Though the forecasters insisted we'd get our usual dose of rain this holiday weekend, it's been pretty nice so far! Hope you've had a chance to get out and enjoy the fresh air.
We're at the point in the playoffs now where we're down to just one game a day, which is starting to create a bit of —free time?—in my world.
I liveblogged the Rangers/Habs game on Saturday. Was amused to listen to Glenn Healy raving about how well AV is rolling the Rangers' four lines and three defensive pairings, and how Torts always had the team worn out by this point in the playoffs because he'd play his top guys to death.
Iain MacIntyre of the
Vancouver Sun quietly confirmed Gary Mason's reporting about Torts' work habits while he was here:
Tortorella did have very little communication with Green and his request to buy out Burrows went over like an armpit fart at a royal dinner.
He also told a long story about John Shorthouse popping a hole-in-one on the golf course recently—which gives us some idea of how little real news is swirling around these days.
More concerning, both he and Jason Botchford are suggesting that, if asked, Jim Benning might be a lot more interested in the general manager's job in Pittsburgh than the one here in Vancouver.
Also, there's this:
The Canucks’ interim management team is working under the assumption a new man may not be in charge until after the entry draft in Philadelphia, June 27-28. Vancouver has the sixth pick.
MacIntyre reminds us that when Boston hired Peter Chiarelli away from Ottawa in 2006, the deal was done on May 26 but he was not allowed to join the team until July 10, as the Senators didn't want Chiarelli taking their draft secrets and strategies over to the enemy.
So—even if we do get our man, it might not be soon enough to impact this year's draft and free agency season. And while Pittsburgh and Anaheim should be back in on the Ryan Kesler sweepstakes, I can't imagine that the interim team would make such an important move before the new GM is installed.
This video's about a week old, but Laurence Gilman talks here with Joey Kenward about the Under-18 Championships and a bit about the draft, including some analysis on Sam Reinhart and Jake Virtanen.
Speaking of international tournaments, it was another good day for Team Canada at the World Championships on Sunday, after a 3-2 win over Sweden. The win moves Canada to the top of Group A with one game remaining in the round robin: Tuesday against Norway.
Alex Burrows did miss Sunday's game, but his injury is believed to be just a bad charley horse, so it shouldn't impact him too severely.
Seattle Chatter Resumes
Click here for a story from the Seattle Times from earlier in the week, talking once again about the possibility of NHL expansion into the market.
The investment group is headed up by Vancouver native Victor Coleman, who's now a real estate mogul in Los Angeles, and a few other businessmen. The group met with Seattle city executives and Gary Bettman and Bill Daly, but it seems like there are still a few significant hurdles to overcome.
Firstly, the city's new arena plan is contingent on the acquisition of an NBA franchise that will play in the arena—and that's not imminent at this time. An NHL team won't get the deal done. Meanwhile, the league won't support a short-term solution like revamping the existing Key Arena for hockey. So, it sounds like we're still a ways away from bringing this plan to fruition.
I love the idea, though. Watching the freeway series between the Ducks and Kings really drives home the types of rivalries that can build between teams that are geographically close. I hope the parties involved can find a way to make this happen.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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