NHL Players Need to Deliver a Collective Headshot

The controversial hit involving Zdeno Chara (#33) and Max Pacioretty

For the record, I have heard the name "Pacioretty" so much today that at dinner this evening I almost ordered "Pacioretty with meatballs." It is quite sad that a season of NHL hockey that has seen both individual players and teams achieve great results, will likely be remembered for the serious injury sustained by superstar player Sidney Crosby (1) and now the nasty and stomach turning injury suffered by Max Pacioretty (2). It is unfair to all the players, coaches, trainers, general managers, and owners who put so much time and effort into making sure that they are putting a good brand of hockey onto the ice. It is unfair to the vast majority of NHLers who play the game with passion and class. No one cares that Daniel and Henrik Sedin donated $1.5 million to B.C Children's Hospital when Matt Cooke just delivered yet another potentially career-ending hit in a game on national TV.

Hockey is a game built on beauty. If we take a step back and analyze the game at its very basics we can truly appreciate the skill it takes to skate with power, pass with accuracy, and shoot with precision. It is a shame to ruin this game over goonery and mental lapses by a few who play hockey at the highest level. There is a problem in the world when videos of brutal on-ice incidents have more YouTube hits than a tic-tac-toe goal or an amazing glove save.

The National Hockey League acts as though their sponsors are what keep the league afloat. Theoretically they are, but consider this: no players = no league = no sponsors needed. And the NHL, by comparison to other professional leagues, requires and receives a lot out of its players. Of all the pro sports leagues, the NHL is the only one that has, for the most part, been immune to doping scandals, contract holdouts, headline making crimes by players, and other such behaviours reserved for multi millionaire athletes. Most of the league's athletes are generous family men who are charitable with their wealth and whose sole focus is to be the best that they can be on and off the ice. In return for their contributions to the league, the players deserve the best protection that their employer can offer. It's like being a police officer - if I'm a cop who is putting my life on the line for my city, I want to make sure that my city is providing the best safety equipment and back-up support that it can for me. You don't send your guys into a gang shootout without giving them guns and shields. The NHL, in consistently refusing to deal with on-ice head shots, is doing exactly that. They are sending their players onto the ice without proper protection. So far it has only resulted in serious injuries but, at this rate, how long will it be before we're holding a moment of silence in honour of a fallen player?

The NHL is painfully inconsistent their disciplinary actions against dangerous plays. How quick the league is to protect one of its high-ranked officials. When Los Angeles Kings' GM Dean Lombardi lost his temper and verbally attacked NHL vice president Mike Murphy over a goal review, the league stepped in and immediately fined Lombardi $50,000 (3). The only thing that was hurt in this incident was maybe Murphy's ego. Certainly though, he didn't suffer any broken bones, torn ligaments, concussions, or life-threatening injuries of any sort. Similarly, why was it that when Canucks forward Alex Burrows spoke truthfully in a post-game scrum about how one of the league's on-ice officials had lost his impartiality, it took the NHL less than 24 hours to stick Burrows with a $2500 fine (4)? And yet when players are being tossed around like rag dolls and are suffering career ending and life threatening injuries the league lets the perpetrators get away scott free by calling it "a hockey play." These incidents are the result of the game getting faster, its players getting stronger, and its equipment getting heavier. Gone are the days where players would unwind between periods by treating themselves to a beer and a cigar. Nowadays, NHLers train year-round, pushing themselves to become stronger, faster, more agile, and more aggressive. The league can't ask the players to stop doing that. This is not a matter of saying "here Sidney, have a slice of cake and stop working out." The league has to go zero-tolerance on any sort of blindsided hits so that the punishment alone is enough of a deterrent for players to even test their luck. If they don't, not only will careers be ended because of these ridiculous hits, but the game we love will forever be marred by an era of black marks. 

The players are what make the league profitable and marketable and successful, and yet there is no pride and no sense of responsibility felt by the NHL to protect them!? Rule 48 (5) is not used consistently enough and it only really addresses "a lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted." What about the Zdeno Chara hit on Max Pacioretty where it wasn't technically a lateral or blind sided hit but the head was still the main point of impact? The NHL's brass is out of touch with what it means to be on the ice - it's a long ways away from the stain glass doors, leather chairs, and hardwood floors of the NHL's front office. If the league doesn't see it as being a priority to protect its largest asset why should the players continue to put themselves in harms way during games, show up for charity events, and participate in the league's latest advertising campaigns? What if tomorrow the Pittsburgh Penguins decided not to show up for work? This is a team whose star player - the player credited with saving the sport of hockey in the United States, the player who has obeyed the league's every command to help buoy the image of hockey - has missed nearly 3 months of action because of an unsuspecting and unpunished head shot. What if the Pens were to walk out on the league? It would make headlines all over the world, the league's newest funded arena would be sitting empty, the schedule would be disrupted, and attention would be drawn to the league's lack of support for its own players. Media outlets would join the cause, sponsors would follow suit, and maybe even other teams would join the fight. This is something that can't be done by only one player or one group of players because they would be seen as "divas" or "whiners" and a few players missing from action could be swept under the rug pretty quickly. It needs to be the effort of a collective team - a team with a resolve of demanding more from their league. If today, an entire organization walks off the job and refuses to play until something is done about dangerous on ice plays, trust me the league will take notice pretty quickly.

The fact that these players make millions of dollars shouldn't hide the fact that they still have the same rights as anyone else. No law says that a larger pay cheque means players should be putting themselves in harm's way. At the end of the day, these players are husbands, fathers, sons, and human beings. Their hockey careers will end in a few decades but they'll still have the rest of their lives to live. They can't do that on a brain depleted by concussions and they shouldn't have to. The NHL's players need to step up and show their employer what a head shot feels like - hand the league the biggest blow they've ever sustained and let's see how long it takes before the issue is finally addressed and lives are saved.

Luongo needs to forget certain antics

Not exactly his best angle is it?

The Vancouver Canucks are 13 games into the 2010-2011 NHL regular season and, the team's 8-3-2 record so far suggests that there has been a lot to like about how the team has come together. They are exciting to watch and their play of late warrants optimism that the team will not suffer another second round debacle in the playoffs this year.

Last night the Canucks played in what was dubbed a great "measuring stick game." They were going up against the Central division leading Detroit Red Wings and, if the standings stay the way they are right now, this could be a very possible (and a very entertaining) battle in the Western Conference Final.  The Canucks who went into the game on a 5 game win streak, rode the momentum of a pair of 3's - the 3rd line and the 3rd period - and were able to hand the Wings a 6-4 loss to help maintain their lead atop the Northwest Division.  There was a lot to like about how the Canucks played. Once they found their legs they were throwing pucks on net, drawing penalties, capitalizing on chances, and showing that they could battle it out with arguably the most dominant NHL team of the decade.

No game is ever perfect though, and while the team may be concerned about their flat start or the fact that they took too many penalties in the first two periods, I was more concerned about the man between the pipes - Roberto Luongo. It was not the fact that he let in 4 goals and that some of them were weak and easily stoppable.  Every goalie is allowed to have an off night and, given the changes to the personnel in front of him as well as the incorporation of a new goalie coach, Luongo has played extremely well to start off  the season. What concerned me most about Luongo's performance yesterday was his constant protesting to the referees after almost every goal he surrendered.  Luongo is a competitive guy and he probably realized the importance of winning a game like the one vs. the Red Wings so it's understandable that he wasn't thrilled with the way he played.  But after at least 3 of the 4 goals against, Luongo was seen vehemently arguing with the referees claiming that the puck had either been kicked in, or tipped in with a high stick, or that he had been interfered with when the puck crossed the goal line.  In each of the 3 cases the referees conferred with the folks at video review and ruled that all 3 goals were legal, fair goals.  The image of an irate Luongo flailing his arms at the refs while the opponents celebrated their goal was oddly reminiscent of the second round of the 2009-2010 playoffs where he did virtually the same thing every time Patrick Kane went top shelf or Dustin Byfuglien parked himself in front of the crease.  With each goal against Luongo lost more and more of his focus and expelled more and more of his energy on arguing with referees.

This is NHL hockey Roberto. It's tough, it's greasy, and it's not always pretty. Players know the NHL rulebook like they do curve of their stick so they know what is and isn't allowed in terms of goalie interference and illegal plays. They will park themselves in a spot they know is legal and will make your life miserable for that 60 minute hockey game, and there's nothing wrong with that.  In fact, it's what wins championships.  Luongo was first introduced to such hockey two post-seasons ago against the Chicago Blackhawks. He was unable to fight through the screens or deal with the deflections and it led to a second round exit.  Exactly one year later, the Canucks and Hawks got reacquainted for another second round playoff date and Luongo, who apparently didn't learn anything from the year before, was yet again unable to deal with the plays in front of him.  It was disappointing for me to see him reacting to goals the way he did yesterday because it made him look immature and it made the Canucks as a whole look like a whiny organization.  Eventually referees will catch on and Luongo's complaints will not be taken seriously.  There will be times where he has a legit point but the referees won't be willing to listen because they'll know of his reputation as a complainer.

This season, Luongo is THE highest paid player in the NHL. Mike Gillis, via trades and the free agency pool, has assembled a defense core and forwards that are the envy of most teams in the league. Luongo is the gold medal winning goalie from the Winter Olympics, he has absolved himself of the burden of being the Canucks' captain, he has a new goalie coach, and a new and very capable back up goalie in Cory Schneider who he can mentor this year.  His play in net should exude confidence. This summer, during a hockey tournament, I learned the importance of swagger - not being cocky but operating with a chip on your shoulder so as to tell others "if you wanna beat my team you're gonna have to go through me first."

I hope that in the future Luongo can play well but get rid of the childlike tantrums he likes to throw.  It reflects badly on the organization and on him.  He has everything he could want in a team, so the swagger with which the slick Italian walks should translate into the same confidence when he steps between the pipes.

No "I" in team: What the Canucks need from each player this season (Part 2)

 As the 2010-11 NHL season inches ever closer it is time to get pumped up and excited about the upcoming season.  Well actually I guess the excitement is highly dependant on who you are.  Calgary Flames fans, for example, are perhaps a little less optimistic about this season than Washington Capitals fans.  It all depends on the personnel on your team.

The Vancouver Canucks continue to build towards their goal of winning the Stanley Cup and they are one of a few teams who are expected to legitimately compete for hockey's holy grail.  In keeping with my last blog which previewed what the Canucks will require from their goaltenders and defencemen if they want to be successful I will now offer my thoughts on the final piece of the puzzle: forwards.

