The Dany Heatley drama appears to be a grand example of this. Ask nearly any fan today what he thinks of Mr. Heatley and odds are he’ll tell you that the guy is a lying sack of waste who screwed over his team for greed and some kind of internal drive to subject the world to his brand of pure evil. 

Here’s one comment found on this website yesterday…

I think I can say, without Hyperbole, that Heatley is worse than Hitler.

...maybe even Yashin.

Well, at least Senators’ fans can still muster a sense of humor. Nontheless, most of the rhetoric floating around seems to go off the charts. 

Continue reading "In Defense of Dany Heatley (sort of)"

“We’ve been negotiating for more than a year, so it’s hard for me to say I’m optimistic. We haven’t really made a lot of progress in a year. We’re going to have to address the gap that we have - but we’ve only got five days to do it.”

-- J.P. Barry, Henrik and Daniel Sedin’s agent, speaking with Sportsnet today. 

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Mike Gillis has never been strongly motivated to sign the Sedins. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s not a “fan” and when he sits around late at night counting change in his salary-cap piggy bank, he can think of far better ways to spend his money.

Continue reading "Sedin’s Agent Not Optimistic About a Vancouver Deal, but is Anyone?"

The media release from Sherry Quan was brief, detailed and to the point: Michael Keenan was joining a team in Vancouver. Strangely, there was no mention of Canucks coach Alain Vigneault in the release, and not a word said about how Roberto Luongo, the Canucks netminder, who had a somewhat rocky relationship with the NHL bench boss known as Iron Mike while the pair were in Florida together with the Panthers, might react to him joining the squad.

Not that I’m a huge Vigneault fan, but sweet geezus, this is a terrifying turn of events!

Or is it?

Continue reading "Mike Keenan Joins the Canucks?"

General Motors’ historic bankruptcy filing should not affect the company’s significant investment and presence on the Vancouver sports scene, according to Vancouver Canucks and Vancouver 2010 Olympic officials.

GM Canada signed a 20-year, $18.5-million deal with Canucks owners in 1995 to call the team’s stadium General Motors Place through 2015.

-- Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun

Vancouver can breathe a sigh of relief then. We still get to keep the relatively cool nickname ‘The Garage,’ and it seems there’s no danger of something terrifying happening along the lines of ‘Gaylord Entertainment Center’, etc, in the near future.

Still, it was a close call. Two big local businesses were bidding fiercely for the right to put their name on the side of the Canucks’ posh arena, and both might have presented some controversy.*

Continue reading "GM Place Keeps its Name; Disaster Averted"

The video below (thanks to Buzz Bishop) is a brief Q&A with Linden when he stopped off at the Future Shop headquarters to pick up his new TV. An odd scenario, to be sure, but probably a hoot for the staff that had a chance to talk to him. 

Anyway, it sounds like his first year off the ice has been full of fun and adventure—cycling in Belgium, week-long trips to Whistler, and much more. As he describes it, he’s “like a guy getting out of jail.” And he says he’s still a Canucks fan.

Here’s the vid:

Continue reading "What’s Trevor Linden Been Up To?"

“Yes, it is actually impossible to predict, but I hope and believe that Detroit wins. And they do in six matches.”

-- Mats Sundin, Vancouver Canucks (quote via Nucks Misconduct)

Translation: “Dear Ken Holland: I’m desperate to sign with your team this summer. Let’s talk!”

Although someone did just rip off a supply of his signed Canucks’ jerseys not too long ago, so if he wanted to stay he can at least assume that he’s still popular with Vancouver fans.

Well, to those comfortable with committing crimes, anyway.

On playing against Marian Hossa: “There’s nothing I’d like more than to be able to shake Marian’s hand at the end of this series, look him in the eye and say, ‘You chose the wrong team.’”

-- Maxime Talbot (translated from French and quoted in the Detroit Free Press)

Ah, the joy of ‘friendly’ competition in the playoffs, where one of the more entertaining pleasures for us outsiders is the good-natured trash talk between the teams and fans.

