From beer leagues to big leagues October 8, 2010

Transcription

1 From beer leagues to big leagues October 8, 2010 THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER -- Peter Schaefer has come a long way from the rec hockey league he played in last year. When the puck drops on the Vancouver Canucks 40th NHL season on Saturday night, he'll be patrolling the left wing on the third line against the Los Angeles Kings. "It was a lot of hard work and a lot of tough times through the year but it's definitely an honour to be here," he said Friday. The 33-year-old from Yellow Grass, Sask., who signed his contract on Thursday, was out of pro hockey last year. But he spent time working with former Canucks conditioning coach Peter Twist, and there were days when he'd run the gruelling Grouse Grind up a North Shore mountain. Twice. Now, after coming to camp on a professional tryout, he finds himself skating with centre Manny Malhotra and right-winger Jannik Hansen. "We're going to be playing good defence out there," said Schaefer, who has played three seasons with the Canucks, four with the Ottawa Senators and one with the Boston Bruins. "We're going to be playing against better players. "We're going to try to pitch in offensively but I think for the most part just be solid and pitch in when the top two lines are struggling a bit." Schaefer, who has 98 goals and 161 assists in 556 NHL games, was traded to Ottawa in a deal that brought defenceman Sami Salo to the Canucks. He had 16 goals in for Vancouver, his last year in a Canucks uniform. The Bruins bought out the final year of his $2.1-million contract after the season. "He played hard at both ends and I heard some real good things about him from some of his former coaches," said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault. "He came here and worked real hard, worked real smart, was good along the wall, made the right decisions with the puck... and he outplayed some of the other guys, and that's why he's starting." Among those Schaefer beat out was Brendan Morrison, another former Canuck here on a professional tryout. Morrison eventually signed with the Calgary Flames. While Vancouver has done little tinkering with the top two lines other than plug a hole while Alex Burrows rehabs his shoulder, Vigneault has high expectations from his third-line combination. "I think they're going to bring speed," he said. "All three guys are pretty smart guys on the ice and I expect them to go to their strengths. "Each of them brings a different set of tools and we're convinced that's going to be a real strong line for us right now." The only thing remaining for the Canucks to do is to name their new captain after goalie Roberto Luongo relinquished the role that was said to be a distraction for him. That move is expected Saturday and both Henrik Sedin, the Canucks' scoring champion and league MVP, and rugged centre Ryan Kesler said management had discussed the position with them. Neither would give any hints but Vigneault spoke about why Henrik was picked over identical twin brother Daniel as an alternate captain last season. "Henrik is the more outgoing of the two, the one that speaks the most," said Vigneault who admitted it took him three years to tell them apart. "Leadership is being able to influence people, influence them in the right way and I think by the way he conducts himself he's able to influence people." The diplomatic Henrik said there are a dozen leaders on the Canucks. "We have a lot of guys who can step up," he said. "The leadership group is not only three or four guys." Added the poker-faced Kesler: "It's going to be a special night (Saturday) night and it's going to be good."

2 NOTES: The Canucks face former teammates in their first two games... defenceman Willie Mitchell, not re-signed after a Jan. 16 concussion, returns with the Kings... enforcer Darcy Hordichuk was traded to the Florida Panthers who face the Canucks on Monday. Home Improvements Canucks Arena appeals to the senses MATTHEW SEKERES VANCOUVER From Saturday's Globe and Mail Vancouver Canucks chief operating officer Victor de Bonis says the NHL club has spent $40- million spicing up its home arena, and that the fan experience during the regular season will prove it is money well spent. The Canucks rolled out some new bells and whistles in advance of their NHL home opener Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings at the newly minted Rogers Arena. Included among the new stimuli for the senses is blue-and-green lighting outside the building, which will mark Canucks game days, and inject some team colours to the Vancouver skyline. The Canucks have erected eight large banners of star players inside the concourse near entrances, and will unveil two in-arena interactive exhibits on the team and its history. The team will also enhance its in-game presentation with 16 new projectors, eight 12-metre canvas scrims, and icelevel microphones designed to convey sounds of the game all the way to the bowl s upper reaches. We want to deliver the best experiences as we can, de Bonis said. The goal is that everybody comes to games and feels like they re getting value. The fan initiatives were announced Friday, in conjunction with the official unveiling of the new arena name. Rogers Communications Inc. executives took part, and said that a new Canucks mobile app, with exclusive content for Rogers subscribers, should be available by November. The existing Canucks-NHL app will continue to be free, while Rogers customers in British Columbia and Yukon will be able to stream live games on their mobile device for a fee. Rogers customers will also be able to see some practices, news conferences and others events inside the arena. Vancouver Canucks Canucks recall Tambellini By Sports Network VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks have recalled forward Jeff Tambellini from Manitoba of the American Hockey League. The 26-year-old registered seven goals and seven assists in 36 games for the New York Islanders last season. He signed with the Canucks on July 1, the first day of free agency.

