Bruins-Canucks rivalry lingers four years later

Circa 2011, games between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins generated considerable buzz, along with plenty of venom. Now? Not so much.
But it was evident Friday that some of rivalry that reached a feverish height in the 2011 Stanley Cup final, when Boston overcame a 3-1 series deficit to win in seven games, is still there.
“Maybe a little bit,” said Canucks winger Alex Burrows before Vancouver hosted the Bruins. “I would have liked to win four years ago. But they’re a much different team and we’re a much different team now. So, personally, maybe a little bit. But now, we’ve moved on from that.”
Burrows was at the centre of many brouhahas with the Bruins, notably with Patrice Bergeron in a finger-biting incident. But, in a sign, perhaps, of lingering animosity, Burrows has not chatted amicably with Bergeron or anyone else about the memorable 2011 finals.
“Honestly, I don’t know where I could have (talked to) most of them,” said Burrows. “I know, maybe, (Patrice) Bergeron. But he’s from Quebec City. I’m from Montreal. That’s a four-hour drive. So it’s not like I see them or have any friends on the team, really. I’ve never really gone out of my way to talk about (the 2011 final loss) or anything. But I’ve been to Fenway Park and I’ve watched the Red Sox. That’s probably as close as I’ve gotten to Boston ever since then.”
Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said Boston is still “a team that brings out the best in us,” but the rivalry is not even close to what it used to be.
“When you play against them in the finals, the heat is going to be there,” he said. “But they have a lot of new faces, and we don’t have too many guys left from that year. So it’s different – for sure.”
The lack of games between the teams – only two per season – also prevents things from heating up.
“Yeah, a little bit,” he said. “The only game where the same kind of rivalry has been there was the year after when we played them in Boston.”
Former general manager Mike Gillis believed that his club was never the same after that highly physical and emotional affair. But some Vancouver players, such as Zack Kassian, who was not with the team then, believe that the final loss “still stings.”
Times are much different now, because both the Canucks and Bruins are battling for playoff berths instead of vying for first overall in the NHL like they once did. But Bruins winger Milan Lucic, a Vancouver native, believes there always will be a strong rivalry between the clubs.
“That’s what makes these games so exciting,” he said.
But he also believes the fight for two points is what counts the most now.
“I think that whole revenge thing is out the window as far as the final goes,” said Lucic.
Bruins captain Zdeno Chara also believes the rivalry is much different. He noted that both clubs have changed many players and the Canucks “changed their whole management and coaching staff.”
But Chara thinks the rivalry would “probably” be more intense if the Bruins and Canucks faced each other more often.
“That’s what happens when you play teams more often,” he said. “Different things might cause more more emotional games (to) come out of that, but the schedule is set before the season and, usually, you only play some teams once or twice.”
Bruins coach Claude Julien has been known to stoke the fires between the teams. But the Bruins and Canucks have some ties now following former Boston executive Jim Benning’s appointment as Canucks GM last summer. So Julien actually had some nice things to say about a member of Canucks management.
“Jim is a good man,” said Julien. “He’s a good hockey man. He’s a good person. Great hockey knowledge. Very calm. Sees deficiencies. Sees also assets. I’ve had good talks with Jim. When he was in Boston, we chatted about our team and other players and stuff like that. In my mind, it was too bad that we lost a good man, but I think Vancouver made a really good decision. To be very honest in my comment, I think they got themselves a good man who’s gonna make this team a good team if you give him some time.”
Julien has also been known to say good things about former Canucks coach Alain Vigneault, an old friends. Of course, new Canucks coach Willie Desjardins wasn’t with the club in 2011. But Dejardins, who has won championships at every level, believes that a Boston-Vancouver game will always be emotional for Canuck players who were with the team in 2011.
“I don’t see how it couldn’t be,” said Dejardins. “That’s something you never forget, the guys that were here, the run, that series.
“I think it’ll always mean something to play against Boston.”

