Tag Archives: season

Lockout costs Canucks some season ticket holders but not ‘significant amount,’ says GM Gillis

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

VANCOUVER - Not everyone remained a part of Vancouver Canuck Nation during the NHL lockout.

General manager Mike Gillis revealed Sunday that some season ticket holders have cancelled their packages with the team. Gillis stressed the number was small and refused to disclose it despite some prodding. The Canucks have sold out for 407 consecutive games.

“As far as season ticket cancellations, yes we have had some,” Gillis said on a conference call with Vancouver reporters. “It is not a significant amount based on where this team is positioned but, you know, it is an indication that some fans were not happy with the process and they expressed their viewpoint by cancelling. But it wasn't a number that would cause us to be overly concerned other than the fact that any fan of the Canucks who feels compelled to cancel season tickets is a concern of ours.”

Asked for a more specific cancellation figure, Gillis replied: “That's an internal number and...

End of NHL lockout a win for Vancouver businesses (with video)

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

Jessica Kelly was getting home from work around 3 a.m. Sunday in Vancouver just as the news began to break: the 113-day NHL lockout was finally over.

The manager of G Sports Bar and Grill on Granville Street checked and double-checked to make sure it was true.

“I was so happy I couldn’t even sleep,” she said. “I could just see dollar signs in my mind. I was really happy.”

Even with college basketball’s March Madness and the Superbowl coming up, hockey is the bread and butter of the business. “With those two put together, it’s nothing compared to what we’ll get for hockey,” Kelly said. While unable to give exact dollar figures, Kelly said bar and food sales have declined about 45 per cent since the lockout began in September. With football games and UFC fights picking up a bit of the slack, the bar — which has seven satellites and caters to out-of-town hockey fans, not just Canucks diehards...

Gallagher: NHL deal means flurry of action for Canucks

Posted on January 6, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

Missing the entire season was never an option over the trivial issues that kept the NHL and their players apart for the last month, so the lockout finally ending early Sunday in New York wasn’t really a surprise.

It had to end this week to get a season together and missing an entire season wasn’t an option for either side so, if anything, this settlement was a shade early for two deadline workers like Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr.

Now the task of getting things on to paper starts and that will doubtless have a few hiccups and protests from both sides, followed by the process of getting things back to normal.

For the Vancouver Canucks, of course, it means a flurry of action right away, not the least of which is the likely move of Roberto Luongo to some team that wants him. The fact the final deal left next year’s salary cap at $64.5 million US...

Canucks: Kesler says no timeline for his return

Posted on January 6, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

Welcome to The Amazing Race.

In a sprint toward the playoffs, a shortened NHL season will challenge the Vancouver Canucks to meet long-standing expectations of returning to Stanley Cup contention with a roster that will look different when the puck is dropped. When a tentative collective bargaining agreement was reached early Sunday morning it placed management in the starting blocks to trade Roberto Luongo, get a better timeline on Ryan Kesler’s rehab from offseason shoulder and wrist injuries, figure out their riddles in the middle and add a depth defenceman.

When Kesler was re-evaluated in early December at the Cleveland Clinic to assess progress from a May 8 procedure on his left shoulder and a June 27 surgery on his left wrist, it was determined that the rehab load placed on one side of his body was taking a toll and that progress to build strength and range of motion had been slow. It led to his agent declaring that...

Centre, defenceman and backup goalie top Vancouver Canucks’ wish list

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

VANCOUVER - A third-line centre, a depth defenceman and probably an experienced backup goalie are on general manager Mike Gillis's shopping list as the Vancouver Canucks prepare for a shortened National Hockey League season.

Roberto Luongo could have a big say on how those holes get filled.

Gillis could conceivably plug some of those holes by trading Luongo between now and the start of the season, which is expected to begin on or about Jan. 19 after the NHL and its players reached a tentative deal early Sunday to end the 113-day lockout.

