The Canucks are the laughing stock of the NHL!

Is this an appropriate question..."what the hell just happened?" What happened is my Canucks just traded our #1 goalie in Corey Schneider to the New Jersey Devils for a #9 overall draft pick. (Get it? Hell and Devils? haha)

The night before, the rumours started flying that Schneider was on the trade block. Teams were inquiring about him (supposedly Calgary, NJ, Edmonton, and Columbus). Rumours and speculation on possible trades was flooding the draft. Usually it's a lot of hype and smoke and nothing happens...until today.

Here are some facts:
1. Gillis couldn't trade Luongo for something significant. Supposedly the Leafs had offered Kadri and Reimer for Luo. But hindsight is 20/20. Isn't it better to keep Luongo than to buy him out? Yep. Luongo is a good goalie. He played really well this season. I like him a lot but this is now a real gong show.
2. NJ are thrilled that they just stole Cory Schneider. They have found the successor to Brodeur. Marty said, "Cory is one of the top 5 goalies, in my mind, in the NHL. It's a chance to get away with from the chaotic of Vancouver. "
3. Supposedly our coach John 'I promise to be calm' Tortorella loves Luongo and magically we trade Schneider.
4. You know who the last Canuck we traded for who was #9 overall was? Our 'mega superstar' Zach 'I'm a lego manic' Kassian.
5. We are the laughing stock of the NHL. 1st Tortorella and now we trade Schneider instead of Luongo. The only team that might be worse than us is the Philadelphia Flyers trading Richards and Carter away and seeing them hoist the Stanley Cup in LA and buying out the massive contract of Bryzgalov.

Here are some positives:
1. We got younger today...but didn't everyone in the draft? Seriously.
2. Horvat sounds to be a good pick. He came from a successful organization with the London Knights. The TSN draft analysts were going nuts about how good Horvat is. But he's only 18 and I highly doubt he's playing this year. But he was the MVP of the OHL playoffs. This kid is good but probably 2-3 years out of playing regularly in the NHL. At least he's a two way player and plays C.
3. With the 24th overall pick we selected Hunter Shinkaruk who was ranked #14 by Central Scouting. He scored 100 goals in the WHL in 193 games. He was amazing with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Here are the BIG questions:
1. So we couldn't trade Luongo and I get it...plan B is trade Schneider. So why did we get so little? He said this is the best this was the best opportunity he had. I highly doubt that. Rumours were flying that other teams would have given up much more.
2. How does Mike Gillis have a GM job in the NHL?
3. What if Luongo doesn't want to play for Vancouver and says trade me? Who's going to play goal then? Sign Bryzgalov and hope for the best??? Roberto tweeted today, "#NOtradeclause".  Ouch.
4. How does Mike Gillis have a GM job in the NHL?
5. Didn't the Oilers make a significant offer for Schneider? Supposedly Edmonton offered a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick with a prospect. The Oilers didn't have another 1st round pick. If their #7 was offered that alone would have been better than what we got from NJ but supposedly there was more. I get the fact that trading to a division rival is not a good idea BUT what about getting the best deal for your team to move forward??? Schneider might not pan out but maybe he will. Maybe he stays healthy and continues to improve or maybe he isn't as good as we all think.
Darren Dreger just tweeted this, "Canucks were not have offered a 1st, 2nd and a very high end prospect by the Oilers, but that is what Gillis asked for...#trustmysource"
So maybe Gillis had no real good options?
6. How does Mike Gillis have a GM job in the NHL? Everyone knows last summer he could have gotten way more for Luo or Schneider. Hindsight is 20/20


I like Luongo. I'm not upset that Luo is our goalie going forward. I'm really, really, really, disappointed we didn't get more for Schneider. Unless Horvat turns into a stud this will be one of the worst trades in Canuck history, second to Cam Neeley going to Boston.

Why couldn't we have gotten at least what LA got in return from Toronto for Jonathan Bernier? LA trade Bernier for Scrivens (a great back up goalie who has #1 starter potential), RW (ready to be inserted in your lineup) Matt Frattin, and a second round pick. Great trade by both teams.

Let's not forget that we need to add scoring to our lineup immediately. So disappointed...

My suggestion is to fire Gillis and bring back Brian Burke who is interested in being a GM again to fix this mess.

I could be wrong but I doubt it.

Why I LOVE and HATE it that John Tortorella is the new head coach of our Vancouver Canucks.

Are you kidding me? John Tortorella! Why? What’s Gillis thinking? Right now I’m as low as I’ve ever been as a Canucks fan and now we hire the most controversial coach in the league. I have lots of mixed feelings about this. Here’s why I love and hate this move:

I HATE that he’s our new coach because:

1. My most frustrating thing about John Tortorella is the circus he brings. 

It becomes all about him and little about the team. Listen we don’t need any more circus acts because we got Luongo. The whole season was about when are we trading Luo.

2. He benched Brad Richards in the playoffs! 

What? Not just the regular season but also the playoffs. Are you telling me that Brad Richards couldn’t have played on a 3^rd or 4^th line? That’s what John believed Richards wasn’t good enough to contribute. I think this is the reason why Tortorella got fired. You went from having Nash, Richards, and Gaborik to having Nash as your top player in NY. I think that AV will never healthy scratch Richards but he will be on the top 2 lines always.

3. He doesn’t get along with the media. 

In his defense, I’m sure SOME of the media ask stupid questions. John is a truth speaker and he would just lose his temper with idiots. Not like being popular in the media even matters. On a side note, Brian Burke didn’t love the media either but did a great job with the Canucks.

4. We are the laughing stock of the NHL. 

Just watch the reaction of people everywhere…almost everyone including those in the media think this a HORRIBLE addition. People already hate the Canucks now people are laughing at us too!

5. What Free Agents are going to want to play for Tortorella? 

Seriously, after what he did to Richards would you want to come to Vancouver? The way he loses it and throws his players under the bus publicly over and over the good available FA’s are going to sign elsewhere.

6. Will his aggressive style work in Vancouver? 

Maybe his style won’t work with our players. Most people don’t think it will.

7. It’s got to be bad when…you make the Eastern Conference final and you make the 2^nd round of the playoffs and you get fired. 

What does that say? I can understand if you don’t make the playoffs or you just squeak into the playoffs even though you are one of the top teams but to have success and get fired says something. Something is wrong with this picture.

What I LOVE about Tortorella:

1. He’s a champion. 

He lead the TB Lightning to a Stanley Cup victory over our division rival Flames. He knows what it takes to win.

2. He has tons of experience. 

One of the things I was most concerned about is that we were going to bring a coach who had little NHL coaching experience. I was worried we were going to sign Dallas Eakins or Jon Stevens or Patrick Roy. I wanted Lindy Ruff but he went to Dallas and Dave Tippet signed a 5 yr extension with Phoenix. The fact is the experienced coaches were dropping like flies. John’s won 3 division titles and made the playoffs 8 times. He’s been up for coach of the year 3 times. So he’s definitely got some skills. 
(He’s won a Stanley Cup, Calder Cup and an ACHL Championship, a Jack Adams Award, silver medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and has compiled a 410-330-37-67 record in the NHL)

3. It’s a big shake up. 

And the Canucks need that right now. Let’s light a fire under their butts and get them motivated. This is a MASSIVE risk. It bothers me that Gillis fired AV. It wasn’t our coach’s fault alone that we lost. GM Gillis should have been fired. He traded Hodgson for Kassian. He didn’t trade Luongo. He signed Higgins for $4M over 4 years. Maybe this risk self-destructs and then Gillis goes too. We need a shake up and John will shake up this team for better or for worse.

4. The entertainment value alone is worth the price of admission! 

At least we will always be in the news. You know John’s going to get mad at someone on the team or in the media. So at least it will be exciting.

I understand we need to shake things up…Tortorella definitely does that. Maybe he’s 'the answer'. If not, Tortorella and Gillis will lose their jobs. 

