Canucks and Kraken and NHL fun
1) The Canucks did their management a slight favour by losing again on Saturday night, but only a slight one, because they did force overtime before dropping a 3-2 decision to the Boston Bruins. That meant a point in the standings for Vancouver. Tsk tsk.
It was a relatively feisty affair against their nemesis from yesteryear.
Every loss increases Vancouver’s odds of finishing dead last in the NHL and winning the draft lottery. That could and should mean Gavin McKenna in a Canucks sweater next season. Other top prospects who have crept up near the top of the rankings are fellow winger, Swede Ivar Stenberg and D-men Keaton Verhoeff and local boy Ryan Lin.
Canucks President Jim Rutherford, who, when he was hired said he had no interest in being around for a rebuild, and is apparently around for a rebuild, is hoping and praying the aforementioned lottery goes his way.
2) Former Kraken defenseman Brian Dumoulin scored his first goal with the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night against the Minnesota Wild. It was the 3-2 go-ahead goal, his first tally of any sort in 41 games. He last scored a goal while playing with the New Jersey Devils last April.
Oh wait! Nope. Scratch that. They took it away from him and gave it to Quinton Byfield. It came during a scramble in front of the Minnesota Wild net. So 42 games and counting for Dumoulin. However, while we’re on the topic ….
Did he want out of Seattle? Because for a team that didn’t make the playoffs, he sure put up some positive numbers for the Kraken. After just one season in the Emerald City he was traded on July 2nd, 2024, a day after the annual “free agent frenzy”, by Ron Francis, the GM who signed him to a two-year deal.
It couldn’t possibly have been to save money. Dumoulin was making less in that deal than he is now, and he was coming off a career-high in goals. His Kraken analytics were solid. Maybe it simply came down to him not liking what he saw, because Francis doesn’t exactly have a reputation for being “Trader Ron”. He sent Dumoulin to the Anaheim Ducks for a 4th-round pick.
The other distinct possibility: they were just making room for young Ryker Evans on the left side. They added Brandon Montour on the right the day before. That said, why not move lefty Jamie Oleksiak then. He had a modified 16-team no trade list. Could have gotten a 4th-rounder one would think. Dumoulin is one year older and more effective.
Dumoulin does have two Stanley Cup rings; he won with the Penguins in back-to-back years.
A couple of buds who work closely with the Kraken think Dumoulin liked it in Seattle. I’m buzzing his agent just for fun.
3) Ran into a very nice man named Shane Heyer in the media elevator in Seattle after the Kraken beat the Predators 4-1 on Thursday night. He’s also a very tall man. Heyer was mostly an NHL linesman for a career that saw him officiate more than 2,000 games, but he did call close to 400 of those as a referee.
The Penticton, BC native is now an NHL supervisor of officials — there’s a fancier name for it these days –, one of a handful of ex-on-ice guys who keep an eye on the current group of zebras.
For various reasons I’ve gotten to know a whole lot of NHL refs and linesmen over the years and I still haven’t met one I didn’t like.
4) Speaking of that Canucks yesteryear nemesis; the captain of the Bruins team that beat Vancouver in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final will have his sweater raised to the rafters in Boston on January 15th. Zdeno Chara will see his number-33 retired.
Even Canucks fans, like him or not, will admit he was a force. A man among boys on countless occasions who played more NHL games than any other defenceman in history.
The visiting team for the jersey retirement will be the Seattle Kraken.
I know “Big Z” rather well and he’s also made the acquaintance of my son, who wore Chara’s number when he played, on a handful of occasions. I was at Chara’s Hockey Hall of Fame induction in November, but it doesn’t appear I’ll be able to make this next momentous occasion.
By the way, despite his toughness, discipline, and sometimes angry demeanour, he’s one of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet.
5) Not sure if anyone has noticed this, but when I write about a Canucks item, I’ll spell the words centre, favour, and defenceman, but when it’s about the Kraken, I’ll write center, favor and defenseman. Cool? Overkill? Subtle goodness? OK, I need some type of smart alec smiling emoji.
Also odd; neither guy in the cover photo this week play for either team.
6) Trivia Time! — (Answers below the last item and above the videos)
— VAN – Who were the two Bruins who scored all of the goals in Boston’s 4-0 Game-7 victory in 2011?
— SEA – What was Dumoulin’s career high mark for goals in a single NHL season? Take a stab.
7) Team USA got bounced by Finland in overtime at the World Junior Championships in Minnesota over the weekend. In the elimination quarterfinals no less, which meant no chance at a medal. WOW. The Americans were looking for a third consecutive championship.
The same quarter-final upset happened to Canada the two previous years, in Sweden in 2024 and on home ice in 2025.
Both Canada losses came to Czechia, who (WOW – Part II) just beat the Canadians for a third straight year, this time 6-4 in the semi-finals on Sunday night.
After beating the Yanks, Finland lost to Sweden in the other semi.
I should mention; the older/senior Finns are my shock and awe upset winners for the Olympics this winter in Italy.
8) Hey, whatayaknow, Pro Hockey Writer’s Association (PWHA) president Stephen Whyno and his board, including Wild beat writer Mike Russo and ESPNer Emily Kaplan, allegedly voted unanimously to ban me from being a member this season. No reason given despite my frequent polite question: why?
Not a peep. No reason provided, even when asked. Each of them. Same for Canadian TV guy Chris Johnston. Apparently that’s all of them. I do know an administrator who works for and with the group, and he’s says he has no idea what’s going on. He would tell me if he knew.
Strange isn’t it. Hmm, what could it be?
This story is gonna go on and on and on and on …. as long as it has to, or until depositions are filed in a related matter.
9) Congrat’s to former Kraken center Alexander Wennberg, who’s soft play in Seattle drove us bonkers, on signing a new three-year $18-million deal with the San Jose Sharks. He has 26 points in 41 games this season while skating mostly on the 2nd-line.
Enough said, other than the fact he was also named to Sweden’s Olympic team.
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks, Kraken: Sherwood’s Empty-Net Slapper Draws Crickets
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken, Canucks; 9 Holiday Wishes
Trivia Answers!!
VAN – Patrice Bergeron scored twice, including the game winner at 14:37 of the first period. He also had a shorthanded goal in the second period. Brad Marchand scored the other two goals, including an empty-netter.
SEA – Dumoulin’s six goals with the Kraken set a career high for a single season in 2023-’24.
Two popular videos for you this week:
What the hell’s wrong with the Winnipeg Jets … and how about those third-overall Minnesota Wild? The how’s and why’s …
