Vancouver Canucks

The Sedins waltzed home to Sweden, entered the tournament, and absolutely kicked ass, propelling the Swedes to a gold medal. How dominant were they? Daniel Sedin scored 1 goal and 5 assists in 4 games. When asked post game what type of hockey "Swedish hockey" is, Daniel said: "boring." And then almost laughed. Dank was injured in the 3rd period when he was checked through an open gate by Swiss player Matthias Bieber. Daniel scored no points in the final game. Henrik Sedin finished with an astounding 4 goals and 5 assists in the 4 games he played. Dominating. He scored 2 goals and had one 1 assist in the gold medal game. How sweet is this reaction: (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/HHOF-IIHF Images) Atta boy, Hank! Now bring some of that...

Earlier this afternoon in the great Scandinavian nation of Sweden, Henrik Sedin put up two goals and an assist — including the game-winner — to lead his Tres Kronor to a World Hockey Championship title over Switzerland. It's the first time the host nation has won gold since 1986. As a fan of the Vancouver Canucks, I was sort of hoping the Sedins would help end a different title drought this spring, but I guess this will do. Here are Henrik's thoughts on the game courtesy of the IIHF's official recap: "It was a tight game," Henrik said. "It could have gone either way, I felt. It was lucky we got our first two goals pretty quickly after their first one. After we scored our third, it felt pretty calm on the bench." A great quote from Swedish Captain Staffan Kronwall on what the Sedins meant to their team: "The Sedins came in and they gave us hope. They came in and changed the team for us, really." Henrik and brother Daniel were a bit late to the party, joining Tres Kronor soon after Vancouver's four-game sweep at the hands of the San Jose Sharks, but they turned Sweden into a contender immediately upon arrival. Henrik finished with 9 points in 4 games, while Daniel finished with 6. Loui Eriksson was Sweden's top scorer with 10 points, but he played in all 10 games. The area where the Sedins helped the most was on the power play, as they were able to take advantage of the larger ice surface to feast on inferior opponents. After fighting to find a groove on the man advantage all season in the NHL, the twins looked refreshed on international ice. Fans are already using this as evidence that somehow Alain Vigneault and the coaching staff were holding Daniel and Henrik back this year, as if the extra room and the considerably lower level of opposition talent had nothing to do with it. The Sedins get all the prime offensive zone shifts and top power play minutes in Vancouver; if they're being stifled by anyone it's the world class players that are usually defending them, not the coaches. There are, however, some interesting questions that arose from their play at the Worlds. First, they were being used to kill penalties, which they have never done in Vancouver. The Sedins proved they can handle a tough defensive workload this season, so perhaps this is something that whomever is coaching the Canucks next season will consider? Secondly, the twins showed great chemistry with linemate Loui Eriksson, who is rumoured to be on the trade market. Is an Edler-for-Eriksson swap a possibility? He's one of the more well-rounded players in the NHL, and would provide the shot of offense the team has needed for two seasons now. With their new super weird gold helmets, the Sedins are one trophy away from hockey's Triple Gold Club. Even though they were a game away in 2011, somehow the twins still carry around this stigma that they can't win when it matters. Because of that, it was fun to see them not just win gold but carry a team while doing it. They proved they can win, and that at 32-years-old they still have a lot left in the tank. Any chance the new coach lets them wear those helmets next season?

Check out the highlights. The Sedins, Loui Eriksson and Jhonas Enroth put on a show to advance to the gold medal game vs Switzerland on Sunday.

The mainstream media and most of us fans have been laying on the negativity pretty thick since the Canucks got swept by the Sharks. The MSM is waiting to hear the news that Alain Vigneault has been fired, which may not happen. The Alexander Edler knee job on Eric Staal in the IIHF World Championships just adds to the negativity. And Gollum himself wasted no time jumping on that wagon. It gets a bit much after a while. There are positives to draw from the current state of this organization. Yes, I am one of the voices who wants Vigneault replaced. The winning-est coach in Canucks' history needs to be released. I think his shelf life has expired and a new voice in the room is required. What bugs me the most about Alain is how often he has stated that there is enough leadership in the dressing room to get the job done. It's like an autonomy. Now, I don't know what Vigneault says to the players in between periods and games to debug that theory. All we see is bag skates and line juggling from him. Am I right? I also see an unfair or inconsistent way that AV goes about letting his players earn their ice time based on performance, which he has also preached. I mean, there have been plenty of times where the Sedins should sit. Or where Alex Edler should sit. Take your pick. It's as if anybody not named Sedin or Burrows, Edler or Kesler get free reign to play out their lousy play with big minutes and everybody else is getting dicked. It's not right. It's an inconsistent promotion process. That is on AV. That needs to changed, or move on. Can you remember a good story about AV motivating his players aside from the odd bag skate and line shuffling? I hear super stories about Red Wings coach Mike Babcock motivating his guys in these playoffs. Hell, even Babcock's pressers are composed and awesome. He is a winner. I look back at AV laughing at Kyle Wellwood being called a breakout player in front of the media a few years back and that really says it all as far as disrespect goes, right? Always hated that. It's juvenile. AV has been a wondrous coach, but I'd like to see a different face and approach, in both the dressing room and in front of the media. Having said that, AV could stay and Mike Gillis could revamp the team and for all I know AV could work wonders with it. It is a possibility. Vigneault has proven to be adaptive. Glass half full. Speaking of revamping the team, I can see some positives here. But the ball is in Mike Gillis' court. Hell, Gillis is going to have an insane summer. He needs to get the Canucks under the lesser salary cap, trade Roberto Luongo, draft like a fiend, pick the players he can buy out (maximum of 2) to get to / under the new salary cap (I assume Ballard for sure), re-sign current Canuck free agents (or not) and then hit the July 1 free agent signing market frenzy. That's why he gets paid the big bucks.. I am fairly confident that he will get the job done. Count me in as a Gillis supporter. Now, he has said that the Canucks need to get younger, bigger. I don't have a problem with that. Most observers will say that the current farm team is shallow. It kind of is. However, there are several key players in the system that can make an impact. They are: Forwards Jordan Schroeder (center), Nicklas Jensen (right wing), Brendan Gaunce (center), Anton Rodin (left wing), Darren Archibald (left wing), Bill Sweatt (left wing). Defencemen Peter Andersson, Yann Sauve, Adam Polasek, I will throw Frank Corrado in here as well as Chris Tanev missed the late part of the season and playoffs due to injury. Keep in mind: the Canucks have employed more experienced defencemen and forwards in the last few years in order to go for the Cup. Well if what Mike Gillis says is true, the kids are going to get a bigger chance than what they have been given lately. And that is good! Especially up front. Jordan Schroeder scored 3 goals and 9 points in 31 games with limited minutes with the Canucks this season. He scored 12 goal