Forwards

Alexandre Bolduc
It's been a tough summer for the 25 year old center from Montreal.  Bolduc bravely took on Minnesota's John Scott in a fight during a game on January 13th of this year.  Scott who is listed at 258 lbs overpowered the 197 lbs of Bolduc and while it may have won Bolduc the respect of his peers it lost him the rest of his NHL hockey season.  He had surgery to repair a separated shoulder and has been hard at work in rehab ever since.  Having 22 games of NHL experience will help Bolduc as he tries to fight for a job as the team's 4th line center - a spot vacated by Ryan Johnson.  If Bolduc does make the opening night roster he will be one of the team's all important role players.  Winning faceoffs will be key for him especially if he's given time on the PK.  The Canucks will need him to play with grit and poise and he will also need to sacrifice his body to block shots.  We can only hope that he spends less time on the injured reserve than predecessor.

Alexandre Burrows
The Canucks are about to find out how valuable Alex Burrows really is to them because they'll have to start the season without him.  Burrows, described as a heart and soul kind of player, struggled through pain in the second half of last season after tearing his labrum in two places.  The Canucks will miss Burrows' offensive contributions but also his physical presence on the Sedin line and his aggressive tactics on the PK.  It is unknown when Burrows will be able to return to the lineup but, knowing him, it'll be sooner than later.  When he does return he can expect to see either first or second line duty and he'll likely reprise his role on the PK.  The Canucks need him to continue to be a multi-talented player and bring his feisty and passionate attitude every night.  He needs to have a strong offensive season in the regular season and also in the playoffs.  I believe Burrows is worthy of an assistant captain's title because his leadership and ability to score clutch goals is a rallying point for his team mates.


Tanner Glass
Like Bolduc, Tanner Glass is likely to be a 4th line role player.  The number of games he plays this season will be determined largely by how many injuries we have to the bottom 6 forwards.  Glass has shown plenty of grit and also the ability to chip in with occasional offence.  The Canucks will need him to step up his physicality this season.  We're not the biggest or strongest team out there so it'll be up to players like Glass to make sure they're ready to beef up their physicality to leave a lasting impression on opponents.


Jannik Hansen
After a summer that saw Jannik Hansen get rewarded with a $825,000 contract in salary arbitration he comes back to the Canucks hopefully ready to build on a fairly solid second season.  So far Hansens's short NHL career has seen him record 36 points in 107 regular season games.  These numbers can be improved upon but it all depends on how much ice time he's given.  Hansen will be one of many players fighting for ice time in the bottom 6, and this is a good thing because competition never hurt anyone.  Hansen has shown some great playmaking skills and as he gets stronger and more confident he will need to continue to make things happen on each of his shifts.  If he's vying for more ice time, he has to impress the coaches and show them that he brings many dimensions to his game.


Cody Hodgson
Not sure there's much more to say about Cody than has already been addressed my the media.  I hope all you Canucks fans haven't been holding your breath for Hodgson to make his NHL debut because it ain't happening.  *Exhale*  A misdiagnosis of a back injury by the Vancouver Canucks has led to our 2008 10th overall pick spending most of last season on the shelf.  Hodgson's back may not be the only thing that has suffered irreparable damage.   When a team makes you play through a painful injury and then expresses public disappointment in how you played it doesn't exactly lead to a peachy relationship.  While Canucks management may continue to insist that there's no rift between themselves and the Hodgson camp, the team will have to tread carefully to make sure that what has become of the situation is handled much more prudently than it was the first time around.  I was hoping to get to see Cody make his NHL debut this season but given the fact that he's still not 100% healthy and may not play any pre-season games it is a likely bet that his first hockey action in the pros will come with the Manitoba Moose.  At this point though, I really don't care about where he plays.  All I want is for his back to heal up.  I don't feel like dealing with Josh Holden all over again.


Darcy Hordichuk
Opponents beware: Darcy Hordichuk is literally fighting for a job in the NHL right now and he will take you down if it means he gets to stay with the big club.  Hordi is another one of those bottom 6 guys who is on the bubble with regards to his spot this coming season.  He was scratched from the team's final three regular season games last season and didn't dress in any of their 12 playoff games.  Hordi's hands were made for fighting so he doesn't have the softest touch for scoring goals.  If he wants to have a semi-consistent role on the 4th line he's going to have to let those fists fly.  He's a pretty one-dimensional player so his physicality and intimidating style of play will be what will determine his role on the team.


Ryan Kesler
A note to Vancouverites: if you need Red Bulls and Vitamin Waters please get them now because once the season starts you'll have to go to Ryan Kesler's house if you want them.  Kesler is the epitome of an all-round player.  He, like Burrows, is a multi-talented and multi-dimensional player who is invaluable to the team at even strength, on the PP, and on the PK.  I'm convinced that his unmatched energy on every shift of every game is the result of a complicated concoction of energy drinks.  Regardless of how he comes up with that type of energy, Kesler is an irreplaceable cog in the Canucks top 6. This season will be a bit different for Kesler than what he's used to.  He is coming into the season with a brand new $5 million salary (plus a $1.5 million signing bonus) and heightened expectations to earn every penny of his new contract.  Kesler is as key to a successful season as Luongo or the Sedins.  As the team's 2nd line center it will be up to him to quarterback his line and bring a level of consistent offence to the lineup in the regular season and the playoffs.  The third time might just be the charm for Kesler who's 0/2 so far in Selke trophy wins.  I expect him to use that as a source of motivation and hopefully this season will put him over the top and finally earn him his Selke.


