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Simmer’s AM Skate: Former Canucks Career Ending Surgery Arises, Happy SCF

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Vancouver Canucks, Ed Jovanovski
Former Vancouver Canucks defenceman Ed Jovanovski in 2004.

No reason to waste the time of Vancouver Canucks fans with a detailed review of the elephant in the NHL room, the absolutely dominating 7-0 win by the Colorado Avalanche over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game-2 of the Stanley Cup Final to take a 2-0 lead in the series.



Big wig Tampa Bay D-men Ryan McDonagh and Victor Hedman, just as an example, were awful. Game-3 is Monday night in a must win on home ice for the Lightning.

‘Local Boys’

Thus far in the Stanley Cup Final for BC boys:

Devon Toews – Colorado Avalanche – D-man – Abbotsford – 2 GP – 23:14 average ice time, 1 assist, 1 shot-on-goal, EVEN, 2 blocked shots, 1 hit, 58 total shifts, 3:51 total power play ice time, 6:28 total penalty kill ice time

Bowen Byram – Colorado Avalanche – D-man – Cranbrook – 2 GP – 22:28 average ice time, 1 assist, 2 shots-on-goal, EVEN, 3 blocked shots, 4 hits, 57 total shifts, 3:56 total power play time, 1:12 total penalty kill ice time

Jon Cooper – Tampa Bay Lightning – Head Coach – Prince George – 0-and-2 – Not very happy.

Joe Sakic – Colorado Avalanche – General Manager – Burnaby – 2-and-0 – Pretty happy.

Overshadowed Ouch

We mentioned the other day how Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been somewhat overshadowed over the years by his pal and Canadian teammate Sidney Crosby. That actually pales in comparison to how much, on a national level, Nicklas Backstrom has been overshadowed by linemate Alexander Ovechkin in Washington DC.

Now Nick is in crisis. Backstrom underwent left hip resurfacing surgery last Friday and his career may be in jeopardy as he faces a ‘lengthy recovery process’. Washington Hockey Now provides the deets.

Note that former Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler had the surgery on both hips and never played another NHL game, and as a Florida Panther, former Vancouver Canucks defenceman Ed Jovanovski had the surgery on one hip and continued his career, but only briefly.

Coaching Carousel

In case you missed it, former one-season Vancouver Canucks bench boss John Tortorella is the new head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, long-time NHL assistant Lane Lambert is the new head man for the New York Islanders, and after being booted by the Boston Bruins, Bruce Cassidy jumped on board to lead the Vegas Golden Knights.

Interim head coach Andrew Brunette of the Florida Panthers is still hopeful he can hang on to the gig although the team has apparently interviewed other candidates. Brunette was a Jack Adams Award finalist as NHL coach-of-the-year after leading the Panthers to the best record in the NHL and the Presidents Trophy this past season.

That leaves the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, and Dallas Stars with head coaching vacancies.

Those are some tasty historical opportunities.

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