Canucks Nation

I have a hard time underestanding why the public is SO overly concerned about the rising cap in the NHL.  I hear no complaints from NHL teams, despite the fact the floor is now as high as the Cap was 4 years ago. Want to know why? More Revenue and Profit Sharing.  Think about this.  A cap [...]

According to the almighty guessing Eklund, a deal between the Canucks and Pavol Demitra is close to being done. That doesn't overly excite me. But it could be worse. It could be Jan Bulis.
More on this as it develops.
I really don't get why more teams don't rush to sign The Wrecking Ball Mark Recchi. The guy still has speed and offensive talent, plus he has Cup experience. He scored 14 goals and 48 points in 72 games last season with the Thrashers. I just don't get why Gillis would pass on this guy. He's also a BC boy.
The Lightning signed the 40-year old to a 1-year $1.25 million deal, where he can make up to $1.5 million in incentives. Cheap price tag.

More on Tampa Bay tomorrow.

T Tags: Canucks+to+sign+Pavol+Demitra
Lightning+sign+Mark+Recchi

Today the Ducks shed themselves of one member of the former West Coast Express line and now they are poised to add another. It looks as though a deal should be announced within the next few hours. TSN is reporting that it could be a 1 or 2 year deal. Any guessers on how much Morrison gets per season? I'll go with $2.5 million. That may be a bit high...
Now we have closure on the issue as to whether or not he would re-sign in Vancouver. That has been the talk all along.
Last week, Morrison had turned down a 1-year $1.9 million deal from the Canucks.

**UPDATE**
It has been confirmed to be a 1-year deal. No dollar amounts yet. A more in-depth story on this can be found at the Province.

**UPDATE 2**

The OC Register is stating that the Morrison deal will be announced tomorrow.

**UPDATE 3**

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that it is a 1 year deal apparently paying Morrison $2.75 million. Geez, Gillis wasn't even in the ballpark on this one.

T Tags: Ducks+to+sign+Brendan+Morrison Unrestricted+free+agent

According to the Yankee Canuck, Todd Bertuzzi has signed a one year deal with the Calgary Flames.  TSN also has the story.  Based on Bertuzzi’s history since leaving the Canucks (Florida, Detroit, Anaheim), it kind of makes you wonder if he’s going to last the whole season in Calgary.

What eclipses the fact that he’s now going to be back in Vancouver for a number of games next year, he’s also going to be a regular appearance in Denver, where he’s definitely not appreciated much.  Unless, of course, he’s injured for those games.

Welcome back, Bert.

Just when you think Bertuzzi's NHL career has winded down he finds a new home. Now Canucks fans are going to see Bertuzzi a lot more, as the Flames have signed him to a 1-year $1.95 million deal. "Todd is a proven scorer with the ability to play both wings," Flames GM Darryl Sutter said today. "He expressed to us that he wanted to play in Canada and that desire along with signing him to a one-year deal was important to our philosophy. He wanted to play on a good team and it fit our money. Additionally, our captain, Jarome Iginla, was a strong supporter of Todd and wanted him on our team."Wow, Iginla wanted Bertuzzi in Calgary.
Fans and teams alike are waiting for Bertuzzi to regain his old superstar status that he had shown in Vancouver from 2001-2003. Big Bert lost his edge after the infamous Steve Moore incident and never regained his form. Some of that can be attributed to major injuries, like his back for example, which kept him out of action for almost all of the 2006-07 season, where he played for both the Panthers and the Red Wings.
Brian Burke took a chance on the him last season in Anaheim, but the big guy only managed 14 goals and 40 points in 68 games during the regular season and only 2 assists in 6 playoff games. Which Bertuzzi will show up in Calgary? Hopefully the mediocre one, as they are our enemy. Are Canucks fans going to boo or cheer him every time he plays against us? Should be interesting. Iginla is a great player to align yourself with, so we could see a resurgence. "I gotta to say, Jarome is 100 per cent why I'm a Calgary Flame," said Bertuzzi. "I had great talks with him. Everything he said about the organization and the city was nothing but positive. Haven't talked to my family, we decided it was a good opportunity for us and we couldn't pass it by."
Bertuzzi is an upgrade from Owen Nolan in a sense. He had more points per game than Nolan did, plus he's cheaper, as Nolan signed in Minnesota for 2 years at $2.75 million per season. I just think Bert tends to float too much, where Nolan was in your face all the time.

