How about them Canucks!

[talloola]

two new york sports journalists reported yesterday re: Sundin signing and said that
he obvlously was only interested in the money all along, and if not he would have
signed in new york, how arrogant they are, they can't and don't know how to see
beyond their own interests, and probably still think vancouver is 'the village' of
vancouver.

Since he is now going to receive 5 mil instead of 20 mil, I am wondering how that
could be, 'following the money'. ?????

He will be in Vancouver Dec 27 or 28th, will practice with the team till he and
the coaching staff feel he is in game condition and ready.

I heard him again on a phone call with a local radio station, and he sounds
truly excited and can't wait to get going again, it seems, once he convinced
himself he wanted to return to hockey, it is 'full steam ahead' now.

 

[talloola]

Vancouver Canucks - Features: How Swede it is - 12/19/2008

​

More news
How Swede it is
Mats Sundin is primed to make a splash in Vancouver
Derek Jory
Dec 19, 2008, 4:38 PM EST

+ Click for larger photo​

How would you like another Swede on your team?

That’s the question Mats Sundin jokingly posed to Vancouver General Manager Mike Gillis when calling to inform him that he had decided to join the Canucks.

It’s unclear how Gillis responded, but you can bet it was with a lot of enthusiasm.

Sundin, Vancouver’s new power forward, spoke to the media for the first time on Friday via a conference call from his home in Sweden. His day was just winding down thanks to the nine-hour time difference between the west coast and Stockholm, yet Sundin was hardly droopy in expressing how exhilarated he is to be a member of the Canucks.

“The first option has been Vancouver since we started to look at the different teams and I’m very thankful for the belief that the Vancouver organization has in me as a hockey player and wanting to add me to their roster,” said Sundin.

Since free-agency began way back on July 1, rumours regarding where Sundin would play this season have swirled like an uncontrollable tornado, gaining momentum and strength with each passing day. That twister hit F5 status on Tuesday when Gillis announced that a verdict was coming Thursday, one way or another.

Unlike other decision deadlines that came and went, Sundin stuck to his one just in time to save Vancouver from being blown away, and all it took was some convincing from fellow Swede Mattias Ohlund.

THE CALL

+ Click for larger photo​

The veteran blueliner called up Sundin Thursday morning to confirm that his addition would be a positive one to the team and that his presence wouldn’t act as a bull in the team’s chemistry china shop.

“I just wanted to get a feel on how the team felt getting another player mid-season and that they actually want me to come in and play for them,” Sundin said.

“Any time there’s changes mid-season and things going on, those things affect what’s going on in the dressing room, so I just wanted to get a feel on how the guys felt about it and it was very encouraging.”

“He had a few questions just about our team,” explained Ohlund, “and I told him it’s a great place to play. We’ve got a young team with a lot of potential and obviously everybody knows that he would be a good fit on our team and we’re happy that he’s here.”

In choosing the Canucks, Sundin joins his third Canadian team in what will now be his 18th season in the league.

Originally drafted by the Quebec Nordiques first overall in 1989 (the same season Vancouver got a steal of a deal and selected Pavel Bure in the sixth round, 113th overall), Sundin played four years pour les Nordiques before a blockbuster trade on June 28, 1994, sent him to the centre of the universe.

Toronto acquired Sundin, Todd Warrnier, Garth Butcher and a first round pick from Quebec for Wendel Clark, Landon Wilson, Sylvain Lefebvre and a first rounder.

This epic deal thrust Sundin into the spotlight in the toughest hockey

 

[Kreskin]

The Clark/Sundin trade was highway robbery.

 

[#juan]

Vancouver stunk up the place last night. The coach has to talk with a few of the guys. Here is one lesson some of the players should learn,"When you are the last man back, you don't try to stick handle, you get the puck out of your end as soon as possible".

 

[JLM]

I watched the 2nd period, I wasn't impressed enough to watch the 3rd.

 

[talloola]

Yes, that rule is correct, but I thought canucks played fine last night, they had more 'chances' than chicago, but if you follow the nhl, you know chicago is one
of the most talented, young teams in the nhl.
They sat at the bottom of the league for many years, that earned them lots of
high draft picks, and they are now paying off, wouldn't want to go through that
to get top picks.
canucks had lots of chances, had no puck luck at all, not once, the one chance
when puck dribbled right at the post, if it had bounced to the right, our guy
could have shoved it in, but it bounced to the left and behind the post. That's
the way the whole game went for us, none of the blue line shots redirected or
deflected off anyone's leg or butt.
Luongo might have stopped both of those shots which they scored on, but we
will never know that, sanford was hugging the post of the first one, and a
deer in the headlights on the second, but he played well, and that is the way it
goes.
Chicago are also very deep on defence so, in the last period they tightened up
on the back end, and we didn't have much room at all.
A good game and a good test for canucks, it's good to play the better teams,
as you can easily pick out the differences, and also your own chances, which
we had many, we outplayed them in the first period, pretty even in the second,
and no room in the third.
Give chicago lots of credit, they are a very very talented team.
They have swept their western road trip, beat edmonton 9-1, beat calgary in
overtime, very quickly.

 

[shadowshiv]

While they may have lost, at least they lost to a good team. If they had gotten beat by Tampa Bay it would have been a different story. I think the extra day or two off for the holidays should help(if they even get time off for the holidays, that is:lol.

 

[Kreskin]

In Toronto, sports radio "leaked" the impending signing in New York. In other words, they speculated and lost the guess. I have no time for those guys that do their televised radio, especially the clueless yaphead who can't take his shades off.

two new york sports journalists reported yesterday re: Sundin signing and said that
he obvlously was only interested in the money all along, and if not he would have
signed in new york, how arrogant they are, they can't and don't know how to see
beyond their own interests, and probably still think vancouver is 'the village' of
vancouver.

Since he is now going to receive 5 mil instead of 20 mil, I am wondering how that
could be, 'following the money'. ?????

He will be in Vancouver Dec 27 or 28th, will practice with the team till he and
the coaching staff feel he is in game condition and ready.

I heard him again on a phone call with a local radio station, and he sounds
truly excited and can't wait to get going again, it seems, once he convinced
himself he wanted to return to hockey, it is 'full steam ahead' now.

 

[talloola]

In Toronto, sports radio "leaked" the impending signing in New York. In other words, they speculated and lost the guess. I have no time for those guys that do their televised radio, especially the clueless yaphead who can't take his shades off.

I think his name is bob mccowan, and yes, he's extremely irritating, and I
would like to bomb the tv everytime he shows his ugly face, and have you
ever seen anyone who loves himself 'bigtime' like he does.
Toronto, toronto, toronto, they think it all starts and stops with them.

 

[talloola]

While they may have lost, at least they lost to a good team. If they had gotten beat by Tampa Bay it would have been a different story. I think the extra day or two off for the holidays should help(if they even get time off for the holidays, that is:lol.

we're certainly not going win them all, and yes, we make a few mistakes, along
with everyone, some more than others, and tampa bay lost again, to another
lowly team, atlanta, sure wish Kovalchuk could get out of atlanta, his great
talent is being wasted on that team.

 

[talloola]

Vancouver Canucks - Statistics - Games Notes

​

2008-2009 Regular Season
PlayerGPGAP+/-Daniel Sedin331518336Henrik Sedin33425291Pavol Demitra2310818-2Ryan Kesler33711186Kevin Bieksa24513183

Team Record: 18-12-3
Last Game: 1-3 L vs Chicago
(DEC.20.08)

Season Series: 1-0-0
Last Meeting: 7-6 SO W (OCT.31.08)vs.

