Evacuate The Dance Floor: Blackhawks 1 Canucks 0
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 22, 2009 11:10 PM PST
in Game Review
100 comments
Final shot count: Canucks 30 Hawks 17
It what was projected to be perhaps a goal-fest turned into a chess match between evenly (?) matched teams. Sure, Antii Niemi stole the show tonight, but I have to be honest here: he had to be solid not GREAT. Niemi was solid along the ice with his saves and that is where the Canucks put most of their shots tonight. It reminded me of a recent Andrew Raycroft game or two where he was "dominant". That is where you can also credit the rest of the Blackhawks team for limiting Vancouver's quality chances. However, they were hardly any better than we were.
Ugh. To have the game decided by a lousy-bounce goal by Bryan Bickell....depressing. I can hardly fault the Canucks' play except that they couldn't present a formidable scoring chance on Niemi except for Steve Bernier's breakaway, which was stopped by Auntie....along the ice.
Daniel Sedin may need another game or two to get into his groove. Kyle Wellwood especially is running out of chances. No shots or points for him tonight. That is all I have to say about this mishap. So unfortunate. Now we wait until Thursday for the next game to see what our team is made out of.
Chicago got their "revenge", and no taxi drivers were hurt in the process.
3 Stars:
1. Aunti Niemi
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too bad
kane and him put on a clinic in front of Roberta the whole night. hawks didn’t even have good command of the puck last night and the defence still looked confused and sloppy.
by Kevin Kujawa on Nov 23, 2009 11:45 AM PST up reply actions
This sounds a decent game to have missed entirely.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Every team gets burned by these sorts of games every once and awhile. You play strong and end up with the loss. Not much you can do, though it does speak to last year’s record when you could bank on Burrows or Kesler getting the timely one. This year? Not so much.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 23, 2009 8:30 AM PST up reply actions
Honestly one of the most forgettable games I’ve watched in a long time. It rarely felt like either team was going to bust out, and I would not have been shocked to see it end 0-0 after OT. One of those games where a lucky bounce is the decider because neither team did much to actually win the game.
Yeah, that’s what I thought too. Then Chicago gets a ping pong goal. Today, I’m still disappointed with the lack of finish, but can be happy that it was only 1-0. These Hawks are going to kick some serious ass this year, and should be considered contenders before we are. Christ, they’re only going to adopt Hossa this week! Yikes.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 23, 2009 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
Hossa arrives, and the Hawks’ delicate team chemistry is thrown into disarray. Bwahahahahaha…
Crap.
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.
Is Hossa going to make the Finals 3 years in a row with 3 different teams? Wouldn’t that be funny, especially if he loses all 3 of them.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 23, 2009 11:39 AM PST up reply actions
I couldn’t believe how many of Hank’s passes were off the mark, but no doubt he’ll bounce back. Wellwood sucked even more than usual. He seems to have lost all confidence.
Offensively, yes. There’s still that poise and skill level that you can see from him in spurts, especially with the passing plays, but I don’t see enough drive and determination from him. Not enough to warrant a roster spot.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 23, 2009 11:38 AM PST up reply actions
Not enough to warrant a roster spot
Holy shit, Sean cracked! Now if we can get him to see Sundin in the correct light, all will be right in the cosmos :)
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 23, 2009 12:39 PM PST up reply actions
I know! The Wellwood bubble burst! My line has ended!
No way will I back down on the Sundin front though. No way! :)
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 23, 2009 3:01 PM PST up reply actions
Sundin played OK once he got warmed up. Not world-beating, but OK. Wellwood however needs to step it up cuz Shirok is learning defence and the n.a. game as we speak, and if/when he comes back up, then we could ice Hank, Kes, Rypien and Johnson at center and move Shirok to wing, with Welly the odd man out.
Ever more telling, Grabner’s due back in a while. So who goes at that pt? Wellwood or Glass? Wellwood’s career is on the bubble. I don’t really hold it against him that he got shut out last note, the whole team did. But he has to start producing offensively at some pt.
Maybe low-cholesterol diets really do decrease testosterone/aggression?