Manny Malhotra
Ahhh finally a 3rd line center who doesn't go by the nickname of "Wellfed."  Establishing bottom 6 depth was key to the Canucks' chances at winning a Cup and by signing Manny Malhotra, Mike Gillis has put his team in a good position heading into the season.  Being the 7th overall pick in the 1998 draft shows that Malhotra has talent beyond that of just a depth player.  He is known as one of the best faceoff men in the league - something that he will need to continue to build on with the Canucks.  He will be sent out at key moments in hockey games to win us the big draws.  In addition, he will have a chance to build on his point totals by hopefully chipping in with timely offence.  Malhotra will be the quarterback of the 3rd line and this is something we've desperately needed for years.  Just as Henrik Sedin is the pillar of the top line, and Kesler is the pillar of the second line, Malhotra will have to be the same on the third line.  With a 3 year/ $7.5 million contract his role will require consistency and poise.  It is the hope that Malhotra will provide more structure to the bottom 6 - something that will be key in the playoffs where depth often decides how far teams go.  P.S Let's hope he can drag brother-in-law Steve Nash along to a few games!


Victor Oreskovich
 The scouting report is still a little hazy on the player I shall affectionately refer to as "Oreo" but one thing is for sure: Victor Oreskovich has returned to hockey with a newly found appreciation for the game and he's back to prove that he can be affective in the NHL.  Following the 2007-08 pre season when Oreo was sent down to the Colorado Avalanche's AHL affiliate team he decided not to report.  He had had enough of hockey and wanted to walk away from the game.  After a two-year hiatus he returned with a new attitude and a fresh set of ambitions.  Search YouTube for highlights of Oreo and you will find that most clips are of lively scraps and bruising hits.  This is the main reason that I belive Oreo has a good chance to see at least some action with the Canucks this season.  The team has improved in almost every area except for toughness.  For those heated games against Northwest Division rivals, steel knuckles are necessary to contend with the pace of the game.  Oreo has the length of training camp to convince the coaches that he can contribute to the team.  I think it'll be exciting to see how he handles himself and even though he's not the greatest skater, he'll have chances to make a difference with his physicality - a la Hordi and Glass.


Joel Perrault
Yet another centerman competing for a job on the 4th line.  Bolduc and Perrault - the two frenchmen - have similar NHL experience and the two will push each other for the spot.  It's possible that Perrault might end up playing the wing if it is determined that Bolduc would be the better choice at center.  Either way, Perrault has the skill to be a 4th liner who can play solid defensively and eat up a few minutes a game to give the other lines a breather when needed.  His AHL point totals also suggest that he has the ability to chip in with occasional offence.  No team goes too far in the playoffs without responsible bottom 6 role players and Perrault has a chance to step in and fill that role.


Mason Raymond
This will be a big year for Mason Raymond.  After receiving a deserving raise through salary arbitration this summer, Raymond returns with high expectations.  Much like Kesler, Raymond is expected to build on the career highs he set last year on the team's 2nd line.  Arguably the fastest skater on the team, Raymond is a pleasure to watch and he's a challenge for opposing defencemen to deal with because his passing game is as good as his shooting.  It's hard to predict what he's going to do and goalies have to respect both his speed and his soft hands.  This year I think it should be Raymond's goal to learn how to use his team mates more to help create diversions on offensive rushes.  While it's fun to watch him on end to end rushes, he has shown his exceptional 360 degree vision of the ice surface and we could be in for a real treat if he learns to channel his speed and vision and be a little more patient when making plays.  He and Kesler will have to work together to provide consistent support for the Sedin line.  Depth is what wins championships - it is the key.


Rick Rypien
You know it's time for hockey season when Rick Rypien's fists are no longer cut and bruised.  One of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the game, Rypien is the only player since Gino Odjick to bring me to my feet after a fight.  It's hard for me to comprehend how a player with steel fists can also have pretty decent offensive abilities.  Ryp is a treat to watch and he's a big part of the Canucks lineup.  Assuming that Glass, Hordi, Oreo, and Ryp all see action it puts the team in a good position with regards to toughness.  By all accounts, Rypien is not a "big" guy but what he lacks in size he makes up for in heart.  It will be interesting to see if he sticks it out on the 4th line or if he's actually given some time on the 3rd.  I have been saying for years that Ryp should be given a chance to show his offensive upside.  I think he will relish the role and this might be the season he gets to do it.  We need Ryp to continue dropping the mitts because no one does it better than him.  Regardless of which line he ends up on, defensive responsibility and creating offensive chances will be important for him to generate. Rypien can be a momentum changer with his hits and fights so when he's put out there at key times it'll be important that he executes to perfection.


Mikael Samuelsson
One of the more interesting interviewees on the team, Mikael Samuelsson had a great first season with the Canucks last year.  He spent most of it on the team's 2nd line with Kesler and Raymond but they provided such consistent offence that I think we could almost call them the #1B line.  This season will start a little differently for Samuelsson.  He will likely join fellow Swedish countrymen Daniel and Henrik Sedin on the top line until Alex Burrows is able to return after shoulder surgery.  This will be a great opportunity for him to form some chemistry and contribute offensively at even strength and also on the PP where he's likely to see some action.  I hope that the team's second line can maintain chemistry without Samuelsson on it because last season I loved knowing that we had such an effective 1-2 punch.  Offence is Samuelsson's main component so the success of his season will always be determined by his point totals.  He needs to have a great regular season but also needs to use the post season experience he gained with Detroit to support the offence here in Vancouver. He was fantastic in last season's playoffs and he scored some big goals.  That will be a key this season too.


