Category Archives: Just Saying….

Canucks Offseason Update, 2016 NHL Draft, The Next Chapter

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Just-saying           By Andrew Chernoff   May 28, 2016

The Vancouver Canucks have been busy trying to “rebuild”, or “retool” the team as they prepare for the upcoming 2016 NHL Draft and later the 2016-17 season.

CANUCKS OFFSEASON WHEELING AND DEALING

Canucks General Manager Jim Benning has been adding youth to the already formidable youth movement established by the Canucks since he has been the Canucks general manager.

On May 25, Benning demonstrated he was not shy about pulling a trade, if he felt it could help the club, when Vancouver acquired 24 year old defenceman Erik Gudbranson and Florida’s 2016 fifth round pick (NYI) in exchange for Jared McCann and the Canucks 2016 second and fourth round picks.

Benning has received criticism about the trade and questions about an apparent philosophical change to acquire Gudbranson, in trading away McCann and the Canucks 2016 second and fourth round picks.

Gudbranson is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenceman who will play in the team’s top four next season, according to Benning, and felt the deal was too good to pass up at this stage of the offseason.

It was a steep price to pay, but this past season Gudbranson came into his own for Florida, as he ranked third on the Panthers in hits (150), fourth in blocked shots (73) and fourth in average ice time per game (20:06). The 2010 3rd overall NHL draft pick ranked second on the Panthers and led Florida defencemen in average ice time in the 2016 playoffs (26:54) in addition to ranking second on the team in blocked shots (8).

Earlier in March, the Canucks signed 2009 draft pick, 25 year old right wing Anton Rodin to a one-year, one-way contract on March 22; and on March 9, signed their fourth pick (third round, 66th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, defenceman Nikita Tryamkin, to a 2-year entry-level contract.

Tryamkin was able to play in 13 games for the Canucks this past season after signing, registering a goal and an assist (1-1-2). He registered a career-high five hits, Apr. 1 at ANA…Notched a career-high three shots and 21:01 TOI, Mar. 27 vs CHI…Recorded four hits and a career-high four blocked shots, Mar. 19 vs STL…Appeared in his first NHL game and recorded his first NHL point, Mar. 16 vs COL. He collected his first career NHL goal, Apr. 7 at CGY.

2016 NHL DRAFT

Vancouver will enter the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, currently owning the 5th, 33rd, 63rd, 93rd, 153rd, 183rd and 193rd overall picks, potentially giving the Canucks a great opportunity to add to an already impressive collection of young talent, that Vancouver is hoping will payoff in an optimistic future for the team.

Since the Canucks reorganization in 2014, the Canucks drafts have yielded the following:

2014

Round 1, 6th overall pick: Jake Virtanen

Round 1, 24th overall (from Anaheim): Jared McCann

Round 2: Thatcher Demko

Round 3: Nikita Tryamkin

Round 5: Gustav Forsling

Round 6: Kyle Pettit

Round 7: Mackenze Stewart

2015

Round 1 (23rd overall): Brock Boeser

Round 3: Guillaume Brisebois

Round 4: Dimitry Zhukenov

Round 5: Carl Neill

Round 5 (from Rangers): Adam Gaudette

Round 6: Lukas Jasek

Round 7: Tate Olson

THE NEXT CHAPTER

According to Trevor Linden, President, Hockey Operations, the Canucks are developing their next core—the next generation of the team.

“We’re getting younger and faster. There’s nothing like seeing a young core group come together, right from the start. It’s an exciting time to be a Canucks fan.”

General Manager Jim Benning, echos the same thoughts, as the Canucks strive to build a winning team, assuring Canuck fans alike, it’s happening.

“We are accelerating the development of our young players by surrounding them with the best NHL leadership, character and talent. There are no shortcuts. No one says this will be easy. What it will be, is what you’ve come to expect from Canucks hockey at its best: Exciting. Energetic. Emotional. You’ll see the future of the team emerging in front of you, every night.”

And Coach Willie Desjardins is just as psyched about the Canucks future, and his expectations are crystal clear and unambiguous.

“Every time we hit the ice I want our guys to play hard, with energy and speed. It’s about competing every shift with passion, whether you’re a veteran or a rookie. That’s what we’re trying to teach here: a relentless belief that a Vancouver Canuck is going to do things the right way, for his teammates, every single day. That’s what makes great teammates, and that’s what makes great teams.”

Marketing is one thing, and well and good. The Canucks need to make it happen.

Make it happen, and the sell outs will return for all home games.

Make it happen. Winning makes believers, is infectious, builds, is good for the bottom line, provides stability.

Just saying.

Challenges, Adversity Face Canucks On Eve Of 6-Game Road Trip

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Just-saying  JUST SAYING….     By Andrew Chernoff    December 12, 2015

 

Vancouver faces a 6-game road trip against some stiff competition, over the next two weeks before their next home game on Boxing Day, December 26 against the Edmonton Oilers.

The road trip starts against Chicago tomorrow night, ending on Tuesday, December 22 against Tampa Bay.

In between they play, Minnesota on December 15; Philadelphia on December 17; Detroit on December 18; Florida on December 20.

Vancouver has infused the line up with some youth this season with the likes of rookies Ben Hutton, Jared McCann, Jake Virtanen,  Sven Baertschi, and Brandon Sutter but clearly the Canucks  have been led by seasoned veterans like the Sedins, Ryan Miller, along with defensemen Alexander Edler, and Dan Hamhuis.

The Canucks though will be without Dan Hamhuis who is expected to be out at least two months after surgery Friday to repair a facial fracture, coach Willie Desjardins told the Canucks website on Friday.

Vancouver continues to be without young center Brandon Sutter who has been sorely missed since November 10, 2015 and recently had sports hernia surgery on December 2 and is not expected in the line-up again until the latter part of January at the earliest.

Sutter has already missed 14 games, and could miss as much as 15 more games before returning; Hamhuis could miss as much as 28 games.

Vancouver is also without Luca Sbisa (hand injury) and Jake Virtanen (conditioning assignment with Utica Comets).

Hamhuis and Sutter are pivotal to the Canucks success and their experience, intensity, skills and leadership are hard to replace especially when Vancouver has to make up for a less than acceptable 30 game record, and take their game up a notch or two, and start now to make a run for a playoff position.

If Vancouver continues to demonstrate their inability to win against some of the top teams in the league on this road trip, the Canucks could be in last place in the Pacific division, when they face Edmonton on Boxing Day.

One of the other consequences of a poor showing on the road trip will be their inability to fully be masters of their own destiny in getting a playoff spot at the end of the season. They may have to pray for divine intervention.

Canucks are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games since the end of the 7-game road trip in November.

First 10 games of the season, Vancouver was 4-2-4. Next 10: 3-5-2.

Capture

The Blackhawks began a 4-game homestand with a 2-0 shutout of Winnipeg on Friday, in which Patrick Kane picked up a point for the 25th straight game, matching the longest streak among active players, set by Sidney Crosby in 2010-11.

chic

The Blackhawks have lost 3 of their first 6 games of December to Minnesota, Ottawa and Nashville  and are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games. Chicago has at least one power-play goal in seven of its past 10 games.

As coach Willie Desjardins pointed out in his post-game interview after the 4-0 loss to Boston, no team is going to feel sorry for Vancouver.

Vancouver has to adopt the adage of ‘One For All, And All For One’. Simply put, each teammate should act for the benefit of his team, and the team should act for the benefit of each teammate.

Other teams have been written off at Christmas in previous seasons: Calgary, Minnesota, Los Angeles, San Jose, Winnipeg, Ottawa.

You have to go in convinced at what you’re doing and you have to go hard. That’s the only way you’ll be successful in this league. So, mentally, we have to accept where we’re at and we have to be prepared to play hard. We know what we’re doing. The guys know the systems,they just have to have confidence that if we play hard we’ll get our opportunities. Willie Desjardins after the Dallas loss.