But still, two dudes named Maxime vs Marian going at it? I keep flashing on rival Barbie dolls about to end up in a celebrity boxing reality show.

Some hockey news providers might consider such an interview ‘unconventional’, or ‘lacking professionalism’ or ‘crazy-as-snakes’, but Canucks & Beyond doesn’t discriminate in rampant ways against stray pieces of hockey equipment. 

We are, as always, unflinching in our search for truth.

Interview is transcribed below. 

Continue reading "Interview with Matt Sundin’s Left Skate"

The Weather Network clearly has no idea who they’re talking to, (which is probably a surreally-awesome experience for Luongo), but it makes me worry about what else I’ve missed on the Weather Channel.  Has Barack Obama ever come jogging by? Stephen Harper? Little green men visiting from Mars… perhaps too polite to point out that, “Geezus lady, we’re little green men visiting from Mars!”?

I definitely need to watch more TV, not less.

(Thanks to my friend Josh for mentioning this vid to me!)

The Vancouver Canucks have signed forward Rick Rypien to a two-year contract extension with the club through the 2010-11 NHL season. Rypien has played five seasons with the Canucks.

‘’Rick plays with intensity and energy every time he steps on the ice,’’ said Canucks general manager Mike Gillis. ‘’He is an important part of our team and a valued teammate.’’

-- courtesy of TSN

And so they did.

Vancouver wilted in the face of everything Chicago had to offer, from the hockey staples of offense and defense, to the intangibles of simple willpower and grit. Unlike St. Louis who simply ran out of gas against the Canucks after a valiant few months of scratching and clawing their way into contention, Vancouver was just plain outmatched by a better team.

So it goes. So it always goes. So it goes endlessly and nauseatingly since 1970.  I seriously wonder if there’s really any chance I’m going to live long enough to see this team make it to the promised land. 

Continue reading "Canucks Fandom: Life as a Hockey Optimist"

Vancouver defenseman Sami Salo did not participate in the Canucks afternoon skate at United Center and was declared “out” by coach Alain Vigneault.

So, Ossi Vaananen returns. Incidentally, Salo’s explanation of his injury has been my favorite so far. Classic. (In related news, Vaananen is peeing just fine. Well, it doesn’t appear to be affecting his play, anyway.)

One more thing—assistant coach Ryan Walter provided this quote to Canadian Christianity.com today:

There is a “new intensity” in the playoffs, says Walter, “and it comes from an interesting place—a feeling that the end is near.” It would probably be very difficult to play at that level of intensity for a full 82-game season, he says. In that sense, hockey playoffs are like the last two minutes of a football game, when points are scored at four times the usual rate.

It’s a good comparison, though I wonder if I should worry when such a devoted Christian as Walter says things like “the end is near.”

Sami Salo is on his way to Chicago, due to arrive tonight. He’s scheduled to skate tomorow and will be evaluated day-to-day.

The defenceman left Game 2 on Saturday after scoring the game’s opening goal. His injury has been described only as “lower body.”

Pavol Demitra is also day-to-day and won’t dress tonight, Canucks GM Mike Gillis told Tony Gallagher.

Taylor Pyatt, as expected, will be taking Demitra’s place, his first game in the month since his fiance died. I sincerely hope the distraction helps him, because I certainly think he can help the Canucks.

As for Salo… If he can play in game 4, well, that’s news good enough to make a girl find religion.

Update 5:02pm PT: According to Jason Botchford of The Province, via Twitter --

Demitra to be out at least a week, BUT Salo likely to play Gm 4. Gillis said Salo’s is not a groin or a shoulder problem. Guess away.

