This is Not a Story: Cody Hodgson Edition

Don't worry, Cody, not all Canucks fans are drama queens.

The latest Canucks "news" making waves throughout the media is the drama surrounding whether Cody Hodgson will appear in the Young Stars Tournament that starts this Sunday. The Team 1040 has reiterated every single "Sports Update" the news that Cody Hodgson will be undergoing a medical evaluation by the Canucks and may not participate in the tournament at all! What terrible news! But what if the news you're reporting isn't actually news?

The Province's Canucks blog, The White Towel, initially made a fuss about Cody Hodgson not being in Vancouver yet, an absurd complaint as he's finishing a training regimen with Gary Roberts, who's swiftly become one of the most respected NHL trainers after some impressive results from Steven Stamkos last season. But that's not where the problems started. The issue arose from this quote from Laurence Gilman:

“For any player, we want to make sure he's fit to play,” said Gilman. “We haven't had a chance to conduct a (recent) medical evaluation (on Hodgson).”

This rather innocent quote is what started it all. The Team 1040 has been "reporting" every hour the alarming "news" that Cody Hodgson may not participate in the Young Stars Tournament until he passes a medical evaluation. The Kurtenbloggers took the opportunity to rehash every twist and turn in the Hodgson story, because of this latest "news."

So why is this not a story? Because every single prospect will be undergoing a medical evaluation before participating in prospects camp. Cody Hodgson is not undergoing some out of the ordinary medical evaluation because of his back problems last season; it's the same medical evaluation that all of the Canucks prospects will be participating in. Here's a relevant quote from the prospect camp press release:

27 players are scheduled to report to Rogers Arena on Friday, September 10th for pre-training camp medicals and testing.

That's right: 27 players are scheduled for pre-training camp medicals and testing. Twenty-seven. Not just Hodgson. Clearly, Gilman was asked a question specifically about Hodgson and he responded with the truth, that he would be undergoing the standard medical evaluation before participating in training camp. He even specified that they would do the same "for any player."

This is not a story. Stop trying to make it one.

Wellwood News? Wellwood News.

Or at least the closest thing to Wellwood news. Elliot Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada has reported that the Phoenix Coyotes have invited Kyle to try out at their camp. The news originally broke on the Coyotes.com Desert Dog blog. Also on the Coyotes.com frontpage: a Taylor Pyatt gallery. The Coyotes know what the ladies like.

Desert Dog blogger, Dave Vest, got a quote from GM Don Maloney on Wellwood:

He’s a clever, creative player who’s a little bit intriguing. We were weak on the power play last year and he’s a smart player who could help us there so we’ll give him every opportunity to come in here and win a job.

The Coyotes have made a habit of collecting former Canucks, and have done well with the NHL's "castoffs." We here at Pass it To Bulis wish Kyle all the best and hopefully by the end of the month, we'll have a more substantive update in our regular Wellwood's World feature that will include him signing a contract with the Coyotes.

Henrik & Daniel Sedin are on the cover of Swedish NHL 11

The above video is the trailer for the Swedish version of NHL 11, and it's pretty great. The EA Sedins are similar to the real Sedins, in that they seem slow to me, but they are capable of some pretty incredible stickwork and passing. Also, their heads have a strange shape. Kudos to the graphics guy who got it just right.

This got me wondering: does Sweden always get a Swedish cover athlete?

Actually, no.

The first time EA released two different versions was in 2000, when Markus Naslund was named the cover athlete for the European release of the game. This was part of a brilliant bit of cross-promotion, as the Canucks held their training camp and named Markus Naslund their captain in Stockholm, Sweden, and EA released the latest NHL game during the same month. This is what happens when Brian Burke lives and works in the same city as EA's head offices. Say what you will about the man; he knows marketing.

The EA series would release a European version the following year as well, with Jere Lehtinen on the European cover (Owen Nolan on the Canadian), then return to only one version for the '02, '03' and '04 editions. In '05, they went back to the two-release system, again with Markus Naslund, although this time he graced the North American cover. Olli Jokinen got the Euro edition.

In 06', Vinny Lecavalier (North America) and Tuomo Ruutu (Europe) split the assignment before EA began releasing separate covers for separate European nations. '07 saw Alex Ovechkin on the North American release, Teemu Selanne on the Finnish release, and Henrik Lundqvist on the Swedish edition.

Since then, Sweden has had a Swedish cover athlete every year. In order: Henrik Zetterberg ('08), Daniel Alfredsson ('09), Nicklas Backstrom ('10), and finally, Henrik & Daniel Sedin ('11). But never Mikael Samuelsson. Word is, every year, Mikael Samuelsson walks into Electronics Boutique, checks to see if he's on the cover, and when he isn't, he tells the guy behind the checkout counter EA can go eff themselves.

Also of interest: EA has released a Swiss version of the game for the last two years. It should come as a shock to absolutely nobody that Mark Streit has been on both covers. Who else? Their David Aebsicher window closed in 2006, and Juraj Simek never panned out. You've gotta think it'll be Mark Streit again next year, unless Nino Niederreiter turns some heads. Problem is, he's gotta outplay Mark Streit on the same bloody team. Yes, they both play for New York, making their team the Swissest group of Islanders since the Swiss Family Robinson.

Return of the Invitees

Yesterday the Vancouver Canucks announced the prospective roster for the upcoming Prospects Training Camp and Young Stars Tournament. 27 players will be attending the camp, which starts on September 10th. The roster features a bevy of exciting Canucks prospects, including Cody Hodgson, calming the unnecessary controversy created by the possibility of him skipping the tournament and going straight to the main camp.

The Canucks will ice a strong team, headlined by Hodgson and fellow first-rounder Jordan Schroeder. But the intriguing names, to me at least, are the names listed with an asterisk, indicating that the player is unsigned or undrafted by the Canucks. 9 of the 27 players are invitees, 6 of which were invited to the summer prospect camp I previously covered in Pass it To Bulis's Epic Two-Part Saga, "The Invitees." While these invitees don't have a shot at making the Canucks this season, they're all battling to get on the Canucks radar and possibly earn themselves a tryout with the Manitoba Moose.

None of the defencemen invited during the summer are returning; this is easily explainable as all of them are attending university and will be or are already at their respective schools. In fact, the only invitees not returning are all NCAA players. 5 of the 7 forward invitees are returning, as well as one of the two goaltenders. Check parts one and two of The Invitees for more information on these returning players.

Returning Invitees:

Kevin Clark, 22, RW - The Winnipeg native is already on the Manitoba Moose roster after his amateur tryout earlier this year.

Matt Fraser, 20, LW - After a brief stint with the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL, it doesn't look like he will be returning to the club, as he would likely attend the St. Louis Blues camp instead.

James Henry, 19, LW - Vancouver hockey fans will already be familiar with Henry from his time with the Giants, where he was a tiny terror with his tenacious style and a knack for playoff scoring.

Tayler Jordan, 20, LW - This fourth line fighter needs to fill out his 6'6" frame before he will intimidate professional-level pugilists. Still, at his size he could be a nice fit with the Moose.

Pierre-Olivier Morin, 19, LW - The Kurtenblog labeled him a player to watch, but had no details as to why other than the fact he needs to fill out his frame as he is only 162 lbs.

Michael Houser, 17, G - Another player to watch for the Kurtenblog, this time because he will be the youngest player at the tournament. He's still draft eligible, so he's in it for the experience rather than earning a tryout with the Moose.

That covers the returning invitees from the summer. But there are still three new invitees to talk about. By far, the most interesting invitee is David Fischer, for reasons I'll get into in a moment. Of the other two, one is a former Canucks draft pick that went unsigned and the other plays in the CIS.

New Invitees:

David Fischer - Defence

6'4" - 185 lbs -Feb 19, 1988

Apple Valley, MN

The 2006 Mr. Hockey was a first round draft pick for the Montreal Canadiens, 20th overall. The Canadiens had until August 15th of this year to sign him, but instead let him go to free agency after four disappointing years at the University of Minnesota. It's fair to say the Canadiens consider him to be a bust at this point, but will be thankful for the compensatory pick they'll get in the second round of this year's draft as they offered him a contract shortly after drafting him only to have him reject it in favor the NCAA. The scouts quoted in this recent article question his ability to make it to the NHL, labeling him an AHL player and saying that he made no progress whatsoever while playing for head coach Don Lucia, who one scout called "atrocious" according to Google Translate (which also hilariously translated a sub-header in the article as "Teaching Retarded"). Fischer played with Jordan Schroeder at the University of Minnesota, which may help explain his presence in the Canucks camp. If it's true that the coaching at the college level stunted his development, it's possible that he may flourish under better coaching in the AHL.

In any case, there's very little harm in extending a contract offer to a former first round pick; however, the Canucks already have a total of 50 contracts signed, which is the limit. Players that return to the CHL do not count against this limit, but it is unclear if the same is true for players returning to the NCAA or European leagues or when the Canucks need to comply with the roster limit. If Fischer impresses at the Young Stars Tournament, it may affect their ability to offer him a contract. If he turns out to be just as good as the Canadiens think he is, then it's a moot point.

Kris Fredheim - Defence

6'2" - 195 lbs - Feb 23, 1987

Campbell River, BC

Fredheim has a similar story to Fischer, except for the round he was drafted in. The Canucks drafted Fredheim in the 6th round of the 2005 NHL draft and chose not to sign him after four mediocre years at Colorado College. He did see some improvement in his senior year, posting 16 points in 36 games, a significant improvement over his previous three years. He remains loosely affiliated with the Canucks as he signed with their ECHL affiliate, the Victoria Salmon Kings, and he will look to work his way up the ranks from there.

Brad Smith - Centre

6'3" - 185 lbs - Apr 14, 1988

Summerside, PEI

Smith played for Saint Mary's University in the CIS this past year, where he managed 12 points in 28 games as a rookie. His main contribution, however, was the overtime goal he scored in the CIS Men's Hockey Final to lead the SMU Huskies to the championship. "To be honest, I think it's the biggest goal I'll ever score in my career," he said after the game, so he doesn't seem to see himself reaching the Stanley Cup Final at any point. His previous season was played in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League for the Summerside Western Capitals, where he finished second in the league in scoring with 84 points in 52 games.

Since the games will be streamed live on Canucks.com, Pass it To Bulis! may start their "I Watched This Game" coverage early this season. I, for one, am very eager to see our prospects in action, especially Hodgson, Schroeder, Connauton, Hannay, and Sweatt.

I Hate the TSN Web Editor

Dear TSN Web Editor:

This crap needs to stop. We all were already aware of how Carey Price's last name is also the word for a cost for something, and many of us even noted the irony that Price and the Habs had so much difficulty agreeing on a "price" for his services.

I am not a professional journalist. I am not above bad jokes. I consider this kind of pun to be below even me, however.

Seriously, it's not that being funny is unprofessional. It's that trying so hard and failing is unbecoming. TWO ridiculous puns on the first page? Can't you guys pretend to be journalists?

Gary Bettman is a Man-Toad

At the urging of an anonymous commenter, I have written this essay, which will convincingly detail the reasons that Gary Bettman is a Man-Toad. Reason #1: just look. I rest my [exceedingly strong] case.

Gary Bettman Plays Poker

An unsophisticated player would move-in on him right there because he knows he can’t lose. But, what good is that? He’s only going to get a split. However, add some drama and a little acting to your play and there’s a chance you could win it all.

--Doyle Brunson, Super/System

Of all the names in hockey, very few have more nonsense said about them than Gary Bettman. People think he's a moron, or that he hates Canada, or that he secretly hates hockey and plans to bankrupt the sport. Typing certain curse words on the Calgary Flames message boards will have them changed to "Gary Bettman." Really, though, very little of what's said about him is true.

The man doesn't hate Canada, he just takes Canada for granted. He knows that Canadian markets will tend to sell out whether he does them favors or not, so he concentrates resources on breaking newer, larger markets. Hockey won't grow overnight in cities where it's not so big a deal. Canadians, who grow up loving hockey, tend to take that for granted, too. It's possible to win a city over, but it takes time. I'm not saying I agree with his ignoring Canada, because I don't. As a patriotic Canadian, I believe it's OUR game. Still, I'm not silly enough to believe he conspires against Canada. He just doesn't care.

The man's certainly not a moron. He tends to win prolonged legal battles, even though he comes out looking slimy in the process. Doing so takes a requisite amount of shrewdness. The man uses leverage like no other. Gary Bettman is a poker player.

Take, for example, all the noise he's making about the Luongo contract. More than a few Canucks fans have wondered why Luongo is the big name mentioned, instead of Hossa, Savard, Pronger or the like. Is it just a coincidence, fans ask, that he goes after the player in the Canadian market?

Nope. In this case, he's definitely targeting the Vancouver player, but not for the reason you might think. Like the perennial poker great Doyle Brunson, Bettman knows a well-timed bluff can pay off big time.

Bettman fought for a limit to contract length during the lockout and lost, but he knew that cap circumventing contracts like Kovalchuk's, Hossa's, and (yes) Luongo's would happen. Now that he's won an arbitration hearing, he's looking to use his position to muscle the NHLPA into submission.

Bettman won't void Luongo's contract. He's not in the business of losing court battles, and he'd definitely lose this one. Even if Luongo's contract was as bad as Kovalchuk's, because it's been registered for a year, both Mike Gillis and Luongo himself would have legitimate grievances should the contract be voided -- Luongo made financial moves expecting to be paid 10 million for the 2010-2011 season, and Gillis signed several contracts expecting Luongo to have a 5.33 cap hit. If the NHL were to void Luongo's contract, Gillis could argue that every contract he signed since should be revisited.

That's a fight Bettman doesn't want, because he may very well lose, and Bettman isn't in the business of losing court battles.

So why make a fuss? While Bettman doesn't want the court battle, he's betting that a weak NHLPA doesn't want it either. By threatening to come down on these contracts, Bettman is putting the pressure on the PA.

So why target Luongo? Because he needed a ruckus, and if there's one thing Canadian hockey fans do, it's make a ruckus. Every time there's Luongo news, most of Vancouver gets angry. Targeting Luongo makes plenty of noise, without the NHL actually doing anything. To date, all they've done is make threats -- threats they've got no intention of following through on -- and still, without any action, Canucks fans are still up in arms.

Of course, it didn't go quite as planned. Seriously, Vancouver, stop slagging your goaltender. A good portion of the reaction has been, "Oh, good, now we can go after a cheaper goaltender." Some Vancouver fans are silly, but that's another blog entirely.

When it comes down to it, Bettman isn't going to void Luongo's contract. He's not going to go after Hossa, either, and tarnish a Cup victory. Bettman doesn't care about Luongo's contract nearly as much as he cares about putting a stop to these deals in the future. He's going to be fighting the NHLPA tooth and nail to uphold the spirit of the salary cap, and I expect him to win.

Quotes Taken Out of Context: Willie Edition

"Oh yeah, baby, let's get it on."

- Willie Mitchell, August 31, 2010