Canucks Officially Purchase Rivermen

Thomas Drance
April 01 2013 12:41PM

So it turns out that Andy Strickland's report was accurate, and Ed Willes' implying a more complicated three-party transaction was not.

All eyes now turn to the Calgary Flames, currently ensconced in Abbotsford. Needless to say we'll be keeping a close eye on this situation as it develops.

Previous coverage of the Canucks' AHL Musical Chairs

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Canucks Have Acquired the Rivermen (Updated)

Thomas Drance
April 01 2013 09:06AM


The Chicago Wolves and the Peoria Rivermen could be involved in an AHL affiliate mega trade in short order.

Over the weekend we pivoted off of a report from former USA Today writer Andy Strickland, which stated that the Canucks had all but finalized their rumoured purchase of the Peoria Rivermen from Tom Stillman and the St. Blues. According to a more recent Ed Willes report in the Vancouver Province, however, it appears that Strickland and his "multiple sources" may have got it wrong.

Reading between the lines of Willes' report, actually, there seems to something altogether more complicated afoot. And we'll get to it after the jump.

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Canucks call up Nicklas Jensen and partake in some other less exciting roster gymnastics

Thomas Drance
March 31 2013 12:37PM


Photo Credit: Rocky Widner/Getty Images.

In the immediate aftermath of Saturday night's blowout loss at the hands of the habitually underwhelming Edmonton Oilers, the Canucks have understandably decided to shuffle the deck somewhat. In particular they've decided to send journeyman forward Andrew Gordon back to Chicago, in favour of speedster Bill Sweatt and highly regarded Danish sniper Nicklas Jensen. They've also re-assigned Zack Kassian to Chicago - presumably for something of a conditioning stint.

Read on past the jump.

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Canucks Embarrassed by Hall, Oilers at Rexall

Thomas Drance
March 31 2013 10:17AM


This image from eight minutes into Saturday night's game pretty much sums it all up.
Photo Credit: Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty.

On Saturday night the Canucks had a golden opportunity to restore their usual vice grip on the Northwest Division, and instead they got blown out by the Oilers in their own barn. It took Taylor Hall less than eight minutes to record a hat-trick as the Oilers scored on their first three scoring chances of the game (also their first three shots) and thoroughly embarrassed the Canucks. I'd imagine it's tough for a proud team to hold their heads up high after that.

We'll get into the nitty gritty of this blowout loss after the jump.

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Game #35 Preview: Canucks @ Oilers

Thomas Drance
March 30 2013 12:49PM

 
Photo Credit: Larry Wong, Postmedia Photo

This Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada, the Canucks will face the Oilers in Edmonton. It'll be the third meeting of the season between the two teams, with neither of the previous contests being decided in regulation. The Oilers took the first game in the skills competition, while the Canucks rather memorably won the second match on an improbable overtime winner from Chris Tanev. 

With the Minnesota Wild stumbling on Friday night against the Stars, the Canucks have an opportunity to restore their vicegrip on the Northwest Division this Saturday night. To that end Cory Schneider will be making his seventh straight start in Vancouver's net and he's been nigh unbeatable over the past couple of weeks. Edmonton meanwhile will look to puncture Schneider's ridiculous even-strength save percentage, and they should be a desperate team tonight as they sit only three points out of eighth place with fifteen games remaining on the docket.

Should be a fun game. Read past the jump.

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