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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.

Canucks Prepare To Face San Jose In Consecutive Games Tuesday and Thursday Night

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VancouverCanucksCANUCKS BANTER     By Andrew Chernoff    MARCH 28, 2016

The Vancouver Canucks are preparing to face the San Jose Sharks in consecutive games on Tuesday and Thursday night, in home and away contests.

Coach Willie Desjardins addressed the media this morning, and is hoping a couple of injured players could return tomorrow night.

Vancouver’s goals are to end their 8-game losing streak and put a few goals past the Sharks goaltenders, as the players play for jobs on the team for next season in the remaining games of the season.

Dan Hamhuis met with the media following practice at Rogers Arena to discuss being named as the Canucks Masterton Trophy nominee.

Videos from the official Canucks YouTube channel here : http://www.youtube.com/Canucks

Henrik Sedin of Vancouver Canucks likely out until after All-Star break

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 17: Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks gets injured during the game against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on January 17, 2016 in Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 17: Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks gets injured during the game against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on January 17, 2016 in Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

Monday, 01.18.2016 / 4:12 PM
By Mike G. Morreale

NEWARK, N.J. — Vancouver Canucks captain Henrik Sedin might not return to the lineup until after the All-Star break because of an upper-body injury sustained Sunday against the New York Islanders.

Sedin did not practice with the team on Monday at AmeriHealth Pavilion in Newark, N.J.

“We’ll probably send him back [to Vancouver] so he won’t have any more games the rest of the road trip,” Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said. “Hopefully he’ll be ready after the All-Star break. I think it’s probably a 10-day injury or so.”

The Canucks play the fourth of a six-game road trip at the New York Rangers on Tuesday. They close out the trip at the Boston Bruins on Thursday and at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, then return home to play the Nashville Predators on Jan. 26. The 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game is Jan. 31 in Nashville.

Sedin sustained the injury late in the first period of a 2-1 shootout win and did not return. Sedin was hit into the side boards by Islanders forward Mikhail Grabovski, who received a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.

Daniel Sedin knows his twin brother won’t like having to sit at a time when the Canucks are coming off two straight victories.

“He’s not too happy; he wants to play every game and he’s upset,” Daniel said. “But he has to face the facts that if he’s not 100 percent, he needs to rest. It’ll be tough playing a few games without him.”

Henrik, who has nine goals and 37 points in 44 games this season, missed two games with a lower-body injury in December.

In his absence, Desjardins will likely have Jared McCann center Daniel Sedin and Radim Vrbata on the top line.

“[McCann] is a lot of faster than Henrik,” Daniel Sedin said with a grin. “They are different players. Jared plays with speed and tries to beat guys 1-on-1. We played together before Christmas and did a good job. We’re hoping for the best against a good team [Tuesday night].”

Source: Henrik Sedin of Vancouver Canucks likely out until after All-Star break | NHL.com – News