T Tags: Flames+sign+Todd+Bertuzzi Unrestricted+free+agent

Hate to drop this on you on a Monday morning, but yesterday the Calgary Herald had a positive/disturbing article on Steve Bernier. His agent, Gilles Lupien called him "insecure", while Sharks commentator Drew Remenda stated: "He'll get the puck out for Henrik and Daniel and he'll get 20 to 25 goals," predicted former San Jose Sharks assistant coach and commentator Drew Remenda. "Can he get 30? I don't know. He's extremely coachable, has a great heart and you won't find a kid who cares more.
I think he'll play better at 215 and the one thing Vancouver is going to have to work on with Steve is work ethic."So take that however you want to. Alain Vigneault will not tolerate half-assed play from Bernier. If his work ethic stinks, he'll get demoted.
But what is really bothering me right now is that for such a hyped player, why is Bernier already on his 3rd NHL team? He sure as hell didn't last long in Buffalo. I really hope this kid succeeds in Vancouver. He is going to get a chance to shine here.
Man, it's hard to find any positive news in Canuckland lately.

T Tags: Steve+Bernier+work+ethic Canucks

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks added some size and scoring potential by acquiring big winger Steve Bernier in a trade Friday and still haven't given up on the idea of luring hesitant free-agent forward Mats Sundin to the West Coast.

General manager Mike Gillis also said more deals could be in the works.

The Canucks obtained Bernier from the Buffalo Sabres for second and third-round draft picks.

Bernier, who split the last NHL season between Buffalo and San Jose, learned of the trade while playing golf in his native Quebec City. The restricted free agent was surprised by the deal but sees the move as a chance to establish himself as a top-six forward in Vancouver.

"When I got the call I was shocked," he said during a telephone conference call while still on the golf course. "I didn't see this coming.

"My job is going to be to play with passion, try to hit, try to create space for my linemates doing the simple things. I see a chance and I don't want to leave it. I don't want to get nervous but it is always fun to see an opening like this."

The 23-year-old had 32 points (16-16) in 76 games last year with the Sabres and Sharks.

Gillis said Bernier's combination of size, age and skill fits into the blueprint the Canucks are building from.

"We were looking for a large forward, a right-handed shot that was younger," said Gillis. "When his availability came to my attention we jumped on it really quickly and got something done."

On the Sundin front, Gillis said he's willing to give the Toronto Maple Leaf captain more time to consider Vancouver's US$20-million, two-year offer.

The 37-year-old Swede said this week he was "simply not close to being ready to make a decision about resuming my career at this time."

Gillis hasn't taken Sundin's hesitation as a rejection of Vancouver's offer.

"There are a lot of things going on that are not in the public domain that I'm not going to speak about concerning Mats," said Gillis. "I think the only public statement he made it's easy for the media and public to take it a certain way.

"We're confident we made a significant offer to a really top-notch player. We are prepared to maintain our position to get it done."

The Canucks are content to give Sundin "a little time" to make his decision, said Gillis. The team could also tweak its offer.

The trade for Bernier comes one day after former captain Markus Naslund, Vancouver's career leader in goals and points, signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers.

Gillis said the Canucks never made an offer to Naslund because he wasn't the right fit.

"I have said from the outset that if we didn't have the right fit here for Markus it didn't make sense for him to be here," said the general manager who used to be Naslund's agent.

"It's unfortunate. I have nothing but the highest regard for him and his family and what he's done here. I didn't want him to be unhappy playing."

Even with the addition of Bernier, plenty of questions remain about Vancouver's ability to score goals this year.

Daniel Sedin led Vancouver last year with 29 goals, Naslund had 25 and Ryan Kesler 21.

Fans were hoping Gillis would make a splash in the free agent market. He made headlines with Sundin offer but his other moves have been pedestrian.

Among the other forwards Vancouver has signed are physical player Darcy Hordichuk, defensive specialist Ryan Johnson and playmaker Kyle Wellwood.

"There are still a lot of things left to play out," said Gillis. "There still are a lot of things on the burner.

"We are going to be patient and make smart moves and not put ourselves in the position where we are boxed in with long-term contracts with players that might not fit with the profile of where we are going."

The six-foot-two, 227-pound Bernier was taken 16th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2003 draft. The Sharks traded him to Buffalo in February for all-star defenceman Brian Campbell.

In 177 career NHL games Bernier 45 goals and 90 points.

Despite showing flashes of talent Bernier shuffled back and forth between the NHL and the minor leagues.

"What I am going to try and do is always be at the same level, always play at the highest level I can play," Bernier said.

"Maybe I was up and down too much. I want to change that and be a very effective player for 82 games."

The Sabres get Vancouver's second-round pick in 2009 and third-rounder in 2010.

The Canucks missed the playoffs this spring for the second time in three years. That resulted in the firing of general manager Dave Nonis, who was replaced by Gillis.

Gillis smiled when asked how the league's other GMs were treating the front office rookie.

"I think I am being treated like any other new GM would be treated," he said. "I don't think I am being challenged any more or less than anybody else.

"We are being patient. We are trying to make the right moves for the long-term viability of the competitiveness of this club."

Canucks’ Linden set to call it a career
Canucks get rid of a pair of assistants
Luc Bourdon: 1987-2008

I used to have a $1200 non-digital camera with a $750 dollar lens on it. Whenever thunderstorms would come through the Valley, I'd buy 3 or 4 rolls of film and try my damndest to catch some bolts on film. It involved a good "trigger finger." Rarely did I catch any bolts on film unless it was dark out and I could hold the shutter open for several minutes.
Nowadays, I cheat. I use a digital camera and roll about 90 seconds of footage in video mode until lightning strikes. Then I freeze frame the "paused" moment and soup it up a bit on Photoshop a bit.
Ah yes, the old art of film and photography has been replaced by the Digital Age. Well, for me anyways. It's alot cheaper!
Below is the image.



T Tags: Smithers+BC+lightning+storm image

With the signing of Matt Cooke, I researched him as much as I could in the short time I had upon hearing that he would be signed. Since his signing I have noticed a few things about him as a player that I would like to add:

First off, he appears to have more offensive ability than I initially thought. A guy who has scored at least 10 goals in six of his nine seasons is one who can improve with the Penguins

It appeared to me that he would be a fourth liner with the talent the Penguins have offensively. However I think it could be possible to see him on a third line, which would give him more ice time to play his role.

Secondly, Cooke has had a knack for scoring goals in the clutch. Twice in his playoff career Cooke has scored with seconds remaining to send the game in to overtime.

Below is the lesser known goal, which came in a game one against Minnesota...

His best-known goal came at home against Calgary in a game seven. The Canucks were down 2-1 with time running out. A penalty was called against Vancouver. With the goalie pulled and a man in the box, Marcus Naslund took advantage of Jerome Iginla tripping over his own stick and drove to the net. The following video shows the entire set up leading to the goal. It will give you chills...

Both came from crashing the net. This type of play was a trademark of Ryan Malone last season for Pittsburgh, and Cooke may have the chance to do more of that considering the highly talented forwards he will be playing with. (I will be doing an overview of my opinions on possible lines in the coming days)

Ray Shero said this about the signing (Penguins.com):
"Matt is a versatile forward that will bring grit, energy and experience to our line-up," Shero said. "He is the type of player that adds depth upfront and is capable of providing offense for our hockey club.”

