I'm trying really, really hard to like these new jerseys. I am. Trust me. I've even put them as my desktop in an attempt to brainwash myself, but with each passing day I despise them more and more. So much for growing on me, eh?
Anyway, moving on to the Canucks prospect camp beginning on Sept. 7th in Victoria. Is anyone going? I'm considering heading over to the Island for at least one or two of the days to catch up with some of the rookies who are expected to make a strong push to make the big club this year.
If anyone is from Victoria or is heading over there, drop me an email because I'd be willing to open this blog for you to give the rest of us a daily scouting report. You can do a quick write-up and I'll post it here.
Is Rick Rypien the forgotten one?
I haven't heard GM Dave Nonis mention Rick Rypien's name at all when he's appeared on various media outlets. The inevitable question of who looks like a promising prospect is almost always answered with Luc Bourdon, Cory Schneider, Mason Raymond (who seems to have appeared out of nowhere) and Michael Grabner. But what about the Ripper?
I've still got a soft spot for the guy with jackhammer hands - and I'm not ready to give up on him yet. It must be frustrating for Rypien to still be considered a prospect after all the chances the Canucks have given him to crack the line-up, unfortunately, all Rypien ends up doing is cracking bones and ripping groins.
Should Rypien change his gutsy style or continue to kick ass and take names? If I was Rypien, I'd keep on displaying the over-the-top work ethic he showed in prospect camp last year - he was by far the most noticeable player during every drill. If the rumours of him being in impeccable shape are true, he should be able to make a difference without having to drop the gloves in exhibition games. He's gotta walk the line between ferociousness and restrained aggression. For Ripper, that line has always been very, very thin.
As far as Raymond is concerned, I've never seen him play. His name seemed to pop up out of near obscurity during the past year or so. Nonis is obviously jacked up about this kid - although at 22-years-old he might not be considered a kid anymore.
A friend of mine emailed me during last season to give me a scouting report on Mason because he lives in the States and he's had a chance to see him play on more than one occasion. Here's his report...
Having seen Matthew Lombardi skate and now Brandon Reid for that matter, he is quite similar. He doesn't have the quick feet that
Reid does but his stride is longer and quite a bit stronger. Translation is he looks like he takes less effort to move faster. I wouldn't put him in Lombardi's class but he is close.
He does see the ice well and it is quite amazing the points he is putting up on a bad team where half the passes he receives are in his skates! Above average passer (hard to tell with talent around him - most stand and watch) has a teriffic wrist shot that he can get away quickly.
He could be a very nice winger in two years but needs a center (don't they all!) to get him the puck and keep up. He does tend to go against the grain of the play (doesn't just follow the puck) which makes him appear even faster at times. He also plays a more physical
game then I expected, a nice surprise. Could look very nice in a Canucks uniform in two years and a player everyone will definitely enjoy watching.
How good does that sound? Should be a battle royale at camp this year.
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