Yep and if you suggest we need a heavyweight ,be ready to get flamed.
- VANTEL

I'm not saying a heavy weight. I'm suggesting more of a third line. Kyle Clifford, David Clarkson, Steve Ott, Colin Greening. We could use someone in the top 6 like Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Ryan Clowe. I know these players are hard to come by but drafting players from the QMJHL we aren't going to find one.

A good read:

LOS ANGELES – With shaggy hair and a gap-toothed grin, Zack Kassian may look old school but that's not where he went for classes last summer.

Like a lot of university age kids, Kassian figured he would squeeze in a few extra credits because you can never go wrong with an education. So he spent a couple of weeks at the University of the Sedins, then took some grad classes at the Nike U. He was conditioned by his own personal trainer, tutored by skills coach Glenn Carnegie and mentored by Stan Smyl.

It seems it takes an entire National Hockey League organization to raise a prospect. The 22-year-old Kassian is emerging from classes a quicker, leaner, more confident and mature Vancouver Canuck this season.

“We asked him to do a lot of things and he didn't complain,” Canuck general manager Mike Gillis explained Monday before his team faced the Los Angeles Kings. “He looked forward to the opportunity. It shows a sense of maturity and a determination to get himself ready for the next level. We thought it would be an opportunity for him to grow.”

Like Jack's beanstalk.

Kassian was arguably the Canucks' best forward through five games. Not only is he asserting himself physically, finishing checks and fighting twice on behalf of his team against the opposition's toughest player, but he is demonstrating poise and vision with the puck that did not seem to exist in his NHL game only last season.

He has done so well that Cody Hodgson's West Coast fan club has stopped bleating, however briefly, about the trade 11 months ago that brought Kassian from the Buffalo Sabres.

Even if Hodgson had loved the Canucks, the team wouldn't swap Kassian back for him now despite the key absence of injured second-line centre Ryan Kesler.

Hodgson didn't want to play behind Kesler and Henrik Sedin. Ironically, it's playing – and training – with Henrik and brother Daniel that has most helped Kassian's growth.

The Sedins asked him to train with them in June, and Kassian travelled back to Vancouver from his off-season home in Windsor, Ont., to see how two of the best players in the world do it.

“That came out of our wrap-up dinner last year,” Gillis explained. “I was talking to Henrik and he was telling me about what he thought of Zack's potential. Then Danny joined us. . . and they asked if it would be OK for them to invite Zack to train with them. It was better than OK; it was great. They both see tremendous potential in Zack and they want to do everything they can to help him. It's true leadership, unselfish and generous.”

“Both me and Danny just had a good feeling about him,” Henrik said. “He's been through some tough things in the past. But meeting him last year and seeing him and being around him, we started to like him as a guy and a player. I've never been traded, but talking to a lot of players who have been traded, it's tough. And in Zack's situation, where he gets traded for Cody, there's so much expectations and that's tough for him, too.”

The Sedins' commitment to their craft is famous. Even after their rise to world-class status several years ago, the Swedes still push one another each summer to get even better.

“I know in Sweden there are a lot of young players who work hard to get in the Elite League when they're 18 or 19, then they stop trying to get better and are happy where they are,” Henrik said. “I think that's a problem for a lot of young guys. The thing I'm most impressed with Zack is the way he wants to learn, wants to get better. He asks a lot of questions.”

“You hear things – how hard they work and what not and how dedicated they are away from the ice,” Kassian said. “To witness it first-hand, it was an eye-opener. You realize how hard they work to get that good on the ice. It's great for a young person like me to realize that early in my career.

“I changed my perspective about training. I got a new personal trainer back in my hometown of Windsor. I went to the Nike facility (near Portland) with a bunch of guys and I worked with Glen Carnegie. And when you put all those trainers together, their different strengths, it definitely helps.”

Nike runs a high-performance centre for its elite athletes.

Gillis said the Canucks have a sports science “relationship” with Nike, and were able to send five of their top prospects to Oregon for a summer camp. Kassian said there were NFL players there, as well as soccer players from Manchester United.

