Canucks refuse to tank in final week

Lose games on purpose?

No tanks, say the Vancouver Canucks.

As the Canucks play the final week of their 2015-16 NHL regular season, they are damned if they do win games and damned if they don’t. Wins could hurt their draft position, but losses could also leave a bad taste in fans’ mouths.

Long eliminated from the playoffs, the Canucks will take moral victories over reduced odds for the top overall pick, which is likely to be American forward Auston Matthews.

“We wanna win games,” said Canucks rookie Jake Virtanen. “That’s what we wanna do, and that’s what matters right now. We’re not gonna throw away games just to get a good draft pick. We wanna, obviously, end the year off with a bang here and build team character and team identity for next year.”

The Canucks had a Monday night date with the Los Angeles Kings at home, and then travel to Calgary and Edmonton for games Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, before closing out the season Saturday at home against the Oilers.

Defenceman Dan Hamhuis, a pending unrestricted free agent who might not return to the Canucks next season, said the goal is to play. He contended it’s “silly” that the Canucks should lose in order to get a better draft pick.

“Our job is to play hard and put a good product on the ice,” said Hamhuis. “We take a lot of pride as individuals and as a team in representing the Canucks, and losing games is just not something you ever want to do.  I think that’s a poor representation of the jersey.”

Hamhuis said it’s difficult to get up for games with nothing on the line, but the club had played better in the previous six or seven games.

“You don’t want to be put in a situation like this, when the games aren’t building towards the playoffs or anything, but I think you can say we are building towards next year a bit,” he said.

What’s captain Henrik Sedin’s message to fans as the Canucks complete the final week of their campaign.

“That we’re gonna finish the season off and play the best hockey that we can,” said Sedin.

Accordingly, fans can expect coach Willie Desjardins to ice the strongest he can each night, even as the the team continues to evaluate players for next season. But a high draft pick is few rungs down on his priority list.

“A good pick is something that you always want,” said Desjardins. “It’s something that can help you down the road, but I think the thing that’s most important, more than one player, is the culture you have on your team. I think the culture has to be that you play every game to win.”

Desjardins, who has been heavily criticized but is slated to return next season, would rather continue to build a winning culture rather than have a chance at a top young player who might or might not live up to his potential.

“If you ever lose that culture, you’re set back for years – and one player can’t even help you get out of it,” said Desjardins.

Don't rule out a Stamkos trade

Points to ponder as the National Hockey League trade deadline approaches ...

1. Steven Stamkos could still be traded.

Contrary to perception, Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman could still trade the Lightning captain. Yzerman just won't do it by the Feb. 29 trade deadline.
By announcing that he will not move Stamkos between now and the end of the season, Yzerman has covered the bases -- and his backside. The decision means that Stamkos, one of the best players in the world, can still help the Bolts push for a playoff spot, the star centre and the team will not be distracted by trade speculation, and Yzerman can still try to get his best player signed to a new contract.
If contract negotiations do not go as planned, Yzerman still has the option of trading Stamkos around the time of the NHL Draft or prior to the opening of free agency.
Stamkos would still have to agree to a trade, which means that he might not go at the draft, because he will want to choose where he plays next. But it's feasible that he could consent to a trade prior to becoming a free agent, because he would not have to relocate and could simply wait until his contract expires.
If Yzerman deals him prior to the free agent frenzy, the Lightning could still get a decent return, the team that acquires him would have an exclusive negotiating period. If the team that acquires him fails to strike a deal, it could trade him before free agency opens.
A similar scenario occurred in 2010 when Dan Hamhuis made it known that he would not re-sign with Nashville. The Predators dealt him to Philadelphia for a conditional 2011 draft pick and Ryan Parent. When the Flyers could not sign Hamhuis, they traded him to Pittsburgh for a third-round pick. The Penguins were also unable to ink him to a deal, and he eventually chose to sign with Vancouver.
In the case of Stamkos, a team, say Toronto, could give up more if it feels quite confident about signing him.

2. Canucks are in a rebuild

Despite recent reports suggesting otherwise, the Canucks are in a rebuild.
It is ludicrous to suggest that owner Francesco Acquillini is opposed to one, because eight players have made their NHL debuts with Vancouver this season, and four are currently with the team. Also, the Canucks only have 13 players who were with the team at the start of last season.
If Acquillini was unhappy with president Trevor Linden and GM Jim Benning's current strategy and philosophy, he would fire them, but he hasn't.
The Canucks are not done dealing and will be sellers at the trade deadline to free up more salary cap space and have access to more young talent. That means the likes of defenceman Hamhuis and winger Radim Vrbata, among others, could be moved.