Team Record: 18-12-3
Last Game: 3-2 SO W at Edmonton
(DEC.19.08)

Season Series: 0-0-1
Last Meeting: 6-7 SO L (OCT.31.08)

​

2008-2009 Regular Season
PlayerGP GAP+/-Ryan Getzlaf321324375Corey Perry33920293Teemu Selanne33141327-6Chris Kunitz33814224Chris Pronger33614202

For the Canucks…

Mason Raymond has had some memorable hockey moments playing against the Anaheim Ducks in his young career and you can bet he would love nothing more than to add to his list of feats against the Ducks tonight. It was just over a year ago when the 6’0”, 182 lbs. left winger notched his first career goal and his first career multi-point effort in a game in Anaheim back on December 12, 2007. A repeat of that night’s performance would definitely be a nice Christmas gift for the 23-year old as he looks to score his first goal in seven games. He has not lit the lamp since December 4th against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Calgary, Alberta-native is coming off a strong performance on Saturday against the Blackhawks that saw him lead the team with five shots on goal in 15:40 of ice-time. However the former Camrose Kodiak has just one point, an assist, in his last five games. He recorded one assist in the Canucks’ 7-6 shootout win over the Ducks back on October 31st. In four career games against Anaheim, Raymond has notched four points (2-2-4) and two penalty minutes.For the Ducks…

One player the Anaheim Ducks will definitely want to step up in the absence of Teemu Selanne is the 21-year old Bobby Ryan. Drafted second overall by the Anaheim Ducks in 2005, behind only Sidney Crosby, many critics have already labeled the former junior scoring sensation as a bust having been unable to secure full-time NHL employment to date and appearing in just 23 games coming into this season. However, the 6’2”, 208 lbs. right winger has been showing he can definitely put up some points at this level entering tonight’s game already with a career-high 11 points (4-7-11) despite suiting up in just 15 games so far this season.

The Cherry Hill, New Jersey-native has appeared in every game for the Ducks since being re-called from the Iowa Chops of the AHL where he began the 2008.09 campaign. He is one goal shy of matching a career-high five goals that he set last year in his first NHL campaign. He will be appearing in just his third career game against the Canucks and will be looking for his first point versus Vancouver. In two previous games against the Canucks, Ryan has a minus-one rating. He was not in the lineup for Anaheim’s 7-6 shootout loss to the Canucks back on October 31st.

The Canucks
D Sami Salo has a broken rib and is expected to be out four weeks. C Ryan Johnson is out indefinitely with a broken finger on his right hand and a broken bone in his left foot. G Roberto Luongo is week-to-week with a groin strain. C Rick Rypien has a sports hernia tear and is out indefinitely. Johnson, Luongo and Rypien are all on the injury reserve list.

The Ducks
RW Teemu Selanne suffered a cut to his left quad muscle in Anaheim’s 3-2 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday and is expected to be out 4-6 weeks. In a related move, the Ducks have re-called Vernon, BC-native C Andrew Ebbett from the Iowa Chops (AHL) as a result of the injury to Selanne. D Francois Beauchemin (sports hernia/hip) and LW Brad Larsen (torn left ACL) are on the injury reserve list. Also of note, G Jean-Sebastien Giguere left the team following the death of his father and missed Friday’s game against the Oilers. Giguere is expected to re-join the team for tonight’s

 

[talloola]

Good win for the canucks tonight, as they now fly to san jose to play tomorrow
night, and they will have their hands full with the western conference leaders,
and one of the toughest teams to beat in the nhl right now.
We had lots of good chances tonight, capitalized on three of them, and then took
a couple of stupid penalties, two men short is almost a sure goal for opposition,
and it was, then a wierd one batted through the air, bounced of sanford and
right to an anaheim player and in the net.
Anaheim took lots of stupid penalties too, they are quite undiciplined, if I was their
coach, I would smack all of their heads together, every so often.
We held them off for the remainder of the game, couldn't quite stuff it in an
empty, but they couldn't quite score with the extra man as well, so it ended with
a canuck victory.
We have owned them this season, so far.
The two teams had identical records before this game.

GO CANUCKS GO

 

[shadowshiv]

we're certainly not going win them all, and yes, we make a few mistakes, along
with everyone, some more than others, and tampa bay lost again, to another
lowly team, atlanta, sure wish Kovalchuk could get out of atlanta, his great
talent is being wasted on that team.

I agree about Kovalchuk. I think you will see him get traded sometime before the trading deadline. It would be great to see him on a team that would be able to help him out. Atlanta sucks!

