Doom Brother Willes feels the need to remind more could go wrong

In reviewing the many crises the Vancouver Canucks have endured this season, it seems the team has survived only through the benevolence of an all-knowing, all-forgiving higher power.

Remember back in October when Roberto Luongo was being booed like Abdullah the Butcher. Or November when it looked like Ryan Kesler would never recover from his offseason labrum surgery. Or December when the controversy over Cody Hodgson's ice time first raged. Or February when Mason Raymond established himself as the worst player in the history of the NHL.

And March, don't get us started on March. In a 10-day stretch they lost to Buffalo, Dallas, Montreal and Phoenix on home ice. And they couldn't score a goal to save their lives. And Mason Raymond was still the worst player in NHL history  More…

Shacks’ Take:  I think someone needs to point out to Ed that most of the crises this team has endured since the start of the season have been created solely by himself and the other ‘Brothers of Doom’.

If it were up to Ed, all Canuck fans wouldlook as worried as these ones. 

To most observers of the team, the Canucks have won despite lacking any desperation or any underlying need to prove they’re the best regular season team in hockey.

Personally, I think it’s a good sign that a team can win despite not playing it’s best while playing teams with so much more to gain in the standings. It also should be noted that going on a small losing streak before the playoffs might actually be a blessing in disguise because it likely forced the team to be more aware of their faults, allowing them to correct them and work on them before the playoffs.

No the only thing to worry about right now is the health of Daniel Sedin.  If he’s not back healthy before the playoffs, that may actually be a concern.  But if you’re the type that likes to worry, don’t fret, I’m sure Ed and his brothers of doom will find some reason to panic before the playoffs.

Mirtle says Leafs wasting Kessel’s goal scoring talent.

His next goal will be his 100th in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform, tying him with Daniel Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks for the eighth highest total in the NHL over the past three seasons.

And with his career high 37th in a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres last Saturday, Phil Kessel kept alive an outside shot at becoming just the 13th player to hit 40 goals in that span.  More…

Shacks’ Take:  This article is on the Leafs so I’m not going to dwell too long but this writer’s take is absolutely ridiculous. 

Phil Kessel is not a star, he's a good support player.

Because Kessel has the ninth highest goal totals in the last three years, the Leafs should have been able to build a team around him that competes? Huh?  As one-dimensional a player as exists in the league, Kessel gives up as much opportunity as he creates for the Leafs but that’s neither here nor there really. 

The fact is that bad teams often have good players, it’s not about the talent of players 1 – 6, it’s about the talent of players 12 – 18 that matter most.  If top end talent were everything Tampa Bay would not have missed the playoffs two of the last three years. 

Tampa has a top 3 of Stamkos, St Louis & Lecavalier, all players I would take ahead of Kessel yet they struggle as well.  Does Mirtle think there’s some magic elixir that once you have a top ten-goal scorer you add two players, mix with water and you compete? Especially one that helps you only in one third of the rink, the offensive end?

No, Mirtle misses with this article completely, the only thing that’s been wasted by the Leafs in the last three seasons is their fans time and money. 

Raiders trade for Mike Goodson – Fantasy Take

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Oakland Raiders acquired running back Mike Goodson from the Carolina Panthers on Friday in exchange for offensive tackle Bruce Campbell, a trade both teams hope will improve their depth.

Goodson, who ran for 501 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons with Carolina, became expendable after the team signed free agent running back Mike Tolbert earlier this month.  More…

Darren McFadden owners should draft this man.

Shacks’ Take:  Mike Goodson just vaulted onto my draft board.  Prior to the trade, Goodson was a number 4 back on a team that uses its quarterback to run as often as its running backs; he was useless to fantasy teams.

Now Goodson should be the number two running back on a very good running team, playing behind a very fragile Darren McFadden.  This makes Goodson a RB4 on any roster and an almost must have handcuff for Darren McFadden owners.  If you own McFadden, move Goodson up a few spots because you know Goodson will end up starting a least a couple of games for you this season.

The Links I would read today - 04/02/12

 The Tinfoil Tuque has his weekly cheers and jeers - why ya late brotha? Don’t keep us waiting…

Ziemer says Canucks know conference is theirs for the taking.

Dave Ebner says the Canucks are flaunting their depth before the playoffs start.

Ed Willes stays positive with his Monday Morning Musings

Tony Gallagher think Henrik has started playing well again at the right time.

Sean Zandberg found a couple of Bruins mash ups by Makaveli

Bruce Arthur says the Pens – Flyers rivalry is already playoff intense

Chris Harlan thinks the war just got started between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia

Katie Baker breaks down all the remaining playoff races in the NHL.

Larry Brooks doesn’t like the current playoff format, hopes realignment solves it.

Dave Shoalts has the week ahead in the NHL

Rob Longley says there's a bit of war of words between Ottawa coach Paul Mclean and the Lefs.

Feschuk says Phaneuf leaves a lot to be desired as captain of Leafs

Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback

Rick Reilly says Andrew Luck is one cool customer.

Tom Verducci thinks the Blue Jays are one of two teams hurt by being in American League

Jason Whitlock has an interesting take on the Trayvon Martin murder case

The links I would read today – 03/31/12

For once Daniel Wagner could easily stay awake to watch this game.

Cam Charronn breaks down the game for the Canucks Army

Vancity Dan has the break down for Nucks Misconduct with less numbers.

Sean Zandberg has a preview of the Canucks – Flames tilt.

According to the AP the Canucks can put the final nail  in the Flames coffin.   Hehehehe.

I Mac heartened that Canucks are beating desperate teams they may face in first round.

Thomas Drance tells you by the numbers how Henrik’s game changes without Daniel.

Kevin Kurz says the Canucks did San Jose a big favour among his Sharks notes.

Wayne Scanlan says the Senators are trying not to constantly scoreboard watch.

Erik Duhatsechek goes into great deal why it’s not a big deal no Canadian team has won the cup in 20 years, with Sedin notes

Alan Panzeri believes the last 5 games will tell the coach a lot about the Sens.

Bruce Barrioch tells us Erik Karlsson is a Swede sensation, 5 points from breaking Lidstrom’s record for most points in a season for a Swede

Randy Sportak says it’s a shameful display all around for the Alberta teams

Michael Traikos says the Leafs are going to try and get it right at the draft. HAhahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Andrew Glockner answers the 10 big questions in preparation for the Final Four showdown today.

Sean Payton to appeal one year suspension

James Walker tells you how Tim Tebow will affect the AFC east.

Bruce Arthiur thinks the Raptors are a  crappy team Tortonians should be proud of, I think they’re just a perennially crappy team

Michael Grange says hate turning to respect for the Miami Heat.  Not in my house, I still Bron Bron

Lori Ewen has the latest on Patrick Chan’s World Championship victory

ESPN’s fantasy baseball mock draft 4.0.

Shacks Take: Fighting in hockey, does it still have a role?

Whenever I hear someone say they want to rid hockey of fighting I always wonder to myself, ‘have they ever been hooked in the nuts’. 

Because if you have and you still believe fighting has no place in the game, you’re a better man than I.

Even at 5'10" & 180 pounds, you
didn't want to mess with 'the Rocket.

Fighting has been a part of hockey since the beginning.  Going back to the fifties and sixties, all players had to fight if the need arose.  Everybody had to be prepared to defend themselves at any time and if you weren’t a tough son of a bitch, you wouldn’t be in the league for long. 

The 60’s turned to the 70’s and fighting became a strategy as much as a necessity.  Teams like the Broad Street Bullies in Philadelphia and the Boston Bruins used fighting to intimidate their opponents.  Philadelphia actually used a combination of skill and intimidation to bully their way to a couple of Stanley Cups.

Even the fans weren't safe from being beaten by their own

shoes in the 70's.  Yes, Milbury was even more of a 

meathead back then. 

In those days, bench-clearing brawls were common and games could get down right ugly.  The NHL finally realized something had to be done to curb the violence and keep games from lasting four and five hours.  Several rules were put into place to safeguard against what was perceived as the excessive violence of the times.  Leaving the bench to join a fight became a suspendable offense and any player that fought three times in a game was ejected. 

These rules helped define the next generation of fighting which ruled the 80’s and 90’s, that of the enforcer. 

The links I would read today – 03/30/12

Fingers crossed, I Mac talks to Mike Gillis who says he hopes to have Danny Sedin back by playoffs

For likely the most prospect info this year Patrick Johnson of the Canucks Army talks to Chicago Wolves beat reaporter Paul Latour – good stuff.

Sean Zandberg of Nucks Misconduct with an in depth game preview of tonight’s match up with the Stars

Jim Jamieson has the Province’s Canuck game day review.

Jim Jamieson says Jordan Schroeder is ready to fill Cody Hodgson’s spot as a prospect in the organization.

I Mac gives us a list of all the positive things going on with the Canucks

Ben Kuzma explains how Keith Ballard has been down the concussion road before among his injury notes.

Ed Willes tells us how Laurence Gilman is a new era NHL executive

Mark Recchi thinks the Canucks will grow and learn from last years playoffs.

Dan the Stat man breaks down Luongo vs Schneider by the numbers.

Dan Murphy gives a few Canucks notes.

Kirk Penton say the Winnipeg Jet players have 5 games to audition for next year.

Penton also talks to Tanner Glass who won’t be mailing it in.

Steve MacFarlane tells us Jay Bouwmeister about to break a record no NHLer wants.

Ken Warren has a story about how Ottawa’s veteran defensemen are trying to lead the young Sens.

Bruce Garrioch has the 5 reasons the Senators are ahead of the Leafs, here’s a sixth,,. they don’t suck.

Erik Duhatschek believes we shouldn’t expect a quick turnaround in Montreal.

Bruce Arthur thinks the Habs are having a tough time living up to the past

Michael Farber handicaps the potential candidates for the Habs GM job.

Steve Nash won’t be back as a Sun unless they improve, would consider the Heat

CBS has a couple of NFL mock drafts.

I Mac thinks Canucks auditioning both goalies for playoffs

VANCOUVER — For much of Roberto Luongo's six years as a Vancouver Canuck, a Special Forces extraction team couldn't have removed the goaltender from his crease no matter how many goals he gave up. But after a 38-save, 1-0 shutout win Monday against the Los Angeles Kings, Luongo will watch Cory Schneider play tonight.

Two weeks before the National Hockey League playoffs begin, this is significant.

It's almost unheard of in Vancouver, where there has been a black-and-white clarity between starter and backup for more than a decade and at least three managerial regimes.  More…

Should Cory be used in the playoffs?

Shacks’ take:  Since I started doing my takes on the local columnists I Mac has been the one guy I’ve rarely had to single out for trying to instill panic in the locals.  He seems to write based on the big picture more than focusing on finding the negatives that could spell doom.  Credit goes to Mr. MacIntyre since that’s an uncommon trait among the local press.

Or is Lui still the unquestioned starter?

In this article he merely points out the Canucks have two excellent goaltending options leading into the playoffs.  While many of his colleagues may have written this as a possible rift in the Canucks and that the goaltending controversy could lead to trouble in the playoffs. I Mac rationally explains Vancouver may be leaning towards giving Schneider some play in the playoffs and that Luongo might not be the unquestioned starter anymore.    

Personally I agree with both his take and the thought of using both goalies.  As I’ve mentioned several times, the Canucks have 2 great starting goalies and while I believe Luongo may have slightly more upside, Schneider’s lows are nowhere near as low as Lui’s. Vancouver should be using whichever goalie is hot that day, not Luongo because he’s AV’s guy.