Tortorella calls for Canucks to improve on their lack of depth

It’s time for the Vancouver Canucks to stop dwelling on their 2011 Stanley Cup finals appearance and start retooling for the future, says coach John Tortorella.
“This is a group that’s been together for a long time,” he said Monday, a day after the Canucks’ 2013-14 season ended. “It’s stale. It needs youth. It needs a change – it needs a change – and I felt that from day one.
“We’re not in 2011. We have to stop talking about 2011. The team needs to be retooled, and that’s where change is. It is a young man’s game. It’s certainly not a criticism of them. We need to surround them with some enthusiasm.”
But he also called for changes to “some of the team’s core” as part of the “evolution” that’s necessary. He does not want to see massive changes, but noted "there is a heartbeat of a team, and it needs to be surrounded.”
Tortorella made his comments less than 24 hours after the Canucks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008, knowing that he might not be around next season. In other words, even with his job on the line, nobody could accuse him of trying to be politically correct.
And, he wasn’t about to try to spin things as he prepares to discuss his future with new team president Trevor Linden.
“I don’t coach to keep my job,” said Tortorella. “I’m not going to go into any meeting trying to save my job. I just don’t do it that way. I am going to tell him what I think. Trevor is very efficient and, from what I understand, he is on top of everything as far as the interviews and what he’s doing. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I loved him as a player and, (in) just a short time I’ve seen him here, you’re in good hands. The team is in good hands. But I’m not going to be rehearsed.”
The Canucks finished 12th in the Western Conference with a 36-35-11 record for 83 points. Only the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers finished behind them in the conference. The Winnipeg Jets, who fired their coach in mid-season, finished with one more point than Vancouver.
Tortorella said his biggest regret was not staying on top of his team to keep it playing well after a strong first half. But he contended that he did not know how his six-game suspension for storming the Calgary Flames dressing room area Jan. 18 affected his team, which battled numerous injuries that he and players contend forced it to play a different way, which they have described as less aggressive, more conservative and defensive-oriented.
But in addition to the injuries and inconsistency, Tortorella pointed to an obvious fact that was at the root of their woes: A lack of depth. While he has come under criticism for over-playing Daniel and Henrik Sedin at times, Tortorella said that when the outcome of a 2-1 game was on the line with six or seven minutes to go, he did not feel comfortable putting out other players.
“I did the things I needed to do to try to win games, because sometimes I looked down (the bench) and guys just weren’t ready, some other guys in our lineup” he said. “We lack depth, and that’s where we’re at. That isn’t being critical. It’s the truth.”
Well, it’s also an indictment of former general manager Mike Gillis’ poor drafting and trade records. The recently fired GM’s legacy will likely be botched trades involving goaltenders Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, whose deals did not appear to bring back suitable asset returns. But Tortorella was not pointing a finger at him intentionally.
Tortorella also contended that, contrary to public perception, he gets along well with centre Ryan Kesler, whose future with the team is uncertain, although the Livonia, Mich., native said Monday that he never asked for a trade and hopes to stay.
“Kes and I have a tremendous relationship,” said Tortorella. “You guys think we hate one another (and) we don’t speak, but we have a tremendous relationship. We have a very honest relationship. I think he has stood in there and played hard every night.”
Kesler led the team in goals with 25 after a turnaround season following two seasons derailed by injuries. But Tortorella criticized himself for not getting through to defenceman Alex Edler, who is clearly Vancouver’s most gifted rearguard but finished minus-39.
(One of these years, a coach might realize that he just needs to let Edler play his game and not let him over-think it, which he admitted Monday that he does. But that realization might not come in Vancouver, if Edler agrees to waive a no-trade clause and gets moved.)
Kesler lamented the loss of what he thought would be a good season after former coach Alain Vigneault was fired last summer and all players felt they had something to prove after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year.
“We’re all flabbergasted right now that we’re sitting up here talking about the year that we just had. Going into this year, I would never think that we’d be sitting here in this situation,” said Kesler.
He agreed with Daniel Sedin’s contention that players, not the team’s system, were to blame for the club’s woes.
“It’s not like Torts is in there telling us not to play offence,” said Kesler. ‘He wants us to score. He wants us to produce.”
Added defenceman Kevin Bieksa: “Having a coach let go last year and a GM a (week) ago, it’s not a good feeling right now, especially (for) the four guys up here,” said Bieksa. “We feel responsible for it. The bottom line is, we win more games and guys don’t lose their jobs.”
With Gillis fired and Tortorella’s job anything but certain, players know that they are next in line to face the team’s revolving door.
“With Torts’ future in question, it’s a tough time for everybody,” said Bieksa. “We’ll see what decisions are made. But, right now, we look at ourselves first and foremost … and think: We could have been better. We should have been better. There are people that are suffering because of it.”
Notes_Daniel Sedin, who left Sunday’s season finale on a stretcher after Paul Byron sent him into the boards head-first, said he did not suffer a concussion or any other serious injuries. He was placed on the stretcher for “precautionary reasons” only. … Vancouver winger Alex Burrows will play for Canada in the upcoming world championships. … Edler does not plan to play for Sweden at the worlds. Lack said he is willing, but has not yet heard from Team Sweden.

