Normally, the time leading up to the NHL trade deadline is a very, very quiet one for GM Mike Gillis and the Vancouver Canucks. Not this time.
First off, as I tweeted earlier: Zach Kassian and Andrew Gordon have both been sent down to the AHL Chicago Wolves. Assistant GM Laurence Gilman hinted that it was due to off ice behaviour. Their replacements were Niklas Jensen and Bill Sweatt. Sweatt is a career AHL'er, who sees minimal ice time with the Canucks. Jensen, on the other hand, is a prospect, who played his first NHL game last night against San Jose. Coach Vigneault placed him on a line with the Sedin twins.
Moving on, the Canucks have purchased the Peoria Rivermen, which are the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. Perfect timing, as the Canucks contract with the Wolves expires at the end of this season. Nothing has been said (yet), but it is believed that this is the first step into bringing the Canucks farm team to Abbotsford, BC. Problem is, the Heat (Calgary Flames farm team, currently occupying Abbotsford) are locked in to a 10 year deal with the city of Abbotsford.
Onto trade news: Gillis made official a deal with the Dallas Stars. The Canucks obtained centreman Derek Roy in exchange for Canucks defenseman Kevin Connauton and a 2nd round pick in next years draft. Connauton has been struggling this year, and was a team worst -12 when he was traded. I don't mind trading him for Roy. Roy is a small guy, measuring 5'9 and only 183 pounds, basically the same size as Schroeder. Thing is, Roy has had plenty of experience in the league, and his experience will be critical until Kesler comes back. Roy's best season was a 32 goal / 81 point season in 07-08, and he's managed 50-60 point seasons since. Regardless, I anticipate him fitting well between Higgins and Hansen. As a result of the Canucks acquiring Roy, Schroeder was sent down to the Wolves.
On the topic of centreman, Kesler should be returning soon. A recent press conference revealed that he should be skating within a week or so, but the rest is unknown.
Last little piece of info. Higgins re-signed with the Canucks this afternoon. A 4 year, $10 million dollar contract ($2.5 per year).
Showing posts with label Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stars. Show all posts
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Game in Review: Canucks 4 - Stars 3
With Hansen suspended, and the defenses' terrible play in Chicago, lineup changes were needed. Burrows stayed with the Sedins, while Kassian was moved up to play with Higgins and Kesler. Booth was promoted to the 3rd with Schroeder and Raymond, and Volpatti was brought out from the press box to play with Lappiere and Weise. Edler finally got to move back to the left side where he plays best, as Tanev was promoted to play with him. The tried and true pair of Bieksa and Hamhuis got to play together again, and Garrison was paired with Ballard. Playing with Ballard, Garrison will be forced to play smarter hockey and read the play to cover for Ballard's less than stellar play. Schneider started tonight. an he deserved it after his incredible play against Chicago.
Previously, Vancouver has been known for scoring the first goal and running away with the game. This year, it seems to be all about falling behind early. Early, as in 35 seconds into the 1st period. After holding Vancouver in their own zone from the opening faceoff, Jamie Benn pulled past both Hamhuis and Bieksa to the side of the net, and he sniped it in from an odd angle. From there, the Canucks were on their heels for another 5 minutes, until Reilly Smith (the hero of the last Vancouver-Dallas game) took an interference penalty on Bieksa. After cycling the puck for 30 seconds, a brilliant Sedin passing play led to Burrows hitting the crossbar. Kesler recovered the rebound and shot it up to Edler at the point, whose wrist shot snuck past a screened Nilstorp. The credit for the goal initially went to Edler, but Burrows tipped it slightly and he was later given the goal. Past that, Vancouver evened up the chances and got the majority of the shots. The first ended in a tie, and with the shots 8-7 in favor of Dallas.
Early in the 2nd, Booth had a few chances to net his first, but instead Dallas pulled ahead. After breaking up the play in their own zone, Dallas moved into Vancouver's territory. A failed pass bounced to Michael Ryder, who backhanded it past Schneider from the faceoff circle. Moments later, the Stars had a 2 on 0, but Brenden Dillon couldn't tap the puck over a sprawling Schneider. Seeing potential in Booth, AV played the Schroeder line again. This time, Booth drew a penalty on Aaron Rome, as Rome flipped Booth over and onto the ice. Burrows was called for interference on the powerplay, but Bieksa tied the game up on the 4 on 4. After taking a pass from Hamhuis, Bieksa cut past the sprawling defender and backhanded the puck 5 hole on Nilstorp.