3 Over parts of five seasons with Los Angeles and the Isles, the former first-round choice has totaled 18 goals and 46 points in 180 games. The Canucks also recalled centre Alex Bolduc and goaltender Cory Schneider from Manitoba. Bolduc has one helper in 22 games over the last two seasons with Vancouver, while Schneider has won twice and posted a 3.46 goalsagainst average in 10 games with the Canucks over the last two years. Winnipeg Sun LOADED Vancouver Canucks Canucks C-ing the light: Henrik Sedin poised to lead team No need to take wild guesses on who will be Vancouver's next captain By Iain MacIntyre When Henrik Sedin returned to Sweden over the summer, he wasn t exactly greeted as a conquering hero come home. It was more like: For sure, there s one of our checkers from the 2006 Olympic team, and he s carrying something shiny in each arm. Those were the Hart and Art Ross trophies compelling proof of Sedin s rise as one of the best hockey players in the world. But to hear Henrik and Daniel Sedin tell it, nobody in Sweden thinks that. Back in Sweden, until you win something and play a big role on the national team, you haven t done anything, Henrik explains. We re still not seen as great players back home. There s a lot of talk about Nicklas Backstrom and Henrik Zetterberg and those guys, which is fine. They re great players. It hasn t changed for us. We re chops, Daniel adds with a smile. It helps us to go back for a few months; it gets us down to earth. No wonder then the Sedins remain so grounded in Vancouver (and the Canucks have built a mind room to help players feel good about themselves). Back home, they re not the wondertwins; they re Tanner Glass and Guillaume Desbiens. It s a good thing the Sedins long ago, after they d been regularly ridiculed during their difficult transition years to the National Hockey League, stopped caring what anyone thought and measured themselves only against their own absurdly-high expectations. It helped make them stars in Vancouver, natural-born leaders whom teammates try to emulate in work ethic and attitude. It should make Henrik the Canucks captain today. After a month-long examination of players right under its nose, the Canuck organization is in danger of making a decision on a captain. We can t be sure, but the haste may have something to do with the start of their season tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. Apparently, there s been some internal debate about whether the captain should be Sedin or Ryan Kesler. Externally, the debate has been about why the Canucks are taking so long to name Henrik. Remember, the Canucks are nothing if not unconventional. The last captain had a C painted on his goalie mask. So maybe coach Alain Vigneault and general manager Mike Gillis really are going to name their fiery warrior, Kesler, captain. Or the letter could go to the silent mascot Finn, who is about as communicative as Kesler, but more cuddly, when things go badly. Still, if the captain isn t Henrik, Gillis and Vigneault should visit the mind room to see if they still have one. The only reason for not choosing Henrik is that he d play just as hard, with the same absolute commitment and unselfishness, without a letter as he would with one. Those are the Sedins for you. In the room, they certainly have a presence even though they re quiet and unassuming people, new defenceman Dan Hamhuis says. Jeepers, you d never know what s in [Henrik s] trophy case by being around him. He doesn t put himself above the team and I think that s a huge quality to have in a captain to be able to serve and be humble and not put yourself above the team. Veteran centre Manny Malhotra says: The two highest-profile guys are the two hardest-working guys and the most consistent guys. It s not about rah-rah, being a cheerleader or raising your voice trying to command a room. They just show you what it s all about getting it done on the ice. Regardless of the letter deliveries, Malhotra and Hamhuis are going to be part of the Canucks leadership group. With Kesler and Roberto Luongo, Keith Ballard and Kevin Bieksa, Sami Salo and Mikael Samuelsson, leadership is not going to be left to a couple of guys. But as far as Henrik goes, Samuelsson is reminded of another quiet captain he had. Steve Yzerman, he says. I don t want to compare those two, but I can say there are similarities. Absolutely Henrik s a leader. It s a huge thing, what he does on the ice. A guy who talks all the time... you don t pay attention to everything he says. It s not the words coming out of your mouth that s important; there s more to it than that.

4 Interestingly, for two players who seem so, well, identical, there has always been a clear hierarchy of leadership among Henrik and Daniel, who turned 30 on Sept. 26. Henrik, perhaps the more serious of the two, was always the captain when they were kids. Maybe it s because I was older, Henrik says, seriously. And how much older is he, again? Six minutes. Daniel says: Between us, he s always been looked at as the big brother. Coaches, all throughout... I can t explain it myself but that s how it is. It s fascinating how it has been like that. But it started early and has stayed this way, so for me it s natural. It doesn t bother me. It gave neither brother pause last season when Henrik was awarded an A and Daniel wasn t. It took me three years to tell them apart, Vigneault says. They both look alike, but they re two different people. Henrik is definitely the more outgoing of the two, the one who speaks the most. I don t want to say Danny follows his big brother, but to some extent it is that way. They both bring leadership skills. They re both great role models. Leadership is being able to influence people in the right direction, the right way. The way [Henrik] conducts himself, he s able to do it. Some do it by talking, some do it by example. We ve got a real good group of people in there. Too bad only one player can wear the C. Wait a minute... Vancouver Sun: LOADED Vancouver Canucks Canucks, with no enforcer, now under the goon Vancouver could use tough guy to deter threat of old-time hockey By Cam Cole Before the Vancouver Canucks take to the ice tonight as according to various sources with no particular rooting interest Stanley Cup favourites, here s the one question we re not sure they ve addressed: Who s the goon? Mike Gillis had a terrific summer as Canucks GM, adding third-line grit and fourth-line depth and overhauling the defence, but who s riding the range? Who s got the skilled players backs, who s making sure they aren t pushed around, abused, knocked off their games by opposing teams villains? Not Darcy Hordichuk, any more, who admittedly didn t win many, but showed up for a lot. Rick Rypien? He ll tackle anybody, but at 5-11 and 170 pounds soaking wet, he s not scaring anyone in the upper weight-classes and between injuries and assorted excused absences, he s as likely to be on hiatus as in the lineup. Kevin Bieksa? He d win every fight if a permanent snarl counted for anything but he is, alas, a bantam rooster with an attitude. Tanner Glass? Alexandre Bolduc? Willing. But able? The topic looms today because of Thursday night s season-opening Edmonton-Calgary game, in which the young Oilers beat the living bejabbers out of the Flames in every conceivable way, including 6-5, 250-pound Steve MacIntyre s eye-opening (and eye-closing) knockout of 6-4, 240-pound Calgary heavyweight Raitis Ivanans three minutes from the end of a 4-0 Oiler rout. SmackIntyre, as they call him, didn t just win the tussle on points, he very likely damaged the Latvian winger s brain, splitting open his left temple and sending him to dreamland as punishment for having high-sticked one of the Oilers high-flying rookies, Magnus Paajarvi, earlier in the period. It s a fight, MacIntyre said. Everybody s throwing to hit. We re not playing patty-cake. When [Paajarvi] gets a stick in the face, you ve got to make sure you go out and say Hey, you have to be accountable. Oilers newly-minted captain Shawn Horcoff admitted the knockout was so brutal, it was both thrilling and frightening. At first, it s huge excitement, then you re worried about the guy, said Horcoff. I don t know if he s going to remember any of it. Cry not for Ivanans: he s had 12 goals and 569 penalty minutes in 280 NHL games in his career, and the Flames didn t sign his hands for the purpose of holding a hockey stick. MacIntyre, with two goals and 69 penalty minutes in just 45 NHL games, is cut from the same clod. Ivanans knew there was a price to be paid for leaning on the young Oilers, but he leaned all the same, and MacIntyre exacted the price. Who does that for the Canucks, if the need arises?

