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Before I give my thoughts on last nights prospects game, let's deal with the real Canucks news first.

Roberto Luongo took to the ice with his teammates yesterday, for the first time this season. After he spoke to the media and posed for a few photos with fans.

Some of the quotes of note were:

On playing in Vancouver this season

“I’ve said all along I want to play,” he said. “Now I have that opportunity.

“I want to take advantage of that and I want to win some games. I want to go as far as we can and hopefully win the Stanley Cup. It’s a big year for me. I’ve been sitting on the bench for a while and I want to show everybody what I can do. We all know it’s an Olympic year. I just want to make the best of it.”

My Thoughts- Lu just wants to play and play well. Luongo knows that while still playing in Vancouver might not be “his” perfect situation, but it's still a pretty darn good one, that I'm sure a few goalies out there would prefer over their current situation.

On how he'll handle things

(on the ice) “That’s where you are the most comfortable, when you’re on the ice,” he said. “You’re playing the game and you’re not thinking about stuff.

“That’s why I’m anxious to get training camp started … to get back to a regular routine and not worry about other stuff.”

My Thoughts- In all honesty, I find these comments to be of the, “please leave me alone and let me play hockey” variety. I think we'll see a much more private Luongo this season. We won't see him interviewed every day. And I think it will be good for Luongo to be in the background a little more and just focus on playing hockey like the majority of NHL goalies.

To me, goalies shouldn't talk to the media much, because they require so much mental focus to play their position. Talking to the media is an ordeal and is for the most part a distraction goalies don't need. And that is why having Torts in town should make this fun, because if the media complains about not having access to Lu, Torts will tell them what they can do with their microphone.

On thinking about holding out

“No, that's not really my style.”

On Mike Gillis

“We chatted,” Luongo said. “There was no animosity.

“I don’t know if it was as rosy as he painted it but we had a couple of laughs. They were just trying to do their job (trading Schneider). I don’t hold that against them.”

My Thoughts- Lu is a pro and he understands the nature of the business.

On playing for Torts

"He’s going to bring a change to the dressing room,” Luongo said. “Not that Alain was a bad coach but sometimes change is good.

“We will see what he brings. Hopefully it will spark the boys a little bit.”

My Thoughts- This was the most interesting comment to me, I kind of get the impression that while he liked Alain Vigneault, he wasn't 100% sold that the boys were playing as hard as they could for him and that he is looking forward to having a more intense coach. I also get the impression that this was a bit of a shot across the bow at his teammates to play a bit harder.


Prospects

Really not much to say about last nights game. I thought they played okay, but again I was left wondering how many of these guys seriously want to play in the NHL one day. This is a tournament where you should be prepared to go through a wall to make an impact.

Right now, I can count on one hand the players who are putting forth that kind of a work ethic.

Shinkaruk- Another excellent game. He was buzzing around the ice every shift and created a number of chances. I know people are counting him out this season, but he has been the hardest working player at this camp so far, period. If he brings that same energy and work ethic to camp I suspect Torts is going to have a new favourite player in the next couple seasons.

Horvat- Another great game by him and he is certainly going to make it hard on the Canucks to send him back in about a month. Every time I see him I think Ryan Kesler because of his ability to do what it takes to win.

Corrado- He is what he is. Last night he was Vancouver's best D, but then again he should have been the Canucks best D. He played a decent game in my opinion and score a goal.

Cassels- The guy can play. Another very good game. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does in the OHL this season. Looking everyday like Gillis got a good one in the third-round.

Franson- Cody's little bro was one of the better players on the ice. I mentioned earlier about only a handful of players looked like they were taking this camp seriously, Franson is one of them. He had a couple big hits and used his speed to forecheck well. Gillis, Give this kid an entry level contract before someone else does.


Until tomorrow my friends, stay classy

Ian

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