Canucks Make Cuts - Roster Down to 34

As expected the Canucks announced their roster cuts today following their weekend in California.

Seven players are packing their bags for Manitoba...

• F Michael Grabner
• F Jason Jaffray (Must Clear Waivers)
• F Dan Gendur
• F Pierre-Cedric Labrie
• D Daniel Rahimi (Did not see any pre-season action)
• D James Sharrow (Must Clear Waivers)
• F Mark Cullen (Must Clear Waivers)

No real surprises among the group, the only two players who had any kind of chance of making the team were Grabner and Jaffray.

As noted in yesterday's Pre-Season Power Rankings Grabner simply wasn't doing anything to warrant much more of a look. Considering how the Canucks need offense some might be pretty dissapointed in Grabner, but realisticly he only has one pro season under his belt and simply isn't ready for the NHL. He needs to get a full season in the AHL and show that he can both produce consistent offense and improve his game away from the puck.

Jason Jaffray didn't have much of a chance considering the additions of Wellwood and Krog. He had a decent pre-season, but at 27 years old he is no longer a prospect. He should have a good year with the Moose, as he definately has enough talent to produce in the AHL, and may even get the odd callup to the Canucks should injuries become a problem. Jaffray is a nice depth player to have in the organization, but his chances of being an NHL regular are slim to none.

In other news... Alain Vignault had good things to say about Kyle Wellwood meeting his fitness goals: "He has made unbelivable strides and I think a lot of credit goes to him and his commitment to getting to where he needs to be"

The Canucks have three more pre-season games beginning at home against Calgary on Wednesday (Televised on TSN). Expect another round of cuts after the game as the Canucks are currently carrying 11 extra players and will likely want to have most of their 23 man roster suited up in the final two pre-season games.

It's going to be an interesting week...

Pre-Season Power Rankings V 3

Updated Rankings After 4 Games...

1. Mayson Raymond (1) - Did not play in Anaheim
2. Jannik Hansen (2) - Did not play in Anaheim
3. Matt Pettinger (3) - Very strong on the PK in Anaheim, but where's the offensive game?
4. Kyle Wellwood (5) - Invisible > Scores > Invisible > Scores shootout winner. The Canucks need his offense, but can he take a regular shift without being a liability? Good game in faceoff circle.
5. Jason Krog (4) - Unspectacular in Anaheim, only 33% in the circle, but strong contribution on the PK.
6. Jeff Cowan (7) - Two very poor penalties in offensive zone, ice-time cut noticeably in 3rd, has contract and experience advantage over the young guys.
7. Rick Rypien (9) - Very physical as usual, made some good plays, made some poor plays, brutal in faceoff circle. Ice time decreased as game moved along.
8. Cody Hodgson (6) - Scored in shootout, but it's pretty clear Hodgson isn't ready for a full season in the NHL, may still get a look in the regular season, but it's not likely.
9. Mike Brown (10) - Did not play in Anaheim
10. Michael Grabner (8) - Not doing anything to generate any kind of interest, 1 shot on goal with 12 minutes of ice time, may not make next round of cuts.
11. Jason Jaffray (11) - Did not play in Anaheim

Rankings are a combination of how they've been playing and how coaches have been using/commenting. Five forwards should make the team assuming Canucks carry 14 forwards. Last rank shown in ().

Previous Pre-Season Power Rankings:

• September 28th
• September 27th

Canucks 5 - Ducks 4 (SO) - Game Notes

The Canucks remain perfect in the pre-season with a shootout victory in Anaheim.

• After a long off-season we finally got a look at Bernier with the Sedins and it was a pretty good one. Bernier was creating a lot of space on the ice by drawing defenders while the Sedins looked to make plays. Bernier was also a force in front of the net and on the forecheck (when this guy throws a hit, it looks like it hurts). The line is looking pretty good so far, the Sedins look ready to start the season tommorow.
• With the exception of the Perry goal, Rob Davison had a really good game. He was especially strong in front of the net and along the boards. He is going to give Krajicek a run for his money for #6 ice-time, likely drawing in against the bigger more physical teams.
• Kyle Wellwood was invisible for most of the game, but somehow manages to score a nice goal and win the game in the shootout. The Canucks can clearly use his offensive skills, but is there room for him in the lineup. Are they willing to hide him on the 4th line and bring him out for PP's and in the shootout? Can they afford to have him taking a regular shift on the second line? Wellwood is going to get a long look.
• Vintage Salo. Nice to see.
• Jeff Cowan took a couple of terrible penalties in the offensive zone. I can live with one, but to come back and take a second hooking penalty in the offensive zone is just unacceptable. Cowan has an experience and contract advantage over some of the guys trying to take his job, but he is really going to have to step up if he's going to crack the top 14 forwards.
• Penalties are becoming a concern, it's early but at some point they really need to tighten up the discipline.
• Lawrence Nycholat had a pretty decent game, played 20 minutes. Nice to see Gillis get a decent asset for a guy (Shannon) who wasn't going to fit in here. Nycholat is a nice addition to the callup depth. Between Nycholat, Baumgartner and McIver the organizational depth on defense is pretty solid.
• Curtis Sanford had a great game. Sanford really needs to establish the confidence of the team and coaching staff. So far so good.
• Henrik and Wellwood were both over 65% in the faceoff circle.

