I'm reading about him, and I think that could be true...I just saw a video of him playing, since I've not seen him play, but he likes to throw his weight around... something canucks drastically have needed
- annoyance_101

I seem to remember one of the young Latvians getting a lot of attention for his NA style play, speed and large frame.

He looks to have played well in 2012, so my guess is it was him.

I believe Irbe was the last Latvian Vancouver had and he was decent.

Hamill signing is okay with me, he could be a cheap and solid acquisiton. The player that I am most excited about is Hunter Shinkaruk. I love his attitute and this kid will be the sleeper of this years draft. Not to get carried away here but he looks and plays a lot like Pavel Bure did at this age. Hunter will easily be my fav Canuck.

He's got 20 games in the NHL under his belt


- annoyance_101

Are you serious? 2 NHL teams have given up on him and his AHL stats are not good. There is a reason nobody wanted him when Boston put him on waivers. There's a reason he isn't sticking in the NHL. Just trying to be realistic...

I seem to remember one of the young Latvians getting a lot of attention for his NA style play, speed and large frame.

He looks to have played well in 2012, so my guess is it was him.

I believe Irbe was the last Latvian Vancouver had and he was decent.
- IanEsplen

Apparently he had a good a good scrimmage with the Canucks this month

Are you serious? 2 NHL teams have given up on him and his AHL stats are not good. There is a reason nobody wanted him when Boston put him on waivers. There's a reason he isn't sticking in the NHL. Just trying to be realistic...
- TheLeafsInsider

Go back and worry about why Kadris not signed yet...that should puzzle people far more than a low risk signing... We aren't looking to fill a #1 line role like the Leafs may be

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_St._Louis here's a good example of a guy that teams gave up on...

Hamill signing is okay with me, he could be a cheap and solid acquisiton. The player that I am most excited about is Hunter Shinkaruk. I love his attitute and this kid will be the sleeper of this years draft. Not to get carried away here but he looks and plays a lot like Pavel Bure did at this age. Hunter will easily be my fav Canuck.
- flyerdude17

Yes he does he nice potential. I just wish he didn't look like phil kessels little brother.

I'm curious how Kesler will fair with a healthy Booth and Burrows on his wings this year (assuming that's how the lines turn out). He might be shoot first, but his wingers the last few years have been horrendous. I could easily see him distributing the puck better this year given better linemates. It's also nice to have a center who can distribute the puck, but also isn't absolutely terrified to shoot it every now and then.
- KB3Point0

I agree. Kesler also had one of his better seasons on Sundin's wing. I think Mats helped elevate Kesler's game.

I am hoping he has better linemates this year, and they stay the same. Him and Burrows always have good chemistry, and I would not care if they tried Booth with the twins and Kassian with Kesler and Burrows. I just want to see some steady lines and try and develop some chemistry.

I agree. Kesler also had one of his better seasons on Sundin's wing. I think Mats helped elevate Kesler's game.

I am hoping he has better linemates this year, and they stay the same. Him and Burrows always have good chemistry, and I would not care if they tried Booth with the twins and Kassian with Kesler and Burrows. I just want to see some steady lines and try and develop some chemistry.
- immature_male

Provided Kesler actually learns to pass the puck I don't see him being anything better than a dave bolland type Awesome third line center with the occasional scoring touch.

I agree. Kesler also had one of his better seasons on Sundin's wing. I think Mats helped elevate Kesler's game.

I am hoping he has better linemates this year, and they stay the same. Him and Burrows always have good chemistry, and I would not care if they tried Booth with the twins and Kassian with Kesler and Burrows. I just want to see some steady lines and try and develop some chemistry.
- immature_male

Agreed, Booth isn't likely to stay healthy though, and the twins need someone to defend them from taking liberties on them, so Kassian may be a good choice for their wing...I would like to see Kesler and Burrows play wing and allow one of our other guys like Gaunce or Horvat thrown into the 2nd line C...Kesler seems to make everyone he plays with better so he may be a good player to have mentor the kids while they get experience

I agree. Kesler also had one of his better seasons on Sundin's wing. I think Mats helped elevate Kesler's game.

I am hoping he has better linemates this year, and they stay the same. Him and Burrows always have good chemistry, and I would not care if they tried Booth with the twins and Kassian with Kesler and Burrows. I just want to see some steady lines and try and develop some chemistry.
- immature_male

dbl

Yes he does he nice potential. I just wish he didn't look like phil kessels little brother.
- vancity787

Well when you watch him play think about his cute little sister and the problem is solved. His family interview on Canuck.com is awesome and sold me on this kid.

If he plays like Kessel I will be thrilled. The Canucks need some young blood to get the excitement going again, kinda of stagnated over the years with the same old Sedins and nobody else.

Provided Kesler actually learns to pass the puck I don't see him being anything better than a dave bolland type Awesome third line center with the occasional scoring touch.
- vancity787

When did Dave Bolland win the selke?

Provided Kesler actually learns to pass the puck I don't see him being anything better than a dave bolland type Awesome third line center with the occasional scoring touch.
- vancity787

I hope you aren't serious?

Well when you watch him play think about his cute little sister and the problem is solved. His family interview on Canuck.com is awesome and sold me on this kid.

If he plays like Kessel I will be thrilled. The Canucks need some young blood to get the excitement going again, kinda of stagnated over the years with the same old Sedins and nobody else.
- flyerdude17

Thats because AV hates young boys...ya I said it... It's not as if the Canucks have had NO good prospects chosen in the past 5 years...I mean had he given Hodgson a chance, canucks may have had Hodgson as C and Kesler and Burrows as wing this year...which i would be far more comfortable with...especially now that we've got Gaunce and Horvat coming up

When did Dave Bolland win the selke?
- annoyance_101

or play in the All-Star game.

or play in the All-Star game.
- IanEsplen

or do ANYTHING that should even put him in the same sentence as Kesler

Agreed, Booth isn't likely to stay healthy though, and the twins need someone to defend them from taking liberties on them, so Kassian may be a good choice for their wing...I would like to see Kesler and Burrows play wing and allow one of our other guys like Gaunce or Horvat thrown into the 2nd line C...Kesler seems to make everyone he plays with better so he may be a good player to have mentor the kids while they get experience
- annoyance_101

When was the last time the twins had "someone to defend them from taking liberties on them?" How has not having that player negatively affected their game? I don't recall them having a bodyguard when they were winning back to back scoring titles and MVP / Outstanding Player awards. The twins need someone who can put the puck in the net, work the cycle game with them, get to the puck quickly, get to the front of the net and battle for position. They need skill on their wing, not a bodyguard.

I hope you aren't serious?
- KB3Point0

;Dead serious. If you are a second line center on an elite team you need to be able to make things happen.

when it comes to Kesler, Everytime he touches the puck its "Ryan time" he selfish and takes way too many stupid shots from fukking forty feet out .

Until he learns how to make the players around him better, Hes nothing more than a glorified third line centerman

Sorry, Im not convinced on Ryan Kesler.

;Dead serious. If you are a second line center on an elite team you need to be able to make things happen.

when it comes to Kesler, Everytime he touches the puck its "Ryan time" he selfish and takes way too many stupid shots from fukking forty feet out .

Until he learns how to make the players around him better, Hes nothing more than a glorified third line centerman

Sorry, Im not convinced on Ryan Kesler.
- vancity787

Well you are wrong then.

;Dead serious. If you are a second line center on an elite team you need to be able to make things happen.

when it comes to Kesler, Everytime he touches the puck its "Ryan time" he selfish and takes way too many stupid shots from fukking forty feet out .

Until he learns how to make the players around him better, Hes nothing more than a glorified third line centerman

Sorry, Im not convinced on Ryan Kesler.
- vancity787

Last season he had 9 assists in 17 games, 6 of which were played with a broken foot.

2011-12: 27 assists
2010-11: 32 assists
2009-10: 50 assists
2008-09: 33 assists

The best winger he's played with in the last few years has been Mason Raymond. A guy nobody in the NHL wants right now. A guy the Canucks let walk for nothing. Put him with someone who can put the puck in the net. Give him a season with Booth and Burrows or Kassian.

Dave Bolland's career high is 47 points. That's the only time he got more than 40. He's only cracked 20 assists twice!!! 28 and 22. And look at the wingers he's gotten to play with.

Just a bad comparison.

When was the last time the twins had "someone to defend them from taking liberties on them?" How has not having that player negatively affected their game? I don't recall them having a bodyguard when they were winning back to back scoring titles and MVP / Outstanding Player awards. The twins need someone who can put the puck in the net, work the cycle game with them, get to the puck quickly, get to the front of the net and battle for position. They need skill on their wing, not a bodyguard.
- KB3Point0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEh53OWz0jU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEh53OWz0jU
- annoyance_101

And how would having a goon on the ice have changed this exactly??? Apart from making it even more difficult for the Sedins to score.

Last season he had 9 assists in 17 games, 6 of which were played with a broken foot.

2011-12: 27 assists
2010-11: 32 assists
2009-10: 50 assists
2008-09: 33 assists

The best winger he's played with in the last few years has been Mason Raymond. A guy nobody in the NHL wants right now. A guy the Canucks let walk for nothing. Put him with someone who can put the puck in the net. Give him a season with Booth and Burrows or Kassian.

Dave Bolland's career high is 47 points. That's the only time he got more than 40. He's only cracked 20 assists twice!!! 28 and 22. And look at the wingers he's gotten to play with.

Just a bad comparison.
- KB3Point0

Perhaps a bad comparison. But he's defensive abilities seem to trump his offensive abilities. I'd love for him to prove me wrong though.

When was the last time the twins had "someone to defend them from taking liberties on them?" How has not having that player negatively affected their game? I don't recall them having a bodyguard when they were winning back to back scoring titles and MVP / Outstanding Player awards. The twins need someone who can put the puck in the net, work the cycle game with them, get to the puck quickly, get to the front of the net and battle for position. They need skill on their wing, not a bodyguard.
- KB3Point0

I agree. I also felt when the twins had Kassian other teams seemed to take less liberties. Even when teams do take liberties the twins still produce and play through it. I would love for the Canucks to have someone who is a beast on the forecheck play with them. That line never seems to knock anybody down.

Perhaps a bad comparison. But he's defensive abilities seem to trump his offensive abilities. I'd love for him to prove me wrong though.
- vancity787

When Kesler is used properly he is a factor and can take over a game, just look at some of his playoff series. I feel he is worthy of 2nd line, maybe even first at times. Last year was tough because after the twins we basically had two 3rd lines and a rotating door of a 4th line.