Kassian, after playing terrible in the first, was demoted to the fourth. Soon after, he picked a fight with Roussel. Roussel got a few shots in the start, but Kassian got the sweater over his head and threw enough lefts to force the referee's to intervene. Schneider saved the chance of the game, as Dillon tried to pull left then right, right in front of the net, but Schneider kept his left leg stiff to stop a sure goal. Words don't do it justice, here's the video. With just a few minutes left in the 2nd, Burrows cut past Rome on the right wing and almost shoveled the puck past Nilstorp. That'd do it for period 2, tied at 2.
Garrison gave the Canucks their first lead of the night just 2 and a half minutes into period #3. After having his first shot blocked, Garrison fired a slap shot from the point that might've been deflected by Higgins, but credit was given to Garrison. Hamhuis blocked a shot with his hand immediately after the goal, and had to ice it between shifts. A minute and 46 seconds after Garrisons goal, Henrik Sedin made it 4-2 on a beautiful give and go. Henrik pulled down the right wing and shot a pass cross wing to Burrows, who pulled Nilstorp down and out before passing back to a wide open Henrik. Henrik had a wide open net and even Dale Weise couldn't of missed that one.
What's this? The Canucks have a 2 goal lead? Cue a terrible defensive decision. After freeing the puck up behind his net, Kesler decided to carry the puck in front of his net and bobble it. Morrow was on it and tucked it past a surprised Schneider. 4-3 Canucks, 14 minutes left. Skip to 3 and a half minutes left, Canucks on the PK. Morrow passed it across the net to an open Benn, with Schneider out of position. Sure goal, right? NOPE. Weise and Burrows both dove stick first and knocked the puck out of play. Booth got another chance for his first of the year, as he pulled away on a partial breakaway. He was hooked and drew another penalty, as Dallas saw first hand the speed of David Booth. That powerplay would take the game right to the end, and Vancouver was content to just move the puck around and keep Dallas in their own zone. Game over, Canucks snap their 3 game losing skid.
Tidbits:
- Sedins: At least 1 Sedin in on last 8 of 11 Canucks goals. They've gotten their game back. (Credit to Jeff Patterson for the find)
- Booth: 12:09 ice time, -1, 3 shots, drew 2 penalties. Looked great, had no problem getting to full speed. Could be back at his peak by the end of the road trip. Expect him to be on a line with Kesler within 2 games.
- Kassian: Demoted to 4th line in 2nd, had multiple giveaways but still finds his way back to 2nd line every time.
- Kesler: 17:38 ice time, 2 assists, -1. On the ice for 3 goals against, big part of 2 turnovers that led to goals. Not the Selke winner we knew from 2 years ago.
- Bieksa: 5 goals now. Only 6 last year, career high of 12.
- Tanev: Good part of the PK in recent games, his good play this season has allowed him to be moved up to Edler's line. His stay at home mentality will allow Edler to jump up on the rush.
- Defense: A good shuffle seemed to be what the defense lines needed, as they only allowed a few odd man rushes this game and a half breakaway. Edler looked comfortable on the left side, Garrison looked like he had a tough time adjusting to playing with the NHL equivalent of a child loaded up with candy.
- PK: 5/5, no words necessary.
- PP: 1/5, but no complaints here. Has been great at controlling the puck, no troubles moving into the zone. Give it time and it'll be #1 again, is already #10.
I think we can expect any 2 of Booth, Higgins and Hansen to play with Kesler next game. Speaking of which, next game is tomorrow night against Nashville at 5. Seeing as it's back to back games, Luongo will start tomorrow. See ya then.
Previously, Vancouver has been known for scoring the first goal and running away with the game. This year, it seems to be all about falling behind early. Early, as in 35 seconds into the 1st period. After holding Vancouver in their own zone from the opening faceoff, Jamie Benn pulled past both Hamhuis and Bieksa to the side of the net, and he sniped it in from an odd angle. From there, the Canucks were on their heels for another 5 minutes, until Reilly Smith (the hero of the last Vancouver-Dallas game) took an interference penalty on Bieksa. After cycling the puck for 30 seconds, a brilliant Sedin passing play led to Burrows hitting the crossbar. Kesler recovered the rebound and shot it up to Edler at the point, whose wrist shot snuck past a screened Nilstorp. The credit for the goal initially went to Edler, but Burrows tipped it slightly and he was later given the goal. Past that, Vancouver evened up the chances and got the majority of the shots. The first ended in a tie, and with the shots 8-7 in favor of Dallas.
