[Jmac]

$5M+ for Gudbranson is insanity.

I think Gilman is right, but we should probably do it sooner than later. If we get into the playoff hunt and one of Tanev or Stecher is injured long term, it'll be a tougher decision to make.

I like Guddy's intangibles, but his advanced stats are god awful, he's probably the worst skater of our top 8 dmen, and he's a black hole offensively. The $3.5M we're currently paying him is arguably already on the rich side (for a #5), let alone $5M-$6M per with term.

[highfive]

Sbisa signed to 3.6? Gudbranson should get $4.5 roughly with inflation. I keep him for that. Fuck we need some sand paper on the team. No pedan no tryamkin. We basically have Dorsett and that's it.

[Nabatron]

yeah u need a guy like gudbranson on the back end need his tuffness. Also he isn't the worst skater on D. Hutton is fucking terrible at skating and looks like he's dragging a piano when he skates..

[fsy82]

Gubranson play I love. He's gritty and a team player. You need that bit of nastiness on a team. Hopefully we can keep him at a reasonable price

[Nabatron]

Canucks right now are pretty soft you need guys like gudbranson to keep team accountable and not try and take runs at your young guys. Look at the oilers they have lucic, maroon and kassian big boys. I mean you don't need that many guys but still when playing teams in the west u need some size.

[dbaz]

tanev out for road trip. upper body injury

[murd0c]

Now things may change with Tanev being out. I think we should keep Guddy, he's big and nasty which is hard to find D like that these days.

[pastarocket]

Tanev is out but Edler returns to play tonight.

Canucks vs. Ducks preview: Facing an old friend | The Province (http://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-game-day-facing-an-old-friend)

Go Canucks go! Ducks are still without Getzlaf due to a broken cheek bone and Kesler is hurt (hip) so their offense is weaker than usual.

[Jmac]

Tanev reportedly playing hurt for the past few games, waited until Edler was ready to come out.

[bobbinka]

ay bae bae

[Jmac]

https://twitter.com/imacsportsnet/status/928829806828908544

[Jmac]

SOB saying he would've let Torts fight Hartley :lawl:

[bobbinka]

Lol, Juice forever a Canuck

[68style]

I wish Shane O'Brien was on every intermission LOL :fullofwin:

[Tim Budong]

Lol, Juice forever a Canuck

if he retires as a canuck, id be happy

[dapperfied]

/game

[pastarocket]

Hutton playing shitty hockey and taking penalties. :facepalm: Guddy was so out of position on the Silfverberg goal.


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[68style]

Hutton playing shitty hockey and taking penalties. :facepalm: Guddy was so out of position on the Silfverberg goal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

??? Guddy was guarding 3 people by himself in front of the net, Edler and Sutter were in the corner checking the same guy! It's their fault not his...

[spoon.ek9]

^ there's a reason ignore list exists lol

[Liquid_o2]

Wish we still had Tryamkin... Guddy would be expendable.

[murd0c]

https://twitter.com/AnaheimDucks/status/928679837358727168

[pastarocket]

Juice is awesome. Dan Murphy's interview with him in one of the intermissions in last night's game was funny. LUL

Murph's past interviews with Juice were hilarious. :lawl:

https://youtu.be/YN1ZzfleyxU

https://youtu.be/V5WIWWNZ5O8

[pastarocket]

It’s good to see the team take the time to honour our men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces today. #Respect [emoji106][emoji1063]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171111/80c914482b91e5b028b1bd3ed4f0a5d4.jpg


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[Tim Budong]

team does this every year
its pretty awesome

eriksson is in tonight
gaunce and JV come out of the lineup

[belka]

Shitty short handed goal costs them the game, not to mention no finish.

[68style]

What the fuck are the refs thinking calling that a penalty shot? Buddy walked all the way in from the blue line and hit the post after the hook!

[Tim Budong]

40+shots
5-0... but its not markstroms fault
yikes

[68style]

^It really wasn't his fault at all

It was a 2-0 game for him... 2 goals were empty net and the bullshit penalty shot was the 5th

[spoon.ek9]

lol noob

[604778]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9EweJ2wDg

[tacobell]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQYUSIIMvi0

I think you should watch this before the speech, moving piece, certainly one of favorite players of all time.

[bobbinka]

lol....

[MG1]

Wow, that was............ um............ special. The organ, the singing style, the chord progression and the cadence at the end reminded me of being in an evangelical church. Crystal Cathedral like. I was waiting for Schuller to give a sermon, gulolol.

[Jmac]

Butters penalty shot!

[bobbinka]

butters butters

[Jmac]

Someone's new to the internet

https://twitter.com/michael_traikos/status/928804639457398784

Referring to Toronto's Gauthier

[Jmac]

Bae!

BTW, loving the Vanek signing. Guy is legit from the blue line in. Different story in the neutral and d zones, but whatever

[Nabatron]

gaunce is literally useless out there....

[Jmac]

Edler decides to kill a guy with 8 minutes left :facepalm:

[dapperfied]

:notbad:..

[Jmac]

Win! :awwyeah:

[highfive]

Bae!

BTW, loving the Vanek signing. Guy is legit from the blue line in. Different story in the neutral and d zones, but whatever

Will love it even more when we trade him on tdl for picks or prospects.

Loving the pouliot trade actually. I don't think pedan was able to go beyond the 7th defenceman so it was nice to get a defenceman out of it at least

[pastarocket]

We win! -good morale booster. VGK is next at home.


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[Jmac]

VGK lost another goalie tonight, Kamloops' Ferguson finished the game.

Will be interesting to see how an amateur goalie fares. Based on past Canucks experience, they'll probably make him look like a Vezina winner.

[MG1]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb75/89blkcivic/RS%20Bull/we_win_cheers1_1.jpg


Didn't watch the game after they were down 2-0, which was like less than 5 minutes into the game, lol. Was at casino and saw the score tied at 2-2 and was like, WTF? Got home and saw it was 3-2.

That Carly Agro......... she wearing shoulder pads?

[68style]

She puts the agro in... well... Agro

[E.D.C.5]

gaunce is literally useless out there....
THIS

[604778]

gaunce is literally useless out there....


Wait.. Gaunce is back..? :okay:

[Nabatron]

i think she mights be pregs

[F3]

VGK lost another goalie tonight, Kamloops' Ferguson finished the game.

Will be interesting to see how an amateur goalie fares. Based on past Canucks experience, they'll probably make him look like a Vezina winner.

They didn't lose another goalie. Dude got pulled cause he let in 7 goals. Would assume Legace would be in net against the Canucks.

[bossha]

They didn't lose another goalie. Dude got pulled cause he let in 7 goals. Would assume Legace would be in net against the Canucks.

Legace hurt his back.

[bobbinka]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZptISqiTxsQ

[Mike Oxbig]

Should be interesting if Canucks draft the other Tkachuk

[dbaz]

Legace hurt his back.

subban is travelling with their team. could be game time decision

[Hondaracer]

not like the canucks could have used a player like Tkachuk or anything..

