Series Preview - Canucks Forwards

by McClure on May 1, 2010 2:25 PM CDT

Now that we've taken a look at the clown college that is the Canucks corps of defensemen, lets get a closer look at a far more frightening group, the Canucks forward lines.

More after the jump...

Top Line - Mikael Sumuelsson - Henrik Sedin - Daniel Sedin

Mikael Samuelsson

#26 / Right Wing / Vancouver Canucks

Height: 6-2

Weight: 218

Born: Dec 23, 1976

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Mikael Samuelsson	74	30	23	53	10	64	7	0	4	0	219	13.7

Henrik Sedin

#33 / Center / Vancouver Canucks

Height: 6-2

Weight: 188

Born: Sep 26, 1980

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Henrik Sedin	82	29	83	112	35	48	4	1	5	0	166	17.5

Daniel Sedin

#22 / Left Wing / Vancouver Canucks

Height: 6-1

Weight: 187

Born: Sep 26, 1980

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Daniel Sedin	63	29	56	85	36	28	8	0	8	0	225	12.9

This is what we call in my country a "problem". Any line that boasts the year's Ross trophy winner is going to be a royal pain in the ass to contain, and Henrik Sedin and his Swedish countrymen are going to be noticed. Mikael Samuelsson jumped up to join the Sweet Valley High twins in the first series, and has been thoroughly lighting it up since, leading all scorers with 7 goals to this point. Their game is to cycle the puck low and wait for a defenseman to bite and get out of position, then make a pass for a shot in a dangerous section of the ice. This line will get theirs-scoring wise, but it will be the job of Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith and likely the Sharp line to keep the line from going apeshit, and being positionally sound will be key.

Second Line - Alex Burrows-Ryan Kesler-Mason Raymond

Alexandre Burrows

#14 / Left Wing / Vancouver Canucks

Height: 6-1

Weight: 188

Born: Apr 11, 1981

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Alexandre Burrows	82	35	32	67	34	121	4	5	3	0	209	16.7

Ryan Kesler

#17 / Center / Vancouver Canucks

Height: 6-2

Weight: 202

Born: Aug 31, 1984

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Kesler	82	25	50	75	1	104	12	1	5	0	214	11.7

Mason Raymond

#21 / Left Wing / Vancouver Canucks

Height: 6-0

Weight: 185

Born: Sep 17, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Mason Raymond	82	25	28	53	0	48	8	0	4	0	217	11.5

Ahh yes, everyone's favorite arbiter of cowardice, Ryan Kesler, anchors the Nucks second line, which will also draw the checking assignment against Daydream Nation. Alex Burrows finds himself on this line after potting 35 goals with the twins during the regular season due to posting a bagel against the Kings until he finally potted the empty netter to clinch it- which of course meant he had to do his bow-and-arrow thing (I don't care if it's a tribute, after an empty net goal, it's a D.B. move). Kesler and Burrows provide the grit on the line, and Raymond provides the speed, but don't be fooled, this line can clearly put the puck in the net.

Third Line - Pavol Demitra - Kyle Wellwood - Steve Bernier

Pavol Demitra

#38 / Center / Vancouver Canucks

Height: 6-0

Weight: 200

Born: Nov 29, 1974

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Pavol Demitra	28	3	13	16	3	0	1	0	0	0	53	5.7

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Pavol Demitra	28	3	13	16	3	0	1	0	0	0	53	5.7

Kyle Wellwood

#42 / Center / Vancouver Canucks

Height: 5-10

Weight: 181

Born: May 16, 1983

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Kyle Wellwood	75	14	11	25	6	12	3	0	2	0	98	14.3

Steve Bernier

#18 / Right Wing / Vancouver Canucks

Height: 6-2

Weight: 216

Born: Mar 31, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Steve Bernier	59	11	11	22	0	21	3	0	0	0	95	11.6

Vancover's third line follows the Quenneville template of puck-winner, playmaker, finisher with Bernier, Wellwood, and Demitra respectively. But Demitra is old and hurt, Wellwood is fat, and Bernier is an underachieving meathead. Though Bernier has elevated his game in the Los Angeles series, it will be interesting to see if he can keep up that pace. If Kyle Wellwood plays like there's Ho-Hos behind Antti Niemi, it could pose a problem to the Hawks, as well as if Pavol Demitra plays like he did in the Olympics, consistency is something that's eluded him since his days in St. Louis. The production of this line as opposed to that of the Hawks third line of Versteeg, Bolland, and Ladd will be an indicator of who will win the series.

