A Night For Revenge And Hate: Canucks-Blues Preview
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 12:00 AM PST
in Game Preview
Email
Print 
Canucks (10-8-0)
Blues (5-6-4)
Game Time: 5:00 PM PST
TV: Sportsnet Pacific
The Enemy: St. Louis Game Time
UPDATE: 10:14 AM PST: Cory Schneider has been sent down to the Moose today. Big glove tap to Missy for ever being the info maestro
***********************!
It has been a long tiresome day and I'm feeling ornery right now. With this crankiness comes honesty and hatred. So here it goes:
I hate the Blues! Almost always have, probably always will. I think I know why. It's mostly because of Brett Hull. I don't care that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame tonight, I can't stand him. I skipped his induction speech and read the obituaries instead, wishing he was on the list. Despite all his sick skills and accomplishments, I hated many of his quotes, his ego, which organizations he was a part of (Flames, Blues, Red Wings and Stars), oh and that infamous skate in the crease while scoring the Cup-winning goal against the Sabres. No love. Just one of those guys. Kind of like Jeremy Roenick in his latter years.
Two hard-fought series between the Canucks in Blues in 2003 and 2009 increase the animosity and rivalry as well. But I'll get to that later.
There are so many other Blues I've detested over the past several years: Al MacInnis, Chris Pronger, Pierre Turgeon, Martin Rucinsky, Craig Janney, Petr Nedved, Doug Weight, Ladislav Nagy, Pavol Demitra (yes that's right), Craig MacTavish, Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk, Eric Weinrich, Barrett Jackman, and several others. I know one guy (out of several others) who gets a pass though:
Yeah, that guy is cool.
So...
What better chance for St. Louis to snap out of their 5-game losing streak than to play against the team that handed them their asses in Round 1 of last year's playoffs? You know that their motivation is going to be terribly high tonight with retribution on their minds. They have to start scoring more goals though. They have been out-scored 13-4 in their current losing streak (2 of those were shootout losses). It seems to be the Blues' general problem. Take a look down their team scoring leaders list and you can see why they are ranked 27th in the NHL in goals per game average. On a positive note, for them, they rank 8th best in the NHL in goals against, one spot ahead of Vancouver. The goaltending stats from Chris Mason (2.45 GAA and .920 save %) and Ty Conklin (2.24 GAA and .928 save %) are not too shabby.
The Blues are terrible on home ice (2-5-1) and a better 3-1-3 on the road.
Andy McDonald and Barrett Jackman returned to their lineup last game. The Blues had a 2-0 lead over the Thrashers and managed to lose 3-2. It's just a matter of time before this team turns it around.
But why be nice? Here are some of my favorite Blues memories in recent years:
1. OK, let's go a little further back in time to March 5, 1991, where then-Canucks GM Pat Quinn rapes St. Louis by trading Dan Quinn and Garth Butcher to the Blues for Geoff Courtnall, Cliff Ronning, Sergio Momesso, Robert Dirk and futures. How did Dan work out for ya? Ah, not so good. The same year, the Blues trade Quinn and Rod Brind'amour to Philly for Ron Sutter and Murray Baron. That Pat Quinn trade laid the foundation for the Canucks' 1994 march to the Finals.
2. Barrett Becomes Bertuzzi's Bitch
3. The rest of the 2003 NHL Playoffs Round 1
4. "Tell Kelly I say 'Hi'"
5. The Burr Striketh
Is there something wrong with Rick Rypien's hand(s)? I wanna see him fight someone. It's been several games now. A serious test for him would be against Cam Janssen. That guy is a beast. Here's hoping it happens.
There is no love between these 2 teams. This is a game you don't want to miss.
54 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
See? This is what happens when you stop drinking for a bit Sean :)
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Just wait, I’m waiting for the withdrawals to stop, haha.
Today’s no different. I hate the Blues! Fuck you, Brett Hull!
In his defense, most red wings require at least that much douche.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 10, 2009 9:21 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
tonight should be a fun game.
btw, found a little tidbit this morning. already put it up as a fanshot. and yes, sean, i beat you to the punch again :)
sounds like raycroft will play and luie will be on the bench. or could it possibly already be time for the other way around???
to supporters of other teams: i will be polite on your page, but i will celebrate like a maniac and swear like a trucker at Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
Well I can’t sit in front of my computer all day, Missy! ;)
I figured that Schneids would be sent down though. Thanks for the tip.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 10:13 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t understand sending Schneider back down unless earlier reports on Luongo were inaccurate or, perhaps, are now outdated. If he’s backup, then he has to be prepared to play on a moment’s notice, and be healthy enough and sharp enough to do so.
