Tag Archives: Kevin Bieksa

We don’t need someone to crack the whip: Bieksa

Posted on May 23, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

It’s always been about the room.

There’s the Mind Room, the Star-Trek like locker-room and the room they turned into a posh players’ lounge complete with chef service.

The Vancouver Canucks often reference the room — that place where they take refuge from the coaching staff and media to hold each other accountable — and the veterans who set that performance bar are left alone by Alain Vigneault. It created urgency from within and also a comfort zone.

How the successor to Vigneault sells the buy-in will be more important than finding that third-line centre or improving a pitiful power play.

Being swept aside in the playoffs should provide all the incentive, but the Canucks said the same thing a year ago when they bowed out of the postseason in five games. They believed in the core. They believed in the coaches. The refrain echoed again after the San Jose Sharks series, and you wonder if the new coach may have to...

18 things Chris Tanev’s dad will say while negotiating his son’s next contract

Posted on May 16, 2013 by admin in Sun Hockey | No comments

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18 things Chris Tanevs dad will say while negotiating his sons next contract

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Chris Tanev had a solid season for the Canucks, showing that he’s ready to step into a larger role next season. He even spent some time in the top-four alongside Alex Edler. It seemed like he instantly developed chemistry with whoever he played with thanks to his calm, simple style of play.

Tanev is also a pending Restricted Free Agent this off-season, leading to an interesting question. How much is Tanev worth? He doesn’t do any one thing noticeably well. He doesn’t put up points and doesn’t hit. What he does do is make smart decisions with the puck and a good first pass out of the zone. He plays largely mistake-free defence, which is a nice switch for Canucks fans used to Kevin Bieksa and Alex Edler, who are far more high-risk.

It was revealed today that Tanev would be representing himself...

Fan-Attic: End-of-season Canucks player commentary

Posted on May 9, 2013 by admin in Sun Hockey | No comments

by Scott Taylor

As we begin yet another summer of our discontent, we present our annual player-by-player commentary, an invaluable reference as the post mortem begins:

Alex Edler (signed through 2019) – In scoring the go-ahead goal in game four’s short lived comeback, Edler finally delivered – but it’s not nearly enough to compensate for a brutal playoff showing and another mediocre regular season. For a team that must make changes, Edler should be a prime candidate to be moved in an off-season trade (before a no movement clause kicks in). Or if he stays, might benefit from the confidence of a different coaching staff.

Kevin Bieksa (signed through 2016) – Bieksa is really a microcosm of the entire team – undisciplined at times, oft injured, a fierce competitor when it matters most but physically under sized for the style of game that makes him most effective. Despite his ridiculous soap-box whining between games 3 and 4, arguably...

Canucks Odds: Who stays and who goes?

Posted on May 8, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

Dale Weise: 75%

Weise moved his game forward in his sophomore NHL season and became a regular penalty killer along with fourth-line duties. Unless the Canucks radically retool their bottom six, the pending RFA looks safe.

Andrew Ebbett: 20%

The Canucks brought the versatile Ebbett back after the injury-riddled previous season, but lack of size will work against the 30-year-old.

Steve Pinizzotto: 20%

Getting Pinizzotto onto their NHL roster in March effectively cost the Canucks Aaron Volpatti, who was claimed by the Capitals off waivers and then re-signed. The pending UFA had a great first NHL shift but was scratched down the stretch.

Tom Sestito: 50%

The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder is tough as nails and completely understands his role. But if the Canucks look to upgrade the skill on the fourth line, the pending RFA may be a casualty.

Manny Malhotra: 0%

The Canucks have offered him work in the organization after deciding the effects of his eye injury two years ago put him in danger as a...

Bieksa targets Couture, Thornton as embellishers

Posted on May 6, 2013 by admin in Sun Hockey | No comments

SAN JOSE -- Desperately seeking a way out of the 3-0 hole they have dug for themselves, the Vancouver Canucks played the embellishment card on Monday.

Defenceman Kevin Bieksa was the lead actor in this little drama that played out in the hallway of the HP Pavilion after Vancouver's optional practice.

