…and none for Shane Doan bye! 

Alex Burrows (Photo: Naki Edits/canucks.com)

Today on Canucks in Wonderland, we find that a wild dragon slayer appears!

Laurence Gilman and Mike Gillis uses contract extension!

It is very effective!

Alex Burrows, aged 31 signed a 4  year, $18 million contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks.

The native of Pincourt, Quebec has played for the Canucks since the 2005/2006 season and is best known for being French and for the overtime goal that put the Canucks through to Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2011.

It marked the third time the Canucks had faced the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the first time they beat them in the 3 years that they had faced each other.

Congratulations Alex!

I would also like to extend a ‘congratulations’ to Shane Doan, who also, recently signed a 4 year contract with his former team, the Pheonix Coyotes!

And in honor of Mr. Burrows signing a contract extension, let’s get a look that the goal that sent all of Vancouver into a frenzy, in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2011.

‘It with great pleasure that we make our selection for the 2012 NHL entry draft, from the Belleville Bulls in the Ontario Hockey League, Brendan Gaunce.’ – Laurence Gilman

Welcome Brendan Gaunce! (Photo: theyslayedthedragon/tumblr)

And with the 26th pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, we the fans of the Vancouver Canucks hereby welcome Brendan Gaunce to the family.

Brendan, meet Vancouver. Vancouver, meet the Canucks’ 1st Round Draft Pick 2012!

Let’s have some fun shall we?

Fun Facts (x):

Name: Gaunce, Brendon

Age: 18

Birthdate: the 25th of March, 1994

Place of Birth: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Position: Centre

 Team: Belleville Bulls

Favourite  NHL team: Toronto Maple Leafs

Favourite Player: Steven Stamkos (Bless your soul child.)

Favourite TV Show: Dexter

Favourite Place to Visit: England

Other things to note is that Gaunce is someone highly looked upon, not only by the people of the NHL Central Scouting system but by Coach George Burnett of the Belleville Bulls.

“Brendan is a real high-energy guy. When he is playing high-energy, when he’s battling, when he’s getting involved, he’s forcing turnovers in the opposition zone. He’s got a good skill set that after he wins a puck battle he can make a good pass and set up a play. He creates scoring chances every shift when he’s at his best. Every shift he’s out there creating things.”

- NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards (x)

“Interestingly enough, people are questioning his ability to play without the puck, and in my opinion that’s what’s going to make him an NHL player before any other part of his game. He’s responsible, competes hard, great stick, tenacious, great hockey sense. He understands the game at both ends of the rink. He’s a guy that even from his first year (in the OHL), he was often out there against the other team’s best players.”

- Belleville Bulls Coach George Burnett (x)

Congratulations Brendan and we will see you at Prospects Training Camp in Vancouver, Canada next week!

Good Luck!

We’ll all be cheering for you!

Today on Canucks in Wonderland, news goes that the Vancouver Canucks’ 2011 1st round draft pick Nicklas Jensen plans to play in Sweden should he not make the team next season.

Nicklas Jensen (Photo: mattiasohlund/tumblr)

And so comes the News... (Photo: Adrienne C./screen shot)

News 1130 (their twitter, mind you) also goes on to say that Jensen’s agent Thun has:

“…informed both the Canucks and the Oshawa Generals of the OHL” (x)

and that

“…he’s [Nicklas Jensen] talking to 3-4 teams in Sweden and will pick the team in next two weeks.” (x)

Anton Thun then proceeds to say that

“…Jensen needs to play pro hockey next season as a 19 year old if he doesn’t make the Canucks.”

Now, should we be concerned?

the News 1130 team seems to think so (Photo: Adrienne C./screen shot)

So the News 1130 people seem to think so and I agree.

Yes, we should be a little concerned about this.

I mean, the kid’s amazing.

After suffering a first round defeat to the Niagara IceDogs in the OHL playoffs with the Oshawa Generals, Nicklas Jensen was then assigned to the Chicago Wolves, who had yet to end their regular season and begin playoffs.

His AHL career, however ended and ended quickly having suffered a concussion, but dear Nicklas Jensen had already made his mark.

He ended his AHL career with 8 games in the bag (2 of which were playoff games) and with 6 points, all of which are goals, 3 of which, was the result of a hattrick against the Peoria Rivermen.

Pretty amazing right?

First 6 games as a professional and he manages his first hatty.

So, the answer is yes, I would be concerned that he’s making the decision to play in Sweden should he not make the Canucks next season.

He’s an amazing player and is definitely a key part of the Oshawa General’s roster. And who knows, he could be a key part of the Canucks’ roster in the future, should he change his mind and decide to stay with us.

And I think he should stay with us.

But ultimately, the decision belongs to Nick and it looks like he’s made his decision.

Good Luck Nicklas! All the best in Sweden if  you decide to go!

3 months. 3 months is too far for me to be predicting this. Good Luck though. Wow. 

Mason Raymond (Photo: maseyevanraymond/tumblr)

Before we get started, I just wanted to congratulate the LA Kings on becoming the Stanley Cup Champions 2012. Also note that this is the third year the Vancouver Canucks have lost to the Stanley Cup Champions, having lost to the Blackhawks in 2010, the Bruins in 2011 and this year, to the LA Kings.

But enough about that, let’s get down to business.

Welcome to the Off Season.

Today’s latest news tells us that the Canucks have gone to arbitration with left winger Mason Raymond.

Slated to become a restricted free agent on July the 1st, Mason Raymond ended the 2011-2012 season with 10 goals and 10 assists and a total plus-minus of 4.

And since the Canucks have decided to go to arbitration with him, should the 26 year old decide to stay with us (and from the looks of it, he might stay with us), his contract won’t quite be the same.

And according to Laurence Gilman, the VP of  hockey operations for the Canucks, this is “due to Raymond’s dip in production over the last few seasons.” (x)

The reworking of said contract could also mean that Vancouver’s resident speedster could be earning less than he did this year with us.

Laurence Gilman continues on to say that:

“This is about staying competitive in a salary cap system and it allows us to operate as efficiently as possible. Mason is an important part of our team, one that we clearly see as part of our future going forward, if he weren’t part of the solution, we would not have tendered a qualifying offer and would have let him go as an unrestricted free agent.” (x)

However, we must also remember that having suffered from a back injury during the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2011, Mason Raymond isn’t quite the same player anymore.

So here’s to hoping the Canucks come to an agreement with the left winger and that said left winger will stay with us for another year.

Until next time Canuckleheads. Until next time.