Canucks and The Unlucky Number 9

 I hate this trade for Vancouver, but it's a huge step forward for Edmonton. Edmonton does this trade in order to free up salary to sign Bouchard to an extension, but this is one big thing Edmonton did that puts them in the right direction. I think for the Oilers next thing they need to do is get rid of their goalie coach while also finding a star goaltender, and they got their grit in Trent Frederic who can step up in Kane's place, but think this gives the Oilers a healthier dressing room and less penalties meaning less penalty kills. 

Evander Kane goes to his hometown team, and will likely replace JT Miller's presence. Now, what I hate about this for the Canucks is they don't seem to learn. I think Kane will bring the Canucks down, and will be given a way bigger presence and spotlight in Vancouver. I think that kind of thing won't be good for the city of Vancouver or the Canucks. I think what Vancouver needs to do is fix their locker room situation first as not only did it used to be dysfunctional, but it's probably become the most dysfunctional dressing room in the league now. But also, the Canucks didn't need Kane, they have a cheap contract and a player who already plays like him in Kiefer Sherwood. And Jake DeBrusk who is a solid hockey player makes the same amount as Kane and can produce at a much higher rate. 

Who wins the trade? The Oilers because they get a fourth-round pick and cap clearance. 

Now something that's caught my eye. Now, I assume Evander takes nine, which brings the fact that nine is a cursed number in Canucks history. The thing about number nine is it's the most common retired number in NHL history which also inspired Gretzky to take that number twice, and has been worn by many greats:

Anaheim - Paul Kariya

Boston - Johnny Buyck

Calgary - Lanny McDonald

Chicago - Bobby Hull 

Dallas - Mike Modano

Detroit - Gordie Howe

Edmonton - Glenn Anderson

Minnesota - Mikko Koivu

Montreal - Maurice Richard

New York Islanders - Clark Gillies

New York Rangers - Andy Bathgate; Adam Graves

Toronto Maple Leafs - Ted Kennedy; Charlie Conacher 

Now it's eye-opening to me that this is the one club where it's looks to be deemed back luck. It has been worn by many infamous Canucks highlighted by JT Miller, by far the most liked infamous Canuck. In fact, at one point JT Miller sold out of jerseys for the Canucks and was quite adored by their fans to which the fans would chant his name. But for obvious reasons he was traded to the Rangers. 

The player to wear that number for the Canucks was Brendan Leipsic, who had been bounced around the league due to his poor attitude, and was so disliked by the Canucks they waived him only to be picked up by the Kings. And because of Scott Arniel, a friend of a friend of the Leipsic family, got him a contract with the Capitals which later led to his termination due to a group chat with his loser friends consisting of misogynistic comments, insulting teammates, talk of drugs, and insulting players wives. 

Jack Skille, a journeyman with a lot of hype as a young prospect who couldn't find a place. Brandon Prust wore it before Skille, who ironically was traded for the player who wore it before him, and Prust has been known to be quite controversial off the ice, also will always be remembered by Canucks fans for his infamous quote after spearing Brad Marchand in the groin: 'Best money I've ever spent.'

Zack Kassian had taken the number from the player who he was traded for, but Canucks fans won't likely remember Kassian on the ice because he had to serve three suspensions totalling to twelve games, but off the ice he had multiple arrests one for assault when he was nineteen, and after being traded from the Canucks was suspended with pay after a car accident. 

And the player Kassian was traded for who wore it before him was Cody Hodgson, who Canucks fans will remember as the player who was going to be the next Captain Canuck. Hodgson lit up the OHL and had one of the best World Juniors ever, so good Canucks fans expected him to be the next star of the NHL. Well... he spent the following season injured, and was up and down from the AHL. I was personally a fan of Hodgson, and it's too bad because he seemed like not only a nice person but a dedicated hockey player. 

Taylor Pyatt had worn the number before Hodgson had, while a good player he wasn't one too fond of the pressure Vancouver had. 

Mike Keane is a hockey legend who played for various teams winning three separate Stanley Cups and served as Montreal's captain before being traded to the Avalanche before winning their first cup. After the Canucks, he went onto play with the Manitoba Moose being the Canucks AHL affiliate where he helped various players like Ryan Kesler, Cory Schneider, Michael Grabner adapt to the NHL level. But fans will remember Mike Keane as #12 after having his number retired by the Manitoba Moose. 

Harold Druken wore it before Keane, who was a Newfoundland-born player who I believed to had some great seasons with the Canucks, putting up some solid rookie numbers. But Canucks fans would likely not remember him as he didn't do anything fans really talk about to this day. But today we're talking about him, but managed to get points in half his games with the Canucks. But he was the last batch of Canucks who had a taste of playing for the Syracuse Crunch before they switched affiliates onto the Manitoba Moose. 

Mike Stapleton wore it before Druken, which happened to be the final stop for a long-time NHL journeyman, but I personally know him as a good answer on PuckDoku. 