“It’s like playoff hockey for us, and we need to recognize that. Our urgency level has to be higher. I think the guys know that, so I would expect us to be battling.  Saying that, I do believe in the character of this group, and I don’t believe there are many nights that they haven’t given everything they have.” Willie Desjardins, prior to the Canucks taking on Minnesota in the first game of their last road trip.

The above comments by coach Willie Desjardins still ring true for Vancouver as they prepare for each team on their road trip. The players would be wise to heed the words and apply the expectation.

Just saying….

CANUCKS JOTTINGS

  • The Sedin twins combined for nine points against Chicago in their first meeting of the season at Rogers Place on November 21—Daniel notched a hat trick, while Henrik posted a career-high five points, including four assists.
  • Both Sedins have been point-per-game players for the Canucks this season
  • Daniel Sedin has 22 points (9-13-22) in the last 15 games. He recently had a seven game point streak from Nov. 14-27; it was the longest point streak of any Canucks player this season and his longest since a seven game streak from Oct. 22 – Nov. 5/13. He currently leads the team in points (33), goals (13), assists (20), ppg (5) and ppp (13). He is 5th in NHL scoring.
  • Henrik Sedin has 20 points (6-14-20) in the last 15 games. He recently had a six game point streak from Nov. 16-27. He also had a five game point streak earlier this season from Oct. 29 to Nov. 7. Last season, the Captain recorded points in three or more consecutive games on 10 different occasions. Henrik ranks second on the team in points (29), goals (9), assists (20), ppg (4), and  ppp (12). He is 9th in NHL scoring.
  • Chris Tanev leads the team and ranks 6th in the League in blocked shots with 74. His defence partner Alex Edler ranks 18th in the NHL with 59 blocked shots.
  • Alex Edler, with his power play goal on December 9 surpassed Rick Lanz for sole possession of second place for most PPG by a Canucks defenseman, with 38.
  • Rookie forward Jared McCann is t-14th in rookie scoring with 6-goals and 3-assist for 9-points. Among rookies, he ranks 8th in goals; 9th in shots-on-goal with 50; 9th in shooting percentage at 12%.
  • Rookie defenseman Ben Hutton is t-14th in rookie scoring with 9-points on 9-assists. Among rookies, he ranks t-4th in assists; t-18th in shots-on-goal with 34; 3rd worst among rookies this season in plus/minus with a -8.
  • Ryan Miller, has seen action in 24 of 30 possible games this season. His record is 9-9-6, with a .914 save percentage, his highest in three seasons.
  • Miller stopped 64 of 67 shots over his last two starts to help Vancouver break out of their 5- game losing slump.
  • Vancouver power play goals in a nutshell this season:
    • 1 goal in 14games;
    • 2 goals scored in 2 games;
    • 3 goals scored in 1 game;
    • no goals scored in 13 games (streaks of 5  in a row; 4 in a row).
    • Streaks of games in a row with 1 or more: 8 games and 5 games.
  • Power play opportunities in a nutshell this season:
    • 1 opportunity: 3 games;
    • 2 opportunities: 5 games;
    • 3 opportunities: 7 games;
    • 4 opportunities: 7 games;
    • 5 opportunities: 2 games;
    • 6 opportunities: 4 games;
    • 5 opportunities: 2 games;
    • 6 opportunities:  4 games;
    • 7 opportunities: 1 game;
    • 8 opportunities: 1 game.
  • Power play summary:
    • Of 4 or more opportunities: 15 for 77 in 15 games: 19.4%
    • Of 3 or less opportunities: 6 for 34 in 15 games: 17.6%
  • They wrapped up a four game home stand on December 9 with two straight wins. Canucks record: 11-11-8. The two wins helped Vancouver claim second place in the Pacific division, as they begin a 6-game road trip on December 13.
  • The last time the Canucks won two straight games was when Vancouver defeated Arizona and Philadelphia, October 30 and November 2, respectively. The Canucks record: 6-2-4. Vancouver would lose their next game to Pittsburgh, ending their win streak at 2 games.
  • Vancouver was  tied with Los Angeles for first place in the Pacific division, as they embarked for their November 7-game road trip
  • Canucks road trip in November started with a Vancouver power play that was 1 for 9 in three previous games
  • The road trip this month starts with the Canuck power play 2 for 16 in its last 4 games.
  • The Canucks penalty kill had only allowed 1 goal on 7 man advantages in three previous games prior to the November road trip.
  • Vancouver’s penalty kill has killed all 11 man advantages in the last 4 games.
  • Vancouver lost 6 of their 7 games on the November road trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Canucks Have To Find A Way…Just Saying

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By Andrew Phillip Chernoff  December 4, 2015   Just Saying….

