, No Problem

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:32:27 -0800

While Manny Malhotra’s career seems to have tragically ended, we should be careful not to overstate his on-ice value to this club.

The tragic eye injury that has derailed his career occurred nearly two years ago. In the end, only Malhotra’s first season in Vancouver was a healthy and valuable one.

During that season, the face-off whiz centered the Canucks’ most dependable third line in years and led the top penalty killing unit in the league.

But since the injury, the only real value Malhotra has been able to provide is in the face-off dot. And while his superiority there cannot be denied, it’s relative value can be.

Winning face-offs, particularly short-handed in the defensive zone, is critical. But the relative performance in the dot by a genius like Malhotra (whose career face-off rate in Vancouver has been 61%) versus the next available guy might be ten percentage points, at best.

So in your typical game, Manny might take seven such face-offs. Thus in any one game, he’d win less than one more defensive zone face-off than the next guy. That’s not much to stake your career on. And it’s certainly not worth $2.5 million per year.

Make no mistake, the news of Malhotra’s demise is a sad one - a valued team leader and community ambassador has been cut down in his prime. But on the ice, the Manny of lore has been gone for quite some time.

His absence from the line-up given his condition hasn’t and won’t be noticeable. And his intangible value to the franchise can easily be retained should he have the opportunity and will to stay with the club in some capacity.

Canucks' Weekly Wayback - Henrik Sedin's First NHL Game

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:27:30 -0800

Sometime this weekend, assuming the slumbering Sedins can break out of their early season slump (or more appropriately, Alex Burrows can finally convert some of his chances), Henrik Sedin will surpass fellow Swede and former Canuck captain Markus Naslund as the team’s most effective scorer in their 42 season history.

So on that basis, this week’s wayback features Henrik’s first NHL game.

For Henrik (and brother Daniel) it all started over twelve years ago. They suited up for their first NHL game, looking very much like boys amongst men. A fact that was exaggerated even more by the opposition that night - the Philadelphia Flyers featured (as they near always have) a bruising line-up with the likes of John LeClair, Keith Primeau, Luke Richardson, Kevin Stevens and Rick Tocchet.

The Canucks were entering that season, 2000-01, having missed the playoffs for four years running. It was another dark period in Canuck history. But that was about to end though perhaps not entirely on this night.

That summer, Brian Burke had engineered transactions enabling the Canucks to draft both Henrik (at number three overall) and his brother Daniel (at number two). Say what you will about Burke, he was the perfect man for that job and his draft day coup established the foundation for the most successful period of Canucks’ hockey.

And while there was much optimism heading into that season, there was concern that the Sedins were too young, too soft, too weak to compete at the NHL level. The “sisters” and their endless cycle game just wouldn’t work against the rigors of real men.

The Sedins that night in Philadelphia skated alongside Trent Klatt (one of many wingers who would come to experience the magical Sedin effect as their stats became suddenly inflated) and received third line minutes, but were non-factors as the Canucks got clobbered 6-3.

Just to emphasize how long ago this really was, the Canucks’ keeper that night was Felix “the Cat” Potvin, who was clearly on his way to his ninth life.

But while this game wasn’t symbolic of how things would transpire during the Sedin era, by the end of the season, the youthful team would return to the playoffs once more with the Sedins elevated to second line prominence during a brief playoff run, racking up 7 points between them in 4 playoff games.

And now, with playoff appearances in nine of eleven seasons (soon to be ten of twelve), President’s Trophies, an Art Ross Trophy and the closest brush possible with the Stanley Cup, Henrik is on the verge of adding further to his tremendous legacy in Vancouver.

Canucks' Ballard Finally Out of the Doghouse

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:08:00 -0800

When Keith Ballard arrived in Vancouver nearly three years ago, the price tag seemed high (a first round pick along with two former first rounders, Michael Grabner and Steve Bernier) and his lengthy remaining contract seemed gaudy. So justifiably, he was expected to be a top four defender; a young man, who five years into his career, had averaged over 20 minutes of ice team per game each and every season.

But through a combination of injuries and nerves, he could never get the confidence of the coaching staff in Vancouver. And it seemed that the volatile defender and his rich contract were to become an albatross in the new post-lockout world.

But fully into his third season in Vancouver, it appears he has finally found his game, or at least, the confidence of his coaches. You will note that Ballard was on the ice for the overtime winning goal last game - an opportunity Alain Vigneault never would have entrusted him with in seasons past.

So while he has yet to produce a single point this season, he is combining with young Chris Tanev to form the Canucks’ most dependable defensive pairing. In his first two seasons here, he was lucky to play 15 minutes per night, and rarely in 9 consecutive games as he has thus far. So far this season, he’s getting well over 17 minutes per outing. And circumstances dictate he should be getting even more.

The Canucks’ power play is struggling mightily this season. Once the most feared team in the league with the man-advantage, this season’s results have been middling, at best, with the points having been manned exclusively by Alex Edler, Dan Hamhuis, Jason Garrison and Kevin Bieksa.

Given the struggles of everyone, except Edler, to contribute with the man advantage, giving the smooth skating Ballard a chance only seems to make sense.

In fact, before he came to Vancouver, he saw considerable power play minutes throughout his first five years in the league. You’d think his quick skating and adventurous play would be an asset to a power play that has become predictable and now ineffective.

We like what we’ve seen this season from Ballard, the default doghouse resident of the Alain Vigneault era. But we’d like to see more of it. Here’s hoping he’ll get the chance…

Canucks' Weekly Wayback - Flyers Brawl with Fans

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:19:00 -0800

Vancouver hockey fans have been witness to some of the most brutal acts of violence in hockey history. In recent times, there was the Marty McSorley head-clubbing of Donald Brashear and, of course, the Todd Bertuzzi neck-breaking of Steve Moore. And the Stanley Cup riots of 2011 are still fresh in our memories.

But the history of violence at Canuck games goes much further back. And today, with the 300th blog entry in our history, and with the Canucks posting the 2nd most fighting majors in the league, we revisit December 29, 1972.

On that night, the Philadelphia Flyers were visiting the Pacific Coliseum and were on their ascendancy to becoming the league’s best and most penalized team. During a scrap between Don Saleski and Barry Wilcox, Vancouver fans, apparently incited by the barbarity of the Flyers’ play, grabbed the hair (and there was plenty to grab) of Saleski, also known as Big Bird. Ultimately, seven Flyer players (Saleski, Bill “Cowboy” Flett, Bob Taylor, Barry Ashbee, Joe Watson, Ross Lonsberry and Ed Van Impe) became involved with Vancouver fans.

All seven were charged with creating a disturbance “by using obscene language and by fighting with spectators with fists and by wielding hockey sticks against and in close proximity to spectators in the general seating area for spectators”.

Further, there were six criminal assault charges levied with goalie Bob Taylor, who had assaulted a police officer, ultimately sentenced to 30 days in jail!

The picture featured in this entry documents a brawl that ensued in Philadelphia when the Canucks visited there the following season. You’ll note that Taylor is again in the middle of the action, duking it out with Canucks’ keeper Gary “Suitcase” Smith.

The Flyers, of course, went on to hockey immortality as the Broad Street Bullies. The Canucks, despite not being in the same conference as the Flyers, would continue to test their mettle against them in heated battles through the 70’s and 80’s that often featured record breaking penalty totals - expect more on that in future instalments of Canucks’ Weekly Wayback.

In the meantime, enjoy tonight’s encounter against the Colorado Avalanche, who remarkably lead the league in penalty minutes, though are hardly the goons of yesteryear.

Another Canucks' Season, Another Slow Start

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:50:01 -0800

Six games into their regular season, the Canucks performance to date has been missing the high points. And while a half-dozen games isn’t much, in this shortened season, it’s the same as the ten game mark in a full slate.

