Bieksa doesn't see himself leaving Canucks

Dan Hamhuis didn’t want to contemplate the question. Neither did Kevin Bieksa.
So the two Vancouver Canucks defencemen sidestepped the issue of whether they would agree to waive their no-trade clauses if asked by general manager Jim Benning.
“That’s something I never really thought of,” said Hamhuis as all Canuck players met with reporters Monday following their elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs over the weekend. “I’m not really prepared to give an answer on that. It’s something I’ll probably think about if it ever happens.”
Bieksa offered a slightly more elaborate response, but still made his feelings clear. He is not looking to go anywhere after the Canucks lost in 4-2 in their opening-round playoff series with the Calgary Flames.
“I’ve never had to cross that bridge before,” said Bieksa. “I haven’t heard it brought up by anybody in the organization. I know you guys are poking around. It’s your job. But that’s not something I really even need to respond to.”
Bieksa and Hamhuis came under criticism after the Canucks fell 7-4 in Saturday’s decisive sixth game. The two blue-liners and others were blasted for allowing the Flames to overcome a 3-0 lead. Bieksa, who has spent his entire NHL career with the Canucks, said he has never been asked to waive his no-trade clause.
“My loyalty has always been to this organization and this city,” he said. “I love playing here. I don’t see anything else changing.”
The questions came up as critics called for the Canucks, who returned to the playoffs this season after missing out in 2013-14, to get younger in order to keep up with the Flames and other Western Conference rivals in the chase for a championship. But Bieksa and others said getting younger is not the sole solution to contending for the Stanley Cup.
“I don’t think you have to rebuild anymore,” said Bieksa. “I think you’re able to be competitive every year. I don’t think youth is always the answer. I don’t think making the team younger is going to help us get over the hump. You need the best players, regardless of how old they are.”
Henrik and Daniel Sedin, who were among the NHL’s top scorers in the regular season, echoed his sentiments as the issue of their ice time continued to come up. Last week, coach Willie Desjardins was blasted for not playing them enough. Monday, skeptics suggested the club might benefit if younger players get more action and increased offensive responsibilities.
But the twins tried to put the season in perspective despite Saturday’s disappointing loss. The Canucks finished second in the Pacific Division after sitting on the sidelines during the 2013-14 post-season.
“It’s a small step but a good step in the right direction,” said Henrik Sedin.
“As disappointing as it is, I think people should be excited about the future,” added Daniel Sedin.
They also dismissed the notion that the Canucks core, which was criticized by former coach John Tortorella last year as being stale, no longer has the skills needed to win the Stanley Cup within the next few seasons.
“We have no plans of getting any worse,” said Henrik Sedin. “We’re not young anymore, but we showed this year we can still be a big part of the group. We can play well, and I don’t see that changing in the next couple of years.”
In other words, the Canucks need more than just a fountain of youth to help them win their first NHL title since entering the league in 1970.
Henrik Sedin is calling for the Canucks to use a mix of youth and veteran savvy to get closer to a Stanley Cup title.
“There’s different ways to mature," he said. "If you look at teams that won, they brought the young guys up and the young guys made a difference.”
“We’re not getting younger, but I think we can still play, and I think we showed it this year,” added Daniel Sedin.
He and his brother praised Desjardins, Benning and president of hockey operations as a long-term solution that can bring Vancouver a long-sought championship. Some changes are inevitable, though.
Goaltender Eddie Lack’s future is in question because of the presence of veteran Ryan Miller, who has two years to go on a contract that pays him $6 million annually. Lack is due to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2015-16 season, and the Canucks will likely want to get some assets in return rather than risk losing him for nothing. Forwards Brad Richardson and Shawn Matthias will become unrestricted free agents this summer, and it appears likely that Matthias, who had a career year, will sign for a higher salary elsewhere.
Richardson will spend the summer recovering from ankle surgery, and it also appears that his days in Vancouver are numbered following an injury-plagued season.
Many of the adjustments will occur around the time of the NHL draft and the opening of free agency in late June and early July.
“I think Jim (Benning) and Trevor (Linden) have a clear plan with what they want do with this team, and we have a lot of confidence in the management in that department,” said Daniel Sedin.
Henrik Sedin said people have to understand how tough it is to make the playoffs now, noting talented Los Angeles, San Jose, Dallas and Colorado teams missed this year’s post-season. So the Canucks must continue to improve. The Sedins said they are aware of Benning and Linden’s plan for improving the club, but it was up to the managers to discuss it.
“They know what they need to do, and we have confidence in what they’re going to do to make us better,” said Henrik Sedin.

Hiller goes with flow as Canucks change goalies

While the Vancouver Canucks switched their goaltenders in a do-or-die situation, Jonas Hiller kept going with the flow Thursday.
Ryan Miller was in and Eddie Lack was out of the Canucks net, but there was no doubt that Hiller would start for the Calgary Flames after he had backstopped them to a 3-1 lead over Vancouver in their Western Conference quarter-final series.
However, it wasn’t always this way for Hiller, who is in his first season with the Flames after being cast aside by the Anaheim Ducks.
His starting status was in question at times this season as he played 52 games while compiling a 26-19-4 record, 2.36 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. He had to battle Karri Ramo for the No. 1 job, but solidified his place down the stretch while helping the Flames secure a playoff berth.
Hiller, a 33-year-old Switzerland native, has also battled concussion issues in the past. But he is not getting too excited about his strong run. He was not about to lobby for long-term starter status, either.
“I knew when I signed in Calgary it was going to be between me and Rammer,” said Hiller after Calgary’s morning skate. “Especially these days, it’s great to have two goalies who can help the team win on any given night, because with the travel and everything, it’s tough to play at your best for 82 games. To have the option and know somebody else is there and can carry the ball for a little bit, it’s great to have. I’m pretty happy to know that I can carry the ball right now and I’m playing well, but it can change quick.”
Hiller is gaining some enjoyment as he stands out for a Flames team that is in the playoffs for the first time since 2008-09. He helped the Flames get in despite a late eight-game losing skid. But he knows that success in the NHL is fleeting, and the battle for the No. 1 position is far from over.
“If you play in the NHL, you always have somebody who wants your job,” he said. “There’s always somebody who’s gonna be better than you. It’s definitely, not gonna be the last time. I’m sure, next year, it’s gonna be a similar situation. It’s part of (a goaltender's life in the NHL), but I’m definitely happy with the way I’m playing and the way I’m able to handle (the load) and always find a way to stay confident in myself and improve my game.”
Hiller said he has had to make some adjustments because of the Flames’ shot-blocking prowess. Their skill actually makes him more cautious and further back in his net in case opponents make an extra pass as their shooting lanes are blocked. Calgary defenceman Kris Russell said Hiller has been Calgary's best player in recent games. Russell added that Hiller reads plays well and is a calming influence because of the way he talks with teammates and helps them out.
“(Hiller) has been good for us all year,” said Russell. “There were a lot of questions coming in, because we had two hot goalies playing. They were two guys that were carrying the ship in their own right, and Rams was hot there for a while. We have a lot of trust in both our goaltenders; and, obviously, Hills has been huge for us this series. … So we’re gonna need him to continue that.”