Fourth Line - Michael Grabner - Rick Rypien - Jannik Hansen

Unfortunately, the widget thing that lets me put up mug shots and stats is being lame right now, so you're just going to have to use your imagination for all of them. Basically all you need to know that this line has one point between the three of them, and Rick Rypien is a total fucking lunatic. This line will be out to disrupt shifts and provide energy and physicality in their limited time on the ice.

So there you have it, there's a lot for the Hawks to worry about up front, but if the Hawks can get back to their puck possession game, it will most definitely limit the chances Antti Niemi will have to face coming back the other way.

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Comments

3rd line

Those third line d-bags have shit city written all over them

by phillinw on May 1, 2010 2:37 PM CDT reply actions

V: the visitors

Their offence is extremely potent on the top 2 lines but after that it’s pretty scarce. They really do remind me of Washington that after the top 2 lines there doesn’t seem to be much firepower and their defence is suspect and goaltending … has Luongo been better than Theodore and Varlamov in the playoffs? If so, not by much.

The ’Nucks top line certainly scares me and has to be contained. That is where D2K and Seabrook need to be at their defensive best. They have to be better than they were in the 1st round – at least Keith anyways.

2010 PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2
Can D2K be the silencer of the Sedins?

by hawks61 on May 1, 2010 2:48 PM CDT reply actions

Third line

had 6 goals and 12 points in 6 games against the Kings. It’s fair to say it was an inconsistent bunch in the regular season but you might not want to write them off entirely. And as for Luongo, we won in 6 games against a good LA team despite Luongo not playing all that great. He did get better as the playoffs went along though. 10 of those goals were on the PP for LA as well. The PK was horrible. but 5on5 Luongo only let in 7 goals in 6 games. I am not saying he is going to steal this series but I do think he has been better than the numbers indicate.

And our D isn’t as weak as you might think. Edler is coming on leaps and bounds and played like a potential Norris Trophy candidate in the LA series. He needs to find consistency in his game but he has all the tools. And Salo, Ehrhoff, and Bieksa were all solid 5on5 against LA. Ehrhoff is not the error prone D man you might remember from his San Jose days.

I think your D is stronger and the goaltending is a big question mark. I just don’t think you should underestimate our 3rd line, our D and Luongo. That’s why I think it’s going to be such a long and hard fought series.

"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor

by Section 312 on May 1, 2010 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

On Luongo

I am not saying he is going to steal this series but I do think he has been better than the numbers indicate.

Then why would management dole out a 12-year contract to a netminder that can’t steal you a series? Add to the fact that his numbers are worse than Theodore’s in the playoffs for his career says a lot. I’m like many people who are still waiting for Luongo to become the netminder that everyone says he is.

2010 PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2
Can D2K be the silencer of the Sedins?

by hawks61 on May 1, 2010 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I think he has moments of greatness

I just feel that it can be way too easy to get under his skin and rattle his concentration. When that happens let the flood gates open. It’s open season for the five hole.

I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out.
- Rodney Dangerfield

by stacie7 on May 1, 2010 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah well you seem to be basing that

entirely on one game from last year. Ask scouts and GMs from around the NHL and they will tell you the scouting report on Luongo is that he is just about the opposite. Very calm in the net and handles traffic well. He just had one epically bad game in the playoffs last year in a deciding game and you guys think that’s indicative of his overall play. He was god against the Hawks in this years regular season no?

by Section 312 on May 1, 2010 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions

He was mostly good

But laid a real stinker at the UC on March 5th. Five goals in the first period, including a couple softies before being pulled.

by HungryHungryPanda on May 1, 2010 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions

To follow up on that

I’m not saying that he will play like that for this series. I think he’s a very good goaltender, probably top 10 in the league.

by HungryHungryPanda on May 1, 2010 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah well he

had a bunch of stinkers this season. He wasn’t very consistent and most of us feel it was his worst season as a Canuck. Still had a .913 save % and a 2.57 GAA which is not bad for an off season.

by Section 312 on May 1, 2010 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't know that I'd call him a god this regular season.

