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.)
- We were on Roundhouse Radio (98.3 on your FM dial) this morning to talk about the Canucks struggles, Willie Desjardins’ heated seat, and the trade deadline. [Roundhouse Radio]
- Is Willie Desjardins' job in jeopardy? Should it be? Would firing him even make a difference to the Canucks this season? [The Province]
- Jonathan Willis argues that Chris Tanev is the most important player on the Canucks’ roster. He’s not wrong. [Sportsnet]
- Thomas Drance profiles Rollie Melanson and breaks down the work he’s done with both Ryan Miller and Jacob Markstrom, who Drance suggests may be Melanson’s Mona Lisa. Probably because of the way his eyes seem to follow you around the room. [Sportsnet]
- Jeremy Davis breaks down each of the Canucks’ forward lines and does some great analysis using a neat Venn Diagram visualization. Really nice, accessible work with statistics. [Canucks Army]
- Jason Botchford points out in last night’s Provies that this isn’t the first time this season we’ve heard about Canucks ownership meddling with management. Back in December, Alain Vigneault talked about how ownership wanted him fired back in 2008-09, but Mike Gillis held firm. [The Province]
- The Canucks relationship status with ownership? It’s complicated. [Always90Four]
- David Ebner delves into the past of assistant general manager John Weisbrod, the third member of the Canucks’ management triumvirate. This quote from Benning worries me: “I trust his opinion, that he sees things the same way I do, the qualities we see in players.” Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather have two people in charge of the Canucks who don’t see things the same way. I want them to (respectfully) disagree, argue for their unique point of view, and present evidence for why their perspective is the right perspective. I don’t want one to say, “We need more grit in the lineup,” and the other to respond, “Yes, I see it the same way you do.” Or maybe I’m reading too much into that quote and it's good that the Canucks' leaders are all pulling in the same direction. [The Globe and Mail]
- The Sedins are masters of spinning, so here comes Henrik Sedin, ready to hype up the game against Calgary and find a silver lining to the Canucks’ current struggles: “Well, it’s a road game.” Oh. Okay, that’s...that’s some pretty thin silver. That’s, like, “Turtleneck and Chain” thin. [Vancouver Sun]
- The best way to get the Canucks’ young players the playoff experience they need is to miss the playoffs. No seriously, this makes perfect sense. [OneCanuck]
- Hunter Shinkaruk and Brendan Gaunce are one and two in goals and points for the Utica Comets, while Jordan Subban has earned plaudits for his rapid improvement in the defensive zone. [Metro News]
- The Canucks need to be sellers at the trade deadline, which means it’s time to start hawking their wares to buyers. “We have a Dan Hamhuis in perfect working condition, just with some surface wear and tear. And don’t forget our Radim Vrbata: barely used!” [Canucks Army]
