NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
Vancouver Canucks hockey blogs and team news.
NWSB Editor and Insider Chris Anderson talks about the rumors of the Phoenix Coyotes relocating to Seattle. A franchise that hasn’t always received the best fan support, the team has been owned by the NHL since 2009 and is once again looking for a place to play, with Phoenix being the most recommended destination. But that still doesn’t mean Seattle doesn’t have a shot at getting this franchise, especially with the unstable negotiations that have been taking place to keep them in Phoenix.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin “The Flying V’ Vanstone tells us David Booth’s ankle rehab could throw the Canucks a curve ball as the buyout period approaches for NHL teams this offseason. The Canucks employ a number of integral players with no-movement clauses attached to their contracts, and with a new coach expected to take the team in a new direction minimal player movement over the summer could be a good thing
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Bryan McFarlane talks about a five other changes the Vanucks need to make if they want to see themselves to greater success in the coming years. Most cities would be happy to have a coach who could win as many games as AV did in his time with the Canucks. But most cities aren’t this big of a hockey market. The pressure to perform each year seems to grow and grow. And of course we all know the definition of insanity: to do the same thing over and over but expect a different result. Thus change is needed, in a big way, in Vancouver.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges today brings us an open email to former Nucks head coach Alain Vigneault. He points out AV is the winningest coach in Canucks history, bringing home the division banners, Presidents’ Trophies, and of course 2011. He says AV set the bar high and the only way to clear it is with a Stanley Cup. He was fun to watch, not fun to watch and he’ll be missed. Happy Trails AV.
NWSB Vancouver Canucks insider Josh Hall looks back on Wednesday’s Mike Gillis press conference and tells some tales of now fired Alain Vigneault. Josh points out the stars and planets may never align quite like that again for the Vancouver Canucks or Alain Vigneault but looking back on that moment 50 years from now and everyone will remember where they were vs. Chicago in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Thanks to AV and Alex Burrows.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin “The Flying V” Vanstone weighs in today on the Nucks news of firing head coach Alain Vigneault and assistant coaches Rick Bowness and Newell Brown on Wednesday afternoon just 15 days after the Canucks were swept by the San Jose Sharks, marking the end of an era for Vancouver Canucks hockey. It could be a long summer for Canucks fans.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger gives you his five positives from the Vancouver Canucks’ 2013-2014 season. Though it culminated with yet another disappointing first round exit that was all the more embarrassing this year, there was some impressive play throughout the season from a few key players. Corey Schneider played well in his first year as a starter, Tanev and Corrado really shaped up, and this may be the final season for Alain Vigneault.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin “The Flying V” Vanstone weighs in today on the Nucks and says it has been a full thirteen days since VanCity were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, and after an appropriate mourning period it is time to look towards next season and the changes needed. Roberto Luongo has been on his way out of Vancouver for some time. He’s surely gone. Alain Vigneault. Gone too.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Phil Slater talks about Vancouver’s options for getting bigger, something they need to do to stop being pushed around and intimidated by other teams. “Younger and bigger” was Mike Gillis’ answer on how to produce results. Concerned that the NHL is trending to a more physical, less skilled nature and tired about his team being leaned on too much without much push back. Could we see Jimmy Hayes, Martin Hanzal, or Jamie Oleksiak in Van city?
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Andrew Deutschmann provides us with the top 5 players he would like to see the Canucks part ways with this off season. Number one is obviously Roberto Luongo. Paying him to split time with Cory Schneider is just ridiculous. Let him go on to another team and get on with his life. This has dragged out long enough not only for management, and Luongo, but for the fans as well.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks Phil, the bartender, takes a break from all things BC Lions to give us his top five head coach wish list. There are a few names here that should be more than a little familiar to the casual fan in Vancouver, plus one that seems to come out of left field. But as a bartender, Phil knows what the folks on the streets are saying. Hell, half of them could step right in to take over for Alain Vigneault right now!
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Andrew Deutschmann gives us some snippets of Mike Gillis’ post season press conference, or lack there of. No, the news of the firing of AV didn’t come, not yet at least. There is still time for that. But what intrigued Andrew the most was the fact that Gillis touched on some of the young guys like Kellan Lain, Brendan Gaunce, Nicklas Jensen, and Frank Corrado.
Canucks.com Blog
Magic. RT @BurkieYCP: Doing one better. We got the @VanCanucks and @NHLBruins to agree on something. #YouCanPlay http://t.co/mefvuIw4X9
Delta native Nic Petan in Calgary today for meeting, testing. Centre had 120 points with Portland. Flames go 6th, 22nd, 28th in 2013 draft.
No more European goalies in the CHL? @JoeyMattsson they're going to put you in a museum
Only four days left to submit your t-shirt design for our CanucksArmy Gear contest! http://t.co/V1nrUI8YA1
