Canucks 9
1) It’s still gonna take getting used to not having Greg Millen and Ray Shero around to say hello to this season. It was always a pleasure to say the least.
Both passed away in early April; Millsy at age-67 on April 7th of a heart attack and Ray just two days later of an aggressive cancer at age 62.
Millsy, the NHL goalie turned long-time network broadcaster, often had a creative crack to make, or would add plenty to a lively conversation about the absurdities of the game. He’d also be full of updated hockey information and he was unselfish about sharing any or all of it every time I popped by the Flames road broadcast booth. (the video below is a Flames/Kraken pregame in Seattle in January 2023 that quickly garnered thousands of views because of his expertise).
I met Ray while covering the 2009 Stanley Cup Final between the Red Wings and his Penguins and then again at the 2011 IIHF World Championships in Bratislava. We became chatty acquaintances from that point forward. Talk about lively conversations. I last met the former Penguins and Devils GM in the Seattle Kraken media room during a meal two seasons ago. He was effusive about his support for my work and for all things hockey.
One-of-a-kinds: Sadly, our hockey family lost two of them.
2) It’s pretty cool to see women get a serious crack at Para Hockey on an international level. Although the Americans dominated in winning this past week’s world championship in Slovakia, just the fact that there’s enough countries playing and they’re able to do so in such a format is tremendous.
The Yanks beat the Canadians 7-1 in the inaugural final, while going 4-and-0 in the tournament and outscoring opponents 34-1. That gold medal isn’t the big news, it’s the fact the women just played a World Championship in Para Hockey.
3) There’s a lot of Lane Hutson hype coming out of Montreal, with the 21-year-old from Holland, Michigan — yes, they have a tulip festival — posting 66 points in 82 games as a rookie last season.
As for all-around game and productivity, we still have Quinn Hughes winning the Norris Trophy this season as the NHL’s best defenceman. That’s if he stays healthy, and part of that is up to his teammates.
4) Forty of the forty-two players invited to Team Canada’s Olympic Orientation Camp showed up this past week in Calgary for the proceedings, including 23 of the 24 who won Gold at the Four-Nation’s Cup in February. Connor McDavid scored the winner in overtime of the final against the United States.
Only goalie Adin Hill, who was on that team, and former Canucks center Bo Horvat, who wasn’t, didn’t show up.
The Canadians would be the favourites in Cortina next February at the Winter Olympics, particularly with the familiarity factor. Former Maple Leafs turned Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner explained.
“When we got to the 4 Nations everything was quick. We had the two days to learn everything. Right before we had a couple zoom calls just to go through stuff,” he said. “Now it’s nice. You know what you’re going to play like. You know what’s going to happen. You got a sense of the coaching staff from the 4 Nations. You know you can walk up to them and talk to them about everything. It’ll be nice just to have that as soon as we get into Italy, having everything ready to go and ready to rock and roll knowing what we’re going to do.”
Although being invited to the camp and/or playing in Four Nations doesn’t guarantee a spot on Team Canada in 2026, McDavid, Brayden Point, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, Sam Reinhart and Cale Makar have already been named to the Canadian Olympic team.
5) The 84-game NHL schedule starting in 2026-’27 ultimately means more tired hockey players. It does mean every team will get to play each division rival four times per season, instead of a mix of three or four. That’s the alleged reason. You know what, do that, play each division rival four times, but then lose two games against the other conference to stay at 82.
A 76 game schedule would really improve the game. More rest, each game more meaningful. But that goes against one of the other reasons for the increase: Greed, at the expense of quality play. Not new.
6) Canucks Trivia Time: How many men have been the head coach of the Canucks more than once? (Answer at bottom, above the 2 videos)
7) How nervous are the Oilers fans in Edmonton. It’s only going to get worse. McJesus reiterated his position this past week. He sort of plans on returning to northern Alberta with a new contract after this season, but he’s in no rush and he’s going to take his time.
EEEEEEEK! — (That was for my Oilers’ buddies)
Connor McDavid, team captain and superstar, said Wednesday he’ll take his time to ponder his future heading into the final year of his contract, but has “every intention to win in Edmonton.” His current cap hit is $12,500-million per season.
How about a huge media market Connor, “sexy” Rangers or Kings sound good?
The latter has happened before of course. A one-and-only from the Oilers to Tinseltown in 1988.
8) Kind of kooky to think Canucks center Elias Pettersson is making just $1-million less than McDavid. But then again, you knew that didn’t ya. Occasionally it just re-hits you like a ton of bricks.
That said, we’re giving ‘Petey’ the benefit of the doubt heading into this season. He’s capable of being a superstar. Remember?
9) Without another transaction — not that one isn’t coming — the Canucks situation heading into this season is pretty cut and dry. You can find our preview conversation with the Daily Hive’s Rob Williams on the middle of our home/front page, but we’re also adding it here, along with an exclusive preseason / end-of-summer conversation with Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube.
Love those Leafs or hate ’em, regardless, the content is good shit.
Canucks training camp in two weeks.
Enjoy!!
Canucks Trivia Answer: Harry Neale actually coached the Canucks three times during a tumultuous time period between 1978 and 1985. He replaced Orland Kurtenback in 1978, lost the gig in 1982, giving way to Roger Neilson, only to take the job back 133 games later. After coaching 32 games, Neale gave way to Bill LaForge who filled in for just 20 games, going 4-14-and-2. Neale took over for another 60 games in 1984.
Pat Quinn won the Jack Adams Awards as coach of the year in 1992 during his three season (plus 26 games in the previous season) run with the franchise. It included a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994, a seven-game loss to the New York Rangers. Quinn stepped away to focus on his job as general manager and president of the team. He filled in for six games behind the bench on an interim basis in 1996.
Earlier Canucks:
— The Canucks Jack Roslovic Question
