It hasn’t been a good start to the season for the Canucks who have won just six of 17 games so far which has Vancouver on a six-game losing streak and in sixth place in the North Division. Between that and a tough offseason, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period suggests that ownership is not pleased with the situation and are pondering replacing GM Jim Benning in a move that could happen sooner than later if the struggles continue. Benning has been at the helm for Vancouver since 2014 and has two more years left on his deal after this one so letting him go would certainly be costly from a financial perspective. The Canucks are back in action on Saturday for the second game of a four-game stint.
More from the North Division:
- Still with Vancouver, teams in Switzerland are calling regarding winger Sven Baertschi, his agent Andre Rufener confirmed to Rick Dhaliwal of The Athletic (Twitter link). With the veteran having cleared waivers once again, a loan overseas to play out the season closer to home before becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer makes sense in theory but the plan remains for him to stay with AHL Utica and try to earn a midseason recall.
- The Senators will be without starting goalie Matt Murray for tomorrow’s game against Winnipeg, the team announced (Twitter link). He left Thursday’s contest after two periods with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Marcus Hogberg will get the start in Murray’s absence. Filip Gustavsson is on the taxi squad and will be recalled to the active roster on Saturday.
Ottawa will lose every game until Murray returns. Hogberg desperately needs a goalie coach.And an equipment man that sharpens left skates as his right push doesn’t stop until the bottom of the circle. Until then he will be known as Mr. Stick Side.
Hogberg has whatever the hockey version of the yips is. You’re right about losing every game until Murray is back, he was atrocious off the start but has been one of their best players over the past two weeks. Can’t wait until the defence in front of him has more than 3 or 4 NHL caliber defencemen.
If Murray was in the line up their still losing so what’s the difference. Murray only has 2 wins this year, Ottawa is in a last place race again this year. Could be good in 2 years when they have 2 more top 3 picks in the lineup
It’s better losing 2-1 in competitive games than 7-1 in blowouts.
I believe you mean 3.69-1 but I understand. this is why waivers need to change Hogberg isn’t even a AHL goalie at this point, why Ottawa wasn’t able to claim Dell or Comrie is a travesty.
I had a goalie that I once needed to tie to the net and have my team shoot pucks at him.
Guess what it works. We won.
Maybe if the Sens would follow my training methods they could save Hogberg.
Of course these methods might have lead Goldberg into a lif of misery & crime, but the point of the story is we won.