There were media reports during the lockout that Gillis and Toronto general manager Brian Burke had a deal in place to trade Luongo to the Leafs. Both Gillis and Burke have denied that any deal is done, but Toronto or Florida seem like logical landing spots for Luongo.

Wherever Luongo ends up, Gillis will be looking for some assets in return to help plug the holes on his roster.

With...

Quinn says conditioning the key in a short season, Ronning and McLean also reflect on short 1995 campaign

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

VANCOUVER - Cliff Ronning and Kirk McLean remember the abbreviated 1994-95 NHL season. Kind of.

It was something of a blur.

A 48-game regular season began on Jan. 20 and ended May 3. It felt like the Vancouver Canucks were playing every other night and basically they were.

"Every game meant a lot," Ronning said Sunday. "You get on a losing streak and you are in trouble. Especially early in the season. It's important to have a good start."

"In a short season it's a sprint to the end," added McLean, the former Canuck goalie. "And that's not a bad thing honestly because you don't have time to think about anything else. It's like the playoffs."

Pat Quinn was the general manager of the Canucks that season, having just handed the coaching reins to Rick Ley after Vancouver's run to the Stanley Cup final the previous season.

He thinks conditioning will play a big part in determining how teams cope with a more...

Centre, backup goalie top Canucks’ wish list

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

A backup goalie, a third-line centre and a depth defenceman are on general manager Mike Gillis's shopping list as the Vancouver Canucks prepare for a shortened National Hockey League season.

Gillis could conceivably plug some of those holes by trading goalie Roberto Luongo between now and the start of the season, which is expected on or about Jan. 19 after the NHL and its players reached a tentative deal early Sunday to end the 113-day lockout.

How will the canucks do in a short season?

There were media reports during the lockout that Gillis and Toronto general manager Brian Burke had a deal in place to trade Luongo to the Leafs.

Both Gillis and Burke have denied that any deal is done, but Toronto or Florida seem like logical landing spots for Luongo.

Wherever Luongo lands, Gillis will be looking for some assets in return to help fill the holes on his roster.

With centre Ryan Kesler still...

Social media kept everyone in touch during NHL lockout

Posted on January 6, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

From start to finish, social media was an ever-present force during the NHL’s lockout.

Reaction was almost immediate on Sunday as word spread among players, media and fans that the league’s 113-day labour crisis had come to an end with a tentative agreement between the league and the NHL Players’ Association.

“So excited to get back to Edmonton,” said left-winger Taylor Hall. “See you soon Oiler fans!!!!”

New York Islanders forward Matt Moulson appreciated the time that went into the final 16-hour negotiating session that ended early Sunday morning.

“Woke up to some great news,” tweeted Moulson. “Big thank you to all who put in countless hours to get this thing done NHLPA.”

Matt Grabner, Moulson’s teammate on Long Island, was also grateful for the hard work put into labour talks that included U.S. federal mediators at times.

“Thanks to everyone who worked so hard and got this done..scramble is on now..can’t wait to get to NY,” said Grabner, adding the hashtag #letsplayhockey.

“To the...

NHL lockout ends with tentative deal between league, NHLPA

Posted on January 6, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

NEW YORK, N.Y. - After six long months of negotiations, it took one extremely long night to get the NHL out of the boardroom and back on the ice.
A tentative deal to end the 113-day NHL lockout was reached early Sunday morning following a marathon 16-hour negotiating session.

"We have reached an agreement on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement, the details of which need to be put to paper," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told a news conference. "We've got to dot a lot of i's and cross a lot of t's. There's still a lot of work to be done but the basic framework of the deal has been agreed upon."

Before the new CBA officially comes into effect, it must be ratified by a majority of both the league's 30 owners and the union's membership of approximately 740 players. There is no word when those votes will take place.

"Hopefully...

Migrant NHL players set to return after spending lockout in Europe

Posted on January 6, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

The great migration of NHL players to Europe is about to go into reverse.

