2015 NHL Playoffs: Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 15:25:50 +0000

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames

These are two teams that at the start of the season not many people would have predicted would be playoff teams come April and yet here they are. Canucks GM Jim Benning has done an excellent job refreshing not only the Canucks roster but their prospects as well. The addition of free agents Radim Vrbata and Ryan Miller continues to pay dividends and Nick Bonino has proven to be a more than capable second line centre. The 100 point seasons and even 80 point seasons may be history for the Sedin twins, but they still lead the offense in Vancouver. Vrbata was able to keep pace with the Sedins but there is a drop off after the top three. Bonino, Chris Higgins, Alex Burrows and Jannik Hansen provide some secondary scoring while Bo Horvat and Shawn Matthias provide some depth. Zack Kassian who is sidelined with a back injury is a player who has the ability to be a difference maker with his physical play and offensive power game, he will be missed. The Canucks defense is led by Alex Edler who has rebounded from a disastrous season to regain his forum. Veteran defenders Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis provide stability while youngsters Chris Tanev, Yannick Weber and Luca Sbisa have all taken on big roles on the blueline and not looked out of place. The big question for the Canucks is in goal. Ryan Miller missed significant time with a knee injury before playing the final regular season game but was “rusty”. Miller is 34 and was unable to deliver the performance in the playoffs last year that the St. Louis Blues were looking for but he is still their best option. Should the Canucks turn to Eddie Lack instead he has proven to be a capable player who also gives his team confidence.

The Calgary Flames have had an impressive season and continue to defy the odds and nay sayers. Not expected to be a competitive team while they continue to rebuild, Coach Bob Hartley has this team playing hard every night and they just never take a night off. Even after Mark Giordano went down for the season and everyone thought the bubble had finally burst, they still kept winning. Up front the Flames are a score by committee team that lacks a super-star presence but rookie sensation Johnny Gaudreau is trending in that direction. Sean Monahan and Jiri Hudler complete the top line, after that the offense drops off significantly as Lance Bouma, David Jones and Joe Colborne provide the secondary scoring. After the top line, most of Calgary’s offence is generated from their defence despite the loss of their best defender Mark Giordano. Kris Russell, Denis Wideman and T.J. Brodie are all good mobile defenders who transition the puck so efficiently into the offensive zone for the Flames. Jonas Hiller can expect to be the go to goalie for the Flames and he should expect to see a lot of shots this series as the Flames struggle both in puck possession and on faceoffs. The Flames have been a team with purpose and a destiny, and since neither team was expected to be in the playoffs at the start of the season, they are both playing with house money and really have nothing to lose. While the advanced stats suggest the Flames poor possession numbers will eventually cost them, it may not happen until the second round.

Top Ten Vancouver Canucks

Henrik Sedin – While he may not win another scoring title, he can still provide first line offensive numbers
Daniel Sedin – Like his brother, he has his name on a scoring title and can still provide big time points
Radim Vrbata – The next best option in Vancouver drives the offense on the second line
Nick Bonino – Replaced Ryan Kesler as second line centre and can match his regular season performance, but the Canucks will really miss Kesler in the playoffs
Chris Higgins – Finally had a healthy season and found some consistent scoring
Alex Burrows – Agitator supreme who when playing with the Sedins can provide offense too
Alex Edler – Had a disastrous season under Coach John Tortorella and has rebounded nicely
Bo. Horvat – Impressive rookie season, looks to be a potential future Ryan Kesler
Ryan Miller – Even if he is healthy can he deliver in the playoffs?
Jannik Hansen – Speedy Dane provides solid two-way play

Top Ten Calgary Flames

Jiri Hudler – Quietly finished the season among the top ten scorers in the league
Johnny Gaudreau – Johnny Hockey never slowed down coming into the NHL from College, in fact he only got better and better. Can he find another level?
Sean Monahan – Boring Sean Monahan improved drastically on his impressive rookie season
Dennis Wideman – in the absence of Giordano, he has stepped up as the number one defenseman
T.J. Brodie – smooth skating defenseman is Flames best puck-moving rearguard
Lance Bouma – The hardest working man in hockey, Bouma may not have elite skill but the Flames love his compete and physicality
Kris Russell – Bounced from Columbus to Blues before finding a home in Calgary, he was a steal
Joe Colborne – The Leafs lost Colborne to waivers instead of Colton Orr and he has fit in nicely with Monahan, another steal!
Jonas Hiller – Lost the starting job in Anaheim in last years playoffs, has a chance at redemption
Mikael Backlund – Lost two months to injury but still had a solid season

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire

Peter Harling — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 13:32:21 +0000

As the NHL season continues to unfold, some teams are performing ahead of expectations. Those teams success are being driven by some unheralded individual performances. Some of these players are under the radar and un-owned in a variety of leagues and offer value on the waiver wire. Here are a few for your consideration

Chris Terry – Carolina, LW 25% Fantrax Owned

Since Eric Staal returned the Canes have gone on a winning streak. Alex Semin has been missing in action all season and Jordan Staal has also been injured. In their absence Chris Terry has been delivering offence. In the first 11 games, Terry has produced three goals and seven assists. As a result he has been given time on the powerplay as well. All the while he has been scoring from the third line playing with the likes of Zack Boychuk and Victor Rask, meaning he is producing his own offense. With the Staal line facing the opposition’s top defenders, Terry should continue to get his offense.

Riley Nash – Carolina, C 23% Owned

Like Terry, Nash has been producing despite Carolinas early struggles. Nash is playing on a line with rookie Elias Lindholm and the little spark plug Nathan Gerbe. Nash has scored three goals and five assists in 11 games and has at least on point in four of the last five games. At just 25 years old, this former first round pick of the Oilers could be a good late blooming player.

Josh Jooris – Calgary, C 10% Owned

The Flames have been a big surprise this season led by Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie on the back end with Jonas Hiller in net and Johnny Gaudreau up front. Those players are widely owned, but Jooris is largely unknown, and un-owned. He has been a healthy scratch twice this season but has three goals and two assists for five points in eight games including a two goal performance against Montreal recently.

Lance Bouma – Calgary, LW 8% Owned

Surprisingly the Flames are one of the higher scoring teams so far this season. Bouma has not been a significant offensive threat with three goals and one assist in 14 games. He does have fantasy value in deep leagues that have categories for stats such as hits (37), and blocked shots (15). The Flames love his compete level, and are quite comfortable giving him ice time on a line with Jooris and Brandon Bollig.

Nick Bonino – Vancouver, C 73% Owned

The Vancouver Canucks are having a great start in large part due to the performance of the new players in Ryan Miller, Radim Vrbata and Nick Bonino. At 73 percent owned, chances are Bonino is not available in your league. I am pretty surprised his ownership percent is that low, it really should be closer to 100%. Bonino is off to a great start with seven goals and five assists in 14 games, don’t sleep on this rising star.

Chris Higgins – Vancouver, LW 29% Owned

The oft injured journeyman forward has been a risky pick, but this is the waiver wire, not the first round pick article. Higgins seems to have found new life on the second line with Bonino and Jannik Hansen scoring two goals and seven assists in 14 games. While this line is producing Higgins is fantasy relevant again and at less than 30% owned is a good value pick up if you can snag him.

Linden Vey – Vancouver, RW 39% Owned

Another key addition by new GM Jim Benning, Vey was buried behind a deep Kings roster but has broken out with the Canucks scoring four goals (three powerplay) and three assists in 14 games. Vey has been another pleasant addition if not a surprise and can make an impact on your fantasy team.

Lance Bouma – McKeen's Hockey

2015 NHL Playoffs: Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire