Ryan Kesler | Rob The Hockey Guy

The Canucks Aren’t Good Enough 5-on-5

November 18, 2011 Rob 0 Comments Special Feature

Something that hasn’t received enough attention until only recently is how poor the Canucks have been at 5-on-5 play. Sure their power play is fantastic at a league best 26.7% and their penalty killing is respectable, ranking 12th in the league at 84.4%. But it is their play at even strength that is concerning. Currently [...]

Don Cherry Criticizes the Canucks – And He’s Right… Mostly

October 31, 2011 Rob 0 Comments Special Feature

Don Cherry did something that he rarely does on Coach’s Corner yesterday, he talked about the Vancouver Canucks. Cherry said the Canucks weren’t paying the price (actually he said ‘playing the price’, but we know what you meant Don). He also said that people were unfairly pointing the finger at Roberto Luongo (actually, he said [...]

Ryan Kesler is too Sexy for his Shirt… and his Pants

October 6, 2011 Rob 0 Comments Random, Special Feature

Alright, today we give something for the ladies. In case you missed it, Ryan Kesler will be appearing in ESPN’s the Body Issue. That is all. Take it away Right Said Fred!

Will this Year Finally be THE Year? Vancouver Canucks 2011-12 Season Preview

October 6, 2011 Rob 0 Comments Game Preview, Special Feature

Remember this time last year? The Canucks were Stanley Cup favourites. They were picked by many to not just contend for the Stanley Cup, but to win it. And they came pretty darn close. The Canucks had a dream season in 2010-11, save for four games in the Stanley Cup Final. They were the best [...]

Kesler to Miss Start of Season; Cody Hodgson: Your Time is NOW

August 2, 2011 Rob 4 Comments Injury

The Canucks announced on Tuesday that Ryan Kesler underwent hip surgery and will be out 10-12 weeks, meaning that he’ll likely start the season in November. It’s interesting that they waited until August to do the surgery. Perhaps they were waiting to see if his hip would get better without surgery (as they claim) or perhaps there’s something sneakier going on. Is it possible that the Canucks purposely chose to have Ryan Kesler have surgery late in the summer, meaning that he would miss a month of the regular season while he recovers, thus saving precious cap space? Perhaps I’m reading too much into this, but it’s certainly plausible. Having Sami Salo injured for more than half a season last year was of great reward to the Canucks, because they were able to save on the cap while still getting Salo back for the playoffs.

Vancouver Canucks 2011 Free Agent Wish List

June 28, 2011 Rob 5 Comments Free Agency

This Friday is one of the most exciting days of the year for hockey fans, July 1st, the start of free agent season! Only trade deadline day and the draft (especially this year with Jeff Carter and Mike Richards getting traded) can come close to matching the intrigue of July 1st. Last year Mike Gillis signed Dan Hamhuis, Manny Malhotra and Jeff Tambellini on the first day of free agency. The previous year Gillis re-signed Daniel and Henrik Sedin, just hours before July 1st.

Canucks Forwards: Who Stays, Who Goes?

June 23, 2011 Rob 4 Comments Free Agency

Earlier this week we took a look at the Canucks goaltenders and defencemen, deciding who is likely to return and who is likely to move on. Today, we look at the Canucks’ forwards. Mike Gillis doesn’t have a lot of work to do with his forwards, but he does have options. His most important forwards are already under contract for next year, so it’ll be just a matter of tinkering with his depth forwards. Given the lack of production from his second line at even strength, he may want to find a better winger to play with Ryan Kesler.

THIS Is What We Live For: Stanley Cup Final Game 7

June 15, 2011 Rob 0 Comments Game Preview, Playoffs

I’m not one to use Canucks marketing campaign slogans on a regular basis (I’ve never said that ‘we are all Canucks’), but never has ‘this is what we live for’ been more true. Game 7, Stanley Cup Final, at home. This IS what we live for. It’s what the players live for, it’s what the fans live for. Quite simply stated, it’s the biggest game in Canucks history. It’s bigger than 1994. There will probably never be a bigger game for this franchise. This is their time. They will become legends if they win, or be labeled as chokers should they come up short.

Tonight COULD BE the Night! Canucks Look For Their First Stanley Cup – Game 6 Preview

June 13, 2011 Rob 0 Comments Game Preview

The Vancouver Canucks will get a chance to scratch a 40 year itch if they can find a way to win game 6 in Boston tonight. The Stanley Cup is in the building, and for only the second time in franchise history, the Canucks have a chance to carry it home.

Manny Malhotra Skates, May Return This Season

May 11, 2011 Rob 0 Comments Injury, Rumours

It was a slow day in Canuckland today given that the team has been given their second day off without practicing and the fact that they won’t play game 1 of the conference finals until Sunday. That was, until Jason Botchford of the Province dropped this in the Twitter world:

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