NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin “The Flying V” Vanstone says the Vancouver Canucks may not be as deep on the blue line as it seems, will Mike Gillis move to make a trade deadline deal to bolster the back end? As the Canucks approach the 20-game mark of the 2013 season there is still a healthy amount of time for players like Alex Edler to adjust. Who knows with Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa injuries.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Mitch Dyck weighs in today on how rookie center Jordan Schroeder is doing after 4-5 games of 2013 NHL action. The Canucks and more importantly Alain Vigneault have really let Schroeder get his feet wet so far this season. The Return of Ryan Kesler and David Booth could change his icetime, but we have no idea when to expect those two back. The roster will be interesting moving forward.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Mitch Dyck reports today on the news that we’ve learned Canucks winger David Booth will be out 4-6 weeks with a groin strain suffered at 2013 training camp. Coach Alain Vigneault also stated the injury wasn’t due to lack of training, but rather over training on Booth’s part. Now, either Mike Gillis rushes and makes a trade, or the more likely option is that there is some internal competition.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger The Flying V – Kevin Vanstone weighs in on the Ryan Kesler shoulder injury, will he or won’t he start the season? The trickle down effects and questions. If Maxim Lapierre is moved up to the second line, Chicago Wolves’ center Jordan Schroeder depth chart, what kind of minutes will Manny Malhotra get? In the meantime, it is up to Gillis to decide if his hockey team can afford to learn on the fly.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger C-Mac tells us In a sea full of negative player ratings for the Canucks against LA, Keith Ballard has maintained an even zero rating following their first win. Ballard’s stop/start year looked to have cemented another disappointing run with Vancouver. It’s turned around for him.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Steve Lee tells us the newest Twins that could take the ice for the Canucks with Daniel Sedin out. No longer able to lineup beside his brother, Hank may to see time on the second line, or sandwiched in between what could be Vancity’s newest fan favorite duo.
NWSB Managing editor and Vancouver Canucks blogger “Q” tells us Henrik Sedin, who has played in 552 consecutive regular-season games, told Team 1040 radio that the CT scan he had on Wednesday did not reveal any issue. It is not known if he will be available for Thursday’s game against the Northwest Division rival Minnesota Wild.
Vancouver Canucks blogger Carolyn Smith reports on center Henrik Sedin who was scheduled to undergo a CT scan on his ankle Wednesday. Sedin was hit in the ankle by a shot in Tuesday’s game at Nashville. He did return to the game and collected two assists to extend his points streak to four games.The All-Star center, who did not practice Wednesday, has 11 goals and an NHL-best 46 assists in 53 games this season.
Vancouver Canucks insider The Flying V – Kevin Vanstone has put on his Inspector Clouseau cap this week and has broken the Chris Higgins mystery illness wide open. Thanks to the wonders of public WiFi and unencrypted networks, NWSB has obtained emails exchanged between Higgins and Head Coach Alain Vigneault dating back over the last week, giving insight into the New York native’s unique injury.
Vancouver Canucks blogger C-Mac weighs in with a humorous piece on the Canucks injury report. Let’s examine the further potential for player knocks as Sports Action could do with proposing a new line of Injury bets. We have seen Chris Higgins and his staphylococcus foot infection, a David Booth knee injury, and a Cody Hodgson rung bell, now a Daniel Sedin stiff back…
Q tells us the Vancouver Canucks say forward David Booth will miss four to six weeks with a sprained MCL following a knee-on-knee collision with Colorado’s Kevin Porter on Tuesday. Bill Sweatt has been called up to replace him. All in all. Good timing Mason Raymond. Now do something with the ice time!
Vancouver Canucks blogger Riley Trottier weighs in with his thoughts on the walking wounded. The Canucks injury report. One more player has been added this week with the announcement Sunday morning that forward Aaron Volpatti will be out 4-6 months because he requires shoulder surgery. Enter Dale Weise, again.
