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Vancouver Canucks: '08-'09 season
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| xtr3m |
The team is quite a bit different, don't you think?
Anyway, the puck drops tonight.
- Tribute night to Luc Bourdon. The team will unveil helmet stickers in the memory of #28.
- The season begins where it ended last time: Flames, GM Place.
- Big Bert is back yet again with another team.
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| elFreak |
| you guys better hope luongo stands on his head...because that is the only way the canucks have a chance to compete for 8th place. |
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| LoveHate |
lol at 8th place
we are going to be number one''
and ill be attending every single game at home this year
cheaa |
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| elFreak |
you are crazy if you think that.
i would say this is a fairly accurate assessment:
| quote: | 2007-08 result: 39-33-10, 11th in Western Conference
Key arrivals: D Nolan Baumgartner, D Rob Davison, F Steve Bernier, F Pavol Demitra, F Darcy Hordichuk, F Ryan Johnson, F Kyle Wellwood, GM Mike Gillis
Key departures: D Luc Bourdon, F Trevor Linden, F Brendan Morrison, F Markus Naslund
Offence: Change, change, change. Linden, Morrison and Naslund combined played more than 33 seasons for Vancouver, so the Canucks find themselves in a period of transition, looking for offence to support twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who each finished in the top 20 in league scoring last season. The Canucks are depending an awful lot on intangibles by investing in Steve Bernier, Pavol Demitra and Kyle Wellwood, a trio that doesn't exactly play with grit when healthy — and they're too often not healthy. The biggest intangible of all is keeping cap room for Mats Sundin. Ryan Kesler will be asked to step up in terms of production and leadership, as will Taylor Pyatt, and the Canucks are hoping Jannik Hansen and Mason Raymond can continue their progress. B.C. native and perennial minor-league scorer Jason Krog will get a chance to get back in the NHL in a non-checking role, which is a better fit for him. Canucks fans will likely appreciate the ethos of Ryan Johnson and Darcy Hordichuk.
Defence: The Canucks have a deep group of strong second-tier defencemen, with no true elite leader. The corps missed, on average, 21 games per defenceman last season, and suffered a terrible blow when young Luc Bourdon was killed in an accident this the spring. Aside from Kevin Bieksa's breakout season two years ago, the top defenceman in Vancouver usually maxes at fewer than 35 points. Bieksa was playing poorly before his injury last season and needs to contain his edge — he accumulated a total of 44 penalty minutes in a pair of games last year. Sami Salo is dependable but seemingly can't be pencilled in for more than 65 games at this point, and Matthias Ohlund will look for a positive plus/minus rating for the first time in four seasons. Alex Edler was the brightest story last season, playing solidly and providing an infusion of needed youth. The Canucks tried to ensure they won't be caught out if the injury bug strikes again, adding solid depth guys Baumgartner and Davison.
Goaltending: We know they're voted by separate blocs, but we're still shaking our heads that Alain Vigneault was named coach of the year in 2006-07 and Roberto Luongo wasn't the top goalie, as the two went hand in hand. Luongo had a slight dropoff last season during a physically demanding year plus the emotional rollercoaster of becoming a new parent. He is the engine — anything but top form and the team is in trouble. Backup Curtis Sanford started just nine games last year. Prospect Cory Schneider looks great, but having him sit on the bench might not make much sense. Either way, unlike the situation with Kiprusoff and Calgary, Luongo needs to play 70ish games because Vancouver just has to make the playoffs for this season to be a success, given expectations.
Coaching: New GM Mike Gillis didn't hire Vigneault, but was satisfied after a series of meetings with keeping the coach. The team's style of play reflects its strengths and the coach juggles his forward lines more than most of his contemporaries. Vancouver's special teams, a priority for Vigneault and new assistants Rick Bowness and Ryan Walter, finished in the middle of the pack last season. Vigneault is only 15 months removed from his Jack Adams win but it's an unforgiving business. If a Canadian-based coach is to be let go before the end of the season, he is probably the top candidate.
