Official 2008/2009 Canucks Thread

[RenoMan]

[Harvey Specter]

^
Worst epic fail picture ever.

[68style]

Lu has a no trade clause.

Originally Posted by Durrann1984

if lu doesnt want to extend his contract ...trade him for players

?

[Harvey Specter]

He could waive it.

[HonestTea]

What a shitty fucking week for Hockey!

Canada gets Silver in IIHF
Canucks gets eliminated
Capitals gets eliminated

[MG1]

Originally Posted by Tapioca

The Canucks were built to take on teams like Detroit, Anaheim, Calgary, and San Jose. We simply got beaten by a more skilled team and there's nothing wrong with that. It's really too bad that we didn't play this way in games 4 and 5.

I think Gillis has no choice but to sign the Sedins, even if they come in at 6-6.5 million/year. They're consistent players and they did finally manage to elevate their game in the playoffs. They're not Ovechkin or Crosby types, but how often do these types of players come around? And despite what people say, I think Gillis should make a pitch to Sundin, say for 2-3 million/year. He's lost a step of course, but he's a character guy and he still has hands - something that Bernier will never have. It's really too bad we're stuck with Demitra for another year because I'd use that money for Sundin.

Guys whom I was surprised by were Raymond and Wellwood. Raymond seems to have another gear and hopefully, his play in the playoffs will give him some confidence. Wellwood's hands and hockey sense are too valuable to let go. Even in the playoffs, he was still able to make good passes and he knew how to go into the corners to make plays.

It's too bad that Burrows had nothing left in the second round. He'll probably take this as a lesson and increase his conditioning in the off-season.

I like O'Brien and I think Gillis should sign him for another couple of years. He's got an ego, but he at least has some fight in him. He sometimes showed flashes of brilliance by spinning way from players in the corners or making neat little passes to clear the zone. If the 'Gillis program' makes an investment in him, I think he could turn out to be a top-4 guy.

I rarely agree with anyone on all counts, but I agree with everything you said.............

[Harvey Specter]

I was told from someone that the Canucks are having a dinner thing tomorrow at the Watermark on Kits Beach, not sure who's going to be there but might be worth checking it out for anyone looking to get some last minute autographs.

[Durrann1984]

Originally Posted by Jah Al Zawahiri

I was told from someone that the Canucks are having a dinner thing tomorrow at the Watermark on Kits Beach, not sure who's going to be there but might be worth checking it out for anyone looking to get some last minute autographs.

tonight as in thursday or tomorrow night as in friday?

[hotjoint]

Originally Posted by The Devil's Apprentice

What a shitty fucking week for Hockey!

Canada gets Silver in IIHF
Canucks gets eliminated
Capitals gets eliminated

[hi5-ive]

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The playoffs are now over, and it's time for Vancouver to pay up. A friendly wager between mayors has gone in Chicago's favour. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is delivering the goods--and lots of beer-- following the Canucks playoff series loss to the Blackhawks.

Robertson has sent a table-full of Vancouver area treats to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, including smoked salmon, chocolates, chips, and a lot of beer--Molson Canadian beer, beer from the Granville Island Brewery, and Storm Brewing beer as well. So Daley won't be hungry, or thirsty as he watches the Blackhawks in round three.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (City of Chicago photo)
Robertson admits Vancouver hockey fans are still in withdrawl. "This is the day we were dreading...we thought the Canucks were going all the way, but we did lose, so we're putting forward our best stuff from Vancouver, for this day of reckoning."
The joke around City Hall: "They may have beat us on the ice, but they can't beat us in beer."





fuckckkkkk uuuu chicagoooo

[stuff99]

Did the somebodies up there want Chicago to win?

All those no-calls invite suspicion there's an agenda

By Tony Gallagher, The ProvinceMay 13, 2009

We suspect there can be no other outcome to the NBA playoffs than a Kobe-LeBron final, right? It's written in hard-to-erase ink and chances are, the games will be managed accordingly.

The question any self-respecting, paranoid Vancouver Canucks fan has to be asking her- or himself today is whether the NHL is going in the same direction. Chicago was definitely the feel-good story, rather than some group from the village of Vancouver.