In that sense, the season so far is business as usual for this team ever since Alain Vigneault took over. In fact, in the initial ten game increments of those now nearly seven seasons, they’ve never won more than 5 of 10.

Yes, in the stretch of their most significant continued success in franchise history, this team has always been slow out of the gate.

But there a few differences this time around. This season is shorter and thus the impact of a slow start is amplified. Further, this team is older. And in the context of the late starting regular season and now accelerated schedule, this combo could be lethal.

How did the Canucks, now with nine of their regulars over 30 years of age, do the last time they were this old? They missed the playoffs (2007-08).

With an even .500 record this far, there have been some notable under-achievers - particularly the collective play of their top four defencemen. Noted free agent acquisition, Jason Garrison, was brought in to boost the power play, but has yet to register a single point. While Alex Edler, Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis have been volatile.

Goal scoring, a problem that reared its head dramatically at the end of last season, continues to be mediocre. The once high-octane offense is scoring at a rate that is one goal less per game than the first place Chicago Black Hawks.

Many pundits had predicted that shootouts would be more prominent in this condensed season. And for the Canucks, that has certainly been the case. And as per usual, in the Alain Vigneault regime, the Canucks have struggled to compete. Whether this will be enough motivation for Coach Vigneault to actually practice the shootout remains to be seen.

The upside though is that the team is getting significant contributions from young players (most notably Zack Kassian and Chris Tanev who both started the season in game shape after playing big minutes on the farm club) so by the time the more experienced players round into form, there should be a notable increase in performance.

And Mason Raymond has found top gear for the time being and remembered where the front of the net is.

Further, this version of the Canucks seems more suited for the rough going with Kassian along with Aaron Volpatti engaging in a number of fisticuffs. There has been a demonstration that this team is less likely to be intimidated.

And, whenever Roberto Luongo finally gets dealt, this team should get just a little bit younger and more offensively skilled. Though with every passing day, it is just as likely that the stubborn Mike Gillis has missed the high water mark for his star keeper’s value.

You will note that we’ve not mentioned the return of Ryan Kesler and David Booth. That’s for good reason. We doubt Kesler will return this season and, if he does, he will be a shadow of his former self. As for David Booth, the Canucks were better with him out of the line-up last season than there were with him in it.

On Friday, the hated Hawks pay a visit to Rogers Arena for a game that will be yet another measuring stick for this year’s squad. The early season encounter between the two typically results in the Canucks getting their lunch fed to them, the wake-up call that finally turns their season around.

Lions Dismiss Face of Franchise

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:30:00 -0800

Okay, this is a Canucks blog, but today’s news of the BC Lions dealing Geroy Simon can’t be ignored. Any story that trumps the on-going Roberto Luongo saga cannot be denied.

Simon has been the face of the franchise for a decade, doing more on the field and, just as importantly, off the field than anyone.

The trade of Simon, who wanted to stay by the way, will be sold in the usual fashion - the injustice of the business of sport. But that’s a cop-out.

Undeniably, wins and losses are the biggest component to the business success of any team. But they are clearly not the only component. There is a good chance that this deal will work out in the long run on the field. But what about off?

Geroy was not just a star player, the all time best receiver in league history. But he has been a champion off the field - constantly available to the media and dedicated to community involvement. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a huge component to the success of your brand.

When you attend a Lions game at BC Place, you’ll see a sea of orange Lion jerseys. The majority of them bear Simon’s name and number. In the end, player loyalty and loyalty to a player go hand in hand - and both sell tickets.

It’s one thing to trade a player like Jason Clermont, similarly in anticipation of a fading skill set, back to his home town of Regina. But you wouldn’t trade Lui Passaglia - you’d let him kick until he was 45 years old. And so it should have been with Geroy Simon.

Unlike the Luongo affair, there is not an obvious replacement for Simon. Nor has Geroy suffered through the playoff meltdowns and loss of confidence (in himself, from the organization and fans) that Luongo has. Nor has he shuffled off to Florida every off season - the man has embraced his sport and, equally, his community.

