Making The Cut

One came to camp expecting to make the team, the other isn't taking anything for granted yet, but both deserve to be Canucks based on merit.

Ryan Shannon and Mason Raymond made the final cut, surprising some who didn't think there would be room on the roster for two small speedsters.

Both made it impossible for coach Alain Vigneault to send either down to Manitoba.

Canucks captain Markus Naslund said he welcomes any addition to team speed.

"Any guy that comes in and has skill and speed and understands the game is going to help us," he said. "Obviously, they've looked at what we've been missing and the offensive part of our team has room for improvement. I think it'll be a good fit to bring these guys in and give them a chance to show they can help us out."

Based on lines at practice Monday, Raymond was back with the Sedin twins, while Shannon was with Naslund and Ryan Kesler.

"It's great to have speed, but it's a matter of doing something with your speed," Naslund said of Shannon and Raymond. "These guys seem to be able to do things at full speed and know where they're going and where to put the puck."

Former first-round picks Luc Bourdon and Michael Grabner were among eight players cut Monday by the Vancouver Canucks.

Bourdon, selected 10th overall in 2005, and Grabner, chosen 14th in 2006, were equally mediocre throughout training camp and the pre-season so their demotions came as no surprise.

Bourdon and Grabner will be joined in Manitoba by oft-injured Rick Rypien, Mike Brown, Patrick Coulombe, Jason Jaffray and Jannik Hansen, the latter out with a broken thumb.

Veteran defenceman Dan McGillis, in camp on a tryout, was released.

• Speed is what kills. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
• First-round picks hear the call of the Moose. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
• Experiment worth a try. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
• Odd-man-out Rypien shouldn't have trouble finding way back here. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)

Labels: Raymond, Rypien, Shannon