Daniel Sedin
As one-half of possibly one of the best brother combos in NHL history Daniel Sedin has spent much of the last season and the summer in Hart winner Henrik's shadow.  We all know how competitive the Sedin twins are so you just know that Daniel will be itching to get back on the ice to show the world that he can equal any feat accomplished by his brother.  It is amazing to think about what the twins' numbers would have been like last season if Daniel hadn't missed 18 games due to an injury.  I'm willing to bet some records would have been shattered!  Look for Daniel to have a MONSTER year (indulge me, I'm channeling my inner Pierre McGuire) and continue with the consistency that has made him and Henrik among the greatest players in the NHL since the lockout.


Henrik Sedin
How does one follow up a season in which he won the Hart and Art Ross trophies?  Maybe by winning another one??  Henrik cemented his status as one of the best players in the game last season by surprising everyone and winning the league's scoring title.  After a summer that saw the Sedin twins spend a little more time in the spotlight than I'm sure they would have liked it's time for Hank to get back to his natural environment where he's at his best: on the ice.  Last season, not only did the Sedin twins put themselves in a higher class of NHL forwards than they've ever been before, Canucks fans also saw them become true leaders of the team for the first time since they arrived here ten years ago.  We saw Hank and Daniel ask to be given PK time in the playoffs when the team was struggling and we saw Henrik take control of the team on the bench and on the ice when emotions were threatening to take over games.  In my opinion, Henrik will be our next Canucks captain so he'll have some added responsibilities to his role on the team.  Still, the only thing that really matters is that the Sedin twins stay healthy and that they continue to dominate the NHL as one of the most dominant duos in history.


Raffi Torres
Another one of the new arrivals, Raffi Torres has a lot to prove this season.  His reputation has taken a bit of a beating because of some inconsistent seasons and some questionnable off ice behaviour but coming to Vancouver is a fresh slate and it gives Torres a chance to start over.  Torres is key for having bottom 6 depth and he will get a chance to fight for the spot as a winger on either the 3rd or 4th line.  Getting him at a $1 million cap hit is pretty good considering he's a former 5th overall pick and this is a great chance for Torres to prove why he was thought of so highly when he first came into the league.  It would be great to get a 30-40 point season from him and it will also be necessary that he provides good momentum sustaining shifts when he's out there.


Players like Jordan Schroeder, Bill Sweatt, Prab Rai, Sergei Shirokov, Jeff Tambellini, and Aaron Volpatti will challenge to make the team as well and there is a chance that some of them may see some action with the big club.  However, I feel that they are not yet NHL ready and will likely spend most of the season down in Manitoba where they will continue to develop.


Now there's not much else to do but wait: wait to see how the rookie tournament goes, how training camp goes, and how pre season goes.  It's an exciting time to be a Canucks fan because our team in going into the season with very high expectations.  Let's hope that we can be as good on the ice as we are on paper!

No "I" in team: What the Canucks need from each player this season (Part 1)

Orland Kurtenbach and Henrik Sedin

 

 “I think we’re one of four or five teams that are considered to be capable of winning the Stanley Cup.” - Mike Gillis

Kids are back at school, the UBC and SFU busses are overflowing with passengers, people are starting to ask about "pumpkin spice lattes" at Starbucks, and the skies are undecided about whether they want rain or sun.  It must be fall in Vancouver.  And we all know what that means: it's also hockey season!  Hockey is never far from the minds of Canadians, but after a summer full of stories about Tomas Kaberle's dad, Ilya Kovalchuk's contract, and Patrick Kane getting stuck on a fire ladder we can finally rejoice in the fact that rookie camps, main camps, and the NHL pre season are about to get going, which means we are about to have real hockey news in the newspapers.

The Vancouver Canucks come into this NHL season with higher hopes and expectations than most other teams in the league.  General Manager Mike Gillis has made it clear that the future is now for the Canucks and that he expects this core group of players to reel in the franchise's first Stanley Cup in the next few seasons.  He's spent a busy summer signing player who he believes will help get the team to that goal.  On paper and in theory the Canucks look like a winner but, as we all know far too well, winning a Cup is more about what happens on the ice and less so about what analysts, magic 8 balls, and fortune tellers predict. To gear up for the Vancouver Canucks' 40th Anniversary season I will offer my thoughts on what the team needs out of every player who (I believe) will see action with the Canucks this season.  The blog will be split into two parts - Part 1: Goaltenders and Defenceman.  Part 2: Forwards

Goaltenders


Roberto Luongo
When it comes to Bobby Lu, C's are what matter.  Contract? Nope, Gary Bettman stood on the NHLPA's neck until they agreed to new conditions under the CBA but Luongo's contract remains intact and it's something he won't have to worry about for a long time.  Captaincy? Well, sort of but not really.  It'll be interesting to see who is "wearing" the C when the season officially begins on October 9th but, in my opinion, whatever happens is not really critical to Luongo.  He will always be the leader of this team.  Not having the official designation of captain will merely get him a few free passes when he doesn't feel like dealing with the Vancouver media but it won't change his role amongst his peers.  The real C that matters for Luongo is consistency.  Since his first season in Vancouver when he single-handedly led the team to a Northwest Division championship and was nominated for three NHL awards, Luongo has not been able to elevate his game to that level again.  He's shown flashes of that brilliance but, for the most part, he has been only a little above average.  This season he will have one of the strongest defensive cores in the league in front of him, not to mention 3 solid lines of forwards to provide him with scoring support.  However, at the end of the day, Luongo will be making $10 million dollars so we can assume that his job will involve more than moving aside when the ice girls come to shovel snow out of his crease.  He has to learn to control his emotions and become more consistent than he has been in seasons past.  Luongo needs to get back to basics - forget about the media, forget about the hype, and just play hockey.  We will need him to carry this team on his back and that can't happen if he's seesawing between performances.

