Vancouver Canucks: Matt O'Connor, Comets on Radio, Management Speaks Today

I'm going to keep this quick today, so I can get it posted before Trevor Linden, Jim Benning and Willie Desjardins hit the podium for their season-ending media availability at 11 a.m.

Same drill as Monday. Here's the link:

Willie Desjardins, Jim Benning & Trevor Linden will speak at approx. 11AM today. Livestream → https://t.co/Tz8gznEapI pic.twitter.com/UFZunlThLg

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) April 29, 2015

My guess is that we're going to hear quite a lot about how far the team has come since this time last year and how they're headed in the right direction.

I'm curious to see how hard the assembled media grills Willie on being slow to adjust in the playoffs and what they ask Benning about no-trade clauses, getting younger, and how he plans to make up for the lack of picks in this year's draft.

I haven't been paying much attention to the courtship of free agent Boston University goaltender Matt O'Connor, who apparently has narrowed his options down to four teams, including the Canucks. He's in New York with the Rangers today.

Here's the scoop if you'd like to get caught up on the O'Connor story:

Person of Interest: The 411 on Matt O'Connor http://t.co/zDbrvCJQoZ pic.twitter.com/UkYkJOrIo0

— Daren Millard (@darenmillard) April 29, 2015

I'm presuming that Jim Benning's Boston connections are part of the reason why Vancouver remains in the mix for O'Connor. Edmonton now boasts the same thing with new boss Peter Chiarelli. O'Connor's two years younger than Jacob Markstrom but four years older than Boston College prospect Thatcher Demko, who was drafted by Vancouver last year.

Speaking of prospects, here's a quick word on prospects Dane Fox and Curtis Valk, who spent the season with the Kalamazoo Wings of the East Coast Hockey League:

Wings coach Nick Bootland tells me, Fox and Curtis Valk should move up to the AHL next year. #Canucks

— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) April 29, 2015

Dane Fox finished the regular season tied for third in team scoring with 30 goals and 45 points, while Curtis Valk managed 30 points in 31 games before being injured.

Valk missed the 2nd half of the season after ACL surgery - Bootland is a big fan of Valk's, loves his game. #Canucks

— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) April 29, 2015

Over in the WHL, the Calgary Hitmen posted a 3-2 overtime win last night win the first game their playoff series against the Brandon Wheat Kings—without Jake Virtanen.

The WHL has suspended CGY F Jake Virtanen for three games for a headshot on BDN F Tanner Kaspick in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.

— Dickson Liong (@DLLiong) April 28, 2015

The Wheat Kings now lead the series 2-1. Virtanen will sit out one more game before rejoining his team for Game 5.

Over in Ontario, Jared McCann had a goal and two assists but his Soo Greyhounds are up against the unstoppable force of Connor McDavid. He had four assists as his Erie Otters pulled out a 7-5 win to go up 3-1 in their series against the Greyhounds. Sault Ste. Marie will fight for its playoff life at home in Game 5 on Thursday.

And finally, if you're jonesing for more Sven Baertschi and Bobby Sanguinetti in your life, you can follow tonight's Utica Comets-Chicago Wolves game on TSN1410:

Heads up: You can catch @UticaComets playoff hockey on #TSN1410. Game three is tmrw (4:00), game four on Friday. Comets and Chicago tied 1-1

— TSN Radio Vancouver (@TSN1040) April 28, 2015

This tweet's from Tuesday. Game 3 is tonight, Wednesday, at 4 p.m. Pacific time.