Lastly I wanted to add extra notes to his profile.

Cooke won gold at the 2004 World Championships and scored four points (2 G, 2 A) in nine games. He also played in the 1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for Canada, which lost in the first round of tournament play.

Finally, in 2003 Cooke received the Fred J. Hume Award as the Vancouver Canucks' "unsung hero."

He is a personality guy, and his attitude should catch on quick with the Penguins and the fans.

After spending 12 NHL seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, our beloved captain has left the team to join the New York Rangers.  On Thursday, July 3, 2008, he agreed to terms with the Rangers worth US$8-million over 2 years.

First of all, Nazzy didn't really have a choice to stay as Canucks management didn't even make him an offer.  The coach, Alain Vingneault, and Nazzy didn't really see eye to eye either.  The AV system didn't fit well with him.

But hey, it wasn't all bad.  Nazzy played some pretty exciting hockey for fans here in Vancouver.  Let's go back in time and take a look at some highlights from #19:

• Markus Naslund was born on July 30, 1973 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
• Drafted in the first round by Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991
• Acquired by Canucks on March 20, 1996 in exchange for Alek Stojanov (who?)
• Was frequently a healthy scratch during the Keenan era, prompting to ask to be traded
• Appointed team captain by GM Brian Burke on September 15, 2000, replacing Mark Messier (ugh!)
• West Coast Express line of 2001-2004 dominated the NHL; 90, 104, 84 point seasons
• Steve Moore incident of March 8, 2004 marked the downfall of Nazzy both physcially and mentally

The Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi, and Brendan Morrison line was one of the most enjoyable to watch playing in the NHL.  "They were considered by many, including hockey great Wayne Gretzky, to be the best offensive combination of players in the world."  I remember the line was so dominant that they almost guaranteed at least a goal a game.

I distinctively remember Nazzy's killer wrist shot to the top corner.  His form and the way he releases the puck was just phenomenal.  Every time he came down the wing, you knew he was going to do some serious damage to the opposing team.  I really missed this in the recent years.  His skill level was also top notch.  The ability to dance around players and put the puck in the net was unbelievable.  Too bad he couldn't apply this talent to the shootouts, which he has a horrible record in.  It appeared as if he wasn't even trying in the shootouts last season.  I remember one where he literally was coming in at walking speed to eventually fail to win the game for the team.

Bert and his big body was a nightmare for goalies when he parked in front of the net.  His style during these years reminds me of the methods of Tomas Holmstrom of the Detroit Red Wings, Stanley Cup Champs!  His gigantic size (and weight) allowed him to destroy other players into the boards and on to the ice.  This doesn't mean he lacked skills though.  Bert had amazing puck handling skills.  I remember his crafty dekes, dipsy doodles, spin-o-ramas, etc.  It's really sad to see that his level of play has declined so severely recently.

Ahh, the Iron Man, Brendan Morrison.  He wasn't so much of a goal scorer during those years, but a brilliant play maker.  His Iron Man streak ended last season due to injuries.  Morrison's play declined drastically after the West Coast Express days.  Currently, it is expected that he will not return to the Canucks next season.

I don't know if Nazzy played the way he did in recent seasons in order to leave the team.  The effort wasn't there at all, and everybody knows it as it was dreadfully obvious.  I also did not appreciate his comments about teammates after he signed with the Rangers.  He had the guts to basically put the blame on the abilities of his teammates and AV's system.  It was pretty cocky of him.

Part of me is really going to miss Nazzy and his style of play for the Canucks.  No matter what, Markus Naslund is still an all-star and plays like one.  I wished he could have won a Cup with the Canucks and also retire here as well.  My other part, wants nothing but for Naslund to get the f*ck out of Vancouver.  Thanks, but thanks for nothing you know.  No hard feelings, eh?

Honestly though, I wish you the best of luck with the New York Rangers.  Find that spark again and light that shit up in NYC.  Thank you and goodbye Nazzy.