They have all this young talent, led by American superstar Patrick Kane, and the revival in Chicago is just such a good story that it had to be kept going at least one more round until they run into Detroit, in what would be a matchup of the teams that met in the Winter Classic.

No question, people will say this is bizarre thinking and could never happen. But on the evidence, are those people correct, as most would argue, or naive?

How is it, for instance, that Dustin Byfuglien was consistently allowed to hammer Roberto Luongo with absolutely no problem?

In one instance in Game 2 he went straight to the net, either lost an edge or left his feet and ran over Vancouver's best player — and Kevin Bieksa, who happened to be standing nearby, was given a penalty for allegedly hooking him.

When Canucks management spoke to the supervisor of the series they were told first that Byfuglien lost an edge.

When it was pointed out that it didn't matter whether he lost an edge or not, he had still run the goalie, they simply said, in effect: Sorry, we made a mistake.

Evidently, they made a lot of mistakes. Byfuglien hit Luongo in some form in every game. All through the series the Vancouver goalie argued it wasn't bothering him, but who was he kidding?

And his troubles really began in Game 6 when Byfuglien was allowed to rake his face three times (all inadvertent, of course) with his stick, with no call. You would have to have an IQ lower than a sunflower's to think he did that inadvertently.

Kris Versteeg was allowed to kick Luongo three times in the crease with no call.

Sorry, we made a mistake.

And this is not to defend Luongo. He wasn't good enough. And to be sure, there's no protection for goalies, anyway, given Chris Kunitz' cross-check to Simeon Varlamov's head, which certainly gives the league a better chance of getting more offensive teams through the playoffs.

How about the NHL's latest new game, bowling for goalies?

That's when you go to the net so hard that you drive a defenceman right into the goalie you're trying to get at, thereby making him the guy who falls on him.

Chicago successfully pulled off this new tactic twice in Game 6. It's absurdly obvious, but never called.

The miracle was that Luongo even made it through six games in one piece.

But it wasn't just the goalies in this series was it?

We all saw the Ben Eager hit on Rick Rypien in Game 1 after the Vancouver menace had been running around making life miserable for Chicago players, and everyone knows that blindside hit should have been at least a major penalty.

Sorry, we made a mistake.

Andrew Ladd could have killed Ryan Kesler with that hit in Game 6 that left his face an absolute mess and him down on the ice for an extended period. No call, because they were too busy calling Shane O'Brien for tapping somebody's stick.

Sorry, we made a mistake.

Enter Eager again, this time to almost wipe out the career of Alex Edler, who didn't have the puck. No call, even though it caused a three-on-one break.

Then again, maybe there was no call precisely because it caused the three-on-one.

Sorry, we made a mistake.

Perhaps we're going a little overboard here. Perhaps it's been so long without a Cup here over these 39-years-and-counting that we've gone delusional.

Maybe so.

But if we have gone off the deep end with respect to the persecution complex, wouldn't any casual observer have to admit that at the very least the officiating in this league — granted a very difficult job — needs desperately to be upgraded?

After a while, Sorry, we made a mistake begins to ring a little hollow.

[stuff99]

Three injuries slowed Burrows down in conference semifinal series

By benkuzma 05-13-2009 COMMENTS(4) The White Towel


Alain Vigneault was right.
Alex Burrows wasn't himself during the Western Conference semifinal series. Turns out the feisty Vancouver Canucks winger was nursing a left-hand injury from blocking a shot in the series. He was also bothered by a season-long left wrist injury that will likely require offseason surgery and was also slowed by a hip-flexor ailment. Add it all up and a laboured stride and lack of grip on his stick contributed to just one assist in six games against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Not that Burrows is using all this as an excuse after scoring three goals and adding an assist in a four-game sweep of St. Louis in the first round.
"When game time came, the wrist wasn't a problem," Burrows said Wednesday. "I only had to tape it up and it felt really good and it isn't an excuse. But I yanked my hip-flexor out there one game and had a tough time skating, but it felt fine a few days later. Maybe that's what happened when I couldn't produce more — I don't know."

