Matt Lee

Matt Lee has been a Canucks follower and a prototypical Canadian for years; it started on the streets by playing road hockey before and after Vancouver Canucks games and it's brought him here. After graduating from SFU with a BA in Communications and a minor in History while serving as the student newspaper's sports editor for two years, Matt is now a student at BCIT's Broadcast Journalism program in hopes of becoming a sports broadcaster.

2011 NHL Awards: Who should win, who will win

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Jun 212011
 
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Photo credit: canucks.nhl.com

The NHL Awards are like any other awards show on North American TV. Like the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, even the Espys, there’s someone who should win and there’s someone who will win. Now, I’m no fortune teller, but here’s my take on who should win the hardware, and who will win it in reality.

Hart Memorial Trophy – Most Valuable Player

NOMINEES: Corey Perry, Daniel Sedin, Martin St. Louis

Who should/will win – Daniel Sedin: Daniel Sedin was the most consistent player from start to finish. Behind closed doors, Daniel would love nothing more than to give his brother Henrik the proverbial “eff you” by winning a Hart and Art Ross trophy of his own; that alone shows that Daniel was bound and determined to be the team MVP this season. And people who say Daniel was buoyed by skilled linemates can make the same argument for Perry (Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan) and St. Louis (Steven Stamkos). Come on, it’s a no brainer here. To be honest I’m still not sure why Tim Thomas isn’t one of the final three, because that’s the only other player I’d consider giving the Hart to.

Vezina Trophy – Best Goaltender

NOMINEES: Roberto Luongo, Pekka Rinne, Tim Thomas

Who should/will win – Tim Thomas: Hard to believe that Boston GM Peter Chiarelli was at this time last year calling up Paul Holmgren in Philadelphia and George McPhee in Washington almost begging both executives to take the NHL’s most expensive backup ($5-million a season) off his hands for whatever he could get back. Thomas roared back onto the big stage and after winning the Conn Smythe should add another Vezina to his trophy case.

James Norris Memorial Trophy – Best Defenseman

NOMINEES: Zdeno Chara, Nick Lidstrom, Shea Weber

Who should win – Shea Weber: There are few defensemen like Shea Weber. He’s big, he’s bad, and he grows one heckuva playoff beard. While mobility certainly isn’t his strong suit, he came into his own this year by shutting down the opposition almost to a tee while putting up his fourth 40+ point season. The scary thing is most people think he’s going to get even better.

Who will win – Nick Lidstrom: He’s immortal. He can’t die. He won’t die, it seems. Lidstrom will be back next season with Detroit, and why shouldn’t he be? He put up 62 points at the age of 41, which is the most of any defenseman his age in history. Lidstrom was second among blueliners in scoring, but the fact his plus-minus isn’t what it normally is (minus-2), I feel Weber was more deserving of the Norris.

Calder Memorial Trophy – Rookie of the Year

NOMINEES: Logan Couture, Michael Grabner, Jeff Skinner

Who should win – Jeff Skinner: Skinner’s accomplishments this season make me feel insignificant. Imagine going straight from the OHL to a fixture on your NHL team’s first powerplay unit, because that’s exactly what Skinner did. The rookie potted 31 goals, three less than Michael Grabner’s 34.

Who will win – Logan Couture: The funny thing with the NHL’s Calder award is that they tend to give it to the player with the best stat line, which in this case is Couture, despite the fact he played for San Jose in last year’s playoffs and was barely eligible to win the award this year. This isn’t a condemnation of Couture, but Skinner made a bigger impact at a much younger age than the other two nominees.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Most Gentlemanly Player

NOMINEES: Loui Eriksson, Nicklas Lidstrom, Martin St. Louis

Who should/will win – Take your pick, really: All three are genuinely kind NHL players; Eriksson had 8 penalty minutes, Lidstrom had 20, and St. Louis had 12. All three play competitively and with a bit of an edge. My money’s on St. Louis, just because he’s won this award before.

Selke Trophy – Best defensive forward

NOMINEES: Pavel Datsyuk, Ryan Kesler, Jonathan Toews

Who should/will win – Ryan Kesler: It’s time. Kesler worked his tail off all season, keeping in tune with his defensive abilities while chalking up 40 goals to his name. That’s no accident. Ryan Kesler is the NHL’s best two-way forward and the model for success at both ends of the rink. This could be the first of many.

Jack Adams Award – Best Coach

NOMINEES: Barry Trotz, Dan Bylsma, Alain Vigneault

Who should win – Dan Bylsma: Any time a coach (let alone one in his third year) can get his team into the playoffs despite missing both Sidney Crosby AND Evgeni Malkin, you’ve earned my eternal respect. Bylsma’s team got better without the two, and nearly forged their way into the second round before dropping game seven to Tampa Bay.

