Chairman Maouth

Ah, someone who takes responsibility. To be fair, I was so unsure over last summer that I just kept my mouth shut around here and said to everyone, "Give Gillis a chance." He's proven a lot of people wrong.

After Naslund left, (good riddance) Kesler had my vote to become Canucks captain. He brings it every game and leads by example. Gillis and Vig kinda threw a curve-ball at us though when they made Luongo captain. Can't really argue with anything they've done this year though. And I love what Kesler and Burrows said about Vanocouver. It bodes well for the Canucks future: And just noticing your name.... what the heck is up with Osgood? He craps the bed for a year and then goes lights out for the playoffs. Jesus Christ, I was hanging my hat on Detroit having weak goaltending in the playoffs.

We love that freakin' yank here in Vancouver. Even more than Obama. Seriously, when Obama visited Canada a couple months ago the Team 1040 radio station did a poll asking which American had the most influence in Canada -- Obama or Ryan Kesler. Kesler won by about 9:1.

The last two games the Canucks really knocked off the extra-curricular activities and played much smarter and did what it took to win. When faced with a Blues team with the momentum, they did not panic and turned it around every game I'm a Canucks fan but know that the Wings are smooth as silk and the Canucks are more like burlap; tougher, but not as comfortable or aesthetically pleasing to the eye in their play. The Wings are very disciplined and it will be a tall order for the Canucks to keep pace with the Wings and stay out of the penalty box should the two teams meet. 5 on 5, I believe the Canucks can hang with any team. But regardless, the Canucks PK has been lights out, Luongo the same, and the entire team from first to fourth lines to the defense is contributing well. I'm not saying the Canucks are better than the Wings, but they have a shot at beating the Wings and in my opinion are the strongest ever Canucks team to enter the post-season. And not to stir up any crap, but they made liars out of a lot of people here who ridiculed them, Mike Gillis, and the entire organization in 2008.

I know I'm going to sound like a Canucks Homer here, but the Canucks did all the message sending last night, right down to the final whistle. 5 on 5, the Canucks have been absolutely dominant, and they hit the Blues so much that they treat the puck like a hot potato.

By winning more than Detroit the second half of the season.

Those jokes no longer apply since you elected a genius in 2000 and then re-elected him in 2004.

Tickets in the lower bowl in Vancouver are $382.00 plus fees.

He's still a ******-bag.

My uncle played 4 seasons with the Hawks. Then played in St Louis for their expansion year under Scotty Bowman.

That's exactly how you should feel. And I agree with you about Columbus. I'm a Canucks fan and hope we play Chicago over Columbus. We've owned Chicago the last couple of games, but Columbus scares me a little.

The NHL is better off for having strong Columbus and Chicago teams. Both cities are good hockey markets and their fans deserve some success.

From the Vancouver Sun

Scott Stevens Rocket Richard (How's that for a nasty duo?) Scott Neidermayer Alex Ovechkin

All sounds good to me, until you get to the conference final. However, the third and fourth seed may also be wrong. Canucks are one point behind Calgary with a game in hand. Canucks have been extremely hot. Flames have been extremely cold.

Well, it's true that the Wings have developed a reputation for a lack of team toughness, but last years Stanley Cup and a few in recent years before that mitigates all that doesn't it? It's always very difficult to argue with success. I'd say the time to criticize team toughness wouldn't be until if and when you get pushed around and knocked out of the playoffs. The Wings play a very smart and disciplined game (much like the Sedin's) and that's to be commended. If I were a Wings fan I'd be more concerned about goaltending at this point.

Nope. Absolutely. Don't tell anyone, but that's one of my opening moves. I wouldn't go that far. My fingernails are too short to be effective. Outside of using a weapon, no there aren't. Last man standing wins. If you don't do it to him, he could do it to you. I'll err on the side of caution, a kick to the nuts and I'll turn his knees backwards if he gives me the chance. He can think about "honor" as he gets loaded into the ambulance. But that didn't happen because I beat him with the weapons I had at my disposal -- my body and my brain. Sanctioned league fights are an entirely different animal, but that's not what you were talking about above. Besides, I already said, "The argument could be made though that that has no place in hockey, and for the most part I would agree." By the way -- wasn't Bob Probert also a beloved Red Wing? Does your disdain for Burrows cover Probert as well?

Sounds like you've never been in a streetfight (which is fine). Hair makes for a great handle, and the longer the better. If you've got one handful of hair and one free hand, the fight is pretty much over. No guy whose ass you just handed to him and who is now leaking blood all over the floor is going to tease you because you used his hair as a direct link to ground zero. On the other hand, the Alexander Semin windmill punches were totally ineffective and for that reason, quite embarrassing. At least Burrows had a chance at getting an advantage. The argument could be made though that that has no place in hockey, and for the most part I would agree. However, out of all the ways you can actually hurt someone in the NHL, hair-pulling in and of itself is way down on the list unless it's used like I indicated above. It was a heated game and the Hawks had just intentionally hit Luongo in the face and had also gone after Daniel Sedin. The former was shutting them out, the latter was owning them on the scoreboard. That's what I found most disgraceful about the game. The Chicago Babyhawks couldn't take a loss, so they took it out on the two players who were most kicking their ass the in the way the game is supposed to be played.

Luongo may also take a discount to play in Vancouver. There is a trend developing here. "That's what we need everybody to do. If we're going to win the Cup, we need guys to take pay cuts. The way the salary cap is now, you really can't get what you're worth now if you want to win. Everybody in this locker-room knows that, and for us to be a great team going forward, we're going to have to take a pay cut. I want to play here for a long time." -- Ryan Kesler "That's what I'm hoping. We've got a really good group of guys in here that understand the salary-cap world. Obviously, we play this game to win the Stanley Cup and to do that you can't be too greedy when it comes down to paycheques and contract talks. If you look at teams like Detroit, they have guys who could make a lot more money than they're making right now, but they're taking a little less to win a Stanley Cup. So hopefully guys will do the same in this locker-room when they become UFAs [unrestricted free agents] this summer or in the future. That's how we're going to build a winning team." -- Alex Burrows Now I know you guys love to belittle the Canucks. I certainly saw plenty of it here last summer. "Mike Gillis is an idiot", etc., etc., and "the Canucks are going to be bottom-dwellers in 2008-2009." But the Canucks organization has a very good attitude right now and are playing excellent hockey. The future is bright in Vancouver and if Gillis continues to put a good team on the ice, I don't see Luongo going anywhere. It's about atttitude, and the desire to become a champion, not a rich also-ran, and that attitude seems to be quite prevalent in the Canucks dressing room right now. In other words, don't get your hopes that Luongo is even leaving Vancouver, let alone landing in Detroit.

Listened to two interviews today; one with Mike Gillis and one with Mats Sundin. Both said the same thing -- that money was hardly discussed past the original offer and that Sundin actually offered to take less than the original money offer in order for Gillis to add an additional top six forward soon. They both also said that travel was never even discussed but that Sundin's biggest concern was not disrupting the Canucks dressing room. Sundin was also concerned about anyone who might have to be sent to the minors if he comes to Vancouver. The final thing was that Sundin has been impressed with the Canucks style of play this year and that was a big part of his decision. Sundin said that Vancouver was the best fit for him. Mike Gillis echoed all of this in a separate interview. Just heard on Team 1040... Sundin took an 8.6 million per year salary, then pro-rated minus what he's missed of this season. When you're only in it for the money, it's clear you'd offer to take less than what was originally offered.

Thanks Tripod. And the Wings aren't too bad either.

But hold on there now Gilligan. According to the hockey geniuses around here we weren't even supposed to get out of the bottom five of the league, let alone make the playoffs. Has that all flown out the window now? But you do have a point about the Canucks message board. It has more idiots than most, but only because it is a massive site with a massive membership. It's the old ratio thing, which as a self-confessed "bright guy", I am sure you understand. This board has pretty much the same comparitive ratio of idiots which is proven by the fact that I can frequently find myself replying to one at 7:58 am on a Monday morning.

Regarding Sanford, the Canucks just beat the Rangers and Pittsburgh with him in goal, and Corey Schneider is on his way up from Manitoba. Many people see him as being either the goaltending future of Vancouver or an excellent trading chip. Having watched Vancouver as much as you say you have, I'm surprised you were not aware of this. Also, we're not even sure how long Luongo will be out for. A fact is that the Canucks are where they are not because they are a one-dimensional team. They can score, play defense and keep the puck out of the net. The stats and the standings prove that. I would expect that if Luongo is out for any length of time, that we will lose a game or 2 that he might have stolen for us -- but I really don't expect them to fold up their tent and give up. I watched the posts pile-up here on this forum over the summer about how Gillis was a joke and the Canucks were going to be the bottom-feeders of the entire league. Now, with a well-coached team playing to its full potential, you're suggesting that their excellent performance is all just a fluke and you guys were still right about the Canucks. You say both Demitra and Wellwood will fold up, which is little more than wishful thinking on your part and at the same time you don't bother to mention the Sedins, or quite possibly the best third line in the league with Kesler and Burrows. Right now, the Canucks are proving that all the hockey geniuses here on this forum aren't too bright. Take care.

Exactly. Luongo is the Canucks leading scorer and has taken them to 5th place overall in the league and 7th overall in scoring. Without his goal-scoring ability, the Canucks are toast.