An off-season overhaul has provided plenty of promising early returns for the Vancouver Canucks.
New general manager Jim Benning found free-agent gems with Ryan Miller playing like a bona fide No. 1 goaltender again, while veteran forward Radim Vrbata has fit in perfectly alongside the Sedin twins on the top line. Who needs Cory Schneider or Roberto Luongo?
As part of the ex-files, Sportsnet looks back at 10 former Canucks and how they are performing with their new teams.
Note: Expect this series to appear regularly throughout the 2014-15 season.
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Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers: The Canucks are paying $800,000 on their salary cap for Luongo, but the team was happy to shed the majority of his contract last year even though they didn’t receive much in a trade with the Florida Panthers. And so far the Panthers are reaping all the benefits. The veteran goaltender has been excellent this season. The sample size is small (a common theme throughout this article), but the 35-year-old is leading the NHL in even-strength save percentage entering play on Thursday. In nine games, Luongo has a 4-3-2 record with a .932 save percentage and 2.11 goals-against average. Not bad, huh?
Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils: Schneider was once viewed as the goalie of the future in Vancouver before GM Mike Gillis surprised everyone by dealing him at the 2013 NHL Draft. Now he’s the goalie of the present in New Jersey. Martin Brodeur is no longer in town and Schneider has the full-time starter’s gig for the first time in his career. There have been mixed results so far this season. His numbers are solid, but a bit down from his career averages. Again, small sample. In 12 starts, Schneider has registered six wins with a .912 save percentage and 2.68 GAA.
Ryan Kesler, Anaheim Ducks: The Canucks deemed Kesler expendable mostly because he didn’t want to be there anymore. He was no longer worth the hassle so they sent him to Anaheim in the summer. So far, both sides have benefited from the trade. The American has fit in perfectly as the No. 2 centre behind all-star Ryan Getzlaf. Kesler, 30, has nine points in his first 14 games with 21 penalty minutes. Now let’s see if he can stay healthy…
Mike Santorelli, Toronto Maple Leafs: Canucks fans weren’t pleased to see Santorelli depart because he was one of the few productive players last season before he got hurt. Because of the injury, Santorelli didn’t generate much demand on the open market and signed a relatively cheap one-year deal in Toronto. The Leafs have been happy with the acquisition thus far and Santorelli has found a nice role providing energy on the third line. He’ll likely never reach the 20-goal mark again – like he did in Florida in 2011 – but he’s been just fine with five points in 12 games.
David Booth, Toronto Maple Leafs: After he was bought out by Vancouver, Booth eventually landed a one-year, prove-it deal in Toronto. And much to the surprise of no one (right Canucks fans?), Booth suffered an injury in training camp and has yet to suit up with the Maple Leafs. Sound familiar? The veteran forward is expected to return to the lineup at some point within the next month.
Jason Garrison, Tampa Bay Lightning: Garrison was dealt away in an effort to get younger on the blueline and to create salary cap space. The Lightning are thrilled about that one. Garrison never quite fit in with the Canucks, but has established himself as a valued player in Tampa Bay. The 29-year-old has scored six points in 12 games while playing an average of 20:48 minutes per game. Not bad considering they got him for a second-round pick. Where was this guy last year?
Cody Hodgson, Buffalo Sabres: After scoring 20 goals for a lousy Sabres team last year, Hodgson has just one goal in Buffalo’s first 14 games. At the age of 24, he’s still young and it’s worth noting he plays for a miserable team, but Canucks fans can take solace in the fact he hasn’t lived up to his potential since leaving Vancouver. At some point, you have to wonder if he ever will.
Manny Malhotra, Montreal Canadiens: At this point in his career, Malhotra isn’t much of an impact player. He’s a bottom-six guy who can win faceoffs and play well in the defensive zone. Malhotra signed with Montreal to do just that. With the Canadiens, Malhotra is averaging close to 13 minutes per game, while doing next to nothing offensively. He has yet to register a point in 14 games, but who expected any different?
Mason Raymond, Calgary Flames: Raymond is what he is: A one-dimensional scorer. He had a very up and down year for Toronto in 2013-14. Raymond was off to a strong start since signing with Calgary as a free agent. He has five goals (a team high) and two assists in 10 games. He started off strong for Toronto last year (eight points in his first seven games), so regression may be around the corner. Inconsistency has been a common theme in his career and now he’ll have to bounce back from a shoulder injury that currently has him on the IR.
Christian Ehrhoff, Pittsburgh Penguins: Ehrhoff had to be the happiest guy in free agency. He got paid in a buyout and got to leave Buffalo for Pittsburgh. Does life in hockey get any better than that? The Pens are rather pleased with the move as well. Ehrhoff, a former staple on the Canucks blueline, has chipped in four assists, while improving Pittsburgh’s special teams play and defensive zone coverage. Ehrhoff was one of the more logical acquisitions in free agency.