[bobbinka]

not like the canucks could have used a player like Tkachuk or anything..

Only if they're from BC

[68style]

not like the canucks could have used a player like Tkachuk or anything..

We've got enough mouthguard chewers on this team :fullofwin:

[MG1]

They sang in tune and were doing okay, then they went all rogue with the Canadian (I think it was our anthem) anthem. Instead of focusing on their weird harmony, I was more concerned about their breathing technique. Shallow breathing? or using diaphragm............. couldn't tell, damnit. Camera person wasn't cooperating.

Cute trumps anything else.




Thing is, they weren't that cute, or pretty, or................. like their singing, masked with make up. ooh...... so mean, I am.


Anyway, carry on carrying on. Don't mind me.

[bobbinka]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCh3NQja4Lc

dammmn, executioner style.

[jdmhaze]

Perreault got the deserter treatment

https://winteriscoming.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/385/files/2015/09/NED-BEHEADS.gif

[cdizzle_996]

My hatred for Hutton grows stronger every game

[bobbinka]

This is so sad, we can't even beat VGK on their 4th string goalie, lol

[XplicitLuder]

My hatred for Hutton grows stronger every game

Literally only impressed with Pouliot lol MDZ/Biega get a pass.. any other D playing...yikes

[pastarocket]

Hutton sucks! Pouliot looked very bad on that turnover too. :facepalm:

The PP has no power.

No push in the third period with just 5 shots.

[E.D.C.5]

WHY IS GAUNCE STILL HERE? WHERE IS BURMISTROV? WTH

[bobbinka]

They should slot JV back in with the twins. The Sedins are not able to pull off their nifty moves/passes as consistently anymore. They cycle and cycle, and then lose the puck or get picked off. Down low, they get pinned against the wall and can't make their plays as often. JV wreaks havoc with his size and creates space, which is what they need. I'd rather have JV for 10 mins/game with the twins than Gaunce for 10 mins.

For the "better of the team", play JV. He's got a helluva shot, he's got the size, and in the limited minutes he's played, he hasnt shown to be been a liability.

[pastarocket]

The PP needs a major retool. It is only the first unit that can generate some quality scoring chances. When Hank and Daniel play on the second unit, you can definitely see that their puck possession has weakened considerably, especially at the boards. Easy puck clearing for the opposing team.

The passes back to the point man are useless as the weaksauce shots from the point either hit an opposing player or miss the net.

Did the team even get any shots on net in one of their power plays in the third period against VGK? :lawl:

What happened to the set plays that Hank, Daniel, and Vanek did when Vanek faked going to the front of the net after Hank winning the faceoff, so that he shot into a shooting lane with the twins in front of the net?

[DA9ve]

Sutter has been missing the damn net too forcing turnovers when the puck rings around the boards

[Bouncing Bettys]

6-0

[MG1]

He did the octave jump............. we gonna win, I tells ya.


And what's with the fucking fans? Half of them can't sing in time. Rushing it like drummers in an elementary band. Good thing the other half knew what the fuck was going on.

[Jmac]

http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/_img/chars/brock--79.3.jpg
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02712/GRANNY8_2712464a.jpg
https://cdn.thisiswhyimbroke.com/images/baewatch.jpg

[Jmac]

Hutton with his second delay of game penalty tonight :facepalm:

[cdizzle_996]

My hatred for Hutton grows stronger every game


Omg...

[Jmac]

Vanek robbed of a goal and then refs hand the Canucks a penalty on the next shift. Brutal

[E.D.C.5]

when Eriksson came out in OT, I was petrified.... :ohgodwhy:

[dbaz]

lots of horrible calls going against the canucks this year, this one cost them a win(think this is the 2nd or 3rd time this year already a really stupid call by the refs cost them points). no hand pass on the play, no possession for the blues. if they want to say grabbing the puck, skating and throwing it is possession, then they also have to call that a penalty because it is as well.

[Nabatron]

that ref call lastnight was the mose BS call I have seen in awhile...

[EvoFire]

Anton Rodin placed on unconditional waivers for purpose of releasing from contract.

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/vancouver-canucks-anton-rodin/c-293175972

Bit of a bummer as I had thought he looked really good last year before he got reinjured.

[Jmac]

Too bad, he just couldn't catch a break injury-wise in North America. Bit of an ongoing theme with the early Gillis picks (Hodgson, Rodin, Sauve, Rai)

[pastarocket]

This six game road trip is gonna be a huge test for the team.

Philly, Penguins, NJD, Rangers, Islanders, and the Preds. :heckno:

[Kilinim]

Rodin cleared. Early game today at 4pm.

[Renthal]

dat boeser release :megusta:

[spoon.ek9]

if boeser sticks around, I'm buying his jersey :fullofwin:

[Jmac]

ERIKSSON SCORED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :fullofwin:

[bobbinka]

only caught the last few mins, but why was brock not out for the last few minutes?? should have given him the chance to go for hatty

[spoon.ek9]

ERIKSSON SCORED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :fullofwin:

it's the only way he can score :badpokerface:

[Jmac]

it's the only way he can score :badpokerface:
I know Eriksson gets shit on a lot, but he does have 6 points in 9 games this season, which is a pretty respectable rate (5 points in the 5 games since returning from injury).

[spoon.ek9]

I just think he has a lot to prove after last season lol

[spoon.ek9]

where the gaunce haters at? he had a decent game today. quite effective.

[sonick]

only caught the last few mins, but why was brock not out for the last few minutes?? should have given him the chance to go for hatty

Pens game tomorrow night back to back, rolling lines to spread out the minutes.

[pastarocket]

Eriksson scores a legit goal with the goalie in net. :lawl: Kessel coughs up the puck in front of his net lol.


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[Kilinim]

Eriksson scores a legit goal with the goalie in net. :lawl: Kessel coughs up the puck in front of his net lol.


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Legit? Debatable...

[spoon.ek9]

pouliot with his first (ppg)

[bobbinka]

dis kid

[spoon.ek9]

MA BOY BOESER!

[604778]

Wow.

[TjAlmeida]

What a fucking shot. Fingers crossed he wants to continue his career in Vancouver, judging his character though I wouldn't think he would jump ship.

[murd0c]

This Brock guy is alright

[murd0c]

Wow back to back 5-2 wins for the Canucks.. WTF is going on with this team on the road.

[Obsideon]

Brock Star.

[dapperfied]

http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/_img/chars/brock-pokemon-59.2.jpg

[Ch28]

Boeser with a "lucky" goal on Matt Murray

https://streamable.com/vm48v

Boeser with a "lucky" Ovechkin special

https://streamable.com/8xo7x


Exciting times for Canucks fans

https://i.imgur.com/Bmabl9t.png

[mb_]

Is Boeser finally the game changer the Canucks are looking for??