5 Whichever side of the endless debate you re on, hawk or dove whether you re okay with heat-of-the moment scraps of passion, but hate the staged fights, or you think it s fine the way it is or just want fighting abolished altogether the fact is that it s not going away, because the owners and GMs won t let it. Another fact, distasteful to the doves but hardly deniable, is that the Canucks had no dust-settling physical response when Chicago s mammoth Dustin Byfuglien was running Roberto Luongo and taking liberties with anyone he could irritate in Vancouver s second-round elimination last spring. The failure to make Byfuglien back off may well have been the No. 1 contributor to their demise. There s no fighting in the Olympics, why should there be in the NHL? is one of those arguments that sounds reasonable until your team has no one to answer the call and the call is going to come, maybe not every game, but every game in which the opponent senses a weakness. You can forecast those games by the way Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault adjusts his lineup in response to the level of threat he perceives from the coming opponent. But he has no nuclear deterrent to call upon for those special occasions that require more than just a lot of scrappy, willing middleweights. It may be that most nights, there will be no need for overt muscle, in which case the Canucks decision to take the high road and not use up a roster spot on a less than fleet-footed enforcer will pay dividends in the standings. But the standings are not the end game. As we have seen. Vancouver Sun: LOADED By Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun October 9, 2010 Connauton Caps Moose Comeback The Manitoba Moose opened their American Hockey League season with a come-from-behind win on the road Friday night. Most of their offence came from their defence. Evan Oberg scored twice and fellow defenceman Kevin Connauton got the winner at 15:47 of the third period as the Moose beat Peoria 4-3. Victor Oreskovich scored the other goal for the Moose. Jordan Schroeder set up two goals, including Connauton's game-winner. Cody Hodgson played but did not figure in the scoring. He was minus-one on the night Vancouver Canucks Rogers takes GM's Place, but broadcast deal up in the air By Ian Walker Of all the things discussed at a Friday press conference to announce the official partnership between the Canucks and Rogers Communications, it s what wasn t announced that may prove to be the most interesting long term. And no, we re not talking about the captaincy that will be answered by puck drop tonight but rather the team s radio broadcast deal. The Canucks currently have two years left on their agreement with Chum Radio to have their games broadcast on Team Rogers, meanwhile, owns another radio cluster in the city which includes News 1130, Jack FM and Fun FM. Never mind Sportsnet, which owns the hockey club s television rights. Add it all up and it doesn t take a guy in a fancy suit to figure out that the broadcast bidding will certainly include the Toronto-based communications giant come We love sports. We d like to get more broadcast rights and we see the Canucks as a partner and will be so for quite some time, said Rogers president and CEO Nadir Mohammed. We re talking all the time we re partners now not specifically broadcast, in terms of anything that I can tell you that is going to happen, but clearly we have a relationship. We want to build on it. Rogers Arena is a big part of it and the broadcast is a piece of it. I ll leave the rest to when and if. It s also worth noting that Rogers also owns broadcasting rights for both the Calgary Flames (Fan 960) and Edmonton Oilers (630 CHED). We ve done deals with the Oilers and the Flames, 10-year deals exclusive to Rogers, so we d like to do more sports, said Mohammed. Canucks CEO Victor debonis said the team has had no discussions regarding broadcast rights and doesn t expect to until the off-season. WIRED IN: A long list of fan initiatives were unveiled by the new partners on Friday, including an enhanced Canucks mobile app powered by Rogers that will be available on the iphone, BlackBerry and Android platforms. There will also be a new paid premium app that allows users in B.C. and Yukon to watch Sportsnet games on their smartphone. Users will also be able to view live highlights, press conferences, select practices and select events from inside the building. The new app is expected to be available in November, said Mohamed. Other improvements to Rogers Arena and the in-game experience will include lighting enhancements to the building, eight large banners featuring Canuck players at each of the four entrance gates, Canucks Hall of Heroes and Canucks Memories interactive concourse exhibits as well as 16 additional projectors and four 13-metre scrim displays extending from the roof to the glass at the corners of the ice