Linden's hiring more than just a good PR move

Trevor Linden was discussing his personal situation, but he might as well have been talking about how most Vancouver Canuck fans felt.
“It just felt right,” he said Wednesday of his decision to become the NHL team’s new president of hockey operations.
Linden was quickly appointed to replace fired president and general manager Mike Gillis. The Medicine Hat, Alta., native returns to the organization with which he spent most of his 19-year NHL playing career in two stints.
Compared to previous news conferences involving Vancouver’s former top hockey executive, the change in mood was palpable in a packed room where a morning news conference was held. Prior to the announcement of Linden’s appointment earlier in the morning, owner Francesco Aquilini had been scheduled to appear and was expected to discuss his reasons for dismissing Gillis. Instead, Aquilini, after being decisive and quickly acting to end a bad situation, got to talk about hope for a better future with a fan favourite at the helm.
Linden quickly apologized for telling a TV interviewer the previous morning that he had not been approached by the Canucks about replacing Gillis – when clearly he had. But at the time of the interview, the former GM’s firing had not been announced and, as Linden said, out of respect for the process and the Gillis family, he did not reveal what was happening.
Linden acknowledged his apology to the TV interviewer, and his candidness about a mistake was something that was rarely, if ever, seen during the six-year Gillis era. For a pleasant change, pomposity was not oozing from Vancouver’s top hockey executive.
Gillis’ aloofness was something that had clearly alienated casual fans and season-ticket holders. And, it was no coincidence that Linden’s hiring was announced on a previously-scheduled deadline for season-ticket renewals. Nor was it a coincidence that Aquilini said the deadline has been extended in wake of Linden’s hiring.
As the owner indicated, Linden is “back where he belongs.” Although Linden felt a need to get away from hockey after his retirement as a player in 2008, it was strange for him not to be part of the Canucks team that he led to the 1994 Stanley Cup finals and helped prepare for the 2011 finals following his return after stints with the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens.
But it was evident that he would not return and work with Gillis, with whom he had clashed in his role as president of the NHL Players Association in the 2004-05 lockout that scrapped an entire season. Linden did not always get along with former coach Alain Vigneault, either, at a time when his playing skills were diminishing and the coach wanted more.
“I always believed that, once again, I’d work in this great game, a game that I’ve loved and felt it was such a privilege to be a part of ,” said Linden. “I wasn’t sure when or in what capacity, but it always remained a goal of mine.
"When this opportunity to be president of hockey operations was presented to me, I gave it great thought and I simply could not pass it up. "Through my 20 years as a player, 15 years with the NHLPA and my more recent work in growing and leading a private business, I believe I'm ready for this challenge. I'm young, I'm passionate about this team, and I want to win, just like the Canuck fans do.”
Another brief line could also prove highly insightful.
"I believe in this team and this organization,” said Linden, indicating that he will not make drastic changes to the team’s veteran core of players.
In other words, he is not going to blow up a roster that, the past three seasons aside, has enjoyed considerable success, and it appears that he will not make drastic adjustments to the hockey operations department. Gillis drafted only one player that became an NHL regular – Cody Hodgson, now with Buffalo, and made many unsuccessful trades and free-agent signings, but most of the scouts and executives – many of whom are former Canuck players – were in place when previous regimes led by Pat Quinn, Brian Burke and Dave Nonis made successful trades and free-agent signings. (Historically, Vancouver has been mainly terrible at the draft table, although the second-overall choice of Linden in 1988 was an exception.)
Following a model that the rival Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, among others, have adopted, Linden will supervise, and work with, a new GM.
“We will do a general manager search from within and from outside of our organization,” he said.
Linden hopes to hire a new GM by mid-June, pending any permissions that he might need to get to speak with employees of other teams. He plans to use the final games of the regular season to evaluate much-maligned coach John Tortorella and his coaching staff.
Aquilini has come under criticism for his perceived influence in the hiring of Tortorella, who failed to get the team to the playoffs. But the owner contended Wednesday that Gillis was responsible for hiring Tortorella and the ownership group endorsed his decision.
Aquilini indicated that Linden has the final say on hockey-related matters while chief operating officer Victor de Bonis will continue to run the team’s business side – which he does extremely effectively. These comments indicate a distinct separation from the hockey operations and business sides whereas Gillis previously held the position of team president and often tried to pass himself off as a top corporate executive.
“Trevor will make all of the decisions on hockey-related personnel – coaches, players, and free agents, whatever is (needed),” said Aquilini. “Trevor will be in charge of hockey operations and will make all the decisions.”
“I’ve had great conversations with Francesco and with (the Aqulini) family, and they’ve given me full control to make the right decisions and full autonomy,” said Linden. “Obviously, in any sports organization situation, a good relationship with ownership is important, and I intend to spend a lot of time working with them and help them fully understand the decisions we make and why.”
Linden, 43, has made Vancouver his home since he was drafted by the Canucks as an 18-year-old. He has been involved in private business, boosting the fortunes of an eyewear company, real estate development firm and fitness chain that bears his name. But he had always hoped to get back into hockey – and never really wanted to work with another team than the Canucks.
"You don't spend 20 years in the National Hockey League and spend your whole life in hockey and not have it in your DNA," he said.
This was the right time to get back in the game, he added. Now, he must prove that his hiring is more than a good public-relations move – and he can make a difference.
But his playing success, his name recognition and his relationships with many people in the NHL bode well for him – and the Canucks – in the future. As he has indicated during his playing career, it is never wise to underestimate him.
Yes, his hiring is a good – and welcome – PR move, but chances are that he will be much more than just a friendly face for the organization.

Canucks rookie Jensen shines in NHL debut

Nicklas Jensen’s days with the Vancouver Canucks are numbered this NHL preseason.
But he’s making the best of them.
Jensen scored the winning goal and added an assist as the Canucks beat a Calgary Flames split squad 4-3 at Rogers Arena on Tuesday night.
“It was pretty neat,” said Jensen of his first goal at the NHL level. “I don’t even know what to say. It was, of course, what I was hoping for.”
The Canucks chose Jensen, an 18-year-old native of Herning, Denmark, with the 29th overall pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft. He is trying to do what few Canuck first-round draft choices have done – stick with the club in their first pro season.
But unlike many first-rounders who have passed through Rogers Arena and the Pacific Coliseum before him, he is realistic about his chances of staying with a club that went to the seventh game of the 2010-11 Stanley Cup finals.
“I don’t think about it too much,” said Jensen. “Obviously, it would never be bad to stay here. That’s, of course what I’m here for – just try to stay here. But I’m not going to get disappointed if I get sent home. Realistically, that’s probably what’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time how long I can stay here for. I’m just going to work as hard as I can to stay here as long as possible.”
In the meantime, Jensen is giving family and friends back home in Denmark something to cheer about. His dad something to cheer about. His father, Dan Jensen, played three seasons of major junior hockey in the OHL with Peterborough and Guelph and also represented Canada 10 times before he moved to Denmark, fell in love and stayed.
“He’s probably really happy back home as well, and there’s probably a message or two on the phone right now,” said Jensen. “
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault liked what he saw, too. Jensen’s entire line, which included Jordan Schroeder, Vancouver’s top pick a year ago, and Steven Pinizzotto all produced points while combining on two goals.
Schroeder recorded a goal and an assist. Pinizzotto, 27, who until now has been a career minor-leaguer but has the grit that the Canucks are looking for, contributed two helpers.
“I thought that line got better as the game went on,” said Vigneault. “You can really see a young man there (Jensen) that’s got real good size, really enjoys the game, and I think there’s a tremendous amount of potential there – and it’s real fun to see.”
Jensen helped Schroeder get noticed, too, after the 21-year-old Prior Lake, Minn., native had a poor training camp in 2010.
“I hadn’t noticed Schroeder that much in last year’s camp, but today I was not just impressed with how he played with the puck, but I thought without the puck he was really dependable,” said Vigneault. “So I like that part, because if you’re ever going to play at this level, you’ve gotta be able to play at both ends of the rink.”
Jensen assisted on Schroeder’s goal early in the third period. During a two-on-one, the dashing Dane fed a perfect pass that Schroeder wired home to create a 3-3 tie. Then, five minutes and 45 seconds later, Jensen skated out of the corner with the puck and beat goaltender Leland Irving with a shot that went in off his arm.
“I just took my time with the puck, circled around and I just saw an empty corner,” said Jensen. “Luckily for me, it went in.”
Jensen is expected to play one or two more exhibition games before the Canucks return him to Oshawa of the OHL. He is also expected to represent Denmark at the world junior championships at Christmas.

Sturm looks for redemption with Canucks

It’s redemption time for the Vancouver Canucks – in more ways than one.
While the Canucks look to make up for a loss to the Boston Bruins in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup finals and claim the crown, several players – newcomers and returnees alike – are looking to redeem themselves after an injury riddled season.
Marco Sturm is a prime example. The Canucks’ top free agent acquisition, he is looking to revive his career after two knee operations in the past three years.
“I just want to be the player I was before my injury,” says Sturm. “That’s gonna be my goal. Right now, the knees feel great. I’m just trying to get in a rhythm again.”
Sturm had trouble finding a rhythm last season. The Bruins traded him to Los Angeles in December while he was still hurt, and then the Kings waived him and he was claimed by the Washington Capitals, who subsequently let him go after the playoffs.
He produced 16 points in 35 regular-season games with the Kings and Caps and furnished three post-season points with Washington – not bad considering his injury ordeals.
“I had to start pretty much at zero, because my strength was not there,” says Sturm. “My fitness wasn’t there all last year, so I started from zero. But the main thing was to get my strength back, so I did a lot of weights and, of course, a lot of outside running to get my conditioning.”
Signed to a one-year, $2.25 million contract, he could play a critical role as the Canucks contend with early-season injuries. The 33-year-old native of Dingolfing, Germany could play a key role as Vancouver looks to atone for the absences of second-liners Ryan Kesler (hip) and Mason Raymond (back).
“I can play on any line and, also, left wing or right wing,” he says. “It doesn’t really matter. Of course, I want to be in the top six, but I’m here to help the team out.”
Chances are he will, to some extent. Sturm has recorded seven straight 20-goal seasons, including a 2004-05 lockout season he spent play in Germany. So why did he decide to sign with the Canucks?
“I’m at that age now – I want to win – and this team’s got everything,” says Sturm. “They showed in the last two years how good they are, and I want to be in that good team, good organization, who knows what it will take to win it all, and it was a big issue.”
Other players attempting to redeem themselves are veteran goaltender Manny Legace; former No. 1 draft pick Owen Nolan, who played in Switzerland last season; enforcer Todd Fedoruk, who has been quite outspoken about his substance-abuse problems; and journeyman forward Steve Begin, who spent most of last season in the minors. All are in camp on professional tryouts with no assurance of a contract.
Meanwhile, returnees to the organization, such as Cody Hodgson, who split the season between the NHL and the minors, and Jordan Schroeder, who spent all of last season in the AHL, also have something to prove. With most of the roster set, the reclamation projects will have a hard time cracking the lineup. But coach Alain Vigneault hopes at least some will help shore up a fourth line that revolved and struggled most of last season. The Vancouver bench boss hopes to close the revolving door and go with more of a set fourth unit.
“I think if we can find an identity there for that fourth line, an identity that would help us win games, we would definitely go in that direction,” says Vigneault. “Last year, it took us quite a long time to figure out which pieces were going to go there, and it was still up in the air going into the playoffs.”
Some of the newcomers – and prospects – might also help the Canucks make up for the departures of defenceman Christian Ehrhoff and gritty winger Raffi Torres, due to free agency. Defenceman Kevin Bieksa, who redeemed himself last season after his future with the Canucks was uncertain at the outset of camp, believes they will find suitable replacements.
“That’s what good teams do, and they adapt and they have guys step up and fill holes” says Bieksa.
Great teams challenge for the Stanley Cup year after year. While many a predicting the Canucks will regress, Bieksa believes the newcomers can help Vancouver back to the finals. There’s no doubt the veterans have the desire to return.
“It’s early in camp, but you can still kind of see the hunger out there,” says Bieksa. “The thing is, with last year and the success, we know it’s attainable now. If we play the same way and we play the right way, we’re going to be back there.”