This is, frankly, a sad day in Vancouver sport history.

Oh well, at least Mike Gillis gets one day out of the sporting spotlight…

Canuck Weekly Wayback - Alex Burrows, the Grrrowler

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:20:43 -0800

In this week’s feature we take a peek back in the career of star winger Alex Burrows, who today will be converting to centre ice to fill the big boots of Ryan Kesler.

Ten years ago, the pesky winger was toiling away in his first pro season as a 21 year old rookie with the Greenville Grrrowl of the East Coast Hockey League. Yes, Greenville, South Carolina, noted hockey hotbed that quickly burned through their ECHL franchise, one that had started with so much promise. But we digress - Burrows, undrafted and still years away from being on the radar of any NHL team, showed plenty of tenacity, but not the puck skill, that would later turn him into an NHL star.

During his season in Greenville, one he wouldn’t finish before getting shipped to Baton Rouge, the feisty francophone exceeded the 200 PIM mark in a brief 53 game stint.

Number of teammates that outscored him that season - ten. Number of teammates on the Grrrowl that season that made their way to the NHL? One, goalkeeper Michael Garnett, who played part of one season for the Atlanta Thrashers, barely an NHL franchise themselves.

Yes, Burrows has received plenty of press about his improbable rise from the depths of hockey purgatory. And as this forgettable season in Greenville shows, so he should.

Zack Kassian Making a Good Second Impression

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:22:00 -0800

In last season’s Canuck debut, noted young power forward Zack Kassian gave you glimpses of what he might become. Some, of course, we’re positive – the size and speed, the crazy wide-eyed gap tooth grin that every enforcer should have. But the parts of his world that allowed Buffalo to let him go also came to light. He seemed prone to inconsistency, trailing off quite easily from what he needed to do.

His fall session with the farm club Chicago Wolves confirmed the enigma – decent goal production, a whack of PIM, discipline from the league and benching from his coach.

But after two games to start the season, Kassian has been the most pleasant surprise, perhaps the only one. He’s finished checks, generated scoring chances, popped a huge goal and most importantly challenged Oiler behemoth Ben Eager, who has been terrorizing the Canucks for years. Their third period tilt, which was at Kassian’s instigation, and came at a crucial time in the game – mere seconds after the home team had surrendered a two goal lead.

It is this exact level of intimidation that this team has spent an eternity searching for. That it comes from a young man with so much other potential, it is finally clear what caused the Canucks to part ways with Cody Hodgson. More, please.

Why Cory Schneider Must Start Tonight & Other Musings

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 12:45:00 -0800

Why Schneider Must Start Tonight

If the Canucks have truly begun the Schneider era (even though the incumbent Roberto Luongo is still hanging around), he must be given a demonstrable show of support in a second straight start despite his poor play in last night’s embarrassing opening night defeat.

To do otherwise would put the franchise and this never-ending melodrama right back to square one.

And even if the original plan (before Schneider’s egg-laying) was to start Luongo tonight against the Oilers to keep the young keeper away from back-to-back starts, it’s not like Schneider should be tired after leaving the game 26 minutes in.

This never-ending goalie controversy is beyond old, but let’s attempt to turn the tide and give Schneider another start.

Why the Canucks underpaid for Alex Edler

Before the opening night disaster, the biggest news around Canuck nation was the extension of defender Alex Edler for six years at an annual cap hit of $5 million.

Edler, of course, has proven that he can be equal parts Scott Stevens, ruthless bodychecker, and Bambi, awkwardly scrambling on the ice as if for the first time. His volatility clearly adds risk to any long term deal.

But, by NHL defensemen standards, where players are typically slow to mature, Edler is still very young.

And on that basis, this deal makes sense. The offensive numbers that he has put up so far give him a good chance to be the Canucks all-time leader amongst defenders. And his size, mobility and occasional nastiness could make him the best all around defender ever to lace them up in this market.

