Vancouver Canucks



Division: Northwest

Captain: TBA

Head Coach: Alain Vigneault

2007-08 Record: 39-33-10 = 88 points

TSN Preview

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=251272&lid...os=topStory_nhl

Vancouver named their goalie as Captain?!? Not to take away from Luongo but, um, that seems stretching it a bit. Is there no skaters worthy of the C over there? To be honest, I don't follow the 'nucks too much.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=251490&lid...os=topStory_nhl

There was a decision between Willie Mitchell, Matthias Ohlund, and Roberto Luongo. Mitchell being a former captain in Minnesota knows how to be a captain. Ohlund being the longest serving Canuck currently in Vancouver. And there's Luongo. Luongo said that if he cut his hair and made the front page, then obviously whatever he does would make the front page and that's why they chose him.


Yes, I'm a huge fan of the Vancouver Canucks AND the Montreal Canadiens. Mostly because I live in Vancouver so yeah

Vancouver is having an awesome pre-season this year. I'm hoping they can carry that in to the season, I think this year will be a bounce back year for the Canucks.

Yes, I'm a fan of the Canucks too, but Canadiens first always.

I am still picking the Canucks to miss the post-season. I know their preseason has been great, but it's just that... PRESEASON. Gillis as manager has been nothing short of disappointing, and the offense is probably still going to be aenemic. Good luck, Vancouver. You are going to need it.

We have the momentum. It's just that we need to carry that into our game tomorrow night. If we can do that, we will make the post-season in no time.

Vancouver looking to make a statement early? Now all they have to do is prove 6 goals right off the bat isn't a fluke and not sink into a string of 1 and 2 goal games.

Click link to view article.

Tough loss for the already struggling Canucks. He's their second line center and it'll be tough to replace a player like him.

Luongo injured vs. Penguins

"Luongo apparently suffered the injury after kicking out his left leg to make his first and only save of the game against the Penguins. Luongo immediately sprawled to the ice. He was helped off the ice by two teammates and the team trainer to undergo further evaluation."

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=393838

Sounds like their Captain and MVP will be out for a while with a groin injury.

Luongo's status is week-to-week

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=394211

Sorry but I have to correct you on the "Struggling Canucks" part.

There actually one of the hottest team in the league right now....8-0-2 out of there last ten games,and 2 loss in there last 15 games.And the last three wins Sanford was in net,plus they beat the Wings last night with Sandman making key saves to give them the win in OT.

Edit: Sorry I just noticed your post was from Oct 23,When they were struggling.

Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo's status remains in question

There still is no word on when Vancouver Canuck goaltender Roberto Luongo may return to NHL action.

Luongo, out since Nov. 22 with a groin injury, had been practising with the Canucks and there was speculation he could play in Saturday's game against the Oilers in Edmonton.

Luongo left practice after about 20 minutes Wednesday and did not speak to the media after.

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=397473

Luongo's still listed as week to week, speculation is that he's out for another 3-6 weeks (I think the media said 3-4, Burrows let slip the numbers 4-6). Currently he's not being allowed on the ice.

Schneider's been OK since coming up from the AHL, just needs some more confidence. AV has been switching between him and Sanford but I think he needs to pick a goalie and run with it.

At least the Canucks got off to a pretty good start to the season; they should still be in a good position for the post-season if they can stay at 0.500 until Luongo returns.

Trevor Linden's jersey goes up into the rafters tonight!


*Artwork by BC resident Ken Henderson; he posts his weekly images on the Canucks' board.

Well deserved! I was always a fan of Trevor Linden, a former Hab. I was sad to see him retire without a Stanley Cup ring. I'll be watching the ceremony tonight. GO CANUCKS!

Well you probably got to watch the ceremony before I did.

I watched the recording last night because I was so late getting home on Wednesday. I think even Montreal's "drunk" snow plow driver would be better that most of Victoria's crew. I had a heck of a time getting home from work Wednesday night when the entire bus system shut down after a few inches of snow.

Anyway, back on on topic, the jersey retirement ceremony was great. I had thought initially that an hour was going to be way too long but it seemed to move along at a pretty good pace.

Now I'm quite excited about the addition of Sundin. HUGE addition without giving up anything.