Who will win – Barry Trotz: This is a long overdue award. Trotz could easily be a perennial Jack Adams winner by now; his team has zero superstars, yet is competitive year in and year out. He builds his team around solid goaltending and defense. If he had a superstar forward, he’d have won a couple of these.

Bill Masterton Award – Perseverance

NOMINEES: Ray Emery, Daymond Langkow, Ian Laperriere

Who should/will win – Ray Emery: I like all three players because they’ve come back from injury, but Emery’s career was this close to ending, and only experimental surgery salvaged it. Not only that, he went from playing for Syracuse in the AHL to some postseason action with Anaheim this spring. Now that’s a great story.

Ted Lindsay Award – MVP voted by players

NOMINEES: Corey Perry, Daniel Sedin, Steven Stamkos

Who should/will win – Steven Stamkos: I think most NHL players have grasped that what Steven Stamkos did this season is phenomenal. With all due respect to Perry and Sedin, Stamkos scored 91 points while still being only a kid, and he did it under a new coach. Stamkos took Tampa Bay and carried them on his back many times; his ability to come back after nearly getting his nose blown off in game seven versus Boston is an indication of his integrity and heart.

Bridgestone Messier Leadership Award – Best Leader

Who should/will win – Shane Doan: Doan is the quintessential leader by example; even though his Phoenix team was subject to relocation rumours all season, he kept his team afloat in the locker room and got them to the postseason for the second straight year. A leader is someone who can block out all the negative media attention and continue being a presence on his team, which is exactly what Doan did this season.

We are not all Canucks

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Jun 162011
 

Genuine Vancouver Canucks fans barely had time to catch their collective breath after the stinging Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final before they were kicked in the proverbial groin when masquerading fans took to the streets and burned down their city’s downtown core.

Quite simply, it was senseless madness. It started with a car being flipped over and set ablaze, continued with stores and boutiques getting broken into and looted, and ended with fist fights and tear gas used to subdue the rioting crowds.

To those outside British Columbia, let me assure that this is not what the city of Vancouver is about. No, the real city of Vancouver is the one you saw in February of 2010 when the world watched Canada raise the Olympic standard of responsible celebration and respect among people. What you saw last night were people dressed in Canucks jerseys, only pretending to be fans when in reality they carried backpacks of rocks, hammers, and harboured a will to destroy the things that true Vancouverites hold so dearly.

It’s embarrassing that history repeated itself 17 years later, that a new generation of adolescent males who feel so alienated from society took it upon themselves to smash windows and start up trouble. It’s shameful that people who tried valiantly to protect these places and other people from assault were the ones who were hurt. No, what you people saw wasn’t Vancouver at its finest. It was undoubtedly the city at its worst.

Just so you can grasp just how stupid and senseless all this was, a couple dozen people took it upon themselves to break down the steel gate at the London Drugs on Burrard Street. Once the gate had come crashing down and people had gone inside to loot and pillage, one particular man emerged from the chaos throwing Pringles potato chips in the air. Pringles potato chips! Evidently these were people who had never looted before and put zero thought into what they were actually breaking the law for. It’s almost unbelievable that someone would stoop low enough to break into a store in the name of potato chips.

And then there were idiots who took it upon themselves to clean out a MAC cosmetic store, women who decided that they’d cut their Game 7 losses by stealing some lipstick and mascara. It seems almost irrational at this point to bring up the fact people decided to break into a Chapters bookstore to… well, steal books. Since when did these unintelligent looters and losers have the smarts to actually read?

To those who were part of the chaos in the downtown core last night, congratulations. You’ve turned what was the Vancouver Canucks dream season into a formidable nightmare, and at the same time have completely tarnished the legacy that the 2010 Olympics in our fair city had established. Bring back the old label that we’re “No Fun City”, because evidently you’ve shown why Vancouver can’t have nice things and can’t celebrate in a peaceful manner.

To the members of the Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Firefighters, thank you for courageously defending our city from the delinquents who have caused damage in the millions of dollars. Given the limited resources and numbers you had from the outset, the job you did was nothing short of commendable.

And there is light at the end of the tunnel. Honest citizens of Vancouver showed up the very next morning to get to work and help cleanup a mess that they didn’t even cause. At the end of the day, those are the true Canucks fans and the real Vancouverites, because from what the world witnessed last night, we are not all Canucks.