Canuck assistant coach Newell Brown, assistant general manager Lorne Henning, conditioning coach Roger Takahashi, Carnegie and Smyl, a senior adviser to Gillis, also visited Nike's campus. The Canuck prospects – Kassian, Chris Tanev, Jordan Schroeder, Kevin Connauton and Darren Archibald – were in Oregon for a week.

“It was an opportunity to look at how philosophies are changing with respect to training techniques and working with high-performance athletes,” Gillis said..

Kassian made a second summer trip to Vancouver to work one-on-one with Carnegie, and has been mentored extensively by Smyl.

Kassian had no idea what he didn't know.

“I did a lot of learning,” he said. “I definitely feel better on the ice but, saying that, we're only a few games into the season and there's still a lot of work to be done. It's a matter of getting better. Sometimes, you get used to something for so long. But change is good, and this was good for me.”

I said weeks ago and got roasted

LA
St.L
EDM
CHI
MINN
ANA
VAN
PHX

I was very wrong so far about SJ but the rest is shaping up that way. We have the same declining team yet we expect better results. Even last night it was suggested Raymond on the second line.We also have a 5 million dollar backup .

Last year AV had a 4.2 mil player riding the pressbox and this year a 5.3 riding the bench. Maybe next year we can have a 12.2 Mil set of twins riding the pine also. Gillis have made some fukken dumb decisions and the coaching staff should have been gone this year. Gillis dedication to players and staff is STUPID

I don't honestly see Kesler picking this team up on his rehabbed back and carrying it for 60 games, sorry.

I hope Gillis starts to look at this team for another two weeks and makes some serious moves. If not we will be a bubble team drafting 20 th and exited after one round of playoffs.

I said weeks ago and got roasted

LA
St.L
EDM
CHI
MINN
ANA
VAN
PHX

I was very wrong so far about SJ but the rest is shaping up that way. We have the same declining team yet we expect better results. Even last night it was suggested Raymond on the second line.We also have a 5 million dollar backup .

Last year AV had a 4.2 mil player riding the pressbox and this year a 5.3 riding the bench. Maybe next year we can have a 12.2 Mil set of twins riding the pine also. Gillis have made some fukken dumb decisions and the coaching staff should have been gone this year. Gillis dedication to players and staff is STUPID

I don't honestly see Kesler picking this team up on his rehabbed back and carrying it for 60 games, sorry.

I hope Gillis starts to look at this team for another two weeks and makes some serious moves. If not we will be a bubble team drafting 20 th and exited after one round of playoffs.
- VANTEL

I've said this before, it's time to take a hard look at ourselves, if we aren't going to have enough depth to win it all this year, then it's time to completely dismantle this team and trade the Sedins, Kesler, Burrows, Booth, et. al and get as many high draft picks and blue-chip prospects you can get and start retooling for another window 5 years from now.

I believe the Canucks were around .500 after the first twelve games last year and they two previous years as well, we start slow. This is an example, as I stated on the main blog, of the great goaltending we have stealing us points.

I have heard 1-2 weeks
- IanEsplen

Where did you hear that?

I love how everyone is hitting the panic button. I am waiting for Garrison and Edler to start feeling more comfortable playing with each other (make your puns) and I think that will go a long way to settling down the back end. If Garrison could buy a goal, I think that would help out his confidence as well. People need to remember that at this point we would be finishing training camp, and guys are still getting their legs under them. If one month into the season we are still having issues, then I would look at hitting the panic button. They have shown glimpses, just need to put together a full game. I also think SJ is doing so well because more of their players were playing during the lockout. I also agree with Ek that getting rid of Luo will help get rid of some distractions as well.

I believe the Canucks were around .500 after the first twelve games last year and they two previous years as well, we start slow. This is an example, as I stated on the main blog, of the great goaltending we have stealing us points.
- LeftCoaster

9-9-1 I believe we started last year before we got over .500 . We are slow starters. We have been close to winning the cup and simply haven't gotten it done. Same as Philly. They have had good teams but haven't got it done. There comes a point where some majors changes need to be made if we are going to get another shot at lord stanley. The book is out on Vancouver in a 7 game playoff series, you hit them and they will break.

