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Vancouver Canucks: Jensen Sent to Utica, Bieksa Possible for Season Opener

October 7, 2014, 2:49 PM ET [419 Comments]
Carol Schram
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Let's start with some good news today:




I'd like to see Bieksa on the ice for Wednesday's season-opener and hope that he'll be ready to get into the lineup.

Jon Abbott is reporting that Frank Corrado is also back on the ice for practise on Tuesday, so that's progress for him as well.

When he gets healthy, Corrado will likely follow Nicklas Jensen down to Utica. The 21-year-old Dane got a long look in preseason action—I'd say he was fine but not great, and managed to keep the bad penalties to a minimum as the games moved along.

I assume this move is as much about asset management as anything else. If Jensen gets off to a good start in the AHL, he'll likely be the first call-up when injuries strike.

Speaking of the Comets, they wrapped up their preseason with a 2-1 record after a 4-1 win over the Adirondack Flames last Sunday. Someone named Wacey Hamilton was the star of the show with a goal and two assists, but this line from the game recap pleased me most:

Hunter Shinkaruk, in his first preseason game as a Comet, started the scoring play by absorbing a body check along the sideboards in order to feed the puck to Brandon DeFazio behind the net. DeFazio spun and passed to Jeffrey in the slot, who tapped it in for the game’s first goal.


I think the Comets will be a much better team this year. Hopefully, the Canucks finally have an organization in place that can properly develop the young talent that's in the system.

Utica's first regular-season game is Saturday at noon PT in Toronto, against the Marlies.

As far as the Canucks' season opener, Ben Kuzma reports that the Flames could be looking to ice a tough lineup for their statement-making opening game of the season.

Brandon Bollig, Lance Bouma and Brian McGrattan skated together as a fourth line on Monday, but combinations changed at Tuesday's practise, with Bouma moved up to the third line.




For the moment, Willie Desjardins' fourth line is made up of Jannik Hansen, Shawn Matthias and Derek Dorsett. The question is whether or not Tom Sestito will end up drawing in.

"That remains to be seen," cautioned Canucks coach Willie Desjardins. "We’ll see how practice goes and what happens. We have to be aware of what they (Flames) may do and you have to plan and we’re going to focus on playing hard."

Isn't that how all the trouble started on tunnel night? With he-who-must-not-be-named reacting to the Flames' tough starting lineup by icing one of his own?

I think it's important to strategize to get the best of other teams' matchups, but isn't it equally important that we go out and "play our game?"

Maybe if the team's biggest question mark right now is whether or not Tom Sestito can get into the lineup, that's a good sign.

Yes, the second line of Higgins, Bonino and Burrows is also under scrutiny. I'm more than willing to give that group a chance and see what they can create. Bonino has largely flown under the radar through preseason. I think that's because, for the most part, he's been quietly going about his job—no fuss, no mess.

I think Higgins and Burrows can score. I'd like to see Kassian earn his way up to this spot but if he's not ready, this group is fine by me.

And it may be this way for awhile. As Jeff Paterson points out today, it doesn't look like the team is thinking of Kassian as a core player just yet:




One other note on a prospect to wrap up the blog today, and it's another positive:




It'll be good to see McCann get back to game action.

Meanwhile, it sounds like we might have seen just about all that's going to be seen of Flames' first-round prospect Sam Bennett for awhile. He looked good against Vancouver during preseason, but his shoulder issue has flared up again.




Sounds like Bennett will be out for months and will miss a chance to go to World Juniors at Christmastime.
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