It’s time for “Stick in Link”, the feature where we just plug in a bunch of stuff written by others! Featuring a smattering of links from around the Smylosphere and beyond every Tuesday and Thursday. Warning: our links are so hyper, they change colour when exposed to heat. (Have something for us to share in the next edition? E-mail us at [email protected] or tweet us @passittobulis. Or tell us some other way. The point is: we'll probably link it if we know about it.)
- Jim Benning saw the Canucks’ lack of pushback against Anaheim on Monday and he didn’t like it, not one bit: “That Anaheim game was the most disappointing loss for me since I’ve been here.” [Vancouver Sun]
- Jared McCann has been bloody good lately. While Willie Desjardins has shown a preference towards bringing his young guys along slowly, he has to start leaning on McCann more. Not literally, because that would look really weird on the Canucks bench. [The Province]
- Is Jannik Hansen a top-six forward or a bottom-six forward? I prefer to think of him as a middle-six forward, personally. [Sportsnet]
- Jeff Paterson continues his foray into the blogging world and makes some excellent points: in their seven overtime losses, the Canucks scored just one third period goal, for instance. They’re also the only NHL team to use three players on the wrong side of 30 as their first three shooters in the shootout. [Jeff Paterson Blog]
- Dave Tomlinson thinks Bo Horvat’s progression last season is evidence that the Canucks shouldn’t lend Jared McCann and Jake Virtanen to Team Canada for the World Junior Championship. I think that’s pretty far down the list when it comes to useful arguments for this situation. [Canucks]
- Thomas Drance thinks Jake Virtanen should go to the World Juniors, but Jared McCann shouldn’t. As happens so infuriatingly often, Drance is absolutely right. [Canucks Army]
- Unlike Harrison, I love this picture of a Canucks hat with conflicted loyalties. [r/Canucks]
- The Canucks have had 33 different goaltenders in the last 20 years. Is that a lot? That seems like a lot. [Canucks]
- I think the headline says it all on this one: “Maybe I’m crazy, but let’s trade for Dustin Byfuglien.” [Always90Four]
- Seriously, though, Byfuglien is evidently on the trading block and the Islanders reportedly declined a Byfuglien-for-Hamonic deal. He’s a pending UFA, so I don’t think the Canucks should trade for him (can’t afford to give up assets in a rebuild), but he’d be an intriguing target in free agency. The Canucks aren’t likely to bring back Dan Hamhuis and could use more snarl on the backend. [Winnipeg Sun]
- Thatcher Demko is really good. Like, really really good. He was named Hockey East’s goaltender of the month for the second straight month, on account of him being so good and all. [Canucks Army]
- Brock Boeser has had an excellent freshman season in the NCAA, putting up a point-per-game on North Dakota’s top line. Here’s a closer look at his performance this past weekend. [Nucks Misconduct]
- Unsurprisingly, Thatcher Demko and Brock Boeser are the top-two prospects on this list of the Canucks’ top-five prospects yet to make their NHL debut. [The Hockey Writers]
- Finally, with Ronalds Kenins getting the call-up from Utica, this a reminder that this gif exists:
