Tag Archives: alex burrows

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault quips: The world according to Coach Vee

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VANCOUVER — During his seven seasons behind the Vancouver Canucks bench, Alain Vigneault has had his share of moments in his dealings with the media. Here is the best of AV, quote department:

(You can click here for quotes or read on below)

• “When you have comments like Bolland’s, he’s obviously an individual whose IQ is probably the size of a birdseed. And he has a face that only a mother could look at.” — Responding to Blackhawks centre Dave Bolland calling the Sedin twins 'sisters' during a Chicago radio show.

• “As far as the sex goes, that's none of my business. They can do what they want. I like to have a lot of control but not that part there.” — On what advice he would give to his players during the 2010 playoffs.

• “A man possessed? I shouldn’t be laughing.” — Asked if he felt soft forward Kyle Wellwood's intensity level was on the rise.

• "It's...

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Burrows: Canucks’ inability to ‘close games out is … frustrating, embarrassing’

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Humility, affordability and loyalty best describe the past four seasons for Alex Burrows. Reality may best describe the next four.

The Vancouver Canucks right winger has a four-year, $18 million US contract extension that kicks in next season and includes a no-trade clause. It's a palatable $4.5 million annual salary cap hit and the yearly payout of $6 million, $5 million, $4 million and $3 million rewards slogging through a previous deal that made Burrows one of the best NHL bargains at $2 million annually.

However, nobody understands the deep unrest sparked by being swept in the Western Conference quarterfinal series more than Burrows. He knows one postseason victory the last two springs has put the entire organization under the microscope and that the coaching staff may be gutted. Core players may be moved as general manager Mike Gillis attempts to re-set the organization under the constraints of a reduced $64.3 million salary cap ceiling that the club has already...

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Canucks may need to play buyout game with Ballard, Booth

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Given the hugely disappointing way the last two seasons have ended for the Canucks, you would expect there to be significant change coming to a roster that has shown it’s not built to succeed in the playoffs.

With the assumption the team’s salary structure could be altered in a major way by trade, it’s not easy to project what personnel decisions will be dictated by financial need heading into next season.

But, based on what we currently know, it seems clear the Canucks will be forced to off-load at least one, and likely both, defenceman Keith Ballard and forward David Booth through the two allowed compliance buyouts as the NHL’s salary cap drops $5.9 million — from $70.2 million to $64.3 million. They are on the books for total salaries of $17.65 million over two years for both of them. They jump out as the two players whose profile within the team don’t line up with their paycheques. Between them,...

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Cam Cole: Canucks show they still have it — but just not enough

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SAN JOSE, Calif. — And there it was, Vancouver Canuck fans: evidence that it was still there.

Buried deep, perhaps.

Too late, of course.

Unavailable when it was really needed, a lot of the time.

But in there, somewhere, was the Canuck team that will put up a fight, make you pay for a penalty, dazzle you with Sedinery, and annoy the heck out of you with the sneakily-skillful play of Alex Burrows.

In there was a defence corps that will jump into the play and make things happen, speedy wingers who will win races and even a few puck battles. A goaltender who, even on a night when he doesn’t have anything like his best stuff, will beat the puck to death in hand-to-hand combat and make enough big saves to still have a chance.

Alas, also in there is the team that can’t hold a lead.

• PHOTOS: Canucks fall to Sharks in overtime

The team that will take the bad...

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Game Within Game: Words come back to haunt Canucks against Sharks

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THREE STARS

ONE – Joe Thornton, Sharks. Set up series winner. Finished with three assists, four shots and 13-for-23 on faceoffs.

TWO – Joe Pavelski, Sharks. Two goals, nine shots, two blocked shots, 10-for-18 on the draw.

THREE – Alex Burrows, Canucks. One goal, one assist, three shots, plus-1.

PIVOTAL POINT – With the Canucks leading 3-2 in the third period and trying to protect their slim advantage, Kevin Bieksa shoved Tommy Wingels into the boards and drew a cross checking penalty. The Canucks lost the subsequent draw, the Sharks pressured, Cory Schneider coughed up a rebound on Joe Thornton's wrister, Logan Couture poked the loose puck over to Joe Pavelski, who roofed the tying goal with 4:27 left in the third. Patrick Marleau then put the Canucks away for good in overtime as Schneider couldn't handle another Thornton shot.

