Lots of new content to fuel discussion today, as the Vancouver Canucks are the featured team on the "30 in 30" series over at
NHL.com.
You might want to begin with the
projected lineup. Though Corey Masisak pencils in Radim Vrbata with the Sedins as expected, I appreciate his acknowledgement that Alex Burrows could also see some time with the top group, which I think could happen. As I mentioned in the comments yesterday, I expect a bounce-back year for Burrows. He's valuable as a two-way player and penalty-killer, especially with the loss of Ryan Kesler. And I expect he'll get some goals, especially if he sees some power-play time.
I raised my eyebrows at Masisak's projection of Dustin Jeffrey as the 13th forward, but it looks like he's one of Willie's boys. He was up-and-down between Dallas and the Texas Stars last season, and played with Texas during their Calder Cup run in the playoffs.
Jeffrey was signed as a free-agent on July 2, to a two-way deal.
Here's how The Hockey News describes the 6'1", 205-pound 26-year-old forward:
Assets: Is sound at both ends of the ice and a solid face-off man. Can also play wing and be a decent playmaker. Will also kill penalties, if need be. Has decent size to boot.
Flaws: Isn't a speed merchant, so he may be limited to bottom-six forward duties in the end at the highest level. Isn't a natural in the goal-scoring department, either.
Sounds like Jeffrey could be this year's version of Mike Santorelli, with a little more size.
Masisak doesn't project any youngsters into the starting lineup, though he acknowledges that Bo Horvat could get a look if he has a strong training camp.
I'll just highlight one more of the many articles over on the site, Kevin Woodley's
"X-factor" piece on Nick Bonino. Woodley offers a very balanced analysis of Bonino's assets and liabilities. Whether or not he can effectively fulfil his duties as Vancouver's second-line centre could be one of the keys to whether or not the Canucks contend for a playoff spot this season.
Canucks' Broadcaster Rick Ball Headed to Calgary
Another change on the sports broadcasting landscape, though this one appears to be voluntary.
According to Jim Jamieson at
The Province, Canucks' radio play-by-play broadcaster Rick Ball is leaving TEAM1040 to become the Calgary Flames' fulltime television voice on Rogers Sportsnet. That's a nice move up for him.
I don't get to hear Ball often on radio, but was impressed with his work when he called late games on Hockey Night in Canada last season. Good news for him, but I wonder who TEAM1040 will bring in to call the radio games when John Shorthouse is tied up with his television duties?
Who Wore it Best?
Once again, our poll syncs up with
Canucks.com, awarding the honours at No. 26 to Petri Skriko. No video highlights for Skriko, who played in the dark ages of the 1980s, but it is interesting to note that current Canucks' goaltending coach Rollie Melanson, then of the Los Angeles Kings, was one of the netminders that Skriko torched during his hat-trick frenzy in November of 1986.
Here are your nominees at No. 27. Since Manny Malhotra's still active, this one's probably not much of a contest:
Craig Coxe: Craig Coxe wasn't exactly the picture of skill, but the 6'4", 210-pound enforcer logged 535 penalty minutes in 177 games during two different stints with the Canucks from 1984 to 1991. Originally signed as a 21-year-old free agent, Coxe's first tour of duty lasted until 1988, when he was traded to Calgary for a package that included useful centre Brian Bradley.
Just one year later, Coxe was reacquired by Vancouver. He played two more seasons with the Canucks before the San Jose Sharks picked him up in their expansion draft.
Coxe is probably best-known for going toe-to-toe with Bob Probert:
Sergio Momesso: Drafted in the second round by Montreal in 1983, 25-year-old Sergio Momesso was already in his seventh NHL season when he was acquired by the Vancouver Canucks from St. Louis at the 1991 trade deadline. He was part of the same package that brought in Geoff Courtnall, Cliff Ronning and Robert Dirk in exchange for Garth Butcher and Dan Quinn.
During his time in Vancouver, Momesso was best-known for playing on a line with Jim Sandlak and Cliff Ronning. The two hulking wingers, flanking the diminutive Ronning, became known as the "Twin Towers." Momesso showed flashes of brilliance as a Canuck but topped out at 20 goals and 43 points in 58 games in 1991-92. He was a key part of the team that went to the 1994 Stanley Cup Final.
In the summer of 1995, Momesso was traded to Toronto for Mike Ridley. All told, he scored 68 goals and 141 points and put up 655 penalty minutes during 269 games with Vancouver.
After retirement, Momesso returned home to Montreal, where he currently does colour for Canadiens' radio broadcasts.
Harold Snepsts: A member of the Canucks' Ring of Honour, Harold Snepsts was originally drafted in the fourth round in 1974. With parents of Latvian descent, Snepsts was born in Edmonton and played his junior hockey with the Oil Kings.
Snepsts made an immediate impression with the Canucks thanks to his 6'3" size and his multi-dimensional game. First and foremost, he was an excellent defender who appeared twice in the NHL All-Star Game. He was also a bruiser who wasn't afraid to drop the gloves. Snepsts had some talent with the puck and chipped in occasionally with timely goals. And he had one of the great mustaches of the 1970s.
After a decade in Vancouver, Snepsts was traded to Minnesota for Al MacAdam during the summer of 1984. He was re-acquired as a free agent in 1988, then dealt to St. Louis at the 1990 trade deadline.
All told, Snepsts played 781 games in a Vancouver uniform. He recorded 35 goals, 195 points, and 1,446 penalty minutes. He remains a member of the Canucks' scouting staff.
Todd Bertuzzi and Shawn Antoski both briefly wore 27, but were better-known for other numbers. Other Canucks who wore the number include Brad Isbister, Jerry Korab, Leif Rohlin and Mathieu Schneider.
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