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.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Thursday, April 23, 2015
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.”
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.”
Friday, April 17, 2015
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.”
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.”
“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.”
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Miller's return gives Canucks two goaltending options
The Vancouver Canucks will have two dependable NHL veteran goaltenders when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin.
Ryan Miller, out since Feb. 22 with a knee injury, dressed as the backup as the Canucks hosted the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night. He is expected to start Saturday when the Canucks wrap up the regular season at home against the Edmonton Oilers.
As a result, coach Willie Desjardins can now choose from Eddie Lack, who has played most games in his absence, or Miller in the playoffs.
“I’m excited for the possibility here and I’m just trying to take it day by day and work my way into becoming an option first,” Miller said earlier this week.
Miller, in his first season with the Canucks, was unavailable to reporters Thursday as he stayed out on the ice late during an optional morning skate. He went into the dressing room after it was closed to media.
“I was pushing, trying to get back for one of the last games,” said Miller. “If I was going to have an opportunity to get some game action, that would be the hope.”
Miller has posted a 28-15-1 record with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage this season. Desjardins indicated Wednesday that he will start one regular-season game before the playoffs, leaving only Saturday’s contest against the Oilers.
“We’ll just have to monitor these next couple days to see where he’s at,” said Desjardins. “We’d like to get him in a game, but we’ll have to see where he’s at.”
The situation is reminiscent of past years when former Canucks Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider battled for the No. 1 position. Desjardins has declined to name a starter until the post-season begins.
“You never make that decision right now,” said Desjardins. “That decision will be made before the first playoff game. But, saying that, I think Eddie’s played really well. We needed him to step up. We had a lot of hockey left without Ryan, and he did a terrific job for us and he certainly got us into the playoffs. So you always take that into consideration.”
The Canucks returned Jacob Markstrom to Utica of the AHL on Thursday. Markstrom has a 1-1-0 record in three appearances with Vancouver this season. He was with the Canucks on an emergency recall basis as a result of Miller’s injury.
Once Miller was deemed healthy enough to play, Markstrom had to return to the minors.
Ryan Miller, out since Feb. 22 with a knee injury, dressed as the backup as the Canucks hosted the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night. He is expected to start Saturday when the Canucks wrap up the regular season at home against the Edmonton Oilers.
As a result, coach Willie Desjardins can now choose from Eddie Lack, who has played most games in his absence, or Miller in the playoffs.
“I’m excited for the possibility here and I’m just trying to take it day by day and work my way into becoming an option first,” Miller said earlier this week.
Miller, in his first season with the Canucks, was unavailable to reporters Thursday as he stayed out on the ice late during an optional morning skate. He went into the dressing room after it was closed to media.
“I was pushing, trying to get back for one of the last games,” said Miller. “If I was going to have an opportunity to get some game action, that would be the hope.”
Miller has posted a 28-15-1 record with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage this season. Desjardins indicated Wednesday that he will start one regular-season game before the playoffs, leaving only Saturday’s contest against the Oilers.
“We’ll just have to monitor these next couple days to see where he’s at,” said Desjardins. “We’d like to get him in a game, but we’ll have to see where he’s at.”
The situation is reminiscent of past years when former Canucks Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider battled for the No. 1 position. Desjardins has declined to name a starter until the post-season begins.
“You never make that decision right now,” said Desjardins. “That decision will be made before the first playoff game. But, saying that, I think Eddie’s played really well. We needed him to step up. We had a lot of hockey left without Ryan, and he did a terrific job for us and he certainly got us into the playoffs. So you always take that into consideration.”
The Canucks returned Jacob Markstrom to Utica of the AHL on Thursday. Markstrom has a 1-1-0 record in three appearances with Vancouver this season. He was with the Canucks on an emergency recall basis as a result of Miller’s injury.
Once Miller was deemed healthy enough to play, Markstrom had to return to the minors.
Dorsett and Sbisa looking forward to long stays in Vancouver
Derek Dorsett got the long-term deal he wanted from the Vancouver Canucks. Now, he’s looking to build a future for himself, his family and his team.
