As a Canucks fan, can't find a better way to start your day than opening your browser to find that the team has agreed to terms on an extension with star goalie Roberto Luongo. You had to know after they pulled off a stunning trade Friday with the Sharks, adding DMen Christian Erhoff and Brad Lukowich, and signing veteran Mathieu Schnieder, that the acquisitions were as much about bolstering their defense as it was sending a message to Luongo: We are building a better team around you. It makes for an interesting storyline heading into training camp, as their D now has Erhoff, Lukowich, Schneider, Sami Salo, Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler and the recently re-signed Shane O'Brien competing for 6 spots. Looks as though Mike Gillis' deals aren't done yet, but you have to give him credit for putting his stamp on the team. The Canucks still need to hear from Mats Sundin, as well as address their need for a top 6 forward...
The Women's Canada Cup got underway in Vancouver last night, and while Team Canada cruised to an easy 6-0 victory over Sweden, the Finns pulled a jaw-dropping upset of the U.S. The Americans had a 2=0 lead in the first, but let it slip away. It's interesting to see how sometimes the U.S. team can look so good, yet when they blow a game (think back to the loss to the Swedes in the semi-finals in Turin, or the OT loss to this Finn team in China in the '08 Worlds) they can look so bad. The Finns take on Canada tonight, I will go out on a limb and say they get brought back down to earth.
I am not sure about all the issues that have led to Paul Kelly's firing as head of the NHLPA, but it shows you how messed up the NHL is when Kelly gets the boot oafter a year, yet Gary Bettman still has a job.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
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