Now that Climax’ own Willie Desjardin is the Vancouver Canucks new coach, expect a lot more postings about the three-time Stanley Cup finalists. Also, I live vicariously through them.
Draft Day. The Canucks new GM Jim Benning made a series of big moves this morning. Benning sent Selke Award winner Ryan Kesler to Anahaim in exchange for Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa and a third-round pick. True, Kesler was a huge asset, but the forward didn’t want to play for Vancouver anymore and was bringing the dressing room down. Bonino and Sbisa are not outstanding, but they’re sturdy assets.
That third round pick the ‘Nucks got from the Ducks soon became Derek Dorsett. The NY Rangers’ tough guy (also a Saskatchewan native, and as Steve will tell you, a very feisty former Columbus Blue Jacket) is set to become the muscle in a team that generally lacks grit.
The head-scratcher is the trade of defenceman Jason Garrison. Garrison has been an underwhelming presence in Vancouver, but traded for a 50th overall pick in a bad draft year? That’s cold.
At least the Canucks have liberated heaps of cap space. Let’s see what they do with it.