NHL IS BACK! The Official 2012/2013 Canucks & NHL Thread

[UFO]

Originally Posted by bballguy

For the GM, it's a moment saturated in honesty, frustration, spite, fortitude and doom. Nash forced his hand; he responded with middle fingers raised.

It may not be the best thing for the GM, the player, the team, the fans or the trade market — but here's to someone in professional sports allowing their aggravation to manifest in "the truthful thing to do."

You can hardly fault Howson when your team's cornerstone signs longterm under this pretense: "Rick made a significant statement to Columbus and for Columbus in terms of how he feels about playing here," Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson said. "He loves Columbus; he never wanted to leave. That's what made me so optimistic all along that we could sign him to an extension."

Howson built a team that was capable of making the playoffs this year, out-performing a team with 3 straight #1 picks and a team with a $100M defenseman and one of the NHL's elite goalies, AND left CBJ with 3 first rounders in this year's deeper draft. Unfortuneate he was fired based on his boss' 'gut feeling'.

[murd0c]

WOW Oilers fire Tambellini and name MacT the new GM

[UFO]

and Howson to takeover MacT's old position

[7seven]

Tambo fired, MacT new GM. Nothing has changed or will change as long as Lowe is the president there, he's the puppet master making all the decisions still. Such a joke or an organization there, how Lowe is still employed is a mind fuck

Ryan Rishaug ‏@TSNRyanRishaug 13m
Tambelinni has been fired by Oilers. Confirmed.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 10m
Hearing Craig MacTavish is new EDM GM and Scott Howson will be taking over MacTavish's role. As per @TSNRyanRishaug, EDM fires Tambellini.

[Ronin]

To be honest, Tambellini hasn't exactly done a great job given that he's got a team full of #1 picks...and Eberle and Schultz...and failed to get anyone to stock up the blueline, which is pretty much why Edmonton is terrible.

Seems like weird timing, though. Why not wait til the off-season? Didn't they know this would be a long rebuilding process?

[Vansterdam]

Canadian idol - Vancouver Canucks - Features

Zack Kassian gushed. And gushed. And gushed. He just couldn’t help himself.
When the Canucks hit the ice for practice in Nashville Sunday there were two Detroit Red Wings still on the ice. No, they weren’t putting in extra work for last night’s tilt between the Red Wings and Predators, they stuck around to say hello.

Ex-Canucks Mikael Samuelsson and Todd Bertuzzi were the players who took a few minutes to renew acquaintances and it was hugs, high-fives, fist pounds and head nods as usual until Kassian spotted Bertuzzi.

Kassian, as he later revealed, idolizes Big Bert; he’s admired the 38-year-old power forward for as long as he can remember. When his friends were imitating Sundin, Jagr, Naslund and Sakic playing street hockey back in the day, Kassian was Bertuzzi. Always.

Canucks head trainer Mike Burnstein got an autographed stick from Bertuzzi for Kassian earlier this year, so Kassian pounced at the opportunity to thank him for it and snag a priceless Kodak moment.


“That’s a big thrill for me,” smiled Kassian after practice. “He was my idol growing up. He was a great player, he still is, he’s big and strong and skilled and has a mean streak, so there’s not much not to like about him.”

Kassian was still a member of the Buffalo Sabres last season when he hit the ice against Bertuzzi for the very first time, and, well, it was a memorable experience.

“I remember I was behind the net and he grabbed me and said ‘easy, kid’ and I just couldn’t believe it. That was a weird moment.”


There are definite similarities between Bertuzzi and Kassian, although the 22-year-old knows it’s way too early to compare his game to that of his idol.

“I’ve still got a ways to go to fit in his shoes, but it’s something I definitely strive for. Everyone wants to be their own player, but there’s stuff in his game that I’d like to hopefully get.”

Kevin Bieksa said there’s more Bertuzzi in Kassian than the youngster realizes.

“They both protect the puck really well, both big, strong, mean guys, both have back problems, both from around the Windsor area, there’s a lot of similarities between them for sure, and that’s a good thing.”

No one speaks as highly of Bertuzzi than Bieksa, who came to the Canucks from the Manitoba Moose during the 2005-06 season. The rookie was welcomed with open arms by the grizzled veteran and they formed a bond that remains today.


Bieksa believes Kassian looking up to Bertuzzi is a great way to bring the best out of the second year Canucks forward.

“I can speak for Burr and myself and Kes, Bertuzzi was really good with us, he was at the peak of his career when he was here. Him and Markus and Brendan were arguably the best line in the league and it was great for us to come into the league at that time and see the level of skill and dedication that they had. We learned a lot from those guys, especially Bertuzzi, early on.”

Kassian, Bieksa and the Canucks will faceoff against Bertuzzi and the Red Wings once more this season and with the playoff race as tight as it is in the Western Conference, don’t expect many friendly conversations.

Neither side would have it any other way.

[Gumby]

"They both have back problems..."

But look at Kassian with his shit-eating grin.

[Not really racist!]

^ inb4 fsy fails u for re post

[pastarocket]

Originally Posted by Gumby

"They both have back problems..."

But look at Kassian with his shit-eating grin.

-good to see Kassian have a chance to chat with his hockey idol.


-wonder if Kassian asked Bert to show him how to do his "power move" to the net? Bert puts one arm on a defender, stick handles the puck with one hand, and drives toward the net for a scoring chance.

[Sentinel]

Maybe after meeting BertuzzI, kassian can play more like him.
Posted via RS Mobile

[Mike Oxbig]

Bertuzzi for ROH
Those jersey look like a perfect match

[murd0c]

Good to see Bert out there like that, the pics kinda make me sad lol

[jeedee]

Heres to Kassian turns into a prime Bert

[bballguy]

Sens/Bruins game postponed for obvious reasons...

[trancehead]

Originally Posted by Big Earl

Bertuzzi for ROH
Those jersey look like a perfect match

porky in the background looks like

[JesseBlue]

one of my favorite bertuzzi moves is when he's close to the net, shoves the defending player towards the net and moves out a little bit and the pass comes to him and scores...till the fucktard nhl (bettman no doubt) starting to make that move illegal..

[UFO]

Bert's gotten skinny!

[bballguy]

Gametime!

[RRxtar]

[Sentinel]

KESSS

[kristianhay]

There's the wrister we like to see.

[punkwax]

Nice shot.

[Vale46Rossi]

We got robbed and Kesler brought it back

[UFO]

Amazing how much a good wrist and shoulder helps the shot

[Renthal]

hmmm blonde daughter behind the Nashville bench…