[stuff99]

Ohlund classy to the end

By Jim Jamieson, The ProvinceMay 13, 2009


If Monday’s elimination in Chicago was Mattias Ohlund’s last game in a Vancouver Canucks jersey — as it certainly appears — then the Swedish defenceman’s deportment as the club scattered for the off-season Wednesday mirrored his play of the past 11 NHL seasons: Classy and low-key.

Ohlund, 32, one of the top defencemen in the franhchise’s history, is to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and appears unlikely to be re-signed — partly due to salary cap issues and partly due to a need to get younger and faster on the back end. He made $3.5 million US this past season.

Ohlund’s agent, Calgary-based J.P. Barry of CAA Sports, said he’s had little interaction over the past season with Canucks GM Mike Gillis regarding Ohlund.

“We never really got traction on negotiations,” said Barry on Wednesday. “The door is not closed, but it’s almost closed.”

Ohlund said he expects to go to July 1 and then have a look at what other offers are out there.

“We’ve gone this far, so the most likely scenario is to go to July 1,” said Ohlund. “We’ll see what happens. I understand the business part of the game and I have no problem with that. But I’m excited about the future, regardless of where it’s going to be. I’m looking forward to it.”

But Ohlund was already talking about playing in Vancouver in the past tense.

“I had a great 11 years and if it’s meant to be I’ll be here,” he said. “Otherwise, life is too short to be sad. I’ve had a lot of fun here and who knows what will happen in the next couple of months. It’s a great city, I’ve played with a lot of great people and it’s a great organization. I had a tremendous 11 years here.”

Ohlund, whose playing time was cut back from 23:46 per game to 21:34 this season, said he wants to be where he’s considered a core player — whether it’s Vancouver or elsewhere.

“I only want to be here if it’s a good fit, if the team wants me to be a big part of the team,” he said. “Otherwise, I don’t want to be here.”

Ohlund said he feels he still has lots left on his odometer.

“Absolutely, I played every game this year for the first time,” he said. “I think I had a good year. We had a good year as a team, but it ended in a bad way. I’m having as much fun playing as I ever had when I was 20.”

Ohlund, Vancouver’s first-round pick (13th overall) in 1994, was a core player from the moment he stepped on the ice in a Canucks uniform.

He was the team’s top defenceman from Day 1 of his first training camp in 1997.

He also had to overcome a serious eye injury suffered in 1999 that nearly ended his career.

Ohlund is the Canucks career leader in point and goals for a defenceman.

The big Swede had the top plus-minus amongst Vancouver defencemen in the playoffs, at plus-5. He had one goal and three points in 10 playoff games.

Ohlund wouldn’t talk about what kind of term he’s looking for in a new contract, but clearly a multi-year deal is preferrable at this point in his career.

“I’m looking to find a place that suits me and my family,” he said. “If that’s here, then it will happen here.”

[stuff99]

Gallagher: Canucks chilled by faulty drafts

No choice but to start developing much better players

By Tony Gallagher, The ProvinceMay 14, 2009 9:13 AM


Even if the Vancouver Canucks had won the Stanley Cup this year, general manager Mike Gillis was looking at a mountain of problems with respect to addressing the future.

Regardless of the playoff outcome you still had the Sedin issue, although winning might have made them much more keen to take less and stay on. You had Mats Sundin, and the aging and not-so-mobile defence as significant issues; along with the now-established conundrum of Roberto Luongo making a little too much money when stacked up against his postseason performances.

Like the Sedins are now, he was going to be asked to take a little less money in the future whether they'd won a Cup or not. That question will still be asked of him in July and his answer will largely determine whether he remains here. He has previously indicated he won't be signing here this summer, preferring to wait until he sees how the land lies.

But perhaps his meltdown in the Chicago series might change the glowing self-image he previously enjoyed. If he'd commit long-term here for less money, then you have a step forward.

But issues remain, and they're not going to be solved until this team starts consistently drafting and developing players.

People say Vancouver had too much money tied up in its goaltending with Luongo making $6.75 million this year.

Well, the victorious Blackhawks have $12.75 million tied up in goaltending with Nikolai Khabibulin and Cristobal Huet combined. But Chicago also has legions of young stars playing great hockey on entry-level contracts.

Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Cam Barker, Kris Versteeg, Troy Brouwer, Dave Bolland, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Duncan Keith are all making peanuts, which allowed the team to pick up Brian Campbell for a load of cash.

Granted, GM Place might not be standing if the Canucks missed the playoffs 11 straight years like Chicago did, but that's another issue.

Boston, Anaheim and Washington all have solid players on rookie contracts. Even Detroit has Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader, Andreas Lilja (injured, but big last year), Tomas Kopecky and Jonathan Ericsson all making big contributions at entry-level wages. The Canucks had Alex Edler, Alex Burrows and Rick Rypien, but all are due or already have contracts for big raises next year.

As time goes on, and fewer and fewer quality players emerge from the dire poverty that has been the Canucks farm system, murdered by first-round picks such as Patrick White and Michael Grabner, and ravaged by the unfortunate death of Luc Bourdon.

When Dave Nonis took the GM job in Vancouver he identified the farm system as the chief problem from day one. He made marginal improvements but admitted more needed to be done.

Vancouver's been falling into a deeper and deeper hole relative to other teams in this area, the Canucks now absolutely starved for incoming players who can make a major contribution.

Until this changes the Canucks are almost always going to have too many issue areas and not enough money to plug the holes.

Cody Hodgson was a nice start, but this year Vancouver doesn't pick from the No. 10 overall spot.

Gillis has has convinced the Aquilini family to more than triple the budget for scouting and development of players.

He also wants a skill coach to work with players already in the NHL and also to spend time with those in the American League to perhaps mine a player or two who might just need a little help. Just imagine for instance, what a difference it would make if someone could teach Mason Raymond to hit the net with his shot. His production could leap by 10 goals overnight over an 82-game season. If whomever Gillis hires can help just one player significantly, it's a huge bonus and great value for money.

The defence, the Sedins, Sundin and Luongo issues will all be largely determined by the start of play next season, but until this team does better drafting and developing, progress is going to be elusive

[rsx]

WEAK story by Gallagher, fuck that shit. Canucks aren't sore losers looking for excuses.

If they were truly pissed of at Buff then AV should've sent Rypien or Hordichuk out there to beat the fuck out of Kane/Toews/Sharp/Khabi, but he didn't.

[MR_BIGGS]

Gills press conference on the team at 3:30 pm pst.

[CRS]

Originally Posted by stuff99

Gallagher: Canucks chilled by faulty drafts

No choice but to start developing much better players

By Tony Gallagher, The ProvinceMay 14, 2009 9:13 AM


Even if the Vancouver Canucks had won the Stanley Cup this year, general manager Mike Gillis was looking at a mountain of problems with respect to addressing the future.

Regardless of the playoff outcome you still had the Sedin issue, although winning might have made them much more keen to take less and stay on. You had Mats Sundin, and the aging and not-so-mobile defence as significant issues; along with the now-established conundrum of Roberto Luongo making a little too much money when stacked up against his postseason performances.

Like the Sedins are now, he was going to be asked to take a little less money in the future whether they'd won a Cup or not. That question will still be asked of him in July and his answer will largely determine whether he remains here. He has previously indicated he won't be signing here this summer, preferring to wait until he sees how the land lies.

But perhaps his meltdown in the Chicago series might change the glowing self-image he previously enjoyed. If he'd commit long-term here for less money, then you have a step forward.

But issues remain, and they're not going to be solved until this team starts consistently drafting and developing players.

People say Vancouver had too much money tied up in its goaltending with Luongo making $6.75 million this year.

Well, the victorious Blackhawks have $12.75 million tied up in goaltending with Nikolai Khabibulin and Cristobal Huet combined. But Chicago also has legions of young stars playing great hockey on entry-level contracts.

Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Cam Barker, Kris Versteeg, Troy Brouwer, Dave Bolland, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Duncan Keith are all making peanuts, which allowed the team to pick up Brian Campbell for a load of cash.

Granted, GM Place might not be standing if the Canucks missed the playoffs 11 straight years like Chicago did, but that's another issue.

Boston, Anaheim and Washington all have solid players on rookie contracts. Even Detroit has Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader, Andreas Lilja (injured, but big last year), Tomas Kopecky and Jonathan Ericsson all making big contributions at entry-level wages. The Canucks had Alex Edler, Alex Burrows and Rick Rypien, but all are due or already have contracts for big raises next year.

As time goes on, and fewer and fewer quality players emerge from the dire poverty that has been the Canucks farm system, murdered by first-round picks such as Patrick White and Michael Grabner, and ravaged by the unfortunate death of Luc Bourdon.

When Dave Nonis took the GM job in Vancouver he identified the farm system as the chief problem from day one. He made marginal improvements but admitted more needed to be done.

Vancouver's been falling into a deeper and deeper hole relative to other teams in this area, the Canucks now absolutely starved for incoming players who can make a major contribution.

Until this changes the Canucks are almost always going to have too many issue areas and not enough money to plug the holes.

Cody Hodgson was a nice start, but this year Vancouver doesn't pick from the No. 10 overall spot.

Gillis has has convinced the Aquilini family to more than triple the budget for scouting and development of players.

He also wants a skill coach to work with players already in the NHL and also to spend time with those in the American League to perhaps mine a player or two who might just need a little help. Just imagine for instance, what a difference it would make if someone could teach Mason Raymond to hit the net with his shot. His production could leap by 10 goals overnight over an 82-game season. If whomever Gillis hires can help just one player significantly, it's a huge bonus and great value for money.

The defence, the Sedins, Sundin and Luongo issues will all be largely determined by the start of play next season, but until this team does better drafting and developing, progress is going to be elusive

Patrick White was the biggest mistake since Judas. I don't know what the hell they were thinking drafting him.

[stuff99]

Luongo: He's human, and he likes it here

Goalie can't explain why what went wrong happened when it did

By Jason Botchford, The ProvinceMay 14, 2009 9:07 AM


In the spotlight one more time, Roberto Luongo faces the media horde Wednesday as the Canucks clean out their locker-room at GM Place.

In the spotlight one more time, Roberto Luongo faces the media horde Wednesday as the Canucks clean out their locker-room at GM Place.
Photograph by: Gerry Kahrmann, The Province

If Roberto Luongo has shown anything during the past few days, he has shown he's human.

He's made all those hockey "god" metaphors used to describe him during the past few years seem ridiculous — because he's not a saviour, a messiah or a god, though he's done a good job lately of being crucified for his team's sins.

No, Luongo is one of us. And maybe it's a good lesson for everyone to learn.

He is a wonderful goalie who can do wonderful things, but like all of us, he's capable of his worst possible moment at the worst possible time. And he's capable of not understanding why.

"That's something that I think I'll never understand," Luongo said, recalling the seven goals he allowed in Game 6. "I don't know what happened. The thing is, the first 10 minutes I made some nice saves and I really felt good and in the game.

"I don't know. I guess it's just one of those games where one thing leads to another, you get a few bad bounces, a few unlucky goals and all of a sudden, you don't know what the hell is going on out there."

Who can't relate? We've all had times in our lives when things have inexplicably spiralled out of our control. You can feel for him.

You had to. Anyone with an ounce of humanity felt their heart pull when they watched his raw, agonizing interview after Game 6.

You saw then how much he cares about the Canucks and about winning. It leaves you wondering what went through his mind Wednesday when, still "hurting inside," he learned from a GM Place parking attendant that the city's hottest debate was whether he should be traded.

He seemed genuinely surprised at the concept.

"Why would they trade me?"Luongo finally blurted out to the media Wednesday, nearing exasperation from the questioning on the subject. He also seemed genuinely hurt.

"The fans are passionate about their team, I understand it 100 per cent. It's a great market, a great hockey market. When you're winning, it's awesome. I get that whole thing.

"[But] we're all human. Things like that, I don't know really anybody who can put it aside without it affecting them." Luongo is hardly the first star athlete to discover just how fickle fans can be. In Philadelphia, people have been trying to chase Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb out of town annually for almost a decade. But he always comes back. And he always gives his team at least a chance to win it all.

Isn't that what you want as a fan? Because Luongo brings something with him every year to training camp: He brings a chance. He gives his team a chance to make the playoffs and a shot to win a championship.

Sure, there are teams who have done well by going cheap on goaltending. But there were 14 teams that invested more than $5 million in the position this season. Ten of them made the playoffs, including four of the six that remain. Of the 16 teams that went the cheap way in net, only six made the playoffs.

