Monday musings for the best week ever
Oct 6th, 2008 | By Mike | Category: News4:15 PM ET Update: As expected Hodgson goes back to Ontario.
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2:26 PM ET Update: H/T to Kukla…from Canucks.com:
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the Canucks have acquired defenceman Shane O’Brien and right wing Michel Ouellet in exchange for defenceman Lukas Krajicek and right wing Juraj Simek from the Tampa Bay Lightning. O’Brien will report to Vancouver and Ouellet will report to Manitoba.
Simek had an OK camp but was one of the first four cut. Ouellet was a cost savings waiver move by Tampa, but in him the Canucks have a guy one year removed from a 48 point campaign with the Penguins (playing alongside Crosby). He’ll give Manitoba a nice first line with Krog and Grabner if Krog gets sent down.
Clearly the bigger news here is Krajicek, a throw in from the Luongo trade who appeared in 117 games for Vancouver but only notched 5 goals and 22 assists (though was out for a prolonged period of time last year with a shoulder injury). In his place comes O’Brien, drafted 250th in 2003 by Anaheim and is a potential top four defenseman who plays a similar game to that of Kevin Bieksa so, unless the latter is on the way out, the Canucks just got harder to play against though not necessarily better offensively.
Krajicek was slated to make $1.1 million this year before being an RFA next summer; O’Brien makes a bit over a million and is also an RFA next summer. Interestingly Ouellet makes more at $1.25 million a year and is an UFA at the end of the year.
In the meantime, here is Shane bashing fists with now-teammate Mattias Ohlund.
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The Canucks finally lost a preseason game, dropping a 4-3 OT thrilla to the Ducks. Old pal Brendan Morrison took all nine minutes to become an asshole by notching the game opening goal on the power play. Mason “little Gaborik” Raymond scored two PP goals in the second to tie things up but then another old pal Nathan McIver (who was scooped up by Anahaim on waivers late last week) scored the OT winner. Somehow, in 18 career games with Vancouver, McIver was a -11 and couldn’t notch a point much less a goal but it’s a different story in Disneyland. Awesome.
The Canucks finished their ‘08 preseason with a 6-1 record, something they haven’t done since the 1988 preseason.
Cody Hodgson finally got his NHL contract but it’s more then likely he’ll be sent to his junior team (the Ontario League’s Brampton Battalion…go big Battle! Or whatever) when the final cuts come in a few days. Safe to say Vancouver drafted well with Hodgson and has a bluechip guy in a few seasons.
More line up changes could include Krog heading down to center Grabner in Manitoba and Wellwood could start on the fourth line with Hordichuk. Whatever…
On the offchance you aren’t season previewed out yet, I posted some quick thoughts on the Canucks over at RumorMeThis.com if you are so inclined. As the season opener in a mere three days, three key things to remember:
1. Luc Bourdon will be honored prior to the game.
2. You can bet you arse we’re drunkblogging the hell out of it, hoping for better results than last year.
3. Flames suck. Old faces Bertuzzi and Aucoin won’t last 10 games without groin strains.
Go Canucks.
October 6th, 2008 10:54 am
I know this is petty, but I’m going put it up here anyway: there’s a difference between “then” and “than”. When you’re comparing things, use “than”. This is really the only thing that bugs me about one of my favourite blogs!
“more then likely” “better results then last year”
October 6th, 2008 11:26 am
Hey Mike – haha, no worries, I write these pretty quickly at times and will definitely make some mistakes like that. My pet peeve is “it’s” and “its” which I do my best to catch too. Thanks for the head’s up!
October 6th, 2008 7:01 pm
^^ It’s like you were talking to yourself!
Anyway… “Little Gaborik” makes me giggle. I bet the real Gaborik is making a fuss in Minny because his boyfriend Demo already replaced him.
PPPPPP
jk.
Not too surprised with Hodgson getting sent back down. Victim of the circumstances. Too many guys fighting for the 4th line spot, and it’s not the palce I want him to develop in.
October 7th, 2008 6:23 am
Rinslet…I am always talking to myself, it makes the voices in my head seem less threatening
Hodgson had no right making this team this year, but next year is already looking positive if he and Grabner can crack the squad all at once. Schneider too for that matter.
October 7th, 2008 11:05 am
So, with all this pressure from the kids on the farm, the big question is really this: can Gillis find a way to turn a number of good players into a couple of great players. This could be through development or trades. What’s the most likely option and timeframe?
October 7th, 2008 11:36 am
Mike – I think developing good players into great falls more to Vigneault then Gillis. All Gillis can do is try and swing some deal to get that ever-elusive top six guy in here. Bernier makes Pyatt expendable and I think O’Brien probably makes Bieksa the same as well.
Out of the gate Vigneault has a job I wouldn’t envy: Bernier almost HAS to click with the Sedins, Demitra HAS to pull Raymond and Pyatt along with him, Kes/Burrows HAVE to play like they did last year, etc. He also needs to push some of the younger guys (Hansen, Raymond) in the process. And what the hell he does with Wellwood is up in the air. I think the timeframe comes down to what this team does in the first ten games before the entire Province freaks out.
Though, all things considered, it’s a stronger group now then at this time last year. I give Gillis a lot of shit, but the Sundin thing aside, he’s done some necessary work to keep these guys competitive.
August 11th, 2010 9:18 pm
maybe in the near future there would be natural breast implants that are based on stem cells or something-~”
October 18th, 2010 12:56 am
breat implants that are internally filled with saline solution are much safer compared to those silicone oil based type~;*
November 7th, 2010 2:11 pm
i personally do not think that breast implants are necessary but if a woman wants a better breast then it is her own decision `
September 10th, 2011 9:07 am
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January 24th, 2012 (3 weeks ago) 8:26 am
I appreciate your thought process, excellent points… I may just “steal” a few of your thoughts for my blog!