• Dustin Byfuglien is an incredibly useful s.o.b.
• The Blackhawks never heard of Roberto Luongo. Or if they have, they recently decided he has no particular mojo they need to be concerned with. (Luongo Schmongo. Someone just get out there and smash the guy with the stupid helmet.)
• Playing in their home town, the ‘Hawks are undefeated this playoffs. Further, their crowd is likely to be intimidating and loud.
• The Blackhawks know how to respond to adversity (games 1-2), but Vancouver has no idea. The Canucks were given a ‘free pass’ to get this far. They can’t handle the competition.
• Canucks have lost important defense - like Sami Salo. Plus, no one else seems to be playing much defense, either.
• Canucks have no answer to the breakout stretch pass.

etc etc.

Sounds depressing when summarized like that.  But a quick check of the Canucks crystal ball provides an alternate way of looking at things…

Continue reading "Why Chicago Will Win Game 3, And Other Nonsense"

Canuck winger Pavol Demitra is not practising today with teammates after absorbing a heavy hit from Brian Campbell during Vancouver’s 6-3 National Hockey League playoff loss Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Demitra appeared to hurt his shoulder on the play but finished the game.

Mason Raymond has replaced Demitra on a line with struggling Ryan Kesler and Mats Sundin for Monday’s practice at the United Center, which has allowed Taylor Pyatt to take regular turns with Kyle Wellwood and Steve Bernier.

Demitra’s day off could be precautionary, or could be a change for game 3. And not all that unexpected, given his play on Saturday night. For godsakes, what is Pavol freakin’ Demitra doing throwing hits along the boards? I can’t recall who he nailed at one point, but he nearly knocked himself unconscious in the process.

Continue reading "From the “Canucks Who Are Made of Glass” Files"

But this year we’re “lucky”—playoff action for all. Tons of fun! Except when it’s terrifying. 

Fortunately, some Port McNeil school kids are doing their part to cheer the team on, and it’s a proven fact: cute kids doing cute things to support our team is good for our stress levels. The Hockey Gods might hate the Canucks (and Canucks fans) but surely they can’t hate cute kids?

Well, personally, I’m a pushover for them. I first heard this on CBC Radio One a couple days ago, and today the Times-Colonist here on Vancouver Island tells more details about the arrangement here. Sunset Elementary was once home to Willie Mitchell, and that’s where the video below was shot. The lyrics are below as well.

Continue reading "Proven Fact: Cute Kids with Team Pride Ease Panic Attacks"

The Chicago Blackhawks, unlike the St. Louis Blues, scare the sweet bejeezus out of me.

Continue reading "Nothing About This Will Be Easy"

“I feel this is the best chance that I’ve ever had in the NHL,” Luongo said. “This is an exciting opportunity for us. We have a real chance here to do some damage. We’re playing for one goal and that’s the Cup.

“That’s what everyone talks about: How many rings do you have? It would be nice to go through a career with at least one Stanley Cup, no? I assume half of my career is done with and I haven’t even come close. Time is ticking.”

More from and about Roberto Luongo in Larry Wigge’s column today at NHL.com

Mighty marketer Jon Mikl Thor is muscling in on the Vancouver Canucks’ Stanley Cup playoff run with the “Vancouver Millionaires” single/video and his new Vulcan Sky Records album, Sign Of The V.

The record was originally scheduled to come out next year to coincide with the Olympics being staged in Thor’s hometown, but the Canucks requested the use of “Vancouver Millionaires” as a motivator and team promotional tool as part of the “Let’s Do It Again” campaign. [...]

The Canucks are playing the album’s first track at games and promoting Sign Of The V at the team’s stores. It’s being played 25 times a week by TEAM 1040 Sports Radio, which is also running commercial spots recorded by Thor.

Chart Attack goes on to tell us that Thor is a “self-described rock icon” who feels he he belongs in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. (At least he’s not shy...) Anyway, I’m skeptical, but I might just be too old—or too sober at the moment—to fairly appreciate the nuances of contemporary hard rock.

The video is below in case anyone hasn’t heard it, so you can decide for yourself:

Continue reading "Marketing the V"