 

Just-saying

The script is getting old, and tired, and is in need of a refreshing change.

In my opinion, the stench that lingers after the last two months, more than indicates that the present incarnation of the Vancouver Canucks has expired and needs to be tossed and replaced with a new and improved.

And the game on Saturday night against the Boston Bruins, is the best game to start.

I remember when growing up in the 70’s and following my favourite Canucks, and the great games Boston and Vancouver would have. Bobby Schmautz and other Canucks would rise to the occasion and have their best games of the season against them. Especially Schmautz.

Well, it is time, for the next incarnation of the 2015-16 Vancouver Canucks to take the ice.

And what will it take?

Well, Canuck coach Willie Desjardins was very direct in the post-game interview after the Dallas game on Thursday night, after the Canucks lost 4-2, about his disappointment.

To the point, the Vancouver players need to find a way.

When Desjardins was asked about his team getting 16 shots on net, in two straight games against Dallas and LA, Desjardins admitted that the Canucks have to create more opportunities if they are going to be successful:

The only thing you can do is work your way out of it. You know people aren’t gonna feel sorry for ya. We gotta work our way out of it. It’s gonna be tough…and you know, what , when you come into the rink tomorrow….you have to work to get better. And it’s just, it should be that way everyday, win or lose, that’s how you should approach the rink, but especially when things go tough, that’s when you need your leadership, that’s when you need guys stepping up and getting better.

As for whether there is enough behind the Sedins to give the Canucks that secondary scoring punch and support, Desjardins responded that he believes there is, and continued by saying:

But It has to happen on the ice…me believing it, or whatever, doesn’t….it has to come out on the ice. And we need better performances on the ice. That’s not good enough. Like I thought today, you know I thought there were times in the first period that, we looked like, we might battle through and be ok, and get a goal.We didn’t give them an awful lot; they had the couple power plays, but we have to…it’s easy to believe when things go good….it’s harder when they don’t go good…and right know they’re not going good for us…right now we’re disappointed withthe overtime losses, and with all the stuff that’s built up, we got lots of losses, and it’s  disappointing ‘cause that’s not where we want to be. But at the same time, that’s how you get better. You have to find a way.  It’s a tough league and that’s what you gotta do.

Desjardins was asked by a reporter, if the third periods and so many one goal losses were affecting the psyche of the players, especially the younger players. “You’re in every game but it seems you’re coming out on the wrong end..”

It’s a battle to keep believing,when things don’t happen.It’s easy to believe when things happen. When it doesn’t happen, its a lot harder. But, what are your choices? You don’t have any choice. Your choice is to believe that it’s gonna happen and you gotta  make it happen. Like, if you don’t believe and you hesitate when your doing something, your lost already. So, you have to go in convinced at what you’re doing and you have to go hard. That’s the only way you’ll be successful in this league. So, mentally, we have to accept where we’re at and we have to be prepared to play hard. We know what we’re doing. The guys know the systems,they just have to have confidence that if we play hard we’ll get our opportunities.

Desjardins did not leave the post-game without sharing his expectation for Saturday night against the Boston Bruins:

Boston is a must game. We have to see a good performance against Boston. We have to see it.

