The Canuck Way - A Vancouver Canucks blog

In the 2004 Entry Draft, the Vancouver Canucks selected in the 9th round, 287th overall, Jannik Hansen. I doubt that many people knew that he would be such a key member of this squad now. It took the Dane until 2007/2008 to crack the line up, and in that season he only played five games and would spend the majority of his season with the Manitoba Moose.  Continue reading this post »

Why they need to talk when they can just share thoughts is beyond me. (Photograph by: Ian Lindsay, PNG)

During our day to day lives, it can be hard to appreciate the good things we have. Life has a way of sweeping us along the current at such a rapid pace, it’s not until we get a chance to sit on the shore and take a breath that we are given time enough to soak in just how lucky we truly are. As we approach the holiday season, a time meant to reflect and give thanks for what we have, I thought it appropriate to take a moment and remind Canuck fans just how fortunate we are that 12 years ago, then-Canucks GM Brian Burke used every ounce of truculence he possessed to draft two brothers named Daniel and Henrik. Continue reading this post »

Manny Malholtra (legacysportsent.com)

Have you seen Canuck Manny Malholtra? He seems to be missing – at least a part of him is. Manny Malholtra is known as a two-way forward and for his exceptional faceoff percentage. But so far this season Vancouver has not seen this shut down defensive forward match his last season high calibre performance. He has declined in speed, strength, time, and overall effectiveness.

During the 2010/2011 season Manny Malholtra was being considered as a Selke nominee, the trophy for the leagues best two way forward. In the end he ranked 5^th for the Selke trophy. He was playing as a leader.

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As the Vancouver Canucks collected themselves following a bittersweet exit from the Stanley Cup Finals, many prognosticators felt their roster would look virtually identical to start the 2011/12 season.  They were only mostly right.

Cody Hodgson appears to be delivering on the investment the Canucks made in him (photo thanks to theprovince.com)

Plagued early in his professional career by an undetected back injury, those same prognosticators started to speculate that Cody Hodgson was another 1st round pick gone awry.  Hockeyfutures.com (a valuable grade-based resource for all NHL draft prospects) also concluded that Hodgson might be problematic (for the Canucks) to sign.  The Toronto, Ont. native, drafted 10th overall in the 2008 entry draft (that brought us Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty), has played 29 games so far this season with Vancouver, and with noticeable results.  Thus far, he has 6 goals, 9 assists, has a +4 rating, and is on pace for 40 points.  While some detractors would point out that uber-rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is on pace for much more than that, one should put his growth into perspective.  Essentially, Hodgson is producing at a similar level to Mason Raymond’s breakout season.  He’s also doing it while playing mostly 3rd line minutes (approx. 11 minutes per game), with a couple of exceptions early on due to injuries to Ryan Kesler, Mason Raymond, and Chris Higgins.

Frustration could have easily overpowered the youngster, particularly at the outset of the 2010/11 campaign.  Many expected Cody would challenge for a roster spot right out of camp, but lingering back issues prohibited him from claiming a job.  Enter: The cynics.

In a short period of time, members of the media fanned the flames with speculation that there was a “rift” between Hodgson and head coach, Alain Vigneault.  Some even labelled it as a controversy, pitting Vigneault as the over-expectant, patience-waning coach, and Hodgson as the underwhelming, over-hyped rookie in need of an attitude adjustment.  Further from the truth, they couldn’t be, and to be honest, I look back on some of these morsels of gossip with laughter, but mostly disdain. Continue reading this post »

Following his melt down in the Stanley Cup Finals, Roberto Luongo has lost the support of many Canucks fans who are set on having Cory Schneider as the full time starting goalie in Vancouver. Luongo was pulled in 3 of the 7 games in the Finals and was horrible in the 7th and decisive game. As a result of Luongo’s abysmal play, the Canucks lost the Stanley Cup and Luongo lost the majority of the fans.

Back up goaltender Cory Schneider, a former first round pick of the Canucks organization, has played exceptionally well this season when given the opportunity. With 7 wins, a 2.01 GAA and a .934 save percentage, his statistics better those of Luongo’s. In Luongo’s defense, he has won 11 games though a few of those wins are credited to the offense scoring.

Despite the controversy brewing in Vancouver, Canucks general manager Mike Gillis would be making a large and unintelligent mistake in trading either goalie. If either goalie is traded, there is no safe back up plan if the remaining goaltender goes down with an injury. Either Eddie Lack or Matt Climie of the Chicago Wolves would be thrust into the starting role if the starting goaltender was to go down and any sensible hockey fan knows that would put the Canucks in a large hole.  Heading into the playoffs, it’s always better to have two goalies capable of being the #1 guy in case one under performs or gets injured

History would back up my statement as both Carolina and Anaheim have experienced the situation the Canucks currently face. In the 2005-2006 season playoffs, Carolina Hurricane’s starting goaltender Martin Gerber who had helped the Hurricanes to 38 wins during the regular season, struggled immensely in the first round of the playoffs. Head coach Peter Laviolette had seen enough and benched Gerber in favor of back up Cam Ward. Ward found his groove and lead the Hurricanes to their first ever Stanley Cup Championship. Anaheim has been in this situation twice. During their Stanley Cup run in 2007, back up goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov won 3 games versus the Minnesota Wild which propelled the Ducks. In 2009, back up Jonas Hiller clearly outshined starting goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere and eventually won the starting job.

So Canucks fans can stop brewing up impossible and illogical trade proposals which involve either goaltender as it will not happen until the draft. The Canucks are desperate for solid defensive prospects and some help on the wing. Based on how both goaltenders perform during this season and the playoffs, one will be shipped prior to the draft for picks and prospects and both clubs involved in the trade will benefit heavily. The possibility of trading Luongo increases following the season rather than during as it will eliminate another year off his gigantic contract. Mike Gillis has thus far made all the right calls for this team to be successful, and he knows that keeping Luongo for the playoffs is the not only the right decision, but the smart decision.

(canucks.com)

Christmas is almost here which means it’s time to get the holiday shopping out of the way. It’s a great feeling when you finish all your holiday shopping, so why not get it done as soon as possible? To help you get started or finish your holiday shopping here is the top ten gifts in no particular order that will help scratch off the Canucks fan on your Christmas list.

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Following the trade which brought the Vancouver Canucks American winger David Booth in exchange for Mikael Samuelsson along with other baggage, Canucks fans instantly began salivating at the thought of an all-American second line. Canucks fans got their wish as the line of Chris Higgins, Ryan Kesler, and David Booth was formed. Continue reading this post »

Injuries have caused a lot of problems with the Vancouver Canucks over the years, usually it affects the Canucks’ defense men, but the newest victim of the injury bug is Chris Higgins. He will not be in the Canucks’ line up due to a foot infection. The Canucks have called up Chicago Wolves forward Victor Oreskovich, they needed to add some grit into the line up since Aaron Volpatti will be out for the season with a shoulder injury. Oreskovich had 3 points last year and 8 PIMS in in 16 games in the regular season  last year – yeah not stellar numbers, but for a fourth line grinder, he did everything he could do for the team in the role he was given. He is put into the line up tonight to do exactly that, be physical and try to replace the physicality we lost in Volpatti.

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