Hobbling towards the finish line

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Jun 102011
 

There’s a scene in Will Ferrell’s flick Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, where he’s racing his nemesis Jean Girard when all of a sudden the two NASCAR drivers’ cars collide in an epic crash on the very last lap. Just when you think the race is over, the two start racing on foot towards the finish line. In case you haven’t watched the film, here’s the scene:

Poor music and male-on-male kissing aside, that seems to sum up the Canucks’ current Stanley Cup situation to a tee. The racecar just crashed and it looks like if anyone’s going to get to the finish line, it’ll be in a 100-yard dash.

Yes, the Vancouver Canucks are banged up. Such is life in the Stanley Cup playoffs, where it’s a marathon and not a sprint. In this current war of attrition, the Bruins are doing their job in the trenches and the Canucks couldn’t muster a response. But whether or not Ryan Kesler is still ailing from a groin injury or Henrik Sedin is battling some sort of lower- or upper-body injury, the reality is that this is a 2-2 series. For the Canucks, the finish line is within view. It’s so close, and the team can smell it.

Vancouver is this close to either achieving something never before done in 40 years, or watching everything they worked so hard over the course of the last nine months slip from their fingers. That’s how much pressure is on the club.

While the Bruins have been buoyed by the emotional loss of Nathan Horton, it’s become clear the Canucks need some sort of spark or some sort of leadership to drag them to that finish line. On normal nights, Ryan Kesler would be the driver of that car, but I’m seriously wondering if he’s physically able to put on the hero’s cape one more time and lift this team on his back. The Sedins, they’re giving it what they’ve got, but Brad Marchand is playing the Dave Bolland card perfectly. Who’s going to be the person to step up?

Here’s where the character and integrity of this team will be tested. The Canucks car has clashed with the Bruins car on that final lap and the two are hobbling towards the finish line, and right now, the Bruins have a slight advantage.

Can someone please will the Canucks on for just two games, three games max? Forget the bumps and bruises, because they’ll have all summer to recover. Recovering with a Stanley Cup would heal all wounds.

One thing’s for certain; when it’s all said and done, the Canucks and Bruins will shake hands. But unlike Ricky Bobby and Jean Girard, Henrik Sedin certainly won’t be french-kissing Brad Marchand.

Win it for Dad

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Jun 062011
 

We’ve heard #WinItForManny, but how about #WinItForDad?

I hate bringing myself into blog posts. But this is the Stanley Cup finals, where the emotion just boils over and rises to its highest peak.

As Canucks fans in 2011, we’ve had a lot to celebrate this season. After all, the team has been the NHL’s best virtually all season long; the league-best offense, defense, and special teams have paved the way to a President’s Trophy and now just two wins away from something never before achieved in the franchise’s 40 years. We’re lucky to live in these times, because there have been some dark days over that span.

I’m only 22 years old, so I only know half of the story that is the Vancouver Canucks’ 40-year history of ups and downs (mostly downs). My dad, however, has been following this team ever since they arrived from the Western League in 1970. Since then, he’s learned to become a bi-polar Canucks fan; high when the team is doing well, low when they’re at the worst. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve bickered about the play of Roberto Luongo or the captaincy of Henrik Sedin.

But it’s funny, because at some point after Alex Burrows did his best Brian Skrudland impression and gave the Canucks a 2-0 series lead just 11 seconds into overtime, I couldn’t help but think about my dad, and the 40 years he’s spent watching this team.

The truth is, on some level, I want the Canucks to win the Stanley Cup for my dad more than for myself. A Stanley Cup win would finally end the 40 years of frustration that’s been building up inside the hearts and minds of eternal Canucks fans.

I’m sure there’s someone you wish could be here to see this moment. Seeing the excitement of a hundred thousand Canucks fans marching down Robson and Granville like it was the 2010 Olympics was overwhelming; for long-time Canucks fans, it’s the kind of sight you’ve always dreamed about, but never thought it could ever happen; yet when it does happen, it still seems a little surreal.

I love the Canucks, but I love my dad more. It would be extra special if the Canucks could win a Stanley Cup for him.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins – This Is It

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May 282011
 
Keith Ballard vs Brad Marchand

Photo credit: nhl.com

When Vancouver and Boston finally drop the puck on the Stanley Cup Finals Wednesday night at Rogers Arena, it will mark the 50th day since the 2011 playoffs began for the Canucks.

It’s been a long road, to be sure. The path has been fraught with highs and lows, and everything in between. Everyone would love to forget the agony of watching Chicago forcing a game seven after Ben Smith’s overtime thriller, but everyone will remember the thrill of seeing Kevin Bieksa’s rolling knuckler trickle past an unsuspecting Antti Niemi in game five versus San Jose.

At the end of the day, however, none of that will have mattered if Vancouver gets this far, only to come up short again. Nothing has changed since the Canucks were forecast to claim professional hockey’s richest prize in September; the team has been favourites since the beginning of the season and the club has given their fans no reason to doubt them. And unlike the underdog teams of 1982 and 1994, this time the Canucks will enter the Stanley Cup Finals as the undisputed favourite.

To get you set for what should be an epic clash of the titans, here’s a look at the projected lineups of both teams come Wednesday night:

Vancouver Canucks

Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Alex Burrows

Mason Raymond – Ryan Kesler – Chris Higgins

Jannik Hansen – Maxim Lapierre – Raffi Torres

Tanner Glass – Cody Hodgson – Victor Oreskovich

Dan Hamhuis – Kevin Bieksa

Christian Ehrhoff – Aaron Rome

Alex Edler – Sami Salo

Roberto Luongo

Boston Bruins

Milan Lucic – David Krejci – Nathan Horton

Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Mark Recchi

Michael Ryder – Chris Kelly – Tyler Seguin

Dan Paille – Gregory Campbell – Rich Peverley

Zdeno Chara – Dennis Seidenberg

Andrew Ference – Johnny Boychuk

Tomas Kaberle – Adam McQuaid

Tim Thomas

Last Time They Met: February 26th, 2011, 3-1 Bruins — Look, the old adage goes that you shouldn’t take much stock from the regular season in regards to the playoffs; and that applies here. The Bruins came away with a 3-1 victory, fueled by a huge effort from hometown hero Milan Lucic, who scored the game-winner with 4:38 left in the third while adding an assist on the empty netter by Patrice Bergeron. There’s a couple things to consider first: The game came just days after the NHL trade deadline, where the Canucks added Maxim Lapierre and Chris Higgins and the Bruins added Tomas Kaberle, Chris Kelly, and Rich Peverley. While Lapierre and Higgins have both played integral roles in the team’s postseason success, Kaberle has predominantly been a mediocre addition, failing to spark a Boston powerplay which has been dormant all playoffs. Kelly and Peverley, however, have been good contributors to the B’s. A lot has changed for both teams since this last clash.

The Road to the Finals: Both teams have undergone a similar route to get here; the Canucks and Bruins both needed overtime in game seven of round one to vanquish the Hawks and Habs, respectively, before walking all over the Predators and Flyers in round two. However, Vancouver got even better in round three, completely nullifying the San Jose attack while averaging 3.6 goals in the series. Boston took the long route, needing seven to defeat Tampa Bay, averaging 3 goals a contest.

Forwards Comparison: With all due respect to David Krejci and the rest of the Bruins forward corps, none of them are in the realm of Toews, Kane, Marleau, or Thornton; which isn’t necessarily a condemnation of their group. Instead, Boston gets the job done by committee, carrying 12 forwards who have at least one goal; the Canucks have ten forwards with at least one goal. The Bruins top line will give the Canucks defense a lot of problems, while Patrice Bergeron is among the league’s best two-way centres. However, the sandpaper and grit of the Vancouver third and fourth lines gives them a much more complete forward group. Edge: Vancouver

Defense Comparison: The biggest problem, quite literally, will be Zdeno Chara, who has the wingspan the length of a Boeing 747 and will be charged with subduing the Sedin offense. However, if the twins’ cycle game gets the Boston defense scurrying around and caught out of position (as was the case versus San Jose), head coach Claude Julien will have to re-tool. Outside of Chara, the blueline isn’t very mobile and instead focuses largely on playing solid defense in their own end; Boston’s defensive depth is slightly better than that of San Jose’s. Conversely, the Canucks blueline is complete; mobile and defensively sound, everyone from Alex Edler to Aaron Rome contributes a little something. Dan Hamhuis and Kevin Bieksa have emerged as the NHL postseason’s best defensive duo. Edge: Vancouver

Goaltending: It’s a battle of Vezina nominees. Tim Thomas has shown flashes of that elite-level netminding, but not on a consistent enough basis. Roberto Luongo’s postseason play is cut from the same cloth as Thomas’. However, this will be the biggest stage Thomas has played on by far, while Luongo has played in an Olympic gold medal game before. It provides a little edge, but otherwise it’s tough to pick a side. Edge: Even

Special Teams: It’s a good thing Boston is a fantastic team 5-on-5, because they’re certainly not going to wow anyone with their sorry excuse for special teams. Vancouver’s powerplay is clicking at 28.3 percent (3rd among all 16 NHL teams), while Boston’s is at a sorry 8.2 per cent (14th among all 16 teams). Most interestingly, Boston defeated Montreal in the first round without getting a single powerplay goal. That has to be a record. It’s a closer battle on the penalty kill, where Vancouver is ranked 8th at 80.6 percent and Boston at 9th with 79.4 percent. Edge: Vancouver

Intangibles: Vancouver could get an extra injection of motivation if injured centre Manny Malhotra returns; imagine the uproar at Rogers Arena if Malhotra comes to centre for the opening faceoff for game one, giving the Canucks even more inspiration to win it all. Conversely, East Vancouver native Milan Lucic should be extra motivated to win a Stanley Cup in the city where he grew up and played his junior career with. Each team has two players with a Stanley Cup ring (Mikael Samuelsson and Aaron Rome for Vancouver, Mark Recchi and Shawn Thornton for Boston). Having home ice advantage could be huge for the Canucks. Edge: Even

We’re loathe to make series predictions, but we’d still love to hear yours. Chime in with your thoughts on what could be the defining moment for the Vancouver Canucks franchise!

Western Conference Final Series Preview: Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks

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May 142011
 
Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks

Photo credit: canucks.nhl.com

So who ordered the fish?

It’s been a long road for the Vancouver Canucks, but at the halfway point in the race for hockey’s richest prize, they’ve overcome the second-round hurdle and, like the San Jose Sharks, want to go the distance. After finally vanquishing the Chicago Blackhawks in a seven-game thriller in Round 1, the Canucks dispatched the pesky Nashville Predators in six contests.

San Jose followed a similar route, needing six games to upend the Los Angeles Kings and squandering a 3-0 series lead against the Detroit Red Wings before burying them in Game 7.

It’s the first-ever Western Conference Final where both times are in the Pacific time zone, which at the end of the day, means absolutely nothing. What does matter is that both teams have had their fair share of playoff failures, and in about two weeks, one will shed the label of choke artist and book a ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.

In fact, there are some striking similarities between the two clubs, one which you’ll have to keep an eye on as the clash begins:

Ryan Kesler vs. Joe Thornton — Battle of the Power Forwards: Kesler has 15 points and at the end of Round 2 was tied with Pavel Datsyuk for the playoff scoring lead. Joe Thornton hasn’t been gun shy either, registering 11 points. Both players are exceptional two-way centres who are fuelled by sheer will and determination. Kesler managed to shut down both Jonathan Toews in Round 1 and Mike Fisher in Round 2, but Joe Thornton is going to be a different animal completely.

Sedins and Burrows vs. Heatley, Clowe and Marleau — A little something to prove: At some point during their careers, all of these players have had their playoff performance questioned. The Sedin twins were supposed to be the fuel to the Canucks’ offensive fire, but were nothing but a flickering ember in Round 2. Patrick Marleau finally showed up in Game 7 versus Detroit, but otherwise has been an invisible force again. As for the rest, Ryane Clowe, despite his leg injury, has been a stalwart for the Sharks while Alex Burrows is known to chip in a clutch goal or two so far. Dany Heatley has performed decently, scoring eight points, but the two-time 50 goal scorer needs to be at least a point-per-game player.

Kyle Wellwood vs. Christian Ehrhoff — Remember Me?: Two seasons ago, Sharks GM Doug Wilson traded blueliner Christian Ehrhoff to Vancouver for spare parts, just before Ehrhoff put up 44 and 50 points for the Canucks, both career highs respectively. Last summer, Canucks GM Mike Gillis let Kyle Wellwood go, only to see the diminutive centre bounce around the KHL and on NHL waivers before sticking with San Jose. Now, both players serve big roles on their team: Wellwood anchors the third line while Ehrhoff is Vancouver’s go-to on the powerplay.

Battle of the Bluelines: On a normal night, San Jose’s top six looks like Dan Boyle, Ian White, Jason Demers, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Douglas Murray, and Niclas Wallin. Vancouver counters with a blueline of Christian Ehrhoff, Alex Edler, Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis, Sami Salo, and (likely) Aaron Rome. Unlike Chicago and Nashville, San Jose doesn’t have a defensive pairing which will give the Sedins fits and frustration, but this Sharks blueline loves to jump on the rush just as much as the Canucks blueline. Both bluelines are very deep.

Luongo vs. Niemi — Once more, with feeling: As it stands, Antti Niemi has the edge on Roberto Luongo simply because he’s beaten him in a playoff series once already. Neither goalie has been particularly outstanding in the postseason, but neither goalie has to be spectacular, either. Luongo’s Achilles’ heel has been shots from behind the net, while Niemi showed that he’s not fond of the backhand shot. I’m willing to bet both goalies will face their fair share of these when the two teams meet.

The Intangibles: Injured Canucks centre Manny Malhotra may provide a little insight on his former team, but it’s hard to say that’ll be the difference. Only Raffi Torres, Mikael Samuelsson, and Maxim Lapierre have made it to a Conference Final before, whereas the majority of the Sharks were a part of last year’s team ousted by Chicago in the WCF.

Well, game on.

A Tumultuous Task: Canucks vs. Blackhawks Series Thoughts

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Apr 122011
 

I’m not going to lie, anything that reminds me of Chicago makes me nervous. I cringe at the sight of anything remotely related to a Blackhawk, I never eat deep-dish pizza, and even Oprah Winfrey scares me a little bit. Ultimately, what makes me nervous is that the Vancouver Canucks are going up against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

It’s a tumultuous task to be sure, and no one said the road towards hockey’s Promised Land would be fraught with easy opponents. But the fact remains that the Vancouver Canucks have a very tough job ahead of them in the coming weeks.

But let’s not sell the Canucks down the river just yet. Despite the fact that Vancouver has lost in consecutive playoffs against the Hawks, this has been a milestone 40th anniversary for the men of green and blue. An unprecedented President’s Trophy win was the pinnacle of a season which included another Art Ross trophy win, the best goals for and against ratio in the league, and a very deep roster which was consistent from (almost) start to finish of the regular season.

This isn’t the same Vancouver club as a year ago. While upper management didn’t completely overhaul the roster which fell to the Hawks in six last season, they made a couple of facelifts which have made the team as a whole much better. Bottom-six players like Kyle Wellwood, Steve Bernier, Pavol Demitra, Ryan Johnson and Michael Grabner are a faded memory; replacing them are Raffi Torres, Mason Raymond, Maxim Lapierre, Victor Oreskovich, and Tanner Glass. It’s a quintet of players who are both skilled and rugged; but more importantly, are better suited for a bottom six role.

And let’s not forget the defensive depth. Mike Gillis came out smelling like roses when he added Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard during the offseason. Finally, Canucks fans get to bear witness to the ‘Sensational Six’ of Alex Edler, Christian Ehrhoff, Hamhuis, Ballard, Kevin Bieksa, and Sami Salo. Most importantly, Alain Vigneault won’t be sweating in his boots when the Canucks are called for icing because he’ll have a strong defensive pairing on the ice at all times. That’s a luxury few NHL teams can lay claim to.

And just to drive the point home, Roberto Luongo tweaked his game. Rollie Melanson has been a boon for Luongo this season simply because you’re less likely to see him flop around in his crease and frantically scramble to make dazzling saves. There’s a reason why fans haven’t seen Luongo on the highlight reel as much this season; he’s rarely, if ever, been out of position. He stays deeper in his crease and has been able to see pucks just the same. Not to mention he’s been well-rested over the course of an 82-game season.

But the second season means much more than just what the Canucks have accomplished in the first. At the end of it all, you can flush all the hardware the Canucks won down the toilet, because it means very little now. Vancouver can ill-afford to lose a third straight series to the Blackhawks, who will be going into the postseason with little to lose and so much to gain. The expectations of winning couldn’t be any higher for the Canucks; with the status of impending free agents Ehrhoff, Bieksa, and Salo all up in the air, this is Vancouver’s best chance of all time to claim the silver chalice.

It’s difficult to fathom that the Hawks are as equipped to win as they were a year ago. Don’t get me wrong, the core is still there. Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook are still part of the league’s upper echelon of players, but you won’t find anyone arguing that a roster of Viktor Stalberg, Michael Frolik, Fernando Pisani, Marcus Kruger, and Ryan Johnson scare you more than one of Kris Versteeg, Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, and Adam Burish. The depth the Hawks once boasted (and the Canucks now have) is gone.

I’m not completely sold that Vancouver is the overwhelming favourite to come out of this series. On paper, yes, the Canucks have a distinct advantage. But the Hawks are still the defending champions, and anytime even the league favourite goes up against the defending champs, it’s bound to be a challenging series.

In the meantime, I’m still boycotting Vince Vaughn movies and taking Oprah off my PVR.