Ultimately, at $5 million per season and NHL inflation (the early post-lockout returns indicate that the spending spree continues unabated), it shouldn’t take much stability on Edler’s part to make this money well spent.

Why the Canucks defense is overrated

Many NHL pundits would have you believe that the Canucks defensive corps is among the league’s best. And from a very simple head count notion, that may be correct - there is no shortage of NHL ready plugs to fill the holes.

But the likes of recent pick-ups Cam Barker, who was disastrous on a defenseless Oiler team last season, and Jim Vandermeer, who has most recently spent more ice time as a fourth line forward, hardly even add insurance.

Ultimately, there is always the issue of quality over quantity and that is where the Canucks’ defense will continue to suffer.

Kevin Bieksa has the nasty disposition you want in every defender, but he is undersized for his role and maddeningly (perhaps stupidly) inconsistent.

Dan Hamhuis is a defensive rock (despite being on the ice for 5 goals against last night), but has little offensive upside.

The aforementioned Edler is still searching for consistency and the ability to play to the benefit of his size and strength.

Rounding out the top four is Jason Garrison, a purse swinging big man with a great shot.

Keith Ballard, arguably the Canucks’ most offensively dynamic defender, won’t get himself out of the bottom pairing as long as Alain Vigneault is around.

The remarkably steady Chris Tanev should get more ice this season, but hardly brings a full skill set.

After that are the supposed depth guys. But the point is simple, this franchise continues (42 years in) without a single elite defender.

In the end, the forward crew of this version of the Canucks will struggle to score. The team will need a tremendous contribution from its defense at both ends of the ice. We’re skeptical that this crew can fulfill that responsibility.

Brash Burke Gets Bounced, Again...

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 09:28:00 -0800

While it’s easy to understand yesterday’s firing of Maple Leafs President and GM Brian Burke purely on a results basis, it is a most surprising turn of events in the centre of the universe.

The Leafs recently came under the ownership of a huge media conglomerate, who had given Burke and his dodgy track record a thumbs up. Clearly, without a single game having been played this season, something recently has triggered this knee jerk move - his reluctance to acquire Roberto Luongo and his long-term contract (a philosophical stumbling block for stubborn Burke) has been rumoured to be that tipping point.

Taken on balance, his record is enough to support his firing. His results so far in Toronto are nothing near what Burke had boldly promised. But if you’re removing him on that basis, why replace him with his underling, Dave Nonis? Nonis has been a Burke disciple forever and can hardly visit the washroom without clearing it with Burke in advance. Further, to many, he has been the acting GM in Toronto for some time while Burke sticks to maintaining his principled pompous ass persona.

So whatever direction Burke had the Leafs headed, Nonis will continue with the blueprint to a tee. What the Leafs won’t get from Nonis, however, is Burke’s publicly brash demeanour. Nonis won’t embarrass the franchise with his antics and drag the Leafs into unnecessary media dramas. The very thought of a TV camera causes the baby-faced Nonis to blush uncontrollably.

So it seems Leaf ownership didn’t mind the substance of old Burkey so much, they just didn’t like his style. Who does? Everywhere he’s gone, Burke has made plenty of friends and enemies, often out of the same person. And seemingly, it’s happened again.

Whether you believe the refusal to accept a Luongo trade as the reason for Burke’s dismissal, the very rumour of such can’t do anything but help out the Canucks in their quest to get the best value for their maligned keeper. And for Canucks fans, that’s the best news of all…

For Canucks, Many Questions

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:53:00 -0800

Despite their two consecutive President’s Trophies and a lengthy delayed start to the season that should be of great benefit to some key banged up players, the Vancouver Canucks start the season with more questions than many teams. So with the lockout finally over, we’re back to providing you with answers.

When will Ryan Kesler return?

With the Canucks’ second line centre duties falling to the likes of noted plumber Maxim Lapierre in Kesler’s absence, this is rightly question number one.

Given his early return from injury last season, Kesler has been adamant that he will only return when 100%. When that might be is anyone’s guess however.

