Canucks Daily: Fore!, NHL Captain Replaced, Kane Settlement

I mean heck, if you’re gonna come all the way to Penticton for the Canucks ‘Young Stars Classic’, you outta bring your sticks.

With just the fledgling version of the ‘Battle of Alberta’ on the schedule for Saturday, and not until 7:30 at night, you can bet your bottom dollar the hockey boss men in town will be chasing the little white ball around.

Good on ’em. Penticton, with Kelowna and Vernon just up the road, offers up some sterling golf options. What better way to get some hockey hot-stoving done. If I wasn’t taking part in the other most popular local visitor activity with my gal pal, wine tasting, I’d be right there with ’em.

The young Canucks next match is 2 pm on Sunday. They beat the Flames 3-0 on Friday night.

Let’s Skate!

Exactly what the Winnipeg Jets needed. It’s one of those things that practically no one will talk about publicly, but a shake-up of the leadership group and the dressing room in Winnipeg is long overdue. New coach Rick Bowness is looking for a leadership group to emerge.

The Winnipeg Jets’ fresh start includes removing veteran Blake Wheeler as the team’s captain. He’s worn the ‘C’ since 2016.

“It is the determination of the coaching staff that we will enter the 2022-23 season without a specific captain but rather a group of assistants still be determined,” said Bowness said in a statement released by the team. “It is our goal to expand the leadership base within our hockey team.”

Pacific Division

– He’ll probably end up in the AHL if he decides to keep playing, with a pretty deep competition along the blueline in Calgary, but it was cool to see stalwart Michael Stone offered a professional try-out. Steve Mcfarlane of Calgary Hockey Now explains what the 32-year-old’s PTO means to the Calgary Flames.

– San Jose: Sheng Peng provides the details of the Sharks finally reaching an agreement with Vancouver native Evander Kane on his settlement. San Jose Sharks.

Quickies

– Sniper David Pastrnak reiterated that he wants to stay with the Boston Bruins beyond this season, but an extension is not yet signed.

– Apparently Swedish hockey pundits project a strong season for Red Wings draft picks, particularly Marco Kasper.

– Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski doesn’t understand why GM Ron Hextall chose to keep Kasperi Kapanen over Evan Rodrigues. Pittsburgh Penguins.

Have a terrific Saturday!