Vancouver Canucks Skate: SJ Wants Pettersson, Dickinson’s Pressure, A Scandal

Reminder, the Vancouver Canucks will host rookie camp this week with off-ice evaluations Thursday and on-ice starting Friday. No news on player signings yet, but Elias Pettersson‘s name has popped up with Sharks fans.

Let’s Skate! …

It’s an audio mailbag, that’s right, and about 16-minutes into it, you can hear San Jose Sharks podcasters weighing an Elias Pettersson offer sheet and then talking smack about the Vancouver Canucks and their social media department. The Sharks don’t have the cap space unless they can find a way to rid themselves of Evander Kane, which apparently is a desired outcome for some Sharks players. Kane has been embroiled in a she said/he said of a different sort, regarding Kane’s gambling habits.

We’ve talked about both Jason Dickinson and Oliver Ekman-Larsson coming to a traditional market where the passion and ire of fans is well known. It’s actually part of the reason they’re both excited about being Vancouver Canucks. Ekman-Larsson moving up from Arizona and Dickinson from Dallas. Luke Fox of Sportsnet talked to the new Canucks forward about the fan base and expectations.  “He’s been warned.”

Speaking of scandals, the sexual assault/sexual misconduct allegations regarding a former Chicago Blackhawks video coach is getting even more complicated. Some might say, more troublesome, if you’re the Hawks. One advocacy group wants the Team USA Olympic GM, who happens to be Chicago GM Stan Bowman, suspended. Rick Westhead has been spearheading the investigative journalism that the NHL is likely wishing would just go away. Good luck with that.

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee is back from injury and the team is looking for a fresh start. They were pretty darn good even when he wasn’t in the line-up.  Also, if you haven’t seen it, check out the related article with the photos of the new Islanders barn on Long Island. Pretty sweet rink.

Enjoy the Hockey Action!