2013–14 Vancouver Canucks season
In addition to hiring Tortorella in the off-season, for financial reasons the decision was made to retain goaltender Roberto Luongo instead of Cory Schneider.With the addition of a new head coach, and players such as Brad Richardson, both management and fans were optimistic that the team could be a Stanley Cup contender.Goaltender Roberto Luongo became disgruntled with a lack of playing time and forced a trade in March, while the team continued to fall in the standings.[3][4][5] There was speculation that former New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella would be hired by the Canucks after he was spotted arriving at the Vancouver Airport on June 21.Trade rumours centred around the 34-year-old Luongo, despite the fact that his contract carried an annual cap hit of $5.33 million, and was set to expire at the end of the 2021–22 season.Schneider left Vancouver in a deal with the New Jersey Devils, in exchange for their first-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft which was used to select Bo Horvat.[17] Richardson was brought on as center for one of the bottom two lines in a checking role, and to provide the team with another reliable face-off man.[19] Santorelli was not expected to make the team initially, but would add depth to the Canucks new American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utica Comets instead.[29] In his first interview following the Schneider trade, Luongo stated that he had looked into voiding his contract, but he planned to honor it, and wanted to re-establish himself as an elite goaltender.[31] Lack had been seen as the heir apparent for the back-up role, but following a season-ending injury after playing only 12 games in the AHL, his future was called into question.[32] Eriksson was signed to a two-year, two-way, entry-level contract with the Canucks in the off-season after helping Skellefteå AIK to the Swedish Hockey League championship.While the goaltending situation almost assured that one rookie would be added, forwards Hunter Shinkaruk, Brendan Gaunce, Nicklas Jensen, and Horvat were also attempting to make the team.Winger David Booth was scheduled to return to the line-up for the first time since an ankle injury ended his previous season in March.The hit was reviewed by the NHL's Senior Vice President, and disciplinarian, Brendan Shanahan who suspended Weise for the remaining three games of the preseason.[44][45] Later in the game Zack Kassian attempted to deliver a body check to Sam Gagner, who made a hard stop to avoid contact.[45] During his disciplinary review of the play, Shanahan said that he accepted Kassian's claim that he did not intend to strike Gagner in the head, but that he was responsible for his actions.[47] With one week remaining in the pre-season, Vancouver assigned Eriksson to the Comets, giving Lack the back-up goaltender job.[56] Though Corrado had played well enough to be considered among the team's top eight defencemen, he was assigned to Utica to allow him more, varied ice time to help his development.[61] Following the trade Horvat was sent back to the London Knights, Shinkaruk remained with the team, but was returned to the Medicine Hat Tigers to make room for Stanton.[63] Helping to make the decision to return the prospects to their junior teams was the emergence of Mike Santorelli who had a strong camp, where he was one of Vancouver's best forwards.[82] The Canucks were down in first game of the trip against the Philadelphia Flyers, when Tortorella split up the Sedin twins leading to a comeback win for Vancouver.[85][90] Vancouver split their final two games finishing the month with a 9–5–1 record, putting them in fourth place in the division, three points behind San Jose.[91] Although the Canucks were competitive, concerns were raised that the lengthy amount of ice time Tortorella was giving his top players would wear them down as the season progressed.He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year as a Canuck, and was an integral part of the team's 1994 Stanley Cup Finals run.The game went to a shootout where Phoenix took the lead; Henrik Sedin had a chance to tie, but lost control of the puck and did not register a shot.[111] During the game Daniel Sedin scored his 300th career goal becoming the third player in franchise history to reach this mark, behind Markus Naslund and Trevor Linden.Between periods, John Tortorella attempted to enter the Flames' dressing room, an act that resulted in the NHL suspending him for 15 days.[120] Trevor Linden, a former Canucks winger, replaced Gillis as president of hockey operations, though the team still needed to find a new general manager.On the last day of the regular season, Daniel Sedin was hit by Paul Byron and left the ice on a stretcher with minor injuries.The NHL took a two-week break to allow players to play for their countries' teams in the ice hockey event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
2013–14Vancouver CanucksPacificWesternMike GillisJohn TortorellaCaptainHenrik SedinKevin BieksaDaniel SedinRyan KeslerRogers ArenaBC PlaceUtica CometsKalamazoo WingsAssistsPointsPenalty minutesTom SestitoPlus/minusDan HamhuisRoberto LuongoGoals against average2012–132014–1544th seasonNational Hockey LeagueStanley Cup playoffs2007–08 season1999–2000 seasonCory Schneiderfree agentsBrad RichardsonAlex Burrows2014 Entry Draft2013 Stanley Cup playoffsSan Jose SharksAlain VigneaultRick BownessNewell BrownJohn StevensGlen GulutzanDallas EakinsScott ArnielNew York RangersVancouver AirportMike Sullivansalary cap2013–14 season2012–13 season2021–22 seasonNew Jersey Devils2013 NHL DraftBo HorvatJarome IginlaNathan HortonDale WeiseJordan SchroederKellan LainChristopher TanevYannick WeberMike SantorelliAndrew Albertsface-offpower playSami SaloAmerican Hockey LeagueEddie Lackforecheckingkill penaltiesJoacim Erikssontwo-waySkellefteå AIKSwedish Hockey LeagueHunter ShinkarukBrendan GaunceNicklas JensenFrank CorradoZack KassianEdmonton OilersWingerDavid Boothhairline fractureNail YakupovTaylor HallBrendan Shanahanbody checkSam GagnerNorth American rinks+4 ratingRyan StantonwaiversBelleville BullsZac DalpeJeremy WelshCarolina HurricanesLondon KnightsMedicine Hat TigersJason Garrisontop power playAlexandre Burrowsslap shotpenalty killCalgary FlamesHenrikAlexander EdlerTomas HertlPhiladelphia FlyersBuffalo SabresshutoutTurk BrodaPacific DivisionNHL's Third Star of the Week AwardSidney CrosbyPavel BureCalder Memorial Trophy1994 Stanley Cup FinalsPavel Bure Most Exciting Player AwardMaple LeafsPhil KesselJohn Scottmajor penalties for fightingDave BollandDave NonisPhoenix Coyotesshootout