For forty years the vancouver canucks have suffered in mediocrity, only twice getting past the 2nd round of the playoffs. That was their exit point last year at the hands of the Chicago blackhawks. It was so painful to watch Luongo get ventilated by the young hawks as our defense wilted and the fowards could not keep the speed of chicago in checkin the fnal game of the season.
Now the new season is upon us and as always optimism is at an all time high in Vancouver. So far this season we are undefeated and only allowed 1 goal against but I digress. There are several reasons to take a long hard look at the canucks this season.
1. The schedule - Gone are terrible time zone shifts and nasty back to backs that have us going through more than one time zone. We also have a 14 game road trip, that stretches from Jan 29 to March 10th! What you say ! But keep in mind the Olympic break - which is being played in Vancouver, so all those players will be either home or on vacation in the middle of that period. We play 7 pre and 7 post olympic road games, so the trip is long but broken up.
2. Goaltending - in the offseason Roberto Luongo signs a 12 year deal with Vcr putting to rest any doubts of where he wants to be to finish his career. The contract will not hamstring the canucks either as it does not actually kick in until next year at that time Roberto will actually drop down a bit on the pay scale keeping some room in the salary cap situation. The deal also has a no trade clause that can be lifted by the nucks in year 7 and luongo can lift it in year 5. Perhaps the best scenario for canucks fans is that Luongo is motivated by the cup as well as becoming the starting goalie for Canada at the olympics look for no slow start from him ths year. The backup situation is interesting - we have former first round pick corey schneider playing very well in camp so far. Schneider back stopped nucks farm team manitoba to the finals in the AHL. Also signed in the offseason is former rookie of the year Andrew Raycroft, since winning the award Raycroft has fallen on hard times. There is some reasons to believe that raycroft could finally rebound - A) being around roberto will make him better not to mention having some advice from ian clark. B) competition Raycroft and Schneider are basically in dogfight to back up luongo. The prevailing wisdom here in Vancouver is that Schnieder is trade bait this season but I am not so sure. God for bid if luongo goes down again we have some significant options compare to years previous. Schneider does not make much cash and the guy who goes to th farm will play alot look for schneider to start the season in Vancouver.
3. Defense - Gone is mattius ohlund 12 year veteran for the nucks & rob johnson but the rest if the core returns including 2 significant upgrades and a dark horse the canucks have 9 bonafide defenseman in camp looking to secure a blue line job. New comers - Mathieu schneider who told his agent vcr was number one on his list will help the 2nd unit power play. Christian ehrhoff & bc boy Brad lukowich come over from San Jose - Ehrhoff will provide us with another puck handling defenseman that is desperately need. The sleeper so far in camp has been 6'1" 223 pound AARON ROME 3rd year journey man is making a statement with mature play and has displayed good puck rushing skills.
4. Fowards - Still the weak link on this team but we could show some promise this year - No Sundin or Pyatt who were regulars last year. Add
Mikael Samuellson from Det although he won't score 50 he may have a career year if he gets the sedins on the nucks top line most players do. The second line will rotate around Ryan Kelser who is an emerging star in the western conference & a finalist in the Selke award last year Kesler had a great year and should make the US olympic team, his line mates may include Rick Rypen & Alex burrows to start the year - A line that played great in the playoffs has returned 30 pounds lighter and faster - Bernier and Wellwood who both dropped 15 pounds will be paired with speedster Mason Raymond. The fourth line will have defensive specialist Ryan Johnston, and tough guy Darcy Hordichuk, as main stays. That leaves two spots for this list of players.
Pavol Demteria will be on the shelf for the beginning of the year so that gives us the perfect amount of time to evaluate Prize blue chip prospect Cody Hodgson widely aclaimed as the best player at last years junior championships Hodgson ripped up the oHl as well. Canucks are loathe to send him back to junior and will use the (what is it 11 game) evaluation period- one draw back is Hodgson has had a sore back in th training camp and has not shown himself yet. Either guy is top 6 forward and will get 1st or 2nd line time.
Do or die time for Jannick Hansen & Michael Grabner who most likely start the season on the moose. Both players display great speed but sometimes their accuarcy and heart have been questioned.
Lastly our dark horse - Sergei Shirokov - 23 year old who comes to us from a couple of season of playing for the moskow red army. Shirokov socred two goals in the first preseason game vs the islanders by showing sure hands at the side of the net! Tonight he is playing with the Sedins - the coaching staff wants to see what he can do. Bit of a long shot but he could see some ice time during the regular season.
Be back later with updates and plays as the season progesses.
