Zack Kassian has eluded the wolf for now.
The wolf was at the door as the NHL trading deadline came and went. Despite facing intense criticism and playing inconsistently for much of the season, Kassian remained a Vancouver Canuck.
“I guess I’m still here and excited to be a part of it,” Kassian said minutes before the noon Monday deadline. “It’s always a little nerve-racking, I think, for anyone. There is a lot more than just playing hockey. You have your family, your house, your condo, your cars … you have a lot of things on the go.
“I love Vancouver, love my team, love my teammates and I definitely want to be here. Obviously if the team didn’t think I fit in, or whatnot, I’d go somewhere else, but my heart is in Vancouver. We want to get into the playoffs and we want to do some damage.”
As he spoke to reporters, it was evident that Kassian was grateful for the chance to remain a Canuck. He appeared much more relaxed than he has recently when facing the media.
General manager Jim Benning admitted that he explored the possibility of trading Kassian, 24, to see whether players “of similar ilk” were available, but wound up keeping him – at least for now.
Kassian’s play has improved greatly in the past few weeks. He now finds himself on a line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin. More importantly, he’s playing with an edge and showing signs that he can produce the offence expected of him when he was acquired in the 2012 deadline-day trade that sent Cody Hodgson to Buffalo. Heading into today’s home game against San Jose, the Vancouver winger had seven goals and two assists in his previous 11 games – a much improved output from earlier in the season, when he was a healthy scratch.
But the jury – which consists of Benning, coach Willie Desjardins and president Trevor Linden – is out until Kassian shows the consistency expected from him.
Showing posts with label San Jose Sharks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Jose Sharks. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Friday, March 19, 2010
Johnson's rare goal sinks Sharks
Ryan Johnson could not have picked a better time to score.
The Vancouver Canucks checking specialist netted his first goal in 82 games Thursday night. It also happened to be the winner as the Canucks edged the Sharks 3-2 at General Motors Place.
“I’ve wanted to bury one,” said Johnson. “But like I’ve always said, I’d rather have a big one, and it was.”
Johnson's second-period marker, which gave the Canucks an insurmountable 3-1 lead, was his first goal since January of 2009 against Nashville. It helped the Canucks redeem themselves after an embarrassing 5-2 loss to the lowly New York Islanders on Tuesday.
“After a disappointing effort against the Islanders, we knew that this was a big game for us to get back to the basics,” said Johnson. “We did a lot of things not very well in that game, and I thought tonight we got back to the identity of the team we are, that goes on the attack and makes a lot of teams play in their own zone for critical time.”
Johnson also re-established his identity as a role player who could score timely goals, which he was not able to do while suffering from two fractured feet that have limited him to 49 games this season.“By no means am I ever going to judge myself as a stats guy who looks at all the numbers,” said Johnson. “I know the little things that I do well throughout a game and the value that I bring to the team. At the same time, I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t want to chip in, because I know I’m very capable of it and have the ability to do it.”
He was feeling refreshed after the Olympic break allowed him to recover more fully. He has played hurt most of the season.
“Physically, I needed to get my feet back,” said Johnson. “In hindsight, playing through what I was playing through was really stupid, and I certainly learned something from that side of things. It hurt myself. It was hurting my line. It was not hurting the team in that sense, but I was not myself and what they needed me to be.”
He was also his usual checking self as he kept San Jose's top line of Canadian Olympians Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley off the scoresheet. The Thunder Bay, Ont., native hopes his fourth line can produce another timely goal when the Canucks enter the playoffs.
“We have the ability to do it,” said Johnson. “We’re going to have to do it.”
The Vancouver Canucks checking specialist netted his first goal in 82 games Thursday night. It also happened to be the winner as the Canucks edged the Sharks 3-2 at General Motors Place.
“I’ve wanted to bury one,” said Johnson. “But like I’ve always said, I’d rather have a big one, and it was.”
Johnson's second-period marker, which gave the Canucks an insurmountable 3-1 lead, was his first goal since January of 2009 against Nashville. It helped the Canucks redeem themselves after an embarrassing 5-2 loss to the lowly New York Islanders on Tuesday.
“After a disappointing effort against the Islanders, we knew that this was a big game for us to get back to the basics,” said Johnson. “We did a lot of things not very well in that game, and I thought tonight we got back to the identity of the team we are, that goes on the attack and makes a lot of teams play in their own zone for critical time.”
Johnson also re-established his identity as a role player who could score timely goals, which he was not able to do while suffering from two fractured feet that have limited him to 49 games this season.“By no means am I ever going to judge myself as a stats guy who looks at all the numbers,” said Johnson. “I know the little things that I do well throughout a game and the value that I bring to the team. At the same time, I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t want to chip in, because I know I’m very capable of it and have the ability to do it.”
He was feeling refreshed after the Olympic break allowed him to recover more fully. He has played hurt most of the season.
“Physically, I needed to get my feet back,” said Johnson. “In hindsight, playing through what I was playing through was really stupid, and I certainly learned something from that side of things. It hurt myself. It was hurting my line. It was not hurting the team in that sense, but I was not myself and what they needed me to be.”
He was also his usual checking self as he kept San Jose's top line of Canadian Olympians Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley off the scoresheet. The Thunder Bay, Ont., native hopes his fourth line can produce another timely goal when the Canucks enter the playoffs.
“We have the ability to do it,” said Johnson. “We’re going to have to do it.”
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