Canucks quick takes (or, musings from a flu-addled mind)

As the last of the virally-induced flying pigs passes over our home and onto the next unsuspecting chump, I become aware that it’s been a little while since I wrote anything. Probably a good thing, too, as the content I might have produced at my worst could’ve generated legal problems. Or psychological studies. Or hockey-themed death metal. No one wants that.

Nevertheless, I’ve still been watching the games and following the team, and it has certainly been an interesting time for the Canucks (in the I hope you live in interesting times sense that you’d use with an ex, or a Flames fan).

Hey, you. You with the Vancouver Canucks voodoo dolls. Would you please just…stop?! Here’s the tally of your handiwork so far, you maniac:
- Rick Rypien: 3-4 games
- Ryan Johnson: 3-4 games
- Kyle Wellwood: 3-4 games
- Sami Salo: 7 games
- Michael Grabner: 2 games and counting
- Alexandre Bolduc: 3 games and counting
- Roberto Luongo: 5 games and counting
- Daniel Sedin: 13 games and counting
- Pavol Demitra: 17 games and counting
- Jannik Hansen: 17 games and counting
Photo by rosscrawford1 – Flickr Creative Commons
However, if you’d told me the Canucks would be 10-7 on November 5, despite all those injuries, and despite losing the first three games of the season, I’d have said, “Yeah, and pigs’ll fly, too.” Hmm.
Ryan Kesler, MVP. He does everything. The kid has finally stopped diving and is making his linemates that much better. I’m actually looking forward to seeing Team USA in the Olympics just to see what Kesler can do.
Speaking of linemates, that Kesler-Raymond-Grabner line was something for a few games, wasn’t it? Zoom-zoom. And it looks like our Austrian prospect Grabner, given a second chance, has turned into a real player. (Until he got hurt, of course. Dammit.)
Gotta credit Mike Gillis on the Samuelsson and Ehrhoff signings. Those two have just fit in and produced big-time.
Henrik’s done alright for himself without his brother’s help. He hasn’t been as consistent a producer, granted, but take away any centerman’s top winger and see how he does.
With the exception of that 7-2 debacle against Anaheim, Andrew Raycroft has filled in pretty darn well.
Someone I didn’t give two thoughts to during the pre-season: Tanner Glass. But with all the injuries, he has not looked out of place. He doesn’t do anything fancy, but he fits in fine on the fourth line and skates well.
Someone who doesn’t quite fit in yet: Mathieu Schneider. His positioning seems awkward, like he’s not sure where he should be yet, and his D-partner isn’t sure where Schneider’s going to be, either. I will say, though, he looks younger than 40 — lots of legs left.
Just one more: Is it wrong to hope for a Rick Rypien fight every game? I don’t know how big a guy Rypien won’t fight (and beat!), but it’s likely that such a person cannot be found in a hockey jersey.