More reasons to hate the Vancouver Canucks; they resigned Burrows

One of the most unlikable teams in the NHL has re-signed one of their most unlikable characters  - the Vancouver Canucks resigned Alex Burrows to a four year extension worth 18 million dollars. For the mathematically challenged people like me – that’s works out being a four year extension that pays Burrows 4.5 million a year.

For fellow Canucks haters like myself  – Alex Burrows is the poster boy of what is wrong with NHL current crop of agitators – they run their mouths and flop and dive all over the ice and drive the opposition players nuts and usually run and hide behind the officials when the opposition comes to collect on the bill.

For the Canucks, signing Burrows was the right thing because he fits in well with fellow Canucks fraud Max Lapierre - most us remember that these two frauds were on full display with their bag of tricks during the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. These two clowns will be happy to know that the Boston Bruins have resigned their top pugilist Milan Lucic to a three year deal worth 18 million dollars a year.

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks President & General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the Canucks have re-signed left wing Alex Burrows.

Burrows, 31, collected 52 points (28-24-52) and 90 penalty minutes in 80 games played in 2011.12. He also set a career high for most game-winning goals in a season with seven, ranking 11th in the League in this category. Following the conclusion of the season, Burrows represented Team Canada at the World Championships.

Burrows has played in seven seasons over his NHL career, all with the Canucks. He has recorded 270 points (139-131-270) in 522 games. The 6’1”, 195-pound left winger ranks second in franchise history for most shorthanded goals (16) and 10th for most game-winning goals (22). Burrows has been the recipient of multiple club awards, including the Vancouver Canucks Most Exciting Player (2008, 2009, 2010) and the Fred J. Hume Award as the Canucks Unsung Hero (2008).

The Pincourt, Quebec native has also appeared in 58 career playoff games, recording 28 points (16-12-28) and 90 penalty minutes in four post-season appearances. Burrows holds the club record for most career overtime playoff goals (3) and is tied for most series-winning goals (2). Burrows originally signed as a free agent with Vancouver on November 8, 2005.

The fact that Alex Burrows is resigned by the Canucks will give me reason and I will have no problem continuing to hate the #canucks
— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) September 14, 2012

Related articles

• Canucks lock up Alex Burrows for 4 more years (cbc.ca)
• Canucks re-sign Burrows to four-year deal (canada.com)
• Vancouver Canucks' Roberto Luongo has 'no reason to be frustrated' with team, will remain patient for trade (vancouversun.com)
• Canucks re-sign Alex Burrows to four year extension (theglobeandmail.com)
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Canucks GM Mike Gillis is whining again.

Rose Bud Mag

Wow!!! In a way I am kind of sad that the Boston Bruins don’t get to play the Vancouver Canucks more.

That being said, I think it’s funny that Mike Gillis has the gall to say this when his teams has on it’s roster some of the biggest Rats hacks in the NHL; Alex Burrows aka Count Dracula, Maxim Lapierre who spends all game running his mouth on the ice until he is called out and then he “usually” turtles and won’t fight. Yesterday his fight with Greg Campbell was an enigma.

You have no moral ground to stand on anymore Mike. That ship has sailed, last summer after the hockey world saw your team's bag of tricks. There is so much material evidence and so little time. I am sure you called for Keith Ballard's suspension when he low bridged Jamie McGinn during the Stanley Cup playoffs. That is is far more violent than the one in question.

When the Vancouver Canucks defenceman was low-bridged by Brad Marchand late in the second period on Saturday, the Boston Bruins winger was assessed a clipping major and game misconduct and could face further supplemental discipline from NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan because it’s a hit the league is trying to eliminate.

[Marchand]“A dirty play by a dirty player,” said Gillis.

Salo went head over heels on the play and landed awkwardly and may have suffered a whiplash effect when his neck was stretched. He threw his stick aside in disgust as he exited the ice for good reason. The big Finn was having a solid season and arguably the most consistent blueliner for the Canucks. Having suffered 40 career injuries, Salo set up the opening goal Saturday in a big 4-3 win over the Bruins and has 16 points (7-9) in 37 games after agreeing to return this season on a one-year deal for a bargain $2 million to take another serious run at a Stanley Cup. He has never won a major championship outside the club level in Europe.

Bruins coach Claude Julien didn’t exactly let his player off the hook when asked if Marchand went too far with the hit and crossed a line. [The Providence]

Again like I said last summer, the Canucks are a bunch of cry babies, and they don’t like it when they are called out for their on ice antics. I guess they also forget that Alex Burrows hit Daniel Paille, then hits Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton in the throat with his stick, starting a line brawl, of course he won’t drop the gloves and fight Thornton. How did the Canucks expect the Boston Bruins to respond to Burrow's act of stupidity?  And then this gem from Kevin Bieksa, the guy that loves to beat up other teams skilled players that don't fight, then will turn around and avoid fights the tough guys who fight when he is asked, had this to say.

