09 September 2010Vancouver's weapons of choice
The story lines of two of the NHL's most effective bargains have taken drastically different routes to their present day successes with the Vancouver Canucks. Prognosticators had scoring pencilled in as the Canuck's enduring woe going into the current season; Ryan Kesler and Alexandre Burrows have produced and driven an offense that is as responsible defensively as it is dangerous transitionally, ranking in the NHL's top ten for both goals/game and goals/against per game.Ryan Kesler was a first-round selection (23rd overall) of the Canucks in 2003, increasing his importance to the team in every subsequent season. Highlighted by Philadelphia GM Bobby Clarke's RFA offer sheet a couple summers ago, the increasing focal point surrounded Kesler's effort and ouput, magnifying every shift. Though Kesler responded with dedication, maturity, and some production to that point, fans in Vancouver were up in arms and upset about the signing. Many of those fans still have those same hands in the air - clapping and cheering his every move. An American World Junior gold-medal winner and product of the US National Development Program, Kesler's drive to perform is admirable, so much so that at the age of 24, he skates with the alternate captain designation on his Canuck's uniform. Mats Sundin told Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun, "I've been very impressed with Ryan Kesler's play since I got here," remarking after a significant win on 3 February 2009, which signalled a turning point in the Canucks' season.
The Michigan native's strongest suit may be his incredible skating ability, although other burgeoning factors have made him an integral part of winning in Vancouver. Working his way up through the years as a centre, his versatility makes him a reliable and dangerous contributor on both the powerplay and as a penalty killer. Only Henrik Sedin has taken more faceoffs than the sure-handed Kesler, and with a 53.7% success-rate, it is easy to see why Vancouver wins more draws than 24 other teams in the league, when you factor in Mats Sundin and Ryan Johnson. Often leading the rush through the neutral zone, Kesler backs-off defenders, creating time and space for his linemates. His nightly presence gives Head Coach Alain Vigneault an option for any situation and keeps the pharmaceutical industry healthy, giving opponents headaches on a regular basis.
Alexandre Burrows has overcome all odds and additional heaps of criticism to not only ascend to the NHL, but to thrive and provide his team with energy and dedication at every turn. After finishing up a very good junior career in Shawinigan, the Quebec-born Burrows let his passion for the game take over and lead him. Through off-seasons in the ball-hockey circuits and displaying his wares in the ECHL for teams such as the Greenville Grrrowl, Baton Rouge Kingfish, and Columbia Inferno, the undrafted Burrows now initiates contact in the NHL, and has learned to adapt his game to invigorate his team regularly, rarely costing his team as most shift disturbers invariably do.
Burrows got his break after playing a full year with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL during the lockout, and told Chelsey Perrella of Canucks.com on 12 February 2006 that, "playing against top liners, and playing a lot of minutes like 20-25 a game has helped me out a lot". Filling in with injuries to then-Canucks Matt Cooke and Richard Park, Burrows has seized every opportunity and matured into a mighty valuable locker-room presence. He was recently rewarded with a contract extension by GM Mike Gillis, who has publicly stated time and again that his job is to bring a winning atmosphere to Vancouver. One-time Canucks' Head Coach and current colour analyst on CBC's 'Hockey Night In Canada' broadcast Marc Crawford is on record to say, "He's the kind of player the more you watch him the more you like him, and the more you see the good things he does. He's a very functional player, a really good quality positional player, great on the forecheck, great at creating loose pucks, (and has a) great stick."
Heading into the playoffs as one of the NHL's most equally balanced and high-energy teams, Vancouver knows that this may be the greatest opportunity to bring home some real hardware. The newly re-vamped Calgary Flames, who months ago sat 'home-and-cooled' with the North West Division crown, are within striking distance and seem to be in a less confident position. The Canucks' solid defensive core rivals most any in the league, gritty performances the norm, a game-deciding netminder in Roberto Luongo, and quality minutes being played by youngsters such as Mason Raymond and Alexander Edler, point toward Vancouver assembling a true force in the Western Conference picture. Kesler and Burrows ignite the team, have inspired Vancouver's rabid hockey market to a high degree, and are a primary reason for the Canucks' bright outlook.
28 February 2009
Robin Keith Thompson
|