The winger was pumped Thursday, a day after signing a new four-year contract with an annual salary cap hit of $2.65 million. The contract is the longest of the 28-year-old Kindersley, Sask., native’s NHL career.
“Me and my agents talked about trying to get a long-term commitment and, obviously, Vancouver made that offer,” he said as the Canucks prepared to face the Arizona Coyotes. “So we’re very happy with it and glad to be staying in Vancouver. That’s for sure.”
His previous three contracts ranged from two to three years.
“It means a lot,” he said of the contract length. “The ownership and management group have been nothing but great to me and my family. It’s a first-class organization, and I couldn’t be happier anywhere else. Being in Canada and being in a Canadian market and, obviously, it being a childhood dream to play in a Canadian market, now I get to do it for four years and work towards the goal that everyone wants to accomplish here – and that’s to win a Stanley Cup.”
Dorsett joined the Canucks in an off-season trade from the New York Rangers and has established a strong affection for the city after his son Dylan was born here. He has become a mainstay on a nominal fourth line with rookie centre Bo Horvat and fellow centre Jannik Hansen.
The line has been prominent down the stretch as the Canucks secured a playoff berth after a one-year absence from the post-season.
Before Thursday’s contest, Dorsett had posted single-season career highs in points (25) and assists (18). He was leading the Canucks in hits (163) and his team-leading 169 penalty minutes ranked fourth in the NHL.
“Coming into a locker-room full of guys that you’ve had some pretty good wars against, it can be a little difficult and nerve-wracking,” he said. “But the guys opened the locker-room with open arms. It just shows what kind of leaders are on this team and the character of guys that are in this locker-room. It’s been a lot of fun this year. And, as soon as I got here, (seeing) how welcoming they are to me and my family, it just made me realize that I wanted to be here long-term.”
Dorsett has earned praise from coach Willie Desjardins and general manager Jim Benning for his physical ways and his willingness to stand up for teammates in altercations. In coming years, Dorsett, who has also played for Columbus, which drafted him from the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, also hopes to become active with charitable causes in Vancouver and be more of a mentor to younger players.
“I still remember the first times I walked into an NHL locker-room star-struck at some of the guys that were walking around,” he said. “When I was in Columbus, you had the likes of Sergei Federov, you had Anson Carter, you had Michael Peca and Freddie Modin, guys like that. Walking around, you see them and you get caught in the moment. I can remember times when those guys made me feel welcome and always had time to chat with me; or if I had any questions, to show the way. So (mentoring) is something I take pride in. I hope I can do that for the next four years to some of the young guys. We’ve got some young talent coming up that will help this team win down the road, and it’ll be a fun role to take on.”
But first, there’s a Stanley Cup to play for this season. Dorsett is glad that he won’t be distracted by contract issues as the Canucks chase a championship.
“It’s an important time of year and it’s obviously a relief to get it over with,” he said.
Meanwhile, defenceman Luca Sbisa was also relieved that he could also focus on the playoffs after signing a new deal of his own. Sbisa signed a three-year deal with a yearly cap hit of $3.6 million Wednesday.
“From a personal standpoint, that’s huge,” he said. “(There were) a lot of question marks coming into this year. So it’s good to have the confidence of upper management, the coaches and all that to be here for another three years.”
Sbisa, 25-year-old Swiss product of Italian descent, was acquired from Anaheim at the trade deadline as part of the Ryan Kesler deal. After some early struggles, Sbisa has established himself as a regular. He solidified his spot after helping the defence corps get through a plethora of injuries with a strong run early in 2015.
“Joining a new team, you don’t really know where you fit in and all that, so I think it took me a while to get going,” he said. “The second half of the year, I started to play better. … When those injuries happened on the back end, obviously, that was a bad thing. But at the same time, it was an opportunity for some other guys in the room. I think that’s when I stepped up a bit and started to play better hockey. It’s nice to get rewarded with a contract.”
Benning did not give no-trade clauses to either Dorsett or Sbisa. But they are not going anywhere soon.
The winger was pumped Thursday, a day after signing a new four-year contract with an annual salary cap hit of $2.65 million. The contract is the longest of the 28-year-old Kindersley, Sask., native’s NHL career.
