Forsberg stays in Sweden, Sundin wasn't that bad.

News came out today that Peter Forsberg has decided to stay in Sweden, instead of making a comeback to the NHL.

Vancouver fans know that Thomas Gradin was out in Frolunda, Sweden (or some other city in Sweden) scouting Forsberg to see if he might be able to make a Mats Sundin-esque impact on the Canucks. Boston, Philadelphia and the Rangers also had scouts over there taking their own look.

It's nice Forsberg won't be here at any point in the season. When I think Forsberg, I remember the 2005-06 season when Forsberg was picked up by a Nashville team that was playing as good as anyone in the league at the time. Nashville gave up Scotty Upshall, Ryan Parent and picks to get the Swede, but it was seen at the time to be worth it. And what happened? First round exit in the playoffs.

The blame can't be placed solely on Forsberg, but it does bring back memories.

But when Canucks fans heard that management was taking a serious look at an aging Swede, we think automatically of the disaster that was Mats Sundin.

But was Sundin ever really that bad? He came in at the exact halfway point in the season and put up 28 points. If he would've signed at the beginning of the season and scored just under 60 points, would Canucks fans be upset? Probably not, except for the ones who care about money. The thing is, the money was there to be spent and there was nothing else they could've done with it. The money didn't matter.

Sure, Sundin's arrival came just around the same time the Canucks went on one of their worst losing streaks in franchise history. Then he look bad. Really bad.

Then, either Sundin found his touch again, or his abilities as a leader paid off, or a little bit of both, and the Canucks were the best team in the league and ended up winning the division with the recognition of being a serious Stanley Cup contender, especially with the first round sweep of St. Louis. It's just too bad that money couldn't be spent on David Backes. Nice try, Gillis.

And what would've happened if Sundin did sign at the beginning of the season? We can't be sure, but it's pretty obvious he would step right in as team captain. The Canucks didn't need a guy to step into captaincy when he's only going to be there for a maximum two seasons. Think Mark Messier.

So would Forsberg's arrival have been a good thing for the Canucks? It's tough to tell. But it is hard to tell anyone that the team would be any worse with his addition, especially with their recent rash of injuries.

We will, though, see what we might of missed in February when the Olympics roll into Vancouver, with a roster spot most definitely being held for Forsberg.

Hockey Canada makes another stupid mistake

Bob Nicholson and Hockey Canada are making some pretty idiotic decisions as of late.

First, the negligence to not apply for the logo waiver in order to wear the Hockey Canada logo at the 2010 Olympics, something they've always done in the past. That logo kicks a considerable amount of ass and is tattooed on many a beer leaguer in this country.

Now they've decided to announce the 2010 Olympic roster on December 31st. Right in the middle of the world juniors.

Yeah, a lot of these kids will have bigger moments in their lives, but there are the exceptions where guys who play in the world juniors for Team Canada never blossom into their once-seen potential and fail to amount to anything after the tournament.

Because of that I firmly believe that all hockey attention should be placed on these kids throughout the tournament and the millionaires who will play on the Olympic team should ease off. Like they need more attention anyways.

Either way, I'd like to be at that new years party.

Canucks vs. Wild game diary

Damn fine road win for the Canucks. 5-2 and Burrows got the goal monkey off his back.

6:30 What a save by Raycroft with the paddle of his stick to keep the 2 goal lead.

6:20: And what do we have here? Pettinger makes Backstrom look like an idiot. 4-2 Canucks.

6:17: Henrik puts the Canucks up 3-1, but Brodziak answers right back with his second goal of the night. You can't stop a guy with such a badass mustache.

6:12: Really not much going on.

6:05: Brodziak scores for Minny. This is what happens when you get tunnel vision and everyone just stares at the puck. This is also what happens when you do this with a depleted lineup. Raycroft could've controlled that rebound better.

6:01: Great pass by Edler, Unreal shot by Raymond. Canucks go up 2-0 after doing nothing on the first PP.

5:57: Second period starts. I can't express how proud I am of Sportsnet for giving me a visual of the diner that Charlie Conway's mom used to work at. Good chance for Vancouver to run away with this one with a double-minor to Boogard.

5:45: Did Minnesota really beat Pittsburgh?

5:41: First period over. Good road period from the Canucks. They did give up a couple scoring chances that the Wild could've buried but that might just be nitpicking. Raycroft looking calm and comfortable. Should probably look to get the offense rolling more in the 2nd.

5:37: Good tweet from @Nucksmisconduct: Canucks need Forsberg like they need a hole in the head. Wow, my next post was going to wonder if Raycroft might let one in because he might be getting cold down there. Nice kick save to keep the lead on the PK.

5:32: Minny down 1-0 with a crowd not really into it against a team playing a good road period. I think it's time for Boogard to fight/get beat up by Rypien.

5:29:Wellwood cuts through Minny's defense but decides to pass it off, and in turn turn it over. This is what a guy with no goals on the season looks like.

5:28: VERY uninspiring powerplay by Minnesota, well, until the last 10 seconds where Sykore missed an easy chance to bury one.

5:27: I sure think Marian Gaborik would've loved to play in this system after years of being honed in by Lemaire. This Minnesota powerplay is brutal and sure misses Gaborik.

5:24: Henrik takes a pretty stupid penalty but it looks like a make up call for missing the Mitchell hook earlier on. On another note, how long will the honeymoon period last with Alex Burrows on the top line? Seems like it's been a long time since he's done anything noteworthy.

5:22: Samuellsson making much better offensive decisions these days.

5:18: Commercial Break, that was a terrible PP. Nothing really else to say, other than to ask why Bieksa was playing forward on a powerplay. We get why it is on 5-on-5, but Vigneault can't find a better offensive player than a defenseman to play the wing on the number one PP unit? Reminds me of Gretzky being left out of the shootout in the semi-final of the '98 Olympics when they lost to the Czechs.

5:15: Can't believe how good the Canucks are on the PP this season. That's due hugely (I think) to the signing of Samuelsson.

5:14: In the Lemaire era, the Wild were the best team when it came to playing with a lead, and the hardest team to fight back from a defecit against. Let's see how it is now. Canucks to the PP.

5:12:Hordichuck with an absolute bomb.. or was it a whiff by Backstrom? Who cares. Secondary scoring = essential. 1-0 Canucks.

5:10: Good chance for Raycroft to stay on top of the league in GAA with a team that only scores two goals a game in the Wild. Another note on the Wild, they have a full-time captain for their first time in their history.

5:09: Bieksa on the number one forward line? He did say forward was much easier.. On another note, this is going to be interesting to see Minnesota in post-Lemaire mode. Great start, Bieksa, way to take a penalty on your first shift. Forward isn't so easy is it?

5:07: Phew. Baseball is over. I thought I was going to have to watch this on CityTV

Canucks are just badasses

And I mean that in the coolest way possible.

Has anyone noticed in the Mike Gillis era how much tougher of a team the Canucks are? And this is even when it seems like he keeps signing european after european after undersized forward.

It's almost like bringing in guys like Shane O'Brien, Darcy Hordichuck and Ryan Johnson brought an attitude to the team that most likely makes the rest of the league absolutely hate this team.

First, to prove how cool the Canucks really are, here's a short video claiming that the term "cougar" originated in the Canucks dressing room.

Then, there's the fact that you know the Canucks are doing their research when they start to beak at other players. You know when a new guy comes on board with the Canucks that they're going to ask that new guy things about his teammates, which they can then use to epically piss off other teams. Check out this video of Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows asking a member of the Blues about his wife, apparently named Kelly. You know they got the wife's name from the ex-Blue Johnson. And check out Scottie Upshall talking about his dislike for Kesler on live TV.

Then again, Willie Mitchell admitted before the season that they didn't exactly handle the situation against Chicago last season in the playoffs, saying that they cared more about proving their toughness then winning hockey games.

But hell, that's good Canadian hockey. And what Canadian hockey fan doesn't like seeing stuff like that? Not like it hasn't been proven (see past history of Boston and Philly).

I've been noticing this trend with the Canucks for awhile now, but it really all started with Jannik Hansen. This guy is probably the most soft spoken hockey player I've ever seen. But after playing last year's pre-season on a line with Kesler and Burrows, he was in the middle of every scrum he could get to. He even started fighting. Imagine that. A Dane. Fighting. In hockey.

Badass.

Gotta end with a Puckerman quote from Glee.

"Are you questioning my badassness? Have you seen my guns??"

Tuesday hockey thoughts/Ohlund is still a Canuck

---It appears that even after leaving the Canucks for a sweeter life in Tampa, Fla., Matthias Ohlund still has some Canuck left in him. This was apparent when he absolutely dropped Phil Kessel who figured a trip through the trolley tracks might be a good idea. Again, this is what you get, Toronto, for pinning all of your hopes on a guy with one nut. The Canucks have never really had a bitter rival. Sure, we hate the Oilers, Flames, and Leafs (but for some reason Canuck fans decide the playoffs are a good time to cheer for the first to.), but those three teams hate other teams a lot more than we hate them. Still, it was nice to see Ohlund punishing a team we all hate.

