Here's something new to talk about!
The Score is ranking all 30 NHL organizations on five different metrics this week. The judgements are by no means definitive, but give us some new perspectives to chew on.
On Monday, they looked at every team's farm system and ranked the Canucks 18th overall, citing the biggest issue as the fact that "their AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, are 2,295 miles away from Vancouver. That's a problem."
Apparently they didn't listen to Trevor Linden's comments about the Comets last week. In addition to the fact that the team has been embraced by the community over its three seasons of existence, Linden argued that the easier travel schedule for the Comets out east is a real benefit to the team, compared to the number of hours they'd spend on planes and buses if they relocated to the Western Conference like the farm teams of the rest of their Pacific Division brethren.
Yes, travel is difficult if the Canucks are out west when call-ups are made, but I can see Linden's point—that maybe it's more important to focus on the circumstances that affect players regularly than to get overly concerned about call-ups that occur much less frequently.
Click here for a look at the farm system rankings. I feel like the Canucks could be higher but, given where the team was with prospects just a couple of years ago, No. 18 isn't too bad.
Willie Desjardins fares worse in today's coaching rankings, where he comes in at No. 27.
Click here for that list.
The good news for Willie—he outranks the man he replaced, John Tortorella (No. 30), as well as the assistant that he just lost, Glen Gulutzan, who checks in at No. 29. Despite the low ranking, writer Sean O'Leary does cut Willie some slack, saying that "the Canucks' upper management has given Willie Desjardins little to work with during a tricky transitional phase for the franchise," and that "Desjardins is a strong players-first coach and he's trusted."
These brief summaries focus strongly on teams' win/loss records and it's true, Willie's NHL record took some serious body blows last season.
Willie has had the opportunity to re-think some things over the summer, and Trevor Linden said last week that the organization had spent some time with him, but declined to get into specifics.
Do you think Willie is the right man for the job in trying to get the Canucks back into the playoff conversation next season?
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Now, from the prospect pool—a look at Jordan Subban crushing it in the weight room this summer:
And also on the topic of prospects, a couple more notes about the World Junior Summer Showcase, which gets rolling Wednesday morning on TSN.
First off, do not expect to see Olli Juolevi or any of the other big-name Finnish youngsters participating in this tournament.
Click here for the Finnish roster.
Team USA is has been running two full rosters in Plymouth, and their "Blue" team beat the Finns 8-1 on Sunday, while the "White" team skated to an 8-2 victory on Monday.
The U.S. team has been trimmed to 32 players today.
Click here to see that list, which does include Canucks prospect Brock Boeser.
Meanwhile, Canada has been holding its own camp in Toronto, and will be joining the action in Plymouth starting on Wednesday.
In their own intersquad game on Monday, Team Red beat Team White by a score of 7-4. Canucks defense prospect Guillaume Brisebois was listed as the seventh defenseman for he White team.
Interesting that Pierre-Luc Dubois was used on the wing!
It doesn't look like Canada is making any roster cuts, so it's hard to say if/when Brisebois will get into action in Plymouth this week, with 13 defensemen still in camp.
On Wednesday, TSN will be broadcasting Canada's game against Finland at 10 a.m. PT, followed by Team USA/Sweden at 1 p.m. PT.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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