“Me and my agents talked about trying to get a long-term commitment and, obviously, Vancouver made that offer,” he said as the Canucks prepared to face the Arizona Coyotes. “So we’re very happy with it and glad to be staying in Vancouver. That’s for sure.”
His previous three contracts ranged from two to three years.
“It means a lot,” he said of the contract length. “The ownership and management group have been nothing but great to me and my family. It’s a first-class organization, and I couldn’t be happier anywhere else. Being in Canada and being in a Canadian market and, obviously, it being a childhood dream to play in a Canadian market, now I get to do it for four years and work towards the goal that everyone wants to accomplish here – and that’s to win a Stanley Cup.”
Dorsett joined the Canucks in an off-season trade from the New York Rangers and has established a strong affection for the city after his son Dylan was born here. He has become a mainstay on a nominal fourth line with rookie centre Bo Horvat and fellow centre Jannik Hansen.
The line has been prominent down the stretch as the Canucks secured a playoff berth after a one-year absence from the post-season.
Before Thursday’s contest, Dorsett had posted single-season career highs in points (25) and assists (18). He was leading the Canucks in hits (163) and his team-leading 169 penalty minutes ranked fourth in the NHL.
“Coming into a locker-room full of guys that you’ve had some pretty good wars against, it can be a little difficult and nerve-wracking,” he said. “But the guys opened the locker-room with open arms. It just shows what kind of leaders are on this team and the character of guys that are in this locker-room. It’s been a lot of fun this year. And, as soon as I got here, (seeing) how welcoming they are to me and my family, it just made me realize that I wanted to be here long-term.”
Dorsett has earned praise from coach Willie Desjardins and general manager Jim Benning for his physical ways and his willingness to stand up for teammates in altercations. In coming years, Dorsett, who has also played for Columbus, which drafted him from the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, also hopes to become active with charitable causes in Vancouver and be more of a mentor to younger players.
“I still remember the first times I walked into an NHL locker-room star-struck at some of the guys that were walking around,” he said. “When I was in Columbus, you had the likes of Sergei Federov, you had Anson Carter, you had Michael Peca and Freddie Modin, guys like that. Walking around, you see them and you get caught in the moment. I can remember times when those guys made me feel welcome and always had time to chat with me; or if I had any questions, to show the way. So (mentoring) is something I take pride in. I hope I can do that for the next four years to some of the young guys. We’ve got some young talent coming up that will help this team win down the road, and it’ll be a fun role to take on.”
But first, there’s a Stanley Cup to play for this season. Dorsett is glad that he won’t be distracted by contract issues as the Canucks chase a championship.
“It’s an important time of year and it’s obviously a relief to get it over with,” he said.
Meanwhile, defenceman Luca Sbisa was also relieved that he could also focus on the playoffs after signing a new deal of his own. Sbisa signed a three-year deal with a yearly cap hit of $3.6 million Wednesday.
“From a personal standpoint, that’s huge,” he said. “(There were) a lot of question marks coming into this year. So it’s good to have the confidence of upper management, the coaches and all that to be here for another three years.”
Sbisa, 25-year-old Swiss product of Italian descent, was acquired from Anaheim at the trade deadline as part of the Ryan Kesler deal. After some early struggles, Sbisa has established himself as a regular. He solidified his spot after helping the defence corps get through a plethora of injuries with a strong run early in 2015.
“Joining a new team, you don’t really know where you fit in and all that, so I think it took me a while to get going,” he said. “The second half of the year, I started to play better. … When those injuries happened on the back end, obviously, that was a bad thing. But at the same time, it was an opportunity for some other guys in the room. I think that’s when I stepped up a bit and started to play better hockey. It’s nice to get rewarded with a contract.”
Benning did not give no-trade clauses to either Dorsett or Sbisa. But they are not going anywhere soon.
Mattocks excels in first start of season as Caps tie Crew
Darren Mattocks finally got a chance to start a game for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday, and he did not disappoint.