Cory Schneider
Welcome to the big show kid, it's about time you made it!  The Canucks have been patient with Schneider who was drafted 26th overall in 2004.  Mike Green (29th), Brandon Dubinsky (60th), David Krejci (63rd), and Brandon Yip (239th) are all players who were drafted after Schneider but who have already established themselves as legitimate NHLers.  Now it's his turn to prove that he can back up his success in the AHL with similar results in the NHL.  His last NHL game was a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars but Schneider was fantastic in that game.  Several of his 45 total saves were of the highlight reel variety and it gives him something to build on.  This season will be his first full season in the NHL.  He needs to get comfortable in the role of Luongo's backup but he also has to be ready to step in when called upon and deliver big performances.  The Canucks have already agreed that Luongo's workload will be reduced this season so Schneider will get his chances to show what he can do.

Defencemen
  
Andrew Alberts
All we ask of "A minor" is that he stays out of the penalty box and that he not pass the puck right up the middle.  Alberts' defensive-zone giveaways last season led to Luongo having to make some of his more showstopping saves but as this is not the Harlem Globetrotters we don't need Alberts to set Luongo up for gymnastic-like acrobatics.

Keith Ballard
Goal number 1: Don't whack Luongo across the head when he lets in a goal.  Yes I'm referring to the wicked slash that Ballard accidentally delivered to the head of his goalie Tomas Vokoun last season after Vokoun let in a goal.  Ballard was, of course, angry at himself and not Vokoun but his ill-aimed stick wipe sent Vokoun to the hospital with a bleeding ear.

Goal number 2: Adjust to the fishbowl of Vancouver quickly and help the team defensively and offensively on a consistent basis.  Ballard has the potential to be a shut down D man, put up 25-30 points offensively, and be a physical presence with his 5'11", 208lbs. frame.  With the loss of Willie Mitchell to free agency, Ballard will be key on the PK and his role is essential to make sure that the Canucks address the defensive flaws that led to their playoff struggles last season.

Kevin Bieksa
After hearing his name being thrown around in trade rumours all summer long it is somewhat surprising that "Juice" is still a Canuck.  However, with the long-term injury to Sami Salo, Bieksa has an important role to play on this team.  There is a myth about him which states that, because of some serious injuries, he has struggled defensively in the past few seasons.  The truth is, Kevin Bieksa has never really played solid D.  In his first few seasons in the league he was a minus player but his offensive output masked his defensive flaws.  As his point-totals have dwindled it has drawn attention to his inability to protect the puck and make quick decisions on the ice.  Bieksa will slide down the depth chart a bit this season because the team is so much deeper on the back end.  This means that he needs to find some consistency in playing solid defensive hockey to earn his minutes each night.  Because he's a right shot, his services will be much needed on the PP but that time too should have to be earned by him playing responsible hockey in his own end.

Alex Edler
The guy always looks like he'd rather be asleep than playing a hockey game so we needed DNA evidence to confirm that the guy who steamrolled Drew Doughty in the first round of the playoffs last season really was Alex Edler.  Amazingly, dental scans and figerprinting have confirmed that it was indeed Edler who released his inner beast and left Doughty seeing stars.  The team needs more of that from Edler.  He struggled early last season but found his niche in time to be a force in the playoffs.  At 6'3" and 215lbs Edler has the frame to thrown around and intimidate opponents but his focus should be his defensive game.  He has improved steadilly from season to season and that needs to continue.  Young blood is key on any team and Edler will be patrolling the blueline for many years to come.  As his defensive instincts get stronger this season he can then also chip in offensively with his cannon point shot and exceptional vision of the ice in front of him.

Christian Ehrhoff
Hoff was a pleasant surprise for the Canucks (not so much for the Sharks) last season.  He set career highs in goals, assists, and points and was defensively solid all season long.  He's not the biggest guy out there so his game is mainly positional rather than physical.  There's not much to say about him other than that if he can have a repeat of last season the Canucks will be in good shape.

Dan Hamhuis
Out with Port McNeill's Willie Mitchell.  In with Smithers' Dan Hamhuis.  One of the biggest fish in the free agent pool, Hamhuis actually accepted less money than he was being offered elsewhere to sign with the hometown Canucks.  Hamhuis has over 500 NHL games and numerous international tournaments under his belt so he has the experience to be a top-pairing player.  He, like Ballard, will have to adjust quickly to the fishbowl of Vancouver and start contributing defensively and offensively right away.  His defensive play will be what determines how much PP and PK time he gets but he's capable of being a high-minutes player and that should be his goal this season.

Shane O'Brien
First and foremost, it should be OB's goal to not end up in coach Alain Vigneault's doghouse.  He can do this by staying in shape all season long and making sure that he has a disguise of some sort on when he hits the clubbing scene during hockey season.  OB is not the most disciplined player out there but he is endearing.  He seems to have the love of his team mates (and many Vancouverite females!) so that's something for him to build on.  At times he has shown a lot of defensive poise so he is capable of being a top 6 player.  This season he needs to continue to become more comfortable with his role while also making sure that he works on his temper.  Last season OB earned 117 less penalty minutes than in the season before.  This was a huge accomplishment for him and whatever he did to achieve it, he needs to continue with this year.