---Where would the Canucks be without the signing of Mikael Samuelsson? Well, probably still in overtime with the Rangers had he not scored the first and third goals of the game. I admit I was hesitant with him at the beginning of the year, mostly just because he was making some stupid decisions. But after years and years of watching the Sedins, Steve Bernier, and practically the rest of the team fail to bury chances, it's pretty damn nice to see someone with some actual finish. And how about Ryan Kesler playing right around point per game hockey? How much is this guy going to be worth when his contract comes up? Goodbye, Mr. Demitra?

---Moving away from the Canucks, I still cannot believe the slew of injuries in 2009. Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin, last seasons top two scorers? Out for weeks. The Penguins have proved during the last two injuries of Sidney Crosby that they can play without their captain. That situation has just given fuel to Crosby haters that say he isn't as good as Malkin. Well, it seems to work both ways with the Penguins not missing a beat without Geno (Malkin). Crosby did have to save the game tonight against Anaheim when he "stacked the pads" and took a shot off the tin cup. The real question that will be answered in Ovechkin's absence? How good are Semin and Backstrom? It's going to be interesting to see how they will play without the MVP.

Husky commit gets drunk at school dance

The main story, the politically correct version of it, is filed here at the Seattle Times.

The reality of it is, Chris Young of Auburn High got drunk at a school dance and will be suspended for the rest of the football season.

I saw a comment on the story saying that a kid like this isn't good for a program as rich with tradition as Washington. That couldn't be further from the truth.

To paraphrase a national championship winning head coach, Nick Saban said that the purpose of college football was for the boys to come out of the program not just as better football players but as better people. So a kid got drunk at a school dance. So what? Name me one member of the 2009 version of the Washington Huskies that didn't go out and get smashed after the colossal 16-13 upset against then-#3 USC? Not everyone is Mr. Perfect like Tim Tebow.

Scout.com has Young listed as a four star prospect. The kid broke a school record with six touchdowns the last time he played. But get this, the Huskies are recruiting him to play safety, and recruiting analysts are touting him as the best safety prospect to come out of the state of Washington since Lawyer Milloy. Well, Milloy is now a Husky Legend. Can you honestly tell me there wasn't a time in high school where he went out and got drunk after a win in high school? For the work these kids put in, especially at the college level, they deserve a beer after a game.

So should this 17-year-old kid lose a scholarship because he made a decision without thinking of his future to impress some girls? No!!!

These high school stars are treated like gods, and in turn think they are teetering on the bring of invincibility. They're bound to think they are above the rules. And trust me, Young missing the post season of an already undefeated season year is going to hurt him enough to know that he might want to think before he partakes in under age drinking on school grounds.

I guarantee you Steve Sarkisian is not worried about this. If Young really can be as good as Milloy, I'm sure he'll take his chances and mould a man out of him.

Somewhat locally related links

Links and minutiae for you to peruse while taking in this not-so-glorious weather today in the Lower Rainland (Patent Pending).

---Some guy named Nucks IceMan at Bleacher Report (who has about the same knowledge as anyone following the Canucks and attempts to write about it) says that Cory Schneider could become one of those guys who shines in the AHL but can't make the transition to the big times. My take? Nucks Iceman is as much of a "ritard" as Allen in The Hangover. Much to the shagrin of people who think they know what they're talking about, Schneider has never really gotten a chance. Goalies need time to get acclimated into the pro game. Look at Marc-Andre Fleury. He was thrown into snake pit and was terrible. Now he's in consideration for the Canadian Olympic team. The only way Schneider can reach his potential is to be a number one goalie in a place like Atlanta or Florida where he can truely get used to NHL shooters without the pressure of a hockey market. Let him pull a Pekka Rinne and actually make a name for himself.

---Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun (and consequently the brother of my fifth grade teacher and may be the reason I'm in journalism) looks on the bright side of what the Canucks are doing with a depleted lineup, while saying that "it could be worse." Well yeah, it could always be worse. They could be the Toronto Maple Leafs and be awaiting upon their one-nutted saviour Phil Kessel. MacIntyre said five Canucks are having a good season but left out Henrik Sedin, who is on pace for his best season ever even without the services of his brother for the last 11 games.

---Moving a couple hours down south, Constable Echelon of Hotdog & Friends argues that seeing a lower level hoops team such as Cal State Northridge would be more entertaining and affordable at Key Arena when they play Seattle U, instead of paying the big bucks to watch Washington play at Hec Ed. Courtside season tickets are running at $150, working out to about $12 per game.

---For your high school football fix, Thomas Miller of The Sports Corner churns out info on all of the important games in BC while putting together weekly power rankings to rival The Province's Howard Tsumara's work.

--- Bob Condotta's football blog and Percy Allen's basketball blog at the Seattle Times will give you everything you need to know about the Washington Huskies two major athletic programs.

All for now.