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
At least Glass can crash and bang a bit. Pudge can’t even do that. Right now it’s just the threat of what he could possibly maybe sort of do that keeps him earning a paycheck.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 23, 2009 3:27 PM PST up reply actions
I’d hate to flush Welly, just because he does have that offensive ability (see end-to-ender v Edmonton). However, we’re a quarter through the season and these flashes have been practically non-existent. To the Moose with thee, ‘cuz I’m pretty sure he’ll clear waivers.
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.
No way we should just let him go. Trade him to Toronto for a first-rounder, say in 2025 or something, whatever they got left.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
No one would actually give us anything for him. Not even the Leafs. They may trade first round picks like they are going out of style but they like to get NHL caliber talent back.
I think the Leafs would gamble on him…. ok maybe not. But I’d laugh.
BTW, we had a scout at their game on Saturday, for what it’s worth.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 23, 2009 4:26 PM PST up reply actions
Gotta love RRumble
but he’s a 3rd lne centre?
Gillisgan is going to have to pull the trigger if this keeps up.
BTW, I had given up on Demo for the year but then noticed the post above this one … which only puts Welly’s career in even more jeopardy if Demo did somehow manage a return.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
Demo
is the only other Nuck who could play third pivot, but do you want a $4M guy on the 3rd line? Be easily the most expensive 3rd line in hockey with Burnyea.
Once the injured guys return:
Burrows-Sedin-Sedin
Raymond-Kesler-Grabner
Samuelsson-Demitra-Bernier
Hansen-Johnson-Rypien
First line’s the same as last year. Demo and Kesler lines are both #2 lines. Kesler and Johnson lines just plain fast all around. Bernier currently on pace for 27 goals this year and heating up of late.
Shirok the wildcard?
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
No way! Raymond goes to line 3, Demitra on line 2, and if Wellwood doesn’t make the cut by then, another 3rd line center is acquired. AV doesn’t play line 3 guys for much more than 13:00.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 23, 2009 6:51 PM PST up reply actions
AV could learn. Both my #2 lines have the talent, and Raymond’s playing better than a 13:00 guy. So’s Kesler. Or were you planning on moving him to the wing? What overall lines would you go with, presuming everyone gets healthy again?
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
Sedins-Burrows
Demitra-Kesler-Samuelsson
Raymond-Wellwood-Bernier
Rypien-Johnson-Glass
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 23, 2009 7:13 PM PST up reply actions
No Grabner and no Hansen?
I can see you wanna put Samuelsson on line 2 by moving Raymond down … ok, maybe so … but I think Grabner will stay over Glass (if Grabner can continues his good play, which seemed to coincide w/ being on a line w/Kesler & Raymond, so it’s complicated) … and I see no reason to send Hansen down. I’d take him over Glass, for ex, even tho I like what Glass has been able to do this year.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
Oh yeah..Hansen. Why do I always forget about him? Yeah, him over Glass. But I can’t see them putting Grabner on line 4, or on line 3, bumping Bernier (?). Smells like a trade brewing!
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 23, 2009 8:25 PM PST up reply actions
i think grabner will be sent back to manitoba once he’s healed. i think glass is more worthy of staying on the team this year. move samuellson or demitra up to 2nd line, hansen or johnson up to 3rd, and glass on 4th.
i mean no harm. i come in peace. unlike shane o'brien or kevin bieksa........
watch out for the Rypper too, he can whip anyone.......
GO CANUCKS GO!
yeah, I think he’ll be sent down too. But hey, you never know..if he comes back before Demitra and lights it up..he’s going to give the coaching staff a tough decision to make. It’s just that if he stays…we put a moneybag player like Samuelsson on line 3. That’s just silly, IMO.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 23, 2009 7:15 PM PST up reply actions
Grabner goes down so that who stays? Bernier? Wellwood? Glass? That’s just stupid. Grabner could be a key cog for today and the future. If Tanner Glass or those other two worthless pieces of you know what are still on this team in 2 years I will be cheering for someone else. Our team and apparently our fans need to understand that a Grabner is more important than a borderline NHLer and we need to develop our players. I thought Grabs was playing well so why demote him to keep someone who isn’t playing well and who costs more money and who isn’t a part of our future? Seems a strange way to run a franchise.
by Section 312 on Nov 24, 2009 12:04 AM PST up reply actions
You’re kind of missing the point. Wellwood is a natural center. Bernier is being paid the big bucks and Glass is a 3rd or 4th line checker. Grabner is none of those. He becomes a victim of circumstance, unless one of the top 6 is traded away.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 24, 2009 1:10 AM PST up reply actions
So we keep Wellwood because he is a natural center? How about the fact he is a horrible player? Does that factor into the decision? How many points does he have this year? Could a Bolduc or Desbiens have produced similar numbers or maybe even more? You also have Demo playing wing on your lines when everyone is healthy. Why not play a Raymond Kesler Grabner “third” line and keep Demo at his natural position? That’s what casual had and I like that I just think he had them in the wrong order.
by Section 312 on Nov 24, 2009 11:02 AM PST up reply actions
Could a Bolduc or Desbiens have produced similar numbers or maybe even more?
Absolutely!
Demitra looked better on the wing on the Sundin-Kesler line did he not? I thought he said before that he prefers playing wing. I’d have to look that up.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 24, 2009 12:21 PM PST up reply actions
For 4 million dollars a season he should like playing wherever AV tells him to play. And Sundin is gone. So I would like to see the speed and youthful exuberance of Kesler Raymond and Grabs. Put Sammy with Demo and Bernier and you have two very good secondary lines. As casual has already mentioned.
by Section 312 on Nov 24, 2009 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
Before he got on that line, he looked a lot less dangerous as a winger than as a center, iirc. But my memory could be off, too.
Is there anyone whose play hasn’t improved when they’ve lined up w/Kesler?
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
you mean Sundin ;)
Like I said before…line 3 doesn’t get the ice time that the top 6 does. Why put Demo or Kesler as a center on that line and thus lower their ice time?
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 24, 2009 1:28 PM PST up reply actions
Sundin too. Lately, Grabner.
I agree we have a lot of guys who could each arguably deserve more ice time. Hank, Dank, Burrows, Demo, Samuelsson, Kesler, Raymond, maybe Grabs and Bernier, too.
That makes 7-9 guys. I like the way Raymond’s played this tear, Grabner looks like a nice fit w/Kesler & raymond just as Burrows fits the twins, Samuelsson’s been scoring, Demo’s a top 6’er when he returns, Bernier’s picked it up this year and of late.
So why not better balance the ice time of the 2nd and 3rd lines? We’d be fresher on b2b’s and a guy like Demo can ease into the pace of play when he returns and, maybe, stay healthier, too. See how it goes and play it by ear from there.
I don’t buy into the arg that "no way you pay ‘such and such’ that much to play on that line. The guys are already signed, the money will be paid regardless, so you play the lines that work the best. IMHO, balancing ice time for lines 2 and 3 – even if you have to steal a minute here or there from line 4 – would let us take better advantage of our depth.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
Or you make a trade. The money hasn’t all been paid yet and to get all of those lines together we would have to move a D man.
Sayonara to Wellwood & to SOB?
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
I’ve had that fear ever since they got Ehrhoff, but if Welly & SOB will do – and I’ve have to run the number but I think that’d just be enough – I think it’s an easy choice.
Welly’s not producing and when/if Demo returns we’ll have enough centers, so Welly’s redundant at that pt anyway, which in turn means it’s either SOB or Bieksa as the marked man on D. For sure Bieksa wins that contest.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
Welly & SOB will do – and I’ve have to run the number but I think that’d just be enough – I think it’s an easy choice.
As much as I’m not a Bieksa fan, I have to agree with your 2 picks to trade away.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 24, 2009 3:15 PM PST up reply actions
Trade? Weren’t you following the “witchcraft” discussion? There are cheaper options!
[and BTW, Sundin did improve when lined up w/Kesler, just not as much as hoped for.]