Early in the 2nd, Booth had a few chances to net his first, but instead Dallas pulled ahead. After breaking up the play in their own zone, Dallas moved into Vancouver's territory. A failed pass bounced to Michael Ryder, who backhanded it past Schneider from the faceoff circle. Moments later, the Stars had a 2 on 0, but Brenden Dillon couldn't tap the puck over a sprawling Schneider. Seeing potential in Booth, AV played the Schroeder line again. This time, Booth drew a penalty on Aaron Rome, as Rome flipped Booth over and onto the ice. Burrows was called for interference on the powerplay, but Bieksa tied the game up on the 4 on 4. After taking a pass from Hamhuis, Bieksa cut past the sprawling defender and backhanded the puck 5 hole on Nilstorp.
Kassian, after playing terrible in the first, was demoted to the fourth. Soon after, he picked a fight with Roussel. Roussel got a few shots in the start, but Kassian got the sweater over his head and threw enough lefts to force the referee's to intervene. Schneider saved the chance of the game, as Dillon tried to pull left then right, right in front of the net, but Schneider kept his left leg stiff to stop a sure goal. Words don't do it justice, here's the video. With just a few minutes left in the 2nd, Burrows cut past Rome on the right wing and almost shoveled the puck past Nilstorp. That'd do it for period 2, tied at 2.
Garrison gave the Canucks their first lead of the night just 2 and a half minutes into period #3. After having his first shot blocked, Garrison fired a slap shot from the point that might've been deflected by Higgins, but credit was given to Garrison. Hamhuis blocked a shot with his hand immediately after the goal, and had to ice it between shifts. A minute and 46 seconds after Garrisons goal, Henrik Sedin made it 4-2 on a beautiful give and go. Henrik pulled down the right wing and shot a pass cross wing to Burrows, who pulled Nilstorp down and out before passing back to a wide open Henrik. Henrik had a wide open net and even Dale Weise couldn't of missed that one.
What's this? The Canucks have a 2 goal lead? Cue a terrible defensive decision. After freeing the puck up behind his net, Kesler decided to carry the puck in front of his net and bobble it. Morrow was on it and tucked it past a surprised Schneider. 4-3 Canucks, 14 minutes left. Skip to 3 and a half minutes left, Canucks on the PK. Morrow passed it across the net to an open Benn, with Schneider out of position. Sure goal, right? NOPE. Weise and Burrows both dove stick first and knocked the puck out of play. Booth got another chance for his first of the year, as he pulled away on a partial breakaway. He was hooked and drew another penalty, as Dallas saw first hand the speed of David Booth. That powerplay would take the game right to the end, and Vancouver was content to just move the puck around and keep Dallas in their own zone. Game over, Canucks snap their 3 game losing skid.
Tidbits:
- Sedins: At least 1 Sedin in on last 8 of 11 Canucks goals. They've gotten their game back. (Credit to Jeff Patterson for the find)
- Booth: 12:09 ice time, -1, 3 shots, drew 2 penalties. Looked great, had no problem getting to full speed. Could be back at his peak by the end of the road trip. Expect him to be on a line with Kesler within 2 games.
- Kassian: Demoted to 4th line in 2nd, had multiple giveaways but still finds his way back to 2nd line every time.
- Kesler: 17:38 ice time, 2 assists, -1. On the ice for 3 goals against, big part of 2 turnovers that led to goals. Not the Selke winner we knew from 2 years ago.
- Bieksa: 5 goals now. Only 6 last year, career high of 12.
- Tanev: Good part of the PK in recent games, his good play this season has allowed him to be moved up to Edler's line. His stay at home mentality will allow Edler to jump up on the rush.
- Defense: A good shuffle seemed to be what the defense lines needed, as they only allowed a few odd man rushes this game and a half breakaway. Edler looked comfortable on the left side, Garrison looked like he had a tough time adjusting to playing with the NHL equivalent of a child loaded up with candy.
- PK: 5/5, no words necessary.
- PP: 1/5, but no complaints here. Has been great at controlling the puck, no troubles moving into the zone. Give it time and it'll be #1 again, is already #10.
