Canuckz.com » Marian Gaborik

Team Slovakia

Tonyz Tanti — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:06:02 +0000

Will Slovakian hockey fans have much to cheer about in 2010? It’s doubtful, yet this is the most well-rounded team that Slovakia has ever put together. It’s also a team filled with guys that used to play in the NHL and even has a guy who isn’t playing hockey right now! Without further ado, Team Slovakia:

I think it’s safe to say that this is the best goaltending that Slovakia has ever had… Which isn’t saying much. But with that said, Jaroslav Halak has the ability to give them decent goaltending. Halak should be the starter, and he’ll see lots of rubber.

Goaltenders:
Jaroslav Halák (Montreal Canadiens/NHL), Peter Budaj (Colorado Avalanche/NHL), Rastislav Staňa (Severstaľ Čerepovec/KHL)

Can Zdeno Chara play 40 minutes a game? If so, Slovakia will have a chance. Kidding aside, Chara along with Andrej Meszaros and Lubomir Visnovsky will lead the best grouping of defensemen that Slovakia has ever assembled.

Defence:
Zdeno Chára (Boston Bruins/NHL), Milan Jurčina (Columbus Blue Jackets/NHL), Richard Lintner (Dinamo Minsk/KHL), Andrej Meszároš (Tampa Bay Lightning/NHL), Andrej Sekera (Buffalo Sabres/NHL), Ľubomír Višňovský (Edmonton Oilers/NHL), Martin Štrbák (HK MVD/KHL)

Ziggy Palffy? Didn’t he retire? Bartecko, Cibak, Stumpel, Satan, Zednik… Didn’t they all retire too? Well no, they’re all playing in various places in Europe in the twilight of their careers (except for Satan who isn’t playing anywhere at the moment, but apparently will get himself into shape by February). Other than Marian Gaborik (will he stay at the athlete’s village or the Vancouver Special that he bought?) and Marian Hossa, the Slovaks will be sending a very old group of forwards to Vancouver, whose best days are behind them. This will be the last kick at the can for most of them.

Forward:
Ľuboš Bartečko (Bern/Švajč.), Branko Radivojevič, Martin Cibák (obaja Spartak Moskva/KHL), Pavol Demitra (Vancouver Canucks/NHL), Marián Gáborík (New York Rangers/NHL), Michal Handzuš (Los Angeles Kings/NHL), Marián Hossa (Chicago Blackhawks/NHL), Marcel Hossa (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Tomáš Kopecký (Chicago Blackhawks/NHL), Žigmund Pálffy (HK 36 Skalica/SR), Jozef Stümpel (Barys Astana/KHL), Miroslav Šatan (bez klubovej príslušnosti), Richard Zedník (Lokomotiv Jaroslavľ/KHL)

Canucks Shopping Demitra and O’Brien?

Tonyz Tanti — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:58:14 +0000

Interesting stuff from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. Among other things, Garrioch is reporting that the New York Rangers are interested in acquiring Pavol Demitra and that the Canucks are shopping Shane O’Brien. Interesting news on both fronts.

Apparently the Rangers are interested in reuniting Slovak buddies Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra (no word on Demitra buying a house in Manhattan yet). This makes some sense when you think about it, as Glen Sather has been prone to reuniting countrymen, just as he did with Jaromir Jagr, Robert Lang and the rest of the Czech National Team.

Just who the Canucks could get in return is another story. Sure, the Rangers would love to have Demitra, but he also makes $4 million per season and the blue shirts are at the cap. Looking at the Rangers roster/cap situation, I don’t see a fit.

So what about O’Brien? Vigneault dressed him in three straight games which has sparked rumours that he’s shopping him. While on the surface this may make some sense, they had better get a defenceman in return if they trade him. The Canucks have been remarkably lucky with their injury prone defense corps this season, but lets not forget that Sami Salo and/or Mathieu Schneider are VERY prone to injuries. They need to have extra d-men waiting in the wings.

This is not to say that Mike Gillis isn’t or shouldn’t be working the phone lines. The Canucks have not been good enough this season and could still use a proven scorer. Let me be the first to beat the Alex Tanguay and Ray Whitney drums. Both guys are pending unrestricted free agents that are having disappointing seasons thus far. Might be worth a shot.

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Sedins Re-sign, Gaborik to the Rangers and More!

Tonyz Tanti — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:57:15 +0000

That’s right! The twins are back, this time making $6.1 million a season. That can only mean one thing. Now Sedin bashers will be adding “overpaid” to the list of things they don’t like about the Sedins (also on the list? They’re Swedish, soft, too polite, boring, don’t produce in the playoffs, too slow, etc.). All the Sedins have done is disprove each one of those allegations one by one, which is why they are indeed worth $6.1 million. They didn’t come at a bargain basement price, but when you see the Montreal Canadiens trading for Scott Gomez, he of the $7.357 cap hit (for the next next five seasons!) and 58 points last season, it’s certainly a good deal for the Canucks.

