Vancouver Canucks

The Countdown Begins

GOALTENDERS
1 (4) Martin Brodeur, NJ (3-0, 0.97 GAA, .963 SV% - need we say more?)
2 (3) Marc-Andre Fleury, Pit (surging Pens now 3-0 after brief hiccup)
3 (2) Roberto Luongo, Van (2-1, .917 SV% only loss came vs. SJ)
4 (-) Steve Mason, Cbs (solid numbers across the board, 2.28/.928)
5 (1) Carey Price, Mtl (1-1, 2.92 GAA, coming back down to earth)
6 (-) Ray Emery, Phi (0-1, 4.24 GAA, .840 SV%)
7 (4) Marty Turco, Dal (0-2, 4.11 GAA, .876 SV%)

DEFENSEMEN
1 (1) Duncan Keith, Chi (just piling them on - 4 assists, +3)
2 (2) Stephane Robidas, Dal (10 points in last 10)
3 (5) Scott Niedermayer, Ana (6 points in last 7)
4 (3) Mike Green, Wsh (just 1 assist, but good defense means +4)
5 (13) Shea Weber, Nsh (rocket of a shot but poor Nashville depth hurts)
6 (15) Dan Hamhuis, Nsh (2 points, +3, 4 PIM, and hit of the week)
7 (7) Brent Seabrook, Chi (slow but steady - 1 goal, 1 assist)
8 (9) Dan Boyle, SJ (-4 is ugly, but still indispensable on PP with 2 PPG)
9 (6) Jay Bouwmeester, Cgy (Key to Flames’ streak)
10 (14) Dion Phaneuf, Cgy (hard to knock on him but at this point a longshot)
11 (8) Chris Pronger, Phi (Flyers losing their flight)
12 (-) Robyn Regehr, Cgy (solid defensively, even chipping offensively on PK)
13 (-) Marc Staal, NYR (one of few Rangers playing well)
14 (12) Adrian Aucoin, Phx (returns by lighting the lamp)
15 (-) Francois Beauchemin, Tor (Leafs playing better but still not winning)
16 (10) Drew Doughty, LA (losing consistency, which makes Canada’s choice easier)
17 (-) Kyle Quincey, Col (Avs floundering, but still finding ways to score on PP)
18 (11) Cam Barker, Chi (junior standout still unable to fully adjust to prime time)
19 (4) Brian Campbell, Chi (goose eggs, Hawks winning, he’s not a factor)
20 (-) Ed Jovanovski, Phx (injury woes continue)
21 (-) Michael Del Zotto, NYR (after hot start, Rangers stinking and Del Zotto is -7)

FORWARDS
1 (19) Sidney Crosby, Pit (breaks all rules with 5 points)
2 (5) Jarome Iginla, Cgy (20 points in 14 November games)
3 (9) Steve Stamkos, TB (gets knocked into own bench but right back up)
4 (12) Patrick Marleau, SJ (3 goals, chemistry, chemistry, chemistry)
5 (1) Joe Thornton, SJ (5 assists - if he gets cut it would be a mistake)
6 (21) Rick Nash, Cbs (young Jackets either surging or self-destructing)
7 (-) Brenden Morrow, Dal (4 goal week means tied with team lead with 11)
8 (18) Dustin Penner, Edm (losing Hemsky hurts, but not showing it with 4 points)
9 (13) Mike Richards, Phi (2 goals and shut-down centre for Canada)
10 (14) Corey Perry, Ana (Ducks record 18-game point streak)
11 (-) Rich Peverley, Atl (2 goals, both GWG)
12 (22) Derek Roy, Buf (good offensive player, but no room for him)
13 (8) Jonathan Toews, Chi (PK, PP, EV he does it all - versatility will be key)
14 (6) Dany Heatley, SJ (it happens - rare zero-goal week)
15 (17) Travis Zajac, NJ (2 more assists for 3-0 Devils)
16 (-) Brad Richards, Dal (a PP specialist? 3 of 4 assists came from PP)
17 (-) Jordan Staal, Pit (8 points in last 9, seeing PP #1 time)
18 (-) Eric Staal, Car (welcome back with 4 assists, but ‘Canes still mediocre)
19 (3) Martin St. Louis, TB (10 points over two weeks)
20 (-) Jason Spezza, Ott (so talented, yet only 2 goals and little help)
21 (10) Mike Cammalleri, Mtl (nothing extra in the tank to show Yzerman?)
22 (24) Jeff Carter, Phi (9 goals in first two months not nearly enough)
23 (16) Mike Ribeiro, Dal (not exactly what Yzerman’s looking for)
24 (15) Ryan Getzlaf, Ana (Perry, not Getzlaf, carrying team)
25 (20) Shane Doan, Phx (doing something with little help)
26 (-) Vincent Lecavalier, TB (7 points in six, then goes 0 in last 2)
27 (-) Andy McDonald, StL (Blues scoring woes and McDonald’s production related)
28 (2) Mike Fisher, Ott (spot and role already taken by M. Richards)
29 (-) Dan Cleary, Det (nevermind point totals, not even effective on forecheck)
30 (-) James Neal, Dal (suspension hangover? 0 points, -4)

Dropped out: Cam Ward (laceration), Brent Burns (concussion) Milan Lucic (ankle), Simon Gagne (hernia), Ryan Smyth (upper body)

I Miss Ohlund

Nevermind Mattias Ohlund’s lackluster start to the season in Tampa. I think it was to be expected, anyway, considering his age and his footspeed which has become considerably slower, but Tampa signed him to mentor Victor Hedman, and if for any reason the Canucks wanted to keep him, it’d be in that same role, except to Alex Edler.

I think it was quite apparent last night that Edler’s concentration on offense has really meant a regression in his defensive game. He no longer has the reliable Ohlund to cover for him when he jumps on the rush and Manny Malhotra’s goal was a result of him not being able to come back into the play. He made a nice outlet slap around the boards to Bernier which resulted in Wellwood’s goal, but I think for the most part he wasn’t particularly good at either ends of the ice. After a promising year last year Edler’s -4 is the worst among regulars. The points are coming in but the Canucks need to stop the pucks from going in.

And once again, I have to voice my displeasure at Vigneault’s decision to dress Hordichuk over Rypien. Frazer McLaren’s goal was a result of three things: 1) Mathieu Schneider should’ve made a better effort to really ring that puck around the boards, 2) Ryan Johnson was out of position behind the net but that’s forgivable because Ehrhoff was nowhere to be found (on-ice for 2 SJ EV goals) but failed to help Schneider in any way, shape, or form, but most importantly 3) Hordichuk was too high along the boards and really made little effort to break up Joe Pavelski’s play. Hordichuk played just a little less than six minutes with an interference penalty. In a game where SJ did not have Jody Shelley or even bother to dress an enforcer there’s little need for Hordichuk. The Canucks would’ve been better off dressing Rick Rypien, who has much better speed and his forechecking abilities may come in handy considering SJ’s somewhat thin defensive corps. I’m a strong proponent of having a team that has real skating ability on all four lines. Players like Hordichuk, McGrattan, and even heavyweights like Laraque and Brashear really have little use. If a team wants to dress that extra tough guy, he better be in the mold of a Ryan Callahan, Dan Carcillo, or David Clarkson.

Also, I said in the off-season that Tanner Glass might be worth looking into. I think he deserves to become a regular in the lineup. The goals won’t come in with the regularity that has been common of late, but he can skate, hit, and grind. He’s a true blue-collar player that fits in perfectly with Johnson and Rypien. It’s a little undersized for a fourth line but it does the trick. Size means nothing if they can’t keep up. Mason Raymond never believed that and guys like Boris Valabik with his 6′7″ frame he gets beat wide on a regular basis.

Moving on Up

So Dan Sedin’s much-awaited return didn’t exactly pan out. By all means the Canucks played the better game against the Hawks and should’ve won the game, but instead the Hawks are winners of eight straight and the Canucks continue to be mired in a two-games over .500 or one-game over .500 stretch. The team is moving neither up nor down, but there’s still some hope left.

First, there’s the return of Dan Sedin, who will no doubt replace Henrik as the team’s top goal scorer by the season’s end. Hank’s got 13 already, but he’s never topped more than 22 goals a season and at his current pace he would finish with more goals than assists, a first in his career. While I remain unconvinced that Dan is the better shooter (I think it really came down to tendency, and also because one of them had to shoot once in awhile), Henrik does have the potential to hit 30 - he need only score 17 in the next 59 games. If both the Sedins score 30, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility, it gives the Canucks two 30-goal scorers for the first time since 2006, when Anson Carter and Markus Naslund did it.

Second, when you consider the Canucks’ strength of schedule, they’re a much better team than the standings suggest. The bad news is that the Canucks are 2-0 in shootouts this year, an unbeaten record that is unlikely to last and in the West every point counts. Vancouver’s eight losses on the road is only exceeded by the Wild and Carolina, but the combined record of Vancouver’s road opponents at home is 67-42-12, a winning percentage of .595 that places them in the top half of the league. However, that’s not make excuses here - the two worst home teams the Canucks have faced on the road, the Blues and Ducks, both in the bottom half of GF, have exploded for 6 and 7 goals respectively, against us. The Canucks, however, have a +7 goal differential, which is the highest number among the teams looking in from the outside. The Canucks have never been dominant on the road, but the last time they finished with a sub-.500 record on the road was 2006 when they missed the playoffs. It’s not an encouraging sign, but again if you consider the home record of road opponents and the recent success the Canucks have had against the East, odds are by the time the Canucks finish their east coast road trip in early December and February that road record will be closer to .500, if not, exceed it.

Third, if the playoffs started today, there would only be two teams in contention: San Jose and Chicago. Calgary ,and maybe Dallas, would be the dark horse, but certainly not the favourite. The other four teams may end up outside of the playoff picture by the end of the season, especially if you take away the Preds’ recent 8-2-0 surge, the Avs and Kings’ recent .500 record, and the fact that the Jackets have the second worst goal differential in the West (-12) and they’re slowing down already (lost two straight). The Wings are going to be in the final eight, it’s almost a guarantee, while I would never count out any team coached by Randy Carlyle. While the division title may be a bit of a reach, playoffs are certainly attainable and thus far we have yet to see what a complete, healthy lineup can do. We’ve gone stretches without Luongo, Sedin, and various other key players so exactly how good this group is still unknown.

My thinking is that the Canucks don’t need to panic and that once Alain Vigneault can ice a healthy, consistent lineup, about 5-10 games in we will really see how good this team is and my optimism bars me from ever thinking that this team will fall further.

EDIT: For those of you who plan on watching the game - word on the street is that the Kings have signed their 2009 first round pick Brayden Schenn to a one-game contract and is most likely making his NHL debut tonight. The fifth overall pick of the draft and kid brother of Luke Schenn, Brayden’s leading the Brandon Wheat Kings in scoring with 12 goals and 39 points in 24 games, ahead of ‘08 Columbus pick Matt Calvert and eighth overall Dallas pick Scott Glennie.

On Depth and Team Building

I’m not much for rumour mongering because 90% of it is junk. However, I do like to know which names are being tossed around and I’m really shocked by some of the ones being tossed around. Nikolai Kulemin. Peter Mueller. Bobby Ryan. Average age? 22.

What the hell? The key to successful teams is depth not necessarily in the roster but in the pipeline instead. Detroit, despite picking outside the top 20 in the first round in most years, remains competitive because they’ve always been able to feed a stream of solid players from their pipeline to the AHL to the NHL. Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm are no Datsyuk or Zetterberg, but they’re solid NHL players that can make significant contributions.

Kulemin, Mueller, and Ryan are in the same boat, but Ryan (and maybe Mueller) seems destined for stardom. That their teams are giving up on them, be it for cap reasons or otherwise, is ridiculous. Brian Burke wants to make changes to his team and instead of getting younger he’s dealing Kulemin (23) and Grabovski (25). Neither player tantalizes scouts with their abilities but they’re both young. That’s key. That’s something you can’t buy. The Coyotes are considering on giving up on Mueller because he doesn’t fit in Dave Tippett’s system. It’s been twenty games. Give the guy a season to get used to a new coach, a new system, and the regular bumps in between for a young player. Ryan doesn’t seem to fit in the Ducks’ future cap structure but there’s no guarantee that he won’t surpass Getzlaf or Perry in ability. He’s certainly done more at his age than either of his linemates with a better point per game average.

The Avs certainly get it. Their youth movement in all likelihood means that neither Ruslan Salei and the extremely underrated Brett Clark will be returning next season. You could make the argument that the Avs are going to be worse for it and it has merit, but if neither player fits into the Avs’ long-term plans, why bother retaining them unless they’re willing to work out 1-year contracts? Players get better with more playing time and the Avs are making sure of that. David Jones, who has never scored more than 18 goals since his college days at Dartmouth, has 10 in 20 games this year. Kyle Quincey is getting 25+ minutes and Jones is getting 17 compared to 12 last year.

Despite Mason Raymond and Steve Bernier’s struggles, I’m glad the Canucks never gave up on them. Neither have been in rumour mill. Both players are becoming solid NHLers, especially Raymond. He’s smarter with the puck, he’s smarter without the puck, and he’s producing. You can’t ask any more from an undersized kid who played great hockey at a so-so program at Minnesota-Duluth. The best part? He’s probably another 3-4 years away from his peak and his ceiling can be high - 25 goals a season isn’t out of the question. Same goes for Bernier (same age as Raymond), who has been given up on by San Jose and Buffalo who lack depth and size, respectively. That the Canucks aren’t willing to give up too quickly (perhaps other than Patrick White, but I’ve got a feeling the Nonis pick was never in Gillis’ good books) on anybody and it’s going to prove fruitful.

Team Canada Watch

GOALTENDERS
1 (-) Carey Price, Mtl (virtually unbeatable this week - 2-0, 1.90 GAA)
2 (3) Roberto Luongo, Van (has allowed just 7 goals in past 4 games)
3 (5) Marc-Andre Fleury, Pit (the only one with a 2-win week but GAA, SV% not good)
4 (1) Martin Brodeur, NJ (after failing to tie record, goes 0-2)
5 (4) Marty Turco, Dal (1-1, .887 SV%)

DEFENSEMEN
1 (2) Duncan Keith, Chi (3 assists, +3, as Hawks sweep west coast)
2 (14) Stephane Robidas, Dal (good defensively, better offensively)
3 (6) Mike Green, Wsh (10 points in two weeks for solid November)
4 (13) Brian Campbell, Chi (5 points for on-fire Hawks)
5 (16) Scott Niedermayer, Ana (3 points, GWG, but looked lethargic vs. SJ)
6 (8) Jay Bouwmeester, Cgy (5 points in last 4)
7 (7) Brent Seabrook, Chi (Mr. Everything in Chicago)
8 (1) Chris Pronger, Phi (early Norris favourite is now a lock)
9 (4) Dan Boyle, SJ (along with Pronger the other Norris favourite)
10 (3) Drew Doughty, LA (great offense but defense suffering a little)
11 (-) Cam Barker, Chi (fourth Hawk on list but playing well despite rumours)
12 (15) Adrian Aucoin, Phx (slipping fast with -3, but chipped in at least)
13 (11) Shea Weber, Nsh (shooting the puck well but not going in)
14 (10) Dion Phaneuf, Cgy (funny how success related to Regehr’s play)
15 (12) Dan Hamhuis, Nsh (on pace for statistically worst season)
16 (5) Brent Burns, Min (0 points, -1, up and down we go…)

FORWARDS
1 (15) Joe Thornton, SJ (8 points - often overlooked but shouldn’t be)
2 (21) Mike Fisher, Ott (2 goals, 4 helpers, now Ottawa’s go-to centre)
3 (22) Martin St. Louis, TB (and the slump ends - 6 points, 3 on PP)
4 (-) Vincent Lecavalier, TB (5 points, +3 - where was this all year?)
5 (4) Jarome Iginla, Cgy (15 goals on season, starting to wake up)
6 (11) Dany Heatley, SJ (hat trick but showing versatility with SHG as well)
7 (-) Brad Richards, Dal (6 assists and back on the radar)
8 (6) Jonathan Toews, Chi (not coincidence Hawks winning with his return)
9 (9) Steve Stamkos, TB (personal fav has potential goal of the year)
10 (16) Mike Cammalleri, Mtl (no Gionta, no worries - 4 points with GWG)
11 (-) Jordan Staal, Pit (finally putting the puck in the net again)
12 (18) Patrick Marleau, SJ (if Yzerman wants chemistry SJ trio is there)
13 (19) Mike Richards, Phi (still consistent and another virtual lock)
14 (5) Corey Perry, Ana (rare 0-goal week but 14-game point streak still alive)
15 (2) Ryan Getzlaf, Ana (frustrations starting to boil over - that’s good)
16 (20) Mike Ribeiro, Dal (all 3 points from the PP, even strength needs work)
17 (3) Travis Zajac, NJ (still consistent despite minor blip in Devils’ run)
18 (14) Dustin Penner, Edm (no Smyth for size, so how about this guy?)
19 (7) Sidney Crosby, Pit (dog days November, now -7 in month)
20 (24) Shane Doan, Phx (back on the scoresheet with 2 points and winning)
21 (13) Rick Nash, Cbs (just one goal in last three games)
22 (17) Derek Roy, Buf (playing with an edge but as longshot -2 hurts)
23 (-) Milan Lucic, Bos (fan favourite returns and responds with goal)
24 (8) Jeff Carter, Phi (whenever I praise someone they make me look bad)

Dropped out: Emery, Ward (laceration), Beauchemin, M. Staal, E. Staal (upper body), Cleary, Spezza, McDonald, Gagne (hernia), Jovanovski (lower body), Kyle Quincey, Mike Del Zotto, Hamhuis, James Neal (suspension), Smyth (upper body), Peverley, Morrow

So, What Else is New?

I’ll tell you guys something new - Dan Sedin’s back! The Canucks are expected to have their Swede shooter back for Sunday’s tilt against Chicago after an 18-game absence, a big boost after the Canucks finished their road trip with a 2-3 record. Hopefully this propels Henrik into elite status, who without the help of his brother silenced all critics and established himself as a legitimate number one centre. There have been naysayers in the past (including myself) but perhaps the Sedins’ long-term extensions are the best moves Mike Gillis will make during his tenure. You can’t get point-per-game players any cheaper than $6.1m these days.

Was anybody surprised by the win over the Avs? First, the Canucks were at The Garage, which automatically puts the other team’s win percentage at something around .200. First, the Avs have been buoyed by Craig Anderson and anybody’s who watched hockey for some time will know that his numbers aren’t sustainable (despite his great SV% he will allow the goals based on the number of shots he sees) and logic suggests that Kyle Quincey may hit a wall soon (his point production decreases as the season goes on) while J-M Liles will find his disappearing act sometime in February (22 pts in 53 games, -11 in career for that month). Boasting a good PK isn’t enough - the Avs’ PP is clicking at only 17.6%, third-worst in the West. The Canucks are just two points away from Calgary and five away from Colorado despite losing ten games already, one of only seven teams in the league to do so. The Canucks are now 2-0 against Colorado, both with convincing wins, since getting shut out 3-0 early in the season. The Canucks goal differential of +8, best in the division, also suggests that team is better than their 12-10-0 record, but it also means that there’s a clear lack of consistency and either the Canucks are getting blown out or blowing out. The Canucks have already had two separate streaks of either three losses (Oct. 1-5 and Nov. 6-12) or three wins (Oct. 21-25 and Nov. 1-5). A win on Sunday against Chicago will make it their third three-game win streak of the season.

Despite the strong play of newcomer Christian Ehrhoff (or “Bobby Hoff,” according to Derek Jory, although there is already a Bobby Hoff in the poker world, known as “The Wizard”) the Canucks defense still feels underwhelming. Since starting November with a perfect 13-13 on the PK, the Canucks have allowed at least one powerplay goal per game including three against lowly Colorado. With Chicago and Edmonton coming up the Canucks will need to tighten up defensively although the return of Roberto Luongo does provide immeasurable help. Willie Mitchell played less than a minute total on the PK last night and seems to be losing favour with Alain Vigneault and it only made matters worse when he coughed up the puck twice along with a hooking (which led to David Jones’ opening tally) and delay of game penalties. His reduction in ice-time last night can be attributed to those two penalties but we’ll have to see how he responds to Chicago.

Game #22 meant that there are 60 games left, so here are the Canucks’ quarterly awards along with major league awards:

Offensive MVP: No question about it, Henrik Sedin. Ryan Kesler deserves honourable mention but it’s been Henrik’s goal scoring that has kept the Canucks afloat in Dan’s absence.

Defensive MVP: Honourable mention to Mitchell who has played pretty well for the most part but unsurprisingly it’s Kesler who takes the cake. If he continues to play at the level where he is now he’s a shoo-in for the Selke.

Cyclone Taylor (team MVP): It would go to Henrik due to his point production but Kesler’s been making the difference at both ends of the ice. The future Vancouver captain (I would hope so) may go down in the books as one of the best two-way players in the game.

Babe Pratt (best defenseman): Usually it’s either Bieksa or Mitchell, perhaps Edler, but I think Christian Ehrhoff, on the tails of his 3-point effort, gets rewarded. While his defensive play is not the best even on the team, it’s good enough for Vigneault to use him on the PK and he’s been a key cog on the powerplay on which Edler and Bieksa have faltered.

Most Exciting Player: Hard to pick with the Canucks’ defensive system and it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for the best highlight reel material it has to be Henrik but more so because of quantity rather than quality. If you’re looking for a player to simply make a difference on the ice, it’s Kesler who does it every single shift. It’d be fun just to watch him on iso-cam and notice the little things he does.

Molson Cup: Henrik, based on his performance, but by year’s end it’ll be Luongo again.

Cyrus McLean (leading scorer): Henrik by a big margin. Only Dan can compete for the title and he’s already missed significant time.

Fred J. Hume (unsung hero): Steve Bernier. Alex Burrows has been somewhat ineffective, or at least not as productive as last year, but that’s to be expected since he’s no longer a fixture on the Sedins’ line. Bernier continues to impress and frustrate me at the same time but no one on this roster uses their body as well as he does. He creates space, pressures well, and keeps the puck in.

Hart: Anze Kopitar, Kings. No one else is as big a factor of LA’s success as the Slovene.
Selke: Ryan Kesler, Canucks. Homer pick but a justifiable one.
Vezina: Ryan Miller, Sabres. Brodeur’s a close second but he’s got a better team.
Norris: Chris Pronger, Flyers. No question, the best defenseman at both ends of the ice.
Calder: John Tavares, Islanders. He’s got the name but also some goals to go with it.
Adams: Terry Murray, Kings. The Avs are going to drop and Murray’s been great with the kids.

Jumping the Gun

Last time I predicted that perhaps the Hawks and Sens would talk trade again and it looks like they are. According to some sources, the Hawks are VERY eager to unload salary and once they do it would not surprise me if they announce the extensions for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. I suggested that Ottawa take a good look at Brian Campbell, as overpaid as he is, but instead reports indicate that they’re much more interested in Cam Barker. I agree that Barker is the more attractive option - he’s younger, he’s cheaper, and he’s still in the top 25 offensively from the blueline in my opinion. He gives the Sens a legitimate powerplay quarterback and an affordable salary. The Sens are clearly in the driver’s seat in this one as you can bet Stan Bowman will be pushing for Ottawa to take Campbell instead. If they don’t, you can expect another cap crunch when Dustin Byfuglien and more importantly, Brent Seabrook’s, contracts expire in 2011.

Dale Tallon was fire-able for the free agent debacle but his management of the salary cap has been worse. His big spending on the free agent market means he had little confidence in the Hawks’ pipeline and that vote of no confidence has really put a young, upstart, exciting team in a bind. The Hawks need to get cheaper by going younger and more and more that Marian Hossa deal looks awful. I wonder if players who sign lifetime contracts ever look at their team’s salary cap structure - it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that at one point or another Hossa and Campbell’s contracts would impede the progress of the franchise in the grand scheme of things. Bowman should be applauded if he manages to get rid of Campbell and I have little doubts in his ability despite his short experience as GM and I remain hopeful of Duncan Keith (or perhaps Brent Seabrook) coming to Vancouver, as much of a pipedream it may be.

The Canucks have just a little under $40 committed to 13 regulars. The majority, if not all, of the $6.75m committed to Pavol Demitra, Kyle Wellwood, or Mathieu Schneider will be re-invested in other players. Willie Mitchell and Ryan Johnson, 32 and 33 respectively, will probably be looking for one final mid-length contract extension and may very well take similar salaries to stay in Vancouver. It is unlikely the Canucks will add another elite forward who can command more than $5m given their cap structure but the Canucks have some money to parlay into quality free agents and needless to say given the team’s recent (moderate) successes it could be a city players would be willing to take less to play.

In other news, the Canucks have been accused, like the Flames and Leafs, of jumping the line for H1N1 vaccines. Never mind that I don’t think this is the most moral move but it just shows everyone how important hockey is to this country. There have been no cases (thus far) of any American teams jumping the line for vaccines. Only in Canada where hockey players are held in the highest regard will events like these happen. Besides, does this really surprise anyone? These franchises and players are in the entertainment business and with the amount of money they make naturally they’re going to get some perks along with it.

The BC Boys

Ever since the implementation of the salary cap, bad contracts are as immovable as Tomas Holmstrom in the crease. Not only do high salaries handicap teams looking to add talent, the biggest drawback is the failure of those teams to retain their talent and for a shining example look no further than Brian Campbell.

Let’s face it, the Hawks really don’t need him. When he was signed, my assumption is that Dale Tallon didn’t believe that Keith, Seabrook, Barker, or even Hjalmarsson would develop enough to quarterback Chicago’s powerplay. Campbell brought to the table an incredible ability to skate and move the puck, something that has become a premium in the post-cap era, although whether the need for this type of player is necessary or not is another story. Now that the Hawks enter an uncertain off-season in which their three young stars, Keith, Toews, and Kane are becoming RFAs, Campbell’s contract has put Stan Bowman in a giant hole.

While Kane and Toews are expected to ink extensions soon (anywhere long-term from $5-$7m per year), pundits are less optimistic about Chicago’s chances of re-signing Keith. According to Chicago Now, the extensions for the two forwards could mean that Keith becomes the odd-man out unless Bowman masterminds a deal in which they would be off the hook for Campbell’s contract. No doubt that if the Hawks fail to re-sign Keith that he would draw considerable interest and if that may be the case the Canucks need to make a charge for the swift-skating blueliner.

Rivalry aside, the Canucks need a reliable, every situation skating defenseman like Keith. No one on this roster, not even Bieksa or Edler, comes close in terms of overall play. The Canucks have been building their defense by committee for the past couple of years, opting to pay their top 4 similar money instead of front-loading to have an elite all-star defenseman to anchor the entire corps. While the strategy makes sense, in part because the Canucks don’t have that elite player, this is a golden opportunity for the Canucks to bring back a local player to really jumpstart this defense. The Canucks will have significant salaries coming off the books and if Keith is inked for the long-term, the Canucks will be looking at a core group of Luongo, Keith, and the Sedins, filling in every position of the ice.

While I the chances of Keith hitting the market remain small, I remain hopeful because of the constant juggling Chicago has to do. They’ve stockpiled talent but also brought in players with questionable contracts and this sort of juggling will continue to be a theme for Chicago over the next couple of years. You can bet that Bowman will be looking for opportunities for the under-performing Campbell and perhaps Bryan Murray and the Sens may come knocking on the door yet again. A trade would make sense for both teams, although I imagine that the Hawks will be asking for Mike Fisher to anchor their second line and be a presence on the PK, something I don’t think Murray is too enthusiastic to do, but the fact remains that the Sens desperately need a puck-mover and Campbell, a Strathroy, ON native, may be a good fit.

For those of you paying attention to the Peter Forsberg sweepstakes, it’s been publicly announced that he will not return to the NHL, instead remaining in his native Sweden to play with MoDo in the Elitserien. At least he made a decision early. Perhaps unsurprisingly, former Canucks captain Markus Naslund has also come out of retirement and will play with MoDo for the rest of the season, something that he has proclaimed he would do since his days in Vancouver.

Team Canada Watch

GOALTENDERS
1 (1) Martin Brodeur, NJ (minuscule 1.33 GAA big reason why Devils are on roll)
2 (2) Ray Emery, Phi (still putting up good numbers, 2.02 GAA, .917 SV%)
3 (-) Roberto Luongo, Van (.924 SV% hopefully brings stability to team)
4 (5) Marty Turco, Dal (solid .921 SV% but not getting enough help)
5 (4) Marc-Andre Fleury, Pit (in a slump with 2 straight losses but Geno’s back)

DEFENSEMEN
1 (1) Chris Pronger, Phi (not slowing down for anybody)
2 (13) Duncan Keith, Chi (read this column and posted 6 points, +2)
3 (2) Drew Doughty, LA (really making Yzerman’s decision difficult)
4 (3) Dan Boyle, SJ (another 4 points and GWG)
5 (-) Brent Burns, Min (3 assists, +3, best Minnesota player this week)
6 (5) Mike Green, Wsh (5 points, but again defense is a problem)
7 (-) Brent Seabrook, Chi (returns from concussion to post GWG in OT)
8 (11) Jay Bouwmeester, Cgy (only Flame on list to register point)
9 (7) Robyn Regehr, Cgy (regular Regehr line: 0 points, +4, blocking shots)
10 (10) Dion Phaneuf, Cgy (playing with Regehr means +4, but another 0 point week)
11 (-) Shea Weber, Nsh (slow production but still dependable as always)
12 (16) Dan Hamhuis, Nsh (needs more if he wants to make the team)
13 (9) Brian Campbell, Chi (not exactly the PP QB Chicago got at $7.1m)
14 (15) Stephane Robidas, Dal (finding the assists but not the points)
15 (14) Adrian Aucoin, Phx (dips into minus territory first time this year)
16 (4) Scott Niedermayer, Ana (not scoring, not winning, heading back to NJ?)

FORWARDS
1 (7) Rich Peverley, Atl (6 points, SH, PP, ES… he does it all)
2 (19) Ryan Getzlaf, Ana (goals are coming in with explosive game)
3 (22) Travis Zajac, NJ (big reason why Devils on a roll)
4 (4) Jarome Iginla, Cgy (3 goals to pace NW-leading Flames)
5 (3) Corey Perry, Ana (point-generating machine with 4 more)
6 (-) Jonathan Toews, Chi (no lingering effects from hit, 4 pts)
7 (8) Sidney Crosby, Pit (what slump? Geno’s return means 4 points)
8 (12) Jeff Carter, Phi (8 points in past 2 weeks, welcome back)
9 (13) Steve Stamkos, TB (should televise more TB games to showcase this kid)
10 (-) James Neal, Dal (4 points in last 3 games, over 20 ATOI/G)
11 (14) Dany Heatley, SJ (sniping winger puts in 3 more)
12 (10) Ryan Smyth, LA (good 3 points but still hard to see on Team Canada)
13 (1) Rick Nash, Cbs (lost his balance and picked a corner, but Jackets not winning)
14 (9) Dustin Penner, Edm (2 goals now considered a “quiet” week)
15 (15) Joe Thornton, SJ (still waiting for this guy to amp it up)
16 (23) Mike Cammalleri, Mtl (2 more points for up-and-down Habs squad)
17 (18) Derek Roy, Buf (2 points and Sabres winning… but more because of Miller)
18 (17) Patrick Marleau, SJ (2 points in last 5, playing himself off team again)
19 (11) Mike Richards, Phi (1 assist in relatively quiet week)
20 (21) Mike Ribeiro, Dal (Dallas’ go-to centreman has just 1 assist)
21 (20) Mike Fisher, Ott (really doesn’t have much to work with)
22 (16) Martin St. Louis, TB (slumping and answer is still not Lecavalier)
23 (5) Brenden Morrow, Dal (when Morrow goes, so do the Stars)
24 (6) Shane Doan, Phx (last week’s stars putting up zeroes)

On the bubble: Roloson, Ian White, Jason Demers, Cam Barker, Rene Bourque, Brooks Laich
Dropped out: Ward, Beauchemin, M. Staal, E. Staal, J. Staal, Cleary, Spezza, McDonald, Gagne (hernia), Lucic (broken fingers), Jovanovski (lower body), Kyle Quincey, Mike Del Zotto, Lecavalier, B. Richards

Musings

- An awful game against St. Louis and that much we can all agree on. What makes good teams great is that they can consistently beat the other good teams. Makes sense, right? Well, the Canucks have always been one of the good teams. They beat the opponents they should but against those that can really turn it up another notch against Vancouver they really struggle with. St. Louis and Chicago are two really young teams that when needed can push their game to another level if need be. Their youthful energy is really a blessing because these players rest up faster and are more competitive due to their youth and excitement. It’s easier to get amped up for a NHL game when you’re 23 than when you’re 34. The only player that really showed up for that game was Kevin Bieksa who fought BJ Crombeen twice. A major defensive gaffe on David Perron (he looks bigger than last year, doesn’t he?) who snuck behind him for a tip-in hat trick.

- Along with the Canucks, the Bruins, Rangers, and Flyers are all interested in Peter Forsberg. It seems like these four teams are always in the running for a savvy veteran. The Bruins don’t need him even with Savard sidelined for awhile and Krejci struggling. They need more scoring from the wings and need to get faster. The Rangers could use Forsberg, but with Marian Gaborik always one step away from being sidelined with a groin injury it might scare them away. The Flyers shouldn’t be looking at options to add salary but to dump instead. That being said any team that gets Forsberg in the lineup automatically becomes better. However the trade-off may not always be worth it. With Forsberg’s talent he can command a contract that pays him a million a month but that cap room becomes precious close to the trade deadline and any of those four teams that do sign Forsberg won’t be able to make any real significant moves on deadline day.

- With the Carolina Hurricanes’ woes not going away anytime soon, especially with Cam Ward out for a month, there’s been talk of dismantling the roster and starting fresh. It’s an interesting move and one that warrants some debate but I agree that this season is most likely lost. There’s a chance that the “Cardiac ‘Canes” might stage a comeback after Christmas but it’ll be difficult to gain momentum from now until then and even if they do the Olympic break will make them cool off. The Canucks and Hurricanes both have roughly $1.2m in cap space and with the Canucks having most of their 2010 picks the two sides could work out a deal. Here are two players that are affordable that intrigue me.

Matt Cullen - He’s by no means flashy, but he’s an underappreciated two-way player that can hit 50 points. Think Mikael Samuelsson but a good centreman that can play on the second or third line. He’s been overshadowed by Brind’Amour and Eric Staal in Carolina but in Vancouver he could put less offensive pressure on Kesler and provide the Canucks with some consistent playmaking ability Kyle Wellwood so far hasn’t. He comes a little steep at $2.875m but it’s a fair price to pay for someone with his skill set. However, like Erik Cole he’s had trouble playing outside of Carolina.

Jussi Jokinen - Calgary has one, why don’t we get one too? The shootout specialist is a versatile forward that can play all three positions. He’s got some good speed and killer hands, but his defensive play isn’t up to snuff and even strength-wise sometimes he’s barely noticeable. That being said, even as a shootout specialist you’ll get more than your money’s worth because he’s a guy that can really win games for you. His clutch ability is something you can’t put a price-tag on and considering the way the Canucks have been playing you might need a spark like that.

What can we give up? For starters, there’s Cory Schneider, and it makes sense. The former Boston College standout can play in the States and get more ice-time there than in Vancouver. Ward is out for a significant amount of time and the ‘Canes just recently signed Manny Legace because they don’t believe in Mike Leighton or Justin Peters. Giving them Schneider means they have more depth in the pipeline and perhaps a diamond in the rough. I wouldn’t be opposed to giving up Darcy Hordichuk or even Shane O’Brien either as I find neither have any real long-term value and both are free agents at the end of the season. They will keep Carolina competitive but we’ll most likely have to offer a pick up too to get those guys.

And last but definitely not least, Lest We Forget.