I put on Facebook and Twitter recently that we should hire Tortorella as coach and Burke back as our GM. Imagine the sparks that would fly! Well we are only half way there! BRING BACK BRIAN BURKE!!! Or go get Bobby Clarke to be the GM! LOL The Rangers must be happy getting rid of Tortorella and hiring AV. 

Round 1 NHL Playoffs 2013

THE 2013 NHL PLAYOFFS ARE HERE! Now I’ve heard it said that there will be an asterisk beside the team that wins the cup this year because of the shorten season. That’s garbage! You think if Sidney Crosby or Jonathan Toews win the Cup it won’t really count? This is for the real championship and the teams are going to battle every game for that prize.

The best part of hockey is the playoffs. Here’s my take on how the 1^st round will shake down! Of course I could be wrong but I doubt it.

EAST Round 1

1. Pitts vs 8. NYI

Season series: Pitts won 4-1

Congratulations Islanders you finally made the playoffs after missing it for 20 years. Your reward is you get to face the best team in the NHL. The biggest question is, “When is Crosby coming back?” Honestly in this season I don’t think it matters. Have you seen the tear the Penguins are on lately? They added key playoff guys near the deadline in Iginla and Morrow. As much as I like what the Islanders have done they won’t match the firepower and experience of Pittsburgh.

Prediction: Penguins 4-0

2. Montreal vs 7. Ottawa

Season series: Tied at 2-2

Can we just say that Ottawa doesn’t deserve to be here? Listen what team loses their all star C and D and G (for most of the yr) and still make the playoffs? No one except the Senators. Now they limped their way into the playoffs but they made it. This team is something else. It’s won all the games that people said they couldn’t. Everyone is going to be picking the Canadiens but maybe just maybe Anderson stands on his head and pulls this out! Because as good as Carrey Price has been he’s had some pretty bad games too. People are going to talk a lot about the Sens making the playoffs without Spezza and Karlsson but who would have predicted at the beginning of the season that the Habs would be #2 in the East? Not me. Actually no one. They too have exceeded expectations. Montreal’s top 3 lines can score.

Prediction: I’m playing it safe out there, the Canadiens win in 6. If the Sens pull up the upset I can’t see them winning the next round.

3. Washington vs 6. NYR

Season series: 2-1 NYR

Both teams are super hot right now. Ovechkin is FINALLY playing the way he should. They have a good support scoring around him with Backstrom, Riberio, Erat, Johansson, and Brouwer. But the Rangers have all the hired guns with Nash and Richards. They got playoff veteran in Clowe. The biggest factor in this series will be goaltending…King Lunqvist will rise to the occasion.

Prediction: Rangers in 7. Then the Caps trade for Luongo in the offseason. J

4. Bruins vs 5. Maple Leafs

Season series: 3-1 Boston

TML welcome back to the playoffs (2004). I get it Leaf nation is pumped but isn’t this worst-case scenario? The Habs would have been a much better Rd 1 match-up. The Bruins have the experience and the grit. Rask is stellar in goal.

Prediction: Sorry Leaf fans but the dream is over…Bruins beat you into submission in 6 games.

WEST Round 2

1. Chicago vs 8. Minnesota

Season series: Chicago 2-1

The only game Minnesota won this year vs Chicago was in shoot out. Unfortunately for the Wild there are no shoot outs in the playoffs. I have no idea what Wild team will show up this playoffs for sure but I know that the Blackhawks only lost 5 regulation games this season. FIVE! Chicago scored 95 goals this year and Minnesota only 68. I think the Wild are going to have trouble scoring vs the Blackhawks who aren’t going to have trouble putting the puck in the net. In both Chicago wins Hossa scored the winner so Minny needs to have a better game plan vs him.

Prediction: Blackhawks 4-0

2. Anaheim vs 7. Detroit

Season series: Detroit won it 2-1

Let’s be honest, the Red Wings miss Lidstrom. He’s the greatest D man in the history of the NHL. If only Detroit could have landed Ryan Suter like they had hoped it would have been a better season. 22 years straight they’ve made the playoffs. That’s insanely good!