Bieksa suggested San Jose's top two centres, Joe Thornton and Logan Couture, are not playing the game with integrity and accused them of using embellishment to draw penalties. He also referred to them as "so-called Canadians."

"Couture, you can't go near the guy, he snaps his head back, he flails," Bieksa told reporters. "You touch him after the whistle and he is going to jump off the ice and throw himself into the glass. These are hard calls for the officials to make and right now they are going against us.

"This isn’t my opinion. The evidence is in the video. . .Hank (Sedin) touches him off the faceoff, he...

Game Day: Schneider gets the start in goal as Canucks look to get back in series

Posted on May 5, 2013 by admin in Sun Hockey | No comments

CANUCKS AT SHARKS

GAME 3

TONIGHT, 7 PM, HP PAVILION

TV: TSN. RADIO: TEAM 1040.

SAN JOSE -- A lack of goals, not goaltending, has been the real problem for the Vancouver Canucks in their first-round playoff series with the San Jose Sharks.

But the Canucks clearly hope the return of goalie Cory Schneider in Game 3 tonight can help give the team a spark it desperately needs.

"Goaltending hasn't been the issue at all," coach Alain Vigneault acknowledged after this morning's game-day skate at the HP Pavilion. "But that being said, Cory lost the net to an injury and prior to his inury his play was real good. I think in 15 games he had something like four shutouts and there were six or seven games where he only gave up one goal.

"We were going to start with him in the playoffs, he is good to go now, so he is going to play tonight."

The Canucks trail the best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final...

Canucks extend home-ice playoff losing streak in 3-1 series-opening setback to Sharks

Posted on May 2, 2013 by admin in Sun Hockey | No comments

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks seem to have a case of home-ice disadvantage in the playoffs.

Wednesday night's 3-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks in their best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final series opener was the Canucks' fifth straight playoff loss on home ice.

That streak needs to end now if Vancouver is to survive this series and make any kind of post-season run.

"That doesn't matter," defenceman Kevin Bieksa said in a quiet Vancouver dressing room after the game. "It's one straight (loss) in the playoffs. We have one more chance next game to get a split on home ice. That's what we concentrate on. We're a good team on home ice and we are going to use that to our advantage in our next game.”

Game 2 of the series goes Friday night at Rogers Arena and the Canucks will be under immense pressure to gain a split before the series shifts to San Jose for Games 3 and 4.

Defenceman Dan...

Canucks: Under the Microscope — Kevin Bieksa

Posted on April 30, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

Every game day, Province Sports takes a closer look at an issue facing the Canucks. Today, Jason Botchford investigates Kevin Bieksa’s impact on the team.

Go by the numbers and you can make the case that Kevin Bieksa is the Canucks’ most important player.

Pretty simple, right? They were 23-8-4 with him in the lineup this season, and 3-7-3 without.

Yes, well, numbers lie.

That’s not to say Bieksa isn’t going to be a key to this entire series. He’s a right-handed shot and the Canucks have precious few on their blue-line. To start the playoffs, it’s just Bieksa and Frank Corrado representing the righties on the depth chart.

Lose Bieksa, and this team’s balance is thrown off like it was overcome with vertigo.

But this isn’t 2011 and the Canucks are actually far less reliant on Bieksa. This is a good thing and has been part of a long-term plan.

Bieksa averaged nearly 26 minutes a game during the 2011 postseason run, on a...

‘Juice’ expects to be set loose for final playoff tune-up

Posted on April 26, 2013 by admin in Sun Hockey | No comments

VANCOUVER — The Canucks are in Edmonton for a final dress rehearsal Saturday night against the Oilers (7 p.m., CBC, Team 1040).

But will everyone dress in this last-chance game before the playoffs? Believe it or not, head coach Alain Vigneault said he was still mulling his lineup options before the team flew out. He took all 25 healthy players with him – only Cory Schneider and Chris Tanev stayed back – and will have to scratch five.

