Pucks On Net

Jannik Hansen is a Shark, there's one hell of a condition on that 4th round pick they gave the Canucks and what do you know, Jarome Iginla is chasing rings again!

Ryan and P Mac hold down the fort this week while Dave is in Burma and Geeta is off, so the PON black ace, the Alex Biega of the group, Simon Baldwin joins the fold.

The gang discusses Ryan's financial hardships with selling pucks on the internet and other problems in the PON books.

They talk about Ryan Smyth getting made fun of on Sportsnet by Ryan Whitney and Colby Armstrong. Do we have a controversy here? Or just one fan base taking themselves a bit too seriously again?

They also discuss Jannik Hansen's deadline deal to San Jose and how it feels good to be a Canucks fan again, with an actual clear direction for the team from management and what appears to be ownership as well! Are we rebuilding??

They discuss Jonathan Toews getting hot at the right time, NHL first star of the month for February, Josh Ho-Sang making his NHL debut wearing number 66 and the Montreal Canadiens trading for the same thing multiple times this NHL trade deadline...a whole lotta sandpaper!

Enjoy!

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Alex Burrows spent twelve season with the Vancouver Canucks, gave his heart and soul to the team, the fans and the city...and got dealt to Ottawa for a surprisingly nice return!

Full bench on the podcast this week. Ryan, Dave, P Mac and Geeta discuss the big Burrows trade which sent him to Ottawa, with an extension, in exchange for Jonathan Dahlen Monday afternoon, what this means for the Canucks' rebuild and if there are more deals to done by Jim Benning, a man who has appeared to have won over some of his critics.

Dave takes the side of Senators fans. Why are they giving up a hot young prospect for a grizzled vet with only 9 goals this year? And will they actually be able to make a run in the playoffs with the team they have assembled? Canucks fans are applauding the deal, while Senators fans are calling BS in the nation's capital.

They also discuss the big mumps outbreak in Vancouver, how it could have originated and how it's spreading to other NHL teams, mainly the Minnesota Wild. Is it all Luca Sbisa's fault? Or does the blame lay in Medicine Hat?

Finally, the gang discusses the other big trades in the NHL this week, Brian Boyle being shipped to Toronto and Marin Hanzal to Minnesota. What does this mean for Hansen's trade value? The gang also discusses the ongoing arena problems and Ryan and Dave's upcoming travels!

Enjoy!

Antoine Vermette wasn't happy with how the puck was being dropped, so he told the linesman in the worst possible way!

Ryan Dave and Geeta join you this week to discuss the mandatory 10 game suspension for Anaheim's Vermette after a very odd situation last week vs Minnesota. Is the mandatory warranted? Or should it be reduced?

Ryan talks about going to the Canucks game vs. Calgary, watching Nikita Tryamkin hopping over the boards and how the Calgary Flames jerseys are the ugliest in the league, almost as ugly as that long goal Edler put past Brian Elliott.

They also discuss career minor leaguer Colin Chaulk's unfortunate jersey retirement ceremony in Fort Wayne, discuss Jake Virtanen's development in Utica and whether Brock Boeser can find his way into a Canucks jersey next month... or a Comets jersey?

The gang also discusses Ryan Johansen's pissy return to Columbus and how he was upset there was no 'welcome home' feature on the jumbrotron. They also discuss the Montreal Canadiens' "window" to win the Stanley Cup, or lack there of and whether it's a good idea to sell the farm or not to try and win it all this year.

Keep listening on www.patreon.com/pucksonnet for the continuation of the show in '5 Minutes For Paying'

Enjoy!

If you're a head coach in the NHL, chances are you've been fired! And if you play for the San Jose Sharks, there's a 65% chance you'll be mistaken for a homeless person.

Geeta, Dave and Ryan join you this week to discuss Claude Julien being relieved of his head coaching duties by the Boston Bruins. Was this the right move? Is it the coaching or the roster that need to be changed?

They look at all four (so far...) head coach firings in the NHL and how the teams have rebounded. And for the most part, it's been quite positive.

They discuss Anton Rodin being shut down for the season, Brendan Gaunce's AHL point production and Loui Eriksson's humungous contract. They're also incredibly thankful Bo Horvat didn't break anything this weekend.

