Official 2008/2009 Canucks Thread

[trdees]

wellwood is special, he is fat, smokes and lazy just like all of us!

[Harvey Specter]

Naslund's treatment in Vancouver angers Bertuzzi

CALGARY - Todd Bertuzzi still has Markus Naslund's back.

Even though the famed West Coast Express line derailed long ago, even though Naslund plays on Broadway, even though Bertuzzi is ready to saddle up in Calgary, Big Bert still takes it upon himself to defend his friend against what he deems as cheap shots of the verbal or written variety.

And so, from his new perch in the Calgary Flames locker-room, Bertuzzi lashed out in a pre-season interview at a small but persistent number of fair-weathered folks in Vancouver.

His beef? Their spirited allegations - via radio call-in shows, newspaper opinion pages and the lawless land of the Internet - over Naslund's supposed inadequacy as the former captain of the flailing Canucks.

"I think, the near the end, it got pretty hard on him," Bertuzzi said after a practice with his new mates at the Pengrowth Saddledome "And it wasn't deserved."

Too soft, too quiet, too European - Naslund heard it all in his final year as captain of the Canucks. All the while, Bertuzzi seethed on behalf of his friend, who scored 25 goals on a team starved for offence.

"That guy gave everything he had to that city," Bertuzzi said. "For a handful of people to disrespect him and call him out like that? I don't think that was something he was forecasting."

After the frustration of missing the playoffs last season, Naslund opted for the relative peace of Manhattan and signed a two-year deal worth $8 million US to wrap up his NHL career with the New York Rangers.

Not that he had the option of staying in puck-obsessed Vancouver. Rookie GM Mike Gillis, a former player agent, decided against tendering an offer to his one-time client, who had become the lightening rod for criticism at General Motors Place after 12 years as a Canuck.

"It got brutal," Bertuzzi said. "I think you read the papers. I think everyone read the papers. Me, being a personal friend of his, I know how tough it was."

Just last week, Gillis appointed goalie Roberto Luongo captain, a position Naslund held for eight years after taking over from Mark Messier.

"It's not an easy job, especially being a captain in that market when they weren't being successful," Bertuzzi said. "It was a tough go."

Constant fretting over the plight of the Canucks is as predictable as rain in British Columbia's largest city. Bertuzzi came to expect the microscopic scrutiny in his eight years as a Canuck.

Bertuzzi's fondest hockey memories from Vancouver centre around the glory days of the West Coast Express line when he played along side Naslund and Brendan Morrison.

"I kind of look back, and it's sad to see the team that we had there, that we couldn't accomplish a lot more than we did," said Bertuzzi, who was traded to Florida for Luongo. "I think we had probably one of the most exciting teams to play in that city. We brought that city from where it was (with) not a lot of fans going and not lot a lot of liking towards the team to where it was sold out every night and there was a waiting list for tickets.

"I think it was a direct responsibility of our style of play on the ice."

Bertuzzi's personal style resembled that of a steamroller. The big man created space for his linemates, and he was always quick to jump to their defence.

Like on the night of March 8, 2004 when Bertuzzi sucker-punched Steve Moore from behind and sent the Colorado forward crashing to the ice. Moore broke his neck. He hasn't played a game since.

Three weeks prior to the punch, Moore knocked an unsuspecting Naslund out of the lineup for three games with a hellacious hit that resulted in a minor concussion The Canucks vowed revenge, Bertuzzi executed the threat on behalf of his friend.

During this first training camp with the Rangers, Naslund admitted there might be some truth to the theory that he was never the same after the Bertuzzi-Moore incident.

"It still bothers me what Todd has had to go through over this and the way it's dragged on and on over the years," Naslund told Canwest News Service last month. "I still keep in close contact with him and it's been tough on him. It's taken its toll. There's no question he was standing up for me and for his teammates when it happened, and it all went too far."

Bertuzzi left Vancouver in 2006. Naslund and Morris departed this summer. The West Coast Express is history.

"Mo's in Anaheim now, and he's doing well," Bertuzzi said. "I think he's pretty excited to move on. I think he needed a change of scenery too, and I think Markus did too."

The Flames open the regular season Thursday in Vancouver. Bertuzzi said there's no added incentive in beating his former teammates or visiting his former workplace.

"It's over with," he said. "You know what? It was a great chapter in my life, but you move on."

Calgary Herald

[rb]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

Is there any actual evidence of demitra requesting to play with Pyatt?

pyatt offers nothing that Wellwood cant, he isnt even as physical as Wellwood

Pyatt is also the worst skater we have on the team hands down imo.