This much we know: Roberto Luongo starts in goal and Henrik Sedin will play. So will Ryan Kesler. In addition, defenceman Kevin Bieksa is expected to suit up after missing five games with his mysterious ‘body’ injury. It appears his body is all healed up.

Bieksa took regular reps at practice Friday alongside Alex Edler and was on the second-unit power play.

“It felt good again today and I feel like I’m close,” Bieksa said. “If the coach wants me to play, I’ll play. If...

Canucks: Band-Aid blueline hopes for the best

Posted on April 23, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

Keith Ballard says he’s hoping his sore back will recover over the next few days to allow him to get into a game before the playoffs begin next week.

Chris Tanev’s ankle is healing but it’ll be touch and go if he’s ready for the first game of the post-season.

Kevin Bieksa, who’s missed four games with a lower body injury, skated on his own Tuesday but it’s anybody’s guess when he’ll be ready.

Rookie Frank Corrado played his first NHL game on Monday against the first-overall Blackhawks and passed the test with flying colours, making a remarkably smooth transition from junior hockey to the NHL. Even better, Corrado is a right-hander — which the Canucks were fresh out of with Bieksa and Tanev on the sidelines.

There are concerns, but the Canucks defensive corps appears to be trending in the right direction as the playoffs begin next week.

Canucks fans can remember past playoffs, when blueline injuries cost the NHL club dearly,...

Canucks summon 20-year-old defenceman Corrado to Vancouver

Posted on April 22, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

It’s confirmed.

Frankie Corrado is fast-tracking to the NHL.

The right-shooting defenceman, who turned 20 just four weeks ago, is joining the Canucks Monday.

Corrado recently finished his junior career with the Kitchener Rangers, where he was a plus-21 in the OHL team’s final 28 regular season games. He most recently played three regular-season games for the AHL Chicago Wolves, Vancouver’s farm team, where he had two assists.

Corrado may well see action for the Canucks this week; after all, the Canucks are missing both their right-shooting D-men: Kevin Bieksa and Chris Tanev.

...

Dallas 5 Vancouver 1: Tired, sloppy Canucks hang Schneider out to dry

Posted on April 19, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

DALLAS — The Canucks’ best players Thursday were Chris Tanev, Kevin Bieksa and Chris Higgins.

Just one problem, and it’s a big one. None of them were playing.

Without miraculous goaltending or a third line, and with Cam Barker in the top four, the Canucks collapsed in an embarrassing 5-1 loss. It exposed so many of the problems which have plagued the Canucks on this long, revealing road trip.

Cory Schneider said his team has been too casual. That should evoke memories of last year when the Canucks admitted they couldn’t raise their game emotionally after a January showdown in Boston.

Just think, the playoffs are less than two weeks away.

"We lost the system we play, and we lost momentum," Henrik Sedin said.

"We should be in games until the end. This can’t happen where you give up a goal in the third and everything falls apart.

"That’s not the team we have here."

The team the Canucks have is supposed to be built with...

Gallagher: Canucks best to avoid Blues, Wings and Kings in playoffs’ first round

Posted on April 18, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

The Canucks’ game in St. Louis Tuesday night certainly brought into focus the kind of team Vancouver really would like to avoid when it comes to playoff matchups.

This is not to say the Canucks wouldn’t be a solid bet to beat the Blues when they have both Kevin Bieksa and Chris Tanev back in the lineup, along with Chris Higgins, because they would almost certainly be the Vegas favourites given their clear edge in the goaltending department.

But what is the point in winning a first round series if your smaller, skilled lineup gets run over on a regular basis for at least six games? Even if they win, they’re likely to lose.

For the Canucks to have the kind of run they want in these playoffs, they need luck, pure and simple. They have to avoid injuries, the kind that murdered them in 2010-11. How do you do that if you’re getting hit by a truck on...

Canucks minus Kevin Bieksa for Blues battle

Posted on April 16, 2013 by admin in Sun Hockey | No comments

Boston Marathon explosions

Two initial explosions detonated in quick succession just before the finish line at the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon, leaving scenes of horror. Warning for graphic content.

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