Suddenly Sundin, Luongo Thoughts, and La La La LaBarbera!
Mats Sundin
Last night Mats Sundin took to the ice as a Vancouver Canuck, finally. With all the hype that has surrounded the whole Sundin saga over the last seven months, I for one, am finally glad it’s over. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Mats Sundin in a Canucks uniform, playing on a line with former Leaf linemate, Kyle Wellwood and new linemate, Mason Raymond.
There were flashes of ‘Vintage’ Sundin on the ice last night. His strong presence in the face-off circle was there. Although not as confident yet, Mats was working his way to the front of the net where is most comfortable on the PP. His ability to read where the play is going showed last night, but again, his timing was off. That will improve with a few more games under his belt.
Alain Vigneault felt it was better to ease Sundin into the game. Although it was clearly evident that Mats was up to speed with his timing, his shot, and his skating, it was obvious how much more comfortable he was on the ice as the game progressed. Please don’t discount that his teammates are all in mid-season form. Mats looked alright out there. Looking forward seeing more out of Mr. Sundin.
Roberto Luongo
It was nice to see that Roberto Luongo was skating a little more again. The Canucks are having a hairy issue with their goaltending injuries with Sanford out with a groin injury as well. For the third straight year, Roberto Luongo has made the All Star Team as a member of the Vancouver Canucks. Like last season, I am sure we will be sending another player in his absence. I highly doubt Luongo will be playing the All Star Game due to the extent of his injury, so we’ll probably send someone else.
All I know is I can’t wait for the day Luongo is ready to play some games for the Canucks and back to form. The team is playing pretty decent hockey without him, but if he was healthy, I guarantee the Canucks would be atop of their division and not trailing the Flames by three points.
Jason LaBarbera
I can’t say I knew a lot about Jason LaBarbera prior to his joining the Vancouver Canucks. I knew he had some decent games with the Los Angeles Kings and I also knew that he had lost his starting job with the Kings to a rookie ‘tender. Jason LaBarbera was in a funk. Although I panicked when Sanford went down with a groin injury, seeing as I didn’t feel Cory Schneider wasn’t ready for the NHL platform, it was nice to see we picked up LaBarbera for a seventh rounder.
LaBarbera looked very confident in all in starts with the Canucks despite having a .500 record. He has played better than his record has indicated. If it wasn’t for some defensive lapses by his teammates in front of him, I believe he could either be batting 1.000 or just one game shy.
It’s going to be an interesting second half of the season to come. As a fan I will be breathing a little more easy when our injury issues are adressed. Whether it be with new acquistions, trades, someone moving up on the depth chart. I for one, cannot wait until the Canucks start to look more like a healthy, energetic club.
Just a few more musings from the mud.
LotusBlossom
I agree about getting healthy and seeing what this team can do when everyone is back. I really hope that Luongo takes his time coming back. If I am the Canucks I am politley asking him to forget about the all-star game, even if he wants to play and thinks he’s 100%.
With no defense in those games, goalies are hung out to dry, and we don’t need Roberto stretching that groin to stop some meaningless 2 on nothing.
Awesome post LotusBlossom!
Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to watch the game last night as I was busy with my pesky Masters program (although ironically enough, I apparently have time to respond to this post :p).
Few Questions for anyone out there:
1) When is Luongo expected to be back?
2) Groin injuries are tricky….and many players almost immediately re-aggrivate their groin injury after a few games. With that being said, IF the unthinkable occurs….will LaBarbera and/or Sanford be good enough for the playoffs? (assuming that we make it). Detroit is a team that can get away with mediocre/slightly above average goaltending since the team in front is superb. With Sundin here, can the same be said about the Canucks? Personally, I would tend to think ‘no’. At the trade deadline, assuming that Luongo has re-aggrivated his groin, I wonder if the Canucks would trade Sanford or LaBarbera, plus a draft pick, for a guy like Khabibulin. The “Bulin” Wall has proven himself to play well come playoff time. Does he still have it?
3) Interesting to see Veenyo play Raymond and Wellwood with Sundin! (just as I predicted on the boards! :-p).