Watch this Demitra interview. Fast forward to 01:05 mark
http://canucks.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?&id=20987

[Hondaracer]

Lu looks dope with the C

[cdizzle_996]

[QUOTE=7seven;6062552]I think its looking like this to start the season

Sedin - Sedin - Bernier
Raymond - Demitra - Pyatt
Burrows - Kesler - Hansen
Hordichuk - Johnson - Brown

Mitchell - Bieska
Ohlund - Salo
Edler - O'Brien

Luongo
Sanford

Pressbox: Wellwood, Davison, Rypien
IR: Nycholat, Pettinger



QUOTE]



Thats exactly how I see the line up. I wouldn't mine seeing Rypien in on the action as well. Never the less, the canucks seem to have some young talent, and its about damn time we have some "real" toughness.

[Kagemusha]

Originally Posted by nsmb

shoulda kept krog, waived pyatt

Why waive Pyatt when we can get at very least a 3rd round draft pick for him?

[hi5-ive]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

Lu looks dope with the C

pretty dope lol fuck change the rules! lol

[Agent X]

Originally Posted by thecooker24

Luongo wearing the C for the team photo...

Doesn't the Captain usually sit beside the coach?

[jigga250]

wow, Pyatt's really taking a beating in this thread. Keep Krog and waive Pyatt? I can't tell if you're serious. Is Pyatt the new Morrison aka RS go-to-goat?


I think some of you are really underrating him....sure he doesnt throw huge hits, but he still uses his size well to protect the puck. He was one of the few Nucks last year that could create his own chances, by taking the puck to the net or with his decent wrister.

[Grandmaster TSE]

Originally Posted by Agent X

Doesn't the Captain usually sit beside the coach?

yeah
but goalies always sit at the ends

[stuff99]

i say keep pyatt but play wellwood on the 2nd line instead

[Harvey Specter]

I remember last season we a good discussion going on about Pyatt about why some felt he sucked and others felt he was good. That been said, I'm not a fan of Pyatt. I seriously hope he's not on the 2nd line because he needs to start using his size and creating more offensive chances instead of just standing around and waiting for a lucky bounce or pass.

[Expresso]

Originally Posted by stuff99

i say keep pyatt but play wellwood on the 2nd line instead

You do know Pyatt is on the second line, so who do you move off? Obviously not Demitra, and Raymond has done well enough in the pre-season to deserve his spot.

[AzNightmare]

Well... just to throw this out to get some opinions.

Gaborik good or bad?
overpriced? don't need him, etc

[Renthal]

need him. We now have the toughness to stand up for him, and we need a player that is an immediate threat as soon as he steps on the ice. He'd be a good fit with demitra and pyatt, and then we'd have 2 deadly lines. He's pissed about Minnesota trading away players, and i think we could do a trade for him.

[caronimo]

Originally Posted by AzNightmare

Well... just to throw this out to get some opinions.

Gaborik good or bad?
overpriced? don't need him, etc

i say get him. we need the scoring. plus he's friends with demitra.

[AzNightmare]

The only problem is that Canucks don't really have anyone to trade.
And even money is a bit tight, because Canucks will need it to extend contracts.
I think Gaborik is asking for something around 8-10mil. And Gaborik has a history of injuries in the past.
But he's a goal scorer and will get more points than games played.

[CRS]

Originally Posted by AzNightmare

The only problem is that Canucks don't really have anyone to trade.
And even money is a bit tight, because Canucks will need it to extend contracts.
I think Gaborik is asking for something around 8-10mil. And Gaborik has a history of injuries in the past.
But he's a goal scorer and will get more points than games played.

Hmm I think Gaborik is willing to take a cut to play w/ demitra again. I highly doubt he is asking for that much too..


Regardless, rumors have it that Sundin is making an announcement on Thursday! Lulz

[Mattv]

We could really use a solid player like Gaborik, Sundin isn't going to sign with us anyway..But we already knew that.

[stuff99]

Originally Posted by HachiSix

You do know Pyatt is on the second line, so who do you move off? Obviously not Demitra, and Raymond has done well enough in the pre-season to deserve his spot.

oops i mean keep pyatt but not on the 2nd line.
have wellwood on that line with demitra and raymond instead.

[CRS]

Originally Posted by stuff99

oops i mean keep pyatt but not on the 2nd line.
have wellwood on that line with demitra and raymond instead.

No physical presence in that line at all then. Doesn't really work well.