Aaron Rome
Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was Aaron Rome.  He's still a work in progress and will be called upon mainly as a 7th or 8th D man.  He will be in and out of the lineup depending on injuries but as long as he can be responsible in his own end and eat up a few minutes of shift time he'll be doing his job for the team.

Sami Salo
We all know that he has "balls of steel" but I wish we could say the same about the rest of his body.  No this is not a recording: Sami Salo is injured.  This time it is a torn achilles tendon that occured while Salo played in an informal ball hockey game in Finland over the summer.  The injury will see him start the season on the long term injury reserve meaning that in 12 seasons of NHL hockey, Salo has yet to play a full 82 game season.  When he gets back it'll take a few games for him to get his skating and coordination back but he is essential to the team's success down the stretch.  Even with the Hamhuis and Ballard signings, Salo is still the nerve center of the PP and PK.  This is likely his final season as a Canuck and maybe even his final season in the NHL.  Hopefully the extra recovery time will mean that when he does return to hockey he will be fresh and durable in the playoffs.

Young defenceman like Kevin Connauton, Chris Tanev, Lee Sweatt, and Evan Oberg will all be pushing to make the Canucks roster.  While I think they will likely end up playing in Manitoba, they may find themselves riding the AHL/NHL shuttle a lot if we do have injuries on the back end.  In the event that they do see NHL action, their jobs will be to get used to the change of pace at the NHL level and find a way to make good defensive decisions.  It'll be exciting to see how they do in their NHL debuts!

That's part 1 of my blog.  Look for part 2 to be out in the coming days.

Thanks for reading and Go Canucks Go!

Leading the "C" of blue: Why Luongo should give up the captaincy and who could replace him

I know, I know - this topic has been beaten to death.  What else do you expect passionate Vancouver Canucks fans to do during the long summer months of no hockey?

When Roberto Luongo was named the captain of the Vancouver Canucks on Septmber 30, 2008 the move immediately raised certain questions.  Was it wise to name a goalie as captain?  Would it add too much extra pressure on Luongo?  Would it distract him from stopping the puck?  Was this the Canucks' way of ensuring that he signed a long term deal with them before his current 4-year deal expired?  Luongo, for one, didn't seem fazed by these doubts.  He embraced the role of captain and knew what the job entailed.  He expressed his excitement and even went as far as getting a "C" painted on his goalie mask when the NHL ruled that goalies can't wear the captain's C on their jerseys. 

"It really doesn't change anything for me," he said. "It's a matter of people knowing I'm captain. At the same time, I'm sure it involves a lot more stuff off the ice."

That, it turns out, was quite an accurate statement by Luongo.  Coming from anonymity in Florida, adapting to the fishbowl of rabid Canucks fans was already an adjustment for him.  Luongo reached saviour-like status in Vancouver during his first season with the team when he led them to a Northwest Division title and was nominated for the Hart, Pearson, and Vezina Trophies.  Naming him captain only put more pressure on him and it thrust the soft-spoken Montreal native even more into the limelight.  His every move was dissected by Vancouver's media and fans.  Everyone was looking for an indication that he was in good form and was going to lead the team to a successful season again. At that time, Luongo was also going into the third year of a 4-year / $27 million contract with the Canucks.  While there were still 2 season left before he became a UFA (unrestricted free agent), Canucks' management was keen to sign him to a long term extension as soon as possible.  #1 goalies are a hot commodity on any open market but even more so now that the NHL's salary cap has made signing star players so competitive between all the teams.  It was in the Canucks' best interest to re-sign him before he reached free agency.  The Canucks finished the 08-09 season as the Northwest Division champions and during the ensuing off season Luongo signed a 12 year / $64 million contract extension.  At the time, it seemed that the Canucks would not need to worry about naming a new captain for at least another decade.  Yet the 09-10 season saw Luongo get increasing frustrated with certain aspects of his role.  He even publicly admitted that he wasn't fond of having to address the media so often.

So now here we are after a long summer.  The Canucks are a re-tooled team and are a favourite to go far in the playoffs.  One question still remains - should Roberto Luongo remain the team's captain and, if not, who should take over the title?  Here are my two cents:

Roberto Luongo is already the face of the franchise.  He doesn't need a C on his sweater (or his helmet) to prove that.  If we are to win a Cup anytime soon it will have to be on his back - he knows it and we know it.  That's already enough pressure on him.  To add to that, it is hard for a goalie to talk about his team mates to the media without sounding like he's throwing them under the bus.  When previous captain Markus Naslund was asked to expain a loss he would respond with something to the effect of "we didn't play well defensively" or "we couldn't score goals."  Luongo generally responds in the same way but there's a big difference when he does it compared to when Naslund did it.  When Naslund did it he himself was a forward so "we" referred to him as well as his team mates.  When Luongo does it "we" doesn't include him - the goalie.  If he says "we didn't score goals" he's obviously not talking about himself because it's not his job to score goals.  So there, inadvertently and by virute of the english language, Lui has thrown his team under the bus while protecting himself.  The Vancouver fans and media are quick to jump on this and pretty soon Luongo's character is being questioned and he's being asked to defend what he said.  Goaltending is a full-time job.  It's mentally exhausting enough to play in a game and no goalie should be held accountable for his actions and the actions of 23 other team mates.  Let Lui worry about stopping the puck and let someone else deal with random questions about refereeing and scoring slumps.