Luongo’s biggest weakness is that he seems to need a few warmup matches before we see his “A” game. That’s a moot point when he’s been playing regularly, but worrisome at the start of the year or when he’s coming off an injury.
I agree. Plus with a hairline fracture in his ribs…can’t that be re-aggravated? I know goalies wear a lot of padding and all, but the movement factor aggravates rib issues too.
Ah well, like I said before, his ribs will be hurting for over a month even if he does play
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 12:10 PM PST up reply actions
Well look at that, the Province is all over this now. AV told them:
“It’s quite simple: If Roberto had had two practices in, he’d probably be starting tonight,” Vigneault explained to reporters after the morning skate. "He’s ready to go, but the smart thing to do is give him another regular practice and then put him back in. But if we need him tonight, he’ll be ready. I think Raycroft is going to be real good tonight.
“Louie’s our captain and he’s our best player, and when he’s ready to go, he’ll go back in.”
He better hope Raycroft is gonna kick ass tonight.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 12:15 PM PST up reply actions
Sean et al,
Sean, you had asked about LTIR and cap and if we get to use the monies not paid to players while they were on LTIR. Ever find a definitive answer? e.g. if Daniel were LTIR for 15 games, for sake of arg, then do we have 15 games worth of his salary, whatever that totals, to spend on another player later in the year, such as a rental … or did we just have that extra money available during the period in which Daniel was out but it’s gone as soon as he comes back and if we never spent it, too bad for us?
Anyone else know for sure? My understanding is that the cap is extended while that player is out, but is it per game, per year, available only while the player is out? What?
or did we just have that extra money available during the period in which Daniel was out but it’s gone as soon as he comes back
That is correct right there.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 12:06 PM PST up reply actions
That’s why, me personally, I’d like to see Demitra miss the whole year and we get somebody else.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 12:07 PM PST up reply actions
Are you referring to the Canucks being able to spend say, Demo’s salary OVER the cap?
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 12:51 PM PST up reply actions
I don’t know how the LTIR works with the cap but it would seem to me that if a guy is on LTIR he isn’t counting against the cap. And if that’s the case then we would have Demo’s salary available to spend. But if he comes back then we would be over the cap. The question I have is if it accumulates. Like if Demo comes back in two months and we only have to pay him 1.5 million of his 4 million salary then do we still have that other 2.5 to spend. (please note those numbers are just made up out of the ether to use as an example)
by Section 312 on Nov 10, 2009 1:22 PM PST up reply actions
The question I have is if it accumulates. Like if Demo comes back in two months and we only have to pay him 1.5 million of his 4 million salary then do we still have that other 2.5 to spend. (please note those numbers are just made up out of the ether to use as an example)
That is a good question. Where’s Mirtle?
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 1:25 PM PST up reply actions
Or probably we have already spent some of that extra cap room? And it would just mean that if Demo comes back in two months we would just have to shed less salary than if he came back today?
by Section 312 on Nov 10, 2009 1:27 PM PST up reply actions
Capgeek always has a nice breakdown on the daily numbers in these cases.
http://www.capgeek.com/tracker/team.php?Team=29&date=2009-11-10
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 10, 2009 1:34 PM PST up reply actions
I am officially depressed. Roberto Luongo is going to make more today than I will make all year.
by Section 312 on Nov 10, 2009 1:42 PM PST up reply actions
Thanks to our friend Mr. Getz...
In short, it doesn’t accumulate, you only get an exemption while the player’s hurt.
So, for example, say you have a team with a payroll of 49M and a cap of 50M and a 2M player gets hurt. While he’s on IR you can spend up to (annualized) 51M to replace him – the first million still counts as against the cap, the second million in exceeding the cap legally. You’re technically over the cap, but you’re allowed to be, so no penalty, but no banking space either.
To answer the Demo question, I’ll just about put $$ on the fact that his whole $4 million salary counts no matter when he comes back.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 1:48 PM PST up reply actions
Well the thing is if you add a guy via trade say who makes 6 million a year but only has 3 million left on the deal because it’s halfway through the season then you only have to have 3 million in room to squeeze that guy in. So if Demo only has 2 million left on his deal cause there are only a certain number of games left then only that amount should count against the cap. Does that make sense? Otherwise he may as well be counting against the cap now if his whole salary is going to count against it when he comes back.
by Section 312 on Nov 10, 2009 1:55 PM PST up reply actions
So if Demo only has 2 million left on his deal cause there are only a certain number of games left then only that amount should count against the cap. Does that make sense? No, because he was still paid by the team when he was injured. It’s not like he was a UFA during the games he missed.