Where did you hear that?
- Marwood

When he was picking up his double double? Maybe Kes won't want to come back, he might open a Timmy's/Safeway where he can get you a coffee and bag your groceries.

I do admire how he is getting out into the community.

9-9-1 I believe we started last year before we got over .500 . We are slow starters. We have been close to winning the cup and simply haven't gotten it done. Same as Philly. They have had good teams but haven't got it done. There comes a point where some majors changes need to be made if we are going to get another shot at lord stanley. The book is out on Vancouver in a 7 game playoff series, you hit them and they will break.
- manvanfan

If you don't fire the coach or the GM then the place you make changes is with the players. I believe this is the last season before MG looks at overhaul/major changes, just sucks that we don't have too many prospects in the system.

Would you guys relax....We're missing our entire second line. When Kes and Booth are back we'll be deep.

It's only been four games in Jordan NHL career and he seems like he's been there for 40. He's only going to get better as he's really focusing on his play without the puck and the defensive zone. There's a lot more there offensively. He's not shying away from the physicality either. He has a strong core and is shifty. Rarely puts himself in a position to get man handled. He's winning puck battles along the boards as well. Very encouraging.

Good read al3535 thanks. He has a chance to be a force. No way would I be down for a re-trade. Cody can stay in Buffalo.

If you don't fire the coach or the GM then the place you make changes is with the players. I believe this is the last season before MG looks at overhaul/major changes, just sucks that we don't have too many prospects in the system.
- immature_male

We may have some good prospects. Probably won't ever find out though. It sure doesn't help that the chicago wolves our farm team has maybe 10 of our draft picks playing there.

It's only been four games in Jordan NHL career and he seems like he's been there for 40. He's only going to get better as he's really focusing on his play without the puck and the defensive zone. There's a lot more there offensively. He's not shying away from the physicality either. He has a strong core and is shifty. Rarely puts himself in a position to get man handled. He's winning puck battles along the boards as well. Very encouraging.
- Boinker

What happens to him when Kes comes back? Third line center with Lappy going to center the 4th line?

What happens to him when Kes comes back? Third line center with Lappy going to center the 4th line?
- LeftCoaster

I hope so. Lapierre isn't good enough to play third line and Malhotra isn't good enough to play fourth. Lappy is perfect for a fourth line center spot. We need a player who can create a bit offensively on the third line. It'd be nice to find a player that would gel well with Raymond and Schroeder. One of Higgins or Hansen.

Raymond Schroeder Higgins
Volpatti/Weise Lapierre Hansen

What happens to him when Kes comes back? Third line center with Lappy going to center the 4th line?
- LeftCoaster

Sedin Sedin Kassian
Raymond KEsler Burrows
Booth Schroeder Hansen
Volpatti malholtra Lappy/wiese

Higgins gets traded

Sedin Sedin Kassian
Raymond KEsler Burrows
Booth Schroeder Hansen
Volpatti malholtra Lappy/wiese

Higgins gets traded
- manvanfan

A good read:
- al3535

Dude, no one wants to read an article posted into the comments section, just post a link if you feel like sharing.

Dude, no one wants to read an article posted into the comments section, just post a link if you feel like sharing.
- 1970vintage

http://www.thestar.com/sp...sharks-opportunities-lost

Do you mean like this?

- jbold

I've said this before, it's time to take a hard look at ourselves, if we aren't going to have enough depth to win it all this year, then it's time to completely dismantle this team and trade the Sedins, Kesler, Burrows, Booth, et. al and get as many high draft picks and blue-chip prospects you can get and start retooling for another window 5 years from now.
- DariusKnight

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/article/1321164--maple-leafs-trades-with-bruins-sharks-opportunities-lost

Do you mean like this?
- Marwood

Zactly!

Thank you doctor Ian
- VANTEL

I called Recchi to confirm.

He said he would have been back 3 months ago and he wasn't sure what the hold up was.