Sedin news means we get to post this video:

Also moving on Wednesday was Mattias Ohlund, signing a ridiculous 7 year deal at $3.75 million per season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ohlund will be 39 by the time his contract runs out! Ohlund’s play has been declining steadily for the last few years. This deal has the potential to have him being overpaid grossly in the not too distant future.

So what about all of the other free agents moving on day 1 of the free agent madness? You can see the full list here. Often times you hear about “winners and losers” of trades or free agent signings, but it is more complex than that. Some deals like Mattias Ohlund’s contract with the Lightning will be beneficial to them in the short term, but will hurt them greatly long-term. Taking that into account, here are the biggest short and long term winners and losers in free agency so far:

Vancouver Canucks

Winners both long and short term. The Sedin twins were two of the most sought after free agents and Mike Gillis landed both of them. Their contracts are fair, so not a home run, but not a strikeout either. The length of contract (5 years) is vital as well. In 5 years they will still only be 33 years old, and shouldn’t have too much of a drop-off in their play. They lost Mattias Ohlund, but he was signed to ridiculous money in Tampa Bay and Gillis would have been crazy to match that. Jason Labarbera ended up in Phoenix, which will hurt, but when you have Luongo playing and making as much as he does, it’s hard to spend big money on a backup or promising significant playing time.

Chicago Blackhawks

Big short term winners, long term losers. Chicago bolstered their lineup with the additions of Marian Hossa, John Madden and Tomas Kopecky. Hossa and Madden are upgrades over Havlat and Pahlsson, who each signed elsewhere, while Khabibulin signed with Edmonton and Matt Walker will be joining Matty-O in Tampa Bay. The reason they are long term losers is that Marian Hossa signed a 12 year deal! Combine this with the fact that Brian Campbell is locked up to ridiculous money until 2016, and they are going to have a terrible time trying to re-sign Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith when all three become free agents next summer! Clearly, someone will have to be moved for it to happen.

Montreal Canadiens

Just what is Bob Gainey doing? The Habs are losers in both the short and long term. They signed a bunch of good, but not great, players to huge money on Wednesday. Cammalleri is going to make $6 million and Gionta $5 million. Add that to Scott Gomez’s $7.357 contract that they acquired on Tuesday, and that’s over $18 million spent on an average first line! They also lost Komisarek, their version of Willie Mitchell, who signed for reasonable money in Toronto ($4.5 million per season).

New York Rangers

I guess Marian Gaborik will have to rent out his Vancouver home? Great signing by the Rangers. He signed a 5 year deal in New York, which will be a bad deal when he’s injured and a great deal when he’s healthy. He’s bound to be healthy for at least a portion of that deal, and when that happens, the Rangers will be tough to deal with.

Calgary Flames

Big winners. Jay Bouwmeester was the prized defenceman of this year’s free agency. Calgary’s defence now consists of probably the best top 3 in the league with J-Bo joining Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr.

Free Agent Shopping List

Tonyz Tanti — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:43:15 +0000

With free agency beginning tomorrow, let’s look at players who should be at the top of the Canucks shopping list.

Jay Bouwmeester

Bouwmeester is clearly the best defenceman available and the top young player (age 25) available on the free agent market. This means he will be likely be overpaid by someone. He also fits a need the Canucks have, being a great puck moving defenceman. The Canucks could probably fit him in at about $6 million, but that might not be enough to land him.

Marian Gaborik

He has reportedly already purchased a home in Vancouver, so chances are good he’ll land in Vancouver. He’ll likely command over $6 million, a little risky considering he makes Sami Salo look like an iron man. But when healthy, he’s one of the most dynamic players in the league.

Saku Koivu

This year’s free agent crop is thin with centres which makes it curious that nobody is mentioning Saku Koivu’s name. He seems like a Mike Gillis kind of player, kind of like a younger and smaller Mats Sundin. He produces in the clutch and is a great leader. If the Sedins don’t return, Saku Koivu should be at the top of their list. Look for him to sign for less than $5 million.

Mike Cammalleri

The Canucks should have the inside track on the former Gillis client, but he will probably get more than $5 million on the open market. He can play centre and wing, but played more on the wing last season. I don’t believe last season was a flash in the pan, but he’s also not going to be a player who will lead you to a cup. He is a very nice complimentary player though, and would look good alongside Gaborik or the Sedins.

Plan B?

Sean Ovariez — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:32:32 +0000

Jason Botchford of the Province is reporting that Marian Gaborik has purchased a house in Vancouver. If true, and all indications are that it is, the writing seems to be on the wall for the prolific and often-injured Slovakian sniper to be joining his old buddy Pavol Demitra on the West Coast. Gaborik should command somewhere in the neighbourhood of $6.5 million a season. A bit risky because of his injury troubles, but his upside is huge. When healthy he is not far off of Ovechkin, Kovalchuk and Nash, as a goal scoring threat.