Salary Cap Reality Sends Mitchell Packing, Finds Tough Torres a Home with Canucks

In the salary cap era, a player’s loyalty to an organization, and the inverse fan/organizational loyalty to a player can often fall victim to the dollars and sense of signing a certain player to contract.

Willie Mitchell, Raffi Torres and the Vancouver Canucks fan base now know well of the business side of the NHL.

BC boy Willie Mitchell, who has become the hometown hero of the Canucks since his signing in Vancouver, simply wasn’t affordable for the Vancouver Canucks as GM Mike Gillis looks to build on two consecutive second round playoffs exits.

With an Olympic Gold Medal winning goaltender, twin Swedish superstar forwards, and talent at both ends of the rink, the Canucks seem eager to break into big time contender territory, where the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings have called home many of the last several seasons.

Enter Raffi Torres.

Given the current NHL free agent market, Torres’ grit, toughness and past flashes of offensive talent are an under compensated role in today’s NHL. Unfortunately for Torres, inconsistency and past injuries have driven him market value down. At 28 years old he certainly has more than enough left in the tank to prove his NHL calibre toughness and skill.

Without a job heading into August, Torres was hit with the harsh realities of free agency, a contract, for example, was still to be signed. With the Vancouver Canucks, Torres is able to take advantage of opportunity in Vancouver via Alex Burrows’ injury, and the potential for a number of different positions to allow Torres to be dynamic and successful.

With a one year, $1 million deal, the Vancouver Canucks are able to take advantage of the injury riddled, inconsistent past of the former New York Islander’s 5^th overall pick.

A spot beside the Sedin twins is about the only line Torres likely won’t see over the course of this season, however with 30+ points in four seasons he has played more than 60 games, Torres has shown he can contribute offensively.

With the skills to fill a number of roles for the Canucks, it is up to Raffi himself to determine his own future.

I agree with Jason Botchford of the Province, who believes playing for less money than previously accustomed to could be a good thing for Torres and with “perfect answer” quotes like the following Via Botchford; Raffi seems focused on proving himself this season.

“It’s motivating, big time, big time,” said Torres. “It will help keep me strong and focused on what I’m here to do and that’s help out our team every way I can.”

Captaincy Conundrum

With all the rumours, shenanigans and such that float around the internet these days thanks to Twitter, forums and other forms of social media, the potential for the Canucks to have a new captain at the beginning of this season is an ugly scenario.

The summer has been filled with buzz over the prospect of Ryan Kesler becoming a captain.

It is an unfortunate but ultimately inevitable question; Kesler is grade A captain material, no doubt about it.

The Canucks however, went in another direction when they named Roberto Luongo captain. While the unusual position of a goaltender playing Captain can be distraction, Luongo has always been happy with the captaincy, and it will be his choice to keep the ‘C’ come September.

Meanwhile, an army of Tweeters are marching to the drum of #KeslerforCaptain online.

Whatever keeps your fingers busy…

Meanwhile, the facts of the matter remain.

1. It is Luongo’s decision in regards to the captaincy, as stripping a goaltender would surely be organizational suicide.
2. Luongo loves being captain, he didn’t paint a ‘C’ on his chin to honour team or country, it was because he is the leader of this hockey team.
3. The emotional state of a goaltender is important; the potential damage done by a captaincy change far outweighs the potential upside for a perfect skating captain like Ryan Kesler rocking the ‘C’.
4. Much to the chagrin of a so called “internet report” Henrik Sedin isn’t captain material. Last season was a statement year for both twins, especially Henrik. However neither of the quiet, offensively talented Swedes would have ever been mentioned in regards to captaincy if not for a spectacular season capped off by Hart and Art Ross trophies.

When all is said and done, and the puck is finally dropped to begin the Canucks 2011 season, I believe Roberto Luongo will once again be the one leading the team as both their defensive leader, and their captain.

Goalies are a funny few, and anything can happen, however I can’t see a new Captain in Vancouver any time soon.

Tempering Expectations

Since The Hockey News named the Vancouver Canucks their pick to win the Western Conference, as well as the Stanley Cup this season, much of the NHL and Vancouver media has been buzzing over the Canucks as a real Stanley Cup contender.

Even the often sarcastic, more often correct Ryan Lambert has the Canucks as a top contender this season, unless of course he was being completely sarcastic, again.

While the Canucks are shaping up for a long, successful season, the NHL is a big bad league, and a lot can change over 82 games. This season most certainly won’t be the bed of roses a collection of NHL predictions can make an 82 game season appear to be.

Remember this warning when the city is practically ready to riot over Alain Vigneault’s coaching tactics or Roberto Luongo’s latest soft goal around November.

The Canucks have a legitimate shot at ending the season on top with the Stanley Cup above their heads, however the roller coaster to come that is an NHL season will feature many of ups and downs, some of which may make all of these predictions seem completely outrageous.

Pray to Gordie I’m wrong.

News and Notes

• The Vancouver Canucks and Cody Hodgson are still concerned about his return to hockey this season, specifically the rookie tournament in Penticton in September.
• With a new name outside, Rogers Arena also has a new design down on a fresh sheet of ice, makes me want to go out for a skate on the lake, seems I will have to wait for winter.
• Jason Botchford has a couple of videos up with new Canucks looking to crack the roster. Here’s Jeff Tambellini on the Canucks roster.
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• The Province looks at the Vancouver Canucks and the additions they have made over the season as they look towards October 9^th and the team’s chances this season.
• Happy Birthday Ryan Kesler! Follow the Canucks captain center on Twitter.

As The Flying V transitions from Vancouver to Victoria once again, it’s that time of year. Training camp approaches, the first week of school is just around the corner, and both the Canucks and my own friends are piling back into town. Excited yet?