After the morning skate on Friday, Desjardin met with the media, and was asked what bothered him the most about the Dallas game:

I don’t think we’ve played as well the last three games. And, that bothers me. I want to be good at home. The results bother me. But, I understand those will happen. You’re not gonna win every game but that’s something that happens. You don’t get used to it. And you don’t enjoy it. But that’ll happen. It’s how you play that matters. I thought the first period we were ok. They didn’t get a lot. But in the second , for whatever reason, we didn’t find our legs and if you don’t skate with Dallas, you’re going to be in trouble. You have to skate with them. And, they’re one of the best skating teams in the league. So, that’s abit of a push for us to do that. We did it in Dallas; we showed in Dallas, we could do it, and last night, we just couldn’t stay with it. So for me, the Anaheim game bothered me and kinda set it up for the next two, I guess.

As for his expectation of the team for Saturday night, he was asked to clarify whether “Boston is a must game.” meant a win, or a must show up. Desjardins response, after admitting he expected the question to be asked:

It’s a must game where you have to play hard. For me, and every game, is a must game where you gotta play hard. That’s what we do. So I think our guys are looking forward to that opportunity to go out and play. Will it be a hard game? For sure, it’s gonna be a hard game but I expect us to have a good effort.

I expect a similar effort with the Boston Bruins, that Canuck fans saw against the Chicago Blackhawks recently. It was a victory that night, a very emotional game, where the Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Jannick Hansen had an outstanding game.

 

I have thrown out the old script, I just hope Vancouver does not take it out of the garbage and use it tomorrow night…..Just Saying

No Shortage Of Advice For The Canucks To Shake The Doom And Gloom Naysayers….Just Saying

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By Andrew Phillip Chernoff   November 22, 2015   Just Saying….

 

Just-saying

The Vancouver Canucks returned from a disappointing seven game road trip, arguably their toughest road trip of the entire 2015-16 season.

Many people had their opinions as to what went wrong and what needed to be done to salvage the rest of the season, where competition is stiff, and very few points can be given up in a short period of time and still make a successful season. What is a successful season? Well, for the Canucks, it would be making the playoffs.

The Canucks have not had so few wins after 20 games since the 1997-98 season. The Canucks started 4-13-3 that season under former head coach Mike Keenan and finished the year with just 65 points. Brad Ziemer,Vancouver Sun, Nov 20, 2015

Media covering the Canucks, as well as Jim Benning, Ryan Miller, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, wasted little time in making their opinions known November 19-21.

Some key things for the Canucks remainder of the season according to those that voiced their thoughts include:

