Vancouver Canucks

[ridinryan44]

And Connauton is a minus 3 after the 1st period... on the ice for all three goals. This kid will never play in the NHL in any kind of consistent role. Far too poor defensively even to learn, IMO.

Cody Hodgson was even and won all five face-offs that he took. Also took two SOG. Like to see that so far. WIsh I could be watching the game, but I'll be watching the other group starting NOW.

[ridinryan44]

-Marco Sturm has looked great so far. Legs look energized, in the right spots and happy as hell to be there. He has one goal so far and almost sniped another.

-Clackson had a great minute long fight against Leblond, I'd give the edge to Clackson - a very spirited bout.

-Schneider let in a terrible goal early to Hagman, but has responded nicely and made two or three big saves.

-Shorthanded, Chris Tanev chips the puck up to Marco Sturm who races the puck up the ice. Tanev chases after Sturm, turning it into a two on one where Sturm slides a nifty pass under the defender's stick and onto Tanev's for a beauty of a shorty!

[ridinryan44]

Last nights game in Vancouver was actually quite fun to watch, and a few players really managed to shine:

-Steve Pinizzotto played on what was probably Vancouver's most consistent and effective line. With two assists on the night, Pinizzotto was able to showcase the fact that he's more than just a grit player, and his cross-ice passes were effective.

-Nicklas Jensen and Jordan Schroeder played on a line with Pinizzotto. Both with a goal and assist each, they managed to stay visible all game. Schroeder had a beauty one-timer off of a perfect pass from Pinizzotto, and Jensen showcased his ability to get quick shots off, scoring on a no-look shot after coming out from behind the net. Jensen was fantastic at protecting the puck and is looking better every time I see him play. It was nice to see both players show off a much more consistent game than in the past.

-Adam Polasek continues to impress. Other than one bad turnover in the second, he managed to play a confident, two-way game. Between his size, consistent effort effective play at both ends of the ice, this kid could see a call up sometime within the next two years.

-Chris Tanev. Vancouver's best player. I only saw one mistake from this kid as his calm and puck-moving skills were very evident. He hit one post and was the most consistent player out of everyone. This kid was a steal as a free agent signing. I really don't see why Rome should play over him, though Rome brings the grit that Tanev is lacking. I see Rome and Tanev switching in and out as the team's number 6.

-Ballard was good. He really does seem to relish a bigger role. I still don't like him as he always seems to make one little mistake when he touches the puck. Whether it's not receiving the pass well, getting the pass off quickly enough, not being in the best position or not clearing the puck all the way out of the zone, I just don't have any confidence in him. He did look good, but that came in flashes last year two. I still see all the reasons why he's played for three different teams during his six year tenure.

-Andrew Ebbett played a fantastic game between Owen Nolan and Marco Sturm. Sturm had a great game (see above) but Nolan was dreadful. He couldn't keep up and all he seemed able to do was rip shots wide and pin the puck to the boards. Not impressed. Before camp started I would have said he had a good chance at the fourth line RW position. I don't think that any longer. Simply to old.

-Eddie Lack had one huge save just after he came in to replace Schneider in the second. He wasn't tested too much during the third, but played very well. Schneider looked good for the most part but the first goal on him was terrible (on his part) and he let in a weak short-side goal that simply should not have gone in.

-Rome was very good. He was moving the puck very well on the PP and was calm and confident at both ends. While I like Tanev more (as he pairs well with Ballard) Rome is making it difficult to not make him the number six. We will probably see those two sharing the spot.

[ridinryan44]

Link to Derek Jory's review of last night's games at Canucks.com

[ridinryan44]

Scary news on Raymond today... thanks to McGoo for the link

Here

[ridinryan44]

In better news, Nicklas Jensen has signed an ELC with the Canucks. Nice.

Link

[ridinryan44]

Great game from a blue-collar Canuck's team against an Oiler's group who iced a better team. Edmonton hit a couple posts, but Eddie Lack stopped all 10 shots he faced while Manny Legace stopped all but one.

Standouts:

-Cody Hodgson: 15 for 24 in the faceoff circle. Huge improvement from last year as Hodgson has been good at the dot all preseason. This bodes very well for the second line spot, vacant due to the Kesler surgery. Hodgson was strong on the puck all night, patient and very smart. His foot speed was much better than in the past and he seemed much quicker. Also tied with Oreskovich for team lead with three SOG.

-Steve Pinizzotto: Really gunning for one of the open wing spots on the fourth line. I've been nothing but impressed with him all pre-season. Tough, fast and smart. I like it.

-Yann Sauve: Steady. Played with some confidence for a change. First time I've seen this side of him. Seems to be getting much more comfortable.