3. Willie Desjardins needs PR tips

Somebody needs to tell Canucks coach Willie Desjardins not to be so self-critical.
He blamed himself for losses to lowly struggling Toronto and Minnesota clubs in the past two games. Never mind that most of the Canucks' offensive players have trouble hitting the broad side of a barn with their shots these days.
The fact is that the Canucks can't score enough goals, and that problem is due more to a lack of production from veterans than poor coaching. And, it should be noted, the veterans' offensive troubles began well before Desjardins arrived.
Desjardins is still keeping the Canucks within spitting distance of a playoff spot despite numerous injuries and the integration of young players as part of the aforementioned rebuild. He has come under criticism for repeatedly rolling four lines, but what's the use of going with three lines if only one of them can score consistently? If he reduces the fourth line's ice time, the Canucks could be more vulnerable defensively, and they will not score more goals. And, key players like Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Jannik Hansen could be vulnerable to increased fatigue and injuries.
Desjardins' primary fault when it comes to PR is that he is serious and introspective publicly, in contrast to other moments away from the cameras when he is much more jovial and happy-go-lucky. But it's hard to be happy-go-lucky when you don't have enough consistently scoring veterans to work with.
 
4.  Goalies could be on the move

This year's trade deadline could feature more goaltenders than usual as teams try to improve their playoff hopes and others try to get value for impending unrestricted free agents.
The Montreal Canadiens, in danger of missing the playoffs after a phenomenal start to the season, could be inclined to acquire a goaltender as Carey Price remains out with an injury. Meanwhile, other teams might be interested in Carolina's Cam Ward, who has won a Stanley Cup, Calgary's Jonas Hiller, Toronto's James Reimer, San Jose's Alex Stalock or L.A.'s Jhonas Enroth. All could help in the stretch drive.
Vancouver's Ryan Miller still has a year to go on a contract that pays him $6.5 million annually, but the Canucks might be inclined to move him as Jakob Markstrom continues to progress. Miller would have to agree to a deal, but might be willing if he feels the new team's Stanley Cup hopes are strong. The new team could then buy out Miller in the off-season.

5. Some big names could change teams

With Stamkos staying in Tampa, some other big names, who are also destined to become UFAs, could change uniforms at the deadline. The others include Carolina's Eric Staal, Florida's Brian Campbell, Vancouver's Vrbata, Arizona's Shane Doan and David Backes of the St. Louis. Staal, Doan and Backes are captains, adding more captain-related intrigue to a season that has already seen the speculation on Stamkos and former Maple Leafs skipper Dion Phaneuf move to the Ottawa Senators.

6. Expect the unexpected

In keeping with most trade deadlines, some unexpected deals will inevitably stun fans. The main question is: How many of these will occur?

 






  

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.

Hamhuis looking forward to return from freak injury

The Vancouver Canucks received some good news on the injury front Thursday as defenceman Dan Hamhuis took part in his team’s morning skate.
Hamhuis, who has been sidelined with a groin injury since Nov. 20, is slated to participate in a regular practice with the team Friday and will join the Canucks on their upcoming five-game road trip.
“I’m feeling really good,” said Hamhuis before the Canucks faced the Florida Panthers and former teammate Roberto Luongo without him. “I’ve been skating (alone) for a while now. I finally took the step (Thursday) to skate with my teammates, so it’s something been looking forward to for a while. It’s a lot more fun skating with my teammates than by (myself).
“Injuries are never fun to deal with. With this one, we knew that it was going to be a long-term thing. We’ve got a great medical team here with the Canucks, and we tried to benefit from this as much as I could, work on certain parts of my game, certain deficiencies that now we’ve had time to work on. Since coming back skating, I’ve been feeling strong and I’m looking forward to getting back.”
Prior to the injury, Hamhuis compiled six assists and a minus-five mark while average 20:36 of ice time in 20 games. He was injured in a rare mishap in Vancouver’s home game against Anaheim.
“It’s just one of those, I’d say, freak injuries where I was in somewhat of an extended position, and just (took) a little bump of a skate,” he said. “It was enough to tear the groin, and I kind of knew right away what it was. I knew I was in for a long rehab, but I’m happy that it’s gone really well and that the team’s done an outstanding job of getting me back to this point. So far, I’m ahead of schedule.”
Hamhuis and the Canucks medical staff “wrestled” with the question of whether surgery was necessary, but they opted to go with a rehabilitation program instead. The Smithers, B.C., native used the time to strengthen all of his groin area, with the goal of making the muscles stronger than they were before the injury occurred.
He originally expected to be out two months, but it appears he will be back sooner than expected.
“This is something that we evaluate each day,” he said. “Things can change. You go out there and step on a puck or something. I’d love to get into a game here before the all-star break, but it’s hard to set an exact date. The sooner, the better.”
Meanwhile, centre Brad Richardson and winger Radim Vrbata returned to Vancouver’s lineup Thursday.