Mason Raymond

After two hard-fought games against the Western Conference's elite—the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings—it is clear that there is little separating the top teams in the NHL's West.  

The Vancouver Canucks will be visiting the Ottawa Senators tonight on Hockey Night in Canada.

This will be a rare appearance for the Canucks on the early slot of Hockey Night in Canada, and will give eastern viewers a chance to see Canada's best team. 

The game starts at 7 p.m. Eastern, 4 p.m. Pacific and can be watched on CBC. For those who might be out Christmas shopping, it can also be heard on Team 1040 radio. 

VANCOUVER—The Canucks management brass made two deals right at the NHL trade deadline on Monday, Feb.28. 

The Canucks targeted two players who will come in and help their forward depth, two guys who are interchangeable in the bottom six role on the Canucks.

It took until the last few seconds of the NHL deadline, but the Vancouver Canucks have addressed some of their needs. 

The Vancouver Canucks lost out to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, dropping their record to 1-1-1—good for only ninth place in the West, with only three of six potential points.

So is it time to panic and jump off the bandwagon?

Well, in a word: No.

Last year, the Canucks opened up 0-3 and they still finished the season comfortably atop the Northwest Division. 

According to Bob McKenzie of TSN via Twitter, the New York Islanders have claimed right-winger Michael Grabner off waivers from the Florida Panthers.

The Blake Wheeler arbitration decision will come today. So we will find out how much money Wheeler got and if he will be a Boston Bruin for much longer. The Bruins have the option of keeping him, letting him go to free agency, or signing him and then trading him.

It was announced today that the Canucks have re-signed forward Mason Raymond to a two-year deal thus avoiding arbitration. In keeping with club policy, terms were not disclosed.

However NHL.com stated that several media reports (including local radio station TEAM 1040) that Raymond will make $2.5 million this season and $2.6 million in 2011-12.

That seems like a reasonable amount when you compare Alex Burrows $2 million and Mikael Samuelsson’s $2.5 million contracts.

While most of the big-name signees have put pen to paper and are now preparing for a whole new training camp, there are still a couple of interesting names out there. There are also some big pieces to be acquired through trade, restricted free agents that need contracts, and teams that need buying.

Although this is that typically quiet time we get between the second week of July and the first week of August, plenty can still happen.

By now, you have all heard that Tanner Glass, Jannik Hansen, and Mason Raymond have filed for arbitration after having received qualifying offers as RFA’s.

Now, I can understand Raymond taking this to arbitration as he had a minimum qualifying offer of $700,000.

Glass and Hansen? Not so much.

Sure I can see that Glass and Hansen want one-way contracts, and the team wants two ways. But for Glass, what does he have for an arguing point?