Outlook: After a couple of seasons of pretending they were close to contending if all the right breaks fell their way, the Canucks are taking a more honest approach this season. Honesty may be painful for Canucks fans, however. Luongo is awesome and the defence is sound, but with goals likely at a premium, it's just too fine a margin for success. Vancouver will likely miss the post-season for the second consecutive year. |
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| xtr3m |
You're in for a surprise if your opinion on Canucks is based on predictions from TSN and ESPN hockey experts. Two legitimate scoring lines that click well, a checking line that is capable of scoring quite a few goals, a gritty and energetic 4th is something we haven't seen here for a while. Of course this is all based on estimates and a 6-0-1 preseason record.
Oh, and we still have $9 million kicking around.
Tonight we'll see. |
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| BSOD |
| we needed a change in our team and now we have it. we'll see how things go. |
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| elFreak |
if you think that the pre season record is an indication of anything, your whole point is moot.
i love hockey and want all canadian teams to succeed (except 1), but being a realist it is easy to see that vancouver is one of the weakest teams in that division. If you do not think the canucks need to go into rebuilding mode, you just have to see what constant mediocrity did to the leafs.
it was from cbc btw, and i know that predictions are only predictions.(everyone picked the habs to miss the playoffs last year...the difference is the canucks are much weaker in the young offensive prospects department.)It just echoed my thoughts on the team, by all means more canadian teams in the playoffs is something i want.
Kyle Wellwood is a lemon. (i got to see him in the eastern conference a lot)
Demitra is too old.
Steve Bernier is a great hockey player, but one that needs support to succeed.
Sundin will not sign with vancouver (trust me). Maybe they will strengthen the team with a trade due to all of that cap room left, but you have to ask yourself what bait do they have to get someone that will make an impact.
i love to talk hockey and wish vancouver the best for this year...you guys will be seeing a lot of low scoring games. The west is a beast of a conference for you guys to go up against.
in all reality i do not see more than 2 teams from the pacific making it in.
let us see your predictions for the year on both sides...i'm not here to bash, i am excited that real sports start again. |
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| jholten |
Yep it all starts tonight. (Feels like forever since last regular season game)
Our scoring lines will only click if they stay healthy.. which Demitra is not famous for.
However all the changes are for the best. (Naslund, Morrison, Linden)
Hopefully we can get Gaborik.. I don't think he is going to resign in Minnesota. |
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| elFreak |
East:
1. Montreal Canadiens
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Washington Capitals
4. Philadelphia Flyers
5. Ottawa Senators
6. New York Rangers
7. Boston Bruins
8. New Jersey Devils
9. Tampa Bay Lightning
10. Carolina Hurricanes
11. Buffalo Sabres
12. New York Islanders
13. Florida Panthers
14. Atlanta Thrashers
15. Toronto Maple Leafs
West
1. Detroit Red Wings
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Minnesota Wild
4. Dallas Stars
5. Anaheim Ducks
6. Calgary Flames
7. Nashville Predators
8. Chicago Blackhawks
9. Edmonton Oilers
10. Colorado Avalanche
11. Vancouver Canucks
12. Columbus Blue Jackets
13. Los Angeles Kings
14. Phoenix Coyotes
15. St. Louis Blues
what do you think vancouver has to get gaborik?
bob gainey wants him too.
smart gm's do not trade guys to teams in the same division..not superstars at least;) |
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| jholten |
You overestimate the Bruins and Predators.. they are going to suck.. other then that i'd pretty much agree..
but Vancouver swap with nashville
and islanders at the bottem of east. |
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| elFreak |
the leafs will be the worst team in hockey. it will be a good thing for them. (ok maybe not worse than the blues)
the bruins will be good.
patrice bergeron is back and michael ryder will do better on this team. A gritty team that made it to the post season last year got better.
Nashville will surprise you. |
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| jholten |
I doubt Thomas will repeat the kind of season he had which won them many close games (ughh not against Montreal though :stongue: )
East:
1. Montreal Canadiens
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Washington Capitals
4. New York Rangers
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. Ottawa Senators
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Carolina Hurricanes
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
11. Boston Bruins
12. Florida Panthers
13. Atlanta Thrashers
14. Toronto Maple Leafs
15. New York Islanders
West
1. Detroit Red Wings
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Calgary Flames
4. Dallas Stars
5. Anaheim Ducks
6. Vancouver Canucks
7. Minnesota Wild
8. Chicago Blackhawks
9. Edmonton Oilers
10. Pheonix Coyotes
11. Colorado Avalanche
12. Nashville Predators
13. Columbus Blue Jackets
14. St. Louis Blues
15. Los Angeles Kings |
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