[Mike Oxbig]

Everyone be like..

:derp: "Keller is the front runner for the calder trophy because he plays for a shitty team. While Boeser has Horvat to play with"

[Tim Budong]

BRROOOOCCCKKKKK BOEESSSEERRRRRR

[bobbinka]

brock within top 30 scoring in the league

[pastarocket]

Brock is my early pick to win the Calder trophy. :smug:

[saiko]

Do you think Brock would be more dangerous if he improves his skating in the offseason, a la Horvat?

Been hearing on the radio, his offensive intelligence makes up for his lack in explosive speed.. It's been a very nice surprise and a bit of buzz again around Canucks hockey. Haven't had this kind of chatter in a while!

[punkwax]

Do you think Brock would be more dangerous if he improves his skating in the offseason, a la Horvat?

Sorry, but obvious answer is obvious.

I do agree though it’s nice to have some buzz surrounding a rookie. A lot of people are speculating on future Canucks lines and it seems many are forgetting how much money is freed up when the Sedins’ contract ends. I’m also looking forward to seeing what they do with all that cap space myself.

[highfive]

Sorry, but obvious answer is obvious.

I do agree though it’s nice to have some buzz surrounding a rookie. A lot of people are speculating on future Canucks lines and it seems many are forgetting how much money is freed up when the Sedins’ contract ends. I’m also looking forward to seeing what they do with all that cap space myself.

Throw a shit ton of money at Tavares...lol

[Liquid_o2]

I would rather put the money into getting some defense. Lots of forward prospects but aside from Juolevi, we don't have any potential gems on the backend. Stecher is OK, Hutton seems hit or miss. I wouldn't mind the Canucks pursuing a free agent d-man.

[Ch28]

Throw a shit ton of money at Tavares...lol

Tavares
Boeser
Horvat
Bearcheese
Pettersson
Dahlen
Goldobin
Lind
Gaudette
Virtanen

https://i.imgur.com/g9vWRz6.gif

Here's a list of upcoming UFAs for this upcoming off-season

http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-agents/2018/ufa/

[bobbinka]

I dont think we will have as much cap space available as it seems. Sedins will free up 14 mil, but a good number of guys are RFA/UFA next year. Most of them will get a raise. And with Vanek contributing decently to our offense, you have to consider that they may keep the project going.

In my opinion, we'll be trading a Dman before next season. Either Guddy is gone by trade deadline, or if we keep him, Hutton/Stecher is gone.

RFA:
Bae - 1.85 mill
Granlund - 900k.
Burmistrov - 900k.
JV - 900k
Stecher - 900k
Pouliot - 800k

UFA:
Vanek - 2 mil
Biega - 700k
Gudbranson - 3.5 mil

Even if you let Vanek/burmistrov/gudbranson/Biega go, that hardly covers the raises the other players will get

[jdmhaze]

I dont think we will have as much cap space available as it seems. Sedins will free up 14 mil, but a good number of guys are RFA/UFA next year. Most of them will get a raise. And with Vanek contributing decently to our offense, you have to consider that they may keep the project going.

In my opinion, we'll be trading a Dman before next season. Either Guddy is gone by trade deadline, or if we keep him, Hutton/Stecher is gone.

RFA:
Bae - 1.85 mill
Granlund - 900k.
Burmistrov - 900k.
JV - 900k
Stecher - 900k
Pouliot - 800k

UFA:
Vanek - 2 mil
Biega - 700k
Gudbranson - 3.5 mil

Even if you let Vanek/burmistrov/gudbranson/Biega go, that hardly covers the raises the other players will get

Hardly covers? What kind of money are you throwing at those RFA's?

Bae + 3.5m
Gran + 2m
JV + 2m
Stetch + 2.5m
Puoliot + 1.2m

11.2m of 21m

Give or take a bit here and there, but that's about all id be paying these guys. It's too bad we signed Eriksson to such a shit long term contract.

[bobbinka]

Hardly covers? What kind of money are you throwing at those RFA's?

Bae + 3.5m
Gran + 2m
JV + 2m
Stetch + 2.5m
Puoliot + 1.2m

11.2m of 21m

Give or take a bit here and there, but that's about all id be paying these guys. It's too bad we signed Eriksson to such a shit long term contract.

Selective reading?

Even if you let Vanek/burmistrov/gudbranson/Biega go, that hardly covers the raises the other players will get

that's 2+900k+3.5+700k = 7.1 mil

in your projections, that adds to an additional 5.9mil. a difference in 1.2 mil could be easily accounted for if each player was given only just 300k more. let's not forget, that's letting 4 players go.

If sedins free up 14 mil, and the numbers pan out as you expect for the RFA raises, that leaves 15.2 mil total we have available to replace 6 players.

My point is simply that Sedins leaving is not enough for us to be able to throw 11/12 mil at Tavares. We'd have to get rid of more players and replace them with cheaper players

[jdmhaze]

I really don't think Tavares is coming to Vancouver, but if he was the Canucks would definitely make it work. It wouldn't take much more than the Sedins leaving and a few other moves. Buying out Eriksson if he has another shitty season would certainly help. We also don't know what our prospect pool will look like in terms of NHL readiness come next years training camp.

[bobbinka]

i dont think so either, but some people dream big :D

[PiuYi]

Too bad we’re not the Leafs, otherwise we could put Eriksson on LTIR in training camp next year...

[sonick]

Petterson lighting it up in SHL, 2nd in league points.

Imagine him feeding Boeser sick passes in the next few years :jizz::jizz::jizz:

[murd0c]

Everyone is saying Petterson is the most dynamic player the Canucks have drafted since Bure. If he keeps it up he might be the top player of the draft.

[Hondaracer]

still cant get passed dat handshake in whistler

[dbaz]

https://streamable.com/iva1g

[dapperfied]

boeserrrr scoressss we want some moreeee

[spoon.ek9]

is Murray actually buttsore about all the goals? lol

[jdmhaze]

dbaz id thank you twice if i could, that made my day.

[Jmac]

is Murray actually buttsore about all the goals? lol
Murray's butthurt levels last night:
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/316/674/5d5.gif

[jdmhaze]

Too bad that was the last time they'll play eachother in the regular season this year. I'm sure Murray is happy about that though, he can start to dig Boeser out of his mind....for now.

[TjAlmeida]

Wow, Murray sounds like a bitch. Maybe the two cups in a row and out placing Fluery has given him a bit of an ego.