Rookies making their mark in Flames-Canucks series

Rookies are making their mark in the Western Conference quarter final series between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
The Flames planned to dress five first-year players, including wingers Sam Bennett and Johnny Gaudreau, for the second straight contest in Friday's Game 2. The Canucks were expected to dress at least two rookies, centre Bo Horvat and winger Ronalds Kenins.
"They’re stepping in and playing hard," said Canucks coach Willie Desjardins about the rookies on both clubs. "I just think that’s the way of the new players. The young players, they’re confident in their ability and they feel they can come in and play – not just have ice time, but make a difference.”
Bennett turned heads by assisting on Calgary's winning goal, with only 29.6 seconds left, in the first game. It was only Bennett's second career NHL game, after he drew an assist in the first minute against Winnipeg.
His performance in Game 1 drew rave reviews from Calgary coach Bob Hartley, teammates and opponents alike.
“It’s part of his personality," said Hartley. "You’re talking about a fearless kid, a kid who wants to learn, a kid who wants to compete. I really thank God that we got him in the lineup. He’s probably the biggest pain that I’ve ever coached. This year, every day he was coming to me. He wanted to be in practice. He wanted to be in pre-game warm-ups, stuff like this.”
Bennett, the fourth overall pick in last summer's NHL draft, has excelled after missing most of the season due to shoulder surgery and playing in the latter stages of the campaign with his junior team. He initially hid the injury while attempting to make the Flames in the pre-season.
"There (were) many reports that the kid was not a good worker and couldn't do pull-ups (at the NHL combine) or anything," said Hartley. "When your shoulder is broken in pieces, but you won't tell anyone because you are a competitor and you want to be there, I think that speaks volumes about his character.
“Apparently, his shoulder was fine,” continued Hartley. “But now, today, we know that it wasn’t fine. He wanted to make our team so bad that all the pain was not a problem. Once we got him checked by our team doctors and a specialist, there was no way that he could keep going without a surgery. That’s the kind of player that we need in this organization if we’re going to make some great strides forward. Yes, you need talent, you need speed, but you need character.
"This kid is full of dynamite.”
Teammate Sean Monahan, an old foe in years gone by, was not surprised by Bennett's play.
“I played against him in the OHL," said Monahan. "He’s a good player and he’s gonna be good for a long time.”
Horvat, who also played against Bennett in the OHL was also impressed with his effort in only his second NHL game. They used to square off while Horvat was with London and Bennett toiled for Kingston.
"He’s a special player. ... He’s definitely gotten stronger, and it seems like he’s gotten a little faster,” said Horvat.
Horvat, a 20-year-old Rodney, Ont., also impressed as he scored Vancouver's only goal in his first career Stanley Cup playoff game.
Gaudreau, a leading candidate for the NHL Rookie of the Year award, would like to do better after struggling in Game 1. But the pint-sized Salem, N.J., native, who plays on Calgary's top line, still appreciates the opportunity to take part in the playoffs in his first pro season.
“It’s exciting," said Gaudreau, a Boston College product who was considered a long shot to reach the NHL after being drafted by Calgary in the fourth round (104th overall) in 2011. "I never thought I’d be in this kind of position before."
He praised older teammates for showing the way for him and the four other rookies who started Game 1.
"Thankfully, I had a lot of help from teammates throughout the season, and they really put me in this position.”
Gaudreau, a former Hobey Baker award winner as the top collegiate player in the U.S.
But according to Flames winger David Jones, who scored their first goal in Game 1, the rookies provided guidance for Calgary's older players.
“Even for a lot of us veterans, we don’t have a lot of playoff experience," said Jones. "So we’re all sort of in the same boat. The young guys kind of bring new life to all of us. I’m always impressed every year when guys that are 18, 19, 20 years old come in and play big minutes. When I was (Sam) Bennett’s age, I was still in Junior A.
“Just to show that kind of poise, the kind these guys have, always impresses me.”