It seems the Canucks are leaning towards this as well.  Over the past week, the internet has been abuzz over potential replacements for Luongo.  While nothing official has happened yet, here are some candidates who are worthy of the C:

Henrik Sedin
The most likely choice, Henrik Sedin is fresh off Art Ross and Hart Trophy wins.  Along with twin bro Daniel, Hank has become a quiet leader on the Canucks and is already an assistant captain.  The Sedins are everything the Canucks look for in a leader.  They are consistent, hardworking, well respected, classy, and they give back to the Vancouver community.  The one aspect of doubt in the minds of Canucks fans may be due to the memories of our last Swedish captain - Markus Naslund.  If fans wanted a leader who stood up in the locker room and yelled at his team to get them ready for a game Naslund was not to their liking.  Naslund was a "lead by example" kind of guy.  He was calm and collected and rarely showed emotion after a loss.  As his own personal numbers began to decline he became more and more invisible on the ice.  Many people asked: "if he's not scoring and he's not taking control of the team off the ice - how is he leading them?"  Naslund remains one of the best players to ever put on a Canucks' sweater - his #19 will be retired by the team later this coming season - but his dominance as a member of the West Coast Express line with Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morisson is overshadowed by his later years - the fading leader.

Hank will be different though.  He is quiet, as it seems all Swedes are (not including Mikael Samuelsson who once told Team Sweden to go f**k themselves), but he is well respected and has the ability to take control of his team.  The twins have shown loyalty to the Canucks for years.  They have embraced the attention and the passion of the fans and they understand how badly we want a Cup.  It seems fitting that if when we win, Hank be handed the Cup first.


Ryan Kesler
For the record, no he doesn't hate Canada and he doesn't hate Canadians.  He's just a VERY passionate guy.  Ryan Kesler is the future of the Canucks and it would not be suprising if the Canucks followed the latest NHL trend of naming younger players as captains by going with 25 year old Kesler over 29 year old Sedin.  Kesler is a multi-talented and irreplaceable player who is an absolute pleasure to watch.  His energy from puck drop to the final buzzer often has me wondering how many Red Bulls this guy drinks before each game.  The problem with Kes is he sometimes rubs people the wrong way.  He's one of the most passionate players in the league and will lay his body in front of rubber bullets to protect his team, but he is ruthless to opponents and has been known to cross the line with some of his on-ice comments.  No one will forget the infamous "Tell Kelly I said hi" incident between David Backes of the St.Louis Blues, when during a playoff game Kesler dragged Backes' wife into a trash talking scrum. 
Tell Kelly I said hi


While certain personal insults are a part of the game, they are sometimes a good way to lose respect from opponents.  Even while Backes and Kesler were members of the 2010 US Olympic hockey team Backes admitted:

"I think it was just 'Tell Kelly I say hi' or something like that at the end of a period. To me, he can tell me I'm stupid or slow or bad hockey player, but bring my wife into it and now we get personal. As I said then, if he wants to pick a fight with my wife, he's better off picking a fight with me," he said.

If Kesler is to be the next Canucks' captain he will have to tone down his brash approach to the game just a little bit.  With younger draft picks set to join the Canucks they need positive role models to guide them through the process and Kesler would need to embrace this aspect of the role very quickly.

Cody Hodgson or Jordan Schroeder
Both Cody and Jordan are expected to see at least some action with the Canucks this season.  Whether or not they spend the whole season here will be determined by how well they play at training camp and in pre-season games.  They have both had tremendous success in their respective junior careers and, as first round draft picks, are both expected to have solid NHL careers.  As they have yet to play a single NHL game, the Canucks could opt to name 3 or 4 assistant captains and no regular captain this season so that next season they could give the title to either Cody or Jordan.  This is less likely than it was with players like Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Jonathan Toews.  While those players have had a great deal of success leading their teams (Sid and Jonathan have already led their respective teams to Stanley Cup titles) Cody and Jordan are not in the same ballpark as them - at least not yet!  I think the pressure would be slightly overwhelming for them and it would impede on their development as skilled NHL players.  Let them establish themselves in the NHL over the next few seasons before thrusting the entire frachise's responsibilities on them.

Honourable mention
Honourable mention goes to longest serving Canuck Sami Salo.  The quiet Finn should be next in line to the throne of Canucks captain but he spends so much time on the injured reserve that the team would likely find themselves having to replace him too often.  His quiet and shy demeanour (burning sensation during urination comment notwithstanding!) is also not ideal for captaining a team with a lot of young players who will soon be making their NHL debuts.

The Canucks could go off the charts and name someone like newly-acquired defenseman Dan Hamhuis who is a BC boy (from Smithers) or even Alex Burrows - the always chatty and enigmatic francophone winger whose desire to win is unmatched by anyone else.  In my opinion, Burrows will be given an "A" while Hamhuis will not be given a leadership role just yet.  He is about to experience the adaptation into a fishbowl market and it'll take time to get used to.  No need to add more pressure onto his shoulders.

At the end of the day, all Canucks fans really want is a Stanley Cup.  To us it doesn't really matter who wears the C - as long as he leads us to a Cup we aren't too picky.  The thing is, winning a Cup has a lot to do with who wears the C so it should matter to us and it does matter to the organization.  They will take a long look at our team's needs and the personnel we have before they make their decision.  One thing is for sure: we are closer than we ever have been to being a legitimate Cup contending team.  Therefore, whomever is given the honour of captain could very well be the first Vancouver Canuck in history to hoist Lord Stanley into the air.

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