Usually when horses don't want to be ridden they go for a run, bucking wildly until the rider falls off. This horse pulls off a Samoan Drop.


Horse Doesnt Want To Ride Today - Watch more free videos

T Tags: Horse+bucks+off+rider Break.com video

It just keeps getting better and better for Matt Cooke these days. At last season's trade deadline, he was traded to the surging Capitals and made a playoff appearance with Ovechkin and co. Now he has been signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins to play with a team that went all the way to the Cup Finals. Imagine playing with Ovechkin and then Crosby in the span of a year.
It is a 2-year deal, and I'm not sure of the moolah per season. Cooke will replace some of the sandpaper that the Penguins lost by letting Jarko Ruutu got to free agency.

T Tags: Penguins+sign+Matt+Cooke Unrestricted+free+agent

The Pittsburgh Penguins had one more hole to fill and did so by signing former Vancouver Canuck turned Washington Capital Matt Cooke to a two-year contract (Faceoff-Factor).

IOPS reports the contract is worth $1.2 million a year.

[wp_caption id="attachment_66" align="alignleft" width="220" caption="Matt Cooke"][/wp_caption]

As a left winger Cooke rounds out Pittsburgh's once depleted left wing position. In two days Ray Shero has suddenly provided his core of stars with many capable assets.

Cooke has played nine seasons in the NHL, nearly all of which have been spent in Vancouver and last year with Washington.

In nine years he averages almost 10 goals a season, though offense is not his forte. Cooke's best year came in 2002-2003 when he compiled 42 pts. (15 G, 27 A) in 82 games (yahoo.com).

Cooke spent last year with Vancouver, but was dealt at the deadline to Washington. His totals were 23 pts. (10 G, 13 A) in 78 games.

From what I've read, he is a third line guy with scoring potential. However, his larger role seems to be the type Jarkko Ruutu used to provide: agitator.

Cooke had 91 total penalty minutes last season, and averages at least 70 a season in the NHL (in two seasons Cooke played less than 50 games).

After signing Eric Godard, Georges Laraque's role seemed to be covered (although you really can't replace the heavy-weight champion of the NHL). With this most recent signing, it seems as if Ray Shero has replaced the second half of last year's toughness factor.

Cooke also has significant playoff experience, having played in 39 "second season" games. Playoff experience has been a common tie among nearly all of the Penguins free-agent signings.

At the moment it looks like he could easily be paired with Max Talbot and Eric Godard on a fourth line. The third line is also possible, but his scoring ability doesn't seem like it would compliment Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy very well (if that is the third line next year).

His presence will undoubtedly be felt on the penalty kill, where he is highly praised for his abilities.

^Great video to a great song

His toothless grin should catch on quickly with Pens fans.

One thing you have to appreciate about Mike Gillis is that he speaks his mind. In an interview with the media yesterday Gillis made several things quite clear:
- the Canucks are going to keep on pursuing Mats Sundin until Mats makes a final decision, and that's he's optimistic that he will sign here.
- there is still a chance that Brendan Morrison could sign with the Canucks.
- he believes that Kyle Wellwood can be a point-per-game player.

Where Gillis does not answer the question properly though is when he was asked if he is being treated differently because he used to be a player agent.

The interview is a must-read and can be found at Canucks.com.

Reading that interview may console Canucks fans a bit, but the lingering issue of unrest is Mats Sundin. Can anyone really trust that he will sign here? Not a chance. But perhaps Gillis is having some serious dialogue with him in the shadows. Who knows for sure.

One thing I do know, is that we may as well forget worrying about it and go outside and enjoy the summer. We are not going to get any major deals done until Sundin plays his cards.

