On Lockout Benefits

Please end.

With the lockout stretching on and robbing us of the game we love, it’s easy to be pessimistic about the whole affair, and with good reason.

There are few positives to this mess, but from a strictly Canucks point of view, there are at least two.

The first is the injury situation. Ryan Kesler - arguably the Nucks best all-round player, and Jason Garrison – their shiny new free agent acquisition, are both recovering from serious injuries.

These injuries would have been hard to overcome if the season had started on time, and the lockout gives them time to rehab properly and get healthy before the season starts.

The other benefit is the possibility of a shortened season. The Canucks roster is one of the oldest in the league and isn't getting any younger. The NHL season is a grind and has taken its toll on their older players in recent years.

Playing fewer games could mean teams are more rested when playoffs roll around, and the extra rest will benefit the Nucks more than most teams. The lockout could end up increasing the possibility of a deep playoff run, so that's something at least.

On the Lockout Ending Careers

The ageless wonder.

One consequence of the lockout that might be overlooked is its impact on the older players in the league. This could be the last season for future hall-of-famers Teemu Selane, Jaromir Jagr and Daniel Alfredsson, and the lockout is robbing many cities of their final chance to see them live and in person.

The extended layoff could also make it difficult for them to get back into game shape. It becomes harder and harder to stay NHL ready as a player ages, and going this long without a game will likely impact their playing ability when the lockout finally ends.

As the lockout stretches on, and it becomes a possibility we could lose the entire season, there’s another scenario to consider. These players might be forced to retire if they can’t commit to the toll of another NHL season.

This would mean they already played their last game, which would have robbed fans of the chance for a proper goodbye. That would be a travesty of the highest order for legendary players who have given so much to the game we all love.

On NHL Players Signing in Europe

European jerseys are slightly busier than the NHL.

As the lockout stretches into its third month, the list of NHL players playing in Europe grows every week. Hockey is a demanding sport and practice can’t match the intensity of a real game. Playing in Europe until the lockout is over is a great way to keep their skills sharp and to pull in a paycheque at the same time.

Unfortunately there’s one consideration that has many players scared to cross the Atlantic, namely injuries. Getting hurt is an inevitability in professional hockey and players have to think about what happens if they’re injured while playing for another club.

NHL clubs employ the best medical personnel in the world of hockey and players receive unrivaled care while in North America. There’s a lot of uncertainty about the quality of equipment and staff in Europe, as those clubs can’t afford the same level of care.

If a player has a serious injury and receives improper treatment, it could sideline them when the NHL season starts back, and could even have long term ramifications for their career.

So far there haven’t been any complaints by players already in Europe, but the mere possibility seems to be giving the others pause.

On Luongo and a Shortened Season

Will we see Bobby Lu in Florida colours again?

When Luongo asked for a trade after the playoffs ended, most thought he would be gone by the draft. Months later, he’s still here and could potentially start the season in Blue and Green. The Canucks GM has repeatedly stated he won’t trade the all-star goalie for anything less than fair value, and would be fine with keeping Luongo for next season.

This would appear to be Gillis trying to drive up the asking price for Luongo, but there’s a reason this could be more than public posturing.

When the lockout finally ends, the NHL is going to try and cram as many games into as little time as possible. This is going to mean far more back to back games than a regular season, and a heavy workload for starting goalies. Cory Schneider has never played a full NHL season as the starting goalie and it’s entirely possible he may struggle in this environment.

Keeping Luongo gives the Nucks the best goalie tandem in the league and extra insurance if Schneider can’t handle the workload, or goes down with an injury.

It’s still more than likely Luongo will be gone as soon as the lockout ends, but it’s no longer a certainty. 

On Bure’s Inclusion in the Rafters

Canucks rafters, sans Bure.

With Pavel Bure’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, many voices in Canuck nation are calling for his number to be retired by the Canucks. The argument for this is fairly straightforward.

Bure was unarguably the most talented player to ever wear Canuck colours for the majority of his career. He was a dynamic offensive force that many felt brought respectability to an organization sorely lacking in that capacity.

If the retirement of a player’s number was based purely on his skill level, Bure would be a shoe-in. Unfortunately for Bure, there are other factors at play. Canucks brass place an emphasis on off-ice contributions to the city and organization when considering number retirement. To put it mildly, Bure was lacking in that area.

That said, his lack of charity work could easily be overlooked. The primary reason his potential retirement causes so much controversy is the way he left town.

Many of his biggest fans felt betrayed when he refused to play his last year in Vancouver and forced a trade to Florida. The entire process was a debacle and wasn't the way a franchise player conducts himself. 

If Bure had left town with more class, his number would already be in the rafters, but he didn't and it’s unlikely we’ll ever see #10 hanging in Rogers Arena.

On Left Side Defencemen

Future linemates...and a goalie.

With the departure of Sami Salo this offseason, the Canucks most pressing need appeared to be a defenseman to play on Alex Edler’s right side. Canucks brass seemed to agree, as their first act on free agency was to go out and sign Jason Garrison to a hefty contract.

At first glance this makes sense. Garrison was second in goals amongst defensemen last year and has a potent shot. Pairing him with Edler’s cannon will give the top power play unit two legitimate threats on the blueline. This would free up space for the forwards down low, and allow the Sedins more room to work their magic.

Unfortunately, there’s one red flag in bringing Garrison into the Canucks fold – he plays on the left side; the same side as Edler, and every other Canucks defenseman not named Bieksa or Tanev.

When Salo went down last season, Edler struggled after being placed on the right side. His inability to adapt threw every other pairing into disarray as the coaching staff searched for a pairing that worked.

Garrison has never played on his off side and this begs the question – what happens if he can’t make the transition either? With Garrison signed to patrol the Canucks' blueline for another six years, it seems like a hell of a risk.