Recent comments from Kesler’s agent implied that he is months away - though that response came during the lockout when there was every reason to overstate his client’s plight to maintain his injured status (and thus continue on the payroll) throughout the lockout.

At any rate, there has been a consistent divergence of opinion between Kesler’s camp and the Canucks about his return date so you’ll have to wait patiently. But really the question ought to be…

Will Ryan Kesler ever be the same?

Let’s not forget that Kesler, plagued by chronic injuries, finished the last two post-seasons as a mere shadow of the player that dominated for much of the 2010-11 regular season and playoff.

Make no mistake, Kesler’s brilliant two-way play is predicated on his speed, physical robustness and devastating shot. It’s quite reasonable to assume that the toll of these repeated injuries will begin to surface whenever he does make a return to the ice.

Flatly stated, we’re betting that Kesler will settle into a decent two-way checking role, scoring 50 points per season for the remainder of his career. Not bad, but for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, it won’t be enough.

What to do with Bobby Lou?

Believe it or not, some are thinking that retaining Luongo for this season to serve in tandem with Cory Schneider might be a good idea. In an ideal world, faced with a sprint-to-the-finish shortened season (and no salary cap), this might be a nice luxury to have. But when you’re faced with the prospect of opening your season with no number two (nor number three, really) centre, Luongo must be sold to the highest acceptable bidder as soon as possible.

As a 33 year-old former number one goalie, how can his market value possibly rise when holding Cory Schneider’s jockstrap? If Roberto starts the season here, we will be surprised and disappointed.

Can a contribution be expected from young players this season?

Seemingly, there are a number of young players (Zack Kassian, Jordan Schroeder, Chris Tanev, Kevin Connauton) that will be given a chance to make the roster, but faced with little or no exhibition play and a shortened season, there’s little margin of error for experimenting with unproven talent - something coach Alain Vigneault has been typically wary of anyway.

In his season to date with the AHL Chicago Wolves, Kassian has proven to be just as enigmatic as before. He’s put up some decent offensive numbers (20 points in 28 games), led his team in penalty minutes, been suspended by the league and benched by his coach. For those keeping score at home, Cody Hodgson, who would have finally been satiated in Kesler’s absence, scored 19 points in 19 AHL games before fracturing his wrist.

Schroeder should get a look at centre ice with Kesler out unless a centre comes back in return for Luongo. It’s hard to get excited about his chances though with the more experienced Andrew Ebbett providing the exact same skill set.

The cool headed Tanev will likely get plenty of big minutes this year while Connauton, still in need of honing his defensive play, will not.

In case you are wondering, 2011 first round pick Nicklas Jensen is staying in Sweden. It is possible that the Canucks (now into the 5th year of the Mike Gillis era) will not ice a single Gillis draft pick this season, leaving Cody Hodgson (and the forgettable Yann Sauve) as the only Gillis picks to play at the NHL level.

Can breakout seasons be expected from Jannik Hansen, David Booth or Mason Raymond?

With no young help on the way and with the Sedins aging and Kesler injured, it is imperative that these three players must collectively improve.

You will remember that coming out of the last NHL lockout, there were improvements to the game to reduce clutching and grabbing thereby increasing scoring and entertainment value. When the game resumed, the pick-up was noticeable. This time around, the lockout was consumed with carving up league revenue, not a second was spent on how to improve the game.

We’re not sure that bodes well for these types of players (Hansen, Booth and Raymond), who all must improve their contributions if this team expects to manufacture offense on the second and third lines.

By the end of last season, as the hooking and holding seemed to be working its way back into the game, the output of this trio of speedy wingers had plummeted. In 15 combined playoff games, they managed a collective one goal and two assists. Of the three, we like Hansen’s chances the best - his progress has been steady and his determination ever present. Booth, on the other hand, will likely be earning himself a compliance buy-out before too long.

Welcome back! Enjoy the Canucks’ return to action. Or your boycott. Whatever. We’ll still be here.