NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Bryan McFarlane weighs in with his Nucks three stars post. Here are the few noteworthy performers from January 27th – Feb 3rd during the Canucks 2013 campaign. Chris Tanev, Cory Schneider, and JAnnik Hansen make Bryan’s list. Despite the uncertainty of who is going to start each week, Schneider continues to fight for the starting spot.
Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges Love Em Hate Em hockey blog. He recaps and rewinds the win on Monday night over the Oilers. Richard says in this game for about 58 minutes, the Vancouver Canucks slogged through a muddled effort that looked like they had left their skateguards on. The Oilers were just flying. One big negative. When Ryan Kesler and David Booth get back, Chris Higgins will find himself squeezed out of the top six. Nice goal Chris Tanev.
Our man Mitch D. one of our NWSB insiders and Canucks bloggers weighs in with his January 2013 edition of Nucks All Access..the plus & minus report. On the plus side. What a pleasant surprise Jordan Schroeder has been. He hasn’t been lighting it up, in fact he only has one point, but he’s been a solid player when called upon to play. Zack Kassian in seven games is leading the team in goals with five. Negative. Chris Higgins has been the biggest dud so far.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger C-Mac says for all the criticism thrown at him, the slick haired Roberto Luongo has been one of the better Canucks players in 2013 and after 6 games projects professionalism. He takes a look at the best and the worst of the Canucks line-up so far. Zack Kassian, Luongo, and Chris Tanev make the “good list”. Dan Hamhuis, Jason Garrison, and Manny Malhotra make the “naughty’ list.
The Vancouver Canucks opened their 2013 training camp over the weekend, beginning a six-day sprint towards opening night on Saturday. While the absence of Ryan Kesler in Vancouver’s top-six provides opportunity for forwards to embrace new roles up front, the Canucks appear to have little room for competition on the blue line.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges weighs in with some analysis on the news today out of Canucks land that former enemy and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Cam Barker could get a tryout with Van City. Well, the loss of Aaron Rome and Sami Salo destroyed a bit of depth in the 7/8 hole but….Cam Barker? Cam Barker, the infamous number three pick behind Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin? Deep Thoughts…
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges weighs in with an update on the Canucks farm team in the AHL the Chicago Wolves. The Wolves are benefitting from Chris Tanev being back in town thanks to the lockout. The cerebral blueliner has four points in his first 10 games. Also in the mix and looking good Kevin Connauton was last year’s breakout star under Craig MacTavish.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Mitch Dyck points five players in that must make big strides within the organization in 2012/13. Kevin Connauton, Jordan Schroeder, Zack Kassian, Chris Tanev, and Eddie Lack are the guys he points out. Internal competition brings out the best in everyone. Will it do the same for these Canucks youngsters this year? Who are you looking forward to seeing take strides?
NWSB Rookie Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Mitch Dyck puts pen to paper today with some more thoughts on the Canucks non-roster sheet for Weber, As well as an in depth look at the top six Canucks defenseman currently on the Vancouver roster. Dan Hamhuis, Alex Edler, Kevin Bieksa, Keith Ballard, Chris Tanev, and Jason Garrison. Kevin Connauton has made strides in the minors.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges weighs in with his thoughts on the player movement this week coming out of Mike Gillis’ office in Vancouver. Gone are longtime d-man Sami Salo, a warrior in Van City for 8+ years. Also Alain Vigneault favorite Aaron Rome. In are hometown boy Jason Garrison and we’re also now hearing ex-Hurricanes D/FW Derek Joslin could be next.
NWSB Managing editor “Q” tells us on the first day of 2012 NHL Free Agency the Vancouver Canucks survived and made it thru losing Sami Salo and Aaron Rome to land Jason Garrison via free agency from the Florida Panthers on Sunday. The 6’2”, 220-pound undrafted defenceman from White Rock BC was signed by the Panthers in 2008 after three seasons with the University of Minnesota Duluth of the WCHA.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges weighs in with his ananlysis of the Justin Schultz NHL free agency situation. While the addition of Justin Schultz was very intriguing, the Canucks will be just fine without him Richard says. The Canucks are not a club that guarantees playing time to rookies. Just ask Cody Hodgson.