T Tags: Mike+Gillis+interview Mats+Sundin Brendan+Morrison free+agents

Hodge had mentioned yesterday that there were a lot of former Canucks that are currently free agents. I never even noticed it. Maybe Gillis should bring in a reunion tour, huh? Check it out:

-Jason "My greed screwed my NHL career" King (RFA)
-Steve McCarthy (UFA)
-Bret Hedican (UFA)
-Trevor Letowski (UFA)
-Michael Peca (UFA)
-RJ Umberger (RFA)
-Geoff Sanderson (UFA)
-Keith Carney (UFA)
-Bryan Smolinski (UFA)
-Martin Gelinas (UFA)
-Jan (I don't fucking think so) Hlavac (UFA)
-Marek (the biggest non-physical player in history) Malik (UFA)
-Jason Strudwick (UFA)
-Jim (Globetrotter) Dowd (UFA)
-Rory (Don't vote for me) Fitzpatrick (UFA)
-Martin Grenier (UFA)
-Bryan Helmer (UFA)
-Mike York (UFA)
-Kris Beech (UFA)
-Martin Rucinsky (UFA)
-Matt Cooke (UFA)

Unreal. 21 players total. 7 defencemen and 14 forwards. There's a team right there. Skip the goalie and leave the net open. That team wouldn't win anyway.
On second thought...I think I'll stick with my Diet Pepsi.

T Tags: former+Canucks+free+agents retro

Greg Wyshynski at Puck Daddy
had a great post up about this. Being a good, behaving married man, I am not going to say anything more about this! Haha!

T Tags: Wayne+Gretzky Janet+Gretzky Paulina+Gretzky Gretzky+sperm

Where did this guy come from? Cullen, 29, has only played in 32 NHL games with Philly and Chicago (7 goals and 16 points). The 5'11" 190-pound center/left winger scored 16 goals and 47 points in 59 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL last season. He won the Fred T Hunt Memorial Award in 2005-06 with the Norfolk Admirals as the player that best exemplifies sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.
-Never drafted.
-Native of Moorhead Minnesota.
-fractured his neck vertebrae in 2000 from a dirty hit. Doctor said he was "lucky".
-a great story on Cullen found here at NHL.com.

Hopefully he's good for a few suprises. I haven't seen this guy play at all.

T Tags: Canucks+sign+Mark+Cullen Who+is+Mark+Cullen

"Where do I begin?," started Lowe. "He's a moron, first of all. Secondly, he really believes that any news for the NHL is good news. Thirdly, he loves the limelight and I don't think anyone in hockey will dispute that. Lastly, he's in a pathetic hockey market where they can't get on any page of the newspaper let alone the front page of the sports, so any of this stuff carries on."

"I mean, if he wants to debate what our offer sheet did to them or to the salaries, anytime," he explained to Team 1260. "The reality is, Rick Nash's contract a number of years ago, (Patrice) Bergeron's and (Ilya) Kovalchuk's; that sets the standard - that's been going on for decades. I'm sick and tired of it. I know everybody in hockey is. I know our peers are like, 'Well, that's Burkie.' This guy is an absolute media junkie and I guess he's achieving what he wants because he gets his name in the headlines. But the reality is, I hate the fact that my name is linked to his. He's an underachieving wanna-be in terms of success in the NHL. He won a Stanley Cup? Great. I've won six Stanley Cups, you want to count rings? Who cares, it's just a little pathetic that he carries on."
It's amazing what a lot of pent-up anger can do to aid a verbal laceration.

More on Lowe's rant can be found at TSN.

T Tags: Kevin+Lowe+speaks angry+at+Brian+Burke rant feud

The Sharks are making all the right moves to pushing the team in to Cup position. Today they acquired defencemen Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich from the Lightning in exchange for Matt Carle (he's pretty good too, and Tampa needed to clear cap space) as well as prospect Ty Wishart, a first round pick in 2009, and a 4th round pick in 2010. Keep in mind that sure, the Sabres let Brian Campbell go to free agency (and he recieved a deal worth over $7 million with the Hawks) and Boyle signed a 6-year deal last season that pays him $6.67 million per season.
On top of that, the Sharks signed UFA Rob Blake to a 1-year $5 million deal yesterday. While Blake had his worst points-per-game totals last year with the Kings, I think the 38 year-old can put up more points than that in San Jose because he's not playing with an atrocious Kings team anymore.