We played 2-2, and one of those was a 6 goal shellacking that Lu really looked terrible in. He’s undoubtedly a good goalie, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves with the deifying.

by spokeinthebandwagon on May 1, 2010 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Pretty sure that was a typo from Section 312

I think he meant “good”

by HungryHungryPanda on May 1, 2010 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Definitely a typo

as my other comment said. He wasn’t that good this season.

by Section 312 on May 1, 2010 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I didn't say he can't steal a series

I said I am not saying he is going to. There is a difference there. And he has stolen a series before. Against Dallas a couple years ago. Nucks won in 7 games and Luongo allowed 12 goals all series and 4 of them in game 1. He also an Olympic gold as well as several other international honours. He’s one of the best goalies in the league but has limited playoff success. But this is his third time being in the playoffs in his career and it takes some goalies a couple cracks before they figure out how to win in the post season. There are only so many Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy type guys in the history of the NHL.

by Section 312 on May 1, 2010 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions

His Olympic gold was because of the team in front of him. Not to mention that he had the combination of Keith and Doughty in front of him for almost half the game. Canada won in spite of Luongo, not because of him.

Also, he didn’t steal the series against Dallas. Vancouver outplayed Dallas all series long and it was only because of Turco that it went 7 games. Let’s face it, that was the worst series of hockey since the lockout ended. Both teams played the trap to perfection and gave all fans something to vomit about. It was terrible, terrible hockey.

BTW, you haven’t answered my question. Why would management give the Luongo the richest goaltending contract in NHL history when he’s never stolen a single series? Can he? Yes, but he hasn’t to date.

2010 PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2
Can D2K be the silencer of the Sedins?

by hawks61 on May 1, 2010 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

As I have already said

he has stolen a series. His first ever playoff round against Dallas. Turco won 3 games in that series and Luongo won 4. In the 3 wins for Turco he had 3 shutouts. In other words in order to beat Luongo Turco had to not let in any goals. Luongo let in 12 in a 7 game series and 4 of those were in game 1. The series also had 6 OT periods. So basically in 9 games Luongo let in 12 goals. Was it bad hockey? Yeah. But that doesn’t mean Luongo didn’t steal the series. He stood on his head at times in that one.

As for management giving him that contract. I have no idea why they would do that. Probably because you have to try and get the best goalie possible and give him a good team in front of him and let him try and win in the playoffs. And if you think Luongo is your guy based on what your scouts and talent evaluators and coaches tell you then you have to lock him up long term. 12 years long? Maybe not. But I am not the GM.

And you can’t tell me that Luongo has never proven to be the guy everyone thinks he is and then dismiss his winning an Olympic gold. He outplayed the guy at the other end in every game he played in that tourny. And those were the best goalies in the world. So it must mean something.

As I said. I am not saying he is the best goalie in the world. I am not saying he is infallible. I am not saying he is going to steal the series or be lights out. He may struggle again this series like he did in round 1. All I am saying is he is a good goalie. Maybe not as good as the hype suggests but that isn’t really his fault. He doesn’t hype himself. And if you want to base your entire scouting report on the guy based on game 6 last year that’s fine but it’s a faulty scouting report then. That’s all I am saying.

by Section 312 on May 1, 2010 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

And you can’t tell me that Luongo has never proven to be the guy everyone thinks he is and then dismiss his winning an Olympic gold. He outplayed the guy at the other end in every game he played in that tourny. And those were the best goalies in the world. So it must mean something.

The team in front of him did. Germany? Russia? Slovakia? Canada dominated those teams severely don’t tell me that he was the reason why they won. He nearly lost the game for Canada against Slovakia with his brutal GA to let them back into it. And add to it, he didn’t outplay Halak that game nor Miller in the gold medal game. C’mon now who are you trying to fool.

BTW, nobody has based their opinions on Luongo becuase of one game. It’s a career filled with playoff ineptitiude that has formed everyone’s opinion of him.

Is he a good goalie? Yes. But that’s all he is – good not great. He’ll never be confused with Roy, Brodeur, and/or Dryden. Right now he’s not even Miller or Hiller or Halak.

2010 PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2
Can D2K be the silencer of the Sedins?

by hawks61 on May 1, 2010 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions

some observations about the 'nucks

from hockeenight:

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6478275/

by redfaction37 on May 1, 2010 3:00 PM CDT reply actions 5 recs

This was too good.

Even DGB picked up on it.

by alpo on May 1, 2010 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions

I loved it

by it'snotsomuchmeasitisroenick on May 1, 2010 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Brilliant.

Tremendously tremendous!