BY THE NUMBERS – Canuck coach Alain Vigneault's playoff record behind the Canuck bench fell to 33-35 and 2-12 in his last 14...

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Sharks’ Adam Burish says Canucks have no right to lecture on diving

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SAN JOSE -- If Kevin Bieksa's comments about embellishment were calculated to get a response from the San Jose Sharks, he partially succeeded.

San Jose forwards Logan Couture and Joe Thornton, the "so-called Canadians" targeted by the Vancouver Canucks defenceman on Monday for their lack of integrity, took the high road and didn't have much to say following Tuesday morning's game-day skate.

But Adam Burish? Yeah, you guessed it, he had lots to say before Game 4 was played at the HP Pavilion.

Burish and the Canucks have something of a history going back to his days with the Chicago Blackhawks. So when a huge throng of reporters gathered around his dressing room stall, the Sharks' winger did not disappoint.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your tape recorders.

"To be honest, I don't think we're worrying about what he is saying," Burish said. "I guess if I was him while he is up on his soap box and trying to save the integrity of...

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Canucks Game Day: Burrows believes taking risks off rush will extend series

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SAN JOSE — It’s not you, it’s me. Or maybe it’s you and me.

They have met and talked it out among themselves. They heard how Roberto Luongo strongly suggested the level of personal sacrifice required to play beyond tonight,  but they will be backstopped by Cory Schneider. And instead of Kevin Bieksa playing the predictable playoff blame game Monday by accusing the San Jose Sharks of embellishment to draw penalties in an attempt to shift the focus, the Vancouver Canucks must draw upon a collective resolve.

They must find a way to score more than one or two goals if they expect to avoid being swept in their Western Conference quarterfinal series. And whatever their identity is, or was, they should take it to the Sharks instead of putting such an emphasis on defence. Take a chance. Blow the zone. Hang on to pucks and gain the offensive zone instead of the lame dump-and-chase game. Get to Antti Niemi....

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Talk to Burrows and Kesler about diving: Bad boy Burish takes a poke at Bieksa’s ‘embellishment’ comments

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SAN JOSE — Adam Burish has never warmed up to the Vancouver Canucks. So when Kevin Bieksa accused Logan Couture and Joe Thornton of embellishing hits to draw penalties in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series, Burish heated up Tuesday morning prior to Game 4.

“If I was him, while he was up on his soap box and trying to save the integrity of the game and all that stuff, I’d swing by player No. 14 (Alex Burrows) and player No. 17 (Ryan Kesler) and have a little talk about diving and the integrity thing,” said the San Jose Sharks winger.

“Then they can work their way over to our room, but I’d start with their room.

“It’s silly to sit there and call out the refs and worry about what we’re doing. Please, keep worrying about us. We’re going to worry about what we can do better instead of having props and interviews and video evidence and all...

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Canucks: Bieksa calls out Sharks for embellishment tricks

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SAN JOSE, Calif. — It was a masterful performance by Kevin Bieksa.

With the Canucks struggling to win faceoffs and struggling to score and on the brink of being swept in their Western Conference quarterfinal series, the defenceman switched the talking point on Monday.

The manner in which the San Jose Sharks are using embellishment to draw penalties and fuel a potent power play that has struck four times was the basis of Bieksa’s beautifully timed delivery.

And if it results in the supposed embellishers being penalized on Tuesday in Game 4 — Bieksa cited Logan Couture and Joe Thornton as the guilty parties in Game 3 — then the Canucks believe it could lead to a Game 4 win.

It was a bold and calculated move by Bieksa because Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows are usually the targets of embellishment angst by the opposition. Now it’s Couture and Thornton in the Canucks’ crosshairs.

“It doesn’t take away the fact that it (embellishment)...

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Bold moves needed to stop Canucks from aging into oblivion

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SAN JOSE — When next season begins, the Vancouver Canucks will once again be a strong contender to make the playoffs — and if things go well, perhaps even challenge for the lead at times in their newly realigned environment.