Bieksa on Brad Marchand's big hit: "We play hard, but we are a disciplined team. That’s what separates us from them. They obviously play hard, but they tend to do stupid things. The Marchand hit was a pretty stupid thing and I’m sure he’ll be getting a phone call for that one. There is no reason for that."

I wonder if the Canucks fans remember this hit or not. Is this not the  same as the Marchand hit? Here is the link to the video of that hit. [Click to view]

This is what Claude Julien had to say on the hit in question, when I saw the hit for the first time that is the first thing that comes to mind is that Marchand was trying to duck under a hit from Salo. My next question is; is a player required to let his opponent hit him? Shouldn't we want a player be allowed to duck under a hit and avoid contact if they want to? The size difference between the two players is pretty significant.

Matt Kalman, The Bruins Blog --- “We all have our opinions on what is going on with the game and the hits and everything else. All I’m going to tell you is that I always told my players that they need to protect themselves,” said Julien. “The last thing I want my players to do is get hit and then end up with a concussion, and they have to protect themselves. Whether it’s the right way or the wrong way, it’ll depend on how the league looks at it. I’d rather have a guy take a two-minute penalty than turn his back to the play, stand up straight, and then get his face knocked into the glass and be out for maybe the rest of the year with a concussion, or maybe end his career like [Marc] Savard.

Lastly, I expect that Marchand will get some form of punishment from the Brendan Shanahan based on the whining and complaining coming out of the Canucks front office. Like I mentioned before, there is more than enough video evidence to prove the Vancouver Canucks don't hold the moral high ground.Check out this hit by Mason Raymond on Brad Marchand. [Click to view]


The Classiest comment that I read today was from the Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault

Break down of the Canucks injuries

Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis went through the litany of injuries that the Vancouver Canucks suffered through during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Dan Hamhuis abdominal injury, Mason Raymond broken back, Alex Edler two broken fingers, Kevin Bieksa bruised MCL, Ryan Kesler hip injury, Chris Higgins foot injury, Christian Ehrhoff shoulder injury, Henrik Sedin back injury, Mikael Samuelsson operation on an abdominal tear and Manny Malhotra eye injury and hadn't skated in a 6-7 weeks after his surgery because of treatment.

Related articles

• Canucks GM Mike Gillis explains Vancouver's postseason injuries (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Canucks looking to answer questions after failing to win Stanley Cup (thehockeynews.com)
• Canucks’ window closes a bit (theglobeandmail.com)
• Canucks lose forward Raymond for 3-4 months (sports.espn.go.com)

No suspension for Johnny Boychuk for his hit on Mason Raymond

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeFirst off; Vancouver Canucks forward Mason Raymond it out for 3-4 months after suffering a compression fracture on his vertebrae as the result of a Johnny Boychuk hit during the first period of last night's game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Second; I would like to wish Mason Raymond a speedy recovery and that he will be able to make a return to play hockey next fall.

James Mirtle; Globe and Mail --- The Vancouver Canucks are down another body, but their opponents in the Stanley Cup final won't be for Wednesday's Game 7.

The NHL's acting disciplinarian, Mike Murphy, confirmed Tuesday that Boston Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk will not be suspended for his hit on Canucks winger Mason Raymond in the opening seconds of Monday's Game 6.

According to Canucks GM Mike Gillis, Raymond “sustained a vertebrae compression fracture” on the play and is expected to miss three to four months.

Murphy said via email that the league's hockey operations department reviewed the play but deemed it an "awkward collision" and not worthy of a suspension.

"[It was an] awkward collusion between two players battling for space/room," Murphy wrote. "[You] rarely see a player bumped when in the position Raymond was in (bent over forward)."

Asked about the review process, Murphy said the league reviews "all plays, especially when there is an injury."

There has been some discussion in another post on whether Boychuk should have been suspended for his hit on Mason Raymond. I just don't know? I am glad that I don't have to make that decision on whether a suspension is warranted or not.  I don't think it was a malicious hit with an intent to injure and it appeared to me that Boychuk was just riding Raymond off of the puck.

Related articles

• Mason Raymond will miss Game 7, could be out several months with fractured vertebra (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Canucks forward Mason Raymond out at least 3 months (ctv.ca)
• Bruins Vs. Canucks, Game 6: Mason Raymond Injury Follows Johnny Boychuk Hit Early In First Period (sbnation.com)
• Mason Raymond Injury Could Reportedly Sideline Canucks Forward Several Months (sbnation.com)