The Canucks went head to head with the Bruins in a potential Stanley Cup Finals preview (nothing like getting ahead of ourselves, eh?), and a much loved Vancouver native proved just how good he is. Unfortunately for us, that Vancouver native was Milan Lucic, and the Bruins blasted the Canucks 3-1 at the Roger on Saturday night. Lucic had one heck of a weekend up in BC. First he was honored by being placed in the Vancouver Giants Ring of Honor (and had a red headed bobblehead handout), then he was given love all up and down Vancouver sports radio, and then he beat his boyhood favorites with a game winner 15:22 into the final frame.
The Canucks enjoyed a solid goal from Manny Malhotra 16:58 into the game with an opportunistic rebounder. The guy I declared as "massively underrated" like three posts ago, now how 3 goals and 7 points in his last 8 games. Add his amazing faceoff numbers to that, and you've got a quality third line center. You just can't sit back and try and win with a one goal lead against a solid team like the Bruins, though. They are a pretty talented team, and they proved it. Goals from Horton (from Lucic), Lucic (his 27th), and an empty netter from Patrice Burgeron (again, from Lucic) carried them to victory. It was a pretty impressive game from the Vancouver boy, and even though we lost the game, it's always enjoyable to see a BC native do well.
At 39-15-9, the Canucks seem to be trading wins and losses every other game nowadays, and as we are in the thick of the final 20 games of the regular season, we'll need to post some consecutive wins to stay atop the President's race. Even with the "slipping," we're still up 14 points on Calgary in the division, 5 points on the Red Wings in the Conference (watch out for the Sharks, by the way), and 1 slim point on the Flyers in the race for the President's Trophy. It's going to be tight the whole way to the finish line.
So, with today being the trade deadline, what the heck is the best team in the NHL to do? Well, not much, right? Right. Mike Gillis knew that we just needed a little tweak to solidify this team for the stretch run and into the playoffs. While much has been said about the defense and the injury issues, the focus for Mike Gillis on today's deadline day was set to be the fourth line. Not just because fourth liners are important in the playoffs, but mostly for the depth just in case someone else goes down (say, a top three center?). That was what we thought we needed, and guess what Gillis did?
Canucks get- Maxim Lapierre and prospect MacGregor Sharp
Ducks get- Joel Perrault and 2012 3rd round pick
AND
Canucks get- Chris Higgins
Panthers get- Evan Oberg and 2013 3rd round pick
Let's see what this does for our depth and fourth line talent. Maxim Lapierre is a 6'2 Center from Saint-Léonard, QC and he was a 61st overall pick by the Canadiens in 2006. He was only in Anaheim for a couple of months, starting the season in Monreal, and he has racked up 5 goals and 6 assists in 59 games this season, also rocking 72 penalty minutes. He's an agitator, a big guy, and should prove to be a decent fourth line center, although I don't know how confident I'd be if he had to fill in for an injured Malhotra.
Not a big deal now, but maybe later, MacGregor Sharp was also tossed in on the deal with the Ducks. The Red Deer, AB native is a 6'1 Center played with Mason Raymond way back in the day in the AJHL and WCHA as a youngster. He could be seriously underrated, but it'll take some time to find out.
We lost Perrault in the deal, and the Montreal native played 7 games with the 'Nucks this season as a -1. He had 3 goals and 15 assists with Manitoba in 26 AHL games this year. In the other deal we lost Evan Oberg, which is a bigger hit for us fans. Oberg had 7 goals and 4 assists as a defender in Manitoba, and came up empty filling in for 2 games with the big club this season. The Forestberg, AB native may end up being an decent defender, but Tanev has kind of showed him up this year and took over his spot on the depth chart.
Lastly, we gained an expiring contract in Chris Higgins. Higgy is an actual American! The Smithtown, NY native is a left winger who looks to spend some time on the new look fourth line with Lapierre and Tanner Glass. The 14th overall pick from 2002 of the Canadiens was an All-American at Yale University, and hopes to brings some brain to the braun of the fourth line. He scored 11 goals and notched 12 assists in 48 games this year as a +5, and may end up being quite an underrated rental player from all our dealings today.
We say hello to all the newbies and farewell to the now former Canucks. Of couse, I always like to welcome the new Canucks with one little warning: We Vancouver fans are CRAZY about our hockey squad. We will support you non-stop while you rock our sweater, but beware, we are completely irrational and crazy. Just be sure to produce and give your effort to the max, and you'll earn a special place in our hearts.
The slightly new-look Canucks get ready to face the Blue Jackets tomorrow night, and hopefully we can snag a win from the #12 team in the West.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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