Playoffs?

The western conference isn't easy anymore, and that's a real problem for the Vancouver Canucks.  Teams like L.A., Anaheim, St. Louis, Chicago, Colorado, and San Jose have all taken a massive leap since Vancouvers cup-run in 2011.  The Canucks have two 1st round playoff exits in the last two seasons, and based of this years performance, they could make it three seasons in a row (if they even make the playoffs).  Canucks GM, Mike Gillis, and his neck beard are under scrutiny after they did not trade forward Ryan Kesler during the trade deadline.  Kesler was supposed to depart the team before the deadline, but wasn't dealt because Gillis still believes that the Canucks will make the playoffs.

Lack Nation

After goaltender Roberto Luongo was traded to the Florida Panthers, the starting job was handed over to Rookie Eddie Lack.  Lack is having an amazing year in his first full season with the Canucks.  And as of right now, fellow Swede Jacob Markstrom (who was one if the Pieces in the Luongo deal) will be Lack's backup.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm as big if a Lack fan as there is (I have his jersey) but I don't believe any goaltender should be a starter in their first full NHL season.  Lack is 1-2-1 since the Olympic break, but don't let the record fool you, he was lights out, and goal scoring was the problem.

Markstrom

Jacob Markstrom was acquired in the deal that saw franchise goaltender Roberto Luongo, head for Florida.  Markstrom is another Swedish goaltender, and yes, if you were counting that's three Swedish goaltenders in Vancouver's depth chart.  Markstrom is a towering 6 ft. 6 inches tall, and takes up a lot of the net.

An uneventful trade deadline

Mike Gillis was probably playing golf during the trade deadline.  He probably realized that the deadline was an hour again when he traded recently acquired defenseman Raphael Diaz to New York Rangers, in exchange for a whole 5th round pick.  Of course, Luongo was traded to the Florida Panthers, but this was on Tuesday, so it's already old news.

Ryan Kesler On the Move?

Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler has been surrounded by many trade rumours, lately.  Earlier this week, an analyst reported that Kesler had requested a trade earlier on in the season.  Kesler is a high intensity player, and is a fan favourite in the city of Vancouver.  Kesler isn't old, but is just leaving the prime of his career, so trading him would probably spark a rebuild.  Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis didn't confirm, or deny of these rumours are true, but Kesler and his agent both say the rumours 'Are complete Bull S**t'. Kesler has a no-trade-clause, and two years left on his contract with a $5 million dollar cap-hit.  Kesler has a very cap-friendly contract, but few teams with cap need a player like Ryan Kesler.  

The rumoured asking price for Kesler is a roster player, a first round pick, and a prospect, and the teams rumored to be in the running to acquire Kesler are Detroit, Columbus, Philadelphia, and most likely to swing Kesler, the Pittsburgh "we can never have enough talent" Penguins. With Malkin, and Crosby down the middle, and a weakness at the wing, it would like like they would try to play Kesler alongside Sid, or Geno, unless they can get Malkin to play on the wing.  The rumour was, Pittsburgh offered Sutter, a first round pick in 2014, and Vancouvers choice of Depres/Dumoulin.  I think Mike Gillis could do better, and Pittsburgh could offer more. 

In other news, Alex Edler is on the block. And Philadelphia is the front-runner to get him.  Mike Gillis really messed up during the NHL draft next year, with trading Schneider for only the 9th overall pick in the draft.  And Detroit offered Tatar, Riley Sheahan, and a draft pick in exchange for Alex Edler, but Mike Gillis declined the offer, because the plan was to win a cup in the next two years.  Well, now Gillis looks stupid, because the Canucks are about to rebuild just halfway through the first season.  Obviously Canucks head coach was NOT hired for a rebuild, his fiery

temper could scare the s**t out of most rookies, and there is another 4 1/2 years on his coaching contract.  So are we going into the dark days in Canuck-Town?  Only a Kesler, and Edler trade will tell.

Canucks look to turn things around

Slump

Vancouver has found themselves in a bit if a slump.  Have they done anything to solve it?... No.  They have done nothing.  The slump started when Alex Edler returned to the lineup from injury (Yes I am seriously blaming a player).  The team was awful when he returned, and soon after that, Canucks coach John Tortorella was banned 15 days, and 6 games after his tantrum at the entrance to the Calgary Flames dressing room after Flames coach Bob Hartley placed his goons out against the Canucks.  Vancouver went 2 and 4 in the 6 game while he was absent.  And since he has returned his team has gone 0 and 3.

Playoffs?

