11/27/2021 – CanucksBanter

November 28 is the big day of the KHL regular championship. All nine matches will begin with a minute of silence in memory of MHC Dynamo player Valentin Rodionov.

By Evgeny Mikhailov khl.ru

Admiral Vladivostok vs HC Sochi

Admiral have scored six goals in the last five matches, which was enough for only one victory – over Avangard (2: 1 B). The Far East lost their last meeting without a chance to Avtomobilist (1: 5) and continue to be in last place in the overall KHL standings. Sochi is regularly gaining points, having won three victories in a row. During the away series, which will end for Andrey Nazarov’s charges today, the southerners beat Siberia (2: 1) and Amur (2: 0). With 30 points, the guests occupy 10th position in the Western Conference. The gap from the playoff zone is six points, but if the Leopards continue in the same spirit, they can seriously become a competitor to Torpedo, Dinamo Minsk and Spartak for a place in the eight.

Leader of the season in strength techniques (119 in 31 matches) forward of “Admiral” Mark Verba will miss today’s game due to disqualification. Mix Indrashis may soon reach 300 points in the KHL (now – 298). Sochi goalkeeper Magnus Hellberg, after a dry victory over Amur, has risen to the second line in the rating of goalkeepers with the largest number of shutouts (5). His streak without conceded goals has already exceeded two hours of net playing time (138: 29). Vasily Glotov does not leave the ice without points for six matches in a row (2 + 4).

Amur vs Salavat Yulaev

“Cupid” will complete the home streak, which has developed ambiguously. The striking victory in the game against Avtomobilist (3: 0) was defeated by Avangard (1: 3) and Sochi (0: 2), which shook the Far East’s position in the playoff struggle. The hosts are 10th in the Eastern Conference with 29 points. To the coveted eight – four points. Salavat Yulaev is fourth with 43 points. Tom Lyamsa’s charges went to the Far East with a series of three defeats, the last one at home from Vityaz (2: 3 B).

The guest goalkeeper Juha Metsola , who will play for the Scandinavia team at the Fonbet KHL All-Star Game 2022, is among the best in terms of reflected shots (93.5%) and reliability rate (1.72). Markus Granlund is one of the main assistants of the championship (22 assists in 29 games). In Sakari Manninen counts six winning goals – the best indicator of the current season. For Viktor Antipin, the next point scored is 200th in the KHL.

Siberia vs Motorist

Siberia will play Avtomobilist after winning the hot Siberian derby. The hosts bounced back from 0: 2 against Avangard, scoring the winning goal 20 seconds before the siren (5: 4). Avtomobilist rehabilitated itself for a weak-willed defeat from Amur (0: 3), beating Admiral away (5: 1). It was difficult to imagine this at the start of the championship, but the Novosibirsk team bypasses today’s opponent in the standings. The Siberians are sixth in the Eastern Conference with 36 points. Yekaterinburg residents are eighth with a lag of three points. For the head coach of Siberia, Andrei Martemyanov, today’s match will be special – before working in Novosibirsk, he headed Avtomobilist.

Siberia goalkeeper Anton Krasotkin is among the leaders of the current season in terms of the percentage of parried shots (93.8%) and the reliability coefficient (1.85). His partner Harri Sateri is one of the best in shutouts (4). Evgeny Chesalin, in case of going on the ice today, will take the bar of 300 matches in the KHL. For Avtomobilist, Jesse Blacker is one of the most productive defenders of the championship (5 + 19 in 32 games).

Spartak vs Dynamo Moscow

The game day will continue in Moscow, where Spartak and Dynamo will take to the ice in the capital’s derby. The hosts won an effective victory over Kunlun Red Star (6: 4) in the last match, having previously played two polar matches with Jokerit (4: 2, 1: 6). The blue and white staged a crazy shootout with “Traktor”, from which they emerged victorious (7: 6 OT), having won the sixth victory in a row. The guests take second place in the Western Conference, in their piggy bank – 44 points. Lagging behind the leading Jokerit is two points. “Spartak” occupies the seventh position, 36 points for the red and white are still enough to enter the playoff zone.

Top scorer and championship assistant Vadim Shipachev , for whom Fonbet KHL All-Star Game 2022 will be the sixth star weekend in his career, has scored 17 + 30 in 32 matches. Stanislav Galiev has the same number of goals , in the sniper race they are one goal ahead of another Dynamo player Dmitry Rashevsky . Shipachev scores points six matches in a row (4 + 5), Galiev – four (3 + 4). In addition, Oscar Lindberg has personal scoring series – five matches (0 + 7), and Andrey Sergeev – three games (1 + 4). Yegor Zaitsev is one of the best in the League in strength techniques (91 in 29 matches). For Ivan Bocharovthe next shutout is the 20th in the KHL. Spartak has not left the ice for four matches in a row without the points scored by Yori Lehter (3 + 5).

Nizhnekamsk vs Ak Bars

The first Tatarstan derby of the season will take place in Nizhnekamsk. After the end of the last championship, the teams crossed paths only during the pre-season preparation. Neftekhimik recently pleased with dry victories over Lokomotiv and Traktor (both – 1: 0), and the defeat from SKA (2: 8) sweetened with two points in the match with Riga Dynamo (3: 2 B) … Ak Bars met with the same rivals. SKA also failed to beat Dmitry Kvartalnov’s charges (3: 4 OT), and a victory over the Rigans was won (4: 2). Kazan takes third place in the Eastern Conference with 45 points. Neftekhimik, who has 34 points, is seventh and so far feels quite confident in the fight for the playoffs, having a match in reserve compared to the competitors around him in the table.

Stephen Kampfer moved up to fourth in the championship’s defensive sniper rankings (6 goals in 32 games). Timur Bilyalov is one of the best in terms of reliability coefficient (1.92). For Igor Bobkov, the next shutout is the 30th in the KHL. Jordan Wheele scores points four games in a row (4 + 1). Dmitry Kagarlitsky today can score the 150th goal in the League (now – 149).

Lukasz Klok from Neftekhimik is the second most productive defender of the season (5 + 20 in 31 games). Together with Kirill Vorobyov, they are among the top 5 players who blocked the most shots. Klok neutralized 69 attempts of rivals, Vorobiev – 82.

Jokerit vs Lokomotiv

Jokerit and Lokomotiv, who met in the playoffs last season (the first round, the railroad team won 4-0 in the series), will play their fourth match in three months of the regular season. Twice the “Jokers” were stronger (2: 0, 4: 1), one meeting recently, on November 24, was won by Lokomotiv (2: 1 OT). Since then, both teams have lost one home game in overtime. The Finns lost to CSKA (2: 3 OT), Traktor did not obey the “railroad” (1: 2 OT).

Brian O’Neill is the second in the goalscorer and assistant races of the championship (7 + 29 in 33 games). His successful streak is five matches in a row (3 + 6). Niklas Jensen does not leave the ice without glasses for three meetings in a row (1 + 3). Lokomotiv defender Alexander Yelesin is one of the best in power techniques (100 in 27 games). Maxim Osipov is one of the leaders in blocked shots (67 in 32 matches). For Mikhail Belyaev, the next match is the 100th in the KHL.

Dynamo Minsk vs Tractor

Dynamo Minsk ended the last three matches with defeats in a series of shots. The Zubrs scored one point each in meetings with Siberia (1: 2 B), Barys (2: 3 B) and Metallurg (4: 5 B). “Traktor” also finished the last two meetings outside of regular time. After a successful shootout with Moscow Dynamo (6: 7 OT), Chelyabinsk beat Lokomotiv away (2: 1 OT). Minsk residents close the eight in the West by 36 points. Traktor is the second in the overall KHL standings, gaining the same number with the leading Metallurg (53). The guests are inferior in additional indicators, and also played three more games.

Nick Bailen is the leader of the defensive goalscorers list and one of the best assistants in the championship (5 goals, 27 assists in 34 games). Nikita Tertyshny is the second sniper of the season (18 goals in 34 meetings). Together with Sergei Telegin, he has the best utility indicator (“+19”). Lukasz Sedlak is the second in power techniques (109 after 34 meetings). Alexey Byvaltsev , who is gaining points for three matches in a row (0 + 4), today can make his 100th transfer to the KHL (now – 99). A similar streak for Albert Yarullin , who gave an assist in each of the last three matches.

Dynamo vs CSKA

Dynamo’s defeat streak is four matches. We managed to score one point only in the last game against Neftekhimik (2: 3 B). The Rigans dropped to last place in the Western Conference with 26 points. CSKA is third with 44 points, the same number of points are for Dynamo Moscow and Severstal. Lagging behind the leader in the conference “Jokerita” is two points. It was after the victory over the Finns (3: 2 OT) that the army team went to the capital of Latvia, rehabilitating themselves for a sensitive dry defeat from Severstal (0: 3).

CSKA goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov is one of the best in terms of the percentage of parried shots (92.9%) and the reliability coefficient (1.86). Nikita Nesterov is in the list of the best assistants of the championship (22 in 33 matches). He has the second average time on the court among the players in his role (26:00). Adam Reideborn has finished four games this season – one of the best indicators.

Kunlun Red Star vs Metallurgist

Kunlun Red Star have managed to score points in two of their last five matches. The Beijing team beat Vityaz (3: 2 OT) and drew the main time of the match with Amur (4: 5 OT). The Red Stars occupy the penultimate place in the overall standings of the KHL, ahead of Admiral in terms of additional indicators with points parity (19). Metallurg continues to lead the standings with 53 points. Traktor has the same number, but the Chelyabinsk team played three more matches and are inferior in terms of the number of victories. The steelmakers went on the road after a successful victory over Dinamo Minsk (5: 4 B).

Metallurg’s two goalkeepers are among the leaders in terms of the percentage of reflected shots. At Basil Koshechkina – 93.2%, Juho Olkinuora parried 93.1% of attempts rivals. Mikhail Pashnin and Artyom Minulin are some of the most useful players in the championship (+18 each ). Nikolay Goldobin is one of the leaders in winning goals (5 in 27 meetings). Andrey Chibisov scores points three matches in a row (2 + 1). A similar streak for Beijing forward Parker Fu (3 + 0).

Owners of the Vancouver Canucks appear ready to make a change in management, but how long will that actually take?

By Patrick Johnston. The Province

**Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini in the playoff bubble in Edmonton last season. Twitter**

Change seems to be on the minds of the leadership of the Vancouver Canucks, but maybe not right away.

That’s the chatter behind the scenes anyway.

Whatever happens in the coming days, the Canucks face some hard realities in their future. To become a true contender, they need to take a long, hard look at the path they’ve taken to date. And then be realistic about what needs to come.

“They are too many years into a five-year plan,” TSN’s Chris Johnston told Postmedia News on Saturday. “This iteration of the Canucks has gone as far as it can go. It’s difficult for me to envision any scenario where there isn’t a full-on housecleaning coming soon and so the only focus at the top of the organization should be getting that part right. Hire people with a clear vision and let them execute it.”

Look at the Toronto Maple Leafs, he said.

A decade ago they had an interesting core of young players led by Nazem Kadri and Morgan Rielly along with some useful veterans like Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul and Dion Phaneuf, but it wasn’t working.

Brendan Shanahan came in, took a year to observe the situation, then decided to blow it all up. And now they’re in the sixth year of being roughly a 100-point team.

Now, they’ve struggled in the playoffs and that’s a new question for them to consider, but being a consistent playoff team is what Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini has long wanted to be. And that’s been the stated goal over the past seven years. We know how that has gone.

The Colorado Avalanche were in a similar spot half-a-decade ago. They moved on from Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly. They stopped chasing veteran free agents. They accepted a season of pain to re-set themselves. They made a series of shrewd trades to add interesting prospects like Sam Girard, as well as draft picks.

And now they’re a consistent playoff threat at worst, a Stanley Cup contender at best.

Which brings us back to the Canucks. They’re far from their stated goal of being a competitive, playoff-bound team. They might have been unlucky here or there this season, but on the whole it’s nothing close to either the Leafs or the Avalanche.

A change in course is essential. And it seems that after some internal debate, Canucks ownership is trending in that direction.

“I’ve been told that nothing long-term will be done until they are convinced they have the right person or people for those spots,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday on Hockey Night In Canada.

“I don’t think there’s a set timeline,” he explained to Postmedia afterwards. “Another owner said to me, ‘Every day, every game, feels like a referendum on your franchise.’ But I think (Canucks) ownership is determined not to do it like that. I think they’re waiting for the right person.”

In the short-term, there’s always the possibility that they decide to relieve general manager Jim Benning of his duties and install an interim GM.

“In terms of a long-term fix, they could take their time,” Friedman added. “It’s not about getting someone out, it’s about getting someone in.”

They want to get this one right, in other words. That is a little ironic, given how their tenure as team owners has gone.

The Aquilinis have hired a trio of senior leaders in the past decade-and-a-half. They’ve ditched two because they were at odds over the future course of the team. At one point both Mike Gillis and Trevor Linden were seen as the right people for ownership. Then, not.

How long would the new right person last before ownership chafes again? Could the new person find a way to create a cordoned-off environment? Or is this just the beginning of a new cycle?

And each day they wait to make a change is one less day they can make trades to start charting the new course of the club. It’s right to want to get this right and to take your time. That’s been the advice of consultant Mike Forde, who may or may not have given ownership advice in recent weeks. He’s helped a number of NBA teams search for the right boss. He helped the New Jersey Devils in their search last year, too, though they ended up staying with the internal option, Tom Fitzgerald.

Rumours out of Montreal have the Canadiens looking for a replacement for GM Marc Bergevin . The Anaheim Ducks need a GM too. Both are interesting situations, ones that surely will make the Canucks’ search more complex.

In the end, as Ernest Hemingway once wrote, change happens gradually, then suddenly.

It’s what you do in the gradual part that counts.