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Part 2 of 2: Build it, not buy it

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Part 2 of 2: Build it, not buy it

Willes’ and Cole’s premise that the Canucks need to trade Roberto Luongo – and free up salary cap space to upgrade other positions – doesn’t make complete sense. It’s true that Detroit and Anaheim won the Cup with Osgood ($800,000) and Giguere ($3.9 million). But this year, Chicago and Pittsburgh made the Final Four with Khabibulin and Huet (combined $12.375 million) and Fleury ($5 million). In fact, what these teams have in common isn’t that their goaltenders take up less cap space, it’s that they have players on their roster who outperform their contracts. Leave it to Tony Gallagher (Vancouver...

Part 1 of 2: Trading your best player is not the answer

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Part 1 of 2: Trading your best player is not the answer

I disagree with Ed Willes’ (Vancouver Province) and Cam Cole’s (Vancouver Sun) pieces that the Canucks must deal Roberto Luongo. From Willes: This might be the ultimate example of burying the lead, but let’s pause for a moment and consider the goalies who were still alive in the playoffs before Tuesday’s games. In the Detroit-Anaheim series, you had a showdown between Chris Osgood, the man who’s widely considered to be the single greatest impediment between the Wings and a second straight Cup win, and Jonas Hiller, a 27-year-old NHL sophomore late of the Swiss league. Back east in the Boston-Carolina...

Two more years for Big Bear

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Two more years for Big Bear

They’re working with him in the off season by getting him a nutritionist and helping him to improve his skating. He’s still quite young. Bernier seems to love Vancouver and from what you hear is a good teammate. I think it’s a good move. Now how about getting those Swedins and Welly signed, hmmm?

Canucks Off-Season: Mattias Ohlund

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Canucks Off-Season: Mattias Ohlund

If there’s one thing as uncertain as the future of Mats Sundin, it’s the future of Mattias Ohlund.If we know anything about Mike Gillis and the way he manages his team, his lack of negotiation with is a good sign that Ohlund isn’t coming back. Gillis has made a case for himself and making it very clear that he is not a wishy washy deal maker. He plays his cards straight. He made it clear from the day he was signed exactly what he wanted on his team. He made it clear in the offseason, and throughout the season until...

Throat Slashers and Arm Chair GMs

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Throat Slashers and Arm Chair GMs

It seems everyone and their dog has an opinion on what to do with Luongo. Most recently the goalie graveyard theory has resurfaced and now everyone and his dog has a package deal in their head in which they want to get rid of Luongo now while he has value (in the order of one year left on his contract) and get something good for him. Ed Willes provides an interesting take on trading Luongo. But his oversimplification and general bandwagon stench makes it clear that he and Iain MacIntyre get together and sulk in a corner on weekends. I...

Looking Forward: Mats Sundin

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Looking Forward: Mats Sundin

A lot of the questions looming over the Canucks as a team this year, revolve around how much of this team is going to be back next year. This is the best team the Canucks have ever had, and it wasn’t good enough. I’ve been Mats’ hardest critic all season, but in that series against Chicago he was our best and most consistent player. In those last 6 games he had 7 points. He had 4 points in the last two games and was skating with a purpose. The way he played spoke volumes to me. It also maybe suggested...

Thoughts on day one of the off season

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Thoughts on day one of the off season

1) This is the first time I’ve been angry and mistrustful of St.Lou, I think. I absolutely adore him so this is a weird feeling for me. Sure, you can argue the speedy Blackhawks turned our defencemen inside out, because it’s true. But, Lui is getting paid a huge amount of money. He can’t let in 7 goals in an elimination game. Not when he’s the franchise player and getting paid like it. For all this talk of Lui leaving for a stronger contender when his contract is up, his forwards gave him 5 goals last night. 5 goals should...

Dan O. and Leggo laid an eggo

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Dan O. and Leggo laid an eggo

By NHL standards, Dan O’Halloran and Mike Leggo officiated a good game last night. Like Colin Campbell’s disciplinary decisions this offseason, the officiating was horribly inconsistent. If Colin Campbell is the ringleader of NHL justice, then his referees have a done a good job of following him. Considering the importance of last night’s game, it was one of the worst officiated games I’ve ever seen. From my point of view, it seemed like Dan O. and Leggo didn’t know how they wanted to call the game. At times, they would let a lot of things go; at others, no. They...

Season Wrap Up – Missing Since April 21st: Roberto Luongo

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Season Wrap Up – Missing Since April 21st: Roberto Luongo

I’ve defended Luongo all season. There are people that are saying that I’m completely out of line for what you’re about to read, there are people saying that were it not for Luongo, we would never have gotten where we were. There are people that say it was the defences fault and that he is not to blame. When the regular season is done, it’s gone. What happens in the regular season means nothing. It’s over. Don’t believe me? Look at the San Jose Sharks. Slam dunk case. ln an elimination game, all stats go out the window. Nothing matters...

Well that’s it, then

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Well that’s it, then

I want to say I’m proud of them and they had a hell of a season anyways, and I will soon. There’s several guys on this team who completely surprised and delighted me this season and they will get some post love in the coming weeks. But not today. Today my heart hurts and I’m miserable. It feels like Zdeno Chara stepped on my heart. I really did believe this Canucks team could do more than this. Right now I feel like tearing up because this was in all probability Matty Ohlund’s last game as a Canuck. Today I feel...

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