Ryan Parent » CANUCKS HOCKEY BLOG

Canucks vs. Kings: Opening Night Smorgasbord

Oct 092010

Amidst much anticipation, elevated expectations and dreams of the team’s first Stanley Cup, the puck finally drops tonight for the Vancouver Canucks’ 2010/2011 season.

Can the Canucks live up to their top billing or will they wilt faster than Kate Gosselin’s career? They won’t answer those questions tonight. This team will be judged on the games they play this spring. But they need to get there first, and tonight is step one of that process.

As we count down the minutes to game time, here are some links to tide you over:

The Canucks and Kings face off against each other tonight, 40 years to the day, they first faced off in the NHL. The best part of tonight’s game? Both teams will wear the same jerseys they wore 40 years ago.
If you’re going to the game, get there early. The Canucks have a full night planned, starting with a Party on the Plaza at 4:00 PM and a pregame ceremony reuniting members of the original 1970 team at 6:45 PM.
At that time, the Canucks are expected to finally choose between Ginger or Mary Anne as the be the new Canucks captain
The Canucks have invested $40 million in upgrades to Rogers Arena since the Acquilinis bought the team. Tonight, they’ll unveil new lights and sounds that will help us remember that it’s Canucks game day. Because we often need reminding. (Seriously though, these sound pretty cool.)
Peter Schaeffer made the team and is expected to play tonight.
Ryan Parent hasn’t been assigned to the Manitoba Moose and is still practicing with the Canucks. He’s not expected to play tonight.
Kevin Bieksa’s still here too.
After 33 years as the Canucks colour commentator, Tom Larscheid is broadcasting his last game tonight. My thoughts on his retirement are here; Iain MacIntyre and Tony Gallagher have good tribute pieces here and here, respectively.

Canucks Send SOB’s Party to Nashville for Ryan Parent

Blog No Responses »

Oct 052010

Cue Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA”.

The Canucks have traded Shane O’Brien and Dan Gendur to the Nashville Predators for Ryan Parent and Jonas Andersson. The Canucks have placed Parent on waivers.

I realize it’s odd to have traded for Parent and then immediately placing him on waivers so there may be more to this transaction than meets the eye. But for now, let’s assume that this is a pure hockey trade, plain and simple.

Assuming Parent doesn’t get claimed on waivers, this is some shrewd asset management by Mike Gillis. SOB cleared waivers yesterday and seemed destined to spend the season in Manitoba. Because he would’ve had to pass through re-entry waivers – and the Canucks would’ve been on the hook for half of his cap hit ($800K) if claimed – it was unlikely he would have seen NHL ice this season.

In Parent, the Canucks get a former 1st round draft pick and a player perhaps known more for his leadership qualities than anything else. (In other words, he’s the anti-O’Brien.) Nashville drafted him 18th overall in 2005, the same draft class as the late Luc Bourdon. In fact, Parent was on Team Canada with Bourdon in 2006 and 2007 when they won gold at the World Junior Hockey Championship.

But the kicker in this trade is that Parent is only 23 years old. While he hasn’t been able to translate his success in junior into an NHL career yet, he’ll at least get a good opportunity to develop under Gillis’ program. IMHO, he vaults to the top of the Canucks’ defensive prospects depth chart. Unlike SOB, who’s scheduled to be a UFA at the end of this season, Parent is signed until the 2011/2012 season at a cap hit of $925K and is still an RFA after that. In a couple of years when Alex Edler’s contract comes up, we could very well see guys like Parent, Lee Sweatt, Kevin Connauton and Chris Tanev pushing for a roster spot as well.

Share this:

Share this: