The Vancouver Canucks announced on Tuesday the acquisition of defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Canucks are sending defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek to Pittsburgh in exchange for Friedman and Glover. There were no draft picks included in the trade.

Friedman is expected to boost Canucks’ blue-line depth, something the team has been looking for since the start of the 2023-24 NHL season. The 27-year-old player played 65 games in the NHL and has 12 career points. Glover, on the other hand, is more of a project, considering he has yet to make his NHL debut.

The Penguins, on the other hand, get a talented prospect in Rathbone. The 95th overall pick in 2017 was a standout performer during his time at Harvard University, but his transition to the pros was bumpy as he struggled with inconsistency and injury. He has five points in 28 NHL games with Canucks.

 Finally, Plasek will play in the United States for the first time this season. He played in his native Czech Republic last season, contributing six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 31 games with HC Olomouc.

“I would like to thank Jack for all the time he spent with our organization and always pushing hard when competing for a spot,” said Canucks’ general manager Patrik Allvin in a statement. “It has been a tough couple of years for him, and this will give him a fresh start. The two players coming back in this trade will add to our depth as we continue to look at ways to improve our organization.”

The post Canucks Acquire D Mark Friedman and FW Ty Glover in a Trade With Penguins appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko signed a two-year contract extension, the team confirmed on Thursday. The contract extension has an average value of $5.5 million.

Ranking second in the team in both goals and power-play goals (nine), Kuzmenko leads all first-year NHL players in almost every offensive category, including goals, assists, points, and points per game. He also ranks second in the team for his 24.7% shooting rate; a figure that sees him rank third overall in the NHL in that category.

Kuzmenko spent the first eight years of his professional career in the Kontinental Hockey League, where he played for CSKA Moscow and SKA St. Petersburg. There, he scored 200 points (85 goals and 115 assists) in 315 regular season games. Last season, the Yakutsk native attained career-high figures with his 20 goals, 33 assists, and 53 points overall.

At 26 years old, Kuzmenko has made 37 international appearances for the Russian national team, during which time he has scored 10 goals and grabbed six assists. He joined Vancouver on July 13 last year, when he signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the team.

The post Andrei Kuzmenko Signs Two-Year Extension With Canucks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran defenseman Christopher Tanev spent his entire NHL career with Vancouver Canucks and it appears that he doesn’t wish to change that.

Tanev, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent, recently had a chat with reporters and told the media that he would “love” to stay with Canucks past this season. According to the 30-year-old defenseman, he would be especially excited to continue his partnership with young All-Star Quinn Hughes.

“I’d love to stay here and play with Quinn as long as I’m able to,” said Tanev. “I think we played great together when we did this year and I think we both enjoyed it.”

Canucks’ head coach Travis Green frequently paired Tanev and Hughes this season, and it proved to be a winning combination for the team. Hughes provided eight goals and 48 assists in his first full season in the league, while Tanev added 20 points (two goals and 18 assists) to help Vancouver to a 36-27-6 record and a chance to make the postseason for the first time since 2015.

Christopher Tanev now wants to finish 2019/20 on a high, which is why he’s focused more on the in-play series against Minnesota Wild than his contract.

“I’m ready to play hockey,” he added. “I think I can get a contract regardless. I feel like I’m going to play well. If we play playoffs, then I’m confident in my abilities.

Tanev made his NHL debut in 2010 and has since played 514 games in the league while contributing with 22 goals and 96 assists. He also has one World Cup gold medal with the Canadian national team from 2016.

The post Christopher Tanev Would “Love” to Stay with Canucks and Play with Quinn Hughes appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Vancouver Canucks’ center Elias Pettersson had a productive 2019/20 season, making his second consecutive All-Star appearance and tying his career-high in points (66). However, the 21-year-old Swede believes he still hasn’t reached his full potential.

Talking with a reporter on Thursday, Pettersson said he is pleased with the way he played during the regular season but knows that he can “play better.”

“My second season I am very happy with, but I still think, or I know, I can play better,” said Pettersson. “First season (2018/19) was very good. I think the end of the last 20-30 games my first season wasn’t that good, but it was a good learning point for me.”

Pettersson already identified the elements of his game that he needs to improve in order to get better.

“Maturing in the game, like never losing puck battles, never lose (the puck) if I’m going to try and dangle someone,” he added. “Small areas, small details that I can work on to become better.”

Elias Pettersson was selected 5th overall by Canucks in 2017 and signed his entry contract with the organization a year later. In his debut season, Pettersson skated in 71 games, scoring 28 goals and adding 38 assists en route to Calder Memorial Trophy as the rookie of the year.

With 27 goals and 39 assists this season, Pettersson was once again one of Vancouver Canucks’ key players and helped them to 36-27-6 record. He is now looking to make his contribution even bigger and lead Canucks to Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2015.

Canucks are set to play Minnesota Wild in the play-in tournament, with the winner of best-of-five series advancing to the postseason.

The post Canucks’ Elias Pettersson: “I Can Play Better” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Vancouver Canucks announced on Tuesday the acquisition of defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Canucks are sending defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek to Pittsburgh in exchange for Friedman and Glover. There were no draft picks included in the trade.

Friedman is expected to boost Canucks’ blue-line depth, something the team has been looking for since the start of the 2023-24 NHL season. The 27-year-old player played 65 games in the NHL and has 12 career points. Glover, on the other hand, is more of a project, considering he has yet to make his NHL debut.

The Penguins, on the other hand, get a talented prospect in Rathbone. The 95th overall pick in 2017 was a standout performer during his time at Harvard University, but his transition to the pros was bumpy as he struggled with inconsistency and injury. He has five points in 28 NHL games with Canucks.

 Finally, Plasek will play in the United States for the first time this season. He played in his native Czech Republic last season, contributing six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 31 games with HC Olomouc.

“I would like to thank Jack for all the time he spent with our organization and always pushing hard when competing for a spot,” said Canucks’ general manager Patrik Allvin in a statement. “It has been a tough couple of years for him, and this will give him a fresh start. The two players coming back in this trade will add to our depth as we continue to look at ways to improve our organization.”

The post Canucks Acquire D Mark Friedman and FW Ty Glover in a Trade With Penguins appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko signed a two-year contract extension, the team confirmed on Thursday. The contract extension has an average value of $5.5 million.

Ranking second in the team in both goals and power-play goals (nine), Kuzmenko leads all first-year NHL players in almost every offensive category, including goals, assists, points, and points per game. He also ranks second in the team for his 24.7% shooting rate; a figure that sees him rank third overall in the NHL in that category.

Kuzmenko spent the first eight years of his professional career in the Kontinental Hockey League, where he played for CSKA Moscow and SKA St. Petersburg. There, he scored 200 points (85 goals and 115 assists) in 315 regular season games. Last season, the Yakutsk native attained career-high figures with his 20 goals, 33 assists, and 53 points overall.

At 26 years old, Kuzmenko has made 37 international appearances for the Russian national team, during which time he has scored 10 goals and grabbed six assists. He joined Vancouver on July 13 last year, when he signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the team.

The post Andrei Kuzmenko Signs Two-Year Extension With Canucks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran defenseman Christopher Tanev spent his entire NHL career with Vancouver Canucks and it appears that he doesn’t wish to change that.

Tanev, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent, recently had a chat with reporters and told the media that he would “love” to stay with Canucks past this season. According to the 30-year-old defenseman, he would be especially excited to continue his partnership with young All-Star Quinn Hughes.

“I’d love to stay here and play with Quinn as long as I’m able to,” said Tanev. “I think we played great together when we did this year and I think we both enjoyed it.”

Canucks’ head coach Travis Green frequently paired Tanev and Hughes this season, and it proved to be a winning combination for the team. Hughes provided eight goals and 48 assists in his first full season in the league, while Tanev added 20 points (two goals and 18 assists) to help Vancouver to a 36-27-6 record and a chance to make the postseason for the first time since 2015.

Christopher Tanev now wants to finish 2019/20 on a high, which is why he’s focused more on the in-play series against Minnesota Wild than his contract.

“I’m ready to play hockey,” he added. “I think I can get a contract regardless. I feel like I’m going to play well. If we play playoffs, then I’m confident in my abilities.

Tanev made his NHL debut in 2010 and has since played 514 games in the league while contributing with 22 goals and 96 assists. He also has one World Cup gold medal with the Canadian national team from 2016.

The post Christopher Tanev Would “Love” to Stay with Canucks and Play with Quinn Hughes appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Vancouver Canucks’ center Elias Pettersson had a productive 2019/20 season, making his second consecutive All-Star appearance and tying his career-high in points (66). However, the 21-year-old Swede believes he still hasn’t reached his full potential.

Talking with a reporter on Thursday, Pettersson said he is pleased with the way he played during the regular season but knows that he can “play better.”

“My second season I am very happy with, but I still think, or I know, I can play better,” said Pettersson. “First season (2018/19) was very good. I think the end of the last 20-30 games my first season wasn’t that good, but it was a good learning point for me.”

Pettersson already identified the elements of his game that he needs to improve in order to get better.

“Maturing in the game, like never losing puck battles, never lose (the puck) if I’m going to try and dangle someone,” he added. “Small areas, small details that I can work on to become better.”

Elias Pettersson was selected 5th overall by Canucks in 2017 and signed his entry contract with the organization a year later. In his debut season, Pettersson skated in 71 games, scoring 28 goals and adding 38 assists en route to Calder Memorial Trophy as the rookie of the year.

With 27 goals and 39 assists this season, Pettersson was once again one of Vancouver Canucks’ key players and helped them to 36-27-6 record. He is now looking to make his contribution even bigger and lead Canucks to Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2015.

Canucks are set to play Minnesota Wild in the play-in tournament, with the winner of best-of-five series advancing to the postseason.

The post Canucks’ Elias Pettersson: “I Can Play Better” appeared first on SportzBonanza.