The Nuck Stops Here’ is a Vancouver Canucks news and opinion column running every Sunday throughout the season.
NEWS
Canucks acquire Emerson Etem
The following is a press release courtesy of the organization:
Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the Canucks have acquired right wing Emerson Etem from the New York Rangers in exchange for Nicklas Jensen and a 6th round pick in 2017.
Etem, 23, has skated in 19 games with the Rangers this season where he has registered three assists (0-3-3) and two penalty minutes. He skated in 45 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season, registering 10 points (5-5-10) along with four penalty minutes. Etem established NHL career-highs in games played and shots on goal (77) in 2014.15. In addition, Etem skated in 22 games with the Norfolk Admirals in 2014.15, recording 21 points (13-8-21) and two penalty minutes. Etem also registered three goals (3-0-3) and posted a plus-one rating in 12 games with Anaheim during the 2015 Playoffs. He established NHL playoff career-highs in games played and shots on goal (23), and tied his playoff career-high in goals.
The 6-1, 212-pounder has skated in 131 career NHL games over parts of four seasons, split with Anaheim and the New York Rangers, registering 34 points (15-19-34) and 19 penalty minutes. Etem has also registered eight points (6-2-8) and 14 penalty minutes rating in 23 career playoff games.
Read more here.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have acquired forward Nicklas Jensen and a 6th round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft from VAN in exchange for Emerson Etem.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 8, 2016
Daniel Sedin named to NHL All-Star game
The following is a press release courtesy of the organization:
Vancouver, B.C. – The National Hockey League announced today that Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin has been named as one of six forwards to represent Team Pacific Division in the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game and Weekend, to be held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
The 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Jan. 31 at Bridgestone Arena (2 p.m., PST). The All-Stars will participate in the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday, Jan. 30 at Bridgestone Arena (4 p.m., PST).
Sedin, 35, will be making his third NHL All-Star Game appearance. He has skated in 40 games for Vancouver and leads the team in in points (38, which also ranks t-9th in the NHL), goals (17, which ranks t-11th in the NHL), power play goals (5), power play points (13), and game-winning goals (4). He also ranks second on the club in assists (21) and shots on goal (138). Earlier this season, the Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, native registered his 900th career NHL point and he is now only three goals from surpassing Markus Naslund (346) for first all-time in franchise goals.
Hunter Shinkaruk named to AHL All-Star game
It’s been announced that Hunter Shinkaruk, 21, has been named to the American Hockey League 2016 Toyota All-Star Classic. In 27 games played, Shinkaruk has put up 13 goals and 25 points, tops among all Comets in both categories. He was drafted 24th overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft, and made his NHL debut November 16th, 2014 against the Montreal Canadiens, and put up 31 points in 74 games in his first AHL season last year. The Calgary native also scored six points in 23 playoff games last season.
Joe Cannata Re-Assigned to Utica Comets
The following is a press release courtesy of the organization:
Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has reassigned goaltender Joe Cannata to the AHL Utica Comets.
Cannata has posted a 9-5-2 record, 2.49 GAA and a 0.907 save percentage in 16 games with the Comets this season. He split the 2014.15 season with Utica and the Ontario Reign of the ECHL playing five games with the Comets (3-2-0) and 21 games with the Reign (12-6-2).
The 25-year old native of Wakefield, MA was selected by Vancouver 173rd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Ronalds Kenins, Alex Grenier Reassigned to Utica Comets
The following is a press release courtesy of the organization:
Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has reassigned left wing Ronalds Kenins and right wing Alexandre Grenier to the AHL Utica Comets.
Kenins, 24, has split the 2015.16 season between the Utica Comets and Vancouver Canucks. He has appeared in eight games and registered one assist with Utica and played six games with Vancouver. The Riga, Latvia player has collected 12 career NHL points (4-8-12) in 36 games.
Grenier, 24, has appeared in 33 games with Utica this season, ranking second on the team in scoring with seven points (6-13-19) along with 26 penalty minutes. He also made his NHL debut on November 18, 2015 at Winnipeg. The Laval, Quebec native was originally drafted by Vancouver in the third round, 90th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
ANALYSIS
Bo Horvat heating up in a big way
After starting the season with just two goals in his first 39 games, Bo Horvat, the Canucks’ current 2nd line centre, has finally started to put up points in a big way. Over his past three contests, Horvat has four goals, with a two-goal performance against the Carolina Hurricanes and a late game-tying goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Even before he started putting up offence, Horvat was playing with confidence and was getting chances, but the goals were simply not coming for the 20-year-old centre. Now the offence is there, and he’s still doing the little things right, such as the attention to detail in the defensive zone, and consistently winning faceoffs (posting a 51.2% efficiency rate on the year). The former 9th overall pick has risen up to 6th overall in team scoring, and if Horvat is able to keep this kind of play up – even if the production falls off a bit – he may just have the 2C position all locked up for the year, and will be a massive part of any kind of success this team sees.
Emerson Etem trade a massive win for Canucks
Friday it was announced that the Canucks had acquired forward Emerson Etem from the New York Rangers in exchange for winger Nicklas Jensen and a 6th-round pick in 2017. While Etem has never lit up the NHL, it’s still hard to see this exchange as anything besides a massive victory for Vancouver. Despite the unspectacular production from Etem, Jensen, drafted 29th overall in 2011, has accomplished even less, with three goals and six points in 24 contests while being unable to establish himself on the Canucks for any consistent amount of time. In the eyes of many, Jensen was never going to amount to much for Vancouver, and while Etem may never become a dominant force, the probability of becoming a full-time NHL’er is much higher than Jensen’s, as is his offensive ceiling. Who knows, maybe Nick Jensen goes on to become a top-six, 20 goal scorer, but at this moment in time, getting a young forward capable of playing NHL hockey is already an enormous win for the Canucks, making this arguably Jim Benning’s finest trade as General Manager.
I like the Jensen/Etem trade. Etem has scored at every level except NHL. Jensen is a goal scorer that didn't score goals. #Canucks
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) January 8, 2016
AROUND THE BLOG-O-SPHERE
Fun links about the Vancouver Canucks from all around the internet
Emerson Etem self-critical after trade to Canucks [NHL.com]
Dan Hamhuis opens up about gruesome injury [Sportsnet]
Canucks will take time to decide Jake Virtanen’s future [National Post]
The Hurricanes’ recent visit to Vancouver introduced a more mature Eddie Lack [Vancouver Sun]
Why the Canucks should claim Jakub Kindl off waivers [CanucksArmy]
Etem looking for another fresh star with Canucks [The Province]
