On Tuesday night in Philly, Tortarella saw an opportunity to separate Daniel and Henrik Sedin, He moved Henrik Sedin to a line with Ryan Kesler and Chris Higgins. Trailing 2-1 on the road in the third period in Philly, Henrik found Chris Higgins for the game tying goal, and speaked the Canucks comeback. They would go on win the game 3-2.
Henrik didn’t seem to mind the departure from his brother’s line for the opportunity to play with Kesler and Higgins.
Tortarella told Canucks.com that he
“I think they (Sedins) want it,” said Tortorella. “They’re smart enough to know they were being checked pretty closely, and I wasn’t going to take them off because the opposing team was putting its checking line out there. They got to find a way to get through it.”
At Wednesday’s practice, Torts refused to say what his lines will be when the Canucks play the Sabres tonight.
“I’m not sure what the lines are going to be (in Buffalo)”.
Daniel Sedin- Jordan Schroeder-Zack Kassian was a line at practice Wednesday, as was between Tom Sestito- Brad Richardson-Dale Weise.
Daniel doesn’t seem to mind the movement away from Henrik either.
“We’re excited about this, and it’s a good thing as a team and for us personally,” said Daniel of being split apart from Henrik.“
It’s been like that for a lot of years and now we can spread things out. It gives us a spark that we need and it’s going to happen more.”
John Tortarella demands that his players block shots. Recently, Torts admitted that he doesn’t have a method to teaching his players how to throw their bodies into harm’s way to take on for the team.
“People asked me about blocking shots and it’s taken on a life of its own. We don’t teach them how to do it, we just want them to do it. To me, the willingness is the most important thing.”
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Photo credit: Dan Hickling
February 27, 2012 seems like a millions years ago to me.
That was the day that the Buffalo Sabres decided that they had seen enough of Zack Kassian and his high ceiling. Darcy Regier traded Kassian to the Vancouver Canucks for Cody Hodgson. The Sabres were loaded with organizational prospects on the wings. They were thin down the middle of their lineup. Regier rolled the bones, dealt his 13th overall pick and he won the deal. At least it looks to me like he won the Kassian-Hodgson trade.
Kassian has contributed only 8 goals and 6 assists to the Canucks offense in 58 games with Canucks since the trade.
Hodgson, the former 10th overall pick, was an afterthought in Vancouver, however, he has blossomed into a reliable top line centerman in Buffalo scoring 19 goals and adding 29 assists in the 76 games since he pulled the Sabres sweater over his head. No longer does Hodgson have to sit and wait in line behind centers Sedin and Kelser. CoHo has added immediate value to the Buffalo top six group. He's been impressive in his time spent in Buffalo and Rochester. He's cleaning up some D-zone issues right now, but thats to be expected from a 23 year old offensive-minded middle man. Rather than bridge contract the former RFA, the Sabres saw fit to lock up Hodgson to a 6 year, $25.5 million contract extension last month.
Hodgson is a key contributor to the revitalization project that is being manufactured in Buffalo right now. In Hodgson, the Sabres have a two-way center who plays PP, PK, and on the top line. Its not outlandish to predict that Hodgson will score 25-30 goals in the NHL.
The Canucks aren't as sure about what type of player that they have in Zack Kassian. He still hasn't reached his full potential. He's shown glimpses of greatness. He scored five goals in seven games at the beginning of the lockout shortened season while skating with Henrik and Daniel Sedin. After that, it was slim pickins for Kassian. He bounced from one line to another. he was even a healthy scratch. On September 21, Kassian's 2013-14 season began with disciplinary after he was suspended for 8 games for his careless high stick that broke the jaw of Edmonton Oilers pivot Sam Gagner.
Today, the Canucks practiced in Philly before they flew to Buffalo (they defeated the Flyers on Tuesday night). Canucks head coach John Tortarella admitted that he was "aggravated" with Kassian's suspension because the kid had such a strong training camp.
Thanks, Canucks.com
Torts sounds a lot like Lindy Ruff in that he praises Kassian's skill, toughness and physicality. The kid is only 22 and has been branded as "the next Milan Lucic" since he was was dominating opponents while winning Memorial Cups with the Windsor Spitfires. Lucic's skates are pretty big ones to fill. Sabres fans fell on love with Kassian during the 2011 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships that were played in Buffalo. Kassian rode shotgun for fellow Sabres power forward Marcus Foligno and Ryan Johansen. The power trio played extremely well together and they dominated their international opponents with their size, speed and scoring abilities. Kassian was having a whale of a tourney for Team Canada until he was suspended for crushing Czech forward Peter Senkerik with a thundering body check.
The Legend Of Zack Kassian grew to epic levels.
He's yet to live up to all of the hype. His his defense, he's only 23 years of age. Time is on his side.
Kassian now finds himself on the third line in Vancouver with Jordan Schroeder and David Booth .
Kassian is an above average skater for a big man and he has soft hands. Torts wants to see him hit, skate, score and fight on a more consistent, nightly basis.
When will Kassian catch up to Hodgson in terms of production and all around play?
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