NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
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. He’s 21, can’t make more than $925,000 on his entry level contract. The Canucks are simply his best shot to win the cup, all other factors aside. The rumoured favourites for Schultz’s services are the, the Oilers, the Blackhawks, the Rangers, and the Maple Leafs.
NWSB Insider & Vancouver Canucks hockey writer C-Mac tells us why we should feel good for Willie Mitchell the Vancouver Island BC born hockey player who this week won himself a Stanley Cup. He lists five reasons why Canucks fans can still celebrate Mitchell’s legacy. In hindsight that parting of the ways worked well, between Mitchell and the Canucks, at least for Willie anyways.
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.
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 C-Mac says for all his amazing talents Alex Edler sometimes plays the game, like the old adage goes, as a million dollar player with a 10 cent head. His two egregious puck handling errors, one in each game in these playoffs against the LA Kings, have cost the team in goals against at the most crucial of times. Chris Tanev, Dan Hamhuis, Aaron Rome and Andrew Alberts are shaking their heads.
C-Mac chimes in with his version of a playoff preview for the Vancouver Canucks and tells us which lessons the Canucks hopefully learned from last year’s successful failure, if you will. Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider have to be utilised well but how about the 3rd line? Chris Higgins, Jannik Hansen and Samme Pahlsson have been playing balls out but can they keep it up and when does Coach Vee shake it up?
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges weighs in with an update on the Canucks farm team in the AHL the Chicago Wolves. Van City hired ex-Oilers coach Craig Mactavish to guide the prospects, we update you on Eddie Lack, Bill Sweatt, Mike Duco, Steven Reinprecht, Nolan Baumgartner, Kevin Connauton, Mark Mancari and more. The bubble boys, the 2-ways, guys fighting for their cup of coffee in the NHL.
Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges Love Em Hate Em hockey blog. He recaps and rewinds the loss on Thursday night to the Calgary Flames. It appears that Marc-Andre Gragnani has played the required number of games to become a restricted and not unrestricted free agent this summer. Enjoy your time in the press box. With Kevin Bieksa, Aaron Rome, and Keith Ballard all due to come back.
Our man Kevin V. is back with another edition of the Vancouver Canucks Notebook. The NHL decided a five-game suspension was appropriate for Duncan Keith’s vicious elbow to the head of Daniel Sedin, but what of the victim and his recovery? Cory Schneider continues to shine is his role as the Canucks backup. Plus more insider news coverage on Van City.
Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges Love Em Hate Em Canucks hockey blog. He recaps and rewinds the win on Saturday night over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Really creepy After Hours last night where Scott Oake brought up the infamous Chris Higgins ab shot not once but twice. The play of the night, and perhaps the Canucks goal of the year, came from Alex Edler.