Now the new season is upon us and as always optimism is at an all time high in Vancouver. So far this season we are undefeated and only allowed 1 goal against but I digress. There are several reasons to take a long hard look at the canucks this season.
1. The schedule - Gone are terrible time zone shifts and nasty back to backs that have us going through more than one time zone. We also have a 14 game road trip, that stretches from Jan 29 to March 10th! What you say ! But keep in mind the Olympic break - which is being played in Vancouver, so all those players will be either home or on vacation in the middle of that period. We play 7 pre and 7 post olympic road games, so the trip is long but broken up.
2. Goaltending - in the offseason Roberto Luongo signs a 12 year deal with Vcr putting to rest any doubts of where he wants to be to finish his career. The contract will not hamstring the canucks either as it does not actually kick in until next year at that time Roberto will actually drop down a bit on the pay scale keeping some room in the salary cap situation. The deal also has a no trade clause that can be lifted by the nucks in year 7 and luongo can lift it in year 5. Perhaps the best scenario for canucks fans is that Luongo is motivated by the cup as well as becoming the starting goalie for Canada at the olympics look for no slow start from him ths year. The backup situation is interesting - we have former first round pick corey schneider playing very well in camp so far. Schneider back stopped nucks farm team manitoba to the finals in the AHL. Also signed in the offseason is former rookie of the year Andrew Raycroft, since winning the award Raycroft has fallen on hard times. There is some reasons to believe that raycroft could finally rebound - A) being around roberto will make him better not to mention having some advice from ian clark. B) competition Raycroft and Schneider are basically in dogfight to back up luongo. The prevailing wisdom here in Vancouver is that Schnieder is trade bait this season but I am not so sure. God for bid if luongo goes down again we have some significant options compare to years previous. Schneider does not make much cash and the guy who goes to th farm will play alot look for schneider to start the season in Vancouver.
3. Defense - Gone is mattius ohlund 12 year veteran for the nucks & rob johnson but the rest if the core returns including 2 significant upgrades and a dark horse the canucks have 9 bonafide defenseman in camp looking to secure a blue line job. New comers - Mathieu schneider who told his agent vcr was number one on his list will help the 2nd unit power play. Christian ehrhoff & bc boy Brad lukowich come over from San Jose - Ehrhoff will provide us with another puck handling defenseman that is desperately need. The sleeper so far in camp has been 6'1" 223 pound AARON ROME 3rd year journey man is making a statement with mature play and has displayed good puck rushing skills.
4. Fowards - Still the weak link on this team but we could show some promise this year - No Sundin or Pyatt who were regulars last year. Add
Mikael Samuellson from Det although he won't score 50 he may have a career year if he gets the sedins on the nucks top line most players do. The second line will rotate around Ryan Kelser who is an emerging star in the western conference & a finalist in the Selke award last year Kesler had a great year and should make the US olympic team, his line mates may include Rick Rypen & Alex burrows to start the year - A line that played great in the playoffs has returned 30 pounds lighter and faster - Bernier and Wellwood who both dropped 15 pounds will be paired with speedster Mason Raymond. The fourth line will have defensive specialist Ryan Johnston, and tough guy Darcy Hordichuk, as main stays. That leaves two spots for this list of players.
Pavol Demteria will be on the shelf for the beginning of the year so that gives us the perfect amount of time to evaluate Prize blue chip prospect Cody Hodgson widely aclaimed as the best player at last years junior championships Hodgson ripped up the oHl as well. Canucks are loathe to send him back to junior and will use the (what is it 11 game) evaluation period- one draw back is Hodgson has had a sore back in th training camp and has not shown himself yet. Either guy is top 6 forward and will get 1st or 2nd line time.
Do or die time for Jannick Hansen & Michael Grabner who most likely start the season on the moose. Both players display great speed but sometimes their accuarcy and heart have been questioned.
Lastly our dark horse - Sergei Shirokov - 23 year old who comes to us from a couple of season of playing for the moskow red army. Shirokov socred two goals in the first preseason game vs the islanders by showing sure hands at the side of the net! Tonight he is playing with the Sedins - the coaching staff wants to see what he can do. Bit of a long shot but he could see some ice time during the regular season.
Be back later with updates and plays as the season progesses.
. The Flames are 4 lines deep and all these experts are so concerned of where the goals are going to come from with Cammy gone but I'll tell you right now, don't sleep on Borque, Moss, Glencross, Dawes and Boyd. All these guys can put the puck in the net at any moment and even their 4th line players Nystrom and Sjostrom can score as well. Also don't forget that Lankgow is a proven 30 goal scorer and was practically playing with 2 broken hands the last month of the season heading into the playoffs but now is 100% healthy. 
hno:
