• How a few wins can change your outlook on life. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province; Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
• Bring on Brad. (Vancouver Province)
• Matt Cookie the mentor. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
• Isbister's been around but I think he's sticking around this year. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)

Labels: Cooke, Isbister, trade talk

Kevin Bieksa will admit his decisions with the puck have been as suspect as his positioning without it.

Bieksa won't admit that he's probably playing hurt.

"I've got a few nicks and bruises, but I'm cleared to play," said the Vancouver Canucks defenceman, who's a minus-4 with 16 penalty minutes after six games.

You needed a keen eye or the official scoresheet to know that Isbister had even played two games before Monday. But against the San Jose Sharks, Isbister emerged from the press box and was one of the better Canuck forwards.

That would mean he had three memorable shifts: Two when he used his size and strength to draw penalties, and one when he lasered a shot off the post two seconds before Pyatt shinned in the rebound.

On the basis of that performance, Isbister is practising this week alongside Brendan Morrison and Markus Naslund and is expected to start on the second line - and first power-play unit with Daniel and Henrik - for Friday's home game against the Los Angeles Kings.

Labels: Bieksa, Isbister

Mason Raymond is gone, but not forgotten.

On Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks sent Raymond down to Manitoba to get some playing time and how long he stays there depends on his success.

Raymond did not make it in time to play with the Moose in their game Tuesday, but he is expected to be in the lineup tonight.

If he does well, there's a slight chance the Canucks could recall him for their game Friday against Los Angeles.

Next.

Following failures by Ryan Shannon, Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond to hold on to a top-six forward spot with the Canucks, Brad Isbister appears to be next in line to step into the slot that is fast becoming Vancouver's no man's land.

The puzzling, inconsistent, sometimes promising, other times frustrating power forward is a good bet to play wing on the Canucks second line with Markus Naslund and on the team's No. 1 power play with the Sedin twins Friday against Los Angeles.

Labels: Isbister, Miller, Raymond

The only constant through three days of determining the dozen who will be promoted to main camp Thursday is the explosive play of right wingers Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen.

While much ink has been spilled chronicling the battle between Edler and Bourdon for the seventh blueliner spot on an NHL roster that seems virtually set, the gaping second-line hole on right wing is fast becoming headline material.

Especially if the solution is found from within, rather than the trade route.

"For me, the best player on the ice [Sunday] was Hansen," said Vigneault. "He had a lot of speed and good moves. If he comes to main camp and does what he's doing now, then we'll have to see if we have a player."

• A few of the folks from HF Boards went to prospects camp and give their reviews. (HFBoards)
• Ellington inspired by brother's attitude. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
• Little hope for diminutive Coulombe. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
• Famous disappearing act not recommended. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
• Hunt just happy to 'soak it all in'. (Sharie Epp, Victoria Times Colonist)
• Injury almost ended career. (Sharie Epp, Victoria Times Colonist)
• At this camp, age matters. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)
• Goaltenders fight for their future. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)

• Goaltending consultant sticks with prospects, fine-tuning Luongo comes later. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
• Victoria is where it all begins. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)
• Isbister expected to boost offence. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)
• The Island is rooting for its favourite son, Willie Mitchell. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)
• Watch for Canucks, coaches on and off the ice. (Brian Drewry, Victoria Times Colonist)
• Arena ready for Canucks. (Sharie Epp, Victoria Times Colonist)

Labels: Bourdon, Coulombe, Edler, Ellington, Grabner, Hansen, Hunt, Isbister, Mitchell, Raymond

"You have to have some ability to play with those players," Canucks general manager Dave Nonis said Tuesday. "We've had some interest in him for a couple of years. He can fill a lot of roles and played with a little more edge the last few years.

"He has played at a pretty high level in this league, just not consistently and that's his biggest downfall. He's going to get every chance here to excel."

Labels: Isbister

Sanford, 27, signed for one year at $600,000 and will take Dany Sabourin's place on the end of the bench for all but a handful of games (all figures are in U.S. dollars).

Schneider, 21, agreed to a three-year entry level contract that will see him earn $924,200 at the NHL level and $70,000 in Manitoba, where he will be the go-to guy for the American Hockey League's Moose.

In Isbister, the Canucks get a 6-foot-4, 227-pound left-winger who doesn't always play to his size and takes too many nights off. In Ritchie, the Canucks get an undersized centre who has often irritated the opposition, but hasn't put up the offensive numbers.

What does this all mean?

A big gamble that Isbister ($525,000 US) and Ritchie ($675,000) will give coach Alain Vigneault some needed fourth-line muscle and grit for anticipated physical encounters against Calgary, Anaheim and San Jose.

Labels: Bieksa, Isbister, Krajicek, Miller, Ritchie, Schneider