I think we can expect any 2 of Booth, Higgins and Hansen to play with Kesler next game. Speaking of which, next game is tomorrow night against Nashville at 5. Seeing as it's back to back games, Luongo will start tomorrow. See ya then.
Friday, 15 February 2013
Game in Review: Stars 4 - Canucks 3
After about 6 months of rehab, Kesler made his 2013 season debut tonight against the Stars, and he didn't disappoint In the first period, he had over 5 minutes of ice time, 3 shots, went 2/4 in the faceoff circle and saw some time on both the Penalty Kill and Powerplay units. Although, he did wiff on a slap shot attempt from the point early on. Anyways, the 1st period was a cycle of rushes and decent in zone chances, filled with a good chunk of hits. It was constant until Reilly Smith got the go ahead goal off of a good wrist shot, and that would do it period number 1.
About 3 minutes into the 2nd, the Canucks managed to tie it up. After a beautiful give and go, Henrik hit Daniel with a short pass, and Daniel banked it off of Bachman and in. With that assist, Henrik tied Markus Naslund for the all time points record. 53 seconds later, Higgins gave Vancouver their first lead of the game. Weise fed Higgins at the point, who skated for a few seconds to get a clear shot before snapping it at the net. Poor Bachman was screened by Robidas, his own defender, and had it bounce off Robidas stick before deflecting 5 and a half minutes later, Henrik broke the record. Off of the rush, Henrik fed a perfect pass through the legs of the defender, right to Burrows who snapped it in. Daniel retrieved the puck for him, and he received a standing ovation that lasting for almost 2 minutes and well into the commercial break.
Somewhere near the middle of the second, the Canucks and Stars took a few brutal runs at each other, and the tensions climbed. In the last 5 minutes of the 2nd, the game exploded. Volpatti and Ryan Garbutt dropped the gloves right off of the faceoff, and Volpatti knocked him down with a punch to the face. On the next draw, 1 second later in hockey time, Lappiere and Fiddler threw down off the face off, and danced for a while before wrestling it out. Again, off the next face off, Weise and Nystrom ripped into each other with a flurry of punches, which Nystrom won. 3 fights in 3 box score seconds. With just over 2 minutes left, Daley fired a shot from 10 feet inside the blueline, Schneider couldn't control the rebound, and Eakin pushed it past him to make it 3-2, end of the 2nd.
The intensity died down only a little in the 3rd, there were no fights early on but everyone asides from the Sedins were throwing hits like they were going out of style. Bieksa made a terrible choice to pinch to get the puck in the offensive zone, and it led to a 3 on 1 that Schneider managed to handle. Schneider made another couple of brilliant saves on the PK a few minutes later, and the third rolled on. Around 8 minutes in, the Stars crashed the crease on the rush, and Roussel pushed the puck through Schneider's pads to tie it at 3. After that, the game slowed down until the 3 minute mark. On a delayed penalty, Jamie Benn shot the puck cross ice to Brenden Dillon who buried it. 4-3 Stars, 3:01 left to play. After a few seconds, it wound down to a face off in the Dallas zone, after an icing call, goalie pulled, 11 seconds left. Henrik won the face off, but Hamhuis' shot was stopped and the puck was tied up in the corner until the buzzer rang. Kesler slashed a Benn after the horn, and a little face washing took place, but nothing serious. Game over, 4-3 Dallas.
Tidbits:
- Aaron Rome returns to Vancouver for the first time since being dropped at free agency
- Canucks drop a 2 goal lead again.
- Daniel Sedin is 4th in all time Canucks points at 728, only 29 from becoming 2nd all time, with no active player within 300 points of him. Needless to say, both twins will stay at the top of that list for a while.
- Kesler: 17:27 ice time, 4 hits, 4 shots, 1 assist but -1 in the +/- department. 75% in the faceoff circle. Not a bad start to a season, but could've been a heck of a lot better
- PK: 4/4. Played solid, improved off of their flaws from last game.
- PP: 0/3 Looked a lot slicker with Kesler back on the first unit, able to hold the puck in a little better but still a few problems gaining the zone.
Expect games like this for the next little while. Thankfully, they shouldn't be as bad because the Sedins seem to have found their groove, but it'll take some time for both Kesler and Booth to get their groove back.
Next game is Sunday against St. Louis at 6.
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