Who Benefits From Kesler's Injury?
by Yankee Canuck on Aug 23, 2011 8:54 AM PDT
in Offseasons Suck
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Hopeful answer: Cody Hodgson.
As the KesLORD continues his hip surgery rehabilitation (aside: all you Kristen Reid fans will love the last line of Walker's piece) he's clearly saying the right things about being ready opening night for Crosby (maybe) and the Penguins. Then again - considering how vital Kesler has become coupled with the possibility of another 100+ game season ahead - do you risk rushing him back?
So suppose he isn't ready by the season opener. Who steps in at even strength and the first PP unit? Vigneault could shift his depth up and hand the second line to Malhotra while Lapierre takes over the checking line again. This is the safest bet in terms of experience, but expecting Malhotra to produce offensively while shouldering more ES minutes in addition to special teams duties seems like a stretch. It would put more pressure on the Sedins and Burrows to score, but that's hardly the end of the world.
Another scenario is Higgins or Samuelsson take the slot. Both have played center before (though not terribly successfully) and could provide a capable set of hands to keep the line afloat until Kesler returns. Hell knowing Vigneault it's not out of bounds to consider he juggles the second and third lines after the first period each game anyway. So whoever starts in Kesler's slot won't necessarily stay there very long.
There's always the possibility a standout camp audition... Just kidding.
Then there's Hodgson. His star has plummeted in just two seasons, but unless he's moved before October, he seems like a natural to either (a) be tested with the second line to see how he deals with increased minutes and responsibilities or (b) be given the third line while Malhotra anchors the second. It's a risk obviously, but one that might be worth taking if it's just a 5-10 game timeline. The last we saw Franchise he was saddled with piddling fourth line duties which isn't the role he's best suited for. Hodgson isn't cracking the roster as a center without an injury and being down Kesler is his best (only?) chance to step in and make a visible, immediate impact with Vancouver. Alternatively, if he can impress at camp and make it a few regular season games in a top six/top nine role, it's at least an audition for other teams should Gillis eventually move the youngster.
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voted for linden, but he’s in my bad books til he opens a gym in Vancouver and not just the burbs. YOU HEAR THAT LINDEN!????!! THE CITY!
"Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind."
Dropping F-bombs since the early 70's.
'Nucks Misconduct Sr. VP of Inappropriateness and Questionable Conduct, second director of immaturity. My twitter account
You know me with polls
I have to put the one throw away vote in there. American politics has taught me well.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
"Pucks are awful little things" - Passive Voice.
by Yankee Canuck on Aug 23, 2011 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions
hah american politics
Two choices: The right wing nutjob or the left wing slacker. Go!
"Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind."
Dropping F-bombs since the early 70's.
'Nucks Misconduct Sr. VP of Inappropriateness and Questionable Conduct, second director of immaturity. My twitter account
You could have also put in a choice
for Baby Monkey. Cuz you know, he goes backwards. On a pig.
"Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind."
Dropping F-bombs since the early 70's.
'Nucks Misconduct Sr. VP of Inappropriateness and Questionable Conduct, second director of immaturity. My twitter account
Is it Linden or Schroeder?
Schroeder’s more of a winger, isn’t he? The Kane to Hodgson’s Toews.
"This is almost certainly a terrible idea - but I won't know for certain until I've actually done it."
London Canucks fan - well, what else is there to do at 3am?
by Ghetto Defendant on Aug 23, 2011 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions
I thought Schroeder was a center, but maybe he was skating on the wing with the Moose. It would certainly help him this fall to be a winger.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
"Pucks are awful little things" - Passive Voice.
by Yankee Canuck on Aug 23, 2011 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Time to see what Hodgson can do.
4th line role is not going to cut it. Let him replace Kesler for the first ten games or so and go from there. I sure Kesler will want to play opening night, but I hope the Canucks take a very cautious approach with his return.
Ryan Kesler for MVP
"Don't tread on me"
I voted Hodgson
like most of you. It seems the only logical choice.
Totally off topic to the post…people ragging on Quennville about how shitty he was at singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame should give him a break. Its obvious he was drunk, and who has sounded better at Cary O Kee when they were a few sheets to the wind?
Made me laugh.
Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod. "For true believers, the bile you spew is our fuel, and when the Canucks raise the Cup next year, we shall drink it, mixed with your tears like the sweetest wine." WAACH' 6/26/11
Take that
attitude over to SCH, fella. You’re either against the Hawks, or you’re against the Hawks.
I'll do it tomorrow, that seems like a pretty good idea to me
What's wrong with tomorrow, I'm watching him but who's watching me?
by Smoboy41 on Aug 24, 2011 2:06 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Damn
My sarcasm was too subtle?
I called their coach drunk…I hate the Hawks Smo’, honest!
Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod. "For true believers, the bile you spew is our fuel, and when the Canucks raise the Cup next year, we shall drink it, mixed with your tears like the sweetest wine." WAACH' 6/26/11
Gotta give Hodgson a chance
to sink or swim. letting him play 5-6 minutes of meaningless 4th line time has shown us absolutely nothing.
Everytime I meet a new person, I figure out how I’m gonna fight them
-Jack Donaghy
by cyclone's ghost on Aug 23, 2011 11:43 AM PDT reply actions
its the truth
<3 Boobies!
#WinitWithManny
notafullcolon CS: Well obviously I meant we were snorting blow off hookers at the time of the goal
Hodgson, without a doubt. Sink or swim time for The Franchise.
Best case scenario, he excels and we have a) a winger for a healthy Kesler or b) another asset to package with Cory Schneider in a trade. Worst case scenario, he finds out that he needs another year of seasoning as The Man (first line C/PP/PK duties) in the AHL.
Fact is, Kesler (the next 5 years) and Henrik (3 years) are locked up and our top two center spots spoken for. A tenth overall draft pick should not be languishing in the AHL/spot fourth line duty.
Bruins/Canucks, I imagine? Yeah, I’d definitely have a problem playing it.
I still skip any articles about THAT series. So reading any hockey preview magazines is pretty much out of the question for me.
Of course
I am a fan of GMMG, but here;s a little story of one of the reasons why, kind of germane.
I hate listening to Pratt and taylor on TEAM sometimes, but they get the best guests, so what can you do. They had Gilman on, and then MG came in a bit after the start.
It was all very fun and whatnot, but when you listen to MG on there, the one team he really likes to needle and turn the screws on os Don and Dave. I think his opinion of Pratt is like mine, that he is a moron, but what can you do?
Anyhow, it was Donny that got the question off, about being off and reading the Hockey News, and what they had to say about what they were talking about at the time, the way that the long season would affect our fair haired boys…
MG, with like perfect comic timing, and with just the right amount of sneer, was openly mocking his choice of reading material…“Oh, the HOCKEY NEWS huh?”
Something that was better live than my recounting, but its just to illustrate the same thing. Reading and paying attention to the predictions ( really, the only thing I took note of is that Vegas turned right around and labeled the Nucks 6-1 faves, better than 3 teams at 8-1. Pretty big spread I thought )…
From lurking over at SCH, I have already heard it mentioned in a chest puffing kind of way, that the Hockey News has them in the Final this year.
Not sure who they had last year, but Vegas had us and the Pens as the faves.
But yeah, I cannot count the number of times I have read how doomed we are because of the long road last year. Thanks MSM.
Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod. "For true believers, the bile you spew is our fuel, and when the Canucks raise the Cup next year, we shall drink it, mixed with your tears like the sweetest wine." WAACH' 6/26/11
Schroeder with more votes than Samuelsson
Awesome
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
"Pucks are awful little things" - Passive Voice.
No
He has more votes than “Samelsson”, who I do not know.
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
There's no U in team
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
"Pucks are awful little things" - Passive Voice.
by Yankee Canuck on Aug 24, 2011 7:55 AM PDT up reply actions
But there is a me
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
Meat is in there too
So we need Simmonds immediately.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
"Pucks are awful little things" - Passive Voice.
by Yankee Canuck on Aug 24, 2011 8:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Or just some hamburgers or steaks or something
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
And on cue, here's Tony G
The timing of having a healthy, hungry Hodgson arrive couldn’t be better if it comes to pass, as the Canucks will be looking for something to kick start them through the early stages of the season.
http://www.theprovince.com/Healthy+Hodgson+looms+large+Canucks+plans/5299794/story.html
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
"Pucks are awful little things" - Passive Voice.
Jesus
479 votes in August? You guyz r gettin popular.
But seriously. Your title has a simple answer. Who benefits from Kesler’s injury? Every damn team that plays the Canucks until he’s back.
by Beantown Canuck on Aug 24, 2011 2:48 PM PDT reply actions
Maybe you didn't hear
we got FRANCHISE stepping in
a ginger ball hockey player... no wonder I'm a Canucks fan
Wishful thinking here.
Like maybe some of you, I believe that Hodgson has the potential to be a a more accurate passer than Kesler with a better ice vision. Kes is drop dead at FO and is a more dynamic and faster skater than Hodgson. My wish is that Cody does so well as 2nd line center that Kes comes back as a winger. It wouldn’t affect Kes doing FO’s and the slower center can find the faster winger on the fly. I really feel that Cody has the potential to be as dynamic a player as Kes, albeit slower but with better ice vision and passing instincts.
"Why are we so quick to blame? What is the attraction in that?" - Carmela Soprano
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