• Lay off Nonis, already. (Barry Macdonald, 24 Hours)
• Canucks' glasses half-empty after loss. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
• Luongo stands firm over threat to quit. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
• Luongo adamant. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Not a pattern you'd want to bank on. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
• D-man Miller almost ready for debut in hockey mad market. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
• Finally the Sharks are believers again. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
• McGillis hopes to make most of tryout. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
• Rookie makes big pitch with his stick. (Stephen Snelgrove, San Jose Mercury News).

Labels: game recap, Luongo, McGillis, Miller, Sharks

Vancouver Canucks Senior Vice-President and General Manager Dave Nonis announced today that the Canucks have reduced their training camp roster by eleven players. The Vancouver Canucks will now have 32 players on the roster.

The following players have been assigned to the Manitoba Moose, the Vancouver Canucks AHL Affiliate:

Fitzgerald, Zack Defence
Fortunus, Maxime Defence
Heshka, Shaun Defence
Labrie, Pierre-Cedric Left Wing
MacIntyre, Drew Goaltender
Schneider, Cory Goaltender
Sharrow, Jim Defence
Simek, Juraj Forward

The following players will be placed on waivers for assignment to Manitoba:

Balej, Jozef Right Wing
Classen, Greg Centre
Moran, Brad Centre

• Luongo would rather retire than play in larger nets. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
• Groin gang springs back into action. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
• Pep talk: Pre-season's over. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
• New look for new lid. (Vancouver Province)
• Bigger nets no idle threat. (Jason Bothcford, Vancouver Province)

Labels: Luongo, Shannon

"It's important our guys start to feel interested," Vigneault said before climbing into his golf cart.

"I understand about veterans, knowing there's not two points on the table right now and not wanting to risk getting injured, I understand that. But it's also time to get interested as far as getting ready.

"None of our veterans so far, except maybe for Alex Burrows, the [Sedin] twins and Louie [goalie Roberto Luongo] have got their game where it needs to be. We've got three games remaining and have got six practices in total remaining. It's time they got interested and get ready."

Labels: Vigneault

Despite missing nine injured veterans and forced to play nine rookies against the veteran-laden Stanley Cup champions, Vigneault didn't cut his club any slack. And he was especially disappointed in those who should be more prominent.

Brad Isbister and goalie Curtis Sanford were singled out for sub-par play, while Ryan Shannon, Nathan McIver and Alex Burrows got the thumbs-up. Defenceman Dan McGillis, on a tryout and playing his first NHL game since the 2005-06 season, got a passing grade.

• Canucks shut out. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Province)
• Bertuzzi nets goal, two assists in first game vs. former team. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
• The end seems near for some Canucks hopeful. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)

Labels: Ducks, game recap

Labels: blog stuff

With 10 Canucks sidelined by injury -- the list grew by two Friday with Ryan Kesler becoming the sixth to sustain a sore groin while Kevin Bieksa has abdominal soreness -- and Mattias Ohlund the lone veteran blueliner, it was left to Luongo to steal the show.

Luongo even gloved a Tomas Pihal penalty-shot attempt in the middle frame when the Sharks centre was hauled down on a partial breakaway by Jim Sharrow.

The Canucks took four-straight penalties to start the game and the Sharks went 3-for-9 on the power play while the Canucks were 0-for-6.

The Vancouver Canucks added another body to their lengthy injury list today when centre Ryan Kesler, the first star in Thursday's 5-4 win over Edmonton, came up with a sore groin and was scratched for the weekend's pre-season road trip to California.

Kesler joins Trevor Linden, Willie Mitchell, Byron Ritchie, Rick Rypien and Brendan Morrison on the sidelines, all with groin soreness, although Morrison is close to returning.

Morrison plans to practise with the team Saturday morning and if all goes well, he will suit up for the Anaheim game on Sunday. The Canucks meet San Jose on Saturday.

Also out of the lineup and not on the trip are Sami Salo (broken wrist), Aaron Miller (abdominal surgery), Kevin Bieksa (stomach inflammation) and young forward Jannik Hansen (broken thumb).

Labels: game recap, Kesler, Luongo, Sharks

• Fri., October 5th vs. San Jose Sharks, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sat., October 6th at Calgary Flames, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Wed., October 10th vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 7:30 PM, PPV
• Fri., October 12th at Edmonton Oilers, 6:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sat., October 13th vs. Edmonton Oilers, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Mon., October 15th vs. San Jose Sharks, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Fri., October 19th vs. Los Angeles Kings, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sun., October 21st at Columbus Blue Jackets, 2:00 PM, PPV
• Mon., October 22nd at Carolina Hurricanes, 4:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Wed., October 24th at Detroit Red Wings, 4:30 PM, TSN
• Fri., October 26th at Washington Capitals, 4:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sun., October 28th vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 PM, PPV
• Thurs., November 1st vs. Nashville Predators, 8:00 PM, PPV
• Sat., November 3rd at Colorado Avalanche, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Thurs., November 8th at Calgary Flames, 6:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Fri., November 9th vs. Colorado Avalanche, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Wed., November 14th vs. Edmonton Oilers, 7:00 PM, TSN
• Fri., November 16th vs. Minnesota Wild, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sun., November 18th vs. Calgary Flames, 5:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Tues., November 20th at Edmonton Oilers, 6:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Wed., November 21st at Minnesota Wild, 5:00 PM, PPV
• Fri., November 23rd at St. Louis Blues, 5:30 PM, Sportsnet
• Sun., November 25th vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Tues., November 27th vs. Anaheim Ducks, 7:00 PM, TSN
• Thurs., November 29th vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sun., December 2nd at Minnesota Wild, 3:00 PM, PPV
• Wed., December 5th at Chicago Blackhawks, 5:30 PM, PPV
• Thurs., December 6th at Nashville Predators, 5:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sat., December 8th vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Mon., December 10th at Los Angeles Kings, 7:30 PM, Sportsnet
• Wed., December 12th at Anaheim Ducks, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., December 13th at San Jose Sharks, 7:30 PM, Sportsnet
• Sat., December 15th at Edmonton Oilers, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Tue., December 18th vs. New Jersey Devils, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., December 20th vs. Dallas Stars, 7:00 PM, PPV
• Sat., December 22nd at Phoenix Coyotes, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Sun., December 23rd at Colorado Avalanche, 5:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., December 27th vs. Calgary Flames, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Sun., December 30th vs. Anaheim Ducks, 5:00 PM, PPV
• Mon., December 31st at Calgary Flames, 6:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., January 3rd vs. New York Rangers, 7:00 PM, PPV
• Tues., January 8th vs. New York Islanders, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., January 10th at San Jose Sharks, 7:30 PM, PPV
• Fri., January 11th vs. Phoenix Coyotes, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sun., January 13th at St. Louis Blues, 3:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Tues., January 15th at Columbus Blue Jackets, 4:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., January 17th at Detroit Red Wings, 4:30 PM, Sportsnet
• Sat., January 19th vs. Los Angeles Kings, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Mon., January 21st vs. Minnesota Wild, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Wed., January 23rd vs. St. Louis Blues, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Tues., January 29th vs. Dallas Stars, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., January 31st at Tampa Bay Lightning, 4:30 PM, Sportsnet
• Fri., February 1st at Florida Panthers, 4:30 PM, PPV
• Tues., February 5th at Dallas Stars, 5:30 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., February 7th at Atlanta Thrashers, 4:00 PM
• Sat., February 9th vs. Colorado Avalanche, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Sun., February 10th vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., February 14th vs. Minnesota Wild, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sat., February 16th vs. Edmonton Oilers, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Tues., February 19th at Minnesota Wild, 5:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., February 21st at Nashville Predators, 5:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sat., February 23rd vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Wed., February 27th vs. Colorado Avalanche, 7:00 PM, TSN
• Fri., February 29th vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sun., March 2nd at Chicago Blackhawks, 12:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Tues., March 4th at Colorado Avalanche, 6:30 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., March 6th vs. Nashville Predators, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sat., March 8th vs. St. Louis Blues, 7:00 PM, CBC
• Mon., March 10th at Los Angeles Kings, 7:30 PM, Sportsnet
• Wed., March 12th at Anaheim Ducks, 7:00 PM, PPV
• Thurs., March 13th at Phoenix Coyotes, 6:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sat., March 15th at Dallas Stars, 4:00 PM, CBC
• Mon., March 17th vs. Phoenix Coyotes, 7:00 PM, PPV
• Thurs., March 20th at Edmonton Oilers, 6:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Fri., March 21st vs. Minnesota Wild, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Tues., March 25th at Calgary Flames, 6:00 PM, PPV
• Wed., March 26th at Colorado Avalanche, 6:00 PM, TSN
• Fri., March 28th at Minnesota Wild, 5:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Sun., March 30th vs. Calgary Flames, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Tues., April 1st vs. Colorado Avalanche, 7:00 PM, Sportsnet
• Thurs., April 3rd vs. Edmonton Oilers, 7:30 PM, PPV
• Sat., April 5th vs. Calgary Flames, 7:00 PM, CBC

Labels: tv

Labels: podcast

• Isbister's late goal gives Vancouver win. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
• Fashion statement. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
• Injuries put cuts on hold. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
• Raymond, Kesler hook up. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
• Bourdon lagging behind. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Hansen suffers broken thumb. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)

Labels: game recap, Hansen, Kesler, Oilers, Raymond

Sometimes you're in the right place at the right time, which seems to be the case right now for journeyman defenceman Dan McGillis, who the Canucks have brought in for a tryout.