  • Play inspired, not intimidated.  A visit from the defending Cup champs usually brings out the best in a team wanting to use the game as a measuring stick. The Canucks might not be feeling too confident lately but they still should be fired up and wanting to show they can be competitive against the league’s best. Canucks website, Nov 21, 2015.
  • Prust brings some life. Brandon Prust may not be the guy you’re counting on for goals and points, but when it comes to energy he brings it every night. The Canucks have sorely missed the veteran winger and his expected return tonight should galvanize a team that desperately needs something positive right now. Canucks website, Nov 21, 2015.
  • “You need to manage the puck properly,” Benning said. “I think in some instances we haven’t been focused on managing the puck, getting it out at our blue line and making sure when we get to their blue-line, not losing the puck and getting it in and chasing after it. BRAD ZIEMER, Vancouver Sun
  • Need to get the big goal when they need it. Offensively, the Canucks can’t seem to get a big goal when they need it most. Radim Vrbata, who had a team-high 31 goals last season, has just three despite being tied for seventh in the NHL with 74 shots on net. BRAD ZIEMER, Vancouver Sun
  • Need to close—–finish. Whatever spin you choose to summarize a sobering 1-4-2 road trip — including losing two one-goal games in regulation and two more in overtime to sink to 0-for-6 in the new 3-on-3 format — one thing is clear after 20 games. The Vancouver Canucks are good enough to keep games close, they just can’t close. Ben Kuzma, The Province
  • Ryan Miller needs to maintain focus and reduce distractions. He was rightly feted in his long anticipated return to Buffalo and understandably upset following an overtime loss in New Jersey.Willie Desjardins loves that his starter rarely gives up rebounds, has a high level of compete and studies the game like a professor. That’s where the smarts kick in and that’s where Miller can be better. . Ben Kuzma, The Province
  • Horvat has to step up against better opposition. Even before training camp, Bo Horvat spoke of and was well aware of the sophomore jinx. He knew players who went through it, knew what to expect.Really? He’s only 20. Add power-play and penalty kill responsibilities this season and it shouldn’t be that surprising that the centre has two goals through 20 games after 13 as a rookie.Is he pressing and missing great scoring chances? Absolutely. Has he been anxious to get in transition and not been as diligent in his own zone or the faceoff circle? Probably. And with Brandon Sutter injured, Horvat has to step up against better opposition and it’s a long way from being a fourth line rookie centre with limited expectations and even-strength minutes.He’s gone from 12:15 of average ice time and a 51.4 per cent faceoff efficiency to 16:20 and 49.2 per cent in the circle and a minus-9 rating. That’s a lot to shoulder. . Ben Kuzma, The Province
  • A team is only as good as its goalie. Vancouver shot out of the gates on the back of Miller, who started the team’s first 10 games until Richard Bachman spelled him off on Oct. 30. Miller had a 2.16 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage in those 10 games. Not surprisingly, the Canucks went 4-2-4 and were tied with the Los Angeles Kings for first in the Pacific Division.Since then, however, Miller — unsurprisingly — has come back to earth. He has been, well, less than stellar in six starts so far in November, with a 3.04 GAA and an .892 SP, and the Canucks have gone just 1-4-1 in those six starts. Perhaps the most telling statistic is that he has allowed three goals or more in 10 of his 16 starts. Ronnie Shuker, The Hockey News
  • Eliminate the silver-platter scoring chances they are presenting (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun). Keep it simple. Stick to basics. No need to be flashy. Have the shot, shoot. Go to the net. Don’t have the shot, look for somebody. Put the puck on net, good things can happen.
  • Get better on special teams play. Need to finish around the net on the power play. Need to be more disciplined on the penalty kill.
  • Get points, get points, and get points!!! The Canucks are home, but their schedule isn’t getting easier. After spending two weeks on the road, Vancouver plays the Chicago Blackhawks and New Jersey Devils back-to-back, Saturday and Sunday at Rogers Arena, then travel again for games in Minnesota, Dallas, Anaheim and Los Angeles. November could decide their season.Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun
  • Leave no points on the table.No team has left more points on the table than the Vancouver Canucks have this season. “It could be a big part of defining our season,” Vancouver GM Jim Benning told The Province. “Because last year, in games that went to overtime and the shootout we were (12-5). That’s the difference between making the playoffs and not making the playoffs.” Jason Brough
  • You create your own breaks. Positives are not results. Raise the intensity level. Attention level to detail has to go up. Mistakes need to go down. Gotta have confidence and bring it. “We keep saying we’re close,” said Miller, who made 30 saves. “We’ve got to make the turn here. It’s not ideal mentally for this group to be really close [in] games. We’ve got to park it. We’ve got to find a way to keep coming with energy and believe it’s going to turn. The only thing you can do in this situation is work hard and believe that hard work will translate. ” Daniel Sedin found some positives with the road trip but admitted that the Canucks need results. “I think we’ve got to turn it around now,” he said. “We need some wins. But at the same time, I think we need to look at the big picture. We’re playing better than we were before. That’s a good sign. But right now we need a win.” Henrik Sedin concurred. “I don’t think you can question the way we battled, but our intensity has to go up, and our attention to detail needs to be there,” he said. “It’s a game of mistakes. We’re still making a few too many to win the close games.” Patrick Williams NHL.com
  • Play with urgency in the moment. You can’t do anything about what has past. The future is yours to write. So excel in the moment. Andrew Chernoff, andrewchernoff.wordpress.com

The game on Saturday night against the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks provided Vancouver with a perfect opportunity to pull a true Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and show a side of themselves that was reminiscent of the start of the season when they were firing on all cylinders and looking like they were going to be a playoff contender in the Western Conference. Not a pretender.

