Headshots January 24th

Aaron Rome is a massive bad-ass.

Yesterday when the Canucks were doing half-speed lines at practice, they were doing some sort of scientific "alertness training" that tracks how prepared the team is to perform in the morning. Gillis’ unconventional army of sleep doctors are pretty damn thorough. 

Our man Cam Charron takes a look at Cody Hodgson’s minutes, and identifies Hodgson’s "sweet spot" i.e the number of minutes played in which he is the most productive. 

Harrison Mooney over at Pass it to Bulis asks the question that no self-respecting Canucks fan even wants to consider: is Sami Salo retiring after this season? That Harrison avoided making even a single "Play it Again Sami" joke demonstrates that he has far more self-control than I do.

GIF BREAK: Baby Keslurk, in gif form (via Sedin-Twins).

This column by Tony Gallagher, about how Arthur Griffith’s failed-start in his search for a "hockey Czar" cost the Canucks Cam Neely, is truly brilliant stuff. 

So Keith Ballard has fought in successive games, and also won the team’s "fastest skater" competition on Sunday. Looks like he’s doing everything he can to stay in the line-up (for what it’s worth he’s played extremely solid hockey for about two months now).

Shark Circle talks some sense to Canucks fans, and points out that it would be "foolish" to trade Mason Raymond. Reading this excellent take felt eerily familiar to me.