McGillis, a big 35-year-old D-man who can move the puck, spent last year stuck in the AHL playing with the Lowell Devils.

Though he was one of Lowell's best defenceman, the New Jersey Devils couldn't afford to promote him because they were so close to the salary-cap ceiling.

Labels: McGillis

"It was crazy, I guess it's going to be a fun series against them this year," Jeff Cowan said. "It was intense right from the start to the end.

"Their style of play is real dirty and grinding and with Keenan there it's only going to get worse."

• Wannabe winners. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
• Schneider makes the perfect start. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
• Iron Mike's mettle tested. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
• Keenan a favourite in Vancouver - thanks to Luongo. (Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald)
• Tense times again for Luongo, Keenan. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
• Learning to love that new uniform. (Tom Mayenknecht, Vancouver Sun)

Labels: Flames, game recap, Grabner, Keenan, Schneider

• Keenan relishes chance to rekindle Flames. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
• Five players injure groins. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Burrows in fine form. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Kesler more determined than ever. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Kesler out to prove team's faith is well placed. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
• Newest Swedish twin sensation: the Speedins. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)

Labels: Burrows, game day preview, Kesler, Sedin

A decision will be made at the governors' next meeting in late November and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said two options are being considered.

One choice is to drop one of the eight divisional games and make that a game against a team from the other conference. Under that proposal, teams from opposing conferences would travel to each city every other year. The current schedule has teams playing only teams from one division in the opposing conference every year, which means stars such as Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins are seen in western cities once every three years.

The second choice will drop the divisional games to six and have full interconference play with a home-and-home series between every team.

Labels: business

It was about the kids for the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and Ryan Shannon, the 24-year-old baby-faced forward, showed he was more than all right.

Playing both right wing and the left point on the power play, Shannon demonstrated his speed, skill and savvy as the Canucks opened their 2007 pre-season schedule with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks won 3-2 in overtime when Petteri Wirtanen scored his second goal of the game. But that hardly mattered.

What did mater was Ryan Shannon had spark, Alex Burrows had edge and Luc Bourdon had a few headaches.

The winning goal deflected off of Bourdon after the young defenceman attempted an ill-advised pass. It wasn't the only time Bourdon had problems. He couldn't clear the puck out of the crease on the second goal when Wirtanen barrelled into the net, and he made a half-hearted effort one-on-one with Travis Moen in the first that led to a holding penalty.

• Can this squad handle it? (Barry Macdonald, 24 Hours)
• Luongo puts neck on line in practice. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
• Krajicek expected to take another step up. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
• Maybe Salo asked for it. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• 'Casual' Sami's need for speed. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun):

Labels: game recap, Krajicek, Salo, Shannon

After yesterday's annual Blue-White intra-squad game, captain Markus Naslund wanted to thank the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre capacity crowd of 7,006 and went looking for a microphone in the penalty box only to discover there wasn't one. Legendary GM Place public-address announcer and Victoria-raised John Ashbridge, who used to skate at the old Memorial Arena, had the microphone high above the stands in the media box.

So Naslund instead gestured to the Canucks players and they waved their sticks at the crowd in appreciation and skated off to a rousing ovation.

"I was going to thank the fans because it's been a great four, five days," said Naslund. "It's been awesome and the welcome here in Victoria has been overwhelming and hopefully we get a chance to come back. It's unreal for us to see the following the Canucks have around B.C. You can tell that all of B.C. is following us."

Labels: training camp 2007

Even if Luongo is okay, defenceman Sami Salo may not be.

After having his left wrist jammed on a bodycheck, Salo was sent to hospital for X-rays. He returned to the rink wearing a splint but won't know the extent of the injury until today. Teammate Trevor Linden also was unable to finish the game and is out day-to-day with a groin injury.

Salo looked despondent as he spoke about the injury, which comes after a summer spent recovering from last season's back, groin and shoulder problems.

• Bieksa tries to beat the sophomore jinx. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
• Edler favoured for position. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
• Burrows needs goals or his bubble will burst. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Six players under the microscope. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Nonis ignores Carter, focuses on D. (Vancouver Province)

Labels: Bieksa, Burrows, Edler, Linden, Luongo, Salo, training camp 2007

Vancouver Canuck goalie Roberto Luongo left the National Hockey League team's intrasquad game injured after being hit on the collarbone or throat by Brad Isbister's high shot.

