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Canucks/Preds, Ryan Rumours, and Where will Randy Land? |
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Canucks/Pred's Preview
The Nashville Predators are in Vancouver tonight to play the red hot Vancouver Canucks. The Pred's are plugging along this year, and for the first time in many years look like they will not be making the Playoffs, but is still early, so that can change. The Pred's are 4-4-2 in their past 10 while the Canucks are one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now, going 8-2 in their past 10.
Canucks 14-9-1 29pts
Predators 11-9-4 26pts
Leaders
Canucks
Goals - H. Sedin, Burrows 8
Assists - D. Sedin 20
+/- - Burrows +10
Hits - Lapierre 62
Blocked Shots - Bieksa 38
Giveaways – Bieksa 16
Takeaways - Higgins 16
Face-off% - Malhotra 58.5%
Predators
Goals – Smith, Hornqvist 7
Assists – Weber 12
+/- - Weber +13
Hits – Smithson 59
Blocked Shots – Blum 56
Giveaways – Klein 19
Takeaways – Erat 20
Face-off% - Spaling 51.8%
While these two teams generally play tight, close checking, boring games, the last game was anything but. The Canucks jumped on the Pred's and ran out to 4-1 lead in the first, before coasting home to an easy 5-1 win. After that performance the Predators will be sure to bring their work boots tonight and make this game a tight checking affair.
I don't see the game as playing out the same way as the last game, but I still can't see the Predators beating Vancouver. The Canucks are just playing to good right now. Schneider is scheduled to get another start and the Pred's struggle to get more than 2 goals on average goalies, what are they going to do against a goalie that is playing better than anyone in hockey right now. I can see the game being close, but I can't see them getting more than two on Schneider. When you only get two, you're likely not beating the Canucks.
So if the Predators aren't going to score, they will have to keep the game close. In order to do that, they will need to stay out of the box, and play Weber and Suter for 30 minutes. They will also need to outwork the Canucks in the corners, and get an outstanding game from Rinne. All those things are possible, so we should see another very tight game from these two teams.
While I think the game will be another tight one, I don't see it being enough to beat the Canucks. As I said before, the Predators don't have the offence to score more than two on Schneider with the way he is playing right now. While I can see Weber and Suter stopping the Twins for the 20 minutes they play, they can't also play the 20 minutes Kesler's line will be on for as well.
The second line is playing great right now and is really clicking. Higgins, Kesler, and Booth are really working well together and are going to be hard for any of the Predators D not named Weber or Suter to stop. While Trotz will be able to send his two big D out against this line from time to time, he can't have them out there all the time against them. I think we will see another great game out of the American Express line with a couple of goals.
The Canucks are playing far too good right now and I don't see the Predators beating them with the way they are playing. I do think this will be a tough game and if The Canucks don't work for 60 minutes and play their system, they could lose this one. Three things are always consistent with the Predators each season. They always have good goaltending, they will always work hard, and while they don't have the star power, you have to work for 60 minutes to beat them.
In most games that are grinded out hockey it usually comes down to depth. While Nashville has the two best D-men in this game, after that, the depth is all Vancouver. All four of Vancouver lines are better. Their D may not have the same high end talent as the Predators, but as a whole, I think they are just as good, maybe a tad better. In Goal, it's close, but no one is playing as well as Schneider right now. This game should be a battle, but a battle Vancouver will win.
Prediction- 4-2 Vancouver
Bobby Ryan Rumours
According to almost every hockey source in the world Bobby Ryan is being shopped by the Ducks. Why it is Ryan they want to get rid of I'm not sure, but he would look great in a Canucks uniform. He is exactly what the Canucks need and would give them the type of player fans haven't been able to watch since the trading of Todd Bertuzzi. Ryan is one of the best power forwards in the NHL. While I would like to see him play a little nastier, he would certainly add some size and toughness to the Canucks line up and make the team better. Here is what I would offer up for Ryan.
To Vancouver
Ryan
Palmieri
To Anahiem
Ballard
Hodgson
McNally
1st round pick
If the Ducks aren't willing to part with Palmieri, I would take out the first round pick. For those of you not familiar with Palmieri, I see him as having a lot of the same game as Brad Marchand. A smaller player with speed and skill, who plays a lot bigger than he is and can drive players nuts. I think he is NHL ready and would look good on the third line in Vancouver. Why the Ducks aren't playing him I'm not sure, in my opinion he's a lot better than the guys they are playing. It could have something to do with all the troubles Palmieri has had off the ice in his career.
My Opinion on What the Ducks Should Do
As I said above, I have no idea why the Ducks want to move Ryan. In my opinion he is one of the few guys on the roster you want to keep. He's still fairly young, and is locked up long term at a very reasonable cap hit of 5.1 million. In my opinion that is a good number for one of the best power forwards in the game. Because of that number, I think he is one player the Ducks should keep and build around, not sell off.
If the Ducks want to save money I think they should be looking at moving Ryan Getzlaf. Getzlaf is a UFA after next season (12/13) and will likely want 8mil+ a year. They also have Perry coming up that same year and if given the choice between the two I would take Perry. Perry showed last season he can lead the Ducks when Getzlaf was out. I also think Getzlaf would bring you just as much as Ryan in return, and probably more. Getzlaf's contract is also back end loaded and he is scheduled to make 6.125 million next year and be the highest paid Duck. Moving him just makes the most sense if you're making a move to save money. I think moving Ryan would be huge mistake and would set the Ducks back big time. I'd move Getzlaf instead if you have to dump money.
Where will Randy Carlyle Land?
I'm a huge fan of both Bruce Boudreau and Randy Carlyle. I think they are two of the best coaches in the NHL so to see the Ducks jump on Boudreau while he on the Market I think is a smart move. The Ducks need a different voice in that room to shake it up and I think the Ducks will respond to Boudreau. The biggest beneficiary of this move will be Cam Fowler. Wes saw what Boudreau did with Green and I consider Fowler to be more talented than Green. I think we may see Fowler reach 100 points under Bruce Boudreau.
Now where will Randy land? I will go on record with now as predicting Randy Carlyle will be the next head coach of the Winnipeg Jets. He has a strong connection to the franchise and city already and I think having him back in the "Peg" would re-energize that team and it's fan base. I think Noel days are numbered now that Carlyle is on the market. I predict we see this as the Jets Coaching staff for the 12/13 season
Randy Carlyle- Head Coach (hired)
Dale Hawerchuk Assistant Coach- Forwards (hired after guiding Barrie to a good year)
Keith McCambridge Assistant Coach- Defence (hired after guiding the Ice Caps to a good year)
All three have a strong connection to the city and would be loved by the fans. With this staff in place, the Winnipeg Jets will be in the playoffs next year, in my opinion.
Question of the Day
When does Luongo start again?
Thanks for reading.
Enjoy your day.
Ian
Follow me on Tweeter @IanEsplen
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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