Vancouver Canucks: Going FULL Steve Harvey for Jesse Puljujärvi - Page 4 - Single-Team Season Threads -- Two Plus Two Poker Forums

One player who wasn’t wincing as much this year compared to last was Kyle Wellwood. You can officially cross all the nicknames you have for this once overweight forward off your list as he weighed in at 181 pounds this year and said he’s in the best shape of his life.

“I didn’t have any injuries at the end of the season so it was easy to start working out and training full out,” Wellwood explained. “That’s a big advantage coming into the season when you’ve had a full summer of training.”

Despite having dropped a few lbs, Wellwood is far from a lock to make the Canucks roster. There is a lot of competition going on at each position and he’s ready for it. Wellwood’s game-plan is to remain consistent from game to game.

“I just want to be a contributor to this team and show that I can be one of the core players that they want on

O'Brien

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Another player not quite damaging scales like he used to is Shane O’Brien. The outspoken defenceman said he put in a lot of work over the summer and as a result he’s a little lighter – “I’m 223 pounds, legit, but I didn’t eat much yesterday so let’s call it 225,” - and a little quicker.

He’s excited about hitting the ice for the first time so Vancouver’s defence can start to take shape. There are 19 d-men going for seven or eight spots meaning things are going to get very, very interesting. There could be a lot of turnover or hardly any at all, it will all play out before the start of the regular season on October 1.

“I thought last year our backend was solid, we had some depth and we’re well-rounded, we could all move the puck fairly well and were physical, so I think we have a good group back there,” said O’Brien.

If O’Brien has an advantage over his competition, and this is a bit of stretch, it comes in that he’s on a one-game goal scoring streak dating back to his first goal of the season in Vancouver’s 7-5 loss to Chicago in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

“I’m hot right now,” laughed OB. “I’m telling the boys to get the puck to me as much as they can because I don’t know how much it’ll last.”

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09-14-2009 , 09:43 PM

#78

72off

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For a first line, Alain Vigneault will deploy Kyle Wellwood between Guillaume Desbiens and Michael Grabner.

Dave Scatchard, whose buddy, punter Mitch Berger, says is in rock-hard shape, will be between Alex Bolduc and Jannik Hansen.

Rick Rypien will have Pierre-Cedric Labrie and Eric Walsky as bookends, while one-time Vancouver Giant Mario Bliznak will be between Sergei Shirokov and Ronald Petrovicky.

Shane O'Brien will pair with Evan Oberg — "O.B. and Obie," O'Brien quipped — with Brad Lukowich being the only other veteran on the blueline.

Andrew Raycroft will start, Vigneault said, with Cory Schneider coming in halfway through.

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Forwards: Jon Sim, Tim Jackman, Jeff Tambellini, Nate Thompson, Blake Comeau, Josh Bailey, Sean Bentivoglio, Matt Moulson, Greg Moore, Greg Mauldin, Trevor Smith, Jeremy Reich

Defenseman: Andy Sutton, Jack Hillen, Mark Flood, Andrew MacDonald, Dustin Kohn, Freddy Meyer

Goalies: Scott Munroe, Nathan Lawson

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Should be exciting for neutrals and casual fans...

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09-14-2009 , 09:51 PM

#79

Wrane

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I'll be super interested in Grabner playing. Walsky and Rypein/Hansen/Wellwood should all be interesting to. Not to mention Lukowich. More excited to see Schneider coming in that Raycroft.

The Islanders team looks just as bad. Except for Bailey I guess...

I heard it's showing on sportsnet?

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09-14-2009 , 09:59 PM

#80

72off

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Originally Posted by Wrane

Agree. Apparently Tavares was going to play, but he's got the flu, so no. Would have been nice to give the fans there a few more players worth watching, maybe an Okposo, or a top-9/top-5 D from the Canucks. Maybe at least throw Willie Mitchell out there, who's loosely from the area, or at least has been fishing around there (I assume). Don't get why Shirokov is on the 4th line, but hopefully he plays on the PP too.

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I heard it's showing on sportsnet?

True. 730pm, on a half hour tape delay for some reason.

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09-15-2009 , 08:40 AM

#81

Equal

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ZOMG Canucks games back on TV!!!