[AzNightmare]

At this point, rather take Gaborik for sure over Sundin.
He's unmotivated, and any unmotivated player is gonna get ripped apart in Canuck fans.

His announcement is probably gonna be something like this:
"In January, I'm gonna decide whether I'll retire or sign with a team"

[trip]

who do we have to extend thats coming up besides the sedins and lu?

paycuts taken by the sedins/gab/demitra?

[stuff99]

Hodgson has high hopes for next season
'I'm going to use this year to get better'

Jim Jamieson
The Province

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Cody Hodgson, who played in preseason games for the Canucks, will focus on making the NHL while playing junior as an 18-year-old.
CREDIT: Ric Ernst file photo - The Province
Cody Hodgson, who played in preseason games for the Canucks, will focus on making the NHL while playing junior as an 18-year-old.

He came up short in his bid to crack the Vancouver Canucks lineup as an 18-year-old, but Cody Hodgson is already focused on dedicating his junior season to sticking with the NHL club next year.

"Obviously, it's disappointing, not reaching your goal," said Hodgson from his family's home in Markham, Ont., on Tuesday.

"Still the ultimate goal is to make the NHL, so I'm going to be using this year to help my development and get better every day. I'm going to try to play a game where I can fit in with the Canucks, try and create offence and be one of the top-six forwards.

"Obviously, I need to keep improving on my strength, speed and skill, but at the same time maintain that scorer's mentality."

The 6-foot, 185-pound centre had one assist in three preseason games with the Canucks, not showing the offensive impact he had last season with the OHL's Brampton Battalion when he had 40 goals and 85 points in 68 games.

Hodgson knows he has to hit the scoresheet at the NHL level in order to stay there.

"I thought I fit in well, I just didn't play my game," he said. "I've got to show the coaches I can play at the level the Canucks are going to be this year. I felt I kept up with the play fine and competed physically, but I didn't create offence like I know I can.

"But I think that comes with more confidence. I know this time I got my foot in the door and next time hopefully I'll be able to stick around."

Hodgson is expected to join Brampton for its Thursday road game against Windsor. He will be the team's go-to offensive player again this year.

Given that Hodgson was the captain of Canada's gold-medal-winning under-18 team and led the tournament in scoring last spring, he's a favourite to play for Canada at the world junior championship in December and is looking forward to that possibility.

"Hopefully, that opportunity comes and it's in Ottawa so it should be fun," he said.

Hockey Futures report on him: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/cody_hodgson

[stuff99]

Luongo regains his calm, focus

Iain MacIntyre
Vancouver Sun

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Canucks goaltender and new captain Roberto Luongo plays for one reason, to win. After a turbulent season last year, rebounding from a late collapse to be a contender seems to be possible.
CREDIT: Getty Files
Canucks goaltender and new captain Roberto Luongo plays for one reason, to win. After a turbulent season last year, rebounding from a late collapse to be a contender seems to be possible.

In the last 60 years, the Earth's population has increased by 4.5 billion people. And not one of them was a National Hockey League goaltender-captain until the Vancouver Canucks anointed Roberto Luongo last week.

Luongo's favorite restaurant is room service and he is a renowned couch potato who prefers home time to almost any other. But when Luongo agreed to become the first goalie-captain since Bill Durnan in 1948, he accepted the implicit expectation that he'd suddenly flit around crowded rooms like a reporter from Entertainment Tonight.

A team captain is like a cruise director, responsible for getting to know everyone, to understand individual differences and organize activities to please all. Sometimes it's not so much a Mark Messier that discordant hockey teams need but a Julie McCoy, from The Love Boat.

"Already, I've organized a dinner for our first road trip," Luongo says.

The Canucks, buoyed by a 6-0-1 pre-season, are a pretty harmonious group these days.

Still, Luongo will need to organize a few more meals this season and make sure new players feel welcomed. He must liaise with the coaching staff and help to maintain peace in the dressing room.

Luongo is head of the family now, which is good for the Canucks because in two years his contract expires and the more the star netminder feels at home, the less likely he is to leave.

"There's only one thing that's going to make my decision easier -- that's winning," Luongo says. "That's why I play hockey. I want to win the Cup. When I sit down and assess what happens in two years, it will be whether I'm confident we can win a Cup here or not.

"A lot has changed over the last few months. I'm in a happy place as far as my personal life, so obviously that translates when I come to the rink every day. I'm enjoying every minute of it -- on the ice and back home. It's great. Even though, you have a bad day, there's no greater feeling than to go home and see the face of your little one."

At 29, and with a new baby and a new title, Luongo happily admits he is starting a different phase in his life. So are the Canucks. Their best chance to win is now.

First-line forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and top defenceman Mattias Ohlund, start the final season of their contracts Thursday against the Calgary Flames. And although general manager Mike Gillis wants to re-sign all of them, money adds up quickly under the salary cap.

Luongo's making $7 million this season, which might be what each Sedin eventually signs for. Ohlund should top $5 million. A handful of other Canucks will need pay hikes and new contracts after this season. Included on this list is defenceman Alex Edler, a potential franchise player who is ripe for a predatory free-agent offer and whose salary could increase eight-fold from its current $550,000.

Key players like Willie Mitchell, Ryan Kesler and Pavol Demitra can leave as unrestricted free agents after next season.

Gillis still has about $9 million of his $56.7-million salary cap to spend this season, but may not have the luxury of a bank balance next year. Or the year after. No wonder he has acknowledged that the best window for winning is while Luongo is still a Canuck.

"Roberto's situation does play into that because we want to show people we're going to do everything we can to win," Gillis explains. "I think that goes a long way to getting people to buy in and want to stay here. So, yeah, it's urgent. But we have to do all the small things well before we get to where we want to get to.

"What we wanted to [instill] is a sense of urgency. From top to bottom, we want to be in the top 10 per cent in every category in this league -- from scouting to player development to every possible thing. You name it, we want to be in the top 10 per cent. And how we travel, we want to be No. 1.

"I think that sense of urgency compels people."

The Canucks, and Luongo in particular, certainly looked compelled during the pre-season.

To some degree, every season is any team's "last chance" to win because players change each summer. Even with few changes to their core group, the Canucks will have six or seven new players in their season-opening lineup, which is about average turnover for NHL teams.

But since the opening of training camp, there has been an undertow of intensity about this team, an urgency that was missing a year ago.

"If you want to go back to last year, we were really happy our first week of training camp and were not happy the rest of training camp," associate coach Rick Bowness says. "And that showed in October. We didn't have the players' full attention until November.

"We feel, right now, our players are very focused. We're getting a lot out of them every day. And there hasn't been one day I've walked out of this rink and said: 'We don't have their full attention.' Last year, I did."

Last year, the Canucks started 5-8 and played indifferently until gruesome injuries Nov. 1 to Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa scared everyone straight.

But the team lost a NHL-worst 174 man-games to injuries on its blueline, and eventually all the adjustments those caused reached a critical mass and performance disintegrated.

Luongo, too, looked mentally and physically spent as the Canucks collapsed spectacularly the final two weeks by losing seven of eight games to miss the playoffs.

The strain on Luongo, separated most of the season from his wife Gina, who went home to Florida where she had family to support her through a difficult pregnancy, appeared evident in his dealings with the press.

He began refusing interviews before games, generally said less when he did talk and eventually wouldn't comment on anything but his own play. It made his acceptance of the captaincy at least a little surprising, considering how the daily feeding frenzy of the press ate away at former captain Markus Naslund.

"I deal with you guys every day, anyway, so as far as that is concerned I don't feel it will be anything different," Luongo said. "I've never named names. I know a lot of things that can be said is taken to a different level sometimes, so you do want to choose your words carefully. And you know how I get after a tough loss. Probably my biggest challenge this year will be to remain composed in certain situations like that."

It might seem groundless for this team to feel an urgency to win, to think itself capable of winning something when only six months ago it missed the Stanley Cup tournament entirely. But no one can rationally argue the Canucks would still have missed the playoffs without their record injuries.

If healthy, the Canucks were only a couple of players away then from being able to contend for a championship. They probably still are, although this Canuck team is undeniably quicker and tougher and more difficult to play against. It is also healthy.

"At this point in my career, it's all about winning," new fourth-line centre Ryan Johnson says of choosing the Canucks over other teams.

"And regardless what happened last season, with the direction this organization is going, that's going to happen here.

"Speaking with Mike Gillis and knowing his intentions. . . it wasn't something where they were looking to build for three or four years down the road. Their intention was to win and win now. Obviously, with Roberto in net, the defensive corps they have here, and some of the [offensive] weapons they have and have added, it just seemed like an easy choice."

Luongo was also won over by Gillis.

"He's here to put a great team on the ice," the goalie says.

"He wasn't telling me he wants to rebuild or go with young guys or anything like that. He's here to win now and, as far as I'm concerned, that's all you can ask for. Definitely, this year is as good as any other to make a push for it."

In fact, it's better than most.