Monday Morning Musing: January 18th
By J.D. Burke
8 years agoI’m of the belief that even the most inconsequential of transactions, events and whatever you may have leaguewide affects every team, at every level, to some extent. Newton’s law and so on.
With that in mind, there just simply isn’t enough time or resources to give them all the attention they deserve in this space. Ideally, though, one can scratch the surface of these events – linked directly to the Vancouver Canucks or otherwise – and examine their far-reaching impact to Roger’s Arena and beyond.
With that, I bring the first in what I hope will be many in a line of Monday Morning Musings.
The Chris Higgins Saga:
By the time Jim Benning had finally assigned Chris Higgins to the Utica Comets of the AHL, we’d written no less than five articles on the topic at Canucks Army. Still, there’re layers to this onion worth peeling away all the same.
I don’t think enough has been made of the fact that Higgins is still, very much so, a useful middle-six option at the NHL level. In fact, if the Canucks are operating their team with the sole goal of attaining a playoff spot this season, the case can be made that Higgins is a better bet to bolster their chances than Brandon Prust, Adam Cracknell and Derek Dorsett at the very least.
Exactly zero parts of his demotion make sense to me. Oh well.
John Scott All-Star Gate:
How tone deaf can one league be? Conspiracies abound that the league had a huge role in the deal which sent John Scott to the Montreal Canadiens, along with Stefan Elliot, in exchange for Jarred Tinordi. Given all the foofaraw surrounding Scott’s involvement in the All-Star game, it’s not an entirely unfair connection to make.
Honestly, I just feel bad for the guy. The thing is, Scott asked for exactly none of this. I mean, it’s the All-Star Game. Who really cares? Why the league would raise this large a stink over so small an issue is beyond me. I mean, I don’t know… maybe weigh the importance of the exhibition game against the cruelty of uprooting his entire family to prevent Scott from making a supposed mockery of it.
The Trade Winds are Blowing:
There were a number of trades this week. Some that were halfway important and others not so much. One even involving a former Canuck, Adam Clendenning.
David Perron and the aforementioned Clendenning will be joining Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa with the Anaheim Ducks, while Carl Hagelin was jettisoned to the Pittsburgh Penguins. I’ve watched any number of Penguins games this season and while Perron’s dynamism has all but left him, he does so many little things well and could do wonders in the Ducks middle-six.
The Ducks are just three points behind the Canucks, with two games in hand.
Henrik Sedin’s Injury:
Watching Henrik absorb the nasty, in the numbers check that he did in Sunday’s game against the Islanders was difficult. Let’s not mince words here. If Henrik Sedin is down for an extended period of time, so too are the Canucks hopes of a playoff appearance down for the count.
Was glad to see Mikhail Grabovski ejected for the infraction. That’s a play worthy of supplemental discipline from where I’m standing, but what do I know?
What to do With Radim Vrbata:
The trade discussions have gradually shifted to the Canucks and Radim Vrbata in particular. By all accounts, there would be no shortage of suitors for the Czech winger’s services. Of course, Vrbata is the Canucks best forward not named Sedin, so trading him doesn’t necessarily help the playoffs cause.
Just last season the Arizona Coyotes were able to get a blue chip prospect and a first-round selection in exchange for the corpse of Antoine Vermette. Can you imagine the kings ransom the Canucks could charge for Vrbata?
Take the money and run.
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