[R1ZAHHHH]

Guys i live 1 skytrain station from the stadium and i have never seen live hockey, anybody wanna go with me there ? Dont wanna go alone :(

[bobbinka]

Eddie Lack gets waived by Flames.... poor guy

[highfive]

Pettersson ripping it up in Europe.

https://twitter.com/ryanbiech/status/933761892002050048

https://twitter.com/ryanbiech/status/933840786453495808

[Ch28]

The second post by Ryan about the U20 SHL scoring is a little unfair. Pettersson is playing top line minutes as a forward, while Dahlin is a D. You can't expect a defenseman to score just as many points as a forward (unless you're EK)

[Jmac]

The second post by Ryan about the U20 SHL scoring is a little unfair. Pettersson is playing top line minutes as a forward, while Dahlin is a D. You can't expect a defenseman to score just as many points as a forward (unless you're EK)
For U20 players in the SHL, he's currently on pace to beat Peter Forsberg's and Henrik Sedin's 47 points, which are currently tied for 2nd. Has a legitimate shot at setting the all-time record, currently set at 53 (Kent Nilsson in 75-76)

[Ch28]

For U20 players in the SHL, he's currently on pace to beat Peter Forsberg's and Henrik Sedin's 47 points, which are currently tied for 2nd. Has a legitimate shot at setting the all-time record, currently set at 53 (Kent Nilsson in 75-76)

I'm well aware of his potential pace. I'm just saying that comparing the point totals of a forward to a D is unfair.

[cdizzle_996]

I'm well aware of his potential pace. I'm just saying that comparing the point totals of a forward to a D is unfair.

So he should have erased second place because he's a D man? He's merely showing U20 scoring, skip second and compare him to third..

[murd0c]

https://s7.postimg.org/nzyq31mxn/brock.jpg

[Tim Budong]

EK is a gift to hockey and somehow Sweden continues to produce world class defenders

while Dahlin may be great, he is no EK by any means.

As for Pettersson.. put on a few pounds and come to the NHL for a few years, then we will know the real picture of his game.

Time and time, too many europeans dominate in the KHL/SHL or whatever and just completely flutter out of relevance in the NHL.

Linden Vey.. terrible here, somehow is ripping it up in europe in a league where Kovalchuk and Datsyuk still play

[murd0c]

The second post by Ryan about the U20 SHL scoring is a little unfair. Pettersson is playing top line minutes as a forward, while Dahlin is a D. You can't expect a defenseman to score just as many points as a forward (unless you're EK)

Yes its really hard to compare the two but look at how massive of a gap it is and Dahlin is one of the best D prospects since Hedman.

[Tim Budong]

Yes its really hard to compare the two but look at how massive of a gap it is and Dahlin is one of the best D prospects since Hedman.

European top prospects are rare. Its a different game over there.

[Infiniti]

EK is a gift to hockey and somehow Sweden continues to produce world class defenders

while Dahlin may be great, he is no EK by any means.

Don't get me wrong, I love Erik Karlsson! He is definitely all-world, but there are those within certain scouting circles who are saying that RD has the potential to be EK2.0

[Mike Oxbig]

EK is better than Crosby and mcdavid right now.

[blkgsr]

https://s7.postimg.org/nzyq31mxn/brock.jpg

ha i have two of those cards (Pavel) somewhere...need to find them

[Expresso]

^It's okay, they are worth maybe $7 dollars each.

[pastarocket]

Hutton sticks up for Boeser after Taylor Hall’s hard hit on Brock. Hutton checks the Jersey player into the bench when the gate is open. -showing some grit. :lawl:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jmac]

Hutton sticks up for Boeser after Taylor Hall’s hard hit on Brock. Hutton checks the Jersey player into the bench when the gate is open. -showing some grit. :lawl:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Semi makes up for him getting turnstyled by Butcher and then not picking anyone up after Tanev had to leave his man to prevent the breakaway.

[Nabatron]

hutton is the second coming of the pylon known as edler

[Ch28]

hutton is the second coming of the pylon known as edler

You clearly weren't watching the Canucks when the OG Pylon, Dana Murzyn, was still playing.

[bobbinka]

man, you guys are rough. he's +4 on the season, which is only second to Tanev's +8.

he's only 24 and in his third NHL season. for a 5th round draft pick, i'd say he's turned out pretty well for us so far and he's going to get better.

if anything, i think people should be harping on Gagner

[Tim Budong]

Boom Boom with another ONEEEE PUUNNNCCCHHHH

https://streamable.com/2aiwg
https://twitter.com/BradyTrett/status/934634575111659521

[Infiniti]

Hes gotta be taking some type of fighting lessons on the side

[jdmhaze]

I remember him trying it years ago as a canuck, but i don't think he ever knocked anyone down. Seems to be working like a charm this year. It's especially effective in hockey because unlike MMA guys are trying to grab onto eachother by the jersey, and then get the fight started. Bieksa fakes the grab onto the jersey and then just feeds him a right. He even goes for multiple fakes on Gudas to make him believe that's what he wants to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLP5cZ6FPmE

[Kilinim]

Early game today at 11am!

[6thGear.]

Sutter banged up, Canucks call up Nikolay Goldobin | The Province (http://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/sutter-banged-up-canucks-call-up-nikolay-goldobin)

Goldy recalled. Lets hope he's not a bench warmer

[mj_39]

Nice shot by Jakey

[belka]

Gaunce has zero finish, couldn't score on a soccer net.

[pastarocket]

Brock scores in the shootout before Shattenkirk scores. Second round of shootout. [emoji50]


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[pastarocket]

Round 7 of the shootout.


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[Mike Oxbig]

crazy game

[pastarocket]

We lose. :facepalm: -high glove
side shot beats Markstrom.


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[XplicitLuder]

Fuckin markstrom LOl ugh

[Nabatron]

hutton in the shootout over jake is fucking stoooooopid!

[68style]

Goldobin would have been ineffective in a wide open game like this........ :fullofwin:

[Ch28]

Gaunce has zero finish, couldn't score on a soccer net.

which is really weird because he was producing offensively in OHL and AHL

[68style]

Gaunce is gripping that stick so hard, did you hear when he skated to the bench to change after that chance in the slot you could hear him yell "FUCK!"

He steamrolled a couple guys today, he should have gotten the assist on Virtanen's goal (I think the league might add one)... he had a strong game honestly.

[Nabatron]

^yah for a lot of hockey players juniors and the A don't really translate to the NHL...look at sestito and vey they were pretty good in juniors but shit in the NHL goes for a lot of players too.

[E.D.C.5]

it was a close game and we still got a point out of this though, so I'm not too disappointed with the result. At least Eriksson and Virtanen scored today which I'm kind of glad (hoping this will give Eriksson more confidence to shoot)

[dapperfied]

Boeser's point per game streak still going?

[Nabatron]

shootout goals don't count

[Speed2K]

Lol @anaheimducks, not sure what they were thinking?!?!

http://twitter.com/GrandStCentral/status/934896661435961344

More on this here: https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/ducks-pull-insensitive-nhl100-video-ryan-kesler-walking-around-naked-232355195.html

[sonick]

Dorsett shelved for the season and possibly his career for a similar but separate spinal issue, poor guy.

[68style]

Yah, Dorsett said he's finished... poor guy... at least he went out on a high note leading us in scoring somehow... out of pure determination despite a finite skillset. Imagine if the rest of the guys tried that hard.

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/vancouver-canucks-derek-dorsett/c-293510070

They should let him suit up for the last game of the season or something and take a shift just to say goodbye :(

[murd0c]

This makes me very sad for him, being only 30 years old and the way he started the season I'm sure it hurts him that much more. I guess the only upside is he did score a number of goals this year and he can tell his kids he had more points/goals then Sid at one time.

[pastarocket]

-really sad to hear about Dorsett's forced retirement from the game. The guy played with so much heart. :tears:

Which of the young guys gets to play more games as a result of his departure? Virtanen?

[murd0c]

I guess on the bright side he contract will be off the books.

[dapperfied]

Damn.. I was looking forward to what he has to offer this season from the way he started.

[highfive]

I think they should sign Archibald to a contract and let him play that Dorsett role. PK, grinding, hitting, tough sob on the ice.

Virtanen is too much of a pretty boy to play like Dorsett.

[Kilinim]

I guess on the bright side he contract will be off the books.

Back to business eh. He'll always be remembered for his gritty style and tenacious nature. Much respect for Derek Dorsett.

[Nabatron]

yeah super tuff news for Dorsett guy played his heart out! All the best outside of hockey,

This means for other guys to step up and not take any shifts off because the game can be taken away from you when you don't expect it.

[UFO]

Feel for Dorsett, he didn't even score a single bra on the ice.
But lets be real, whats the % of people who were calling for him to be waived/bought out prior to the start of this season.

[Mike Oxbig]

Dorsett is not that big and he stands up for guys on the team much bigger than him

[mb_]

Fuck feel devastated for Dorsett. He played hard and provided some energy and grit.

[Spoon]

Does he not qualify to be on the long term injury list (similar to Maholtra)? Hopefully the team sets him up with a desk job.

[murd0c]

nope since he won't be coming back from the injury like Manny did

[Nabatron]

yeah I think they get cap relief with LTIR

[Soundy]

Does he not qualify to be on the long term injury list (similar to Maholtra)? Hopefully the team sets him up with a desk job.

nope since he won't be coming back from the injury like Manny did

Would still be super classy of the team to keep him around somehow... bring him in with player development, maybe, instill a bit of that "heart" with some of the rookies.

[Jmac]

Against all odds, has the best start to the season he's likely ever had, exceeding everyone's expectations, and then has his career cut short. Feel awful for him.

That said, probably better to drop out now than risk serious long-term injury and quality of life.

[Jmac]

Boest sniper ever

[dapperfied]

999

[Jmac]

999!

[Jmac]

https://twitter.com/batchhockey/status/936304268230918146

[bobbinka]

is it just me, or is the sportsnet feed f'd up?

[Jmac]

is it just me, or is the sportsnet feed f'd up?
According to Shaw's Twitter, it's a Shaw problem ...

[Sentinel]

Daniel with 1000

[Jmac]

Apparently Daniel scored for point 1000 ... Thanks Shaw ...

[Sentinel]

Brock with another goaaaaaaaal

[dapperfied]

Fuck you Shaw and your weak signal.

[Obsideon]

https://community.shaw.ca/docs/DOC-14236
Yup, most channels are frozen right now. Had to resort to Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud here instead of Canucks and NBA lol.

[68style]

Novus was just fine guys :fullofwin:

[Tim Budong]

https://streamable.com/y8gzf

[murd0c]

Fucken shaw

[Blah_Teggie]

I watched the rest of the game on my phone. Anyways, must say that was probably the best Canuck game I've watched in years.

[saiko]

I thought it was my own TV and connection.. I put the game on my phone and climbed behind the TV shelf unplugging and replugging the damn coax!

Great game... Daniel @ 1000 points was very nice to see!!

[Bouncing Bettys]

First star of the game goes to Kris Russell with a beauty to put the Leafs ahead with a minute to go.

https://streamable.com/bly65

[bobbinka]

https://i.imgur.com/5lfr1FF.jpg

[pastarocket]

Congrats Daniel! #DANIEL1000

https://youtu.be/yJd-AGBrbis

[Ch28]

Tonight was Brock Boeser’s 4th multi goal game of the season - that is tied for the league lead with Logan Couture.

Brock Boeser, Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane and Sidney Crosby are all tied in points

He's also 5 goals from the league lead

https://i.redd.it/4rxs3yqgl8101.png

#ELITE

[spoon.ek9]

congrats to Daniel! you know Henrik is gonna be a dick and say it took him long enough :troll: haha

[pastarocket]

Kris Russell scores into his own net with a slapshot clearing attempt with one minute in the game to help the Leafs win. He has the goal scorer's touch. :lawl:

https://youtu.be/QSauCNx3zHo

[68style]

Shot blockin' cowboy Kris Russell and 18 year old Sam Bennett... where are they both now? how the mighty have fallen lol

[radioman]

LMFAO that may be the best blooper I've seen all year.

[Nabatron]

sam Bennett what a bust!

[Liquid_o2]

Loui Eriksson with 11 pts in 14 games now. Maybe it is a bounce back year!

[pastarocket]

Loui Eriksson with 11 pts in 14 games now. Maybe it is a bounce back year!

Two of those 11 points were empty net goals though. :troll:

Anyway, it's good to see Loui improving his play in order to justify his 6 million US annual salary.

[mb_]

Shot blockin' cowboy Kris Russell and 18 year old Sam Bennett... where are they both now? how the mighty have fallen lol

Trade one of our failed prospects for Bennett... Baertschi v2.0 :troll:

[Jmac]

Fuck that, Bennett is a weak-ass punk. Need some muscle to back up the shit he pulls and we ain't got none besides Gudbranson now.

[Nabatron]

yeah saw Bennett is trash!

[Mike Oxbig]

ALEX BURMISTROV for Bennett

[dbaz]

https://i.redd.it/9bzj9werbe101.jpg

[spoon.ek9]

^ boesus?

[AzNightmare]

These 1000 pt "logos" are creative and impressive. lol

https://nhl.bamcontent.com/images/photos/285928876/1024x576/cut.jpg

https://www.russianmachineneverbreaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/daniel-sedin-1000-points-960x480.jpg

[MG1]

Damn, I miss Howie Meeker............ he loved hockey. So passionate. A little nuts, but he had such enthusiasm.


Whatever happened to Ken Hodge? I really liked him. I remember the pencil flipping incident. He had a point (pencil point, lol) and CBC I guess had no choice but to stick it to him.

[Jmac]

I'm glad Daniel got his ceremony on national TV during prime time.

[MG1]

Oh, the fans are keeping time............ better and smarter fans today........... oh, the Leafs are in town. Leafs fans a little more musical than the usual numb nut fans, gulolol.

[Jmac]

Granny!