Washington's incredibly hot streak and point production also come up. Can a team so perfect on paper finally do what it takes to make it out of the second round? Or will a red hot goalie or a kid named Sid get in their way?

Finally, the gang discusses Brent Burns ROCKET to the top of the NHL point leaders standings. At time of recording, just two points behind Connor McDavid, does Brent deserve the Hart? Maybe the Norris? Hell, can he win the ART ROSS?! If the homeless look is the reason for all this, never shave again, Brent!

Enjoy!

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Yet another blizzard has hit Vancouver, there's a full bench on the podcast this week and Ryan, Geeta, P Mac and Dave are talkin' Colorado, Hitchcock (Ken not Alfred) and a whole lot more!

They're talking about the finally healthy Florida Panthers, Ryan's playoffs fringe team of the week. The additions of Huberdeau and Barkov to the line up, the Panthers look set to make a run for the post season and a moral victory for the fancy stats folk!

Ryan also comes loaded with TV ratings. The American NHL teams with the highest regional ratings, the biggest change from last year and the teams with viewership dropping like flies and what this could mean to quite possibly the most boring Stanley Cup Final ever, Columbus vs Minnesota. They also look at the Vancouver Canucks' regional TV ratings on Rogers Sportsnet and look at comparable ratings of other TV shows.

They also talk about Ken Hitchcock getting fired by the St. Louis Blues, their transition to Mike Yeo and just how and why this change went down. What were some of the problems in St. Louis and where will they go from here?

Jarome Iginla and the Colorado trade bait are a big talking point this week. With the NHL trade deadline expected to be a complicated and busy mess, the Avalanche are looking to rebuild, and which NHL playoff contenders are ready to sell the farm for the likes of a Matt Duchene or an old man Iginla?

Finally, they talk about the slumping Canucks and NHL teams' LGBTQ ambassadors and Brad Marchand's comments about NHL locker rooms welcoming openly gay athletes (don't worry, it was very positive!)

Enjoy!

The NHL All-Star game has come and gone, it was slow and boring and nobody seemed to enjoy themselves! But Don Cherry likes Justin Bieber's back checking, so there's that.

Ryan, Geeta, Dave and his visiting sister Jennifer are on the bench this week. They discuss the aftermath of the 2017 NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles, Snoop Dogg's F-Bombs, Justin Bieber's run in with Chris Pronger and the pageantry of the game itself.

They also play Don Cherry's very accurate comments on the game's calibre of play during a rather lively Coach's Corner. Don didn't care for the action and neither did most watching at home. Ryan provides side by side comparisons of how the game was broadcasted to in Canada and the United States as well.

They also discuss the NHL 100, the 100 best NHL players of the past 100 years, all the current Chicago Blackhawks and the snubs of active players. Jarome Iginla and Gino Malkin quickly come to mind.

The Vancouver Canucks embarrassing 3-0 loss to Arizona is also discussed. From the Canucks setting a new NHL record for longest amount of play without a shot, to their plans at the trade deadline, things look bleak for Vancouver. Will they head down to Colorado and start buying?

There's also some mad Nikita Tryamkin praise and some concern for the New York Islanders, who come the 2018-19 NHL season, will be homeless as the Barclay's Center has had enough!

Enjoy!

Hank's got 1,000 points an Vancouver wants to see the Canucks win again (even for just one night)!

Ryan, Geeta and P Mac join you this week to talk about the incredible Canucks vs Panthers game on Friday night. That game? Incredible? Well, it's been tough to find an excited crowd at Canucks games in recent years, so this was a welcomed sight and sound for fans not quite overtaken by the apathy.

They look back at the Sedin twins careers, talk about spending a whole lot of time and money at SportsBar at Rogers Arena and Ryan watching Jaromir Jagr play for the first time, at the spry young age of 44.

They also touch on the Islanders' firing of head coach Jack Capuano, their desires to be a playoff contender this year, and their several parallels to the Vancouver Canucks and just what they could do in the playoffs if they right the ship.

