2015 NHL Draft
SHARE
Share with your Friends


Posted On Saturday, 02.07.2015 / 4:20 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Penguins at Canucks

VANCOUVERVancouver Canucks defenseman Adam Clendening is looking forward to his first game against Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

How close the rookie actually gets to Penguins stars could depend on the health of top-pairing defenseman Christopher Tanev.

"It will be fun, grew up watching [Crosby] and Malkin," Clendening said. "I don’t know how much I will see of those guys. That’s usually [Alexander Edler] and Tanev’s job, but if I see them, great, I am up for the challenge. And if not, I get a front-row seat to it."

Posted On Thursday, 02.05.2015 / 4:47 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Sharks at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks had so many defensemen Saturday that coach Willie Desjardins held a meeting with them to make sure each one knew they were still an important part of the team.

Five days later, the Canucks are down the minimum six on defense.

Top-pairing defenseman Christopher Tanev will not play against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday because of an undisclosed injury and fellow right-shot defenseman Frank Corrado will miss a second game with what was originally described as an illness. That means Yannick Weber, who was relegated to the press box when the Canucks acquired Adam Clendening from the Chicago Blackhawks last week, will be on the top pair for an important game against the Sharks.

Posted On Tuesday, 02.03.2015 / 4:58 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Jets at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- Something has to give when the slumping Winnipeg Jets play the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, with each trying to steady their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoff race.

Vancouver can't score and the Jets can't defend lately, leaving them three points apart in the final two Western Conference wild-card spots with the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings three points behind the Canucks and six back of Winnipeg.

"A little bit similar to us," Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said of the Jets. "It seems like they are finding ways that just different little things are getting them every night, but they are a real good hockey team."

Posted On Sunday, 02.01.2015 / 10:20 AM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Wild at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- New Vancouver Canucks defenseman Adam Clendening hasn't had time to unpack after being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks late Thursday and traveling all day Friday. But he is ready to make his Canucks debut Sunday.

Clendening, who was traded for defenseman prospect Gustav Forsling, will play against the Minnesota Wild.

"I still haven't even unpacked a suitcase, so it's a bit of a whirlwind," Clendening said after practice Saturday. "But it's been fun."

Clendening is expected to start on the third pairing with Luca Sbisa, taking the place of Yannick Weber, who scored in a 5-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. The 22-year-old defenseman will also see second-unit power play time with Dan Hamhuis.

Posted On Friday, 01.30.2015 / 5:28 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Sabres at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- As if making his NHL debut on Friday wasn't nerve wracking enough for Vancouver Canucks forward Ronalds Kenins, the Latvian left wing is making it against his national team coach and a national hero.

Buffalo Sabres coach Ted Nolan coached Kenins at the 2012 and 2013 World Championships, and the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons was a teammate at all three events, and something of a folk hero back in Latvia after the country helped get him to last weekend's NHL All-Star Game with 1,574,896 votes.

Kenins admitted playing against them added pressure.

"It's a little more nervous for me because I want to show them I can play in this level," said Kenins, adding it also made his debut a bigger deal back in Latvia. "Everybody got excited, they were calling and my phone was ringing all the time. They're expecting a great game so they are pretty excited I am playing against Girgensons and Ted Nolan."

Posted On Tuesday, 01.27.2015 / 5:29 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Ducks at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- When the Vancouver Canucks played the Anaheim Ducks for the first time this season on Nov. 9, they were coming off a lopsided 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings the prior night.

Worried about that listless performance, Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa tried to set the tone by fighting Ducks forward Patrick Maroon right after the opening faceoff. Vancouver went on to defeat Anaheim 2-1 in a shootout.

Now, as the Canucks prepare to play the Ducks for the fourth time this season Tuesday, Vancouver is wondering where it will get that emotional spark without Bieksa, who had surgery to repair a broken hand during the All-Star break.

Bieksa is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.
Posted On Saturday, 01.10.2015 / 5:17 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Flames at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- There are many questions surrounding the lineups of the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames on Saturday, but little doubt about which team has the recent advantage.

The Canucks have won nine straight games against the Flames, including two this season, part of a 10-3-2 record within the Pacific Division. Calgary is 10-3-1 against the Pacific Division, but is 0-1-1 against the Canucks.

The Flames early season success may have caught some opponents off guard, but the Canucks are not one of them.

"We realize what kind of game they play and the intensity they bring to the games," said Vancouver forward Chris Higgins, who returns after missing one game with the flu. "They have a lot of guys that are having pretty good years for them, especially on the back end, so we have been prepared for them and we will be again tonight."

Posted On Thursday, 01.08.2015 / 5:06 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Panthers at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo still isn't sure how the Vancouver Canucks crowd will welcome him back Thursday, but don't be surprised if he gets caught up in the first period tribute the Canucks have planned for their former star.

Luongo will be playing his first game in Vancouver since being traded to Panthers on March 4 after nearly eight seasons with the Canucks, where Luongo set franchise records for wins (233) and shutouts (65).

"It's going to be emotional," Luongo said of the tribute. "I'm flattered they would do that. I told them it wasn't necessary but I am happy there was some sort of recognition. It's nice for both sides I think.

"All in all it was a great run," Luongo said.

Luongo ranks in the top 10 in the NHL with a .924 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against average, but said the drama of the final two years in Vancouver made him a better goalie and person.

Posted On Tuesday, 01.06.2015 / 5:54 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Islanders at Canucks

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks are coming off a win against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, but that didn’t stop coach Willie Desjardins from shaking up his tops lines and goalie against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

After six games on the fourth line, Alexandre Burrows will be reunited with Daniel and Henrik Sedin on the top unit for the first time this season. Leading goal scorer Radim Vrbata drops down to spark a struggling second line with Nick Bonino and Chris Higgins.

“We’re trying to find some balance in our lineup too,” Desjardins said, noting the 4-1 win against Detroit included two power-play goals and two into an empty net. “We’ve got to get other lines going as well. It's not like we were dominating so we’re still looking for combinations.”

Posted On Saturday, 01.03.2015 / 4:41 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Red Wings at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks forward Zack Kassian returns to the lineup Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings, a franchise he grew up cheering for in nearby Windsor, Ontario. But Kassian is only concerned about impressing his own team right now.

Kassian has missed 14 games since breaking his pinky finger on Nov. 25, but was a healthy scratch for the last one. Canucks general manager Jim Benning admitted Friday to taking calls from other teams about Kassian, who was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at the 2012 NHL trade deadline for center Cody Hodgson.

“There’s a lot of talk. I’m not even playing and people are talking about me,” Kassian said. “I’m excited to just go out and play. Most importantly I want to come back and contribute any way I can to help the team win. I think I can be a big part of this team. I believe in it and if I have to make others believe I will do that.”

First | Prev | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-17 | Next | Last

NHL.TV™

NHL GameCenter LIVE™ is now NHL.TV™.
Watch out-of-market games and replays with an all new redesigned media player, mobile and connected device apps.

LEARN MORE

NHL Mobile App

Introducing the new official NHL App, available for iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones and tablets. A host of new features and improved functionality are available across all platforms, including a redesigned league-wide scoreboard, expanded news coverage, searchable video highlights, individual team experiences* and more. The new NHL App on your tablet also introduces new offerings such as 60fps video, Multitasking** and Picture-in-Picture.

*Available only for smartphones
** Available only for suported iPads