Tag: Canucks

Categories
Hockey Feed

Monster trade aborted between Penguins and Canucks!

NHL.com

The Penguins failed to reach the postseason for the time first in 17 years and that has to be the deciding factor in the new general manager making huge changes in Pittsburgh. Both president of hockey operations Brian Burke and GM Ron Hextall were fired at the end of the regular calendar, and the general manager’s first command will be to save whatever’s left of the roster in order to be a contender with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang putting up great numbers.

A few weeks ago, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman revealed how the Penguins were looking at acquiring Vancouver Canucks forward JT Miller, which would have been a monster trade this season. Miller remained in Vancouver at the trade deadline as it was reported that the Canucks wanted to secure a young centre as a replacement before considering moving him. They were also seeking two first-round picks in return for Miller -– or a first and a prospect. Miller’s 7-year, $56 million contract extension kicks in on July 1.

The Penguins did not want to part with Jason Zucker, and while the deal was too complicated and didn’t get close to materialize, some fans now wonder if the Pens’ new GM, whenever he is named, will revisit the option of a monster trade for Miller’s services.

Zucker is now set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, and, given how well he did this past season, the veteran forward is likely to fetch a new contract with a higher salary cap hit than the $5.5 million he commanded the last five seasons.

However, the Penguins’ immediate future still revolves around Crosby, Malkin and Letang, and it might mean to pull a monster trade this summer and go all in in 2023-24.

Go big or go home, Pens?

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Brock Boeser resented hockey and explains why he wanted out amidst mental struggles

YouTube

Vancouver Canucks top forward Brock Boeser wanted nothing to do with hockey this past season. And while it showed on the ice, it was especially made clear when reports emerged closer to the March 3rd deadline that Boeser had hinted at a possible trade out of Vancouver, asking his agent to look for potential suitors across the league.

After his end of season press conference, Boeser opened up to Iain McIntyre of Sportsnet on what happened and how his father’s passing had a huge impact on his mental health and his vision of hockey.

“I’m being pretty open with you right now … it’s not easy to explain this to teammates, especially when they haven’t been through it in life,” Boeser said after publicly rescinding his trade request during Saturday’s year-end press conference. “I don’t want to tell people that I hated the game. I never really, truly hated the game of hockey but … “

He resented it?

“Exactly,” he said. “Yes, exactly.”

Boeser did not share his feelings with anyone, which probably made it harder on the 26-year-old to heal.

“It was a long year; I went through some stuff,” he said. “I’m trying to explain this right. It’s hard for people to understand the aftereffects of what I went through. Unless you really go through this, you can’t understand what it’s like dealing with a (dying) family member. I really blamed hockey for not being home with my dad. That was a big challenge I worked through this year. And with my hand injury, then the trade rumours, and I wasn’t playing good – it just all was a lot.”

While Boeser admitted that at the time he was only seeking a fresh start when asking for a trade, he has since rescinded it since what he was really looking for was closure.

“Just really took a step back and realized this was my dad’s dream and my dream to play in the NHL,” he explained. “Why am I holding it against … why am I angry? I think I just got to a point where I became at peace with it. I’m not going to lie, there were some days that were hard to come to the rink. But the last month, I’ve been excited to come to the rink. I don’t want the season to end. And I’m really excited to start training because I have another level to my game. I haven’t gotten there yet, but I know I can get there and that’s where my head’s at.

“I kept pushing through and I found that fire and drive again. It’s just really exciting to me, just feeling that again.”

Boeser ended the 2022-23 season with 18 goals and 37 assists for 55 points in 74 games. But most importantly, he got the feeling that he wants to be a Canuck and is hoping to grow under head coach Rick Tocchet.

“It’s out of my control, but I do want to play here,” he added. “What we’re building, I think is something legit with this coaching staff, and I want to be part of it.”

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Terrible development in Tanner Pearson’s alarming situation

NHL.com

Vancouver Canucks forward Tanner Pearson has had a tough road to recovery. On Tuesday, Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali — The Team reported that Pearson had to undergo 6-7 surgeries so far to repair an injury that has been a controversial subject for some time now.

“Pearson was shut down with a hand injury on January 12th, he hurt the hand on November 9th. The latest on Pearson is that he has had 6-7 surgeries so far and the hope is he is done with surgeries. The re-hab is still a long road ahead for Pearson, still too early to know if he will play next season,” explained Dhaliwal.

Earlier in the season, defenseman Quinn Hughes had expressed his frustration towards the way Pearson’s injury was handled, blaming the Canucks for what is happening to his teammate.

“I feel bad for him. I mean, it wasn’t handled properly and you know, it’s not really a good situation he’s got there and hopefully he’s going to be alright,” Hughes said.

Dhaliwal also reported that there is a serious threat that Pearson’s career might be over, and if that’s the case, he will likely file a grievance against the Canucks.

“If he can not play again, I expect a grievance to be filed. It is uncertain if he will play again. The Canucks will have to defend themselves if he is prevented from another contract.”

Pearson came to Vancouver in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins back on Feb. 25, 2019, in return for defenseman Erik Gudbranson.

Pearson is under contract through the end of the 2023–24 season at a $3.25 million annual cap hit. He’s played parts of five campaigns with the Canucks, but has gone through his most heartbreaking year with the team this past season.

We can only hope the series of surgeries are now a thing of the past, and he can focus on getting better to return to action.

Recommended articles:

Categories
Hockey Feed

Andrei Kuzmenko refuses to wear Pride Night jersey and cites new reason

Sportsnet

Are you even surprised by now?

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman recently commentary on the latest spate of players refusing to don Pride Night jerseys. But it did not stop Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko to refuse to wear the Pride jersey for tonight’s celebrations in Vancouver.

According to head coach Rich Tocchet, Kuzmenko made his choice with his family’s input. A different statement than previous religious beliefs, but it remains that Kuzmenko is from /, Russia.

Last week, Florida Panthers brothers Eric and Marc Staal said they wouldn’t don the jerseys — citing their Christian beliefs. Buffalo’s defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin did no participating in warmups this weekend when the Sabres welcome the Montreal Canadiens.  San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer had previously stated he wouldn’t wear the jersey because it went against his Christian beliefs as well.

The Chicago Blackhawks opted as a team not to wear their jerseys last week, saying they didn’t want to subject their Russian players to new laws in that country prohibiting LGBTQ+ “propaganda.”

The New York Rangers, Islanders and Minnesota Wild also canceled plans to wear the jerseys in past weeks. It all started back in January when Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Proporov cited his Russian Orthodox beliefs for skipping warmups instead of wearing the jersey.

This even got Bettman wondering if the league should consider canceling Pride Nights in the NHL.

“Overwhelmingly, our league and our teams support Pride Night,” Bettman said, per the Seattle Times. “Overwhelmingly, our players support it. But there are some players — not most, far from it — that have made personal decisions and personal choices and you have to respect that.”

And so, Kuzmenko is added to the list and will not take part in warmups tonight in Vancouver.

Recommended articles: