01-18-2020, 12:50 AM
With the Vancouver Canucks officially eliminated from playoff contention on Monday night, there may be an off-ice shakeup on the horizon. Larry Warford Jersey . TSN Hockey Insiders Pierre LeBrun, Darren Dreger and Bob McKenzie all tweeted on Tuesday morning that changes for the struggling franchise could be on the way sooner than later. The Canucks have been eliminated from the postseason for the first time since 2008. Dreger and McKenzie hinted that former Canucks captain and fan favourite Trevor Linden may be part of a new regime. "Not sure exactly what will go down in Van today, but Trevor Lindens name is in the mix. Perhaps, Van using Sakic and Avs template," tweeted Dreger. "Further to @DarrenDreger, nothing official yet, but sounds like Trevor Linden expected to be new president in VAN," added McKenzie. "Hearing whispers that perhaps change is coming sooner rather than later with the Canucks, perhaps as soon as today or tomorrow..." tweeted LeBrun. "Nothing concrete as I said, but those are whispers out of Van city. Will it be the GM? or the coach? We shall see..." Linden, however, said that he has not been approached by the Canucks organization about a possible change. "I havent [spoken to the Canucks] and I think its interesting," Linden told Global BC on Tuesday. "When teams struggle, theres lots of speculation." Linden did add that working with the Canucks once again held some appeal. "Ive always said to people, if the opportunity is right and the time was right, Id have to seriously consider it." Linden would conclude the interview by stating that an announcement on his future involvement with the Canucks was "not imminent." Down 3-0 in an eventual shutout loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the lower bowl at Rogers Arena had hundreds of empty seats throughout the game, with most the fans leaving before the final buzzer went off. The fans that did remain were chanting for Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis to be fired. Gillis seemed to criticize the style of first-year head coach John Tortorella in a interview with TEAM 1040 Radio in Vancouver last week, saying that he wanted the team to get back to the type of game that got it to the 2011 final against the Boston Bruins. Tortorella, who was hired by the Canucks last summer, has four years left on his contract with the club. "VAN situation is highly volatile, and also highly unpredictable," tweeted McKenzie on Tuesday. "A LOT of money involved in making changes. Lots of moving parts." Rickey Jackson Jersey . And by all indications, the team is expected to select phenom Connor McDavid with their selection. The Buffalo Sabres, who were knocked down to the second overall pick after finishing with the worst regular season record, are expected to take the other generational player in Jack Eichel. Lance Moore Jersey . Goodell said in an ESPN Radio interview Monday (http://es.pn/1gkbauy ) that participants played harder and made the game very competitive. Goodell says he had fun watching the game Sunday and thinks fans did, too. http://www.customsaintsjersey.com/custom...2172e.html .C. -- LeBron James called comments on an audio recording of a man identified as Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling "appalling" and said hes not sure if he would suit up for the remainder of the NBA playoffs if he played for the Clippers.CHICAGO - The Minnesota Wild entered this Western Conference second round battle as considerable underdogs to the Chicago Blackhawks, but they have a chance to grab a series lead over the defending Stanley Cup champions in tonights Game 5 showdown in the Windy City. You can watch all the action on TSN and TSN GO beginning at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt. Minnesota dropped the first two tests of this best-of-seven set at Chicagos United Center and was outscored by a combined 9-3 margin in those setbacks. However, the Wild righted themselves at home by taking Game 3 by a 4-0 count before knotting the series at two games apiece with Fridays 4-2 triumph at Xcel Energy Center. In order to grab their first lead of the series, however, the Wild will have to be the first team to beat Chicago on home ice in this postseason. The Blackhawks, winners of two Cup titles in the previous four years, are 5-0 at the United Center in the 2014 playoffs and boast a 16-2 record at home since the start of last springs postseason. Chicago will aim for a seventh consecutive home playoff victory on Sunday night. Minnesota is just 1-5 as the road team in the 2014 playoffs, with its lone away victory coming in Game 7 of the opening round against Colorado. The Wild are 2-15 over their past 17 road tilts in the postseason. On Friday, Matt Cooke provided an immediate spark in his return from a suspension to help the Wild remained undefeated at home in these playoffs. Cooke received a seven-game ban for kneeing Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie in Game 3 of the opening round, and he didnt take long to make his presence felt, helping give Minnesota an early lead. The antagonizing forward stole the puck from Chicago defenseman Michal Rozsival on the forecheck and dished to Justin Fontaine, who went top shelf to beat Crawford from the right circle 7:24 into the game. It was the first career playoff goal for Fontaine. "Its fun to contribute and its fun to chip in. Its just fun to be back out there again," Cooke said. Bruce Clark Jersey. "I should have fresh legs. Ive got to go out there and lead the way and hopefully my energy is contagious." In addition to the assist, Cooke also registered two shots on goal and delivered five hits in nearly 16 minutes of ice time. Jason Pominville, Nino Niederreiter and Jared Spurgeon supplied the other goals for the Wild, who have outscored the opposition 16-5 while winning all five games at Xcel Energy Center. Ilya Bryzgalov made 18 saves to help the Wild even the series. Patrick Sharp and Michal Handzus each had goals for Chicago, while Corey Crawford stopped 27 shots in the setback. "They worked for everything they got and we got to do the same," said Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. While Cooke returned from a suspension to make in impact in Game 4, the Blackhawks lost forward Brandon Bollig for two games due to a boarding incident in Fridays contest. The NHL handed Bollig a two-game suspension for his hit from behind on Minnesota defenseman Keith Ballard late in the second period. Bollig was assessed with a minor penalty on the play, while Ballard was injured an did not return to the game. Ballard has endured a history of concussions, the latest of which cost him seven games early in the regular season. He had returned to the lineup in Game 3 after missing the final 14 games of the regular season and nine postseason tilts with a pulled groin muscle. Both Ballard and forward Matt Moulson, who sat out Game 4 due to a lower-body injury, did not make the trip to Chicago for tonights game. In addition to Bollig, Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw missed a third straight game with a lower-body injury he suffered in the series opener and expects to sit out again on Sunday. The winner of tonights contest will get a chance to end the series when the clubs meet in Minnesota for Game 6 on Tuesday. ' ' '