Luongo's tears feed my soul.

by allyouyounghockeyplayersoutthere on May 1, 2010 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Campbell's rest period

Here’s hoping the 5 day break between the Pleistocene era and tonight has him ready for a few more minutes tonight. I expect to see a shadow from the weaker Vancouver lines step up and show some funk. It should be short-lived and hopefully we bring the blue line we are all expecting to see.

It's my ass. It's huge. Smell it. Focus on it. Stare into it's unending beauty. It will be your undoing.

by Hungryhawk on May 1, 2010 3:00 PM CDT reply actions

Keith really needed the rest as well.

2010 PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2
Can D2K be the silencer of the Sedins?

by hawks61 on May 1, 2010 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Add Hjammer to the list of players that needed the break.

The bruises on his shins that he took blocking shots in the NSH series are probably just mottled green now instead of black and blue.

by spokeinthebandwagon on May 1, 2010 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I wonder how Biscuit's ankle is looking

I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out.
- Rodney Dangerfield

by stacie7 on May 1, 2010 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Lest we forget

Sopel’s front and sides.

It's my ass. It's huge. Smell it. Focus on it. Stare into it's unending beauty. It will be your undoing.

by Hungryhawk on May 1, 2010 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I think the biggest thing for DK in the Preds series was getting back together with Seabrook

And I think that’s probably due to the comfort level he feels with Seebs, as well as the liberation he feels because he no longer has to clean up after Byfuglien and his tendency to rove. I still think Keith’s best defensive performance was in game six, when he did a great job of taking away opposing shots with his stick. THAT’S a typical Duncan Keith performance …

I am a big believer in the notion that the best bluelines prevail in the playoffs. If so, I think we’ll be okay.

And while I think Luongo is an outstanding netminder, I don’t think there’s any way he’ll play better than the goaltender we saw in the last round.

Duncan Keith = 2010 Norris Trophy Winner

by kmb8488 on May 1, 2010 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Two forwards on the Canucks

have the same birthday.

Wonder if they know.

larry. A kind word for everyone.

by ballyb on May 1, 2010 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

I'm an idiot

I actually just scanned all those profiles searching for the birthday buddies, then realized it was Thing 1 and Thing 2 and hung my head in shame.

by HungryHungryPanda on May 1, 2010 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

What a coincidence!

rec’d cause I’d totally have done the same thing at this point in the day. (sober)

2009 SCH Post Whore
2010 Troll Collector
SCH's Resident Mom
The sun never sets on a badass

by Trixietrx on May 1, 2010 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah...

I’m thinking it’s probably time for me to start drinking. I was gonna have a beer with lunch, but the Bruins/Flyers game was so good that I couldn’t leave the couch.

by HungryHungryPanda on May 1, 2010 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

see, that game drove me to drink

Time for some thrillin' heroics!

by shinkicker on May 1, 2010 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Well yeah, now that it's over

I’ve got a bunch of Two Hearted Ale to throw back. Should be interesting, my blood is really flowing after that OT period. I love playoff hockey!

by HungryHungryPanda on May 1, 2010 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I was going to post - you do realize they are twins

then remembered we don’t have the sarcasm button and that you meant it as a joke

I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out.
- Rodney Dangerfield

by stacie7 on May 1, 2010 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

The twins out of uniform...

"Everything I know about life, I learned from my father watching the Blackhawks. It can all be summed up in 2 words, 2 simple words that ring over and over in my memory. Detroit Sucks!!! Detroit Sucks!!!"

by DetroitSucks! on May 1, 2010 3:22 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Swedish meatballs

It's my ass. It's huge. Smell it. Focus on it. Stare into it's unending beauty. It will be your undoing.

by Hungryhawk on May 1, 2010 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions

T minus 3 hrs, 32 mins.

Let’s Go Hawks!

Beat the Crap Outta the Canucks.

larry. A kind word for everyone.

by ballyb on May 1, 2010 3:28 PM CDT reply actions

For me it's all about the Sedin line.

I said it in another thread and I’ll repeat it here: Stop Sammy and the Twins and you’ve got a great chance of winning the game. Yes, the other lines can score, but as go the Twins so go the Canucks.

Do we have a line like that? If you hold one of our lines scoreless, we still have a good chance to win the game. I think this is where the Hawks have a big advantage.

And no matter the stats and the players, it all comes down to outworking the other guys. Here’s hoping the Hawks have their “playoff urgency” skates on.

I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.

by Preacher000 on May 1, 2010 3:44 PM CDT reply actions