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 passittobulis@gmail.com or tweet us @passittobulis. Or tell us some other way. The point is: we'll probably link it if we know about it.)
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• The Canucks have replaced departing assistant coach Glen Gulutzan, adding 61-year-old Doug Jarvis to a coaching staff that appears to be going in the opposite direction of the team, age-wise. Jarvis comes to the Canucks from the Boston Bruins, because of course he does. There are no other NHL teams. What are Jarvis's exact responsibilities? Damned if anyone knows. According to Iain MacIntyre, "Jarvis and Pearn, an NHL assistant for 20 years, have so much experience and versatility that Desjardins said he hasn’t decided on specific duties for next season." So yeah, this seems like a very thoughtful hire. [Vancouver Sun]
• Jacob Markstrom and the Canucks are nearing an extension, which makes a lot of sense: Markstrom appears to be a pretty good goalie, and as it stands right now, the only NHL netminder the Canucks are paying beyond this season is Roberto Luongo. [Canucks Army]
• That said, they do have Thatcher Demko in the pipeline, and if he's as good as people say he is, it's not outside the realm of possibility that an injury, say, allows him to make his NHL debut as early as next season. [Vancouver Sun]
• If Jake Virtanen hasn't learned how to be a pro just yet, he's sure learned how to talk like one. Here's the 19-year-old talking about his goals for training camp and beyond: “Even though I was on the team last year, things can happen. I can be sent down, but I want to prove to management that I belong here. I’ve got to come into camp and show the coaching staff right away that I’m ready to play. I want to be here and I’m just going to go out and play my hardest. I want to be a dominant player right away and that’s huge.” [The Province]
• Dale Hunter, Olli Juolevi's coach in London, had some effusive praise for the Canucks' first-round pick. "He is a puck moving defenceman and that is what everybody is looking for,” said Hunter. “He has a good transition game and breaks out of his own zone cleanly. He is a great passer and there is no fear to his game. He is one of those defenceman that forwards love to have back there passing them the puck.” Hunter added that "Vancouver has a player that will be around for a long time." Although I guess that depends on whether or not Jim Benning trades him for a 24-year-old reclamation project, as is his wont. [Canucks]
• Although maybe he'll be distracted by all the work he has to do on the homefront. Benning's next 12 months are going to be busy, busy, busy. [Last Word on Sports]
• Really, though, the most encouraging thing I've heard about Juolevi came from Juolevi himself: “I will come to [Canucks] camp and show my best. If not [turning pro] next season, then the season after. I do not feel pressure.” That's a badass quote. I do not feel pressure. Not even atmospheric pressure. Whether it's this market or barotrauma, Juolevi is already over it. [Times Colonist]
• The best thing about the Loui Eriksson signing is that, thanks to the stupid World Cup of Hockey, the newest Canuck will get a chance to forge some fresh chemistry with the Sedins before the season even begins. [The Province]
• Eriksson was the big name the Canucks grabbed in free agency, but they made several smaller signings to fill out their Utica Comets roster: forwards Jayson Megna, Michael Chaput and Borna Rendulic, as well as defenseman Chad Billins. All are one-year deals. [The AHL]
• The Canucks never offered Dan Hamhuis a new contract. It's probably not worth getting too upset about -- they're trying to remake the team, and re-signing veterans isn't really the way to do it. But when they could have had Hamhuis for about what they're paying Luca Sbisa... well, basically it's just another excuse to be annoyed by Sbisa. [The Canuck Way]
Finally, three Canucks headed for breakout seasons. [The Canuck Way]