6 surface. Ice-level microphones located around the ice surface will pick up the sounds and speed of the game and be broadcast through the rink. From the suites to the upper bowls, every fan will feel closer and more connected to the on-ice action that ever before, said debonis. No word on whether the team will skate out to a new tune. U2 s Where The Streets Have No Name has been the Canucks opening theme song for the past few seasons. OH BABY, PART DEUX: Canucks centre Manny Malhotra and wife Joann welcomed their second son into the world Sept. 30. Malhotra stayed home from the team s California pre-season road trip to be with his wife, who was due for almost a week before giving birth to Isaiah. The Canucks were really kind to me to allow me to be with her, said Malhotra, who was one of the team s big free-agent signings this summer. Making the occasion even more special was the fact the baby s uncle, Steve Nash, was in town only a few days later as the Phoenix Suns played an NBA exhibition game against the Toronto Raptors at Rogers Arena on Wednesday. That was really nice, said Malhotra, whose other brother-in-law is Vancouver Whitecaps captain Martin Nash. TALKING ABOUT PARENTS: Newly acquired defenceman Ryan Parent, who will start the season in the NHL, skated with the team for the first time on Friday. Parent came to Vancouver in the deal that sent Shane O Brien to Nashville on Tuesday. Right now he s our eighth defenceman, said head coach Alain Vigneault. He s a young D whose bitten off a few teams lately and he s trying to find his way. Alex Bolduc, Cory Schneider and Jeff Tambellini also were back after a short trip to Manitoba. Bolduc and Schneider were victims of the salary cap shuffle while Tambellini replaces Rick Rypien (ribs) who is on injured reserve. Cody Hodgson, Lee Sweatt and Eddie Lack went the other way. Vancouver Sun: LOADED Vancouver Canucks Henrik looking C-worthy as Canucks ready to battle the storm By Jason Botchford It should have been a seminal moment in Henrik Sedin's life. He was near home, in Stockholm, Sweden, and at his first Canucks training camp in 2000 when Markus Naslund, a player and person he admired, was named the fourth full-time captain for the team since 1982, following Stan Smyl, Trevor Linden and Mark Messier. But Henrik can't recall a thing. "I was so nervous the whole way through," Henrik said. "It was my first time with the team. I didn't pay attention to what was happening. I can't say I remember anything about it." Henrik will remember tomorrow. Before the Canucks open their season, in a pregame ceremony, it's been long speculated he will be unveiled as the heir to the C, which Roberto Luongo relinquished on his own accord this summer. The Canucks haven't announced it will be Henrik, but he is the best, and most obvious, choice. Ten years later, there is little resemblance to that nervous, scrawny, fresh-faced kid who was more worried about his skating than he was about history when Naslund was given the C. Henrik has come of age, in no small part to the captains who preceded him. From Naslund, Henrik learned about locker room dynamics and how to be inclusive. He saw how it should be a place where young players and veterans feel comfortable. "When we got here, everything was so big for us and Markus made it feel like we were still in our home town," Henrik said. "Somehow, he found a way to make it feel normal." Naslund had initiatives to make the Sedins feel part of the group, an example was his rule that the dressing room be an English only space. "He would never speak Swedish to us in the dressing room," Henrik said. "It was the chit chatting back and forth and doing it in English which made us feel a part of the team a lot more quickly. We were part of the group. It made us more comfortable right away. "We were shy in the beginning, so we really didn't like to speak in front of the whole dressing room." That's not a problem now. Ten years in, the Vancouver market tends to mature an NHL player. Henrik still gives Trevor Linden a lot of the credit for his growth off the ice. Linden taught him about accountability and gave him confidence. Watching how he handled the media didn't hurt. If you were going to stand up and represent the team when things were going well, you had to do it when things were at their worst, Linden would tell the twin. "Trevor was unbelievable for us and I've always said he made the biggest impact on us," Henrik said. "What was the best is that he did it just being himself. He would talk to us in a way that made us more relaxed, more confident. "It's tough for me to say exactly what he did, but he treated us like normal people and that made such a difference."

7 Henrik has talked several times during the past few weeks with Canucks management, the coaching staff and his teammates about the next captain and the team's new leadership group. Henrik is now the sage veteran of the team, and being the reigning Hart trophy winner isn't the only way he's separated himself from his twin brother, Alain Vigneault's said. Vigneault decided before last season to Henrik would be one of the alternate captains, and not Daniel. "It took me three years to tell them apart, they both look alike but they are two different people," Vigneault said. "Henrik is definitely the more outgoing one of the two. He's the one who speaks the most. "I don't want to say Danny follows his big brother but to some extent it is that way. But they both bring leadership skills. They are both great role models. Last year, we just felt Henrik was the more outgoing way of the two. "Leadership is being able to influence people, influence them in the right direction and in the right way. With the way Henrik carries himself, he is able to influence people." Vancouver Province: LOADED Vancouver Canucks It's not yet apparent how long Parent will skate with Canucks By JIM JAMIESON Newly acquired defenceman Ryan Parent is here for now, but for how long is up in the air. That's sort of like his hockey career, which has been derailed the last couple of years by major injuries. Parent participated in his first practice with the Canucks on Friday since they got him in a trade with Nashville earlier this week for defenceman Shane O'Brien. Parent cleared waivers after the Canucks acquired him, but they have opted not to send him to Manitoba. He can stay here for 10 games or 30 days from the last waiver clearance or he must be waived again to be sent to the farm. Head coach Alain Vigneault said the Club would look at him, but wouldn't say how long the assessment period would be or if Parent would get in some game action. Right now he's our eighth defenceman, he's a young D who's been on a few teams lately and I think he's trying to find his way into the NHL. said Vigneault. Our pro scouts spoke very highly of him. In junior hockey he played the shut-down role against the opposition's top lines. He makes a good first pass and skates real well. We'll have to see how we go here (if he gets in a game), things in this game can change real fast. Parent said he wants to put his best foot forward in the time he has here to show he's an NHL defenceman. It feels like a fresh start so I'm looking forward to it, he said. I didn't see it coming but when I heard it was Vancouver I was thrilled. Just from here and throughout the league you hear where the top teams are and this is a great organization. I'm really excited. Parent, 23, is coming off back surgery last season and shoulder surgery the year before two medical problems that have clearly stunted the development of the 18th overall pick in the 2005 NHL draft. Last year was a bit of a struggle, just working my way back into it after the surgery, said Parent, who went through his first practice with the Canucks Friday at Rogers Arena. I felt I've made some pretty good gains over the summer time and I'm feeling good this year. Parent, a defensive defenceman, said he just wants to get a chance to show what he can do. But the last two seasons haven't been kind to the 6-foot-3, 200-pound native of Prince Albert. Last season he was limited to 31 games due to back surgery; the year before he played just 22 due to surgery for a torn shoulder labrum. Frustrating? Oh yeah. The last couple years it seemed like I had training camp at the beginning and again mid-year because of the injuries, he said. It seemed like I'd spend a good part of the year coming back from surgeries. It was tough that way. It seemed like by the time I was in the lineup and feeling comfortable, the year would be over or I'd be injured. But Parent feels good now. I felt I've made some pretty good gains over the summer time and I'm feeling good this year, he said. Parent is on the first year of a two-year deal that carries a cap hit of $925,000. Vancouver Province: LOADED Vancouver Canucks Canucks and Rogers dress up arena to create new 'energy'

