Simmer’s Kraken- Canucks NHL 9
1) There’s been some chatter recently as to the Hockey Hall of Fame worthiness of former Boston Bruins coach and Hockey Night in Canada legend Don Cherry. Unfortunately his politics, in the form of comments related to immigrants, contributed to his demise at HNIC on CBC in 2019.
Based on that fact, particularly in today’s environment, it would likely be too hot-a-potato to vote “Grapes” into the Hall as a builder, although by most standards, he’s worthy. No one had a greater influence over the hockey world as a broadcaster during his decades-long run on “Coach’s Corner” between periods on Saturday nights.
A great example of this: During my time in the Maple Leafs press box for a number of years during the 2010’s and during spot visits prior to that, I witnessed the entire press corps vacate its seats and cram into the wide corridor behind the broadcast booths to watch whatever Cherry had to say on a TV screen mounted on the wall. It was must watch viewing for everyone in attendance.
It wasn’t to see if he’d get in trouble — or maybe it was towards the end — it was more for the entertainment factor. Grapes was a throwback and often funny as hell. He’d also often pay tribute to fallen police officers and soldiers. They were tear-jerk moments.
Would a nod as the Foster Hewitt media award honoree suffice? Probably not for Don, although it would be appropriate. We did strongly clarify earlier this year that the award is NOT just for play-by-play guys and was never meant to be, despite the namesake.
Grapes and I were loose acquaintances, having shared the same radio program on a number of occasions, having talked hockey on the phone a few times, and also via the fact he wrote the foreword for my (and photographer Steve Babineau’s) Bruins book “Black and Gold”.
I didn’t necessarily see eye-to0-eye with him on everything off the ice, but who cares. Politics shouldn’t play a part in this decision making, regardless of where you stand.
2) It was announced on Thursday that former Calgary Flames play-by-play man Peter Maher passed away at the age of 79. “Yeah baby” was one of his trademark terms during his 33-season run that began in 1980. Speaking of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, Maher received it in 2006.
Also known for his community involvement, Maher had the press box at the Scotiabank Saddledome named in his honor in 2014.
3) More sad news unfortunately, this time for Canucks fans. Although the two gentlemen weren’t directly involved with calling Canucks games, they were broadcast legends in the Vancouver market, and most citizens, hockey fans or not, would recognize their names.
Lloyd Robertson, a national chief anchor for CTV News and CBC who worked in Canadian journalism for more than six decades, passed away on August 4th. Robertson was 92.
A week later, just this past Tuesday, longtime sportscaster John McKeachie passed away at age 82.
For all of the above, our sincere condolences to family, friends, and followers.
4) The first Seattle Kraken – Vancouver Canucks clash this fall will take place in the preseason on September 19th. It’s a 6 pm start on a Saturday night, part of a seven game NHL slate. The condensed preseason schedule involves just four games for each franchise, wrapping up on Saturday, September 26th.
That’s when the Kraken visit the Canucks. During the week in between, Seattle takes on the Flames twice in split squad matches while the Canucks face the Oilers once and the Flames once.
The new 84-game NHL schedule opens up with five games on Tuesday, September 29th. It includes the Hurricanes raising their Stanley Cup banner in Raleigh.
5) There’s a handful of somewhat prominent unsigned unrestricted free agents (UFA’s) in the NHL, including the Kraken’s very own former winger Eeli Tolvanen. The 27-year-old Finn hasn’t found a new home yet and while he has been getting recent nibbles, we’re told the Kraken won’t be circling back to make him an offer.
“Tolvy” accumulated 67 goals and 72 assists over 288 games with the Kraken after being picked up off waivers from the Nashville Predators in late 2022. He posted eight points in 14 playoff games for Seattle the following spring.
6) Trivia Time: Who led the Kraken and Canucks in penalty minutes last season. Bonus if you know the totals. (Answer at the bottom of the page below the video)
7) The Canucks continue to make changes to their hockey operations department, as announced earlier this week. The club hired Ryan Stewart as the team’s Director of Hockey Strategy and Player Evaluation and Adam Sergerie as a Pro Scout.
Stewart held a variety of roles with the Chicago Blackhawks over a 16-year period, including being part of Stanley Cup wins in 2013 and 2015. He spent the last four seasons as a Senior Advisor with the San Jose Sharks.
Sergerie comes from the junior hockey ranks, most recently as Director of Scouting for the Penticton Vees of the Western Hockey League.
Hockey Hall of Fame honored player turned hockey executive Cammi Granato has stepped down as the club’s assistant general manager and will continue as an advisor focusing on amateur scouting. She joined the franchise in January 2022 after working for the Kraken as a pro scout.
On the broadcast side, John Shorthouse just signed a four-year deal to continue as the team’s TV play-by-play man on Sportsnet.
8) How’s your disposable income? Just a reminder of our little travel advisory for the Kraken games against the Carolina Hurricanes in Helsinki, Finland in November. Find it here.
9) Our condolences and best wishes to the Kraken and Canucks not-so-distant neighbors in Spokane, Washington, a great minor league baseball and major junior hockey market. Many fans of the Indians and Chiefs completely lost their homes to wild fires in recent weeks.
I have fond memories of the market and its fans from my time broadcasting in the minors and from having the pleasure of calling a few Chiefs games on the radio this past season. At this point I’m just cheering for a hefty amount of rain and a full recovery — easy for me/us to say — for all of the folks in that area.
Bonus Video: We’ve taken a little summer break from the “Simmer’s Morning Skate” videos — this was a late July entry with Bill Daly, where I give the NHL Deputy Commissioner some grief about the watering down of the league via expansion, and he updates us on the CHL/AHL prospect participation policy.
Trivia Answers: Wow, how times have changed. Ryan Lindgren led the Kraken in penalty minutes with 60. Evander Kane led the Canucks with 92.
Earlier Kraken:
— Should Kraken Expect Repeat Excellence From Grubauer
