Daniel Sedin has goal, 2 asissts as Canucks beat Flames 5-1

Speed – The Canucks feel they have improved in this area. “I just have to try to block them out and play my game”.

As a preface, there’s absolutely no question that Virtanen, McCann and Hutton are all very good prospects, among the best in Vancouver’s system. The blue line factors in here, as well.

Given a few of their games in recent years it’s not hard to see that the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames don’t really like each other very much. Bo Horvat is 20. Frank Corrado is the extra, while prospect Ben Hutton had a strong camp. Forsling for Clendenning was an interesting trade, and acquiring Sven Baertschi from Calgary may turn out to be a great move.

When the Flames made the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, they did so defying the odds.

The Canucks dealt forward Nick Bonino, defenceman Adam Clendening and a draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in July to obtain Sutter. Then former GM Mike Gillis traded Schneider to the New Jersey Devils and Luongo went to Florida after then-coach John Tortorella alienated the goaltender by selecting Eddie Lack to start the Heritage Classic outdoor game. Horvat has made the jump to play with Vrbata as his winger to start the year. Unless you tire of the Canucks laying a thorough beatdown on their arch-rivals and 2015 playoff nemesis.

Defensively, dealing Kevin Bieksa lowers the grit and leadership quotient and moving popular backup goalie Eddie Lack irked the fan base. But he can’t play every shift and that is a big load for one man to carry. The Canucks have recalled Richard Bachman, who will back-up Ryan Miller tonight. He also had the support of Eddie Lack.

The Jake Virtanen era will have to wait, but not for long. Will he be able to succeed with a busier schedule?

While there’s still the chance that either one or both forwards could be sent down after the season begins that option, based on the actions of Canucks management, seems unlikely.

“It’s incredible. It’s hard not to think about it, I guess”, said McCann, who had 34 goals and 81 points in 56 games last season with Sault Ste.

It’s just one game, but it is also the regular season opener, which means everyone is going to read far too much into what happened Wednesday.

Alex Burrows and Henrik added goals in the third to round out the scoring. Does Burrows return to the Sedin line? “Getting to the National Hockey League is one thing, staying in the NHL’s another”.

Isn’t it important to get him into the lineup sooner than later? The power play was 8th and the penalty kill was second. Two seconds into the starts of their seasons, Micheal Ferland and Derek Dorsett were scrapping, just as they did lo those many months ago.

Wins vs. the division – The Canucks finished. Brandon Sutter is not going to score 35 playing with the Sedins. “I expect them to have another good year, like they did for us last year”.

It seems early to be writing about what will lead the Canucks to a playoff berth, or what will lead to their demise and that is true. “It would have been nice to start the game off with a goal there and maybe change the game”.