Vancouver Canucks

[ross10019]

I saw that, it was also reported on SI's website, but the minute I saw it was based on a report by Bruce Garrioch, I tuned out. That guy is like the Eklund of mainstream hockey journalists.

Note that I would be surprised if it was confirmed that Gillis did contemplate trading Luongo and kicked some tires and/or will do so in the future. See this separate thread on this discussion where huge Canucks fans B0ndon and Tripel weighed in on the matter of Luongo v Schneider: http://www.dobberhockey.com/index.ph...329#post846329

This is for Angus, who just tweeted along the lines of my point above, that Garrioch is usually full of crap and that "the Canucks haven't discussed Luongo in any trade talks". My only comment is, how do you know this for sure Jeff? It seems like a pretty bold statement. I mean it's one thing to say you don't believe they dangled Luongo, or that it wouldn't make sense to dangle him, but to say they didn't?

[ross10019]

Read this with great interest, after Jeff tweeted it, great article on the subject: http://canucksarmy.com/2011/12/5/is-...ract-immovable

[ridinryan44]

This is for Angus, who just tweeted along the lines of my point above, that Garrioch is usually full of crap and that "the Canucks haven't discussed Luongo in any trade talks". My only comment is, how do you know this for sure Jeff? It seems like a pretty bold statement. I mean it's one thing to say you don't believe they dangled Luongo, or that it wouldn't make sense to dangle him, but to say they didn't?

Yea, I can't buy into the "Canucks haven't discussed Luongo in any trade talks," but I do agree moving Luongo is highly unlikely, and in all honesty could leave the club with egg on their face if Schneider didn't pan out.

Even the author of above article agrees its likely luongo's name has come up in trade talks.

I suspect that Gillis has been taking calls about Roberto Luongo (and Cory Schneider) and gauging league interest in the two, I doubt that either goaltender will find themselves traded this season

That sounds more accurate to me. I mean, Feaster is saying he's not considering trading Iginla, which may be he case, but I'd bet money his name is surfacing in trade talks.

[ridinryan44]

Chris Higgins will sit out tonight's game with a foot infection. Lineup as follows:

Sedin-Sedin-Burrows
Booth-Kesler-Hansen
Raymond-Hodgson-Weise
Malhotra-Lappierre-Oreskovich

Hamhuis-Bieksa
Edler-Salo
Ballard-Rome

Expect a high-energy game from Oreskovich, he's gotta want his spot back but it's gonna take a lot of hard, dirty work to make it happen. He should be flying and laying out the hits tonight.


Thing I'm most excited for tonight? Watching Stefan Elliott again. Hoping for more than nine minutes but lot's of PP time is expected. Stoked for tonight's game!

[ridinryan44]

"Good" news in terms of the Booth knee-on-knee incident against Colorado, it's a sprained MCL and he should be back in 4-6 weeks. Apparently it's much better than what it could have been, thanks to Angus for that tidbit.

Bill Sweatt, who has 4-goals and 9-points in 19 AHL games, has been recalled.

Here's a link to a Jeff Paterson article on what realignment should mean for Vancouver.

[Loch]

Mind blowing stat of the day:

Aaron Rome has more PP TOI/Game than Ballard or Bieksa.

Thank God AV doesn't play favourites....

[Loch]

More fun with Canuck stats:
Points/60min TOI

Daniel Sedin 3.69
Henrik Sedin 3.46
Cody Hodgson 2.44
Chris Higgins 2.44
Ryan Kesler 2.38
Jannik Hansen 2.18
David Booth 2.12
Alexandre Burrows 1.92
Alexander Edler 1.86
Aaron Rome 1.77
Sami Salo 1.72
Maxim Lapierre 1.48
Dan Hamhuis 1.39
Kevin Bieksa 1.22
Manny Malhotra 1.13
Dale Weise 0.75
Keith Ballard 0.59

The only person whose number I'd question compared to the others here is Rome, as he has played less than half the games that everyone else on the list has.

