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The 10 O’Clock: Maybe this Canucks schlemozzle is a good thing; and, uh, can we trade for the Devils’ Schneider?

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It’s time for a dissenting opinion: The current madness surrounding the Vancouver Canucks is fantastic. Really.

A year ago, the only nuttiness was the Roberto Luongo-Cory Schneider situation. And really, everyone knew what was going to happen: Luongo would be traded. Schneider would become the Canucks’ No. 1 goalie. And the Canucks would continue to play well, even when they’d have to move into a new division featuring tougher teams.

Of course, that didn’t happen: how the goalies would go, that is. And really, things started to really fall apart the day Schneider was shipped to the New Jersey Devils. So now you have one injured former star, who hadn’t scored in a quarter of a season before his injury. You have his brother, another former star, who hasn’t done any better. You have another guy who’s been the best forward on a team of lousy forwards this season, who either wants out or doesn’t want out. You have another team leader who hasn’t scored all season, and his line hasn’t scored in 2014 at all. You have a goalie who hasn’t wanted to be here but has been professional about being here ($6.7 million a year must be a calming salve). You have a coach who appeared to get suspended for his insane actions at, it turns out, just the wrong time. And so many other incredible storylines that, mashed together, make you wonder how they possibly win any games (they barely do) or even score goals (they barely do).

And yet, it’s fantastic. That reset that GM Mike Gillis talked about? Has to happen. The shakeup of a lineup that doesn’t work? Has to happen. A need to seriously rethink their approach as they alienate both longtime and casual fans? Has to happen. Rather than fading away, this organization is crashing. If they’re going to start from the bottom, or somewhere near the bottom, they might as well start now. Why prolong this mess?

And on with the 10 O’Clock …

FOR SCHNEIDER, A MERCIFUL END TO GOALIE CONTROVERSIES?

Ah, Cory Schneider. From the day he was moved to the Devils, it wasn’t ideal. Sure, he’d inherit the No. 1 job from Martin Brodeur, but until then he’d have to share space, and share attention, with Brodeur. Same crap, different pile.

Now, it’s hard to say what Brodeur’s future is, with rumblings that he might be dealt by the Devils before Wednesday’s trade deadline. But Schneider is saying all the right things, just as he said all the right things as a Canuck. He told the Newark Star-Ledger that he has long respected Brodeur, back to the days where he had a Brodeur poster on his wall. He’s sorry that Brodeur’s been pestered with questions about his future all the time. And he knows how much Brodeur means to the Devils organization, and to fans — no matter where he ends up.

Whatever happens, Brodeur is currently scheduled to start the Devils’ game Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. It’s a home game. A chance for fans to say goodbye, if that’s what happens.

Of course, not everyone wants him to go.

https://twitter.com/SportsnetSpec/status/440501815973400578

 

THEY WIN STANLEY CUPS. AND THEY HAVE THE BEST ANTHEM SINGER. NOT FAIR

You know what’s really too bad about the Canucks probably missing the playoffs? The opportunity to have so many people here get to experience Chicago Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison singing the Star Spangled Banner.

Usually, of course, he does his thing at the United Center and it’s always amazing (like before a Canucks-Blackhawks playoff game in 2010, where he rocked O Canada as well). But on Saturday night, he sent shivers down my spine with his powerful delivery at Soldier Field in a driving snowstorm.

 

Unbelievable. Both Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews smiled during the anthem.

START WITH THE HOODIE

So there’s weirdness happening in San Francisco, as rumours swirl about the future of 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. This, naturally, forced Sports Illustrated’s Doug Farrar to take a closer look at the NFL’s bosses — most notably, who are the most indispensable coaches in the league? Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots ranks higher than Harbaugh, according to Farrar. As does Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints. The third: yep, Seattle Seahawks big man Pete Carroll.

Writes Farrar: “(GM John) Schneider is the personnel guy, but Carroll calls the shots, and he’s assembled the youngest Super Bowl-winning team in NFL history. The way he’s done it makes him just about impossible to replace.”

BO JACKSON, PART DEUX?

Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas has done a nice job writing about Russell Wilson. That would be Russell Wilson, the baseball player who also happens to be the most recent Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

This afternoon, at an exhibition game, Wilson will suit up for the Texas Rangers, who took him three months ago in what is referred to as a “Rule 5 draft.”

Says Rangers scout Chris Kemp: “I do think he could have been a major league player. An everyday guy? I wasn’t so sure. But I knew he could have a role on a big league team. His work ethic was a separator.” Ah, right, that Wilson work ethic. Makes sense. And yes, Wilson certainly seemed to be pumped around 7:30 this morning.

THE VIDEOS TELL THE STORY

I’m a sucker for the soldier-comes-home-from-Afghanistan, surprises-brothers-at-a-basketball-game story. Keep serving them up.

 

Now, you don’t see many putts like this to win a title. And you have to love Paula Creamer’s reaction.



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