They also discuss Jonathan Toews' quiet and slow start to the season and what could be the cause of it. They talk about his 4 point game against Vancouver and, if he gets hot again, what it could do for Chicago in the playoffs.

Finally, the gang continues some Mike Babcock/Nazem Kadri praise, take some questions from twitter and share a couple tales in Dump 'N Chase.

Enjoy!

Martin St. Louis' number is hanging in the rafters in Tampa Bay and Hayley Wickenheiser calls it a career. Two emotional moments this week in the world of hockey.

Ryan, Dave and Geeta start the show off this week. A mid-pod arriving P Mac is fresh off covering the New Jersey Devils vs Vancouver Canucks snooze fest. They discuss the incredible career Hayley Wickenheiser had and the HUGE impact on Canadian hockey. They also discuss Martin St. Louis' number 26 being retired in Tampa, his problems with Steve Yzerman and a great clip of Stanley Cup winning coach John Tortorella on what coaching Marty was like.

They also discuss Jeff Carter's amazing first half with the Los Angeles Kings, talk about San Jose's endorsement from an usual and overplayed Bay Area band of yesteryear (no not Metallica) and talk about the new hot trend in professional sports, relocating to Los Angeles.

The Maple Leafs hype is real, VERY REAL. The gang discusses how much they love the team they have built in Toronto, but harp on the TO media for basically predicting a dynasty for a team who isn't quite in the playoffs yet.

They take some questions from Twitter, talk about the Canucks lukewarm season and what they should do in the coming months as they continue to drop in the standings. P Mac shares some stories from the media scrum after another OT loss from Vancouver and what stubborn Willie needs to do with the team.

Enjoy!

Anton Rodin plays 0:00, Willie handcuffs his team and the Vancouver Canucks win streak is over! A full bench of Ryan, Dave, P Mac and Geeta gather to star asking some serious question about Canucks' Head Coach Willie Desjardins. From some odd line up decisions, the gang is a little confused.

They talk about bad karma for Mike Smith, as the bad luck for the lanky Coyotes goalie continues, and give their thoughts on the unfortunate hit (and eventual concussion) on Patrik Laine in a game vs Buffalo. Was it clean? Would you lay the body if you were in McCabe's shoes?

Ryan cites Ken Dryden's book 'The Game' and more specifically, Dryden writing about famed Montreal Canadiens' head coach Scotty Bowman and what makes a good coach. He compares it to what Willie D is doing being the Canucks bench and further questions Willie's actions.

Finally, the gang talks about Wayne Gretzky's outdoor alumni game tour, the downpour in the AHL outdoor game and the trials and tribulations of meeting people off Tinder in our new dating segment 'Dump 'N Chase'

Enjoy!

Be sure to check out the UBC Thunderbirds' 3rd Annual Winter Classic when they take on the Manitoba Bisons this Friday, January 13th at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbirds Sports Centre. Tickets are just $7. Join over 5,000 rabid hockey fans cheer on UBC and come early for a charity game featuring Vancouver Canucks alumni taking on a rag tag group of local celebrities and actors. Fans can donate to the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre in exchange for autographs.

Happy New Year from the entire bench on this week's show! Ryan, Dave, P Mac and Geeta gather in 2017 in the midst of a Vancouver salt crisis like no other! Why? To talk about the world juniors and the Canucks winning games of course!

Ryan and Geeta discuss watching most of the gold medal game between Canada and Team USA at the No. 5 Orange. How we feel about such an important game ending in a shootout and our thoughts on problems with attendance in Montreal.

P Mac shares his tales of covering the Arizona Coyotes shutout loss to the Vancouver Canucks and just how dark the mood is surrounding the team after interviewing several players post game. What is wrong in the desert? Is this it for Mike Smith? Can he get moved to a contender for a chance to win it all?

The gang shares their thoughts on the Canucks' win streak (at time of recording 5 games, now six games) and the negativity of said streak with Canucks fans. Should we hope for nothing but tanking and loses? Or can a fun, confidence boosting win streak with breakout performances from Sven Baertschi and Bo Horvat something that is just as good for the team's development?

Finally, they talk about outdoor game overkill and the Vancouver snow and salt shortage that is plaguing the region. Got any salt? They're buying!

Enjoy!