NHL goalie boss Kay Whitmore, the former Canuck goalie, has told Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo to ditch those side flaps on his pads (see Canucks News: The Roberto Luongo Controversy).

"For those of you who haven't heard, the Dallas Stars allegedly complained to the NHL before the start of last year's playoffs that the Canucks goalie's knee flaps—which stuck out of his pads—gave him an unfair advantage.

Those flaps were supposedly helping Luongo make more saves.Then in December, Stars goalies Marty Turco and Mike Smith jokingly put on home-made mock flaps during a morning skate to perhaps seemingly further insinuate that Luongo's pads had been illegal.

In reality, the knee flaps worn by Luongo supposedly are for protective purposes and nothing more, and some other goalies in the league use them too, most notably Stanley Cup champion Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Anaheim Ducks.

A couple months ago, when the complaints by the Stars surfaced, the NHL had allowed Luongo to continue using the pads after checking the equipment. And that was also okayed during the Stars-Canucks first-round playoff series last spring too.

The reason that this is now an issue is that the league has apparently reversed its ruling, and has asked Luongo to remove the flaps."

Read the full story Canucks News: The Roberto Luongo Controversy.

The Sporting News reports that the Vancouver Canucks, in addition to pursuing Forsberg, are interested in veteran all-stars Jaromir Jagr, Mat Sundin, and Olli Jokinen. 

See NHL trade deadline will produce big deals

Jagr and Jokinen are very unlikely. Jagr is too expensive and moody; Florida wants to keep Jokinen if they can.

Mats Sundin is a potential interest and a superb fit for the Canucks. The Maple Leafs are all but officially eliminated from the playoffs – 6 points out of the last spot occupied by Boston, and the Bruins have two games in hand. Count it as 10 points because the Leafs will continue to falter. As such, the Leafs want to move him and want young prospects in return: namely a goaltending prospect.

The Canucks are willing to part with young goalie prospect Corey Schneider. But the Leafs will want more – probably speedy and talented center Ryan Kessler. Canucks GM Dave Nonis does not however want to part with Kessler for what could turn out to be a rental in Sundin. Maybe, maybe, the Leafs would accept Alex Burrows or Brendan Morrison and a 2^nd or 3^rd round pick, but it all depends on the competing offer from Detroit.

The Red Wings want Sundin, and they might be the most likely and intriguing fit for the aging superstar. The Senators want him, but Sundin will never agree to a move to arch-nemesis Ottawa (more on his no-trade clause in a moment). The Ducks want him, but would have trouble making the salary cap work and would have to give up more than GM Brian Burke is prepared to deal. Montreal wants him, but would have to give up goaltender Price or Halak and they likely won’t for a possible short-term rental.

That leaves Vancouver and Detroit to battle for the Leafs captain. It depends on who has the best offer, but more importantly, where Sundin is prepared to move to. Sundin does not want to leave Toronto. It has been his home for more than 13 years. He doesn’t want to move he and his family unnecessarily. However, time is running out on the aging veteran who turns 37 tomorrow. And he would like one legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup in his career.

If the offer is in place from the Red Wings, the only place Mats will agree to move is Detroit. The MotorCity is only a 4 hour drive from home (Vancouver is half  a world away), and the Red Wings are the odds-on favourite to win the Cup. It also features a line-up with many of his Swedish pals, such as Zetterberg, Holmstrom and Lidstrom.

Vancouver can make the offer to entice the Leafs, but Sundin’s heart will likely only limit a move no further than down the road to Detroit.

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The speedy young gun -- recently departed of  very speedy Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks -- who's earned a spot on the Canucks top line with the Sedins, says the Canucks are "the fastest team I've ever played on."

There's a lot of "deceptively fast" skaters on the Canucks, says Shannon.

There also appears to be consensus that the twins look decidely faster this year.

--

Additionally, Markus Naslund is ready to put a few more in the net this year... yesterday he scored five goals in team power-play drills. This as an added indication to the green light offered by coach Vigneault for Naslund to shoot more and worrly less about defensive coverage. Hopefully this will translate to more goals.

Brad Isbister and Jeff Cowan will start the season on the bench. Alexander Edler is hurt and will be in the press box. In Edler's place will be the recently acquired Mike Weaver from the waiver wire earlier this week. As such the following represents the starting line-up for tomorrow's season opener versus San Jose:

1st LINE:

D. Sedin     H. Sedin     M. Raymond

2nd LINE:

M. Naslund     R. Kessler     R. Shannon

3rd LINE:

M. Cooke     B. Morrison     T. Pyatt

4th LINE:

A. Burrows     B. Ritchie    T. Linden

1st Defence UNIT:

W. Mitchell     K. Bieksa

2nd Defense UNIT:

M. Ohlund    M. Weaver

3rd Defense UNIT:

L. Kraijeck     A. Miller

GOAL:

R. Luongo

BENCH:  C. Sanford, B. Isbister, J. Cowan

Despite their better than imagined (by most) season, the Vancouver Canucks have tinkered with the line-up by replacing older players with younger speed. 

WHO'S GONE: Jan Bulis, Rory Fitzpatrick, Marc Chouinard, Bryan Smolinski, Josh Green, Tommi Santala, Brent Sopel, Dany Sabourin.

WHO'S NEW: Mason Raymond, Brad Isbister, Ryan Shannon, Byron Ritchie, Aaron Miller, Curtis Sanford.

For those counting, 8 players are gone, 6 are new in a 24 man roster. One or two additional players will be sent down in the coming weeks (barring an injury, certainly one forward and one defenseman when Sami Salo comes back from injury.

I'd like to see Trevor Linden given a chance with the Sedins as this combination worked well late in the season particularly on the power-play but Raymond and Shannon will be given chances with Pyatt sharing the spot until a leader emerges.

Vigneault is determined to give Kessler the 2nd line center job. Morrison will have to fight through his injuries to earn back the 2nd job. However, the 2nd line will likely fluctuate a lot if a dominant combination does not emerge. The 2nd and 3rd liners will likely be juggled constantly (until a winning combo appears). Besides, Vigneault has proven he's not afraid to tinker on-the-fly.

Finally, while Sanford proved worthy of a few starts, he likely won't see more than 8 or 9 unless Luongo tires or injures.

STARTING LINE-UP (ANTICIPATED):

1st LINE:

D. Sedin     H. Sedin     M. Raymond

2nd LINE:

M. Naslund     R. Kessler     R. Shannon

3rd LINE:

M. Cooke     B. Morrison     T. Pyatt

4th LINE:

J. Cowan     B. Isbister    T. Linden

1st Defence UNIT:

W. Mitchell     K. Bieksa

2nd Defense UNIT:

M. Ohlund    A. Edler

3rd Defense UNIT:

L. Kraijeck     A. Miller

GOAL:

R. Luongo

BENCH:  C. Sanford, N. MacIver, B. Ritchie, A. Burrows

I can't say I like these...

Either go with the old uniform or the new one - don't has together a 'new uniform' out of two old ones. The first uniform and the last one are both better than this. Now the value and uniqueness of the first uniform has been devalued forever. And what's with the new stylized hockey stick in rink shoulder patch. For shame on the Canucks spending $1 million on this wasted exercise.

I have bought previous uniforms including both home and away of the last version. I will not buy this new uniform.

The Vancouver Canucks are sporting a new look: one of frugality and caution.

There was one over-arching need for the Vancouver Canucks this off-season – sign an offensive center man. This goal has not only been ignored, it’s been blatantly passed-over as the Canucks have contained their focus to role players and minor leaguers.

To date, the Canucks GM Dave Nonis has acquired the following new players:

G         Curtis Sanford              $600,000                     0 goals (2007)

G         Corey Schneider          $924,000 (2-way)        0 goals (2007)

LW      Brad Isbister                $525,000                     1 goal (2007)

C/W     Byron Ritchie              $625,000                     8 goals (2007)

W        Ryan Shannon              $550,000                     2 goals (2007)

D         Aaron Miller                $1,250,000                  0 goals (2007)

D         Zack Fitzgerald            $450,000                     0 goals (2007)

Wow. What an offensive output. What seven players, one center, no offensive center, and a grand total of 11 goals scored last year (divided by 7 players = 1.6 goals per player last year).

The Canucks will really challenge for the Cup this year.

Meanwhile, our top offensive player from last year’s playoffs, C/W Trevor Linden, and the most popular player in the history of the franchise – and one of the hardest working – remains ignored and unsigned.

Let’s rejoice with the acquisition of a new cadre sporting a 1.6 goals per player average… Nonis hasn’t delivered this kind of hope and hand-wringing since acquiring Keith Carney, Eric Weinrich, Sean Brown and Mikka Noranen.

Ah ha! Game 5 versus the Ducks might have been very different had Luongo been at 100%. The very strange "equipment problem" that prevented Luongo from starting in net in overtime was in fact not an equipment problem at all (as Kelly Hrudey insisted was the case)...

VANCOUVER (CP) - Goaltender Roberto Luongo still won't say why he was late returning for the first overtime period of Vancouver's loss to the Anaheim Ducks Thursday night that eliminated the Canucks from the NHL playoffs.

''It was not an equipment problem,'' Luongo said Sunday as the Canucks cleaned out their lockers. ''Let's leave it like that.''

''It was an illness and nothing serious.''

Luongo didn't answer when a reporter asked if the delay was caused because he was forced to use the bathroom (see Luongo won't say why he was late in OT (TSN)).

Many have postulated that whatever the "illness" Luongo had to go on intervenus support between the periods. And there was a real possibility that Sabourin would have had to finish the game.

Ah ha! Game 5 versus the Ducks might have been very different had Luongo been at 100%. The very strange "equipment problem" that prevented Luongo from starting in net in overtime was in fact not an equipment problem at all (as Kelly Hrudey insisted was the case)...

VANCOUVER (CP) - Goaltender Roberto Luongo still won't say why he was late returning for the first overtime period of Vancouver's loss to the Anaheim Ducks Thursday night that eliminated the Canucks from the NHL playoffs.

''It was not an equipment problem,'' Luongo said Sunday as the Canucks cleaned out their lockers. ''Let's leave it like that.''

''It was an illness and nothing serious.''

Luongo didn't answer when a reporter asked if the delay was caused because he was forced to use the bathroom (see Luongo won't say why he was late in OT (TSN)).

Many have postulated that whatever the "illness" Luongo had to go on intervenus support between the periods. And there was a real possibility that Sabourin would have had to finish the game.

There was some speculation that Markus Naslund might have been hurt and was playing hurt during the season. Ditto for Brendan Morrison. But apparently not....

VANCOUVER (CP) - Captain Markus Naslund promised Sunday he will play better for the Vancouver Canucks next season.

Naslund struggled through his worst NHL season as a Canuck in a year where goaltender Roberto Luongo became the face of the team and Daniel and Henrik Sedin finally made good on the promise of their potential.

There were many nights Naslund, 33, looked like a passenger on a train driven by Luongo, fuelled by the scoring of the Swedish twins, and kept on the rails by the Canucks commitment to tight defence.

''I know I can play better,'' Naslund said as the Canucks cleaned out their lockers and said goodbye for the summer. ''It wasn't a lack of effort, I wanted to do well. It just wasn't there.''

''I know I can do better, that's the bottom line. I'm proud of what I do. I want to show I can still perform. I'm going to come back and prove that I can play better.''
(See Naslund promises to be better next year - TSN)