[Jmac]

That was some vintage Sedinery

[Jmac]

https://twitter.com/khl_eng/status/936935983844532224

[murd0c]

I guess that’s a good thing except it makes me sad he’s not playing for us right now.

[Jmac]

Maybe he'll be back in '20-'21 after his KHL deal expires?

Currently the front-runner for defenseman of the year in the KHL.

[TjAlmeida]

I think he is only 23, still lots of time to make a return, specially with the direction the Canucks are going with their prospects. Could persuade him to come back if we are competitive in a couple years.

[bobbinka]

would've been sweet if JV scored on that one

[MG1]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb75/89blkcivic/RS%20Bull/we_win_cheers1_1.jpg

[pastarocket]

The line combo of Bo Ho, Boeser, and Goldy has potential. :considered:

Bouncing Bettys, any comments about your Leafs losing tonight? :troll:


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[Tim Budong]

Bouncing Bettys, any comments about your Leafs losing tonight? :troll:



watch out, he may start mentioning all those cups the leafs have that nobody gives a shit cuz it was in 1967 ahhaha

[Ch28]

Bouncing Bettys, any comments about your Leafs losing tonight? :troll:

watch out, he may start mentioning all those cups the leafs have that nobody gives a shit cuz it was in 1967 ahhaha

https://i.imgur.com/nie7ikg.gif

[AzNightmare]

FeelsBadMan

Didn't realize Markstrom's still looking for his first career shutout. Feels bad, man.

[Bouncing Bettys]

Markstrom looked good and earned the win. The Leafs ran into a hot goalie and lost despite dominating for most of the game. Couldn't ask for a better loss. In terms of no bullshit, sticks on the ice hockey, it was a good game.

[68style]

^
Did you ever watch the first period? Leafs couldn’t even get out of heir own zone... Don Cherry said they were an embarrassment and throwing Freddy to the wolves

And hot goaltender? He lost his starting spot for 2 games to Nilsson prior to this game... keep drinking the blue kool-aid lol

[Tim Budong]

^
Did you ever watch the first period? Leafs couldn’t even get out of heir own zone... Don Cherry said they were an embarrassment and throwing Freddy to the wolves

And hot goaltender? He lost his starting spot for 2 games to Nilsson prior to this game... keep drinking the blue kool-aid lol

relax, he's a leafs fan

[jdmhaze]

^
Did you ever watch the first period? Leafs couldn’t even get out of heir own zone... Don Cherry said they were an embarrassment and throwing Freddy to the wolves

And hot goaltender? He lost his starting spot for 2 games to Nilsson prior to this game... keep drinking the blue kool-aid lol

He said "most" of the game, not all of it. I'm sure even he can agree the Canucks outplayed them in the first. In the end Toronto had more SOG but i think the game was a lot closer.

I didn't hear Don say any of that.....He talked about how Freddy was the best goalie in the league, and how he's been stealing games for them all season (which is true). Also, how players were getting sticks in the way of pucks, something he brings up every coaches corner lol.

By hot goaltender he means that night. Markstrom was on fire.

It was a great game to watch, both teams played hard, lots of chances each way.

[MG1]

You guys need to chill................ a man has every right to cheer for his team. Kicking him when he's down because the stars lined up for the Cannots and his team had an off night - not cool. Canucks fans should know what an off night is all about. Now if he were a Calgary Flames fan, then that's a different story gulolol.

Even worse is when someone is a scHabs fan. Fuck, I hate the Mount Royal Canadiens. I hate everything french, except for their hot women. Anyway, the Leafs were the first NHL team I cheered for (Original Six).




oh, and god bless.............

[kunoman1]

You guys need to chill................ a man has every right to cheer for his team. Kicking him when he's down because the stars lined up for the Cannots and his team had an off night - not cool. Canucks fans should know what an off night is all about. Now if he were a Calgary Flames fan, then that's a different story gulolol.

Even worse is when someone is a scHabs fan. Fuck, I hate the Mount Royal Canadiens. I hate everything french, except for their hot women. Anyway, the Leafs were the first NHL team I cheered for (Original Six).

There are some damn fine women here

Also the Habs mucked the wings 10-1 hahahaha

[MG1]

yeah, they're a good hockey organization...... just hate their fans, lol.

[Tim Budong]

having fun at the expense of leaf fans is part of the fun of being a Canucks fan
hahahahahha

[MG1]

yup, we Canucks fans get it all the time.

[Jmac]

A letter from Derek Dorsett: ?Don't feel sorry for me? - Sportsnet.ca (http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/letter-derek-dorsett-dont-feel-sorry/)

In Kindersley, Sask., we lived right across the street from Elizabeth School. You could see it from our front window. I remember being really young, probably three or four. My older brothers (Chad and Mike) would go to school, and my dad (Dean) coached the senior hockey team. The rink was right next to the school and my dad had the key. He would put on my skates, toss me on the ice and go get breakfast. That’s my earliest memory of hockey.

Both sides of my family were hardworking and entrepreneurial. My parents owned and operated an A&W in the city. That was my lunch spot. My dad coached my brothers and me. He always made it fun, but never showed any favouritism. If anything, he was probably harder on us than our teammates. My mother (Donna) loved us no matter what we did, but she is hard-nosed. She always says I get all my toughness from her.

My parents believed in me, but I was cut from every Midget Triple-A team I tried out for until my last year. I never thought I would make it. I remember training with my friends, many of whom were drafted by Western Hockey League teams. I wasn’t. I had a bad reputation on the ice as undisciplined and unpredictable. Always taking a lot of penalties.

I was invited to camp as an 18-year-old by the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, but didn’t make it and they dropped me. Then, in the middle of the season, Medicine Hat called, but I wasn’t going to go. The previous year the team I played with, the Kindersley Klippers, went all the way to the Royal Bank Cup before losing in the final. The whole team was back. We had a great chance to win this time and that’s what I wanted to do.

I was starting to get scholarship offers in the United States, but I was kidding myself. I wasn’t the best student and all I cared about was hockey. My dad knew I so badly wanted to play in the WHL, so he sat me down and said this was the best chance I would have to play there or in the NHL. It was the 2004-05 lockout, so I’d play in front of all the scouts. He told me with the style I played at my size, I had to prove I could play a big schedule. I still didn’t want to abandon my teammates in November. Medicine Hat had injuries, but once everyone got healthy, would I be sitting in the stands and not playing?

Some of those teammates pulled me aside and said, “You have to go.” Until last week, the hardest decision of my life was to leave them.

Going into it, I doubted I was good enough. How were those guys going to treat an 18-year-old rookie? What I learned about myself is that when I play nervous, it helps me. Those guys treated me great. I was on a line with Darren Helm right away and, later, Kevin Undershute. When the playoffs came, I hit my stride.