 

[shadowshiv]

Good win for the canucks tonight, as they now fly to san jose to play tomorrow
night, and they will have their hands full with the western conference leaders,
and one of the toughest teams to beat in the nhl right now.
We had lots of good chances tonight, capitalized on three of them, and then took
a couple of stupid penalties, two men short is almost a sure goal for opposition,
and it was, then a wierd one batted through the air, bounced of sanford and
right to an anaheim player and in the net.
Anaheim took lots of stupid penalties too, they are quite undiciplined, if I was their
coach, I would smack all of their heads together, every so often.
We held them off for the remainder of the game, couldn't quite stuff it in an
empty, but they couldn't quite score with the extra man as well, so it ended with
a canuck victory.
We have owned them this season, so far.
The two teams had identical records before this game.

GO CANUCKS GO

It was a little closer than I am sure they would have liked. At one point they were ahead 3-1. At least then they had a little breathing room, but once it was 4-3 anything could have happened.8O

 

[JLM]

Didn't realize there was a game until I read it here- at least they are "holding their own"- San Jose will tell "where the bear sh*t in the buckwheat"

 

[shadowshiv]

While it may be tough, Vancouver can beat San Jose. Look at what happened to the Sharks last week? They lost a game that they were dominating(to a "bad" team), and then got smoked by Detroit 6-0 the very next game. It just shows that San Jose is not perfect, and that any team has a chance to beat them.

 

[talloola]

Didn't realize there was a game until I read it here- at least they are "holding their own"- San Jose will tell "where the bear sh*t in the buckwheat"

The bear/buckweat saying, my husband says it all the time.
Canucks will have their hands full tonight, as San Jose has not lost a home game, regular time, this season.
Anyone who goes into their rink has their work cut out for them, so if we
play our best but still lose, it will be expected, but one never knows, anything
can happen.
Burrows might get a hat trick:smile:
Our game last night was ours to have, until we took stupid penalties toward
end of game, almost gave it away, but hung on to win it.
Very important win, as a loss there, and a loss tonight, would take canucks
into xmas break on a three game losing streak, and they don't want that.
They flew down to san jose right after game last night, probably didn't get
to sleep till about 4, then I wonder how much sleep they would get, cause I
know if I do that, I still wake up at the same time, then snooze later in the
day.
They did a sleep analysis test and learned that the hockey players don't get
to sleep for about four hours after a home game, they travelled
last night instead of this morning, and also nhl rule states that teams must
be at destination one day before game, so really, they had no choice.
Our next game after xmas is home to edmonton on the 26th.

 

[Kreskin]

I didn't see the game but nice to read they got a win in Anaheim.

 

[shadowshiv]

The bear/buckweat saying, my husband says it all the time.
Canucks will have their hands full tonight, as San Jose has not lost a home game, regular time, this season.
Anyone who goes into their rink has their work cut out for them, so if we
play our best but still lose, it will be expected, but one never knows, anything
can happen.
Burrows might get a hat trick:smile:
Our game last night was ours to have, until we took stupid penalties toward
end of game, almost gave it away, but hung on to win it.
Very important win, as a loss there, and a loss tonight, would take canucks
into xmas break on a three game losing streak, and they don't want that.
They flew down to san jose right after game last night, probably didn't get
to sleep till about 4, then I wonder how much sleep they would get, cause I
know if I do that, I still wake up at the same time, then snooze later in the
day.
They did a sleep analysis test and learned that the hockey players don't get
to sleep for about four hours after a home game, they travelled
last night instead of this morning, and also nhl rule states that teams must
be at destination one day before game, so really, they had no choice.
Our next game after xmas is home to edmonton on the 26th.

It makes me wonder how many players have to take medication to help them sleep and if so, how many of them have developed a "need" for them to be able to go to sleep at all anymore. With such tension on your mind and body(the game itself, and the flight to different timezones) would it be easy to happen?

 

[Risus]

I notice the maple laffs are playing better this year without Sundin, who, by the way, has retreated to Sweden...