Richard Loat

A more mature Kesler

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Dec 292010
 

Good players find a way to improve even when it may seem like they’re at their peak. After a breakout season last season, Ryan Kesler left many were wondering just how he could improve his game this year. Kesler’s growth as a player has been something we’ve been fortunate enough to watch. We were fortunate that Philadelphia never stole him away with an offer sheet and we’re even more fortunate that we’re going to have a player who in a few years could arguably be the best active American player in the NHL.

After an off season of ego boosting through being the poster boy for NHL 2K11 and the face of a new clothing line to put himself amongst the NHL fashion ranks with Ovechkin and Crosby, Kesler has returned to the lineup with something to prove. After two excruciating series losses to the Blackhawks, he knows as much as any other player how much this city and team want to win the cup. It shows in his play.

It became clear last season that Kesler is the catalyst for the Canucks second line. He sparked a career year for Mason Raymond, and we’re seeing the same thing happen again with Jeff Tambellini. Tambellini who had all the chances to establish himself in the NHL has finally found his spot alongside Kesler on the second line on a line that has a constant need for speed.

With a new air of maturity to start his season, Kesler stepped onto the ice this season, and as an encore, has quickly become one of the NHL’s elite centers. The maturity he’s developed has reached different facets of his game. Kesler’s not getting riled up by the other team’s agitators the way he did before, and he’s taken a step towards being a leader through his play. He sits second in team scoring right now behind Daniel Sedin. He wears an ‘A’ this season and is living up to his offensive, defensive, and team responsibilities. His play on the penalty kill has been stronger than ever and he’s on pace for career numbers for the second consecutive season and he has an obvious impact to the players who surround him.

The mark of Kesler’s maturity has really been seen in how he’s embraced a shift in his role. The Canucks have long lusted for another young Todd Bertuzzi-esque forward. This season, we’ve seen him thrust into that position at the front of the net. The Livonia, Michigan native has taken that responsibility and has excelled at it. We’re seeing Kesler make power forward moves to the net that the Canucks only used to see when David Backes was in town. We’re seeing him go to the front of the net and get rewarded. Consequently, his play has been the reason the Canucks special teams play has been tops in the league at both ends of the man advantage.

As we reach the halfway mark of the season, Kesler’s play has been exceptional in any of the roles he’s been called upon to play. His on-ice vision, improved skill and speed has sparked his linemates from Jannik Hansen to Mikael Samuelsson, and importantly, he’s become the net presence the Canucks have desperately needed. He’s better than Dustin Byfuglien ever could be. The Canucks have long needed a net presence, and Kesler’s stepped up to be that presence.

At only 26, Kesler has already done so much for this Canucks squad. Now we need him to do the one thing this franchise hasn’t done in the last 40 years.

Aaron Volpatti Takes A Turn On Canucks’ Fourth Line

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Dec 182010
 

When the Moose came to town to play the Heat there were a few players who stood out to me. There were Eddie Lack, who was solid in net, and Cody Hodgson, who had the quietest two goal night anyone could have. I noticed Jonas Anderson for his positional play, Billy Sweat for his speed and Lee Sweat for being so tiny. I also noticed Aaron Volpatti because the 6’0, 215lb forward was putting on a hit parade where he was conductor, marching band and the procession of floats to follow up.

The Canucks have done a good job of testing their depth this season. They’ve gone through a whole range of fourth line forwards and while no one person has really stolen that spot – except Bolduc who seems to have stolen Vigneault’s heart – that may be to the Canucks’ advantage.

With a fourth line that has wingers playing as few as four minutes a night (see Jonas Andersson) I don’t prescribe by the theory that our fourth line needs skill. On a team with three top lines that aren’t overly physical at the best of times, the Canucks’ fourth line has the opportunity to make the most of their 4 minutes a night with a bit of bumping and bruising after they clear the puck.

Against the Heat, Volpatti, a native of Revelstoke, was a physical force. He was crumpling players and leaving bodies in his wake at both ends of the ice. The fourth line could use the energy of a guy like Volpatti who’s eager to make an impact on the ice with the big club.

After he leveled Mitch Wahl of the Heat, he went on to absolutely obliterate Piskanen in a fight. Tanner Glass can chuck knuckles, but with Rick Rypien out of the lineup, the Canucks are missing that fearless fighter. Bieksa show’s flashes of anger but Volpatti has the potential to have a big impact.

The Canucks fourth line needs to be more aggressive. While their ice time is a large drop off from the players on the third line, their role is not insignificant. In their own way, they can be game changers by playing physical and throwing big hits that can serve as turning points in the game.

Markus Naslund Named General Manager for Modo

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Dec 162010
 

Via a tweet from Jon Häggqvist, who writes for Allehanda in Ornskoldsvik, we’ve found out that Markus Naslund has been named as the new general manager for Modo of the Swedish Elite League.

@mozy19 It’s the middle of the night over at your place, but here’s a news flash for you: Näslund is the new general manager for Modo.”

Hiring a GM is a bit of an unusual move for a team in the SEL; only Frolunda has had one before. Häggqvist adds, “Modo has had a couple of unsteady years (right now they are struggling) and Markus is steady and has a lot of knowledge. And a name.”

Markus, of course, has strong ties to Modo, having played there prior to coming over to North America and returning to play there after his retirement from the NHL.

[update: 12/16/2010, 7:44 AM]

Link is up now.

The Tambellini Effect

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Dec 032010
 
Henrik Sedin

Photo credit: Vancouver Sun

After last year’s career years from Mikael Samuelsson and Ryan Kesler and breakout year from Mason Raymond, it was no surprise that the bar was set high for the Canucks’ second line. But any realistic fan would have expected there to be some drop off. And though we expected drop off, we certainly didn’t expect to see as steep of a drop off as we did from the trio at the start of the season.

That all changed with the introduction of one Jeff Tambellini.

Tambellini, who’s been trying to prove his versatility, has gone from Sedin trigger man to bottom-six winger and now back to the top-six in a comfortable spot alongside Kesler and Raymond. When the Canucks’ second line was struggling to make an impact and the team was looking like a one-line team again, that concept of forward depth seemed more like a myth than reality. Thanks to the exodus of Peter Schaefer, some juggling around and some mixing of things up, Tambellini got the call up and has made the Canucks second line visible again.

Samuelsson, who only seems to respond to relegation or a good kick in the ass, is actually noticeable for the first time all season. For a while, Samuelsson looked like he was floating around the ice and missing shots on net. Since being relegated to the third line on Manny Malhotra’s wing the last few games, he’s elevated his game back up has started creating odd man rushes and scoring chances.

The real story however is the play of Tambellini, who fit well with the Sedins, but when called upon this time has catalyzed Kesler and Raymond. Since his return from a seven-game stint with the Moose, he’s had points in every game – 4 points in three games to be exact. In the same three games, Kesler has 4 points and Raymond has 5 points. To compare, the trio of Kesler, Raymond and Samuelsson combined for just 3 points in their previous three games before that. Tambellini’s energy and speed has jumpstarted that second line and given the Canucks a legitimate secondary scoring threat.

Tambellini’s audition has been exceptional and I think it’s safe to say he’s very close to earning himself a permanent spot on this roster.

Oh, and the Canucks are 8-0-1 with him in the lineup.

Defensive Doldrums

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Nov 242010
 

The Canucks’ season has been a deceptive one so far. A 6-game winning streak and an extra hot third line swept under the rug some of the biggest problems the Canucks have been having this season. One of the biggest problems the Canucks have faced this season has been injury, a problem that has also plagued the defense in previous seasons. With the injury to Sami Salo, more responsibility was placed on the rest of the Canucks defense, newcomers and returning vets alike. The problem however doesn’t lie in their acceptance of responsibility and response as a result. The defense as a single unit has looked fragmented all season and it’s clear a lack of chemistry is frustrating them.

