Feb 7th - Weekly Roundup

The Return of the Russian Rocket?

You can likely file this one under the "most ridiculous item of the week" category, but the Russian website Soviet Sport has posted an interview with, ex-Canuck toughguy Gino Odjick where Odjick states that Pavel Bure, a longtime friend of Gino's, is still in great shape, and that if a team would offer him a contract, he could return to the NHL. Since the interview is posted in Russian, and online translation services tend to produce mixed results, it is unclear what Gino's exact wording was.

After bran007 posted this "rumour" to the boards, it provoked a bunch of interesting responses from the Canucks fan faithful:

WiDeN thinks a Bure comeback is a pipe dream, but that isn't going to stop him from dreaming....

"This is never going to happen, so I am gonna say, 

ABSOLUTELY SIGN HIM MG!!!!!!

Lines are as follows:  *Pay attention AV

Demitra Sundin Bure <-------The fountain of youth

Sedin Sedin Pyatt<-----------Top of the crease Taylor, just stand there, we'll bank it off you.

Burrows Kesler Bernier<-----**ahhhh**...angels singing.

Hordichuk Johnson Hansen<-Simple, but effective. "

TOMapleLaughs seems to have it all figured out.

I read that before and it's purely Gino Odjick's opinion that Bure could return if he wanted to. There's nothing about Bure actually working towards a return at all.

While Bure coming back to play for the Canucks is about as likely as Vladimir Krutov taking up Pilates, maybe Odjick's 10 year old son "Bure Odjick" will someday play for the Canucks and lead the league in both goals and penalty minutes!

Read the thread and post comments here

Extending the Sedins

This week, The Vancouver Sun speculated that Henrik and Daniel Sedin could command $6-7 million per season each if a long term extension could be reached. Whether or not the Sedins are worth that kind of money has been a hot topic of debate on the Team1040 all week, and it was no different on boards:

crisp said:

man, this is crazy this whole thing. It's blown up because of a throwaway line in a column today.

The Sedins haven't asked for $6-7 million. Plus, no two players can carry any team. Crosby and Malkin are two of the best forwards in the entire NHL and look at the Pens.

Plus, the Sedins have made everyone, EVERYONE, they've played with better.

Anson Carter had a career year with them, Pyatt friggin Taylor pyatt scored 23 goals with them, even Naslund had a better year last year with them than this year without 

VictorHedman doesn't think very highly of the Twins crunch time performances:

Sedins are ineffective, and a big no show come playoff time.

Instead of giving that money to the soft twins, give it to Bouwmeester, Hossa. Re-sign Burrows and bring in some more hard working grinders who will score dirty goals.

particularsolution thinks that many Canucks fans don't how good they have it...

It's funny how many people are OK with letting these guys go. Who comes in to replace them? Forget secondary scoring, we'd have to look for primary scoring now as well. In the salary cap world you cannot build a winning team via free agency aquisitions. Drafting and developing from within is the key to the game. I'm sure they would be willing to resign in Vancouver slightly below their market value. I figure just below 6 would be fair. 

If we want to remain a competitive team we need to keep these guys in Vancouver. For all the people calling to dip into the FA market, consider this: it took a ridiculous $10mill contract offer to lure a 38 year old Mats Sundin. You think you're going to sign the Hossa's and Gaborik's of this world for the same money the Sedins are asking for? Dream on. If we let these guys walk we may as well rebuild. Ship out Luongo and anyone else worth anything while you're at it. Get ready for 5 years of bottom feeding. Hello 1998.

1998? What happened that year? I've blocked it from my memory forever.

Read the thread and post comments here

Grabner lights it up for Austria in 2010 Olympic Qualification Tournament

trio51 gave CDC the scoop about the results of the Olympic Qualifier tournament taking place in Hanover, Germany. Canucks prospect Michael Grabner, the youngest player on the Austrian team, led Group E in scoaring by potting 5 goals in 3 games against Slovenia, Germany, and Japan.

Unfortunately, Grabner's efforts were not enough to get Austria a spot in the 2010 Olympics, as Germany beat the Austrians 2-1 to qualify for the Vancouver games.

Gnickers87 is already salivating at the potential of the Canucks young crop of forwards:

"I wouldn't mind seeing something like

Grabner Hodgson Bernier 

tried next year. Bernier adds size, a RH shot on the wing and a guy who will win the pucks in the corners. Bernier may have finishing issues, but you cannot deny that he actually uses his size and displays the tendencies needed of a Power Forward. (he works very hard in front of the net) Plus, Grabner would be the finisher so the pressure would be off Bernier...that and Hodgson can snipe as well."

Read the thread and post comments here