Mike Zalewski re-signed to a 2 year contract and called up from Utica
- Codes1087

I was stoked to see him get a contract, has been one of the best and most consistent players in Utica this year.

I expect that Cracknell and Prust will be the players going somewhere once Sutter and Henrik return so it will be nice to have another C available.

Makes you wonder why the immediate call up... Trade incoming?
- Codes1087

Or benching

I'd like to see everyone go at the TDL except for players on ELCs or under 25 yrs of age. Trade for as many picks in this coming draft as possible and see if we can package those picks together for as many 1st rounders and then take our chances in the lottery this summer and see who we can draft.

Sign a bunch of guys in the off season to fill out the roster all to 1 year deals, rinse and repeat until the whole team is under 27 yrs old.

Then finally, all the idiots crying about how old the team is will shut their yaps...
- kaptaan

How's Weise doing?

How's Weise doing?
- LordHumungous

How's Weise doing?
- LordHumungous

He was injured , he is a UFA this year but don't tell the Kaptaan

Or benching
- VANTEL

Cracknell and Prust and Weber getting press box time??

Can't see that happening.

He was injured , he is a UFA this year but don't tell the Kaptaan
- VANTEL

lol...mums the word dude..

Speaking about the Sedins and respect. What ever happened to Neil MacRae?

Totally ironic that after all his disrespect for the Sedins, they appear to have lasted far longer than he did.

I suspect that the disrespectful attitude and behaviours towards the Sedins all started with him.
- Lostinarink

Laying in a pool of his own sick in a ditch on Bowen Island.

What happens if you convince us all that Sbisa is the worse defensemen to ever play the game? He will still be a Canuck, because none of us have the pull to make a change. I'll save my hacking on him until he's traded or released.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I kinda figured that the experience would help me with creating cold fusion or perhaps turning hair into gold.

Here is an interesting article talking about Sbisa and his defensive ability. I'm confident that most of you will dismiss this as fancy stat garbage but I think it is difficult to ignore how some of these stats show Sbisa on a completely different level as the rest of the team and the league.

I also want to point out this isn't coming from a Canuck's perspective but from a Senator blogger.

http://hockey-graphs.com/...following-a-shot-attempt/

Enjoy.
- belcherbd

I just skimmed the article as there is enough negative literature on Sbisa out there already. It's funny, for every negative fancy stat there is a positive one out there as well. For eg. He is top 10 in he NHL in defensive zone pass completion and hits that seperate skaters from the puck. My point being I don't rely on the overly negative stats or positive ones.

I find that fancy stats are more useful for forwards than D. For D man, nothing beats the good old fashioned eye test. Sbisa is a strong skater and a punishing D man. He is prone to plenty of mistakes but given our extremely soft D he deserves a spot in the top 6.

Cracknell and Prust and Weber getting press box time??

Can't see that happening.
- Codes1087

Yeah, they need to move players. The surprising thing to is Zalewski passing Gaunce on the depth chart.

I just skimmed the article as there is enough negative literature on Sbisa out there already. It's funny, for every negative fancy stat there is a positive one out there as well. For eg. He is top 10 in he NHL in defensive zone pass completion and hits that seperate skaters from the puck. My point being I don't rely on the overly negative stats or positive ones.

I find that fancy stats are more useful for forwards than D. For D man, nothing beats the good old fashioned eye test. Sbisa is a strong skater and a punishing D man. He is prone to plenty of mistakes but given our extremely soft D he deserves a spot in the top 6.
- CanuckDon

He does complete a lot of defensive zone passes to the other team, which leads to hits separating them from the puck.

Yeah, they need to move players. The surprising thing to is Zalewski passing Gaunce on the depth chart.
- VANTEL

Is Gaunce still playing on the Left or does Green have him at Center?

I just skimmed the article as there is enough negative literature on Sbisa out there already. It's funny, for every negative fancy stat there is a positive one out there as well. For eg. He is top 10 in he NHL in defensive zone pass completion and hits that seperate skaters from the puck. My point being I don't rely on the overly negative stats or positive ones.

