Canucks Update

***QUICK UPDATE***

Edler had successful surgery today. He wants to play be back in 2 months, but Gillis expects it to be slightly longer (playoff time). We will wait and see. Here's to a speedy recovery!

Hey all,

Sorry I've been away for so long, work got in the way of having fun. Anyways I'm back and should be blogging a lot more.

This morning it was announced that Cody Hodgson will get the call up. To be honest I was surprised with the timing. He was deserving of the call up before his injury however, I thought they would have given him a few more games with the Moose before making the call. I was wrong he's with the team and now we can talk about where he will play.

In my opinion he will start on the road in Dallas on the fourth line knowing that if he can play a good consistent game he will be moved up to the 2nd line wing position with Kesler. Shirokov was hot when he got called up and the team needed a spark so he was put on the 2nd line. The team is clearly looking for consistency now and I don't think Hodgson on the 2nd line, right away, will provide that. Long term I think Kesler's winger is Coho's spot to win, but he'll have to earn it.

Other news around Vancouver is injuries. They are going through a stretch just every team in the NHL goes through. Yes losing Edler and the depth players the team has lost are big loses but other top teams have gone through similar things. Detroit has been without Datsyuk and Stuart among others. Philly has been without their number one guy Pronger. The Canucks will have to rally around as a team and play strong hockey to win without their number one guy but they definitely have a team that was built for injuries. The defense has had a guy, Keith Ballard, sitting in the wings playing the 5th d man position who is more than capable of big minutes. It will be up to him to pick up a lot of the slack that Edler will leave behind but that is why the team acquired a 4.2 Million dollar dman in the offseason.

If everything works out the way it has potential to work out this could be a blessing in disguise come playoff time. Let me make myself clear, I don't think an injury to a top dman can ever be a good thing. But if you look at this in a positive way, Edler is hurt and will be out 6-8 weeks according to his doctor who is performing the surgery. This will put him back right around the end of the regular season. Here is why I think this is a good thing. Everyone knows that the Canucks are looking for ways to potentially get Sami Salo back in the line up, this injury provides that flexibility. If Salo gets back into the lineup and Edler is ready to go come first game of the playoffs the teams defense could be extremely deep in the playoffs. I am talking about having a top six of Bieksa, Hamhuis, Ballard, Ehrhoff, Salo and Edler. That is a very strong deep defense with two right handed dman. Also I think (I'm not a cap genius) the team will also have a little wiggle room to potentially add a fourth liner if needed come the deadline.

If it works out the way I am expecting it to we will use a few rookies in the lineup for the next week or so in Tanev and Sweatt. Rome and Alberts will then come back to hold down the bottom two spots. Salo will be able to work his way back into the lineup when he is ready. Right near the end of the season Edler will get a short conditioning stint with the Moose and get back with the team for game one of the playoffs. Like I said, an injury is never good, but if it works out this way our playoff roster has great potential.

As for the rest of the team, Luongo is turning back into the top of the league goalie we all fell in love with. He along with Henrik are showing leadership that this team hasn't seen in a long time. Calm productive hockey by the top guys is leading the way to good efforts by the rest of the team. Luongo will need to keep his play at this level down the stretch and into the playoffs. He will get rest whenever he needs it from very capable backup Schneider. It's a nice thing this season to know that Luongo is relied upon to win the games he's in but he's not relied upon to be the workhorse he has been in recent years.

The 2nd line is having issues with some consistency but I expect the group of Raymond, Samuelsson, Tambellini, Hansen and now Cody Hodgson to continue to be rotated to provide enough offense to keep other teams on their toes.

In my opinion other than a a fourth line centre I think the Canucks are pretty set for the playoffs. If the team does want to make a change the 2nd line wing position is the only one that could use an upgrade. Is it necessary? No. But if they do go for a big name guy that's where there team could use some help.

All in all this team is still in first in the West, fighting for first in the NHL. They have a very deep team and we will see some rookies with chances right now. This is exactly how Gillis said the season would play out by getting his rookie guys some time in the NHL. Volpatti, Tanev, Parent, Sweatt, Shirokov and now Hodgson have all seen the big leagues. It's great to see a winning team continue to focus so much on team development.

I am excited about the next few month before the playoffs, should be an interesting stretch run. Hope you all enjoy it.

I will be back blogging tomorrow about pre game stuff for the stars.

Go Canucks Go.

The followers on twitter are starting to go up, follow me @bmah03

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