Willie Desjardins aims to keep Sedins fresh

Vancouver Canucks coach Willie Desjardins is not fazed by criticism over his use of stars Daniel and Henrik Sedin in the first game of their opening-round playoff series with the Calgary Flames.
“I think all our lines are playing pretty good,” said Desjardins as the Canucks prepared to face the Flames in Game 2 at Rogers Arena on Friday night. “And, I think we play our best when we’re fresh. Maybe they should have had a couple more minutes. Probably, it wouldn’t hurt. But there was times during the year when they had those minutes and we won, and everything was great because they weren’t given the minutes. We feel we’ve gotta work hard every night. There’s no sense burning them out (in) one game.”
Critics were quick to blast Desjardins for not using his top point producers more often as the Canucks lost 2-1 on a last-minute goal while the Sedins were on the bench Wednesday night. Daniel Sedin played 16:14, slightly more than two minutes below his season average of 18:21. Henrik Sedin played 17:29, about a minute less than his average.
But Desjardins plans to stick with his season-long practice of rolling four lines, a method which players have praised. Accordingly, the Sedins were not complaining about their reduced ice time.
“We wouldn’t be standing here talking about it if we had won,” Henrik Sedin said. “We would have been standing here saying, ‘We’re still fresh, they played a lot of minutes and can they keep up with us?’ So here we are.”
Earlier, Henrik drew chuckles when he told reporters: “We have always said we want to play 25 minutes. We did it last year and it didn’t work, so now we are standing here talking about us playing too little.”
The Canucks hope to make a strong run after missing the playoffs under former coach John Tortorella in 2013-14. Consequently, Daniel Sedin was not about to dispute his coach's strategy, either.
“It’s made us successful throughout the year, to roll four lines," said Daniel Sedin. "If we just keep doing that, the longer the series goes, we’ll be fresh – and I like that. You shouldn’t change what has brought you here.”

Eddie Lack welcomes heavy workload

Eddie Lack has a chance to set some new benchmarks this season – and they won’t be pant scuffs which come from sitting as a Vancouver Canucks backup goaltender.
Contrary to early-season expectations, Lack could surpass – and will definitely approach – the 41 games played total that he reached last season as a rookie following Roberto Luongo’s trade to Florida. Lack, who has been excelling lately, could also produce new career bests in goals-against average and save percentage.
He made his 10th consecutive appearance as Vancouver hosted the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night in a game that had plenty of playoff implications. As far as Lack’s activity level goes, it’s more of the same as the second half of 2013-14 as he fills in for injured starter Ryan Miller. Lack has played in 28 games, including Thursday’s affair, and Vancouver has 15 regular-season games remaining following that contest. But, this season is dramatically different, with the Canucks showing the ability to compete most nights – at least when they’re not slacking off against playoff also-rans like Buffalo and Arizona – and Lack’s enjoyment level is considerably higher than it was a year ago.
“It was still fun last year when I played a lot,” he said. “Obviously, it’s way more fun when you win, and it’s a way better atmosphere in the locker-room when you get the results you want. So, obviously, it’s a lot more fun this year.”
Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins told reporters that Miller, who suffered a knee injury Feb. 22 against the New York Islanders, is still at least two or three weeks away from returning to the lineup. Minor-league call-up Jacob Markstrom struggled in his lone start, March 3, as he allowed three goals on four shots before he was pulled in a loss to San Jose.
Barring a drastic turn of events, Lack will start all but a few games until Miller comes back, presuming he does. But Lack, 27, feels ready for the high workload, which will rarely allow for more than one day of rest between games. Last season showed him how he needed to prepare physically for the upcoming grind.
“I feel like I took care of myself last year, too,” he said. “It’s just a matter of getting energy back and getting everything feeling loose and stuff like that after the game. So it’s not really a day off. It’s more a recovery day, if you know what I mean.”
Last season’s ordeal, when he was battling a back injury but still playing as the Canucks tried to turn a disaster into a respectable finish before missing the playoffs, also prepared him mentally for the difficult task ahead.
“Win or lose, you still have to come to the rink the next day and be the same old Eddie and not be too sad about the day before or too happy,” he said. “I feel that I’m good at putting myself down when I have to and bringing myself up when I have to.”
Although the Canucks have held on to a playoff position for most of the season, there is still no guarantee they will qualify for the post-season as the Kings and Calgary Flames apply considerable pressure.
Time will tell whether Lack can back up his words with action, but there’s no doubt that he will get the opportunity to prove himself often. Miller has been seen limping at Rogers Arena lately, and he faces a severe battle to get back within three weeks. There is about a month to go before the end of the regular season.
So Lack might wind up being the post-season starter – if he can help the Canucks qualify.

Sven Baertschi trade has plenty of upside for Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks did not do much at the NHL trade deadline Monday, but they still managed to gain attention.
Shortly after the deadline passed, it was announced that the Canucks had acquired 22-year-old Swiss forward Sven Baertschi from the Calgary Flames for a second-round draft choice. This deal was newsworthy just for the fact that the Canucks made a rare deal with a Pacific Division rival.
Such trades almost never happen, because of fears that they will be harmful to each team’s positions in the standings. Usually, GMs prefer to deal with counterparts in opposing conferences. Sometimes, three-way trades can result in a player going to a divisional or conference rival but, ironically, the Flames initially approached the Canucks.
Vancouver general manager Jim Benning paid a high price, but Baertschi, chosen 13th overall in 2011, is an exceptional talent with tremendous upside – if his junior career is any indication.
“I don’t like giving up draft picks, but I think that in this case, Sven Baertschi, we feel, is gonna be a top-six NHL player for our team some day,” said Benning. “So we weighed getting Sven with what we would get in the second round with our pick and we made a decision: Let’s go ahead and do this. He’s a guy that fits our profile. He’s fast, he’s skilled, and I don’t know what happened with his development in Calgary, but we’re very excited to have him, and he’s going to be a big part of our skill group going forward.”
Baertschi has struggled to gain permanent NHL employment, but his former junior bench boss, Mike Johnston, now coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, told The Calgary Herald earlier this month that the light will soon go on for Baertschi.
“I just think it’s … such a tough league, the NHL,” said Johnston. “Hard for young guys. You can come in, lose your confidence and kind of lose your game. If you’re more of a grinder, a worker, a tough guy, it’s easier. But if you’re a skilled guy trying to figure out your game, it becomes more challenging.
“I’m hoping he can still do it. I believe he can.”
So does Benning. The same goes for Travis Green, coach of Vancouver’s AHL farm team in Utica, N.Y., who was an assistant with Portland during Baertschi’s junior days.
Baertschi had only four points in 15 games with the Flames this season and 25 points in 36 AHL contests with their Adirondack farm team. But in his last WHL season with Portland, he accumulated 33 goals and 61 assists 94 points, after producing 85 points in 66 games the year before.
To someone who saw him play during those two campaigns, it was obvious that Baertschi was well ahead of his peers and had the speed and skill necessary for the NHL. Whether he can handle the rough going remains to be seen.
Johnston was convinced that the Flames still believed in the youngster, but he was wrong. It’s also debatable whether the Flames developed him properly given some of the trials and tribulations that they were going through with coaching and management changes and on-ice struggles prior to this turn-around season in Calgary.
Now in his third season as a full-time pro, Baertschi has yet to play a full season in either the AHL or NHL, splitting time between both. That situation points to a lack of patience on the part of Calgary management – and the high expectations that they placed on Baertschi right from his rookie season. Remember, he’s only 22 – and has not yet played three full seasons.
But Johnston believes that Baertschi is on par skill-wise with former Portland players Nino Niederreiter and Ryan Johansen, who are both established NHLers.
“Baertschi came (to Portland) right after them, so I had pretty good comparables and Sven was equally as good as those guys as a junior, with his speed, his intelligence, his playmaking ability,” said Johnston. “It took Niederreiter a setback and now he’s got it … and I still think Sven will be fine.
“When you’re really, really young, coaches and organizations tend to overlook a couple (deficiencies), but when you come (into the NHL), you’ve got to lock those down. There’s no overlooking anymore — you either make it or don’t.”
If you’re given the proper chance.
The Canucks, under new GM Benning, coach Willie Johnston and president Trevor Linden, have demonstrated this season that they are willing to be patient with developing young players. Minor-league coach Green has also demonstrated that he is an astute coach and developer of talent. So Baertschi, who according to Been is extremely excited to play for the Canucks organization, will likely feel more comfortable than he ahs lately – and can gain accordingly.
“Travis (Green) is real excited to get him,” said Benning. “He’s going to Utica and play. And if he gets an opportunity, if we have an injury or something, then he’ll come up and he’ll play for us.”
If Baertschi were to have an extended stint in the minors, that would not be such a bad thing. He has never played more than 26 NHL games in a season, and he has not played more than 41 in an AHL campaign, either.
He has to be given a chance to stay somewhere so that he can work on the upgrades necessary to be a full-time NHL player.
Ultimately, this deal could benefit both teams, because the Flames could parlay the acquired second-round pick into an everyday NHLer in the future, and they, arguably, have less of a need for Baertschi now due to the success of rising young stars like Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. The Canucks have also enjoyed a renaissance under Desjardins following the disastrous season under former coach John Tortorella, when they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. But the Canucks have an older core of veterans and Baertschi will add to a foundation of youth that the club is building through its prospects and future draft picks.
“We have now a group of good young fast, skilled players that are gonna be the foundation of our teams going forward,” said Benning. “What’s happened around here, they’ve had such good teams over the years, and they’ve been so close to winning the Stanley Cup, that sometimes you sacrifice draft picks to buy players at the deadline that you think can make a difference in winning the Cup and stuff. So we’ve had to regroup a little bit that way.”
If Baertschi can come anywhere near to generating the offence that he did in junior in the NHL, Canuck fans will soon forget the high price paid for him.

Canuck morning skates no longer mandatory

The Vancouver Canucks are doing away with a longstanding NHL tradition under new coach Willie Desjardins.
The Canucks morning skate on the day of a game is no longer mandatory. Before Saturday’s contest with the Calgary Flames, virtually all of Vancouver’s players stayed off the ice, with many playing a form of soccer in the hallway at Rogers Arena while other worked out elsewhere. Defenceman Dan Hamhuis, sidelined since Nov. 20 due to a groin tear, was an exception as he continued to work on his recovery on the ice.
Even goalies Ryan Miller and Eddie Lack stayed in drydock.
“The morning skates are optional,” said new coach Willie Desjardins. “(Saturday’s situation) is rare, because usually one of (the goalies) will the skate. But we always tell our guys: (Do) whatever you think will make you the best for the game.”
While morning skates are often at different times with NHL clubs, no squad has made them optional before every game. It will be interesting to see whether Desjardins maintains the current status for the rest of the season.
But in this era of fatigue management, Vancouver players were not complaining about the lack of a morning on-ice workout.
“I don’t like skating in the morning, so I like the option,” said winger Chris Higgins. “I’ve always been that way my whole career. I feel like I like to save my energy for the game, but some guys like to skate. I guess the coach is leaving it up to personal preference.”
Higgins, who returned to the Vancouver lineup after being sidelined from Thursday’s loss to Florida with the flu, prefers it that way.
“It’s been a debate for a long time in hockey, I guess, having the morning skate or not having it,” said Higgins. “I’d rather leave it up to the individual.”

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.

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.

Flames never gave Anderson a chance

Count Craig Anderson as another goaltender that got away from the Calgary Flames.
Since grooming Mike Vernon into a Stanley Cup winner two decades ago, the Flames have had a terrible time when it comes to drafting and developing backstoppers within their system.
Anderson, a Flames castoff now in his first season with the Colorado Avalanche, is the hottest goaltender in the NHL right now. He tied a record for victories in October with 10 and played a record 15 to start the season, although he has had better nights than he did in a 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.
The 28-year-old Park Ridge, Ill., ranks among the league-leading goaltenders in wins and save percentage, but he never got a shot with Calgary after the Flames chose him in the third round, 77th overall in 1999.
“They had a management changeover,” said Anderson, recalling the firing of then general manager Al Coates and the hiring of Craig Button. “They drafted a (goaltender) first round, Brent Krahn, and no terms were ever negotiated . . . I don’t even remember a contract being offered.”
Calgary chose not to sign him and he went back into the draft two years later in the same round, albeit four places earlier, by Chicago. Watching him Sunday night, you could only wonder what might have been.
The Flames got lucky when general manager Darryl Sutter plucked Mkikka Kiprusoff from the San Jose Sharks, where he was the third-stringer, for a second-rounder in the fall of 2003. Sutter, freshly fired from San Jose and hired by Calgary as coach and GM, was familiar with Kiprusoff, and disgruntled with the likes of Roman Turek, Dany Sabourin and Jamie McLennan.
Kipper merely backstopped the Flames to an unexpected Stanley Cup final berth as they made the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
While he has obviously showed that he is a world-class goaltender, the Flames have struggled to find an adequate backup and an injury to him is akin to an injury to Vancouver's Roberto Luongo.
Krahn, a great junior goaltender with the Calgary Hitmen, was a bust with the Flames, and Kiprusoff's other understudies have been equally forgettable. Anderson's case illustrates the need for NHL clubs to show more patience when it comes to developing a goaltender, which in case you haven't heard by now, is the most important position in hockey.
“I had a great two training camps (with the Flames),” said Anderson. “I got to meet Grant Fuhr, my idol (who lest we forget closed out his career with Calgary in 1999-2000). It was just a great experience. Nothing really came out of it. They were rebuilding their goaltending. They went through a bunch of guys before they got Kiprusoff.”
Now, Anderson has a chance to suit up for the U.S. in the Olympics, although probably as a backup to Buffalo's Ryan Miller, after bouncing from the Blackhawks to the Florida Panthers and their farm clubs to Colorado, with whom he signed as a free agent in the summer.
“This team was the one where I knew I could come in and battle for the No. 1 job,” said Anderson. “There was no clear-cut No. 1 guy.”
Peter Budaj, back in the lineup now after battling illness, was the No. 1 netminder at the end of last season. But he likely will have difficulty regaining his place if Anderson stays as hot as he has been. Thanks to him, the underdog Avalanche, who missed the playoffs last season, continue to lead the Northwest Division and sit second overall in the NHL despite Sunday's loss.
Suffice to say he has come a long way from the days when the Flames dumped him.
“I knew if I just stayed the course and showed up every night when I was called upon, there’s 30 teams you’re auditioning for,” said Anderson. “You’re not just auditioning for one team. There’s gonna be change. Guys are gonna retire. A guy’s going to go down with injuries.”
It's an important lesson for the Flames to heed as Miikka Kiprusoff approaches his retirement, although that's not likely to happen anytime soon.
Anderson is not the only goaltender who came back from the scrap heap to star. For details, see Tim Thomas in Boston, Dwayne Roloson during his glory years with Edmonton (although he is another goaltender who rebuilt his career after being dumped by the Flames) and Anaheim's J.S. Giguere. Oops, he's another former Flames draft pick.
The Flames are by no means the only team guilty of failing to develop goaltenders properly. (In fairness, Roloson was never drafted. Calgary gave him his chance in the NHL, but quickly discarded him after his first two seasons.) Vancouver also has a dismal record of developing its drafted goaltenders. Cory Schneider, destined to be dealt now that Luongo has signed a 12-year contract extension, will eventually join a long list of others who got away after little training time. Except for notable cases like Marty Turco of Dallas and retired star Patrick Roy with Montreal, few stars are groomed from within the organizations that drafted them.
As Craig Anderson's case proves, it's time there were more.

Expect Fleury to surprise again

Even after all these years, you should still expect the unexpected from Theoren Fleury.
For proof, just talk to Calgary Flames longtime radio play-by-play caller Peter Maher, who called all of Fleury's games in his first go-round with the Flames, which began in 1989.
“He got a penalty the other night and he went straight to the penalty box,” said Maher before the Flames fell 5-4 to the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout at GM Place. “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen Theo take a penalty and not argue with the referees on the way to the penalty box. He’s really different in that way.”
But Maher said Fleury, who was not called upon in the shootout Monday, has not lost his desire to be the go-to guy when a game is on the line. That desire and his willingness to share the story about his woes, are the two main effects that he’s having on Calgary’s players as he attempts to resurrect his NHL career after a six-year absence.
“I don’t know how much he appreciated, when he was a star player on the team, being able to play in the NHL,” said Maher. “But now, he really appreciates the opportunity that he’s been given – and he’s really grasping it.”
Fleury, attempting a comeback after alcohol and substance abuse problems led to a recently-rescinded indefinite suspension, said he's trying to be on his best behaviour.
“It’s important that, this time around, you just go out and play – and have fun,” he said.
Fleury recorded an assist Monday to stretch his preseason points streak to three games, the same number of contests that he has played. The Russell, Man., product showed his discipline, as well as his old feistiness, in the final minute of the first period as he rekindled his love-hate relationship with Vancouver fans. The crowd jeered Fleury as he wrestled with Shane O'Brien and Alex Burrows behind the Canucks net after a whistle.
Burrows received a roughing penalty for his part in the skirmish, but Fleury went unpenalized.
"He's more under control," said Maher. "He clearly is in control."
Talking to him afterward, it was clear that Fleury is relishing his second chance with the Flames.
"I wanted to come to Calgary," he said when asked if he was recruited by other clubs. "That was the only place I was looking to come at that point. So I'm really happy to be here, and I'm just happy for the opportunity."
Maher has no doubt that Fleury, never known to spin in front of a microphone, means what he says.
"There was a time when he was under suspension by the NHL that he never wanted to anything to do with anybody in hockey, and talked that way in interviews that he did," said Maher. "But now, he's got everything sorted out with his mind and life, and he's looking very well."
But Maher said Fleury still faces a battle on the ice.
"He's a step slower, but his hands are there," said Maher. "That's the incredible thing. He's got those great hands and he reads the game pretty well.
"But he's not what you would call a checking forward, either. He's a skill player on a team that's got a lot of skill. A spot's more open for a third or fourth-line gy. So it's going to be interesting how it all turns out."
Which means?
Expect more of the unexpected from Fleury.

Fleury could provide emotional tonic for Flames

Cue the Rocky theme song.
Theoren Fleury did not take long to delight his fans Thursday night as he scored the decisive shootout goal in the Calgary Flames' victory over the New York Islanders. Fleury needs the Flames as he attempts to resurrect his dormant NHL career, but the Flames also need him.
It's important to put the game in perspective. It was just an exhibition, and Fleury, in his post-game scrum, could not hide the fact that other games among the 1,000 or so that he has played have held much more importance.
But, if he can regain at least some of his immense skill, he could provide a bit of tonic to a Flames club that has struggled to live up to expectations since bowing out in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2004 Stanley Cup finals.
The elixir may come more in the form of emotion and unity than goals and assists. The Flames are on their fourth coach (including Darryl Sutter, who stepped up to general manager) since their cup run, and they have had more players come and go than a Starbucks has customers during the morning rush.
Last season, the Flames appeared to have most, if not all, of the ingredients. A strong offence. A dominant defence. World-class goaltending. But they did not have the right mix late in the regular season or in the playoffs.
They did not have a Rocky-like underdog story last year. Mike Keenan trying to resurrect his coaching career does go over as well as a former hero returning to the team that he sparked to a Stanley Cup two decades ago. Todd Bertuzzi? Nah.
Now, in addition to Keenan, much of Calgary's offensive talent is gone, and the Flames will have a tougher time scoring goals. With all the newcomers, they will also have a tough time jibing as a team.
Fleury's classic comeback story will grab much of the media attention and help provide a rallying cry for players who are still getting to know each other on and off the ice. He might have to go to the minors for a while to get in game shape, but the demotion can likely be classified as a rehab assignment as he continues his recovery from substance abuse issues that kept him out of the NHL for six years.
That way, a sly GM won't be able to pluck him off the waiver wire upon re-entry just to make sure Calgary remains less competitve. Of course, there is no guarantee that Fleury will shine when, or if, he does skate on to the ice for his first regular season game with the Flames again.
And, coach Brent Sutter still has to figure out the best way to deploy him.
But the music will be an easy choice.