We played Red Deer in the first round and my job was to get under Dion Phaneuf’s skin. Remember, Dion would have been in the NHL that season if it weren’t for the lockout. He smoked me a couple of times, but if I got him to take a coincidental penalty, I knew I was doing my job. I definitely irritated him.

He is one of the guys who sent me a text last week. We’ve battled against each other since those junior days. That he took the time to send that meant a lot — they all meant a lot.

We beat the Rebels in seven games, but lost to Prince Albert in Round 2. I gained a lot of confidence. At the team banquet, assistant coach Shaun Clouston was handing out the awards and announced me as playoff MVP. I looked at my parents, and said, “Really?”

I think they wanted me to take that as a challenge to become a bigger part of the leadership group. I started to think, “Maybe I could play in the AHL or the ECHL.”

Not even the NHL.

In Medicine Hat our radio play-by-play guy, Bob Ridley, also drove the team bus. During my second season, we were on that long road trip through Vancouver, Kelowna and Prince George when he asked to tape an interview and told me that I had been ranked by NHL Central Scouting. I had zero idea. I was like a deer in the headlights and so excited. It gave me more confidence.

I was actually glad I wasn’t invited to the Combine because I was such a weak little kid. I would have been the guy who does one bench press, or two pull-ups. On the day of the 2006 draft, I was in the basement with my parents, brothers and some friends. We kept hitting refresh on the computer. The fifth round came, then the sixth, the seventh. Kris Russell was in Columbus at the time and his father, Doug, told me they were interested in me.

So, when their seventh-round pick arrived, I was thinking, “This is my only chance.”

The phone rang from a number I’d never seen before. One of my buddies was on another computer and cheered because he knew the pick. I was ecstatic. So happy, so relieved. There was a big slo-pitch tournament going on in Kindersley that day. I was legal age and we partied pretty hard.

I remember my first trip to the Traverse City rookie tournament. Columbus had a tough team. Jared Boll, Marc Methot, Tom Sestito, myself. We won it two straight years — and there were a lot of fights.

Then I remember being in awe, star struck around Sergei Fedorov, Anson Carter, Adam Foote and Fredrik Modin. I’d be riding the bike and if there weren’t any to use when a veteran walked in, I’d pretend I was finished just to see if they wanted it. What surprised me was how normal those guys were. They were great guys, although I didn’t say much my first couple of years at camp. Mike Commodore gave me his number right away and told me if I needed anything to let him know. He would lend me his car and made sure I knew the door was always open at his place. And I couldn’t believe how welcoming the owners, the McConnell family, were.

It’s funny — my rookie dinner was right here in Vancouver at the Gotham Steakhouse. Luckily, there were about seven of us. I spent $5,000. I haven’t spent that much on a dinner since and never will again, but it was the best $5,000 I ever spent. My first goal was against the Canucks, too. Some people said I put it top-shelf, but I know I flubbed it and the puck trickled past Roberto Luongo. Today it’s at my mother-in-law’s house in Columbus.

One year, on the night before training camp opened, a few of us went out for dinner and stopped for a quick drink. There was a table of attractive women and we started chatting. The next day, I went for lunch after medicals and ran into one of them, Allison. It was a Saturday, a Buckeye football game day.

Allison always jokes that in Columbus, she is more famous than me. She captained the Ohio State cheerleading team for a couple of years. We ran into each other again and I asked her out on a date. The rest is history. We got married 10 days after I played in the 2014 Stanley Cup final with the Rangers.

I had no idea a trade was coming in April of 2013. I’d broken my clavicle and was basically done for the season. I lived right across from the arena — there were six or seven of us who lived in this complex. Derick Brassard texted to say he thought he was being traded to the Rangers, so I walked across the hall to talk to him. I missed a call from the 614 area code, but didn’t think much of it.

There was Brass, Steve Mason and John Moore, who thought he was being traded, too. I gave him a hug, said, “Good luck, buddy,” and then saw a text from Rick Nash. It said, “If everything goes through, it will be great to be back on your team.” I thought he meant it for Brassard and texted the wrong guy. Then I heard on TV that it was Brassard, Dorsett and Moore.

I said, “I guess I’m coming with you.”

Five minutes later, Glen Sather called. The call I missed was from Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen. I was on an airplane 50 minutes later.

A funny story I remember from New York: The players asked me what kind of music I liked to get pumped up before a game. I’m not a big music guy. I told them if I go on a four- or five-hour drive, I won’t put on the radio because I just like to think. Marc Staal looked at me and said, “That’s insane.”

The Stanley Cup run with the Rangers was crazy and a great time. The playoffs at Madison Square Garden, and doing it with an Original Six team. The Yankees and Knicks were not that good at the time. You could feel the buzz. I wasn’t recognized that often in New York City, but during the playoffs I’d ride the subway to the arena and people would yell, “Let’s go, Dorsett!”

I will never forget being down 3–1 to Pittsburgh and Martin St. Louis getting the phone call that his mother had passed away, just as our plane landed. It was such an emotional time for our team. One of our best players and leaders was having a hard time and we knew we had to rally for him. The morning skate the next day when he walked in…. Wow. I can still remember that feeling when we saw him. Not much was said. Not much needed to be said.

The way he played. The funeral. He gave the best speech I’ve ever heard.

Doing it with the guys I started with, Brassard, Moore and Nash, was special. The billboards that went up in my hometown: “Good luck Derek in the Stanley Cup final.” You think of those times when you were a kid “fake lifting” the Stanley Cup on the street.

I didn’t see Alec Martinez’s Cup-winning goal. Two shifts before, there was a collision and I twisted my ankle. I’d gone down the tunnel to be evaluated. I didn’t see the replay for a year, because I wasn’t going to search for it. The room afterwards was so quiet. I don’t remember what anyone said. We were devastated, but proud of what we accomplished.

I miss New York City and loved playing for the Rangers. The way the fans and team treat you is unbelievable.

I could see I wasn’t going to play that much the next season. I think I’ve got a good grasp of the business sense of the game, so I understood where I fit and where I belong. We were stacked down the right side with Nash, St. Louis, Mats Zuccarello and Jesper Fast. I spoke to Sather and coach Alain Vigneault and told them if there was an option for a better situation, I would like the opportunity to work for another contract to stay in the NHL. I had one year remaining on the current one.

They told me they were not going to trade me just to make a trade, and I respected that. I thought it would be Calgary or Vancouver. I’d heard the Flames wanted me at the deadline, but it didn’t go through. Willie Desjardins, my junior coach who would get the Vancouver job, was on our guest list for the wedding.

On the day of my rehearsal dinner, we were cleaning up after spending the day shooting clay pigeons. I got a call from Sather, who said: “We appreciate what you’ve done for us, and, as an early wedding gift, we traded you to Vancouver.”

Ten minutes later, Trevor Linden called.

