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!