After Phoenix defeated the BlackHawks 2-0, and with that, the Canucks are out of a playoff spot.  Yes.  Simple as that, Vancouver is out of a playoff spot.  The question is, are the Canucks in a slump? Or are they just going to tank the entire season to get a better draft pick.  Hopefully, they are just in a slump, because if they decided to get a good draft pick in this awful draft year, it would be the dumbest move the Canucks have ever made.  The core of this team rest around Kesler, the Sedins, Lu, and Burrows.  Those players aren't getting any younger.

Next Game

The Canucks will be playing the Leafs in their next road game.  And if there is any team to end a slump against, it's the Leafs.  Vancouvers main threat is Leafs sniper, Phil Kessel.  Kessel, an American Olympian, has been very hot lately, and he has been ontop of his game.  Another player to lookout for his Nazem Kadri.  Kadri, who was linked to a possible Luongo last summer, has also been very good lately.  Toronto has had their struggles with goaltending, Bernier had an amazing start to the season, but it seems like he has forgotten how to goalie... he literally can't stop the puck.  Hopefully, the Canucks can find a way to score, because their backup, James Reimer, has lacked confidence.  Reimer was the teams number one goalie going into the season, but the trade that saw Ben Scrivins go to LA, and Bernier come to Toronto, made him a backup.

Canucks lack of depth at goaltending

The Canucks have some really good up-and-coming prospects.  Frank Corrado, and Jordan Subban on defence.  Bo Horvat, Niklas Jensen, Brendan Gaunce, Hunter Shinkaruk, and Dane Fox on offence.  And... oh... there is a massive black hole in the young goaltender department.  Joacim Eriksson is young, but isn't a top prospect.  And Eddie Lack isn't in the prospect category.  What should they do?

Vancouver isn't having the greatest of seasons.  Think about it this way... Phoenix is one point back of them, Anaheim is too good for them, L.A. is just better than them, and St. Louis takes them to a shootout.  Truth is.  The western conference isn't easy, anymore.  The teams are better, and you can only milk points out of Calgary, and Edmonton.  If Vancouver isn't a playoff team by the deadline, they should tank on the season, and trade Edler for a draft pick.  With that draft pick, they should pick a defenceman.  And in the third or second rounds, they should draft a decent future starting goalie.

One netminder that might catch the eye of some Canuck scouts is Payton Lee.  Lee is currently playing for the WHL Vancouver Giants.  The Cranbrook B.C. native is having a pretty good year behind a not so good Giants team.  Mike Gillis has something against drafting players from the Vancouver/B.C. area.  So Payton may not be a Canuck, as per the draft.

More scoring problems, and the TradeDeadline

Scoring has been a big problem for the Canucks, lately.  The Sedin fountain of goal scoring has dried up, Kesler has gone cold, Burrows can't find twine, Santorelli is out for the rest of the season, and the PowerPlay is worse than the Sabre's penalty kill (It's bad!).  Tom Sestito has been the only player to score goals, in the last while.  And that's an awful sign.

Last season.  Canucks GM Mike Gillis made a close-to-trade-deadline deal with the Dallas Stars.  Derrick Roy was a Canuck, but he didn't come cheap.  Kevin Cannaughton, and a second round draft pick went to Dallas.  The talented play maker was greeted with open arms, by Canucks fans.  After a first round playoff exit by the Canucks, the off season came.  Derrick Roy was a UFA, and his contract was ending.  Mike Gillis made no effort to resign Roy, and the young center was a free-agent.  Roy is no a member of the St. Louis Blues, along with former Canuck, Maxim Lapierre.  Roy cost us a future top four defenceman, and a second round draft pick for a three month rental player.  It just makes me think.  Is Mike Gillis taking his job seriously?  I mean the guy likes to say he's "patient", but that's just another word for lazy.

Image:CBC

The Canucks don't have much cap space.  This is mainly on David booth, with his 4+ million dollar contract.  Booth has been a scratch lately, but that might change with more, and more injuries.  So many analysts are talking about moving Kesler, or Burrows, but why would you move a player that's just in his prime?  Obviously they are just going through slumps.  Plus you are just going to get the same kinda player back.

Vancouver drafted two fine prospects.  One of them came at the cost of Cory Schneider, who moved on to the Devils bench.  Backing up Martin Broudeur, who will likely retire at the end of this season.  If Gillis moves Bo Horvat, it will be looked at as Schneider for whoever they get back.  Honestly, I don't see Gillis trading one of theses prospects.  Alex Edler is a decent defenceman, and he has a pretty good trade value.  Edler has attracted interest from Detroit, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.  Moving him would bring in a good young forward, and free-up a roster spot for future star,  Frank Corrado.