It was my childhood dream to play in a Canadian market. It had been an off-year for Vancouver the season before, and they were hungry. You could see it. The city wants you to win and I loved that pressure. It holds you accountable. I loved how passionate it was. Playing with Jannik Hansen and Bo Horvat, I had the best year points-wise of my career and I signed a new contract that set me up for a long time.

I wondered how it would be playing with Kevin Bieksa and Alex Burrows because they were two guys I hated playing against. Of course, they were great. Bieksa and I fought once during the pre-season when I was with the Rangers. The first time I saw him, we laughed about it.

When I was asked to participate in Daniel Sedin’s ceremony for his 1,000th point, it was a top-three moment in my career. It was a huge honour to give that special puck to a future Hockey Hall of Famer. I was a little bit emotional. It’s been hard for me to come to the rink. No one knew I was going to be there for the ceremony. Then watching my buddies go out to play when I couldn’t was very hard.

I was standing there under the bleachers, telling myself I’ve got to get it together, because I was about to present to a great friend. The messages I got from them that said great things about me made me emotional. Then I started thinking: “I can’t cry in front of everyone!”

Some fans saw me in the Zamboni area and started yelling some supportive things. That helped me focus. I thought I had it together, but when Daniel looked at me, I almost lost it. I’m surprised I didn’t break down.

The injury?

Well, there were times I’d feel a bit of a stinger, but it would immediately go away and everything was fine. On the hit in Los Angeles last season that started this process, it felt like something popped. I thought it was my other collarbone, because the pain and numbness felt the same as when I broke the first one. But the numbness stayed. It wasn’t right. With treatment and time off, everything resolved itself, but the symptoms returned after a few games. Against Arizona, my arms went numb after an innocent push. That’s when I knew something was really wrong.

The best option was the fusion surgery because it gave me a good chance to recover to normal. No one told me I’d never play again. The attitude I had was that I was coming back 100 per cent. I remember at the end of last season, the media asked if I could play the same way I always played. I made it clear that we were going to find out and that I was not going to change who I was.

I knew only one way to play and that was the only way I was going to play. It would have been easy for me to not finish checks or fight. But that is not who I am.

I worked my tail off and came back better this season. I was playing the best hockey of my career and that gives me peace of mind — makes it easier for me to accept the fact I will not play again.

Through training camp, you could see what kind of role Travis Green wanted for me. With Markus Granlund and Brandon Sutter, he wanted to create a line that could play against other top lines. Our opener against Edmonton? I was never told 100 per cent we were getting matched against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but we knew.

I watched McDavid get a hat trick opening night. I’m thinking I’ve got to stop this great player, and I’m getting a little nervous. But remember what I said earlier? Nerves help me.

You know what made me proudest about that 3–2 win over Edmonton? We played McDavid hard and were able to shut down his line.

I was excited to be back and to prove myself again. I don’t really follow the blogs, but I’m a fan of the game. I watch TV, I follow what is said. A lot of people thought I’d be bought out, sent to the minors or waived. That motivated me. I wanted to prove that I belonged in the NHL. Success built confidence and scoring came from being confident with the puck. I felt I had a long leash and a mistake didn’t mean I’d get sent to the press box.

Going into surgery, I was five games from 500 on my career. Getting to that number meant a lot to me. I never thought I’d play 500 games in the NHL.

Did I think there was a chance for soreness and tightness? Yes, but I thought I was managing it well. I hated people saying I shouldn’t be fighting. I was not coming back just to put my stick on the ice. I was doing proper maintenance every day and the treatment resolved any problems.

I want to be clear: There were no stingers until that moment I woke up in Philadelphia.

I was starting to get some of that weakness, which felt like something more than general soreness. I got out of bed, my arm locked, and something was not right. I tried to practice, but when I reached for the puck, there was a pinch. It was time to dial back and get things looked at.

Dr. Rick Celebrini went with me to Los Angeles to see my surgeon, Dr. Watkins. First we looked at where the fusion was, the C5-6 area of the spine. It was still solid, the plate and screws were good. That was important. The C4-5 above the fusion had a small bulge, so we went back to see how it looked before surgery. It was worse, not terribly worse, but it had progressed more than we thought. Below the fusion, the C6-7 had something bigger. That was the main issue.

Dr. Watkins told me I could not play anymore. Too risky.

That’s when it became a blur to me. I zoned out. I’m thankful Rick came with me because I would have had no clue how to relay the news Dr. Watkins gave me. I thanked him for his honest opinion, but I wasn’t prepared for the news he gave me, though I knew it was a possibility.

It was the worst answer I could have gotten, but in some ways the best, too. I was confident in him and what he said. If he would have told me rehab and time were all I needed to avoid further risk of damage, I would have worked my tail off to come back. I would not have quit. Dr. Watkins telling me it was over made it easier to take.

My wife said I’ve had a great career, I’ve done everything I could and she was proud of me. She told me the best is yet to come, and I will be successful at whatever I choose to do next. My parents said they were very proud of me and were happy I could live a normal life.

No one in my family would admit it, but I could pick up that they had been worried. It’s not the answer they wanted to hear, but I think there is relief.

We have two sons. Dylan turns three next Tuesday and Ethan will be two in April. Dylan saw the scar on my neck last summer and would say, “Daddy has a boo-boo.” I was not allowed to lift more than five or 10 pounds last summer, and he was about 20. I know the most important thing is living a healthy life with them.

The support from Jim Benning, Linden and the Aquilini family from the moment I was told the news about my playing future has been tremendous. I needed some time to come to grips with everything and they were incredible.

To all of the fans who reached out through social media, there was so much and I saw it all. Thank you.

You know what I learned? You are never alone.

Friends, former teammates, people I don’t know who got my number and reached out. I mentioned Phaneuf. Milan Lucic. I never played for Brad Treliving or Brian Burke or Mike Babcock, but got something from them. People telling me if I needed anything to let them know. Or “Let’s go for a beer or a coffee, we can chat anytime.” The support from current and former teammates. They said things that made me really proud.

Hockey players don’t open up like that too often, but I feel the same way about the guys who messaged me. I’ve learned that when I see someone I played against go through a tough time, maybe I should reach out to them, too.

I have other interests, including real estate and construction. I partner in a construction company with my dad and brothers, but I’m not going to rush into anything. I would like to stay in the game. Like my dad, I’m going to coach my sons.

Oh, the Grouse Grind? I haven’t done it yet. The twins do it all the time. But before I leave Vancouver, I’m going to do it (and beat the twins this time).

Thank you to the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks. This has been a dream come true. Don’t feel sorry for me. Hockey gave me everything I’ve ever wanted and more.

It led me to my wife and kids. I’m going to enjoy a long life with them.

[Jmac]

Pouuuuuuuuuuuuu!

[Jmac]

Vanek, so good

[Jmac]

Goldie!

[MG1]

Just tuned in.............


3-0?????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ


SHUTOUT!!!!!!

[sonick]

Oh my God oh my God oh my God

Edit: Shhhhhhhuuutttoutttt