Day: October 8, 2016

Vancouver Edge Edmonton For 3-2 Win In Final Game Of Preseason

On By CanucksBanterIn Canucks 2016 Exhibition Games, Canucks 2016 training camp, Canucks Game Review, Canucks NewsLeave a comment

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Vancouver Canucks’ Henrik Sedin (33) and Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) battle for the puck during first period NHL pre-season action in Edmonton, Alta., on Saturday October 8, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Granlund Nets Winner, Markstrom Stops 34 Shots

andrewchernoff By Andrew Chernoff

October 8, 2016

Vancouver (3-2-2=8 pts) visited the Edmonton Oilers (5–3–0 =10 pts) in the second and last meeting between the two teams in preseason play, defeating the Oilers 3-2 to sweep their preseason series.

It was the Canucks first and only road victory of the 2016 preseason.

Brandon Sutter (2) scored the Canucks lone goal in the opening period, assisted by Philip Larsen (2) and Markus Granlund (3).

Then in the final period, Sven Baertschi (2) on the power play, assisted by Bo Horvat (2) and Alex Edler (6) tied the score at 2-2.

Markus Granlund (1) scored the game clinching goal, assisted by Alex Edler (7) and Brandon Sutter (1), with just under two and a half minutes left in the game.

Canucks starting goalie Jacob Markstrom played the entire game, stopping 34 of 36 shots in the game.

Vancouver were tied, 1-1 after one, behind 2-1, after two periods.

Edmonton outshot the Canucks 36-21 in the game, with Vancouver outhit by the Oilers  33-25.

Vancouver finishes 2016 preseason action with a road record of 1-2-1.

The Vancouver penalty kill was 1 for 2, with 3 shots against; the power play was 1 for 2 with 5 shots for.

Game Notes

  • Canucks only had 8-shots after two periods:
    • four by two forwards, Brandon Sutter with 3-shots and Markus Granlund with 1 shot;
    • the rest came from defenseman: Hutton, Edler, Stecher and Biega with single shots.
  • Vancouver had 15 blocked shots and just 7-giveaways in the game.
  • Face-offs:
    • in the defensive zone, Canucks were 10 for 16: 63 percent
    • offensive zone, 7 for 13: 54 percent
    • neutral zone, 7 for 24: 29 percent
    • Horvat was 7-14; H.Sedin, 8-17; Sutter, 6-13; Ruutu, 2-8.
  • Alex Edler finished the preseason with 7 assists to lead Vancouver, picking up two assists tonight.
  • Tuumo Ruutu had 5 hits to pace the Canucks, with Emerson Etem and Luca Sbisa, 3 hits each.
  • The Canucks had 4 players with a positive Corsi For (All Situations) in the game led by Ben Hutton +8; Sven Baertschi, +5; Loui Ericksson +3; ; Bo Horvat +1.
  • Vancouver had 4 players with a positive Corsi For (5-on-5): Ben Hutton +7; Sven Baertschi +3; Alex Biega +2; and Loui Ericksson +1.
  • For the game, Vancouver finished with a positive Corsi For (All Situations) of +46, Edmonton +61. Corsi For (5-on-5), Vancouver was +39, Calgary +55.

Next Game: October 15, 2016-Season Opener at Rogers Arena at 7 p.m. PST

Vancouver Canucks: Nikita Tryamkin Needs to Start in AHL

On By CanucksBanterIn Canucks 2016 training camp, Canucks NewsLeave a comment

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by Ben Dooley

October 8, 2016

The Vancouver Canucks are down to their final few cuts before the regular season, and Nikita Tryaaamkin needs to be one of them.

With the Vancouver Canucks down to their final few cuts before the regular season, it’s time for the really hard decisions to be made.

One of those decisions will likely involve Russian defenseman Nikita Tryamkin.

Tryamkin is an interesting case because of a European assignment clause that allows him to go back to the KHL if he isn’t playing in the NHL. That clause did not seem like a huge deal at the time because the Canucks were lacking in defensive depth and Tryamkin would be in the NHL.

Several months later, the Canucks have a logjam on defense and have to decide relatively quickly what they’re going to do.

The obvious factor that makes Tryamkin a favourable player to go down to Utica is his waiver eligibility.

Vancouver currently has 10 defensemen on their NHL roster and will need to get down to eight by opening night on October 15th. Of the defensemen that remain with the Canucks, Tryamkin, Troy Stecher and Ben Hutton are the only ones that can go down to the AHL’s Utica Comets without clearing waivers — and Hutton isn’t going anywhere.

If Tryamkin refuses to go down to Utica, the Canucks could end up losing a defenseman on the waiver wire.

In a perfect world, Tryamkin would be the player that is headed to the Comets. He is still a very raw player and doesn’t bring a lot to the table other than his massive size.

He desperately needs time in the AHL to develop and refine his skills and Travis Green would be the perfect coach to help him do that. With the proper development Tryamkin has potential to turn in to the next Zdeno Chara instead of the next John Scott.

There is a few ways this situation could play out.

Either Tryamkin agrees right now that he should go down to Utica or he starts the season as a seventh defenseman and doesn’t get the playing time he probably thinks he deserves.

That would lead to one of two things happening. He would either request to go back to Russia or he would agree to go to Utica.

One thing is for certain, if Tryamkin can’t agree to go to Utica, then it might be in the Canucks best interest to cut ties with the player. He’s a big guy and has all the tools to succeed, but he isn’t ready.

Without the proper AHL development Tryamkin, might never develop into an NHL regular, because he likely won’t get the playing time to do it.

If he’s not going to be an NHL regular, is he really worth hanging on to because of his size? I don’t think so.

Source: Vancouver Canucks: Nikita Tryamkin Needs to Start in AHL