Cuts coming tommorow, many players will be packing their bags for Moose camp.

Comments Enabled - Anaheim Pre Game Info

From this post on, it is now possible to leave comments... working on getting older posts to include the option to allow comments.

Update: Unfortunately there is no automated way to turn comments on for older posts which had comments initially turned off.

Anyway, enjoy the game against Anaheim, you can watch it live on Sportsnet at 5:00pm (The game will most likely also be streamed live on Canucks.com). The lineup should look something like this...

• Sedin - Sedin - Bernier
• Grabner - Hodgson - Labrie
• Hordichuk - Johnson - Burrows
• Bolduc - Cullen - Gendur

• Mitchell - Bieksa
• Davison - Salo
• Nycholat - Sharrow

• Sanford
• Schneider

Check back after the game for a recap and an update to the Pre-Season Power Rankings!

Update #2: It sounds like Cody Hodgson will be playing alongside Rypien and Cowan, so take the above lineup with a grain of salt. Wellwood will also be drawing in on a line with Grabner and Pettinger.

Around the Web (Sept 28 Ed.)

Not much out there today...

• Ben Kuzma chimes in on the Canucks new second line (Province Article)
• Canucks.com preview of tonight's game against the Ducks (Canucks.com Article)
• TSN offers up it's preview of the Calgary Flames (TSN.ca)
• A reminder that Sportsnet will be airing Nick Kypreos' exclusive interview with Mats Sundin during their season preview special, which can be seen after tonights televised game against Anaheim. (Sportsnet.ca)
• There are some rumours floating around that all Canuck PPV games will be available in HD this season... nothing official yet.

Pre-Season Power Rankings V 2

Updated Rankings After 3 Games...

• Mayson Raymond (1) - Considering his play and how he is being used I don't see how he can lose his spot barring injury
• Jannik Hansen (3) - Great game against San Jose, looks smart, showing offensive skills, showing that he can play a two way game on 3rd line. Will now have to play his way off team.
• Matt Pettinger (2) - Solid game on a line with Wellwood and Hansen, versatility will keep him on the roster
• Jason Krog (5) - An audition on the wing... showing versatility and producing both on the scoresheet and in the faceoff circle, great hustle on his goal
• Kyle Wellwood (4) - Showing great hands, but also getting out muscled/played downlow... stock dropping fast
• Cody Hodgson (6) - Did not play in San Jose
• Jeff Cowan (7) - Played under 10min, but 1/3 of that was on the PK, fate may rest on Wellwood/Krog and whether Hodgson sticks
• Michael Grabner (8) - Did not play in San Jose
• Rick Rypien (10) - Great fight in SJ, still needs to show more than just a physical game if he wants to make team
• Mike Brown (9) - Has a future just not now, physical game and skating are good, too many vets in front of him at this point, played under 10min against SJ but did get a little PK time
• Jason Jaffray (11) - Reminded people that he does have skill... is it enough for the nhl? Not right now.

Rankings are a combination of how they've been playing and how coaches have been using/commenting. Five forwards should make the team assuming Canucks carry 14 forwards.

Previous Pre-Season Power Rankings:

• September 27th

Canucks 3 - Sharks 2

One advantage of watching a game on the internet is that it is easy to type notes as the game goes along and you don't have to go off of your beer fogged memory! So here are the random things that stuck out tonight...

• The Canucks used both Demitra and Krog on the point on the power play. Is this a sign of things to come, or is the move just based on the lack of offensive depth in pre-season lineups?
• Wellwood continues to show great hands... but also continues to be outplayed in any kind of physical battle.
• The Canucks 4th line had a breakaway... yes all 3 of them, Cowan, Rypien, Brown... and failed to score.
• Krog showed good speed supporting Hansen's breakaway and eventually knocking in the rebound.
• Great fight between Rypien and Brad Staubitz, both guys landing good ones, Rypien cut after a series of about 4 rights but you could easily give him the decision after dropping Staubitz with a right to end the fight.
• During the first two periods the Canucks were drawing a lot of penalties with their speed/determination.
• Wellwood actually showed a little grit on Hansen's goal, going to the net and creating room for Pettinger who centred the puck to Hansen in front.
• If Cory Schneider had more than one pro season under his belt he would be Luongo's backup this season.
• Demitra made a very poor clearing attempt in the final minute, leading to SJ's 2nd goal.
• We had a good look at who the Canucks envision as the 2nd line.
• The defense looked good, especially considering that half of them will be playing in Manitoba to start the season. The 3 Moose bound guys will be good depth options should injuries strike.
• Luongo was Luongo

Finally here are the line combinations:

• Raymond Demitra Pyatt
• Pettinger Wellwood Hansen
• Jaffray Kesler Krog
• Cowan Rypien Brown

• Ohlund Baumgartner
• McIver Edler
• Fitzgerald Krajicek

PK Forward Duos:

• Rypien Kesler
• Krog Hansen
• Cowen Krog?
• Pettinger Brown