The leaders—–the Sedin brothers, Ryan Miller, Jannick Hansen, Alex Edler, Chris Tanev, Brandon Prust, Alex Burrows, Chris Higgins, to speak of a few; the youth—–Bo Horvat, Jared McCann, Jake Virtanen—–reminded the coaches, the general manager, the president of the Canucks, and all Canuck fans…..how this team could actually play if inspired, focused, disciplined and able to fight off distractions and stay with the game plan.

The result was there last night against the Blackhawks, a 6-3 victory that ended a four game losing streak, but one game does not make a season or make up for the points left on the table.

Great individual efforts such as exhibited by Daniel and Henrik Sedin, are to be praised in the moment and used for inspiration, for future upcoming games.

The team had the confidence and brought it. They raised their intensity level, created their own breaks, reduced their mistakes and were rewarded for it all.

There are 61 games left, including tonight against the New Jersey Devils and the upcoming four game road trip.

The Canucks have not had so few wins after 20 games since the 1997-98 season. The Canucks started 4-13-3 that season under former head coach Mike Keenan and finished the year with just 65 points.

Vancouver, more now then ever, have to turn up their game as they did against Chicago, and sustain it for the rest of the season, if they are going to seriously compete against the leading Western Conference teams and achieve their goal of making the playoffs next Spring.

Standings seldom alter to a great degree after U.S. Thanksgiving. Catching teams after that date is one thing, passing them is another. And with Brandon Sutter, Luca Sbisa and Radim Vrbata injured to varying degrees, the climb will be more arduous if areas of considerable concern aren’t immediately addressed. Ben Kuzma, The Province, Nov 20, 2015

Canucks have to play with urgency in the moment. You can’t do anything about what has past. The future is there to write. So excel in the moment….Just Saying….

Wins Make A Difference….Montreal Have Nine….Canucks Need Another…Just Saying

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By Andrew Phillip Chernoff  October 26, 2015 Just Saying….

Just-saying

The Canucks end their disappointing 5-game home stand Tuesday, October 27, 2015 against the Montreal Canadians.

The Canucks have lost four games in a row (three of them in regulation play), all of them at home.

The Canadians come into the game on a nine game winning streak from the start of the season; all wins in regulation.

Frustration from Vancouver reporters and Canuck fans stemming over blown leads entering the third-period; and questions on coach Willie Desjardins strategy behind proportioning game minutes, is providing interesting fodder for hot discussion.

The Canucks lost only four games last season when taking a lead into the final period, going 30-1-3.

Vancouver has already lost three games by blowing 3rd-period leads in their first 5-games at home, and they have only played eight games so far this season.

The loss of Kevin Bieksa, G Eddie Lack,  F Nick Bonino, D Adam Clendening, F Shawn Matthias, F Brad Richardson; the injection of youth in the likes of Jarred McCann, Jake Virtanen and Sven Baertschi; and the line juggling to find those productive line combinations, is proving difficult, more so than anticipated.

The injury of Chris Higgins as well has not helped.

The youth movement, an unproven back-up goalie, and the inability of the Canucks to score timely goals were identified by myself in their season preview as areas of concern. I would like to add problems with player chemistry, injuries (more so later in the season) and the power play.

The Canucks do not have the same team in the locker room and on the ice they had last season. For good or bad, reporters and fans alike knew there was a real chance the Canucks may not come out at the start of the season moving on all cylinders’. Yet alas, all that is out the window….so much for patience and long suffering.

Have not heard much about the Canuck’s power play which is currently 14.8 per cent, good for 22nd in the league. As for penalty killing the Canucks are at 87 per cent, 8th place.

The Canucks 3-on-3 effort in overtime has also been a learning curve for Desjardins and the players: the effort put out is at the end of the game when the players have already expended plenty of calories, energy and water at a high paced level. Tough to hold something back when the object is to win….normally….in regulation.

The adjustments to be made entering the season were obvious, but like most things, being aware of needs, things to be done; and how things should work out, are different from actual game execution results.

By the way, how about those Los Angeles Kings?

Five game winning streak, after losing their first three games of the season…Amazing….Just need to get that one win, and good things happen….Just Saying….