I broke out the Lui jersey today.

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09-16-2009 , 05:38 PM

#82

72off

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HOD-SON...HOD-SON...HOD-SON...

Who knew?

New nickname: "Silent G"

He's gangsta! The silent killahhhh!

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09-18-2009 , 01:37 AM

#83

72off

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Bernier, Wellwood, and Rome all looked pretty good tonight. Rome especially surprised me, I thought he was supposed to be another Rob Davison, but he showed good skills, and even had 5 SOG in the 1st period alone. Really trying to earn a spot on the roster.

Luongo and Schneider combined on the SO, neither has been beaten in the preseason so far.

Two wins, and we haven't even seen the Sedins, Burrows, Hodgson, Mitchell, Salo, Edler, M. Schneider, or Ehrhoff yet. I imagine they'll all play tomorrow though, barring injuries.

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09-19-2009 , 03:41 PM

#84

72off

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- Win #3, fwiw
- Shirokov with 2 assists, 2g & 2a in 2gp
- Hod-son with a goal in his 1st game, and a game misconduct midway through the game in some mixup with Benn Ferriero/Jody Shelley, wtf? 12 pim's for Hod-son, goon!
- Hank with 2g & 2a, monster!
- Danny with 1g & 2a, disappointing...
- Willie with a goal, wtf?
- Raycroft stopping 27/29 in the full 60
- Pwned a Sharks team that included Blake, Vlasic, Marleau, Clowe, & Pavelski
- Jody Shelley with 27 pim's in just over 5 minutes of ice, mid-season form, imo

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09-19-2009 , 10:39 PM

#85

72off

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Edler from Oberg & Kesler on the PP, 1-0 Canucks

Plan the parade...

Last edited by 72off; 09-19-2009 at 10:40 PM. Reason: plus Luongo is in the net

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09-19-2009 , 11:01 PM

#86

72off

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Jinx! 1-1 after 1. Sounds fishy, no one beats Luongo...

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09-20-2009 , 12:24 AM

#87

72off

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Hordy (lolz) from Hansen & Kesler

Hod-son with his 1st? I thought he got that last night...

3-1 Canucks, parade is still on!

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09-20-2009 , 07:39 PM

#88

Wrane

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Missed this but in the Anaheim game...

Mason Raymond - 1 assist, +2, 2 shots, 18:28 TOI.

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09-21-2009 , 03:45 PM

#89

72off

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The battle for Vancouver Canuck roster spots will take an intriguing twist tonight when two of the team's top prospects skate on the same line against the Calgary Flames.

Michael Grabner, the Canucks' first-round pick in 2006, and Cody Hodgson, the 2008 first rounder, will be joined by veteran Steve Bernier as Vancouver attempts to extend its pre-season win streak to five.

The Sedin twins will suit up tonight and skate with Alex Burrows while Kyle Wellwood centres a line with Mason Raymond and Mark Parrish.

Vancouver's fourth line tonight will see Rick Rypien skate between minor-leaguers Tanner Glass and Pierre-Cedric Labrie.

The Canucks will dress a blueline corps of Willie Mitchell, Sami Salo, Christian Ehrhoff, Shane O'Brien, Aaron Rome and Travis Ramsey.

Cory Schneider is scheduled to play the full 60 minutes in goal.

The Flames will dress a strong lineup that includes comeback candidate Theo Fleury skating on a line with Daymond Langkow and Curtis Glencross. Other prominent Flames scheduled to play are Olli Jokinen, Robyn Regehr and Jay Bouwmeester.

Flames captain Jarome Iginla and Dion Phaneuf will not dress, however.

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Should be interesting. Game will be streamed on CDC again.

Remaining Schedule:

Sep. 23rd - Sharks @ Canucks, streamed on CDC
Sep. 24th - Ducks @ Canucks, streamed on CDC
Sep. 26th - Canucks @ Flames, TSN2/NHL Network
Sep. 27th - Canucks @ Oilers, streamed on CDC

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09-21-2009 , 08:38 PM

#90

Wrane

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Racin' Mason la de da!

Sigh, Salo is going to injure himself this game.

I hope they switch it up to...

