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-ish. 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.)
Tomorrow night (which will actually be late afternoon/early evening because they’re playing the Toronto Maple Leafs), the Canucks will wear their retro ‘95 jerseys and can we just take a moment to bemoan the fact that these are specifically their ‘95 jerseys and not their ‘94 jerseys? I get that they’re celebrating the history of GM Place/Rogers Arena, but the 95-96 season, despite an outstanding year from Alexander Mogilny, wasn’t all that great. [Canucks]
Wait, the Canucks are posing in their retro ‘95 jerseys with their dogs? I take back all my complaints. Everything is awesome.
Phil (Bart), Gus (Bo), Puck (Miller) & Chloe (Crack)
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) February 12, 2016
Rico (Etem), Heidi (Sbisa), Baer (Baer) & Zoey (Vey) pic.twitter.com/LHmT01BvFA
#Canucks & dogs!
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) February 12, 2016
Team brought in their furry friends to support @BC_SPCA and their urgent call for donations. pic.twitter.com/HjVg44WFbr
Speaking of awesome, this all-access video from the Canucks’ moms trip is exactly that, from the quality mom-dancing to Matt Bartkowski holding his head in his hands as the clip of his mom’s Sportsnet interview is played. If they don’t do a moms trip every season, it will be a crying shame.
This Behind the Lens gallery from the moms trip is also excellent, if a little more heart-wrenching, from the unexpected appearance of a Luc Bourdon jersey worn by the mother of video coach Ben Cooper to the concern and worry from Brandon Sutter’s mom as she talks to Brandon about his broken jaw. [Canucks]
It’s really tempting to do a Canucks Mom Power Ranking, but ranking moms just seems wrong. But if I did, this quote from Lena Markstrom would move her up the ranks: “Jacob told me no stories were to be shared. I want him to come home in the summers, so I have to listen to him!” (Sidenote: Beth Bartkowski is number one, obviously, but Teresa Miller isn’t far back at number two) [Fort Nucks]
Brad Ziemer is talking up Chris Tanev as a potential Lady Byng candidate and I thoroughly approve. Mainly because the Byng, much like the Selke, depends a lot on reputation. Building up Tanev’s reputation as a gentlemanly, Byng-deserving candidate now increases the chance he’ll win it later, even if it’s not this season. [Vancouver Sun]
Jeff Paterson, meanwhile, extols the virtues of Ben Hutton, who looks capable of stepping up on the top pairing in his rookie season. [The Province]
Hutton has to take on that burden, because Alex Edler is expected to be out for 6 weeks with a broken fibula, while Brandon Sutter underwent successful surgery on his broken jaw and will be out for 6-8 weeks. This would provide a pretty handy excuse for Jim Benning to start trading for prospects and picks: It was out of my hands! Blame the hockey gods! Tell Brandon Sutter to fire his personal trainer, Jinx Malloy! [Toronto Sun]
But no. Pierre Lebrun reported today that Jim Benning is considering keeping both Radim Vrbata and Dan Hamhuis for a playoff push, as he thinks it’s more valuable for the future of the franchise to give their current youth playoff experience rather than acquiring additional youth.
Poor, poor, poor Canuck fans... pic.twitter.com/KoY61LFiIK
— Garret Hohl (@GarretHohl) February 12, 2016
Heck, Benning even said on TSN 1040 that he would consider adding a player in order to compete for the playoffs. Is he lying? [Canucks Army]
Jeff Paterson and Jason Botchford debuted their podcast on Thursday and Botchford went out of his way to slam the PITB Podcast in the opening minute, if not by name, for wasting time talking about things that aren’t the Canucks. This is where I’d make a snide remark about the Pat-cast being a third the length of the PITB podcast, but I’m just so damn happy about Paterson being back behind a mic that I can’t be snarky. [The Province]
Always90Four comes flying in with a killer Organized Rhyme reference in the headline of his article on the Canucks’ injury woes. Tom Green would be proud. [Always90Four]
Ben Hutton has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the season, but how are the rest of the Canucks’ picks from the 2012 draft doing? Well, there’s Brendan Gaunce and...uh…hm. [Nucks Misconduct]
Craig Button has Thatcher Demko and Brock Boeser highly ranked in his top-50 NHL prospects and also thinks Tate Olson is the Canucks’ fourth-best prospect. Ryan Biech unpacks those rankings. [Canucks Army]