Ooh, looking for to SUEEEEEEE-VAYYYYYYYY.

And I'm really looking forward to the Heatley-Thornton combo. Looks deadly.

If anyone wanted to know what the Canucks would look like if they didn't re-sign the Sedins, watch a tape of this game on a loop.

Funk, Glass, Pope, Bolduc, Bliznak, Grabner, Scatchard have fun in Winnipeg. You might see Oberg and Sauve too soon. This team they dressed tonight is awful, but what did I expect with 5/6 of SJ's top forwards going?

Oh ****, Mason Raymond just scored again. Take it away, Wrane...

It's only a matter of time baby. Only a matter of time before Raymond - Rainman - Wrane becomes a household name.

Sigh, my lungs are tired. I'll just let his actions do the talking.

Awww what the hell? Let me set the stage for those who lurk the Vancouver Canucks 09-10 thread who didn't watch the game.

In SO its 1-1. Mason Raymond who already had a goal and started the preseason perfect comeback is the 3rd shooter.
The crowd is silent.
The lights are flashing.
The beers are held.
The moment slows down.
Mason Raymond stands alone at center ice.
Thousands of hearts across the nation are slowed to a halt.
The breaths of millions are stuttered.
Mason Raymond once again.
Slowly skates in, picking up speed with each powerful stride.
Takes the puck wide right.
The crowd is now standing.
The lights are watching.
The beers are put down.
The moment speeds up.
It's noq Mason Raymond vs the goalie.
Going in wide, he cuts across the ice.
Thousands of hearts across the nation are beating.
The breaths of millions are ready to scream.

.

Hodgson and Grabner have still not looked very good so far. This is worrisome. I still think Hodgson will make the team, and hang around, play 9 games over the first month or two, then they'll decide if they want to send him back or not. Maybe just in time for the WJ's...he's still eligible, right?

Yeah, I agree, probably do that 9-game evaluation. And I believe he is eligible.

Not too worried about Hodgson. He still has plenty of time to bulk up and get use to NHL speeds. Grabner is a different story. A lot of raw potential but sooner or later you have to considering him a 'ughhh-word'.

Vigneault's 3-year extension officially announced today. Long way from the guy who had to camp out with Gillis in Vegas a couple summers ago just to keep his job. Congrats to the coach!

Scatchard was cut, and I'm assuming released from his tryout contract.

Eight More Trimmed

Also cut from the NHL roster Thursday were:

• D Yann Sauve, assigned to St. John, QMJHL, junior squad;
• D Taylor Ellington, assigned to Manitoba Moose;
• LW Pierre-Cedric Labrie, to Manitoba;
• D Evan Oberg, to Manitoba;
• RW Eric Walsky, to Manitoba;
• G Daren Machesney (professional tryout), to Manitoba;
• D Travis Ramsey (PTO), to Manitoba;
• Ronald Petrovicky, released.

Tonight's Lineup vs. the Ducks:

A lot of guys getting another shot to impress. Time for Rypien to show that he's better than Bliznak/Parrish, or head to Winnipeg.

Couldn't dig up anything on the Ducks...

I think Rypien is an extremely effective 3rd/4th liner if he can stay healthy.

So overrated, because he has pictures of AV, and he's a good middleweight fighter.

Could be in trouble tonight, Getzlaf back in the lineup, the Ducks top-6 looking intact here. I smell the first loss of the pre-season, what with "Everybody Loves Raycroft" in net. Ducks to the PP...

I do like Samuelsson's poise and patience with the puck. Perfect linemate for the twins, I think this might finally be the one that works out. Although, I think Bernier could have worked too if they let them settle together. If they tried it again for any stretch of time, it'd probably be a lot better off.

So much for Funk, fired one into the netting on the PK. Enjoy lovely Winnipeg...

Mike Brown >>> Rick Rypien

Made a mistake there...

Hodgson still looking terrible. Rypien with two turnovers to Selanne in the slow in about 3 seconds, what a goof. Wellwood looking good again, I likes.

ZOMG!!! Rypien beat up Ryan Carter, give him a lifetime contract!!!

Meh, I disagree. I've never been a fan of Rypien up until last year. To me, he was just another grinder who could fight. A friend had a hard-on for Rypien and although that didn't change my 'feel' for his game, I did watch him closely. I'm not watching the game right now so I'm not sure how bad exactly he's doing but from the sounds of it not too good. But for a 4th liner, I really like the energy he brings. He has really underrated speed and he's a hard-nose guy. Doesn't have the greatest hands but he's capable of bringing the puck to the net and occassionally gets the garbage goals. Not to mention he is a pretty solid PK-er.

I'm fairly happy with him on our 4th line with around 10:00 TOI. Brings a lot of energy.

Ryan and Getzlaf pwn the Canucks crap lineup, Whitney finishes, 2-0. I'm out to watch The Office...

Canuck's keep their 'undefeated in regulation' alive by beating the Flames yesterday.

Hodgson just seems he can't keep up right now. People are just bigger and faster than he is. He let his man get by on the first goal.

The TOI looks off to me. Some guys are playing 26+ mins and some 5:00. Hodgson only at 11:38.

O'Brien looking good too, taking the puck behind the net and letting Samuelsson fire off a slap shot. Both goalies looking sharp.

And of course Mason Raymond. Only 13:48 (eugh?) but 2 takeways, 2 shots, -1, but SO winner.

Captain: Luongo
Assistant: Mitchell
Assistant: Kesler
Assistant: ???

Not alot of vets on this team and I think the Sedin's are probably the longest serving canuck? Salo? Burrows? Edler?

I think the last A (if any) is going to be given to Edler/Burrows.

This Oilers announcer is like the worst guy I've ever heard. He can barely talk, he tries to describe EVERYTHING (which gets him caught behind the play like every 5 seconds), and he's doesn't know anyone's name.

Can't really give it to one Sedin and not the other, so...

Bieksa? Salo? idk...

Yay!

Shirokov deserves a go but he's going to be out a while with an injury right?

I say Hansen and Hodgson stay and fill out those last 2 spots.

No, Shirokov is back already, had two more assists last night. I think it's going to be him and Hodgson.

Nice.

What are the lines starting? Is Samuelsson going to play with the Sedins or is Burrows going to? Guessing AV is going to switch it up 34 minutes in anyways.

Just saw this...

This.

Yeah I wonder what he wants to do with the lines and pairings...how about?:

D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Samuelsson
Burrows - Kesler - Shirokov
Raymond - Wellwood - Bernier
Hordichuk - Johnson - Hansen/Rypien/Hodgson

Mitchell - Salo
Edler - Bieksa
O'Brien - Ehrhoff
Lukowich

Luongo
Raycroft

IR: Demitra, M. Schneider

Am I forgetting anyone?

LOL, did they even realize this was Luongo they were talking to? If they did, they sure didn't mention anything about it.

Season Previews:

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