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Vancouver Canucks: Travis Green Watch; 2015-16 Outlook for Utica Comets

August 12, 2016, 3:12 PM ET [390 Comments]
Carol Schram
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Thursday's surprise announcement that Patrick Roy is stepping down as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche will create a domino effect. The Avs are under the gun to act quickly to find a replacement before the beginning of September's training camp.




Utica Comets head coach Greeen was in the mix for the Anaheim Ducks job that eventually went to Randy Carlyle and continues to draw a good deal of attention as one of the best young candidates for an NHL job.




I wonder, though—after taking a chance on Roy, who had never coached at the NHL level, will the Avalanche be more tempted to go with a bench boss like, say, Paul MacLean, who has big-league experience?

If the Avs choose to mirror the Ducks, they could go back to the coach who brought them a Stanley Cup—in their case, in 2001....




I can't get over the fact that now, the Jack Adams winners from 2015 (Hartley), 2014 (Roy) and 2013 (MacLean) are all out of their jobs. The most recent incumbent who's still in place is 2012 winner Ken Hitchcock, who has already announced that the 2016-17 season in St. Louis will be his last.

I wonder what this means for 2016 winner Barry Trotz in Washington?

Also from Utica this week, the organization has lost one member of its team to an NHL call-up:




After the Young Stars tournament in Penticton, all prospects will begin with the Canucks training camp at Whistler, which starts September 22, before reporting to Utica.

Another new face at the Canucks camp will be Erik Gudbranson. Here's some video of him ramping up his offseason training, still working out in South Florida for the time being:



And finally, as of the noon hour, Sven Baertschi and his girlfriend have a ways to go before they'll be unlocked from their cage:




They're just over the $2,500 mark for their fundraising, and will need to hit $4,000 before they're released.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy the Olympics! By Monday, we should start getting some clarity on the Jimmy Vesey situation, which should start a chain reaction for the other wingers that are still out in the marketplace.
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