A look at the Canucks prospects, part 3 or 3

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Dec 312010
 

The first part of CHB’s three-part Canucks prospects analysis gave a glimpse of the Canucks prospects playing for the Manitoba Moose, and the second looked at the team’s prized European prospect, Anton Rodin. In the final installation of a look at the Vancouver Canucks prospects, we highlight the players who are currently playing in the college and major junior ranks.

Steven Anthony, LW — St. John’s Sea Dogs (QMJHL) — Drafted 7th round, 187th overall in 2009: The late selection by the Canucks was once projected to be a top selection in his draft year of 2009 but fell far off the charts. However, given he was a seventh round pick, he’s a project player who is a quintessential boom or bust prospect. Anthony’s got the size needed to succeed in the NHL game, but still needs a ton of work. In his fourth year with the Sea Dogs, Anthony is producing at a point per game clip (11 goals and 31 points in 30 games), which makes for his most productive season to date. He’ll be playing for the Moose next season if he continues to develop.

Patrick McNally, D — Milton Academy (HS) — Drafted 4th round, 115th overall in 2010: With the Canucks having squandered their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks (plus more) for Keith Ballard, Steve Bernier, and Andrew Alberts (plus more), they were left with a 4th round pick as their highest selection. Defenseman Patrick McNally was taken, and GM Mike Gillis said they had pegged McNally as a first round pick. Whether he was attempting to justify his trades or not, McNally is still an excellent puckmoving defenceman who reminds people of Brian Rafalski. He was named the USA Hockey’s top prep defenseman of the year. McNally is headed to Harvard next fall.

Kellan Tochkin, RW — Everett Silvertips (WHL) — Signed as a free agent in 2009: For a diminutive winger who is just 5’9″, you’d think Tochkin would be an above-average skater. But truth be told, it was his main weakness a year ago and that continues to be the case today. The 19-year old is in his third year with the ‘Tips, and isn’t producing at the point-per-game pace he did two years prior. Time is running out on the Abbotsford native.

Sawyer Hannay, D — Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) — Drafted 7th round, 205th overall in 2010: Plain and simple, Hannay is a rough and tough enforcer who last year was among the penalty minutes leaders (158 in 54) at just age 17. He makes a decent first pass, but that’s about it. His three assists in 29 games this year are certainly not going to put him in an All-Star game any time soon, but his 96 PIMs are noteworthy.

Jeremy Price, D — Colgate University (ECAC) — Drafted 4th round, 113th overall in 2009: Another blueliner who went the college route, Price is getting accustomed to the game. His sophomore season has seen him produce a goal and six points in 16 games of action. The offensive defenceman will likely play out all four years with Colgate, but the problem is that the ECAC is one of the weaker conferences in the NCAA, which could hinder his development.

A Look at the Canucks Prospects, part 1 of 3

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Dec 262010
 

With the World Junior Championships just around the corner, typically it’s the season for egg nog and electrifying hockey. Over the years, Canucks fans have been treated to several of their prized prospects playing in the annual competition, but the 2010-11 competition won’t feature a single one of them.

As such, now is as good a time as ever to give a midseason report card on some of the Vancouver Canucks prospects who are playing in the minors, juniors and across the ocean in Europe. Today we’ll be starting with the lads who are currently calling Manitoba their place of residence. And the best part of this blog post? I don’t need to include a write-up on Cory Schneider for the billionth time.

Cody Hodgson – C – GP: 24 G: 10 A: 6 PTS: 16 – The crowned jewel of Vancouver kids in the system, the Markham native had a brutal start to the 2010-11 season, as the 2009 CHL MVP and 2009 WJC leading scorer was hampered by the lingering effects of his injuries from the year before. November saw the 2008 10th overall selection turn the corner as he scored at nearly a goal per game clip for a stretch; by the end of the month Hodgson was the team’s leading scorer. However, Hodgson was struck in the face by an errant high stick in practice, suffering a cracked orbital bone. The injury came at the worst of times – when the Canucks lost top-six winger Mason Raymond due to injury – as Hodgson likely would have been a callup had he been healthy. Injuries aside, Hodgson looks to be back on track as an elite-level prospect.

Jordan Schroeder – C – GP: 25 G: 5 A: 8 PTS: 13 – Ideally, a smooth transition from college hockey to the minors is a process which can take a year or two, and Schroeder seems to be no exception. The USA’s all-time leading scorer at the World Junior Championships (he played in three) has had an inconsistent season, showing flashes of offensive prowess on some nights but disappearing on others. Schroeder’s first full season with the Moose was hindered by the ankle injury he suffered a day after Hodgson’s injury. He could be sidelined for up to six weeks.

Sergei Shirokov – LW – GP: 29 G: 7 A: 13 PTS: 20 – Ironically, of the Canucks’ forward prospects, the most consistent player has been the wild card Russian who came over last season. The 24-year-old is the team’s leading scorer and has built on his 22-goal campaign last year with better playmaking this season.

Kevin Connauton – D – GP: 29 G: 7 A: 4 PTS: 11 – The former Vancouver Giant standout’s strengths have carried over from his junior days; he’s still a mobile puckmoving defenceman who can man the point on the powerplay. Unfortunately, so have his weaknesses. While new head coach Claude Noel and his staff are working on Connauton’s defensive play, the blueliner needs more work.

Billy Sweatt – LW – GP: 29 G: 6 A: 12 PTS: 18 – Signed as a free agent over the summer, the younger Sweatt brother has quietly put together a solid campaign thus far. Normally playing in a top six role, Sweatt’s blazing speed has given headaches to opposing defenders. Sweatt could spend a little more time playing in the dirty areas, though.

Lee Sweatt – D – GP: 29 G: 4 A: 6 PTS: 10 – The elder of the two Sweatt brothers has also been a nice surprise this year. Lee came overseas after playing four years for TPS Turku, Salzburg, and Riga Dynamo and may have found a nice fit within the Canucks organization. The undersized blueliner has been effective at both ends.

Eddie Lack – G – GP: 18 Record: 10-6-2 SV%: .927 – Eddie “The Stork” Lack might be the most underrated offseason acquisition for the Canucks’ system. With all due respect to the others, Lack is a project player who started the year splitting time with Tyler Weiman but appears to be emerging as the clear cut starter.

OTHER NOTABLES: C Mario Bliznak has had a minor dropoff in production since last season but has continued to be an effective checking forward . . . D Chris Tanev’s first campaign with the Moose has been underwhelming, as the blueliner plays second-pairing minutes . . . D Evan Oberg’s production has also gone south thus far and needs to rebound . . . RW Victor Oreskovich’s rugged crash-and-bang style has been effective for the Moose.

Leadership by “C”ommittee

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Sep 142010
 
Roberto Luongo, Canucks Captain

It’s a letter that has no physical weight, but to Roberto Luongo, the “C” that was stitched on his jersey (er, painted on his mask) must’ve felt like the weight of the world on his shoulders.

And in so doing, the Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender and 12th team captain in franchise history ended his two-year reign as the official leader of the club, an era which for himself was filled with as much personal languish playoff performances as there was controversy when he was first named captain on September 30, 2008.

It was a decision that you have no choice but to applaud Luongo for making. For the franchise netminder who has toiled with questions surrounding his ability to lead the club, it takes courage to swallow your pride and admit that it was a mistake. As the first goalie captain since 1947, this not-so-successful era proves that in the modern NHL of media hype and criticism, combined with a rabid fan base, being both a goaltender and team captain is next to impossible. But hey, a pat on the back for Luongo for giving it the ol’ college try.

Moving forward, Luongo will continue to be the focal point for the team, captaincy or no captaincy; he just won’t have to be charged with the duty of being the first one to do post-game interviews, or the man who has to answer to every question, right down to the littlest detail. More importantly, however, it allows the team to officially distribute those tasks to other players on the team. Players like Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler are fully capable of fielding those questions and putting to rest any dilemmas that may come the Canucks way, while allowing Luongo to focus (almost) solely on stopping pucks.

Whether fans have heard it from general manager Mike Gillis or players like Sedin and Kesler and Luongo, the reality is that no matter who has the “C” stitched on their jersey, he will not face the media and fans on his own. All of the names mentioned above have in one form or another discussed that the team has “plenty of leadership in that dressing room” and that “there are a ton of guys capable of leading”.

In other words, it doesn’t take a letter on your chest to be a leader. Leading by example should, by now, come naturally on a team where veteran leadership is abundant and youthful exuberance is aplenty. The end result from here on out will be the same: This Canucks club, which is poised to win a Stanley Cup for the first time in team history, must and will get timely leadership from sources beyond the man who assumes the captaincy.

Therefore it’s easy to make the argument that team captaincy, especially for the Canucks, is overrated. Sure, other NHL teams like the Blackhawks (Toews) and Penguins (Crosby) have their man in the spotlight who leads by example on and off the ice, but they’re buoyed by a supporting cast who are there to nurture them in their captaincy; neither has a problem answering questions as much as a handful of other players on their team.

So whether it’s Henrik, Kesler, or even a darkhorse candidate like Dan Hamhuis, the “C” will be what it is … a letter on the chest, and a burden which will be shared among the rest of the team core.

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