Mattocks scored the tying goal in the 64th minute and added an assist as the Whitecaps rallied to earn a 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew at B.C. Place Stadium. He was named the man of the match as the Whitecaps (4-1-1) extended their unbeaten streak to five games in the young MLS season.
“A fantastic game. We should have gotten the three points. I scored, but I think I should at least get one more. I’ve got to consider that that’s my first 90 minutes, so I’m going to take it as a positive.”
In his fourth season with the Whitecaps, Mattocks has appeared in three other games as a substitute while missing another game due to international duty with Jamaica. He helped the Whitecaps come back from a pair of deficits as Kai Kamara scored both Crew goals, in the 24th and 50th minutes.
Second-half substitute Kekuta Manneh enabled Mattocks to cash in for an easy first goal of the season. Manneh broke down left wing with the ball, cut towards the net and then, when he was within six yards, made a sublime pass back through two defenders to Mattocks in the middle of the Columbus area.
“He’s a great player and, every game he plays, we know what he’s capable of doing and what he’s expected to do. … Fortunately for me, I was in the right place at the right time,” said Mattocks.
Mattocks set up Vancouver’s first goal by making a long throw-in to Octavio Rivero in the 31st minute. After taking the ball in the Columbus box, Rivero sidestepped a defender and fired a shot just inside the near post.
Mattocks showed versatility by playing on both wings. He started on the left wing and then switched to the right after Manneh came on for Nicolas Mezquida. Late in the game, Mattocks put the would-be winning goal off the corner of the crossbar. He also played one of his better games defensively in a Caps jersey, hustling back to mark opponents and being strong on the ball.
“When I’m scoring, that’s expected of me, to score, but I never can see myself doing so much work defensively,” he said. “It’s something I’m not used to on a nightly basis, because I’m a striker. But I think I did really good defensively. I think that’s what I’m going to take out of this game. And if I can continue to do that on both sides of the ball, creating chances for the team but working extremely hard defensively, I think I’m going to be in pretty good shape going forward.”
The Whitecaps spent a fair amount of time going backward in the first half as Columbus pressed forward with regularity. Both of Kamara’s goals resulted from poor defensive play.
He scored the first by firing in a loose ball after it bounced off the feet of centre back Kendall Waston and a Columbus player. The second was a terrible goal, with the Whitecaps leaving Kamara alone in their box and free to take a slow cross along the turf from Justin Meram.
“I think we had enough chances to, probably, win the game,” said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson. “We didn’t take enough of our chances, but we weren’t good enough defensively. We (allowed) two sloppy goals. We got countered and the second goal, obviously, was a bad goal for us to concede.”
But Robinson, who juggled his lineup to avoid his players getting fatigued in three games this week, was impressed with Mattocks.
“He was very good,” said Robinson. “He got his goal. He could have, maybe, had one or two more. But there was a lot of positive play. I can’t fault my players in there today, because we’re exciting to watch attacking-wise. We’ve just gotta to tidy up a few things on the defensive side of it.”
Mattocks has not always been the hardest working Whitecap or displayed the most vision on the pitch. But he showed that Robinson made a good choice in putting him for 92 minutes before he was replaced by Robert Earnshaw in stoppage time.
“I felt it was the right time to give (Mattocks) the opportunity,” said Robinson. “He’s been away with Jamaica, he scored two goals, he got very very lively in training. And the decision was correct, because he came on and put a very strong performance for 90- odd minutes. He ran out of gas in the end, which is why I tried to put Earnie on to see if we could nick a second ball off a Kendall header or something, but (Mattocks) should be very proud of his performance today.”
The Whitecaps pulled out the draw while dealing with injuries. They lost centre back Diego Rodriguez to a groin injury in the 15th minute as his return from a two-game league suspension was brief. Waston, who was dominant in the air, also hurt his neck late in the game as he was upended by Kamara and landed head-first. But, surprisingly, Waston remained in the game.
“Maybe he got a little bit undercut and fell awkwardly, which made me angry, as you could see,” said Robinson.
The Whitecaps visit the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, hoping to keep their unbeaten streak alive while Mattocks looks forward to another start in the near future.