And he doesn't seem like the kind of player who's going to head into the locker room with a huge ego, which is really important with the current team. Several players (most notably Sanford) have said this team is the best locker-room situation they've ever been in, that the team has bonded incredibly well. And it shows on the ice (and off, when all you can hear in some of the post-game interviews is the celebration from the locker room ).

Vancouver Canucks lose defenceman Sami Salo for four weeks due to rib injury

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20081219/ca..._canucks_salo_2

^ Nothing new there. Salo's always out for something these days. He's literally snake-bitten - he was once bitten by a snake while out golfing.

Davison's been playing really solidly recently so it doesn't hurt too much defensively, but where the Canucks really miss Salo is on the PP. Second hardest shot on the team (Edler had the hardest shot at last year's skills comp), but his shot is a lot more accurate than Edler's.


Mike Brown was already wearing #15 in last night's game, handing over his #13 to Sundin.

Taylor Pyatt is out indefinitely after he broke his foot blocking a Willie Mitchell shot last night. He's sort of been the odd man out this year though, and one I don't think many people (aside from the puckbunnies) will miss much. Complainers will need to find a new scapegoat though.

source: TSN

It appears Sundin will play Wednesday, Jan 7 in Edmonton.

He has traveled with the team to Edmonton (didn't go on the previous roadtrip), Jannik Hansen was sent down to the minors to clear roster space, and the team 1040 (Vancouver sports radio) is reporting Sundin will dress for the game.


Jannik Hansen being sent down was a bit of a surprise given that he made the team out of camp. Most expected Bolduc or Jaffray (recent call-ups) to be sent to the Moose as they also don't have to clear waivers. Mike Brown wouldn't be waived because, for some reason, the club wants to keep him around and figures he'd get picked up.

Hansen sent to Moose

http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story...ks0116/GIStory/

Vancouver has now lost six straight games on home ice, which hasn't happened since 1970-71, the team's inaugural NHL season.

I guess that was nervous laughter Vigneault exhibited the other day when he was asked if Luongo would be playing a lot of goal now that he is back.

The team is in 9th place (out of play-offs) currently on points %: http://www.nhl.com/ice/teamstats.htm?fetch...iewName=summary

It looks like the best signings BG makes are the one's he doesn't make

Sundin would have been a good addition at the start of the year but now he's just a disruption to the chemistry of a team

It looks good on him, going from a TEAM that missed the PO's in the East to one that might miss the PO's in the WEST .........all for $ 5 million

Vancouver currently in 7th spot with 49 pts
The teams below them have 2 to 3 games in hand

Actually 49 pts has them tied for 5th in the Western Conference. With just under 40 games left to play it is too early to tell the final outcome. I think Sundin will settle in and now that Luongo is back things will start turning around.

Every time the Canucks lose, I cheer now. Only because it's so satisfying to see any team with Sundin on it lose.

I have Luongo in my pool, so I don't get that benefit, nor do I really care about Sundin as I have no hate towards him.

I got to witness the Canucks losing last night at GM place (my Dad got free centre ice tickets) ahh it was good seeing Sundin take a penalty that made Phoenix get a goal

Well, you're outta luck, then.

Agreed. And the thing is, had he just signed with Vancouver in July I would have nothing against him. Sure, I'd be a little upset he picked them over us, but our offer didn't even come close to theirs and let's face it: if you're making $7 and hour and get a job offer for $10 an hour or you're making $35 an hour and get a job offer for $50 an hour: are you not going to take it? And even if it wasn't the money issue, he owes nothing to us: he can play where he wants.

However, the constant drama and indecision and all that just really bugged me, and now I hope he doesn't make the playoffs and retires without ever coming close to a cup.

With the loss last night (in SO) to Columbus, the Canucks have now been passed by the Blue Jackets on points %. Vancouver stands 10th in that position stat, out of the play-offs.

I suppose they'll be hoping Luongo finds his game before too long, otherwise maybe Sundin is up for trade at the deadline.

Q: does he have a NTC in his contract?

Oh, sorry. Scratch that. I just remembered Sundin is fervently against being a rental player.

Where teams have not all played the same number of games, points % (used to be win %) is the relevant relative positional stat. That's why baseball uses it. Takes out conjecturing on what might happen on "games in hand", etc. If the NHL regular season had to end suddenly with no more games played, and the play-offs set to start immediately, the NHL would have no alternative but to use points %; it would be the fairest (only?) assessment of success of teams' play to that point in the season.

I do not find this Luongo sucking funny whatsoever, cmon Louy, wheres that Vezina candidate?

Hitchcock says give him 30 days / 8 games:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Canucks+d...5634/story.html


(yeesh, and they gotta play the Sharks tomorrow in the "sorry, you lose!!" Shark Tank. )

Its a shame fantasy sports do not wait 30 days

It doesn't look like Sundin made a lot of friends on that team, they're 1-4-1 with him in the lineup and you can assume that it's going to be 1-5-1 after tonight lol.

That would be the funniest thing if they didn't make the playoffs, i pray for that to happen, even though i like Luongo, screw the rest of that team

Yes, it would be a monumental disaster (And a funny one at that) for Vancouver to miss the post-season. I think we're well ahead of ourselves discussing that currently, but... Boy oh boy, would that be something? The thing people never realized was that Mats Sundin wasn't going to take a team on his back this early into his comeback and carry them to the promised land. In Montreal he would have been sheltered by our depth. Depth I believed Vancouver had too, but apparently they are slumping like crazy right now. We shall see how everytin goes for the. I suppose it's possible that Luongo is still injured?

Yeah, I'd have had no animosity if he'd just taken the money (Vancouver) in July, but all the hand-wringing, drama, missed 'soft' deadlines, and politician speak just soured me on him permanently. The NHL really has to do something and institute some sort of hard deadline for UFA players to sign or else forfeit the current season.

The problem is you need to do it in a way that doesn't exclude guys who couldn't get a deal during the summer (there's usually 2 or 3 signed during the year). The method I think may work is that after a certain date no player may sign for more than 1 million per season.

However, I doubt the NHLPA will agree to this.

Yeah, I like that idea but also doubt the PA would be on board.

Canucks winless in seven straight with Sundin

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=406743

I wonder how Matts is feeling these days.

I'll tell you how he's feeling, he's laughing all the way to the bank. When he signed with Vancouver, it was all about the money. If he was serious at wanting to win a cup he would have signed with a number of other teams for the league minimum. That's what true passionate hockey players do when they want to win a cup at the end of their career.

I hope Sundin and his team lose 25 in a row because I've lost all respect for players like him that are only about money. Before anyone comments on this, just remember that he had a choice of going to a number of true legitimate cup contenders and he clearly chose the money. Vancouver was never a contender for the cup and as we all know, one star player won't make the difference. How many Stanley cups has Washington or Pittsburgh won and they clearly have best single players in the game.

Give it to 'em Greek!

I, too, am quite content with Vancouver's recent slide.

And a G&M Article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/GlobeSports

I do start to wonder whether Alain Vigneault's days are numbered. But he has a couple of years to run on this contract renewal, doesn't he?

NMC, I think. Not that Vancouver could get anything for him at this point...


Not sure how long AV has on his contract, but there are a LOT of people who want him gone - apparently just about everyone in BC except Gillis and the Aquilini's (Canucks' owners).


He returned against San Jose when he almost shut them out...almost. Lu's back, the rest of the team needs to show up now.

It's like the team believed all the 13 year-olds on the message boards who said Sundin would be the team's savior (instead of just a complimentary player) and decided they didn't need to try anymore. The players just don't have their heads in the game. It's pretty bad when you can list Taylor Pyatt as one of the best players on the ice (aside from Luongo) on any given night.

The team needs to start playing for each other again, and stop relying on Sundin. Hopefully he settles into being a good addition, but he won't as long as the team expects him to 'save' them every night. The team needs to focus on playing as a team again and let Sundin worry about adjusting to their game instead of everyone trying to adjust to his game.

i dont want that to happen....i have roberto in my hockey pool lol

Nothing to shut down the critics in Vancouver at all tonight: 8th straight loss and, boy, things look ugly over there.

LMAO......


That big Swedish pussy was a huge mistake. 5 mil for a guy who for the first half of the season was playing online poker. Matt likes to start his golfing early and with 9 st8 home loses looks like they will be hitting the links early.

They're now sitting in 11th place. I find it hilarious that Sundin has been nothing but a distraction for them since he only has 3 points in 9 games and is a -6. Congrats on overpaying a guy that's only in it for the money and doesn't care about hockey.