Mason Raymond will be staying with the Vancouver Canucks for the next two years after signing a new contract with the team.
The left winger and the team were set to head to arbitration, but managed to agree on a two year deal at $5.1 million - up substantially from his previous salary of $760,000.
Raymond, who is 24, scored 25 goals, made 28 assists and had a record 53 points over last season.
Source: News1130
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Sami Salo has suffered from yet another injury, this time being a torn Achilles tendon. Salo had apparently been playing floor hockey in his native Finland when the injury occurred.
The Vancouver Canucks released this information earlier today, but offered no further details. It’s believed that Salo will remain off the for at least a few months.
Salo has only played 68 games with the team last season in between a multitude of injuries, which affected his leg, groin, MCL and face.
Source: Vancouver Sun
Rogers Arena with Downtown Vancouver
General Motors Place, or “the Garage” as it’s come to be known by local hockey fans, will be getting a new name after 15 years.
The Vancouver Canucks and General Motors of Canada have agreed on a new sponsorship deal which didn’t include naming rights for the arena.
The Canucks have announced the new name as Rogers Arena, in partnership with Rogers Communications.
Since GM Place’s opening in 1995, the the car manufacturer has had its name on the structure, except during the 2010 Winter Olympics when it was temporarily known as Canada Hockey Place.
Source: Vancouver Canucks
While Canadians are out celebrating Canada Day, the Vancouver Canucks were busy making some acquisitions as July 1st is the day many players in the NHL become free agents.
Canucks General Manager, Mike Gillis, picked up forward Manny Malhotra from the San Jose Sharks at $2.5 million over three years. Malhotra, from Mississauga, Ontario, racked up 14 goals and 33 points during the 2009-2010 season with the Sharks.
Gillis also signed centre Joel Perrault, from the Phoenix Coyotes, to a one year, $510,000 contract. Perrault, from Montreal, Quebec, picked up 12 goals and 26 points last season.
Defenceman Dan Hamhuis signed a six year contract with the Canucks for $4.5 million per year. Hamhuis, from Smithers, British Columbia, played the last five seasons for the Nashville Predators and earned 24 points in the 2009-2010 season.
Left wing Jeff Tambellini will play for the Canucks under a one year contract. Tambellini, of Calgary, Alberta, played for the New York Islanders with 14 points over 36 games last season.
Source: Vancouver Canucks
With the NHL entry draft under way, the Vancouver Canucks have made a few small changes to their team. The Canucks obtained defenceman Keith Ballard and prospect Victor Oreskovich from the Florida Panthers in a trade for forwards Steve Bernier and Michael Grabner along with a first round draft pick.
The Canucks next chance at a selection comes in the fourth round where they have the 115th, 145th, 172nd and 205th picks.
Ballard collected 28 points in 82 games while Oreskovich had picked up 6 points in 50 games with the Panthers this past season.
Sources: News1130, Florida Panthers
Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks
The Vancouver Canucks have released their 2010-2011 regular season schedule. This is the team’s 40th anniversary, which will be celebrated all season long after the opener against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, October 9th.
In addition to the game against Los Angeles, the Canucks will be holding a number of a signature nights to honour the history and celebrate the loyalty the city has to its hockey team.
The Canucks will take on the Stanley Cup champs, the Chicago Blackhawks when they visit on Saturday, November 20th. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers are also in town on December 18th and 28th respectively.
View the full calendar on the Vancouver Canucks web site.
The Chicago Blackhawks repeated the nightmare for the Vancouver Canucks, as one year ago to the day, the Blackhawks defeated the Canucks in game six. History would repeat itself as Chicago beat Vancouver 5-1.
Things started well in the first period as Roberto Luongo came up with some huge saves, but that all changed in the second. Troy Brouwer and Kris Versteeg put the Blackhawks on the board with a goal each, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead. Then, late in the second period, Dave Bolland made it 3-0 on a shorthand goal from a giveaway by Pavol Demitra.
Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien put the final nails in the coffin for Vancouver’s playoff run, but not before Shane O’Brien gave his team their lone goal.
Henrik Sedin during pre-game skate
The mantle in Henrik Sedin’s house looks to be getting heavier this season. In addition to winning the Art Ross Trophy for most points obtained in a season, the Swedish winger has been nominated for the Hart Trophy, as the most valuable player to his team.
Both Alex Ovechkin, of the Washington Capitals and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins are candidates for the Hart Trophy as well.
Source: Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have released their schedule for the second round against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Vancouver Canucks will be in the Windy City to face the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference semi-finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blackhawks knocked out the Nashville Predators 5-3 in game six.
This is the second time the Canucks have faced the Blackhawks in the post season, which last year saw the boys in blue exit after six games. Roberto Luongo and the rest of the Canucks are looking for retribution after a 7-5 loss in game six last May.
The first game is on Friday, April 30th in Chicago. A schedule will be posted shortly.
Correction
The Canucks will play their first game on Saturday, not Friday as previously mentioned. Confirmed by News1130.