Some of the nearly 200 players who spent the lockout with European clubs had already started trickling back in recent days. That will become a flood after news that the league and NHL Players’ Association reached a tentative agreement early Sunday morning.

They will have the advantage of having played in games in the last three months while those who elected to stay home will be playing catch-up during a quick training camp before the truncated regular season opens later this month.

“I’ve been working out hard on the ice and in the gym and I’m mentally anxious to get back on the ice (for games),” said Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows, who stayed home for the lockout. “We’ve been deep in the playoffs the last few years, so to get a rest and be able to work out and stay in the gym a little longer...

Game on! NHL lockout ends with tentative deal between league, NHLPA

Posted on January 6, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

NEW YORK — After six long months of negotiations, it took one extremely long night to get the NHL out of the boardroom and back on the ice.

A tentative deal to end the 113-day NHL lockout was reached early Sunday morning following a marathon 16-hour negotiating session.

“We have reached an agreement on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement, the details of which need to be put to paper,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told a news conference. “We’ve got to dot a lot of i’s and cross a lot of t’s. There’s still a lot of work to be done but the basic framework of the deal has been agreed upon.”

Before the new CBA officially comes into effect, it must be ratified by a majority of both the league’s 30 owners and the union’s membership of approximately 740 players. There is no word when those votes will take place.

“Hopefully we’re at a place where all those things...

Bieksa and Co. bracing for worst-case scenario

Posted on January 4, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

Kevin Bieksa has thought of making the best out of what could be a worst-case NHL lockout scenario with another charity game venture. Same goes for Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who would have an option to play for Modo of the Swedish Elite League in Ornskoldsvik because of their non-import status.

If Gary Bettman’s threat to cancel the entire season Thursday — unless there’s a collective bargaining agreement in principle to salvage a 48-game schedule that would commence Jan. 19 — is more than just posturing by the commissioner, a Plan B has to be in place for the union membership. Plan A is to play, and even that process could be bogged down if the players file a disclaimer of interest Saturday. It would effectively reduce the union to a trade association and allow individual players to file anti-trust suits and be paid triple their lost salaries in damages if successful in a court proceeding.

And even though the...

Canucks players preparing backup plans if NHL season cancelled

Posted on January 4, 2013 by admin in Sun Hockey | No comments

VANCOUVER — Since Day One of the NHL lockout, the Sedin twins have maintained they would return home to play for Modo in the Swedish Elite League if, and only if, the season was cancelled.

Daniel Sedin appeared to be hedging on that Friday. The brothers have had an open invitation from Modo GM and former Vancouver Canucks teammate Markus Naslund to rejoin their hometown club.

“It's getting tougher and tougher to make the move back to Sweden, that's for sure,” said Daniel, 32 and a father of three. “You have to take kids out of school and look at everything. You have to look at insurance. There are a lot of questions we have to get answered first. We're going to talk to Markus in the next few days here and we'll see what happens. Hopefully it doesn't have to happen, but you have to be prepared.”

Chris Higgins is preparing, too. He said Friday he will aggressively pursue playing opportunities...

No matter what the schedule, a 48-game Canucks season will be a grind

Posted on January 2, 2013 by admin in Province Hockey | No comments

It’s no secret significant travel challenges await the Vancouver Canucks should a collective bargaining agreement be struck and allow a 48-game schedule to commence Jan. 19. What remains a mystery is how the process will actually play out.

The defending Presidents’ Trophy winners haven’t been told what to expect or how their slate of games will be divided between the Northwest Division and the remainder of the Western Conference.

If they have a day off between games on the original 2012-13 schedule, there won’t be another jammed in the middle. That makes sense. And while that may be of some comfort, the Canucks know it’s going to be a grind. A real grind.

No matter what math or personal preference you apply to the 48-game equation, it could go something like this: seven games against each of four division rivals and a home-and-away against 10 other conference teams or five versus each in the division and the same home-and-away in...