Simmer’s AM Skate: Canucks Rolling In, Retire Price’s Sweater?

After about a four day holiday, we’re back to covering the Vancouver Canucks 24/7 with multiple news stories and features per day as you’ve come to expect. It’s still a pretty quiet hockey universe on this side of the Atlantic Ocean — European leagues have cranked up — but that will all change wholeheartedly in the next week to ten days. Vancouver Canucks management has been quiet while enjoying some summer fun and family time, but as the calendar clicks to September activities will begin to swirl.

Canucks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau told us last month he plans to see all of the coaches in Vancouver by September 1st when in-person training camp and season preparation meetings will get underway. In the meantime …

Let’s Skate!

We’re not sure if Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is just taking another break or ending his NHL career for good, but regardless of when that might occur, would you retire his number-31 sweater? Does the BC native deserve it?

Price won three different Gold Medals with Hockey Canada, including at the 2014 Winter Olympics, but he never won a Stanley Cup with the Habs, which would set a precedent. In the land of the bleu, blanc, and rouge, Cups for jersey retirement are kind of a prerequisite. Montreal Hockey Now’s Marco D’Amico says yes, retire that sweater.

Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes suggested on August 18th that Price would likely not play this season. He said further knee surgery would probably be necessary for Price to continue his career. Montreal Canadiens.

More Out East

— Philly Hockey Now: Our writer Sam Carchidi is trying to muster some optimism off what most consider a rough off-season for the Flyers. Here are Sam’s five reasons why the Philadelphia Flyers are improved. Does new head coach and former Vancouver Canucks bench boss John Tortorella make the list?

— Boston Hockey Now: The Bruins and winger David Pastrnak haven’t talked in quite some time. With new deals for Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus and Matthew Tkachuk in Florida twirling in his head, the Czech forward seems confident about getting a deal done with the Boston Bruins.

— Washington Hockey Now: Veteran centre Nicklas Backstrom opened up about how bad his quality of life became before his recent major hip surgery. He couldn’t bend over to put on socks or tie his shoes. He talks about the future. Washington Capitals.

Have a great week!