Nucks Misconduct, a Vancouver Canucks community

Gillis on UFA Doan: "We've been in constant contact. He's clearly a player we'd like to have in Vancouver and we're going to wait it out."

The buzz continues to escalate throughout the Fraser Valley real estate community that Francesco Aquilini has his sights on buying the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre and the land it occupies. By extension, Aquilini would cut a deal with the Calgary Flames that would result in the Vancouver Canucks’ No. 1 farm team, the Chicago Wolves, switched to Abbotsford.

The Hawks lost eight of 11 in March before winning it all. Nearly the same story for Sidney Crosby's Penguins. They lost 7 of 11 in February, then won it all.

The Red Wings most-recent cup team lost 10 of 11 in February. And the Anaheim Ducks may be the best example of all, losing 17 of 25 in an ugly, post all-star performance that was forgotten by the time they hoisted the cup in June.

Canuck coach Alain Vigneault is expected to brief reporters later today on the status of Kesler and defenceman Keith Ballard, who also missed practice after leaving Wednesday's game with a back injury.

"That was the story of Game 1, at least in my eyes," Boyle said. "We're aware of what Nashville was accusing them of the series before. I saw it first-hand last night."
I mean, even the penalty I got, I'm thankful Lapierre got a diving penalty for it because their, you know, heads are going back like they're getting shot with a gun," Boyle said. "It is what it is. I'm not going to sit here and cry about it. Hopefully the refs see it most of the time."

"Vancouver was not a destination point for really high-level free agents for a variety of reasons. Anywhere from taxes to rain to travel, you name it," he said.

"I felt if we were going to be a competitive team and organization, we had to change that mindset. We did it by approving a plan that was in place to redo the dressing room facility.

"We did it by initially offering more money to certain players we felt would legitimize our team in the short-term for others, one of them being Mats Sundin -- he made a significant difference in our organization -- and we tried to provide a guarantee we were going to make players better by every means possible."

"All this Cup talk about town is counterproductive in some ways," Kevin Bieksa said today. "I can tell you there isn't one guy in this room who has even thought about the playoffs. I mean, have you looked at our schedule, we've got what, 14,15 games in January. We're just trying to get through the month, honestly we haven't even thought about a Cup in here. It's play, day off, practice, play. Man we're just trying to survive the month."

Canucks need to clear $1.8m annualized for Salo RT @capgeek: W asst from @BotchonCanucks we confirmed Canucks have cap exception for Rypien

Ryan Parent will be put on waivers tomorrow by the Canucks.

They were better against Chicago stars Patrick Kane, who had an empty-net goal, and Jonathan Toews than they were in the opener. The Blackhawks’ brawnier lineup and more physical play had no effect on the Canucks. Luongo was excellent for a fifth straight game — further evidence that his epic second-half struggles are over.

And, really, who wouldn't take a split from the first two games on the road?