Afternoon Headshots: January 21st

Vancouver’s goaltending controversy: in comic book form!
Slick stuff from theyslayedthedragon.tumblr.com.

On the "walking wounded" front, Ben Kuzma has some good news all around. Looks like David Booth is feeling better, isn’t limping and might be ahead of schedule. Meanwhile Ryan Kesler is only "seven to ten" days away from rejoining the team in practice skates, while prized goaltending prospect Eddie Lack looks to return to the ice on Monday (hey that’s today!). [The Province]

In his weekly "30 Thoughts" column, CBC’s Elliotte Friedman drops some interesting Canucks-related nuggets about the impact of Kesler and Booth’s injuries on Vancouver’s Luongo-trade leverage. He also notes that the New Jersey Devils kicked the tires on Luongo during that fleeting moment in June and July when Brodeur hired an agent and seemed intent on testing the market. [CBC]

Tyler Dellow points out that Zack Kassian’s fight against Ben Eager – though objectively awesome – was tactically misguided and cost the Canucks a late-third period shift in which the Sedin twins would’ve been matched up against Edmonton’s fourth line. [Mc79Hockey]

Ill-advised fight aside, Tony Gallagher was – like the rest of Vancouver – impressed by what Zack Kassian brought to the table in Sunday night’s contest and hopes to see him play like that with some consistency going forward. [The Province]

Here’s a spot of common sense from Iain Macintyre, who points out that one game either way shouldn’t change Vancouver’s long-term plans in net and that going forward the Canucks need to play the guy they’ve annointed as their starter. [Vancouver Sun]

The Canucks waived ninth defenseman Jim Vandermeer on Monday, and the depth swingman will report to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL assuming he makes it through waivers (which he probably will). This will clear up a space on the 23-man roster, and many are speculating that Jordan Schroeder could get the call. I mean, with what Andrew Ebbett has provided through two games so far (not bloody much), this seems like a no-brainer to me. Might as well give Jordan Schroeder two quality wingers (say Alex Burrows and Chris Higgins), favorable zone-starts and thirteen even-strength minutes a night and see if he help out in Kesler’s absence. If it works then it will help fatten up the forward lines, at least. [Nucksmisconduct]

Speaking of which, the forward lines need fattening writes Cam Charron over at his other Canucks blog. In Ryan Kesler’s absence, even relatively shallow forward groups like Anaheim’s and Edmonton’s are able to take advantage of a plethora of favourable matchups. [Legion of Blog]

Read past the jump for more shots to the cranium/links to Canucks news.

Upstart Canucks blog "We’ve Got Twins" coins a nickname for Zack Kassian: "Kasquatch." I’ve got say I like it a whole lot better than I like "The Kassassin" (too obvious) or "Big Z" (which implies a future filled with knee surgeries). [We’ve Got Twins]

Ben Kuzma with a dispatch about the neverending Canucks "goaltending controversy." That fire will be officially re-lit on Tuesday when Alain Vigneault announces the starter for Wednesday night’s game against the Flames. Luongo, of course, continues to be a connsumate professional about the entire situation and calls Cory Schneider "one of the best goalies in the league in my opinion already." [The Province]

Harrison Mooney digs up a funny blooper featuring a dad who probably needs to watch where he’s going when he’s pushing his offspring in a stroller. [Pass it to Bulis]

David Ebner looks into the contemporary Canucks habit of "slarting slow", which could be particularly costly in a lockout shortened 48 game season. [Globe and Mail]

I conclude my Canucks "Goal Total Forecast" series with a look at team totals. I expect the Canucks to score in the neighbourhood of 140 goals this season, assuming that Kesler doesn’t miss too much more time. [PlayNowSports]

Finally our pals at Bure’s Triple Deke point out that the Sedin twins are among the best players in the NHL who’ve never won a Stanley Cup. Just in case you you want to indulge your natural sense of self-loathing. [Bure’s Triple Deke]