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Samuelsson Thriving In Vancouver
by Paul on 10/23/09 at 10:24 AM ET
Comments (7)
from Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province,
The three-year, $7.5-million contract he signed with the Canucks was $1 million a year more than what Detroit offered. Vancouver didn’t mind, even if Samuelsson’s high-water mark was 45 points. The Canucks believed they had a 60- to 70-point player who had been hidden batting eighth in Detroit’s lineup.
So far, it looks like they’re right.
“It’s up to you to say, but this is what I wanted when I came here,” says Samuelsson, who has so far artfully used the extra two minutes a game he’s getting in Vancouver to double his points-per-game from 0.5 to one. “I wanted a fair chance to prove I can be a big part of an offence.”
But investing in Samuelsson was based on more than potential point totals. His experience stands out in the Canucks dressing room like a funny joke on Jay Leno. Even the multimillion-dollar facelift couldn’t take care of the playoff skeletons in GM Place. Maybe Samuelsson can. He is one of the few Canucks who has actually won a big game. Or three.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Vancouver Canucks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Mikael+Samuelsson,
Comments
And with Sammy on that line instead of Williams, it’d be better.
Alas, the cap.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 10/23/09 at 12:26 PM ET
yah, sammy has been awesome for us. I do wish that a lot of his shots would hit the back of the net. He fans a lot and misses a lot. But he eventually scores after. I notice he has a tendency to shoot from ANYWHERE regardless of the quality of shot. Still, he at a ppg pace, so I have nothing to complain about.
Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 10/23/09 at 02:47 PM ET
I think he works better on a team less defensively minded.
Posted by stoneman from vegas on 10/23/09 at 03:09 PM ET
People have short memories. The guy was a ghost after he signed a long term deal. People forget he had a one year deal when he got here. He didn’t reappear until last years playoffs. He will fade just like he did in Detroit.
Posted by jtssrx on 10/23/09 at 03:13 PM ET
Good for William Tell!
He is a gunner, and if he would just hold his shot until he is inside the circles, he would have a lot more success with his scatter gun.
Also, anybody near the net should wear a mask…just ask Dan Cleary about William Tell’s accuracy.
Posted by w2j2 on 10/23/09 at 04:04 PM ET
In the third, Samuelsson deftly picked off a brainless Brian Campbell drop pass which he saw coming from Kalamazoo.
Like that hasn’t happened before. 
I’m happy he is doing so well - I knew the Vancouver fans would like him (although I did warn some of them about his crazy aim). Good for Sammy.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/23/09 at 05:33 PM ET
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Good for Sammy. I’m glad he’s getting a chance in Vancouver. The last two seasons with the Wings he was caught in a talent crunch. This summer, he was caught in a salary crunch. Sometimes those things just don’t work out for a player or a team.
The Wings miss his feisty play, but they’ve more than adequately replaced Sammy on the point on the 2nd power play unit with Williams…who can actually hit the net with most of his shots. And, surprisingly, Williams also has shown he’s got a bit of “grit” this time around. The unit of Filppula, Leino and Williams has been, by far, the most consistently competitive line for the Wings this year.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 10/23/09 at 11:01 AM ET