When GM Mike Gillis meets with the media this afternoon, it's expected he will ridicule the suggestion he trade Luongo, who he believes is his best player. But that doesn't mean it won't happen.

Luongo is the one who will decide what happens this offseason. Behind the scenes, he has told people he'd like to make a decision on his future in the next two months.

Certainly, it's not ideal for him or the team to go into next season without a strong indication of what he's planning.

Luongo said Wednesday that, when the emotional pain of losing in the second round begins to subside, he will talk with his wife, his family and his agent about his options.

If he decides he's not interested in an extension, Gillis will then decide if he's willing make a deal or if it's better to have Luongo play out the string.

There are teams who will line up to get him. You can put Montreal, Philadelphia and Chicago near the top of the list.

Luongo has a no-trade clause and he said earlier this year he couldn't see himself playing again in a market where hockey isn't king. He thrives on the energy, and when winning, loves the attention.

Luongo did make one thing clear Wednesday. His decision will be hockey-related. He said his wife enjoys it here and the city is "not an issue." "I do love Vancouver and the city, and I do love to play for the Canucks," he said.

And though it doesn't seem like it right now, the fans will again love him right back.

[stuff99]

Originally Posted by rsx

WEAK story by Gallagher, fuck that shit. Canucks aren't sore losers looking for excuses.

If they were truly pissed of at Buff then AV should've sent Rypien or Hordichuk out there to beat the fuck out of Kane/Toews/Sharp/Khabi, but he didn't.

the refs were pretty retarded...some of those late hits on the canucks weren't called

[stuff99]

Originally Posted by CRS

Patrick White was the biggest mistake since Judas. I don't know what the hell they were thinking drafting him.

I still remember that draft, where everyone thought we would pick David Perron, Patrick white wasnt even on TSN's ranking in the 2nd round...but Canucks picked him first.

Going back a few, Bourdon was projected 15-30 pick, while Kopitar was top 5, we picked Bourdon at 10.

Grabner was projected as a late 1st rounder but we picked him up at 13 or 14 overall.

[CRS]

Originally Posted by stuff99

I still remember that draft, where everyone thought we would pick David Perron, Patrick white wasnt even on TSN's ranking in the 2nd round...but Canucks picked him first.

Going back a few, Bourdon was projected 15-30 pick, while Kopitar was top 5, we picked Bourdon at 10.

Grabner was projected as a late 1st rounder but we picked him up at 13 or 14 overall.

He was in shorts when we drafted him. A big WTF for me.

[Gh0stRider]

Originally Posted by hi5-ive

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The playoffs are now over, and it's time for Vancouver to pay up. A friendly wager between mayors has gone in Chicago's favour. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is delivering the goods--and lots of beer-- following the Canucks playoff series loss to the Blackhawks.

Robertson has sent a table-full of Vancouver area treats to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, including smoked salmon, chocolates, chips, and a lot of beer--Molson Canadian beer, beer from the Granville Island Brewery, and Storm Brewing beer as well. So Daley won't be hungry, or thirsty as he watches the Blackhawks in round three.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (City of Chicago photo)
Robertson admits Vancouver hockey fans are still in withdrawl. "This is the day we were dreading...we thought the Canucks were going all the way, but we did lose, so we're putting forward our best stuff from Vancouver, for this day of reckoning."
The joke around City Hall: "They may have beat us on the ice, but they can't beat us in beer."





fuckckkkkk uuuu chicagoooo

[Tim Budong]

theres still hockey to be played

i say Canes over Boston by a goal..
and wings have figured out the ducks

anyways..
the comments im reading EVERYWHERE. Vancouver hockey fans are fucking douchebags. its been proven night in and night out. I love the canucks, but this solidifies my theory that Vancouver is all about PRODUCT HYPE and nothing else.

[Harvey Specter]

Originally Posted by Durrann1984

tonight as in thursday or tomorrow night as in friday?

Tonight.

[HonestTea]

Originally Posted by TRD604

HAHAHAHAHA

Sending that stuff in a Vancouver Canucks Bag! HILARIOUS!