-Jordan Schreoder: Same as above. Good speed and seems much more comfortable. The kid is like a torpedo down there, he has a really unique skating style where he seems to compress himself down and lean forward more than most. Seems to work for him, he was all over the ice and had a couple of good chances.

-Eddie Lack: Kid is gonna be a damn good goalie in the NHL one day.

-Alexander Sulzer: Consistent and composed. Managed to get the puck on the net a bit more in this game. I like what I've seen.

-Andrew Ebbett: Plays like someone who's been in the NHL for six seasons. Versatile and great skater. Fantastic at winning races to loose pucks. Ebbett/Pinizotto riding alongside Lapierre? There isn't a lot of size there, which Vancouver wants, but the play a good gritty game with good speed and smarts.

-Mark Mancari: There's the size Vancouver's looking for and he had a great tic-tac-toe play Ebbett and Nolan for Nolan's first goal. Solid if unspectacular. Could see a revolving door of Mancari, Ebbett and Pinizzotto. Mancari led the team with over 21 minutes played.

[ridinryan44]

Here's a link showing a bit of a brighter side in the whole Raymond ordeal. Cup half-full angle.

http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=589434

[ridinryan44]

Cody Hodgson was skating on a line with Sturm and Samuelsson in practice this morning. A sign of things to come, I'd say!

[ridinryan44]

The Canuck's have also come to an agreement with a new ECHL affiliate in the Kalamzoo Wings.

http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm...id=DL|VAN|home

[ridinryan44]

Vancouver has dropped 10 from their roster:

To WHL

Kellan Tochkin - Everett Silvertips

Assigned to Chicago Wolves:
Anton Rodin
Taylor Ellington
Alex Friesen
Prab Rai
Adam Polasek
Stefan Schneider

Released:

Manny Legace
Matt Clackson
Nathan Longpre

Keep an eye on Anton Rodin with the Wolves. Should play a large role there and has two years of SEL experience under his wing. Could carry some value in deeper leagues down the road.

[ridinryan44]

Kevin Connauton's twitter suggested that he has been sent down to the Wolves. Please note that I capitalized "Wolves" so that you realize it's to the farm team and not just "thrown to the wolves" which I would really like to do a lot of the time, considering the boneheaded mistakes he's so prone to making. He had a nice goal on the PP last night against Anaheim, but I expected more offensive production from him. I'd love to see him make it one day, his offensive skills are fantastic, but he needs to do a TON of work on his defensive game.

Here are Vancouver's pre-season leaders who are playing tonight:

Player GP G A P +/-
Jordan Schroeder 3 1 2 3 0
Marco Sturm 2 1 1 2 1
Nicklas Jensen 2 1 1 2 1
Mark Mancari 3 1 1 2 0
Owen Nolan 2 1 1 2 0

Nicklas Jensen has far-and-away been my favorite player to watch. He protects the puck so well and is quick and agile. I wouldn't say he's fast, necessarily, but he can turn on a dime and rip a shot out of nowhere. Really looking forward to watching him develop. Also, Schroeder and Hodgson have been two of our best players. 'Bout freakin' time!

Ryan Parent is terrible. That's all on him.

I've really enjoyed how Vancouver has approached these preseason games. They've really given a chance to the third and fourth line players who are fighting for a spot, a chance to play consistently and show what they can do. They've ignored poor games and not jumped to any conclusions, leaving our "stars" on the bench so that these players are getting every chance to prove their worth. Doesn't bode well for winning games but it sure is giving management a really good look at the players they need to see.

Tonight's lineup:
Sturm-Hodgson-Jensen
Duco-Ebbett-Oreskovich
Sweatt-Schroeder-Pinizzotto
?-Lapierre-?

Ballard-Tanev
Parent-Sulzer
Baumgartner-Rome

Lack
Climie

[ridinryan44]

Canuck's have once again reduced their roster by seven:

To the Wolves:

Steven Anthony
Darren Archibald
Kevin Connauton
Sebastian Erixon
Yann Sauve
Bill Sweatt

Steve Begin has been released.

Frankie Corrado, drafted in the fifth round of this year's draft, has impressed in camp and has signed a three year ELC.

[ridinryan44]

Four more sent down:

Chicago Wolves:
Matt Climie
Antoine Roussel

Released:
Owen Nolan
Niko Dimitrakos

[loco man]

Which of the following is the best bet for PP time?

Salo, Hamhuis, Ballard?

All are available on the wire and I need to quickly fill my last D. I keep hearing conflicting reports about Salo being on the top unit. He is my pick, unless you think otherwise.

Thanks so much!