Who's this guy?

Dan Hamhuis

Position: D

Shoots: Left

Height: 6-0

Weight: 209 lbs.

Born: December 13, 1982 in Smithers, BC

Drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 1st round (12th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent in the summer of 2010.

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Who's this guy?

Alexander Edler

Position: D

Shoots: Left

Height: 6-4

Weight: 215 lbs.

Born: April 21, 1986 in Ostersund, Sweden

Drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 3st round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

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It's been almost 8 days since our team was eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Understandably, we all needed a bit of time to step back and process what just happened. Most Presidents' Trophy-winning teams don't lose to the 8th seed in 5 games in the first round. How did we get here? We start searching for answers with our player-by-player autopsies, starting with our fearless (except when he's on a plane) leader and Captain, Henrik Sedin.

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Well, that's all she wrote...unless you're an actual writer, in which case it's time to break out the scalpel and magnifying glass and start dissecting the still-warm carcass of the Vancouver Canucks' 2011-12 season.

Full marks to the LA Kings. They had a game plan and executed it almost perfectly. They out-hustled the Canucks at every turn, and was it all that surprising? A plethora of individual awards, a trip to the Finals and two straight Presidents' Trophies has clearly led to some complacency in the effort department amongst this group. When you win as much as the Canucks did this year when not playing your best, it erodes your mental focus. The Kings' game-tying goal personified this last night; one guy in white outworking four guys in blue to score. Given their position in the series, the Canucks should have been the more desperate team, but the attitude from the regular season — that success was inevitable regardless of the effort — finally led to their undoing.

By the way, since this is the last Buzz of the season, thank you for reading this blog everyday, and thanks to Zandberg and Yankee for bringing me on early in the season. It's been a great experience, and I've truly enjoyed reading your comments and the discussion that these posts have generated.

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Game 5 feels about a thousand years away. Luckily, multiple days off means sports writers with a lot of time on their hands, which means a lot of links for your perusal. Have at it!

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It was hard to imagine the Canucks going out quietly in a four-game sweep at the hands of the LA Kings, especially when they had controlled the balance of the play 5-on-5 through three games, had scored more goals at even strength than LA, and literally not had a single bounce go their way yet. That changed in a big way last night, with the Sedins reuniting to resurrect a PowerPlay that was on life support, as well as Kevin Bieks catching a nice bounce on the eventual game winner.

There's still a long road to travel in this series alone, but the Canucks were able to not just pick up the win but gain confidence in the areas that should help them keep winning. If Ryan Kesler can rediscover his Beast Mode switch in the three full days until the next game, the Canucks could really be a force again.

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A win or a loss tonight could set many things in motion, but those things are for another day. Today is about progress. Make a hit. Block a shot. Go to the net. Score a goal. Win a period. Do those things and you might just win a game. Anything's possible after that, but it has to start somewhere.

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I warned you that there was going to be a lot of talk about Alain Vigneault's job during the two-day break between Games 3 & 4. Here we go...

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The Canucks are down 0-3 in their first round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings. That is really all that needs to be said right now. Alain Vigneault's "one game at a time" mantra has become a self-fulfilling prophecy; it's now literally all the Canucks have. It's frustrating, because the team has played two pretty damn good games in a row. Spinal Tap taught us that "it's such a fine line between stupid and clever", and such is the line between winning and losing in the playoffs.

I'll let the links tell the rest of the story. I'm predicting a lot of talk over the next two days about Alain Vigneault's job security, the Cody Hodgson trade, and who will be our #1 goaltender next season.

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The Canucks already find themselves in a position unfamiliar to them from last year: they're trailing in a playoff series. If they can have a better start and keep the action mostly at even strength, they should be fine. Lots of things to watch for tonight!

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Was anyone else experiencing some serious déjà vu in the 2nd period last night? The constant stream of penalties resurrected some ghosts from the 2010 playoffs, but at least the Canucks actually managed to kill a few off this time.

But a great PK wasn't enough. The Canucks were curiously sluggish, far from the physical monster that we're used to seeing in the opening game of a playoff series under Alain Vigneault. There was the odd standout (Hansen, Luongo) and the odd stretch of good pressure at even strength, but overall it wasn't enough, and they'll need much more to get through LA.

Recaps and links from the first night of the 2012 NHL Playoffs after the jump.

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When asked, "How do you write?" I invariably answer, "One word at a time," and the answer is invariably dismissed. But that is all it is. It sounds too simple to be true, but consider the Great Wall of China, if you will: one stone at a time, man. That's all. One stone at a time. But I've read you can see that motherfucker from space without a telescope."

That's Stephen King — arguably the greatest novelist of all-time — explaining his writing process in the preface to the extended version of The Stand, one of my favourite books of his. But what do writing and hockey have in common? Admittedly, not much, but if you're a fan of the Vancouver Canucks, the above quote probably doesn't sound completely foreign.

"One game at a time."

That is the mantra that Alain Vigneault and his players have been preaching from day one, and it's so oft-repeated that it is almost always followed by an eye-roll from the journalist or fan who hears it. The moral of the story, though — and what King is getting at above — is that small, seemingly insignificant things (such as words, or hockey games) can eventually add up to something amazing.

Like two straight Presidents' Trophies. Like franchise-record point totals. Like a slew of individual awards and achievements. But while those are great things, there's still some story left to be written, and tonight the Canucks write the first word.

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My jersey is washed. My face is bald. I've got all my Game of Thrones / Watch the Throne-themed headlines ready for the next couple weeks. I'm ready. Are YOU?!

I hope you don't care about news relating to non-playoff teams and loser tournaments like the World Championships, because you won't find them in here.

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Last year's run to the Stanley Cup Finals for the Vancouver Canucks in many ways acted as a platform for a few previously-unheralded players to prove what they were capable of. Jannik Hansen became a fan favourite, Alex Burrows cemented his status as one of Vancouver's all-time playoff heroes, and new additions Max Lapierre and Chris Higgins proved invaluable as depth players.

This spring, if the Canucks are to give themselves a chance at finishing what they started last year, they will need those same players to get back to the level they were at, and a few more will have to step up. In the vein of my "Canucks to Watch in 2011-12" post from September (brilliant stuff, eh? Two of them aren't even Canucks anymore), here's my list of a few key players to keep an eye on when the second season gets underway on Wednesday.

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Welp, it's the final Morning Buzz of the 2011-12 regular season. It's also Good Friday, so you know it's gonna be good. My Thursday night ball hockey was cancelled last night, so we went to the bar instead, and this is why my post is late. I guess writing the Buzz slightly hungover is appropriate given the title.

Let's start by listening to Kurt Cobain's isolated vocal performance from Smells Like Teen Spirit. Amazing.

(via BP2UTV)

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Let me throw a crazy idea at you and see if it sticks: assuming Daniel Sedin is ready to go for the playoffs, what do you think of putting the twins on separate lines?

I know this sounds like something a mouth-breathing TEAM 1040 caller would suggest, but let's at least entertain the idea for a second:

• Before Daniel got hurt, him and Henrik were in their biggest slump in years. Henrik has changed his game since and gone on a tear. He can produce with whoever he plays with.
• It completely messes with the other team's match-up game. Part of the Sedins' drop in production this year can likely be attributed to other teams learning how to check them more effectively.
• It spreads the offensive production around. Whoever plays with Henrik will produce (proof: Raymond, Lapierre and Burrows all busting slumps over the past 7 games on Hank's wing).
• Reunite them on the PowerPlay, when the other team's 4th line is caught on an icing or when they're pressing for a goal. It may help jumpstart the ailing PP if the twins are looking forward to playing with one another.
• Just consider this lineup: Lapierre/Raymond - Henrik - Burrows, Daniel - Kesler - Booth, Higgins - Pahlsson - Hansen, Lapierre/Raymond - Malhotra - Ebbett/Kassian/Weise/Bitz.

I know, you probably shouldn't split up the most productive line in hockey over the past several seasons when you need them the most. I'm not suggesting AV do this for the entire playoffs, just when it makes sense against certain opponents. It's hard to ignore how good Hank has been the past 7 games, and how terrifying a 2nd line with Daniel and Kesler would look.

OK, if you're still with me, let's get to some links.

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On a note much more serious note than anything I will discuss in today's post, the 3-month-old daughter of Hockey Wilderness writer Bryan Reynolds' niece passed away suddenly on Monday. For most of us, this sort of loss is impossible to imagine. The family is seeking assistance to help pay for the heavy funeral and burial costs. Please go here and help by donating whatever you can afford.

Here are your links, images, bad Photoshops, out-of-context quotes and wild generalities for Wednesday, April 4, 2012.

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Whether you're feeling the effects of a big win and the celebration that followed, or you're just crushing as much caffeine as you can to make it through the day, everyone needs a good buzz in the morning. Here are your links, images, bad Photoshops, out-of-context quotes and wild generalities from one of the most vocal and misunderstood fanbases in the league (plus a link or two from the grumpy old men who get paid to cover the team).

If you have something you'd like to include in the Buzz, please email me.

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No, it was not an April Fools joke; the Canucks really did wake up on Sunday morning as the #1 seed in the Western Conference. It seems like only yesterweek that the team was mired in a slump and the city was in a state of panic. Daniel Sedin was out with a concussion and the prospect of another deep playoff run was looking grim.

But since then, the Canucks have rattled off six straight wins, all against teams fighting for their playoff lives. In many ways it's been a playoff pre-season for Vancouver; a chance to focus on tidying up their own end and tinker with line combinations that don't feature their best sniper. That's not to take anything away from the quality of their opposition; stringing together six wins in a row against teams with so much at stake every night is no easy task. The one clear advantage I believe this year's team holds over last year's is their ability to win some really ugly hockey games. And when the second season starts on April 11th, there will be no bonus points awarded for aesthetics.

Here are some links to get the ball rolling on the final week of the 2011-12 NHL regular season.

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Whether you're feeling the effects of a big win and the celebration that followed, or you're just crushing as much caffeine as you can to make it through the day, everyone needs a good buzz in the morning. Here are your links, images, bad Photoshops, out-of-context quotes and wild generalities from one of the most vocal and misunderstood fanbases in the league (plus a link or two from the grumpy old men who get paid to cover the team).

If you have something you'd like to include in the Buzz, please email me.

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Whether you're feeling the effects of a big win and the celebration that followed, or you're just crushing as much caffeine as you can to make it through the day, everyone needs a good buzz in the morning. Here are your links, images, bad Photoshops, out-of-context quotes and wild generalities from one of the most vocal and misunderstood fanbases in the league (plus a link or two from the grumpy old men who get paid to cover the team).

If you have something you'd like to include in the Buzz, please email me.

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Whether you're feeling the effects of a big win and the celebration that followed, or you're just crushing as much caffeine as you can to make it through the day, everyone needs a good buzz in the morning. Here are your links, images, bad Photoshops, out-of-context quotes and wild generalities from one of the most vocal and misunderstood fanbases in the league (plus a link or two from the grump old men who get paid to cover the team).

If you have something you'd like to include in the Buzz, please email me.

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There were a ton of hockey games with huge, huge playoff implications last night. This season is setting itself up for another Flyers-Rangers 2010 situation on the final day.

The Canucks have planted a nail in the coffin of both Colorado and LA the past two games, suffocating two supposedly desperate teams. Not bad for a bunch of guys with nothing to play for.

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So the Vancouver Canucks walk away from a 4 game road trip with a 2-1-1 record, only 2 points behind the Rangers and 4 behind St. Louis with a game in hand. Not bad, considering if all you had been doing is reading the Vancouver columnists over the past week, you'd think they were a lottery team this year.

The club put together two gutsy road efforts after losing their best player indefinitely — just another obstacle that should only serve to bring this team even closer together as we count down the days to the second season.

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Whether you're feeling the effects of a big win and the celebration that followed, or you're just crushing as much caffeine as you can to make it through the day, everyone needs a good buzz in the morning. Here are your links, images, bad Photoshops, out-of-context quotes and wild generalities from one of the most vocal and misunderstood fanbases in the league (plus some stuff from people who actually get paid to do it).

If you have something you'd like to include in the Buzz, please email me.

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Last night's game could have some serious implications for the Canucks as they head into the playoffs. Firstly, a lot will be riding on the health of Daniel Sedin. The cheapshot that Duncan Keith threw on Daniel in the first period will be looked at by the NHL, and my guess is a 3 to 5 game suspension for Keith. All we can do is hope that Daniel escaped the hit without a concussion, which would obviously be devastating this close to the post-season.

The second piece of significance from last night was the Canucks had more jump in their game than we've seen in weeks. They may not have "flipped the switch" into overdrive, but they were definitely teasing us with it. Henrik Sedin made an interesting point to Ray Ferraro before the game, saying something along the lines of it's not the results the team is worried about right now, it's the process of playing the game the right way heading into the playoffs. If that's the case, last night's game was a big step in the right direction.

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Whether you're feeling the effects of a big win and the celebration that followed, or you're just crushing as much caffeine as you can to make it through the day, everyone needs a good buzz in the morning. Here are your links, images, bad Photoshops, out-of-context quotes and wild generalities from one of the most vocal and misunderstood fanbases in the league (plus some stuff from people who actually get paid to do it).

If you have something you'd like to include in the Buzz, please email me.

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Whether you're feeling the effects of watching a game against the Minnesota Wild, or you're just crushing as much caffeine as you can to make it through the day, everyone needs a good buzz in the morning. Here are your links, images, bad Photoshops, out-of-context quotes and wild generalities for Tuesday, March 20, 2012.

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"Remember when Alex Edler scored that end-to-end goal against Columbus?"

Count on hearing that from Canucks fans for seasons to come, as Edler split the entire Columbus penalty kill as swiftly as a Hattori Hanzo sword through one of the Crazy 88.

It was great to see the Canucks finally pick up a win over the weekend, albeit in not as convincing a fashion as we'd like to see when playing a team like the Blue Jackets. Baby steps, guys. It's not like they didn't dominate puck possession or generate quality scoring chances. The priority will be sorting out the defensive pairings prior to the playoffs.

Here are your links, images, bad Photoshops, out-of-context quotes and wild generalities for Monday, March 19, 2012.

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Whether you're feeling the effects of a big win and the celebration that followed, or you're just crushing as much caffeine as you can to make it through the day, everyone needs a good buzz in the morning. Here are your links, images, bad Photoshops, out-of-context quotes and wild generalities for Friday, March 16, 2012.

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