Grabner - Hodgson - Raymond
Bernier - Wellwood - Parrish

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09-21-2009 , 11:30 PM

#91

72off

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- Wellwood wins a penalty shot when Fleury trips him up going in. Nice re-group and pass on the play from SOB. Wellwood takes and makes on the PS. 1-0

- Nice breakout and rush by the Sedins & Burrows, Ehrhoff goes hard to the net and creates the screen, Daniel slides it home. 2-0

- Rypien gets drilled early by Sarich. Dumb play #2 when he does the old stick in the spokes play on Giodano 13 seconds after Burrows is put in the box. The Canucks manage to kill off the long 5-on-3 PP. Labrie & Glass looking about as useful at this point...

- Mason Raymond drives hard to the net and scores, WTF? 3-0

- Rome falls into Schneider which prevents him from making the save on Glencross' tip. 3-1

- Flames dominate a shift for minutes, breakdown by Raymond/Hodgson leaves Lundmark wide open in the slot, no mistake. 3-2

- Sedins/Burrows are in mid-season form, dominating and threatening to score every shift. And they've been out against Regehr and/or Sarich almost every shift. Not a surprise, but good to see.

- Wellwood, Raymond, Hodgson shows flashes, but not quite all there yet. Hodgson a -2 so far, and took a hooking penalty deep in the offensive zone. Grabner with a few blasts from the point on the PP, but missed wide (or were deflected).

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09-21-2009 , 11:32 PM

#92

Wrane

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Originally Posted by 72off

Mason Raymond drives hard to the net and scores, WTF? 3-0

Raymond shows flashes, but not quite all there yet.

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09-21-2009 , 11:36 PM

#93

72off

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Hey, the goal was nice. He walked right past Regehr and drove to the far post and shoveled it in, it's pretty much what I've asked of him. Last year he almost never went hard to the net, instead fading into the corner, or going around behind the net. Hopefully he's put on some muscle, and this has given him the confidence to drive in there hard.

He's got the speed to get the edge, so this is the logical next step.

But yeah, the shift on the 3-2 was horrible. The Flames dominated for a while, and the coverage breakdown on Lundmark looked like it could have been Raymond's fault, so it's not all good.

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09-21-2009 , 11:38 PM

#94

Wrane

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Haha, TBH I'm not even watching the game. I was just talking to a friend and he was like ''Nice D there Mason'. Not sure what happened there. He probably skated to Iran to check on the oil situation and came back a couple seconds too late.

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09-23-2009 , 01:54 AM

#95

manifest

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Feels like an MSN conversation in here.

Anybody got tickets to the games?

I have Oct 7th vs Montreal, Dec 18th vs Washington and March 13 vs Ottawa.

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09-23-2009 , 02:14 AM

#96

DaExMan

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alright since its getting flak in the preseason thread, i'll try to contribute a little. I Was just looking at the roster today, there are so many guys i want to make the team that are on the fringe (hodgson, raymond, shirokov, hansen) it sucks some of them aren't going to be on the team.

There has to be a trade coming up soon right?

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09-23-2009 , 03:02 AM

#97

crooked2412

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i look forward to some epic nights in here when the sharks/nucks play

cant the season start tomorrow, please?

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09-23-2009 , 08:48 PM

#98

Wrane

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You guys up for making this into a NW division thread?

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09-23-2009 , 08:55 PM

#99

72off

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Roberto Luongo will start in goal and play the full game.

On defence, ex-Sabre Michael Funk is scheduled to make his exhibition debut while the other members of the blueline corps will be Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler, Brad Lukowich, Even Oberg and Yann Sauve.

Up front, the lines will look this way: Cody Hodgson between Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows; Dave Scatchard with Darcy Hordichuk and Jannik Hansen; Alex Bolduc centring for Mason Raymond and Matt Pope; and Mario Bliznak between Tanner Glass and Steve Bernier.

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No Heatley, but Thornton and Setoguchi are playing tonight.

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Evgeni Nabokov and Thomas Greiss will be the goalies on hand.

Ferriero-Thornton-Setoguchi
Marleau-Pavelski-Clowe
McLaren-Malhotra-Ortmeyer
Shelley-Nichol-Staubitz

Murray-Demers
Joslin-Blake
Huskins-Callahan

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