Luongo, a finalist for both the Hart and Vezina trophies last season, lay facedown the ice for several minutes at the Memorial Centre in Victoria after getting beaned by Isbister late in the first period Sunday morning.

Sami Salo also left the game after jamming his wrist and will get x-rays, while Trevor Linden left the game with a pulled groin.

Labels: Linden, Luongo, Salo, training camp 2007

• The Canucks' Island Mafia. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)
• Canucks shake off summer. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)
• GM's philosophy finally bearing fruit. (Sharie Epp, Victoria Times Colonist)
• Burrows accepts Canucks' challenge to improve. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
• Canuck with a Cup hopes best is to come. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
• Ritchie relishing breakout chance. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
• Canucks bring in big bucks. (Matthew Little, Vancouver Province)
• Newly-acquired Ryan Shannon hungry for another sophomore season. (Canadian Press)

Labels: Burrows, Ritchie, Shannon, training camp 2007

Although goaltender Roberto Luongo is now clearly the face of the team, Naslund is still the captain and needs to be the fuel that sparks the offence.

"I want to have a better season than last year. Last season was not up to standards," said Naslund, who has six seasons of 30 or more goals in his 10-year Canucks career.

Having a better season could be linked with the need to become a little more selfish. All great scorers are like that.

"Shooting more has to be a priority," said Naslund.

"The top scorers around the NHL all do that. You have to be doing that. I don't want to be thinking about things and analyzing as much as last year."

"I don't think I'm done as a player," Naslund said. "I'd like to think I have a lot left to offer. I want to have a better year than last year, but I didn't think last year was a disaster, even though I didn't play up to my standards. That being said, I know I can play better hockey and I want to show that."

Labels: Naslund, training camp 2007

Kesler can't contain his enthusiasm for Raymond. His Canucks training-camp linemate and roommate continues to dazzle with speed, stick handling and a rapid release. The skill set suggests the winger may leap from two solid U.S. college seasons -- and just two dozen games with the Manitoba Moose last spring -- right into the NHL.

"He's made a believer out of me," said Kesler. "If he keeps playing the way he is, it's likely he'll stick. Just playing with him, you can tell he's going to be good for a long time.

"He has the wheels and smarts. He just needs a couple of games under his belt."

However, the Canucks coach heaped more praise on Raymond in advance of today's intra-squad game. And knowing that Vigneault is far from settled on line combination this just adds more intrigue to the Raymond Watch.

"This kid has a tremendous amount of skill and potential," Vigneault said Saturday. "Sometimes, you're ready to play and sometimes you need a little seasoning in the minors.

"I'm not sure where his game is, but today he was flying."

Labels: Raymond, training camp 2007

• Luongo unhurt in training camp collisions. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
• Twins must redouble effort. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• This Dane's not great, but he sure is good. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Working on defensive depth. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
• Rypien ready to fight for job. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
• Less fighting, more skating at training camps. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
• Old boys network begins to improve team. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
• Fall guys. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
• Rick's letting Ryp. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
• Future, meet the present. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)
• Now, it's all about fitness. (Sharie Epp, Victoria Times Colonist)

Labels: Ellington, Hansen, Linden, Luongo, Mitchell, Morrison, Naslund, Rypien, Sedin, Sharrow, training camp 2007

• Let the battles begin. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)
• The heat is on after last year's wild success. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
• 'Excitement, nervousness' as Canucks get tested for a new season. (Ian Walker, Vancouver Sun)
• Canucks' Vigneault counting on 'mini-Stanleys' turning into real ones. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
• Canucks need to rediscover offence if they hope to compete. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Everyone will get a chance to impress coach. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Vigneault fires warning shot. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
• Vancouver has the talent to finish very high in the West. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
• Bieksa's aim: consistency. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)

Labels: Bieksa, training camp 2007, Vigneault

Labels: Cooke, Larscheid, Linden, Morrison, Naslund, training camp 2007

"Part of the message in our orientation meeting to the group is that whoever deserves to be here and whoever helps us win games is going to be here," Vigneault said yesterday in a telephone interview from Vancouver.

"It's not about contract status, it's about performance on the ice. It's going to be up to us as the organization, management and coaches to find room for the ones who deserve to be here.

"I've said this many times, for me talent has no age."

• Vigneault won't rest on laurels. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
• Schneider ready to take his shot. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
• Schneider is no dummy. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
• Prospects primed for merger. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)

Labels: training camp 2007, Vigneault