Canucks Daily: Coaching Announcements?, Weekend Trade Rumours

The Vancouver Canucks should be hearing from Russian free agent Andrey Kuzmenko this week as to whether he’ll be joining the hockey team or a different NHL club for the upcoming season. The 26-year-old winger finished up his mini-tour of cities last Friday in Vancouver and his agent Dan Milstein suggested his client would make a decision within a week.

It might be a bit premature to expect an announcement on Bruce Boudreau’s new assistant coaches, or to find out if that vacancy number will grow if current assistant Brad Shaw leaves to take an associate coach or head coaching position somewhere.

Shaw worked in Columbus for four-plus seasons with new Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach John Tortorella and could move to that bench as an associate, or attempt to fill one of the remaining head coaching jobs in Detroit, Dallas, Chicago, or Boston.

The Vancouver Canucks assistant coach roster is presently made up of Shaw, Jason King, and Director of Goaltending Ian Clark.

Tampa in Tough

But then again, keep in mind, had the Lightning scored the overtime goal to win Game-1, the mood of Game-2 and the conversation would have been much different. The pressure would have been entirely on the Colorado Avalanche and the confidence and looseness with Tampa Bay. That’s how quickly things change, in this case a lot.

Don’t count the Lightning out of this thing just yet. A win and they’re back in.

Goalies Gone?

Sportsnet went nuts with rumours over the weekend, utilizing and listing a slew of different sources with goaltending being the main area of concern.

It started with the Toronto Maple Leafs and whether or not they should trade for 29-year-old netminder John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks. Gibby has a $6.5-million cap hit for another five years, but may need to experience a change of scenery. Current Maple Leafs goalie Jack Campbell becomes an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this summer and I’m not sure anyone is convinced the incumbent is the answer.

The Leafs are slated to pay Petr Mrázek $3.8-million per season for the next two years to do what exactly?

The other rumour that doesn’t really impact the Vancouver Canucks by the way, is a doozy. Would the Chicago Blackhawks really trade 24-year-old, two-time 40-goal scorer Alex DeBrincat a year ahead of restricted free agency and potential arbitration? One answer from where I’m perched: Three words … ‘are-they-nuts?’

— Game-3 tonight of the Stanley Cup Final from Tampa – Enjoy the Hockey Action!!