Mattocks scored the tying goal in the 64th minute and added an assist as the Whitecaps rallied to earn a 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew at B.C. Place Stadium. He was named the man of the match as the Whitecaps (4-1-1) extended their unbeaten streak to five games in the young MLS season.
“A fantastic game. We should have gotten the three points. I scored, but I think I should at least get one more. I’ve got to consider that that’s my first 90 minutes, so I’m going to take it as a positive.”
In his fourth season with the Whitecaps, Mattocks has appeared in three other games as a substitute while missing another game due to international duty with Jamaica. He helped the Whitecaps come back from a pair of deficits as Kai Kamara scored both Crew goals, in the 24th and 50th minutes.
Second-half substitute Kekuta Manneh enabled Mattocks to cash in for an easy first goal of the season. Manneh broke down left wing with the ball, cut towards the net and then, when he was within six yards, made a sublime pass back through two defenders to Mattocks in the middle of the Columbus area.
“He’s a great player and, every game he plays, we know what he’s capable of doing and what he’s expected to do. … Fortunately for me, I was in the right place at the right time,” said Mattocks.
Mattocks set up Vancouver’s first goal by making a long throw-in to Octavio Rivero in the 31st minute. After taking the ball in the Columbus box, Rivero sidestepped a defender and fired a shot just inside the near post.
Mattocks showed versatility by playing on both wings. He started on the left wing and then switched to the right after Manneh came on for Nicolas Mezquida. Late in the game, Mattocks put the would-be winning goal off the corner of the crossbar. He also played one of his better games defensively in a Caps jersey, hustling back to mark opponents and being strong on the ball.
“When I’m scoring, that’s expected of me, to score, but I never can see myself doing so much work defensively,” he said. “It’s something I’m not used to on a nightly basis, because I’m a striker. But I think I did really good defensively. I think that’s what I’m going to take out of this game. And if I can continue to do that on both sides of the ball, creating chances for the team but working extremely hard defensively, I think I’m going to be in pretty good shape going forward.”
The Whitecaps spent a fair amount of time going backward in the first half as Columbus pressed forward with regularity. Both of Kamara’s goals resulted from poor defensive play.
He scored the first by firing in a loose ball after it bounced off the feet of centre back Kendall Waston and a Columbus player. The second was a terrible goal, with the Whitecaps leaving Kamara alone in their box and free to take a slow cross along the turf from Justin Meram.
“I think we had enough chances to, probably, win the game,” said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson. “We didn’t take enough of our chances, but we weren’t good enough defensively. We (allowed) two sloppy goals. We got countered and the second goal, obviously, was a bad goal for us to concede.”
But Robinson, who juggled his lineup to avoid his players getting fatigued in three games this week, was impressed with Mattocks.
“He was very good,” said Robinson. “He got his goal. He could have, maybe, had one or two more. But there was a lot of positive play. I can’t fault my players in there today, because we’re exciting to watch attacking-wise. We’ve just gotta to tidy up a few things on the defensive side of it.”
Mattocks has not always been the hardest working Whitecap or displayed the most vision on the pitch. But he showed that Robinson made a good choice in putting him for 92 minutes before he was replaced by Robert Earnshaw in stoppage time.
“I felt it was the right time to give (Mattocks) the opportunity,” said Robinson. “He’s been away with Jamaica, he scored two goals, he got very very lively in training. And the decision was correct, because he came on and put a very strong performance for 90- odd minutes. He ran out of gas in the end, which is why I tried to put Earnie on to see if we could nick a second ball off a Kendall header or something, but (Mattocks) should be very proud of his performance today.”
The Whitecaps pulled out the draw while dealing with injuries. They lost centre back Diego Rodriguez to a groin injury in the 15th minute as his return from a two-game league suspension was brief. Waston, who was dominant in the air, also hurt his neck late in the game as he was upended by Kamara and landed head-first. But, surprisingly, Waston remained in the game.
“Maybe he got a little bit undercut and fell awkwardly, which made me angry, as you could see,” said Robinson.
The Whitecaps visit the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, hoping to keep their unbeaten streak alive while Mattocks looks forward to another start in the near future.
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