Prediction: I’m calling it now…you heard it here 1^st, the Wings win this series in 6!!!

3. Vancouver vs 6. SJ

Season series: SJ 3-0

Vancouver has been more up then down this season. I like how Van matches up vs the Sharks and this should be a great series!!! The Sharks were very good to start and haven’t finished well enough in my opinion. Niemi has been great in net and will have to stand on his head as the Canucks are hungry. My biggest worries for the Canucks are:

1. They can’t score vs the Sharks.

2. They haven’t beaten the Sharks this season.

3. Ryan Clowe is the x factor.

4. The SJ powerplay unit can be deadly.

5. Schneider won’t play because of injury.

Here’s the answers:

1. They have to score…they got more than 1 line that can. Even Derek Roy and J.Hansen are scoring!

2. The regular season counts but someone has to win 4 and someone has to lose 4. The Canucks only lost 3 this year so they can win 4 straight?

3. Ryan Clowe doesn’t play for the Sharks!

4. Vancouver is going to be disciplined and not bite anyone’s fingers. Haha

5. I would love to see Luongo get his 1^st Cup whether it’s on the bench or can I dream…in net???

Prediction: I am going to be a homer here but the Canucks win in 7 and only because they are healthy and will finally produce.

4. St.Louis vs 5. LA

Season series: 3-0 LAK

One team I didn’t want the Canucks to play in the 1^st round was the Blues. They are on a tear. Solid top to bottom. No real super star but that plays to their advantage as you can’t just focus on stopping one or two guys. The Kings are not going to give up their repeat run that easily. A playoff ready team with great goaltending. The season series is what surprised me…the Kings have the Blues # this season. But will revenge be sweet for the Blues? The Kings swept them last year in the playoffs. In saying that I think the Blues are amazing!

Prediction: Kings in 7 I was going to pick the Blues but LA is too strong.

Who’s going to win the Cup?

It’s going to be the Blackhawks losing to the Crosby lead Penguins in the finals.

Who I want to win in the 1^st round:

Penguins

Habs

Caps

Leafs

Wild

Red Wings

Canucks

Blues

Vancouver's back up goalie?

I need to confess I'm a Luongo fan. Vancouver fans love to just blame the goalie and run him out of town. Now Luongo has had some horrific games especially in the playoffs. For example vs Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, and Boston Bruins. In saying that, Luongo did win the Gold Medal for Team Canada, he has been in the conversation for the Vezina a few times, he's been the starting goaltender for 2 President Trophies, and did have 2 shutouts in the Stanley Cup final. We all know how that series ended losing 2 games and only needed one to win the championship.

Now Schneider has been very good and very calm in net. We like his style. He's our guy. He's been so good we are supposedly moving a proven, experienced goaltender in Luo and taken over the job.

So far here's Luongo's stats this year as a 'backup': 3-0-2, 1.53 GAA

Vancouver's backup just won the NHL's 3rd start of the week as the 'backup'!!! So the question comes up WHY ARE WE TRADING HIM? 

The Canucks aren't okay with spending $9M in our goalies and we need some help with scoring and at C (Burrows is playing C?). But what if they kept the 1A and 1B goalies for this year then trade one in the offseason? It's only a 48 game year. 

If they trade him for what?

i) Supposedly Vancouver has a dancing partner but needs to move a player 1st to make it happen according to GM Gillis. 

ii) If this turns into another Rick Nash deal I would rather keep Luo. 

iii) Vancouver would need a top 6 forward like a RW to work with Kesler and Booth or possibly a proven C.

I guess this is rich team problems and president trophy problems. 

So who's our backup?
- Luongo has started the last 4 games and Schneider has been on the bench. So is Luo our starter now? 
- If we trade Luongo, Schneider starts and who's our back up? Eddie Lack is injured and not back until next season. So we need to have a goalie coming back in return.