It’s time for “Stick in Link”, the feature where we just plug in a bunch of stuff written by others! Featuring a smattering of links from around the Smylosphere and beyond every Tuesday and Thursday. Warning: our links are so hyper, they change colour when exposed to heat. (Have something for us to share in the next edition? E-mail us at [email protected] or tweet us @passittobulis. Or tell us some other way. The point is: we'll probably link it if we know about it.)
- The headline for this article about Ryan Miller’s minor muscle tightness is really close to its own Quotes Taken Out of Context post: “I’m pretty in tune with what’s going on in my body.” [Vancouver Sun]
- This article brings to mind a potential slogan for the 2016-17 Canucks: “Grind and hope.” [The Globe and Mail]
- Loved this moment from before Tuesday’s game against the Blues when the Rogers Arena crowd completed the anthems after Jim Byrne’s mic cut out:
- Jannik Hansen has been one of the best Canucks so far this season and Ed Willes notes that the former ninth-round pick has become part of the foundation of the team. He’s just outside the top-20 in all-time games played for the Canucks and could be just outside the top-10 by the end of the season. [The Province]
- Speaking of Hansen, he has some thoughts on the Canucks’ start to the season, pointing to how they’ve kept opponents’ shots down as a key factor to their success, while also suggesting the team is well aware that their success may not last. [The Province]
- In the small sample size power rankings, the Canucks vault up from 30th to 6th, which seems pretty low for one of the only two remaining perfect teams in the NHL. Get it together, Sportsnet; you even have the Canucks ranked below the Blues, who they beat. By defeating the Blues, the Canucks stole their power and rightfully should be above them in the power rankings. [Sportsnet]
- Stephen Burtch takes the air out of the Canucks’ sails with his analytics-based projections. Like many others, his rankings have the Canucks in last place, pointing mainly to the defence as the problem. Through three games, the Canucks’ defence has look massively improved compared to last season, but we’ll see if that lasts. [Sportsnet]
- Down Goes Brown, on the other hand, points out some reasons why the upside-down standings in the Pacific Division might last longer than expected: the Kings will be missing Jonathan Quick for months, while the Ducks...well, they re-hired Randy Carlyle, one of the worst coaches in the league. What did they expect to happen? [Sportsnet]
- Random emergency backup goaltenders are one of my favourite things in hockey. I love that Manny Malhotra, who had previously met Hewitt while training at UBC, was the one that brought him into the arena and it’s neat to see Bo Horvat helping him feel welcome in the room. Here’s how Matt Hewitt’s day in the NHL went:
- Three games in, the Canucks are defying everyone’s expectations. How are they doing it? The addition of Doug Jarvis behind the bench might be playing a role. [Nucks Misconduct]
- The idea that the Canucks got hit with a faulty duplication ray, creating the Bizarro-Canucks, clones that are the opposite of the Canucks in every way, is as good an explanation as any for the Canucks 3-0 start. [Always 90 Four]
- Want to track the Canucks’ progress towards their predicted 65 points? Then this website is exactly what you need. [howmanypointsdothecanuckshave.com]
- Not Canucks-related, but this story about Jeff Christian, the head coach of the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, and the loss of his daughter to cancer is well worth the read. [Puck-Rakers Blog]