8 By Jim Jamieson, Canucks Sports and Entertainment and Rogers Communications intend to broaden the NHL club's fan experience in a big way this 40th anniversary season. On the day the two companies officially became partners with the rink now called Rogers Arena a slew of initiatives were unveiled at a Friday media conference. We want to be leaders not followers, said Canucks Sports and Enterainment chief opperating officer Victor de Bonis. Our focus starts from the team and the energy in the bowl. That has to feel like Canuck hockey. Being from here, we understand what that means. We're trying to build on that and create energy. Rogers president and CEO Nadir Mohammed said Rogers sees the West Coast as a growth opportunity. We've committed to B.C.for a long time, we have 2,500 employees here and have invested $1 billion in Western Canada in the last five year, he said. To me, it's just a platform. Now that we've got a partnership, we've got content and it's amazing what you can do with content and distribution. Perhaps the sexiest of the new features is an enhanced smartphone app that will also be available on the iphone, Blackberry and Android platforms. There will also be a new paid premium app that allows users in B.C./Yukon to watch Sportsnet games live on their smartphone. For this season, Rogers customers will have free live streaming. The app will also provide content from live press conferences, select practices and other events in the building. Other improvements to the arena and in-game experience, for which de Bonis said the company spent $40 million: Lighting enhancements to the exterior of the building Eight large banners featuring Canucks players at each of the four entrance gates Inside the arena interactive concourse exhibits, including the "Canucks Hall of Heroes" and "Canucks Memories." The exhibits will also contain authentic memorabilia and seven-foot high-definition touch screens showing highlights of the club's history The arena will also have 16 addition projectors and four 40-foot screens. Vancouver Province: LOADED Los Angeles Kings Kings measure Drew Doughty's growth in leaps and bounds Doughty, 20, already is one of the league's top defensemen and will be counted to lead the Kings as they try to build on last season's playoff appearance. Helene Elliott By 2008, the Kings had been bad enough for long enough to get some prime draft picks, but the No. 2 selection their reward for finishing next to last was crucial to accelerating their rebuilding process. They couldn't mess this up. Gifted center Steven Stamkos was the clear No. 1, bound for Tampa Bay. After that, there was a lot of talent but no consensus. One stood out, however, to Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi. He sensed something special in defenseman Drew Doughty, who grew up sleeping on a Kings pillowcase and using a Kings telephone because he loved Wayne Gretzky. Like everyone else, Lombardi saw Doughty's remarkable hockey sense and the baby fat that had teams questioning the kid's conditioning. But Lombardi also saw solid character and fire. "You're never sure even when you're sure. You're dealing with an 18-year-old draft," Lombardi said. "But once we had done all the research from watching him play, meeting him after games, meeting with the combine, meeting his family, we formed that conclusion. So far, I think we've been right." After two seasons, one Olympic gold medal, one Norris Trophy runner-up finish and a second-team NHL all-star selection for Doughty and a playoff appearance for the Kings that decision stands among the best in franchise history. Doughty, 20, is on the cusp of superstardom. He's taking the Kings along for a ride that could launch them atop the Pacific Division and Western Conference. "I think we've got the guys in the room to be a great team, and if we do win that division and go into the playoffs that we have the team to make it to that Stanley Cup finals," he said. "We're really confident in here that we're one of the best teams in the league, and we're going to play like that every night." In reaching the playoffs last season for the first time since 2002, the Kings tied a club record with 46 wins and set a record by earning 51 points on the road. Expectations are higher for them and for Doughty. "For him, it will be similar to what this team's challenge will be this year," said defenseman Willie Mitchell, who signed as a free agent in August and has been paired with Doughty. "He's dealing with the success he had last year and how he can do that again."

9 What can he do for an encore? What he did last season, only more consistently. Start with unleashing his hard, accurate shot. "He gets it at that perfect level where it's just above a goalie's pad where you can score, where someone can get a tip on it. He finds a way to get it through," Mitchell said. And with Coach Terry Murray giving Doughty and Jack Johnson more freedom to jump up into plays, it's easy to imagine Doughty surpassing the 16 goals and 59 points he scored last season and winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman. "His first four, five steps, his get-up-and-go to join the rush is exceptional," Mitchell said. "And he competes. He loves the game. He has a big passion for the game. That's probably the best quality you can ever have as a hockey player. You find the people who love it and care about it the most are usually the best." At a muscular 6 feet and 212 pounds, Doughty relishes dishing out tooth-rattling hits. He didn't get top marks on preseason conditioning tests, but Lombardi wasn't concerned. "When you've had that much talent your whole life you really don't understand how important it is and it usually takes them a while to figure it out," Lombardi said. "Going back to his competitiveness and wanting to win, he's going to figure out, 'If I'm going to be the best I can be, I've got to do that.' I see progress." Doughty has progressed by his own measure. "I've made huge jumps from my first year. My first year I was confident and I had a good year, but I just wasn't the player I am now," he said. "It's a lot of little things. Positionally, I feel I'm better. I feel I'm smarter. I see the game even better now. And I just see little openings that I never saw back in the day. "My confidence level has grown. I'm more comfortable with all the guys in the room and the coaching staff, so now I kind of play my game and go out every night and do my thing." Some things do take a while to learn. According to winger Wayne Simmonds, Doughty is as sloppy as ever at the South Bay home they share. "He just leaves things lying there," Simmonds said. "I can't really say too much because I'm the same way." Simmonds would know if Doughty had been spoiled by success. He says that's not the case. "He's the most humble guy I've ever met in my life," Simmonds said. "He downplays everything more than anyone else of his status I've ever met. We're kind of growing up together. It's a good situation." And it could get much better for the Kings, who now have playoff experience to build on. "Personally and from listening to the other guys, that playoff run is going to help us out a ton. It was so intense," Doughty said. "We know how hard we have to play and we know the emotional level we have to be at. "Everyone's talking in the room and everyone is confident we're going to be one of the best teams this year." LA Times: LOADED Los Angeles Kings Five things to watch with the Kings this season A battle for the starting goalie job might be brewing, and the defensemen could become a big part of the offense. By Helene Elliott Five things to watch with the Kings 1. Drew Doughty, 20, is a Norris Trophy favorite after finishing in the top three in his second NHL season. He has displayed a knack for raising his game a notch on a big stage, and with more expected of him and of the Kings he has another chance to step up. 2. The battle of the goaltending Jonathans will be a big story. Jonathan Quick had a terrific start last season but faded as Coach Terry Murray overplayed him, and he won only four of 17 post-olympic starts. Jonathan Bernier, long considered the Kings' goalie of the future, is ready now. Quick was designated the No. 1 goalie, but Bernier can slide in if Quick falters. The runner-up in this duel could be traded for the forward the Kings didn't get in the off-season. 3. Speaking of the forward the Kings didn't get five-on-five scoring was a weakness they planned to address through free agency. But while they were futilely pursuing Ilya Kovalchuk they missed out on other players who might have helped them. They can be patient now but might have to deal some assets later. 4. Anze Kopitar had 33 points in his first 22 games last season. Then linemate Ryan Smyth got hurt and Kopitar disappeared for six weeks. He finished with career highs of 34 goals and 81 points, but if he's going to firmly establish himself as an elite center he must be consistent. 5. Murray played Quick too much last season and jumbled his line combinations too often, but he installed a solid defensive foundation and still has players' attention. Without a game-breaking forward he will open things up a bit and allow the defensemen to move up into the play. The rewards could outweigh the risks.

10 LA Times: LOADED Los Angeles Kings Playing in Vancouver has extra meaning for Kings' Willie Mitchell Saturday night's season opener will be the veteran defenseman's first NHL game since he suffered a severe concussion Jan. 16 while playing for the Canucks. 'It will be really nice to get back,' says Mitchell, who signed with L.A. as a free agent. By Helene Elliott Like his Kings teammates, Willie Mitchell is eagerly awaiting Saturday's season opener against the Vancouver Canucks at the Rogers Arena. But the veteran defenseman has a special reason to anticipate this game: it will be his first since he suffered a severe concussion Jan. 16 while playing for the Canucks against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Returning to Vancouver enhances the occasion for him. "It will be really nice to get back," said Mitchell, who signed a two-year, $7-million free-agent contract with the Kings in August. "It will be a lot of fun." Mitchell couldn't be sure this day would arrive. For a long time he had to avoid noise and bright lights and hockey games. That included missing the Canucks' first-round playoff series against the Kings. "You have a physical injury when you have a concussion but there's also emotional because stress on the body gives you a headache. That's what a concussion is. You get stress in your life what are you going to do about it?" he said Friday. "So as much as it hurt me to do it I just kind of disconnected. Then I started feeling better. The L.A. series, I watched a little bit, casually, and then I started to get some phone calls from friends from the team who were penalty killers. And assistant coach Rick Bowness, who does the penalty kill. 'Willie, what's going on?'" Those calls were prompted by the Kings' 10 power-play goals in the series, which the Canucks won. "Sometimes when you're outside the box you see some different things," he said. "They called me for some advice and when that happened I kind of got engaged again, trying to help out in that way. I couldn't help out on the ice but maybe my experience and what I do on the penalty kill could help out with the team. "I didn't really see a lot of the series, to be honest with you. It was my choice. I didn't want to watch it because I just thought that stress of not being involved was going to really hurt me as far as my healing process." Youth Will Be Served The Kings have six rookies on their roster and plan to have four in the lineup Saturday: backup goalie Jonathan Bernier, defenseman Jake Muzzin and forwards Kyle Clifford and Brayden Schenn. Forwards Trevor Lewis and Andrei Loktionov will be spares. Veteran left wing Ryan Smyth considers all the youngsters precocious. "It just seems like they've got some experience," he said. "I think they've all earned a right to be here and it's great to see. Time will tell in the game situations how everybody pans out but I feel every one of them has made a step and just made a difference in being here already." Defenseman Rob Scuderi said he has been impressed with the newcomers. "You look at it and sometimes you think, 'This team is supposed to take the next step. Maybe it's not the right way to do it.' But the kids in here are pretty mature," he said. "It's a pretty good locker room as far as chemistry. Hopefully they don't feel like rookies." Muzzin, 21, played the point with Jarret Stoll on the second power-play unit in practice and will get a chance there Saturday. "We're just looking to get shots through and get traffic to the net," he said. "Hopefully we get a lucky tip or rebound through to one of our guys or a screen and provide some secondary scoring on the power play." Slap Shots Clifford and Schenn, both 19, can play nine games before the first year of their contracts will kick in. The Kings could send them back to their junior teams before they play 10 games but Coach Terry Murray said he's not thinking of that. "I'm taking the approach that they're here, they're on the team, that they've played and deserve to be here through their good play in the training camp," he said. "And that's the way I'll continue to approach it and play them and fit into that specific role."... The Kings will wear retro "Forum Blue" and gold uniforms for the first of four times this season.... The game will be played on the 40th anniversary of the Canucks' first game ever, a 3-1 loss to the Kings.... The Kings are in season openers.... Their average age is 25.4, the youngest in the NHL and more than two years younger than for the start of the season (27.7). LA Times: LOADED Los Angeles Kings Kings believe kids will be all right as their NHL season kicks off

11 By J.P. Hoornstra Staff Writer Get used to hearing this statistic: The Kings officially are the youngest team in the National Hockey League at 25.4 years old. If it still is on people's lips in May and June, the kids must be doing something right. The Kings want to be a team people in Southern California talk about for more than just their age, though for now, without a single game in the books, 25.4 tends to pop out of an otherwise blank stat sheet. "There is such a thing" as too much youth, head coach Terry Murray told a gathering of reporters Thursday. "But I think we've surrounded the young players on this team with quality veteran players, players who know how to take control of a situation in the locker room, on the ice, to get everybody prepared, to set the tone in practice to do things right. And the young players have made huge strides because of that attitude the veteran players are establishing." Youth ordinarily is a sure sign of rebuilding, but the only thing the Kings are building for is a longer playoff run than last year's one-and-done cameo. They begin the season today against the same Vancouver Canucks squad that eliminated them in April, one of few teams facing higher expectations than the Kings. The youngest of the young players won't be handed high-profile positions immediately. Kyle Clifford (19) beat out Rich Clune for the fourthline left wing job. Brayden Schenn (19) and Andrei Loktionov (20) will begin as fourth-liners, too. Still, few NHL teams boast a nucleus with less facial hair than defenseman Drew Doughty (20), center Anze Kopitar (23) and goaltenders Jonathan Quick (24) and Jonathan Bernier (22). With the exception of Bernier, who begins the season as the stated backup after a year in the minors, each was instrumental in last season's rise to 101 points - the Kings' third 100-point season in franchise history and first since If general manager Dean Lombardi thought his team needed an explosive veteran to take the next step, free-agent left wing Ilya Kovalchuk was ripe for the taking. After plenty of hype and speculation, Lombardi didn't challenge the New Jersey Devils' megadeal for Kovalchuk, a two-time 50-goal scorer. In fact, the Kings were the last team this summer to sign a free agent at all. The thinking was clear: The team will sink or swim on its own this season, with the continued development of Doughty, Kopitar, Quick, Bernier and others serving as the fulcrum on which fans can rest their hopes. The kids will have help. The captaincy still belongs to right wing Dustin Brown, who enters his seventh NHL season at age 25. Murray's "quality veterans" also include the team's five players age 30 or older: defenseman Willie Mitchell (33) and left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky (30) - the lone free-agent signings - and defenseman Rob Scuderi (31), center Michal Handzus (33) and left wing Ryan Smyth (34). If that "next step" hasn't been reached by the trade deadline, the 30-somethings could have some company. If the season goes according to plan, maybe age ain't nothing but a number after all. 5 keys to the season: 1. Young players taking the "next step." The continued development of Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson and Wayne Simmonds isn't just expected - it's the reason the Kings didn't break the bank for Ilya Kovalchuk this summer. Even Anze Kopitar, coming off a career year with 34 goals and 81 points, could have another level to reach at age Killing penalties. For as much as they stress forechecking, the Kings still finished just 20 th in the league on the penalty kill last season. Assistant coach John Stevens has plenty of competent defensive forwards and defensemen at his disposal, but must mix and match the right pieces. 3. Staying healthy. This goes without saying for any NHL team, but one Achilles' heel on a solid roster could be the injury history of several veterans. Defenseman Willie Mitchell (concussion) and right wing Justin Williams (broken leg) missed a combined 77 games last season with injuries. 4. The Jonathans. Head coach Terry Murray said he wants to limit Jonathan Quick to around 60 games in net and leave the rest to Jonathan Bernier. But will this arrangement be best for the team? If Quick should falter, there will be pressure on Murray to play Bernier more. 5. Coping with the pressure of expectations. When was the last time the Kings were expected to do anything in the playoffs? You might have to go back to the Gretzky era, and those teams weren't nearly as young as this year's group. How the Kings respond when the going gets rough will determine if they're ready to vie for division, conference and NHL championships. LEFT WING RYAN SMYTH Goals-Assists-Points: Penalty minutes: 42 +/-: +8 Scott ParseG-A-Pts: ; PIM: 22; +/-: +13 Alexei Ponikarovsky G-A-Pts: ; PIM: 61; +/-: -1 Brad Richardson G-A-Pts: ; PIM: 37; +/-: +1