It’s very clear in the CBA that injured players’ salaries count against the cap. The only relief a team is able to get is to exceed the cap during the time the player is injured long-term. So, even though Demitra may only play half of the season, the entire $4M counts. However, the team is allowed to go over the cap by up to $4M (that is, add a player with a $4M contract to replace Demitra) when he was injured. That’s it. No other benefit is available, period.
For example, if Ovechkin misses half a season and his team chooses not to replace him. After he rejoins the team, the team would not have saved a single dime in cap space. Otherwise, the team would have saved enough cap room to add Malkin for half a season. But no, $0 cap room saved once the player returns to the lineup.
Well that’s a BS way to do it in my opinion. You are allowing teams to go over the cap while a guy is hurt which is great I guess. So if a guy is hurt you can try to replace him and keep your team from stinking but if you get seriously hard hit by injuries (like our Canucks) you should be able to have some sort or benefit later in the year. I mean what if you ad someone and then your hurt guy comes back so then that guy you added has to go to the minors or gets cut or something. You would think the NHLPA would be against a rule like that.
by Section 312 on Nov 10, 2009 2:41 PM PST up reply actions
Generally people get hurt during the season by picking up crackers off the kitchen floor, not before the season starts. It also makes sense in that it means you can’t easily juggle salaries. Especially with regards to the big salaries, adding an expensive replacement player is risky, calling up an AHL guy, not so much.
I.e. you can manage when you’re only exceeding the cap by .5-1m, not when you add another 4m contract on top.
It also makes sense in that it means you can’t easily juggle salaries.
Absolutely. Can you imagine how many GM’s would abuse that kind of system? There are so many ways.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 4:30 PM PST up reply actions
Opps sorry about that.
Whatever you do don’t click this:
http://www.nucksmisconduct.com/2009/7/19/954459/wanna-hate-a-sedin-or-two
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 10, 2009 3:24 PM PST up reply actions
Daniel Sedin makes $24,000 after the following…
.32 Games .12 Goals
.2 Assists 1.12 Shots on goal
You will need to work 254.17 years in order to make Daniel Sedin’s annual salary.
I make more than that now but that’s how much I made at my first job in radio.
by Section 312 on Nov 10, 2009 3:41 PM PST up reply actions
Predictions?
I am thinking a statement win for the Canucks.
4-1
Burrows, Bieksa, Raymond x 2
Hull from Oates for StL. Oh wait…
Scratch that.
4-0. Shutout for Rayzer in his last game before Luongo plays 55 straight!
by Dustin Timberlake on Nov 10, 2009 3:34 PM PST reply actions
I can't defend Brett Hull
He’s a Blue by default. Dallas, Detroit and Phoenix (cup of coffee) don’t claim his playing career.
But to resort to pulling Bertuzzi highlights…that’s just kind of sad. You just made Steve Moore cry. Congrats.
www.stlouisgametime.com
Steve Moore is a douche. He didn’t deserve what happened but he is still a douche.
And so is Brett Hull. A Canadian traitor he should be strung up outside the Hockey Hall of Fame.
by Section 312 on Nov 10, 2009 3:49 PM PST up reply actions
I think Roenick is far more aggravating than Hull ever was. When he took that puck to the mouth as a Flyer it was a victory for humanity.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 10, 2009 3:53 PM PST up reply actions
Wow, you guys got some pent-up anger, men. I really can’t hate that many players, maybe just a few like Avery. Hate ‘em as opponents while the game is on, sure, but after that I hope they go home to their families in one piece and try to forget about that night’s loss.
I hate Hull cause he could and should have played for Canada, the country where he was born, but didn’t. What a douche.
by Section 312 on Nov 10, 2009 4:01 PM PST up reply actions
Didn’t Hull get rejected to play for the Canadian team in 1986 and then chose to play for the USA?
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 10, 2009 4:14 PM PST up reply actions
Who cares? Wait for your next chance? You don’t just abandon your country.
by Section 312 on Nov 10, 2009 4:23 PM PST up reply actions
Correct
He basically said that Team USA took him in when he was a nobody so he felt loyalty to them when he was a somebody. I can respect that.
www.stlouisgametime.com
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Nucks Misconduct Store
Your clothing sucks. Go fix it.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