I find that fancy stats are more useful for forwards than D. For D man, nothing beats the good old fashioned eye test. Sbisa is a strong skater and a punishing D man. He is prone to plenty of mistakes but given our extremely soft D he deserves a spot in the top 6.
- CanuckDon

My eyes are all the fancy stats I need. He is no where near as bad as some make him out to be.

What happens if you convince us all that Sbisa is the worse defensemen to ever play the game? He will still be a Canuck, because none of us have the pull to make a change. I'll save my hacking on him until he's traded or released.
- A_SteamingLombardi

He is what he is, but can we stop pretending he's good or part of the future?

Is Gaunce still playing on the Left or does Green have him at Center?
- Codes1087

He plays both . I think he is playing wing with Freisen?

Is Gaunce still playing on the Left or does Green have him at Center?
- Codes1087

He had two games at center and Green moved him back as he said he likes him better on the wing. Mike Z passed Gaunce on the depth chart because he consistently works hard while reports out of Utica indicate that Gaunce takes the odd game off.

He plays both . I think he is playing wing with Freisen?
- VANTEL

I have to think Benning has a trade lined up to ship out a vet/useless player. A sign + recall like this does not happen often.

I just skimmed the article as there is enough negative literature on Sbisa out there already. It's funny, for every negative fancy stat there is a positive one out there as well. For eg. He is top 10 in he NHL in defensive zone pass completion and hits that seperate skaters from the puck. My point being I don't rely on the overly negative stats or positive ones.

I find that fancy stats are more useful for forwards than D. For D man, nothing beats the good old fashioned eye test. Sbisa is a strong skater and a punishing D man. He is prone to plenty of mistakes but given our extremely soft D he deserves a spot in the top 6.
- CanuckDon

At least you are honest about it, kinda hard to have a conversation about something you didn't read.

I agree that Sbisa hits people though and I appreciate his ability to do that.

He had two games at center and Green moved him back as he said he likes him better on the wing. Mike Z passed Gaunce on the depth chart because he consistently works hard while reports out of Utica indicate that Gaunce takes the odd game off.
- CanuckDon

Jones Hamilton Freisen Zalewski are listed as the centres

I have to think Benning has a trade lined up to ship out a vet/useless player. A sign + recall like this does not happen often.
- Codes1087

I look at Twitter every game they play . I see his name on the score sheet more and more.

I think your right . The events leading up lead us to believe Prust or Cracknell will be moved shortly.

I think Trevor giving the heads up on Prust yesterday would leave me to believe it's him

He is what he is, but can we stop pretending he's good or part of the future?
- golfingsince

I'm exhausted pretending about Prust, Higgins, Burrows, and Vrbata, I have no time to be pretending about the defense.

I'm exhausted pretending about Prust, Higgins, Burrows, and Vrbata, I have no time to be pretending about the defense.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I was stoked to see him get a contract, has been one of the best and most consistent players in Utica this year.

I expect that Cracknell and Prust will be the players going somewhere once Sutter and Henrik return so it will be nice to have another C available.
- belcherbd

I don't think Cracknel is going any where. I think he seems like a better locker room guy than Prust and has quietly had a decent season considering he was not slated to even be in the NHL this year. I think for me Prust saying he was the babysitter in his travel show didn't sit well with me. He has a sense of humour but I have a feeling it wears thin on people.

He had two games at center and Green moved him back as he said he likes him better on the wing. Mike Z passed Gaunce on the depth chart because he consistently works hard while reports out of Utica indicate that Gaunce takes the odd game off.
- CanuckDon

I'm pretty sure he played a couple weeks as the top line C with Grenier and Shink. The most recent games have had Zalewski up there though.

http://canucksarmy.com/20...k-in-review-december-22nd
http://canucksarmy.com/20...k-in-review-december-29th
http://canucksarmy.com/20...eek-in-review-january-5th
http://canucksarmy.com/20...ek-in-review-january-13th