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Vancouver Off-Topic / Current EventsThe off-topic forum for Vancouver, funnies, non-auto centered discussions, WORK SAFE. While the rules are more relaxed here, there are still rules. Please refer to sticky thread in this forum.
Success in the NHL has its price, mainly salary cap restriction and lower position in the draft. As a result the Canucks do not have a particularly rich talent pipeline. Cancuks Mike Gillis deserves credit however, he and his staff have begun to parlay limited picks into some success. Where the Canucks already had some nice prospects in net and on defense, with this year's draft Gillis also added some size and skill at forward, while reinforcing some of the previously stronger areas.
A former top-10 pick whose rise has been slowed by a misdiagnosed back injury in 2009, Hodgson registered average numbers for Vancouver's AHL affiliate in Manitoba, posting 17 goals and 13 assists in 52 games. He acquitted himself in a checking line role over 20 games (eight regular season, 12 playoff) with the Canucks and though he put up minimal points, was a solid presence on the forecheck and in his own end.
Hodgson has the hockey sense to be a legitimate third-line forward, with hands that suggest he could do more. He may be ready to start in the NHL the coming season but could have a tough time cracking a veteran lineup.
Nicklas Jensen has an ideal combination of size, speed, and skill. While cultural assimilation to North America is typically not as difficult for Scandinavians, it should be even less so for Jensen, an OHL player who is fluent in English. Jensen's father, Dan, also played in the OHL before returning to Denmark for his pro career. Negatives on Jensen at this point are his conditioning, which needs to improve and his attention to defense. In 61 games at Oshawa last season, Jensen tallied 29 goals and 29 assists and was plus-14. In 10 playoff games for the Generals, he scored seven goals and had four assists and was plus-two.
3. (7) Chris Tanev, D, 6.5B
Acquired as free agent, May 31st, 2010
Like Hodgson, Tanev gained some valuable NHL experience in 2010-11, with 29 regular season and five playoff games, and did not look out of place. In Manitoba, he registered one goal and eight assists in 39 regular season games, and was plus-16. In 14 playoff games, he notched a goal and two helpers.
Tanev is not spectacular in any regard, but he is always smart with the puck and makes great decisions in all situations. He projects as a third pairing defenseman in the NHL and his solid game and hockey smarts indicate he is a sure bet to reach that potential.
4. (8) Eddie Lack, G, 7.0C
Signed as a free agent, April 6th, 2010
No Canuck prospect has seen his stock rise faster since 2009 than the rangy Swedish goaltender. In that brief span of time, Lack has advanced from the Swedish minors, to the SEL, then to an effective starter in the AHL.
A shrewd free agent signing by GM Mike GiIlis and further proof of how well the Canucks scout Sweden, Lack's numbers as the starter in Manitoba last season were outstanding. In 53 games, he managed a 28-21-4 record, .926 save percentage, 2.26 goals against average, and five shutouts.
With Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider ahead of him in the organization however, perhaps the greater question surrounding Lack is not if he will make the NHL, but where.
After picking up a hat trick in the AHL in the spring of 2010, this diminutive former first rounder put up adequate numbers in his first full pro season at Manitoba in 2010-11. In 61 games, he picked up 10 goals and 18 assists and was minus-seven. In 14 playoff contests, he had a goal and five helpers.
Prior to sustaining a midseason ankle injury, Schroeder played primarily with some combination of veteran Marco Rosa and fellow rookies Aaron Volpatti and Cody Hodgson.
After graduating early in 2009-10 to Brynas in the Elietseren (Swedish Elite League), the speedy Rodin settled in with decent numbers this past season, seven goals, 19 assists, and minus-nine in 53 games.
Rodin did not make the national squad representing Sweden in the Karjala Tournament in late 2010, however his ice time increased at Brynas, where he often played with former Senator Andreas Dackell, a reflection of the coaching staff's growing confidence in him.
Sauve projects as a rugged, two-way defender in the NHL. He had solid numbers in an injury-shortened 2010-11 campaign, managing three goals and 11 assists in 39 regular season games. He also appeared in five games with the Canucks. In addition to his solid defensive play, Sauve will drop the gloves in defense of teammates and handles himself well in a scrap.
Connauton had a nice rookie season at Manitoba with 11 goals and 12 assists in 73 regular season games and a goal in the playoffs. His numbers are consistent with his billing, a hard-shooting, power play specialist. The former Western Michigan Bronco continues to demonstrate NHL quality skills in terms of skating, puck-handling and decision-making. However, at minus-11 this past season, he must get better in his own end and gain physical strength in order to reach the NHL.