Sweden may have beaten Canada at the IIHF Worlds today, but not without leaving an ugly scar (no sound with the vid, by the way): Ah man, Alex, that the hell were you thinking? Mike Commodore tweeted today that it was the dirtiest hit he has ever seen. Clearly Commodore 64 has not watched a lot of hockey in his lifetime. Edler received a major penalty and was tossed from the game. He will probably receive a serious suspension from IIHF play. Or not. I don't know. But he threw his stick in disgust as he left the ice after being ejected. Eric Staal was Team Canada's captain. Now Canes fans are going to be holding their breath that this injury is not serious.

Dan Hamhuis and Canada will meet the Sedins, Alex Edler and Sweden in the quarterfinal of the IIHF World Championships on Thursday. The Swedes are apparently having trouble scoring goals. Wow! (Sarcasm alert) However, the Sedins and Edler, after only one game played for Sweden, bring them hope. All 3 players scored a goal against Nicklas Jensen and Denmark. Both Sedins had an assist as well. They have Stars' Loui Eriksson as a winger, which would be a dream to see in Vancouver. Eriksson had 2 assists with the Twins vs the Danes. Jensen has 2 goals in 3 games for Denmark, by the way. A comedic side show of this game is that Mike Smith is playing in goal for Canada. Mike "Sploosh" Smith the Diver, that is. So, Henrik offered some advice to his team in front of the media Wednesday. It hilariously translates from Swedish to English through and online translator: The tension ahead of the WORLD CUP-kvartsfinalen between Canada and Sweden in Stockholm increased considerably when Vancouver's Henrik Sedin

May as well open up a thread for the beginning of Round 2. So, are you following or rooting for any of the remaining teams? It's hard to, isn't it? With the Leafs out I find it hard to really get behind any remaining team at all. OK, well, how about I cheer for teams that are playing against the Blackhawks and Penguins? Or would a Blackhawks-Penguins Final be a super treat to watch? A rematch of the 1992 Finals? My favorite Stanley Cup Finals of all time? (Because it was so damned entertaining). I dunno. No loyalties at this point. How about I go outside and mow the lawn? Poll What team are you rooting for at this point? Pittsburgh Penguins (Don't you f***ing dare!) Ottawa Senators. Go Canada / Sweden! New York Rangers (1994!) Boston Bitches and Babies Detroit Red Wings (They are so nice and stuff) Captain Serious, Punch Drunk and the Chicago Blackhawks San Jo

With the first round of the 2013 NHL playoffs behind us, it’s time to talk about more important things, like who’s leading the CHB playoffs prediction pool – that would be the Victoria, who correctly predicted 5 of the series winners. Here are our round two picks: Western Conference (1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings Clay: Chicago in 6. The Blackhawks have too much firepower and their forwards will overwhelm the Red Wings’ defence. Chicago may come out a bit rusty (given the 6 days between games) but they will shake it off quickly. Victoria: Chicago in 7. It’ll go to 7 games because Jimmy Howard is the better goalie, but he’s not good enough to steal a series from a bunch of younger, hungrier Hawks. @cherry_grant: I want to say Wings in 7, but I will instead say ‘Hawks in 6. Part of me hopes the Kings and the Wings win their series and eventually have to face off just for rhyme’s sake. J.J.: Chicago in 5. I should know better than to underestimate

Jimmy Fallon apparently said Roberto Luongo looks like Count Chocula. I guess he may not be completely off…

In a blowout win against Nashville on March 15th, David Booth scored his only goal of the 2012-2013 season. Late in the game, after turning the puck over inside the Predator's half, Booth skipped his shot towards a vacant net... and rung it off the post harmlessly. Perhaps it's only for that inglorious clang that Maxim Lapierre ultimately took pity and chose Booth over both himself and Dale Weise - all three charging into the zone once again - to hammer in the game's final nail. Booth was happy with the goal and embraced the overzealous celebration from his buddies on the ice. If he understood then what it meant in the grand scheme of his season, his reaction might have been different. That goal was not the ‘slump-buster' it should have been. His season ended with a brutal ankle injury two nights later. Booth was healthy for a total of twelve games this season, and frustratingly unlucky in his production during that span. With that empty netter, his shooting percentage grew to an unbearably low four pe