In the post-lockout NHL, having a solid netminder is a must. However, especially in recent years, backup goaltenders are becoming just as valuable of a commodity. Wins are hard to come by in this league, and if a team’s No. 1 guy in the crease goes down with an injury or just needs a break, it’s important that teams have a dependable backup to fill the void.
Here is a list of five backup goalies who have not only proved their worth thus far, but in some instances, have actually taken over the starting role.
Minnesota Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck has never been one to make friends with members of the opposing team. Now NHL referees probably aren’t too fond of him, either.
In the final minutes of Minnesota’s 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Thursday night, Clutterbuck was involved in a scrap with Canucks forward Max Lapierre. As the two wrestled along the Vancouver bench, Clutterbuck inadvertently swung a left hook and hit the linesman who was attempting to break up the scuffle square in the kisser.
Yes, even for the on-ice officials, hockey is a dangers sport.
Coming off of the busiest offseason in franchise history, one that saw them acquire 11 new players via trade and free agency, Tallon has continued to tweak with his ever-changing roster.
With his latest shakeup, the Panthers sent left wing David Booth, center Steve Reinprecht and a third-round pick in 2013 to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday in exchange for veteran forwards Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm.
This is a pretty big trade considering we are only two weeks into the season, but Tallon wasn’t too happy with his team’s back-to-back shutout losses.
In the wake of the most horrific summer that the NHL has ever lived through, the Vancouver Canucks payed tribute to one of their own prior to Tuesday’s home game against the New York Rangers.
There wasn’t a dry eye in Rogers Arena when the Canucks played the four-minute tribute video in Rick Rypien’s honor. The Canucks also announced they will make a $50,000 donation in Rypien’s name to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The Canucks were given a preview of the video Monday to help ease what turn out to be an emotional ceremony.
It many ways, you could argue that the Edmonton Oilers, the unprivileged owners of the NHL’s worst record last season (25-45-12), had a more enjoyable summer than the President’s Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks (54-19-9), who came just one sin shy of their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
While it’s disappointing to miss the playoffs, it’s soul-crushing to lose a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals. And as the Canucks found out over the summer months, there is nothing to do to get over the heartache.
Now a new season is upon us, and there isn’t another team in the league more excited to hit the ice than the Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks President and General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that centre Ryan Kesler had successful hip labral surgery.
“After consultation with our team physicians following the playoffs, it was deemed that Ryan would require a procedure on his hip,” said Gillis. “We expect a full recovery and determined this procedure would best serve both Ryan and the team’s long term goals.”
Kesler, who was tied for the team lead in goals scored last season with 41, is expected to not be ready for the start of the of the 2011-12 season.
Apparently, the Vancouver Canucks feel that Owen Nolan is the key to completing their quest of winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Well, that and the fact that the team expects Ryan Kesler (hip labral surgery) and Mason Raymond (fractured vertebrae) to start the season on injured reserve.
Either way, it was a bit of surprising news when the Canucks announced Thursday that they’ve signed the 39-year-old Nolan and fellow NHL veteran Todd Fedoruk, 32, to professional tryout contracts.
It’s hard to believe that in a matter of 13 months, the Boston Bruins went from chokers to champions.
After becoming the third team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 series lead last season to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Bruins have come all the way back from their embarrassing 2010 exit to become the 2011 Stanley Cup champions. With another stellar performance from Conn Smythe Trophy winner Tim Thomas, the Bruins received a pair of goals from Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron in a 4-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
In a series that has seen its fair share of injuries, the Vancouver Canucks have announced they have lost another one.
Forward Mason Raymond sustained a vertebrae compression fracture as a result of being injured on his first shift in Game 6.
The injury occurred when Raymond and Boston Bruins Johnny Boychuk went into the corner to get a puck caroming off the boards, but both missed it. Boychuk put his stick between Raymond’s legs and turned him around, with neither man moving at high speed. Raymond, bent over, backed into the corner boards with Boychuk pushing against him.
The Stanley Cup was inside TD Garden Monday night. But it never even left the confines of its case.
Vancouver fans may blame this on goaltender Roberto Luongo, but the truth of the matter is, it wouldn’t have mattered who was in goal for the Canucks in Game 6, Boston was determined to push the series to its limit. In a under a five-minute span, the big bad Bruins came roaring out of the gate, chasing Luongo for the second straight time on home ice after three quick goals. After Luongo got the hook, backup Cory Schneider only lasted a little over a minute before surrendering the fourth Boston goal of the period.
In the post-lockout NHL, having a solid netminder is a must. However, especially in recent years, backup goaltenders are becoming just as valuable of a commodity. Wins are hard to come by in this league, and if a team’s No. 1 guy in the crease goes down with an injury or just needs a break, it’s important that teams have a dependable backup to fill the void.