12 CENTER ANZE KOPITAR Goals-Assists-Points: Penalty minutes: 16 +/-: +6 Jarret Stoll G-A-Pts: ; PIM: 40; +/-: +13 Michal Handzus G-A-Pts: ; PIM: 38; +/-: +4 Brayden Schenn G-A-Pts: 0-0-0; PIM: 0; +/-: -1 RIGHT WING DUSTIN BROWN Goals-Assists-Points: Penalty minutes: 41 +/-: -6 Justin Williams G-A-Pts: ; PIM: 39; +/-: +3 Wayne Simmonds G-A-Pts: ; PIM: 116; +/-: +22 Kevin Westgarth G-A-Pts: 0-0-0; PIM: 0; +/-: 0 DEFENSE DREW DOUGHTY Goals-Assists-Points: Penalty minutes: 54 +/-: +20 Jack Johnson G-A-Pts: ; PIM: 48; +/-: -15 Jake Muzzin G-A-Pts: 0-0-0; PIM: 0; +/-: 0 DEFENSE WILLIE MITCHELL Goals-Assists-Points: Penalty minutes: 48 +/-: +13 Rob Scuderi G-A-Pts: ; PIM: 21; +/-: +16 Matt GreeneG-A-Pts: 2-7-9; PIM: 83; +/-: +4 GOALTENDER JONATHAN QUICK W-L-OTL: Goals-against average: 2.54 Save percentage:.907 Jonathan Bernier: W-L-OTL: 3-0-0; GAA: 1.30; Save %:.957 LA Daily News: LOADED Vancouver Canucks Canucks recall Tambellini By Sports Network VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks have recalled forward Jeff Tambellini from Manitoba of the American Hockey League.

13 The 26-year-old registered seven goals and seven assists in 36 games for the New York Islanders last season. He signed with the Canucks on July 1, the first day of free agency. Over parts of five seasons with Los Angeles and the Isles, the former first-round choice has totaled 18 goals and 46 points in 180 games. The Canucks also recalled centre Alex Bolduc and goaltender Cory Schneider from Manitoba. Bolduc has one helper in 22 games over the last two seasons with Vancouver, while Schneider has won twice and posted a 3.46 goalsagainst average in 10 games with the Canucks over the last two years. Winnipeg Sun LOADED

14 Vancouver Canucks Canucks C-ing the light: Henrik Sedin poised to lead team No need to take wild guesses on who will be Vancouver's next captain By Iain MacIntyre When Henrik Sedin returned to Sweden over the summer, he wasn t exactly greeted as a conquering hero come home. It was more like: For sure, there s one of our checkers from the 2006 Olympic team, and he s carrying something shiny in each arm. Those were the Hart and Art Ross trophies compelling proof of Sedin s rise as one of the best hockey players in the world. But to hear Henrik and Daniel Sedin tell it, nobody in Sweden thinks that. Back in Sweden, until you win something and play a big role on the national team, you haven t done anything, Henrik explains. We re still not seen as great players back home. There s a lot of talk about Nicklas Backstrom and Henrik Zetterberg and those guys, which is fine. They re great players. It hasn t changed for us. We re chops, Daniel adds with a smile. It helps us to go back for a few months; it gets us down to earth. No wonder then the Sedins remain so grounded in Vancouver (and the Canucks have built a mind room to help players feel good about themselves). Back home, they re not the wondertwins; they re Tanner Glass and Guillaume Desbiens. It s a good thing the Sedins long ago, after they d been regularly ridiculed during their difficult transition years to the National Hockey League, stopped caring what anyone thought and measured themselves only against their own absurdly-high expectations. It helped make them stars in Vancouver, natural-born leaders whom teammates try to emulate in work ethic and attitude. It should make Henrik the Canucks captain today. After a month-long examination of players right under its nose, the Canuck organization is in danger of making a decision on a captain. We can t be sure, but the haste may have something to do with the start of their season tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. Apparently, there s been some internal debate about whether the captain should be Sedin or Ryan Kesler. Externally, the debate has been about why the Canucks are taking so long to name Henrik. Remember, the Canucks are nothing if not unconventional. The last captain had a C painted on his goalie mask. So maybe coach Alain Vigneault and general manager Mike Gillis really are going to name their fiery warrior, Kesler, captain. Or the letter could go to the silent mascot Finn, who is about as communicative as Kesler, but more cuddly, when things go badly. Still, if the captain isn t Henrik, Gillis and Vigneault should visit the mind room to see if they still have one. The only reason for not choosing Henrik is that he d play just as hard, with the same absolute commitment and unselfishness, without a letter as he would with one. Those are the Sedins for you. In the room, they certainly have a presence even though they re quiet and unassuming people, new defenceman Dan Hamhuis says. Jeepers, you d never know what s in [Henrik s] trophy case by being around him. He doesn t put himself above the team and I think that s a huge quality to have in a captain to be able to serve and be humble and not put yourself above the team. Veteran centre Manny Malhotra says: The two highest-profile guys are the two hardest-working guys and the most consistent guys. It s not about rah-rah, being a cheerleader or raising your voice trying to command a room. They just show you what it s all about getting it done on the ice. Regardless of the letter deliveries, Malhotra and Hamhuis are going to be part of the Canucks leadership group. With Kesler and Roberto Luongo, Keith Ballard and Kevin Bieksa, Sami Salo and Mikael Samuelsson, leadership is not going to be left to a couple of guys. But as far as Henrik goes, Samuelsson is reminded of another quiet captain he had. Steve Yzerman, he says. I don t want to compare those two, but I can say there are similarities. Absolutely Henrik s a leader. It s a huge thing, what he does on the ice. A guy who talks all the time... you don t pay attention to everything he says. It s not the words coming out of your mouth that s important; there s more to it than that. Interestingly, for two players who seem so, well, identical, there has always been a clear hierarchy of leadership among Henrik and Daniel, who turned 30 on Sept. 26. Henrik, perhaps the more serious of the two, was always the captain when they were kids. Maybe it s because I was older, Henrik says, seriously. And how much older is he, again? Six minutes.