McNally captained his Milton Academy (Massachusetts) team to their first ever league title. He had 35 points in 28 games and was voted Prep Defenseman of the Year by U.S. Hockey Report.
He will attend Harvard this fall. It is unknown what type of upside he has at this point, but he was an offensively oriented player and a mobile skater in prep school.
10. (4) Billy Sweatt, LW, 6.5C
Signed as a free agent, August 19th, 2010
Sweatt had a nice year at Manitoba, with 19 goals and 27 assists in 80 games. His game is consistent with that of many Canucks and Canuck prospects in the sense he is an excellent skater.
But while his AHL numbers are good, they are nothing special. Furthermore, as a former high second round pick, the forward is now with his third organization in three years.
So the question with a player like Sweatt is the same that dogs so many who produce significant offensive numbers in college and junior- if he lacks the ability to produce those numbers in the NHL, can he adjust his game to a potential bottom-six role?
This big Czech goaltender, like Jensen, might have been a nice value pick where he fell to the Canucks. Some draft speculators had him going in the second round. Honzik has the size, athleticism and technique that would indicate an NHL future. A pure butterfly goaltender, Honzik is fairly well-polished and shows good rebound control.
His stats in 36 games at Victoriaville (3.54 goals against average, .884 save percentage) will not inspire greatness. However, one must remember this was Honzik's first year in North America, and also a great year for offense in the QMJHL. His 17-12-1 record better demonstrates his general effectiveness.
An offensively gifted player with lots of size, Grenier can skate and shoot the puck, but despite his stature, is not a power player. He needs to grow into his frame and then learn how to effectively harness added strength within his game.
His regular season numbers with the Quebec Remparts (nine goals and 15 assists in 31 contests) were unexceptional. However, in 15 playoff games, he came through with eight goals and eight assists. Grenier was dealt in June from Quebec to Halifax.
13. (NR) Sebastian Erixon, D, 7D
Acquired as a Free agent, April 20th, 2011
Passed over in his draft year, the 21 year-old Erixon was signed by Mike Gillis in April after his third season in the Swedish Elite League. Small in stature, Erixon makes up for it with very high hockey sense and the prototypical Swedish defenseman's two-way game. In a league where defensemen are hard-pressed to put up big numbers, Erixon has gradually ramped up his production in the SEL. In 2010-11 season with Timra IK, Erixon notched five goals and 15 assists and was minus-six.
Yet another intriguing blueliner grabbed in the middle rounds by Gillis, Polasek demonstrated his offensive skill with a very strong season at P.E.I. in the QMJHL, registering seven goals and 32 assists in 61 games. He was even in plus/minus. Making these numbers even more impressive is the fact that the Q has been loaded with outstanding pro prospects the last couple of years.
Polasek has been a standout in both Canuck rookie and pro training camps, and thus on April 6th, 2011, the Canucks signed him to a three year entry-level pro contract.
Point-per-game players are not terribly unusual in the high-scoring QMJHL these days. However, Anthony's combination of size and production would indicate that he is a prospect worth watching. In 61 games at St. John in 2010-11, he notched 23 goals and 37 assists. Most notably he was plus-35. In 14 playoff games he had five goals and seven assists.
What Friesen lacks in size, he makes up for in production, evidenced by 66 points (26 goals, 40 assists) in 60 contests with Niagara in the OHL. He also notched two goals and eight assists in 14 playoff contests.
Considered a leader on and off the ice, Friesen shares the same qualities as many current Canucks forwards, he has good sense in the offensive zone, plays a hard-skating style of game, and is more than capable of stirring the pot.
In his sophomore season at Colgate (ECAC), Price led all Raider defensemen with five goals and 14 assists in 42 games. He was also one of only five players to appear in all 42 contests. Price registered a season high three assists in a road loss at Princeton, on each of Colgate's first three goals.
He has returned to Colgate for his junior season in 2011-12.
Labate could be yet another value selection for the Canucks, projected by at least one prognosticator as a high third round pick. Labate can shoot the puck, but the Minnesota schoolboy has "project" written all over him. He needs to work on his skating and must add weight to his large frame.
The Academy of Holy Angels graduate is committed to play NCAA hockey at Wisconsin this fall.
Cannata is perhaps testament to the fact that goaltending is the real strength of the Canucks' talent pipeline. He put together a very solid season at Merrimack in the highly competitive NCAA Hockey East conference (25-10-4, 2.48 goals against average, .911 save percentage), and is considered by many to be a legitimate NHL prospect.
Aside from having adequate size, Cannata is commended by coaches and fellow players for his calm, consistent demeanor between the pipes- a critical component of pro success.
At the tail end of a strong overage junior season in Seattle (WHL) in 2009-10, the Canucks signed Rai to a 3-year pro contract. He then suffered a serious back injury and missed all of the 2010-11 season.
Rai was born in Surrey, BC and is often spotted driving around Vancouver. He is also a subject of a great deal of debate among Vancouver fans, is he a legitimate prospect or a high-scoring junior player who lacks the foot speed to succeed in the pros? A healthy 2011-12 should provide some answers.
Copyright 2011 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
The Canucks haven't been in the bottom of the NHL for a long time so naturally our talent pool on the farm isn't very deep. Past 10th, that's looking pretty slim and we lack a serious AAA prospect with superstar potential. Hodgson might be as close as it gets there.
We're lucky the Sedins and Kesler panned out because Gillis can just build around those guys for another 5 years and just roll the dice on prospects.
all time scoring leader for an american in junior level ahead of J.roenick, i expect better things hopefully... i did not jump and scream for nothing when the canucks drafted him.
On the topic of Junior stars not doing well in the NHL, anyone remember the Brule vs Crosby debate?
Brule was the best in the west, Crosby the beast of the east and the Allstar game was played here. Crosby didn't show, Brule got a hat trick and I remember being at the game where everyone (admittedly, myself included) was saying Brule was the man and potentially the NHLs next Superstar.
probably has something to do with the blue jacket development program... they have drafted in the top 10 every yr and most of their draft picks are a bust except nash. Brassard and klesla were pretty solid but hope johansen will be their #1 guy on center
It's okay I think. I have to wait to see it with the rest of his gear.
Better than just solid white pads though. Is that still the P3 with just customized "graphics"?
I don't think Reebok has made a new series line for goalie pads.
This colour scheme/design is still my favourite one for Luongo.
__________________ __________________________________________________ Last edited by AzNightmare; Today at 10:09 AM
I see people talking about goalie pads all the time and I don't get it. It's not like they're covered in art like masks. They're just a generic design and they're the same for everyone that buys those other than color.
As long as they stop pucks, I don't even notice when those guys change their pads.
I see people talking about goalie pads all the time and I don't get it. It's not like they're covered in art like masks. They're just a generic design and they're the same for everyone that buys those other than color.
As long as they stop pucks, I don't even notice when those guys change their pads.
What do you mean? All pads from different models are different.
It would be like people saying all hockey sticks are the same as long as they
can put pucks in the net. I don't even notice when a player switches different
sticks with different blade curves.
Besides talking about the designs and colour schemes, more importantly,
performance and quality from one model of pads to another can stir up a big
discussion among goalies. It's pretty important stuff. But I wouldn't expect
anyone to be talking about that stuff here. Cause that would be in the gear review thread.
And Reebok currently has 3 different models that pros would use, but the
designs on the new pads that Luongo is using doesn't fit any of those...
so I'm suspecting that's a custom designed Reebok pad...
or it's just a completely different pad, and "Reebok" paid Luongo to just put that logo on the pads.
__________________ __________________________________________________ Last edited by AzNightmare; Today at 10:09 AM
Ryan_Kesler Ryan Kesler
Convinced Bieksa to join twitter!!! Follow @kbieksa3 he's the real deal. Not gonna throw out his first tweet until he gets 10k followers
What do you mean? All pads from different models are different.
It would be like people saying all hockey sticks are the same as long as they
can put pucks in the net. I don't even notice when a player switches different
sticks with different blade curves.
Besides talking about the designs and colour schemes, more importantly,
performance and quality from one model of pads to another can stir up a big
discussion among goalies. It's pretty important stuff. But I wouldn't expect
anyone to be talking about that stuff here. Cause that would be in the gear review thread.
And Reebok currently has 3 different models that pros would use, but the
designs on the new pads that Luongo is using doesn't fit any of those...
so I'm suspecting that's a custom designed Reebok pad...
or it's just a completely different pad, and "Reebok" paid Luongo to just put that logo on the pads.
That's Reebok's newest update, Premier Series IV. Revoke is built the same as the Premier Series line of pad, but with the different graphic. So Reebok has the Premier Series (ex. Luongo), Revoke (ex. Fleury), and Larceny (ex. Miller).
I see people talking about goalie pads all the time and I don't get it. It's not like they're covered in art like masks. They're just a generic design and they're the same for everyone that buys those other than color.