They’ll still have outstanding goaltending, and a decent back end, and general manager Mike Gillis will have done something, anything, to improve this popgun offence which has literally choked the life out of what was once a promising shortened 2013 season.

They’ll still have Ryan Kesler — although who knows in what condition — the deteriorating Sedins, David Booth, Alex Burrows, etc., which is fine for the regular season, and perhaps it might even be refreshing for next year’s team to be free of the weighty illusion that they are Cup contenders.

But really, for management, next year is not the issue.

What they should be trying to do is position this team such that in the very near future it doesn’t...

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Gallagher: It’s time for the Sedins to stand down after standing up for so long

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SAN JOSE — There they were, standing in the dressing room close together as they have always done so courageously throughout their great careers.

The Sedin twins were there to answer all the questions you might have about the team's inability to win again. They were facing the music just as they did after coming up dry against the Nashville Predators in the run to the Cup final, and again against Zdeno Chara and the Bruins in the final.

Never once did they duck into the medical room, duck a question, or in the case of Henrik, shirk the captain's duties. Often they spoke in tongues or had strange explanations for whatever failures or success they may have achieved — but they were always there just as they were Sunday night. And we in the media have truly appreciated that stand-up nature, the true grit shown by a sensational person borne of their exceptional upbringing.

But this is to tell...

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Jamieson: Vigneault shakes up lines; Schneider missing from practice

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Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault put his forward lines into a blender on Thursday, following this team’s disturbing 3-1 loss to San Jose in Game 1 of their opening round playoff series.

Also of note, injured goaltender Cory Schneider was not in attendance at practice, after being on the ice the four previous days after missing time with an undisclosed injury. A setback? Schneider pronounced himself ready to play after Tuesday’s practice and took Wednesday’s morning skate.

Vigneault wouldn’t address Schneider’s status, saying people are free to speculate what they want. He said Schneider is still day to day. Following practice, Luongo confirmed he will start Game 2 on Friday.

The Canucks had trouble generating offence agains the Sharks, so changes were no surprise.

Leaving just the Sedins-Alex Burrows unit intact, Vigneault went back to a second line that was very productive down the stretch – moving Ryan Kesler to right wing on a unit with Derek Roy at centre and Chris Higgins...

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Canucks in the playoffs: Alex Burrows must stay out of the box

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In descending order of post-season importance and intrigue, the microscope will focus on Cory Schneider, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Derek Roy, Chris Higgins, Mason Raymond, Kevin Bieksa and even wild card Zack Kassian.

How about Alex Burrows?

As much as the Vancouver Canucks winger plays a prominent role on the top line, first power-play unit and first penalty-killing pairing with Kesler, he can also play into the minds of the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference quarterfinal series because Burrows has the gift of gab that’s usually accompanied by an occasional jab.

The edge that he brings gets him to the crease to set picks and screens and accept the hacks and whacks to perhaps tip home a key goal.

Burrows will always be remembered for his dramatic double-overtime opening-series winner in 2011 — an epic, emotional and roster-saving seven-game triumph over the defending Stanley Cup champions and arch-rival Chicago Blackhawks.

And his overtime wrap-around winner to give the Canucks a 2-0...

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Oilers deliver 7-2 battering, but Canucks enter playoffs healthy after resting key players

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EDMONTON – The Vancouver Canucks got through their season finale without suffering a major injury.

Check.

They were able to rest six key regulars before the playoff grind started.

Check.

In the third period, they allowed five goals in the time it takes some people to sneeze, raising questions about Roberto Luongo's game and his mental state even as Cory Schneider's health remains a matter of some intrigue.

Oh oh.

Saturday night in Edmonton, the Canucks' goaltending soap opera took another spectacular twist when the Oilers ventilated Luongo for five goals in three and a half minutes en route to a 7-2 victory in the final game of the regular season. The final score was bad enough. But compounding the situation was a skeleton lineup iced by head coach Alain Vigneault which held it's own for 53 minutes before it dissolved in front of the Canucks' former poster boy.

Afterwards, Luongo declined to comment to the media. And in that silence, there will be plenty...

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