Canucks VS Oillers, Game Preview

Opening Face-Off

Let's face it.  Canadian teams aren't the bomb.  They haven't won a cup in decades, and the once "Dynasty's" are only winning the draft lottery, and that's because of how bad they are.  The once great Oilers' look to be a new-look team.  They started the season fresh. with a new coach, a new General Manager, and yes... another top ten draft pick.  But that hasn't changed a thing.  They are still one of the worst teams in the league, and they can't get anything going.  With young-stars like Eberle, RNH, Hall, and Yakupov, they should be like the Ferrari of the NHL.  But instead, they have decided to be the VolksWagen of hockey, Unreliable, Slow, and inconsistent.  The team is at the plight in the season where, they stop and think "Are we going to suck?  Or are we just gonna tank?".

Edmonton has some talent in the Minors, and the CHL.  And best of all, the big names are defencemen.  That's what the Oilers really need to improve on.  They had one of the worst GAA in the league.  And that doesn't all fall on defence, Dubnyk needs to be better, and Bryzgalov helps take the load of Dubnyk.

My Opinion 

Edmonton should trade the first round draft pick for a proven defenceman.  But a team has to be willing to part ways with a d-man.  Of course when someone says proven defense, everyone says that they are gettin' Weber.  And let me tell any Oilers fans reading this... the only Weber you could ever get, is the AHL d-man playing for Vancouver.  But who could they get?  Someone who is getting up there in age, and might have a contract that needs to be renewed next season.  And a veteran to Edmonton is some age that is needed.  The Oilers are the youngest team in the league, and that needs to change.

The Canucks

Vancouver is coming off a 2-0 shutout win by Eddie Lack, that was  Lacks' first home start, and his first shutout.  The Canucks are on a 5 game winning streak,  

and that has been really good for them.  Because they can score goals.  The Achilles heel of the Canucks has been covered (For now) and this has really pleased coach John Tortorella.  Tortorella has done well, in his first season of coaching the Canucks.  The players have finally adapted to his style-of-play.

Stats

Vancouver is on a five game winning streak, and their last win came against Carolina.  Vancouver sits 10th in the league.  

Meanwhile Edmonton's last game was a 5-4 win in OT, against the Carolina Hurricanes. Jordan Eberle is their leading scorer, with 27 points points.  And they sit 27th in the league.

Trade Talk

Vancouver and Edmonton have both Been surrounded by trade talks.  Vancouver is looking to move a d-man.  And Edmonton is looking for defence.  But of course, those two teams would never trade with each other.  Due to the fact that they are in the same conference, and I don't want to see a former Canuck destroy my team.

Injuries

Vancouver is without three players (Sestito doesn't count, as he isn't a human).  They are missing Burrows, Schroeder, and Edler.  This hasn't hurt them much.  But has really proven that they have some good depth.

The Oilers will be struggling, without Bryzgalov, Petry, Gordon, and Ryan Smith.  Bryzgalov was playing well for Edmonton, and that has help because Dubnyk has been Dubnyk this season. His awful goaltending has really shown how bad he actually is, and that the Oilers should not have been comfortable starting the season with him as their starting goalie

Prediction

The Canucks win 5-2.  Kesler gets a hat-trick, and the Sedins' pick up the other two goals.  Hall, and Eberle get on the board for the Oilers.

Winter Classic Preview

This might be the first year in a while where, I haven't really cared about the Winter Classic.  With so many "Stadium Series" games, it's kinda falling away from being prime game of the NHL season.  The winter classic is almost as big as the NHL All-Star game.  But that could be changing soon, if these  Stadium Series' games get popular.

The Teams

Rivals' Detroit, and Toronto go head-to-head as they face-off in the Michigan Stadium, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The stadium is regularly used as a football arena, but the transformation has began.  And it is starting to look like a hockey rink.  The Red Wings, and the Maple Leafs don't meet too often, but just enough to be considered rivals.

HBO's 24/7

24/7, probably what I am happiest to see with the Winter Classic.  Every year, HBO rolls out a season of 24/7, it follows the players, and the coaches around for... you guessed it, 24 hours 7 days a week (Up until the Winter Classic).  And they put it all on TV.  The best part about it: That none of it is edited.  

The Date

The Winter Classic Goes down on New Year's Day, at 10 A.M. Pacific time.  And a lot of people will be watching this game.  But what I am really looking forward to is the Heritage Classic.  When the Canucks take on the Senators in B.C. Place.  That'll be a fun one.