Boyle, Lukowich and Blake have all won Stanley Cups.

To give you an idea on how long it's been since the Sharks have had 1 or 2 serious offensive defencemen check out the scoring from their over the past several years:

-2007-08 (Campbell was acquired at the deadline, so cross him off) Beyond him, the D only scored 18 goals combined.
-2006-07: Carle and Erhoff have good seasons yet only score 21 goals combined while the rest of the D combined for 19 goals.
-2005-06: Tom Preissing suprises everyone scoring 11 goals, while the rest of the D combines for 17 goals.
-2003-04: Brad Stuart leads the D with 9 goals and the rest of the D combines for 14 goals.
-2002-03: Mike Rathje leads the Sharks D with 7 goals and the rest of them combined for 9 goals.
-2001-02: Gary Suter and company combine for 31 goals total.
-2000-01: Gary Suter scores 10 goals and the rest of the D combines for 23 goals.

So you see my point. It's been a long time coming since San Jose had a superstar defenceman, if ever. Suter was in the latter stages of his career in the early 2000's.

The Sharks have lost 2 D-men today in Matt Carle and now Craig Rivet, who along with the San Jose's seventh-round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft has been traded to the Sabres in exchange for second-round selections in the 2009 and 2010 drafts.
So not only are the Sharks getting immediate help (because they need to win NOW), they are also securing their future with higher picks that they lost in the Boyle deal. Doug Wilson is somewhat of a genius. He just needs his team to go over the top this year, or his ass is on the line.

So now the Shark squad looks like this:

Forwards

Joe Thornton
Jonathan Cheechoo
Ryane Clowe
Marcel Goc
Mike Grier
Patrick Marleau
Milan Michalek
Torrey Mitchell
Joe Pavelski
Tomas Plihal
Jeremy Roenick
Devin Setoguchi
Jody Shelley
Tom Cavanagh

Defensemen

Dan Boyle
Rob Blake
Brad Lukowich
Christian Ehrhoff
Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Kyle McLaren
Derek Joslin
Douglas Murray
Brad Norton

Goalies

Brian Boucher
Thomas Greiss
Evgeni Nabokov

Not too bad, huh? You gotta love the goaltending and defence core. Solid.
A revamped and more offensive defensive unit combined with a new coach in Todd McClellan provides the Sharks with a new look and attitude. Yet one question remains...will Joe Thornton become a dominant player in the playoffs? 2 goals and 10 points in the playoffs in 13 games last season was not good enough.
It would also help if Cheechoo's stats stopped going down like the Titanic as well. The same can be said about Patrick Marleau.
Even when these guys are not going 100% you still gotta fear those Sharks. So just imagine how much better the team just got in the last 2 days.

T Tags: Sharks+acquire+Dan+Boyle+and+Brad+Lukowich trade Sharks+acquire+Rob+Blake free agent

Let me tell you, it's been a fun 24 hours for my phone, Facebook and e-mail.


Text from: Shawn

Gillis is a tool and we're fucked. Seriously, I know how Toronto fans feel now.


Text from: Shawn

[some lame excuse about Cirque]

Lookin forward to Tavares?


MC says:
ARE YOU HAPPY????

[Note: I don't actually know what this was about. I'm assuming I was getting a drunken message, much like the one I left him 4 weeks ago, though for a very different reason.]


m a y says:
I'M SO DEPRESSED I'M DRINKING


I said, "Hey, how's it going?"

"WE'RE FUCKED," said Shawn as a greeting.


A's MSN name:

Bye Naslund, you're a hero—brb, off killing myself


On Facebook's stalker feed:

9 of your friends commented on the note Top 10 Consequences of Markus Naslund leaving town by MC.


Three friends crammed into our secret drinking spot at UBC, clinking our bottles of Granville Island beer together in a salute to Markus Naslund.