Newcomers Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard were coming into a new system, one that’s chewed up and spit out defensemen before. Alain Vigneault has a defensive system that is based on trust and team play. The defensemen in it have to rely on their partner and the players have to buy into the system working. The Canucks have brought in defensemen before that have attempted to learn the system. Shane O’Brien comes to mind, and more recently, Andrew Alberts struggled to fit into the Alain Vigneault model. The system takes time to learn and to adapt to. We’ve seen that in his tenure as coach and it’s no surprise Hamhuis and Ballard are taking a little longer to get comfortable. It doesn’t help that Hamhuis’ foot injury set him back and looks like it still is effecting his play and that Ballard can’t catch a break between hip surgery, a concussion and now the flu.

The Canucks’ defense has been offensively powered almost singlehandedly by Alex Edler and Christian Ehrhoff. Alberts has a couple points and Kevin Bieksa has been nearly invisible. That said, offense isn’t the primary concern of the defense right now. As a unit they’ve seen so many different defensive pairings this year that it’s hard for them to have built any chemistry. The Canucks have dressed nine defensemen this year and with injuries to Ballard, Hamhuis and Parent the combination of defensive pairings has switched nightly, and perhaps not surprisingly, they’ve sometimes looked awkward and out of place when they step on the ice. The most consistent pair we’ve seen this season has been the Ehrhoff-Edler combination but even they got separated at times during this recent losing skid.

It’s time for Vigneault to start coaching and creating that cohesion and chemistry in his blueliners. It’s probably a positive sign that he’s now willing to let the group play together a bit.

“It’s not just him (Ballard), but I’d like our whole team to get together a little bit here,” Vigneault said. “I’m hoping to put a couple of strings together of games where guys start to feel a little bit more comfortable with themselves.”

Let’s hope they do.

QuitNow and Win $100 Gift Certificate to the Canucks Team Store

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Nov 152010
 

The Canucks were recently involved with a night they dedicated to Hockey Fights Cancer, which is part of the NHL’s “Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice” campaign. With it they shared a touching story about Ehrhoff’s father’s battle with cancer and the profound effect it had on his life. QuitNow BC is ramping up its annual quit-smoking campaign in an effort to help people quit smoking and ultimately reduce their chances of lung cancer.

Smokers who would like to quit can register for the 3rd annual contest and in turn become eligible for a grand prize of $5,000. It’s a big step to take so organizers are providing resources online and off to assist participants in reaching their goals.

  • Web: Sign up for online support with access to a global community of quitters at QuitNow.ca
  • Social: Find QuitNow on Facebook and Twitter
  • Telephone: The helpline provides counseling support in 130 languages 1-877-455-2233

“Each smoker is unique. Our overall objective is to provide smokers with tools proven to increase smokers’ chances of quit success,” said BC Lung Association Director of QuitNow Services, Jack Boomer. “The contest itself is an incentive; a reason for smokers to commit to quit, be it for the first or fifth time. In the process of registering for the contest at QuitNow.ca, we hope smokers will take advantage of the other QuitNow Services available to them.”

The QuitNow & Win contest is open for all those who sign up by January 7, 2011 at 11:59 PM.

In order to raise awareness for the campaign, QuitNowBC has asked us to give away two $100 gift certificates to the Canucks Team Store!

Two lucky readers will each win a $100 gift certificate to the Canucks Team Store to be used for anything – perfect for anyone looking to get a new jersey or get some Christmas shopping done.

Here’s how you can enter to win.

For one entry:

Leave a comment on this post. Share your thoughts about smoking, or your cancer-related story about fighting cancer and surviving it, or maybe your story about you or a friend’s battle with quitting smoking.

For another entry, post the following on Twitter:

RT and follow to enter to win $100 to the #Canucks Team Store from @QuitNowBC @canuckshockey & @mozy19 http://ow.ly/39GrH

We will draw for the winner on Friday, November 26th, 2010 at 7:00 PM.

