Good article by Brad Zeimer on his blog regarding the Luongo captaincy. I don’t think he is alone. Perhaps Gillis used the captaincy issue as leverage to get Luongo to commit to a long-term deal. If that is the case — mission accomplished. Now let’s get a real captain.
In other news. Apparently Brain Burke is pissed at the signing of Bill Sweatt last week by Gillis. Toronto won the rights to the talented college winger last month but couldn’t sign him. He is projected to play in the same vein as Mason Raymond.
Look for Gillis to continue to plug holes with the departure of Grabner and Bernier last month. For every bad move Gillis makes, he makes at least two good ones. I think the Sweatt Brothers will mark an impact on depth that the Canucks have been lacking in a while.
It was announced that the naming rights for GM Place have been purchased by Rogers, the Canucks will now be playing at the newly christened Rogers Arena. Blah, Blah, Blah. I actually sort of, kind of liked GM Place (sorry Naomi Klein), but I’m sure I’ll adjust. I’m not as attached as Torontonians were to their beloved SkyDome. Alas, the winds of change are blowing.
In other news of relative consequence, the Canucks announced this week that assistance coach Ryan Walter got the pink slip and will be replaced by Newell Brown.
(Could it have something to do with this?)
I’m all for a little coaching shake up, especially something that could bring a little consistency to a flaccid penalty kill (18th overall last year) and a bullshit goals-against (20th overall). Whether this falls under Browns jurisdiction isn’t known yet. If MG has any foresight he will keep the coaching staff on a short leash this year as the expectations on this nucleus run pretty high. Given the fire-sale of key support players in Chicago this summer you gotta wonder if the Canucks main arch-rival this year may be simply themselves.
In other news, word on the street is that Canucks brass have a few moves up their sleeve that may be exercized in the coming weeks. MG has been making little moves like signing Lee Sweattin May that could have huge upswing for a team aching for a bonafide support cast. The talent on this roster is indisputable, but this talent needs a figurative vitamin-E shot in the guise of a dark-horse-blue chip or Cody Hodgson. That might be enough to put em over the top.
It was announced the other day that long time Canucks radio color-commentator, Tom Larscheid, would retire. He will be replaced by Deutsche Eishockey Liga stalwart, Dave Tomlinson. There seems to be evidence that Larscheid was given the slip for a younger, prettier (imagine Tomlinson’s blue eyes piercing through your radio) model.
Larscheid was a goof, albeit a loveable one. Tomlinson may be Ferraro-lite, but he still has this up on the former Whale:
The former Alder Mannheim Eagle frozen in time right before he is sent to Germany.
He won a number of championships and accolades during his hockey career in Europe, but you know that in his heart-of-hearts he was thinking the whole time, “one day I’m gonna go home, usurp a local media legend, then call the color on local radio when the hometeam wins a Stanley Cup in their 40th season in the NHL.” It brings a new meaning to hockey cliche No. 36 – great vision for the ice.
Larchaid had a fine run and some memorable quotes and antics and but he was just another cog in the loser wheel this city has been spinning for a long time. Out with the old and in with the…let’s see those retro jerseys again:
Okay, now I have the metaphysical grip to win a Stanley Cup.
Oh, and who gives a holy shit who calls the shots when/if the Canucks ever manage to win. They win. Right? So fuck you bloggers, eh. I’m tired and I’m now going to bed.
Thanks to Icethics.info for this scoop. I love retro-shit and I love the Canucks, what a happy marriage that makes us. The ‘Fucks wear this five times throughout the year to mark the 40th anniversary of NHL hockey in Vancouver.
Is it just me or does Henrik just bleed: most-under-appreciated-league-MVP-ever?
Is God so powerful that he can make a league MVP so unloveable that even he can’t love him?