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
Other way around. Sundin taught Kesler how to be a GOD ;)
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 24, 2009 3:29 PM PST up reply actions
You mean, take half the year off and come back at Xmas.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 24, 2009 6:48 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, 8 points in 8 playoff games or even 10 points in the final 14 games of the season sucks right? Not saying he was worth his pricetag, but he didn’t suck towards the end and therefore didn’t suck for “half the year”
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 24, 2009 8:48 PM PST up reply actions
I have a correction to make..
Demitra has said in the past: “I don’t mind to play centre or left wing,” he said. "I just have to play with the right guys. In St. Louis, I played centre. In L.A., I played right wing and, in Minnesota, centre and left wing.
“I liked to play the wing in Minnesota because the centre has to stay back and play defence. In St. Louis, I was preferring to play centre because I had the puck all the time and that’s what I like. I want to be on the ice and have fun.”
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 24, 2009 3:28 PM PST up reply actions
Oh and having covered hockey teams I know that guys play put of position all the time in junior. It is an almost daily occurrence when a coach walks down the bus and asks a guy if he can play the right side or the left side or center. I am sure there are guys on our roster who played some center in their younger days and could do the job better than Wellwood. Heck Sean, you could do a better job than Wellwood at this point. The whole “natural” position thing always rankled me a little. What is natural about it? It’s a learned position just like anything else. At some point Wellwood learned to play center, although not very well, and other guys on our team can and have played center before. It isn’t like Wellwood came out of his mom’s vag with a winger on either side.
by Section 312 on Nov 24, 2009 11:07 AM PST up reply actions
OK, so what I mean by a “natural” center is a guy who has done it for much of his career and/or excels greatly at it. I know, that doesn’t define “natural” I see your point… unless he was born a center, haha
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 24, 2009 3:18 PM PST up reply actions
Well…you guys gotta know I disagree on Bernier.
Seems he is like some people’s fave whipping boy.
He makes 2 mil, same as Burrows, and a little less than Sammy, and more than everyone’s fave, Kesler, who is obviously gonna get a raise.
For that, he has done this so far…7 goals. 4 assists, and leading his team in hits (well Hordi has 37, but isn’t playing much right now) with 32.
Yes, he is a -5 right now too. And those hands I see the same as you guys…except to say that he does have the talent….his last 3 goals were all of the goalscorer’s variety. Though that rush against Chicago was most decidedly not.
But that isn’t the question, the question is more is he worth his money. Well, the same as Burrows, he kills penalties (though not the 1st pair out like Burr’)…
He has more goals, points and hits. He has been throughout the lineup and still been overall pretty good. (though that -5 doesn’t look great!)
I think he could be better…but for 2 mil, he is fine.
The earliest use of the word with the spelling we recognize today is found in "L'Acadie: or Seven Years' Exploration in British America" by James Edward Alexander, published in 1849:
We also met a lusty fellow in a forest road with a keg of whisky slung round him who called to us 'Come boys and have some grog, I'm what you call a canuck"
I guess from my perspective I think you can get similar production to 7 goals 4 assists and a minus 5 and some hits and PK time from a prospect on a rookie deal. Like Grabner. I would rather keep around a young prospect with a potentially long future in this organization rather than a guy who probably won’t be around in 2 or 3 years.
by Section 312 on Nov 24, 2009 11:41 AM PST up reply actions
Best you can do is try to get value for your money. Bernier’s OK so far, getting better of late, tho I too wanna see that +/- improve. As with Raymond, I think his generating chances for himself also generates more chances for him to learn. His PP goal (assist to Ehrhoff) was a soft-hands beauty; more like that please.
As for the Chi breakaway … he was pressured by the D-man coming back. Too bad he didn’t have just a half-step more speed … but if he did, he’d cost more, too.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
Yeah I mean Bernier hasn’t been bad so you can’t complain about him, there are guys performing worse. And who are far worse value for money. So we can all agree that if it comes down to Wellwood or Grabner we go with Grabs?
by Section 312 on Nov 24, 2009 11:52 AM PST up reply actions
I’d take Grabner … he’s playing better these days, draws more penalties too … and more upside.