Andrew Alberts Reborn Again

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Nov 082010
 
Andrew Alberts

When the Canucks bowed out in the second round of last year’s playoffs for the second consecutive time, Andrew Alberts was a favorite scapegoat. So much so that fans dubbed him, AHLberts.

The same Andrew Alberts, however, didn’t show up to training camp this summer. A lot of Canucks fans were against bringing back the 6’5″, 220 lb. brusing blue liner, but he’s quickly changing minds as he’s turned his play around. He seems to have undergone a Shane O’Brien-like transformation. We all know how penalty-prone and brutal the young SOB was when the Canucks first acquired him, but he must have given Alberts a few pointers because Alberts, be it through Roxy therapy or sheer determination, has really turned his game around.

Alain Vigneault, who has stood behind Alberts since he arrived in a trade deadline deal for the Canucks’ 3rd round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has always maintained that Alberts’ biggest problem last year was confidence. After spending the first part of his career in Philadelphia, Boston and Carolina, he thought Alberts wasn’t ready to handle the pressure of playing in a Canadian hockey market. (Come to think of it, SOB probably did give Albie some Roxy therapy to set him straight.)

Joking aside, Alberts came in to camp ready to earn a roster spot, our opinions be damned. While some think he earned his spot simply because of his price tag and lower cap hit, he really has looked impressive on the ice and the improvement in his play is obvious through these first twelve games of the season.

The biggest change in Alberts game is easy to spot.

Last year, he looked lost on the ice and got pushed around despite his size. He looked like he was singing Billy Idol’s Dancing With Myself out on the ice when a forward entered the zone. My guess is he got that from Bieksa.

This season, he’s using his size to his advantage and has brought an element of grit to the Canucks blue line. He’s improved his positioning and is now starting to look more like the defenseman Mike Gillis envisioned last season. I think it’s safe to say he’s starting to get comfortable in Vancouver. His positioning is solid, he’s seeing the ice a lot better and he’s no longer getting danced around.

The physicality he brings to the Canucks is a huge plus in my books. The Canucks have missed that mean streak on their blueline, and while he’s no “Angry Bieksa” or “Fired Up Jovo”, he’s proven he truly deserves to be on this team. And he has a goal and assist to boot.

If there’s one area I’d love to see more from Alberts, it’s in the knuckle-chucking department. Maybe I just want to see more of the Alberts that played for the Bruins years ago, but the reality is, I haven’t seen a single one of his fights where he hasn’t lost or been decimated. Case and point: Peters, Thornton, White, and Walker who all just beat him silly. I’m just waiting for him to bring the pain the way he used to in Boston. He’s getting there. By season’s end, I hope he’ll be dishing out pain with a side of hurt. As one NJ commentator referred to his hitting “he’s had four of those kill shots tonight”.

A Home for Hansen

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Nov 052010
 
Jannik Hansen

Hansen’s been in a tough spot ever since he joined the Canucks. His first game with the big club was a playoff game in Luongo’s playoff series debut against Dallas. Then, set back by injuries, he struggled to get significant ice time. But despite limited minutes last season, he managed to put up career numbers. He headed to arbitration in the summer and got himself a raise and his first one-way NHL contract.

He entered this season considered to be a “bubble player”, but Hansen earned himself a roster spot. And with Burrows injured for the first ten games of the season, he even got a shot to be a top-six forward. However, after getting to skate with the Sedins on the first line and with Kesler and Raymond on the second line, his shot as a top-six forward didn’t seem to pay off. Always a victim of depth, Hansen had never had a chance to develop his game as a top-six forward. Now, after being given considerable chances, where he was unable to capitalize, he looks stuck in the middle.

After going pointless through the first few games of the season it wasn’t until Hansen was placed back into a familiar third line role that he notched his first two points of the season (both assists) playing alongside big center Manny Malhotra and free agent acquisition Raffi Torres. He excels in his role on the bottom-six. His speed draws penalties, his penalty killing is amongst the Canucks best, and he’s as consistent a player as the Canucks have. The problem is, he’s too good for the bottom six, but hasn’t been able to elevate his game to move up the depth chart.

