NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
The NWSB staff weighs in with their 2013 Vancouver Canucks season lineup prognostications and team roster predictions. First up Mitch says Ryan Kesler is still rehabbing from two off-season surgeries, and we’re going to see a big hole to start the year down the middle on the second line. Andrew Ebbett, and Jordan Schroeder are competing for the spot. We know Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin and Alex Burrows will man the top line.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin “the Flying V” Vanstone weighs in with another lockout post today. This time he’s telling us that the fans aren’t the only ones getting sick and tired of the latest installment of the Lockout. Cory Scheider is taking his talents to Switzerland, where he will be tending goal for Ambri Piotta of the Swiss National League A.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Reggie Gill weighs in with his ananlysis of the current news of the day. Oft used winger Dale Weise has a new contract for 2012/13 with the Canucks. Re-signing Weise, is putting a guy back in the line-up who has played with the big boys, and knows what will be expected out of him. He’s 6’2″ and 210 pounds, so he fits into that “get bigger” mentality of GM Gillis.
NWSB Insider & Vancouver Canucks writer Richard Hodges chimes in with his off-season analysis. He says to make another cup run the Canucks brass need to probably take a good hard look at finding someone who can score a goal or two or at the least, AND set up Ryan Kesler and David Booth with some regularity. He says Mason Raymond is an easy answer to who should NOT be back in 2012/13.
The Vancouver Canucks are still down 3-1 in their opening round series against the Los Angeles Kings but insider Josh Hall says Canucks Nation seems a little too optimistic. Will common sense be the difference as Ryan Kesler aka Guzzler and Alex Burrows strive to find their game? Can Cory Schneider hold the fort while Roberto Luongo rides the pine? Time will tell if Vancouver lives to fight another day.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks writer C-Mac describes how Zack Kassian is learning on the job for the Vancouver Canucks in 2012, and that even his minor playoff minutes will affect him going forward; hopefully in a positive way. Would the Canucks be better off with Cody Hodgson? Did Mike Gillis make the move in the best interests of the team?
Josh Hall, our Vancouver Canucks Insider thinks the team needs to chat with their moms prior to game two and review lessons taught growing up. Ryan Kesler, the refs have tabs on your every dive. Zack Kassian and Byron Bitz you were just careless. The Los Angeles Kings on the other hand did everything right Wednesday and now look to take a two to nothing series lead back to LA on Sunday.
It’s Christmas eve in every hockey fan’s home as the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin Wednesday. Here in Vancouver, we just want a Cup. Vancouver Canucks have a lot to be excited about going into their first round matchup with the Los Angeles Kings but in Game 1, one of our Canucks insiders Josh Hall tells us it’s especially key to set the tone early…or else. Roberto Luongo your under the microscope.
Canucks insider Kevin Vanstone breaks down the Game 79 matchup between the Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver’s third line was tremendous again against Calgary, keeping the Flames’ forwards busy with their own brand of puck possession. Andrew Ebbett returned from a broken collarbone just in time to end the Calgary Flames season. Marc-Andre Gragnani scored his first as a Canucks tonight too.
Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges Love Em Hate Em hockey blog. He recaps and rewinds the win on Friday night over the Dallas Stars. Chris Higgins must be excited about the playoffs as well since the winger is doing his best Mikeal Samuelsson in the 2010 playoffs impression over the past week. Tough call for the 3rd spot with guys like Maxim Lapierre, Sami Salo, and Alex Burrows making strong cases.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks writer Josh Hall continues with the theme of Official Team Tour Guide throughout their 6 game road trip. This time the Canucks are in Newark to face Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils. Will Roberto Luongo meet his idol Snooki? Does David Booth have some repenting to do? What will Dale Weise make of the night clubs?
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks writer Josh Hall takes on the role of tour guide in Detroit as the Canucks prepare to try and stop the streak the Detroit Red Wings have going. Will Ryan Kesler invite everyone to his home in Livonia? What connection do Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin have with the Henry Ford Museum? Are there some good eats to be found for Dale Weise to critique?