Wellwood seemed to have a lot of upside once, and I think the talent is there, but maybe he just doesn’t want it enough, whereas Grabner took a true heartbreak (failing to make the team at camp) and just went back to MB and worked harder.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
I hear you there. I liked what Grabs brought too, and I want him back in the line up.
Don’t forget though. when we talk cap…that Grabs is a great deal at about 850,000, but the other prospects like Shirokov and Hodgson are up around 1.35 with bonuses etc.
Obviously, Welly’s 1.2 looks meh…but relatively peaking, he isn’t a huge Cap killer…
I mean, its 1.2, its not like Wade Redden at around what…7 mil?
The earliest use of the word with the spelling we recognize today is found in "L'Acadie: or Seven Years' Exploration in British America" by James Edward Alexander, published in 1849:
We also met a lusty fellow in a forest road with a keg of whisky slung round him who called to us 'Come boys and have some grog, I'm what you call a canuck"
At 1.2, Welly’s getting paid near-bottom dollar for a vet and iirc he had to go to arbitration to get even that much. Canucks decided to try him as a project, it would seem… or maybe, with Shirok & Grabner (and soon Schroeder) in the pipeline, he was just been a placeholder at the time. or a bit of both.
He’s no cap-killer, but if he and SOB have to go to make room for Demo in the stretch/playoffs, that’s an easy call. Unless we make a trade first.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
He isn’t a cap killer no. He is simply speaking shitty player who is bringing nothing to this team. 1 point and plus 1 we could get that from anyone on the farm at 850,000. Hell Pettinger was doing better than that.
Weird that he worked so hard getting in shape in the offseason if his heart wasn’t in it, tho … is he hampered by injury? Small guys like him can get awfully beat up at times. He still loses his spot if he can’t produce, regardless of the reason, but it’d be interesting to know a little more definitively – we’re all just guessing, really – as to why his production dried up so completely.
I do think he’s had more trouble on faceoffs this year because he can’t use his legs like he used to. But there’s more to it than that.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
Or
him “getting in shape” wan another failed Gillisgan pet theory.
Get him in whatever shape he was in the year he was almost a ppg player in the CotU.
Question is
does he slot into the top 6? He can’t even get there with Dank, Demo and Grabner out, with them back does he drop all the way to the 4th line? Will he get as much PP time?
I’ll be surprised if he keeps up the scoring pace, but if he does, without being so much of a liability I’ll give him credit for it, and still wonder why a 3rd liner is making $2M.
17 goals and 32 points for Bernier last year. He now has 7 goals and 11 points in 21 games. If he keeps this up, he will exceed last year’s production with little problem
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 24, 2009 1:31 PM PST up reply actions
2nd Leading goalscorer and 3rd in points
drops to the 3rd line?
To form a $8.5M 3rd line?
No wonder you’re in love with Gillis, You’re AV aren’t you?
Hey, I called that notion silly didn’t I? Your hatred has blinded you once again!
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 23, 2009 10:20 PM PST up reply actions
I noticed that Burrows was flying out there last night. That nagging injury he had must be gone now and/or Dank being back helped him.
C’mon Yoata…I mean…I am growing to love you a little bit, but lets not just ignore what he did. Maybe you were turned away from the tube because some beauty was distracting you in that sexy top or something, but Burr’ wasn’t a problem at all last night.
Thought that penalty he got was pretty shitty …but par for the course when the ref wants to make a point and send both guys off…
Burrows had 2 hits, 7 shots, and was under the skin of the Hawks like he is supposed to be. The Sedins looked good with him again.
They just couldn’t score when Burr and the Twins were crashing the net all night.
cyxj kind of hit the nail on the head there…I noticed him all night.
The earliest use of the word with the spelling we recognize today is found in "L'Acadie: or Seven Years' Exploration in British America" by James Edward Alexander, published in 1849:
We also met a lusty fellow in a forest road with a keg of whisky slung round him who called to us 'Come boys and have some grog, I'm what you call a canuck"
Sorry,
was talking about Burnier, I thought cyxj was too, Burr is doing fine. I’ll be surprised if he ever scores again like he did last year, although anything’s possible if he keeps playing with the twins, but he’s a valuable contributor regardless.
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