Brad May wore it before Stapleton, who was a player all Canucks fans will remember, the one who stood up for Todd Bertuzzi during the infamous his on Steve Moore. But also a fan favourite, even in the dark days of the Mark Messier era as the Canada West Express-line was just about to take off consisting of Brendan Morrisson, Todd Bertuzzi, and former Captain Canuck Markus Naslund.

Lubomir Vaic wore it before Brad May, who only played nine NHL career games before going back to Europe where he managed to have a long career playing in various leagues. 

Russ Courtnall wore it before Viac, who was a native to the province of British Columbia from Duncan on Vancouver Island. Now, he was committed to the Canucks and wanted to help bring a cup to Vancouver, but the issue was Mark Messier wanted to be sure his friend Esa Tikkanen would be on that team. Now, Courntall was a fan favourite who put up some great numbers for the Canucks and is a player Canucks fans will bring up now and again. 

Gary Leeman wore it before Courtnall, who was a great hockey player and a previous cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens. Except, Canucks fans won't remember him even playing for them as he only put up two goals in ten games before playing his final two games with St. Louis. But will always be remembered by Maple Leaf fans.

Ryan Walter wore nine before Gary Leeman, a New Westminister native who decided to end the storybook of his incredible career with the Canucks. He started as a 2nd overall pick with the Capitals, before being traded to Montreal and winning a cup in 1986. Except, he didn't do much for the Canucks and managed to play a little longer than expected which was Vancouver. 

Andrew McBain wore nine before Ryan Walter, who didn't do much to be remembered by Canucks fans as he played only forty-five games with the club before moving onto Ottawa. Rather unfortunate because his career was going well with the team who drafted him, the Winnipeg Jets, and after that was never able to get back to his old form. 

Tony Tanti was part of the trade that sent Andrew McBain to Vancouver which sent him to Pittsburgh. He is a Canucks player no fan will ever forget, and if nine should be retired by any Canuck it should be him to put the bad luck to bed. Tanti is one of the point leaders for the Canucks playing eight full seasons, had a small frame but did a lot and total team player. He is a player Canucks fans will never forget, and it's sad he didn't even get considered for the Ring of Honour. 

Ivan Boldirev wore nine before Tanti, and was a big piece of the Canucks historical run to the finals in 1982 and was third in scoring before being traded to Detroit for Mark Kirton.

Don Lever was traded away to the Atlanta Flames for Ivan Boldirev, who was the one who wore nine after him. He was the third-ever first-round pick by the Canucks and also one of the best captains for the franchise. After leaving the Canucks, he managed to play over one-thousand games.

Dale Tallon wore nine before Lever, who was a top-rated skater and the first ever Canucks first-round pick. In his day he was a talented offensive-defenseman, but left a bad taste in the mouths of Canucks fans as he just left the team to play for their rival the Chicago Blackhawks. But fans will remember him as the general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers. 

Ed Hatoum is the player who wore it first, and Vancouver happened to be his final stop.

Now, in Canucks history they have retired six numbers:

10 - Pavel Bure - One of the greatest goal scorers of all-time

12 - Stan Smyl - The leader who showed what it meant to play for the Canucks and is the star from the olden days people still talk about as he led them to their first cup final appearance.

16 - Trevor Linden - Best captain in Canucks history who took the torch right from Stan Smyl and made Canucks fans proud.

19 - Markus Naslund - Their MVP and superstar who stepped up after the infamous 'Mess' who made them a very competitive team

22 - Daniel Sedin - He and Henrik are the best Canuck forwards in history.

33 - Henrik Sedin - See above.

Numbers not worn

11 - Wayne Maki was the first player to wear that number, but after his career was over future Canucks captain Chris Oddleifsson took the number. Wayne Maki passed away in 1974, where Oddleifsson decided to change his number to 14 in respect to Maki, and I think Wayne Maki should be the first player we think about when it comes to number eleven and the Canucks. Now, Mark Messier came along, took the number players chose not to wear, and decided he'd make the team the way he wanted it. Messier is the worst thing to happen to the Canucks, but we'll talk about that another day. 

28 - Luc Bourdon was a player drafted 10th overall by the Canucks in 2005, the same draft as Sidney Crosby. After he was killed in a motorcycle accident, his number had been taken out of circulation. Now, when Ian Cole joined the Canucks he took the number without being aware that had been Bourdon's number, and decided to switch it to 82. 

37 - Rick Rypien was a solid player for the Canucks who battled depression while making it into the NHL. Rypien was a player tough as nails, and is one who Canucks fans will remember forever. Rypien went onto sign with the Winnipeg Jets, but had passed away on August 15, 2011.

You'd think at that point nine should be either retired or taken out of circulation being how unlucky and tainted it has been. But if you ask me, the Canucks should retire it for Toni Tanti or JT Miller. But I know Evander Kane will wear that number next season, and will let it be known why nine should never be worn by a Canucks player ever again.