As long as they stop pucks, I don't even notice when those guys change their pads.
What's there not to talk about for pads? They are not covered in art like masks so they are not worth discussing? Only topics pertaining to art are worthy of discussion? How about different performance for different pads?
If anything, masks are more of a generic design than pads, since across all manufacturers their purpose and goal is to deflect pucks and disperse the impact and pressure. As long as they keep the goalie's brains intact, the art is only secondary.. Pads on the other hand are tuned and modified to reflect each player's style. There are lots to talk about.
Different pads definitely function and perform differently from each other. You have modern flat-faced butterfly style pads (Luongo, Lundqvist) that kick rebounds out, or more traditional hybrid pads with knee rolls or shin rolls (Brodeur, Miller) that help dampen pucks and produce less lively rebounds.
I heard Kiprusoff and most Calgary Flames goalies use Always pads, because they have wings. Apparently they have this "sea of red" there in Calgary, sounds like a heavy flow.
That's all fine and stuff talking about what pads actually do. "This flap over here is 30% more shock absorbant than the predecessor."
But there's never been a discussion like that in this thread. It's always been about what color they are or what they look like, which I just don't understand. I just find it weird. It's not like they were even designed...Reebok or whatever just takes the team's colors and puts that on the pads. Otherwise, they look largely the same.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BLUETIGER
What's there not to talk about for pads? They are not covered in art like masks so they are not worth discussing? Only topics pertaining to art are worthy of discussion? How about different performance for different pads?
If anything, masks are more of a generic design than pads, since across all manufacturers their purpose and goal is to deflect pucks and disperse the impact and pressure. As long as they keep the goalie's brains intact, the art is only secondary.. Pads on the other hand are tuned and modified to reflect each player's style. There are lots to talk about.
Different pads definitely function and perform differently from each other. You have modern flat-faced butterfly style pads (Luongo, Lundqvist) that kick rebounds out, or more traditional hybrid pads with knee rolls or shin rolls (Brodeur, Miller) that help dampen pucks and produce less lively rebounds.
I heard Kiprusoff and most Calgary Flames goalies use Always pads, because they have wings. Apparently they have this "sea of red" there in Calgary, sounds like a heavy flow.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AzNightmare
What do you mean? All pads from different models are different.
It would be like people saying all hockey sticks are the same as long as they
can put pucks in the net. I don't even notice when a player switches different
sticks with different blade curves.
Besides talking about the designs and colour schemes, more importantly,
performance and quality from one model of pads to another can stir up a big
discussion among goalies. It's pretty important stuff. But I wouldn't expect
anyone to be talking about that stuff here. Cause that would be in the gear review thread.
And Reebok currently has 3 different models that pros would use, but the
designs on the new pads that Luongo is using doesn't fit any of those...
so I'm suspecting that's a custom designed Reebok pad...
or it's just a completely different pad, and "Reebok" paid Luongo to just put that logo on the pads.
BTW: anyone remember Mike Danton? The St. Louis Blues player that hired a hitman to kill his agent or something?
Quote:
The long, strange journey of former NHLer Mike Danton took him to IFK Ore of Sweden's Division 1 this summer, seven years after he was arrested in a murder-for-hire plot that derailed his pro career and led to five years in prison.
In IFK's season opener Sunday night against Soderhamn/Ljusne, the controversial player turned into hero, saving the life of a teammate on the ice.
During the third period, Danton's teammate, Marcus Bengtsson, took a late check and fell to the ice landing face first. It was soon after that Bengtsson began to go into convulsions.
Bengtsson started having a seizure and that's when Danton sprung into action to help save his teammates life. After a few minutes, Bengtsson's jaw locked and it became clear he was close to choking on his own tongue. On his blog today, Danton wrote about the incident:
"As his eyes continued to roll into the back of his head, his mouth finally opened a bit. It was at that time that I jammed my fingers into his mouth and clawed his tongue. While I did that, Max and Roger tilted Bangan [Bengtsson] on to his side to keep his tongue and blood from sliding into his throat."
Danton noted in his blog that during his five years in prison, he became certified in first aid.
The game was halted, but the decision to continue was put on the shoulders of Danton. He decided to ask Bengtsson, who gave them the green light. IFK would end up winning 4-3; and after the game, members of the team visited Bengtsson in hospital where he had no recollection of the frightening events
WOW thats a crazy story. Kinda messed how things work out sometimes. Just think because he was in prison he learned first aid which more then likley saved Bengtssons life.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
The banners on the left side and below do not show for registered users!
anymore. having friends is too mainstream.
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