Interesting that CoHo has the third highest P/60min on the team yet has the 2nd lowest TOI/game on the list... gotta wonder how long until he forces his way up (especially with injuries).

[ridinryan44]

More fun with Canuck stats:
Points/60min TOI


The only person whose number I'd question compared to the others here is Rome, as he has played less than half the games that everyone else on the list has.

Interesting that CoHo has the third highest P/60min on the team yet has the 2nd lowest TOI/game on the list... gotta wonder how long until he forces his way up (especially with injuries).

It's crazy it's taking so long. Don't understand why AV is playing hardball with Hodgson. Kid has been amazing.

[fantasyhockeygeek]

I definitely understand -- it's the Detroit model. You wait to give players bigtime opportunity until after they've already busted their ass to demonstrate over a long period of time that they're ready for it. Prove it first... not over 10-20 games, but over 60-100.

Then, when that opportunity comes, they're so starving for it that they keep working as hard as they can to make the most of it.

Gillis has been absolutely transparent that he's modeled the Canucks after the Wings -- depth everywhere, loads of competition, and you pay your dues (in junior, then the AHL or overseas, then the NHL) before you get legit top-6 icetime. Then, when that opportunity comes, the players seem to go "boom".

That's just good management and succession planning -- it's not putting hotshots into "stretch" positions until they've demonstrated that they can clobber the position. Works in the real world too!

[ridinryan44]

I definitely understand -- it's the Detroit model. You wait to give players bigtime opportunity until after they've already busted their ass to demonstrate over a long period of time that they're ready for it. Prove it first... not over 10-20 games, but over 60-100.

Then, when that opportunity comes, they're so starving for it that they keep working as hard as they can to make the most of it.

Gillis has been absolutely transparent that he's modeled the Canucks after the Wings -- depth everywhere, loads of competition, and you pay your dues (in junior, then the AHL or overseas, then the NHL) before you get legit top-6 icetime. Then, when that opportunity comes, the players seem to go "boom".

That's just good management and succession planning -- it's not putting hotshots into "stretch" positions until they've demonstrated that they can clobber the position. Works in the real world too!

Great analysis and I agree for the most part. Thing is, I don't consider Hodgson a "hot shot" and I don't suggest moving him into a top-six role either. What I could see is a little more ice time. He's proven to be smart defensively and not a risk while on the ice. Maybe a little more trust just to reward the hard work and great production would be nice. I can't argue, though, with the "prove it for longer" mantra, it really is the best and smartest way to go about it. I think a little bit of ice time in the OT last night was a deserved thing though - simply as a reward.

[Loch]

Makes sense... earning your ice time is important.

Now about Aaron Rome....

[PatyOFurniture]

look what popped up today, blayze will love this

[ridinryan44]

look what popped up today, blayze will love this

Man, that is hilarious! How have I not seen that until now?

[bondon]

Luongo getting the start tonight, Dan Murphy seems to think that Luongo will get this start and the start on Saturday against the Leafs meaning Schneider likely sees action on Thursday against Carolina.

Sweatt has been sent down and Rome has taken his spot on the fourth line, AV wants more physicality out of that fourth line and evidently he wasn't satisfied with Oreskovich or Sweatt. Alberts will pair up with Ballard on the back end.

Also Happy Birthday to Dan Hamhuis! Nobody wants to play poorly on their birthday.

[bondon]

Was only able to catch the first period and the shoot out in this game. Quick thoughts:

Solid game by Luongo but getting tired of seeing him flat on his stomach with a puck in the net. Absolutely brutal as usual in the shoot out, pretty sure I would have stood a better chance.
Burrows - lol uses the SAME MOVE EVERY TIME in the shootout/penalty shots and it cracks me up when he scored with it.
PP was absolutely dry. Columbus gave them so many opportunities to stick it to them but they just couldn't bury them.