After the Canucks 4-3 win against the Oilers, Hansen had only been on the ice for one of the Canucks 27 goals against. Prior to that game, he had gone longer than any NHL player – 150 minutes of ice-time – without being on ice for a goal against at any strength.

Hansen also leads the team in hits through the first ten games which attest to his off-season work to develop his game as a more versatile player, able to contribute to this team in one way or another even when he can’t register on the scoresheet. Hansen’s role on this team is crucial. He’s part of a vastly improved Canucks penalty-kill and after improving his skating is amongst the Canucks shiftiest skaters which leads to a great forecheck.

The Great Dane is likely in his last year with the Canucks. With key prospects in the system that will offer a lower cap hit, this could very well be his last season. Unlike other players though, Hansen won’t be leaving because he’s played below par. Unlike the Wellwood’s, Pyatt’s and Bernier’s of this Canucks team, Hansen has been integral to developing a bottom-six that’s responsible and able to provide secondary support without being a defensive liability. To win in the playoffs you need a team that’s able to roll four lines and without role players that doesn’t happen. Hansen’s versatility as a forward is to his benefit. He’s able to grind on the fourth line, check with the third line, skate with the speed of Kesler and Raymond on the second line and be the Sedins trigger man as he was earlier this season. He has the ability to play at even strength or on special teams and while his value isn’t as a scorer, he brings aspects to the table which allow him to be an effective player for the Canucks.

While he hasn’t been able to settle into a role with the Canucks he’s certainly earned his spot on the roster. The Danish native has established himself not as a scorer, but an effective third line winger. He’s elevated his physical game which adds an element of grit to his game, and even though he hasn’t found a perfect fit on the Canucks, his fit may just be that he’s able to play in any situation he’s put into.

Tickets Giveaway: Manitoba Moose vs. Abbotsford Heat

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Nov 042010
 

On Saturday, November 27, a group of over 30 of us are heading to the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre to watch the Manitoba Moose play the Abbotsford Heat. Together with Justine Galo, who gives you the “View from a Broad” over at Canucks Corner, we’re giving away two tickets for you to join us and cheer on the baby Canucks as they take on the baby Flames.

Here’s how you can enter:

1) The Canucks have some of the best prospects they’ve had in years. For one entry to win these tickets, tell us who your favourite Canucks prospect is and why in the comments section below.

2) For a second entry to win these tickets, tweet the following:

I entered to win 2 tickets to the Manitoba Moose vs Abbotsford Heat game from @canuckshockey. http://ow.ly/3437f RT to enter!

Entry deadline is Tuesday, November 9 at 4:30 PM. We’ll draw the winner at 7:00 PM after the Canucks/Habs game.

Let’s go Moose!

RK17: Ryan Kesler, Fashionista

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Nov 012010
 

Ryan Kesler has joined the ranks of Ovechkin and Crosby when it comes to having a clothing line. The two time Selke nominee who spent his summer touring the country with NHL 2K11 to promote his newest video game has teamed up with FIRSTAR Sports to launch his line RK17.

FIRSTAR Sports announces their partnership today with Ryan Kesler to launch RK17, an exclusive Kesler-inspired collection of apparel. RK17 is fashionable sportswear that includes shirts, jackets, hats and other casual wear. The must-have line goes on sale next week.

I like the jacket he’s got on in this picture, but the obnoxious, giant ‘RK’ on the front puts him one step closer to a guest appearance on the Jersey Shore with Mike “The Situation”. It’ll be interesting to see what other items come out and whether they have a more subtle Kesler presence. Somehow I feel everything’s going to be emblazoned with giant RK17 insignias.

It goes on sale next week, we’ll know soon.

[Editor's note: This actually reminds me of the NHL2K11 ad in which Kes was wearing his own signed jersey. I guess Kes had to do something since Henrik got the "C". (I kid, I kid.) - J.J.]

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