White Towel

Ben Kuzma and Ed Willes talk about Brock Boeser’s return to the ice, Jake Virtanen’s changing role with the club, and how the spread of COVID 19 is impacting the hockey world.

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to talk about the final stretch of the Canucks season. They wanted meaningful games in March, they’ve got them, and depending on the results, Ed suggests nothing is off the table for GM Jim Benning or coach Travis Green.   They also talk about the surprising role of Jake Virtanen and Ed suggests that Green has cards to play to jolt the team into life that he’s not playing and that it could cost him in the long run.

Ed Willes and Patrick Johnston join Paul Chapman for the to talk about the team’s resiliency in coming back against Montreal, the genius of Quinn Hughes, the fabulous first impression of Tyler Toffoli (and what it will take to keep him in Vancouver) as well as the loss of Jacob Markstrom. 

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to talk about the plight of the current Canucks. Is the trade for Tyler Toffoli a wise move for the franchise? Ed is not sour on the deal, but having spent a lot of time watching Tyler Madden last year, he feels the kid has a lot of potential. They also get into the injury and the issues plaguing Brock Boeser, the team MVP candidates, and revisit Sedins Week and talk about the ups and downs of the 2000s as part of the Canucks at 50 series.

Ed Willes and Patrick Johnston join Paul Chapman to talk about the Vancouver Canucks current run. They get into the depth of the Canucks and if the team can withstand significant injuries down the stretch. The trio also kick around the growing stature of rookie Quinn Hughes. With it being Sedin Week, they give answers on who should be next in the rafters for the Canucks. 

In a very special episode of The White Towel podcast, Ed Willes and Ben Kuzma join Paul Chapman to talk all things Henrik and Daniel Sedin heading into the Vancouver Canucks honouring the twins during "Sedin Week".

Ed Willes and Ben Kuzma join Paul Chapman to discuss the state of the Canucks as the team creeps up to the trade deadline. Was the loss against Boston a one-off or are there louder alarm bells sounding with the continued decline of the power play? The trio also talk about the impact of Quinn Hughes, the ways the Canucks can protect Elias Pettersson, and the sweet spot coming up in the team’s schedule. They also discuss the plight of Brock Boeser.

Patrick Johnston and Ben Kuzma join Paul Chapman to talk about the evolution of the Vancouver Canucks over the course of a season.   Not simply a streaky team, the Canucks now have longer highs and shorter lows and the writers surmise this is down to the maturation of players like Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, and to the additions of veterans like J.T. Miller.

Patrick Johnston and Ed Willes join Paul Chapman to talk about the Canucks All Stars. They also talk about some notable incidents in past All-Star Games, what adding women to the weekend mix means for hockey, and why we should just enjoy the exhibition as a celebration of hockey.  They then talk about the outlook for the Canucks after mid-season break and what the odds are on them making the playoffs.   

In this week’s snow-delayed White Towel podcast, Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to talk about the Canucks heading into the All-Star break. Among the topics discussed, how do the Canucks match up in the stacked Pacific Division? In a playoff series, which team would actually be the best? Are the Canucks using Jacob Markstrom effectively? Ed and Paul also revisit the old Patcast and remember some great Jeff Paterson and Jason Botchford travel stories, and revisit the 1990s Canucks and Pat Quinn’s skill as a general manager. And, finally, Ed talks about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations and tries to compare bands to great NHLers.

On this week’s edition of the White Towel podcast, Ed Willes and Ben Kuzma join Paul Chapman to talk about the Vancouver Canucks' meltdown in Tampa that brought the team's seven-game winning streak to a screeching halt. How much do the Canucks rely on goaltending to compete? The trio delve into Jacob Markstrom’s leverage in negotiating a new contract with the club this summer. They also talk about which Canucks need to step up their game in the second half of the season, what the new front office structure means and how much the Canucks have improved off the ice. The podcast wraps with Ed and Ben telling stories about the 50th anniversary series and some of their favourite anecdotes from the hotel bar and other places covering the Canucks on the road in the past.  

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman for the final White Towel Podcast of 2019. The Canucks’ current struggles are examined, and the pondering over the job security of general manager Jim Benning and coach Travis Green has begun. Who is in more peril? Ed also explains why he thinks the Canucks are stuck in the same spot they’ve been in the last three seasons after seemingly upgrading their defence, bringing in a true top 6 piece in J.T. Miller and having a full cadre of young stars. Lastly, they discuss the place in history Trevor Linden takes with the franchise. Ed talks about his recent interview with Linden that will be featured as one of the Top 50 Moments in Canucks history. 

In this week’s White Towel podcast, beat writer Ben Kuzma and columnist Ed Willes join Paul Chapman to discuss the Canucks “microcore” and the challenges they face going into the rest of the season. The group also looks at the job Jim Benning has done, the increased social media presence of owner Francesco Aquilini and whether that places any extra burden on Benning, as well as the dilemma of what to do with the goaltending situation looking ahead to the off-season. The podcast finishes off with a look back at the 1982 Canucks team that caught fire and rode it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.  

In this week’s edition of the White Towel podcast Patrick Johnston and Ed Willes join Paul Chapman to talk about the burst of offence the Canucks have received this season. While the most prolific players are Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller has been the most important offensive key for the team this year. They also discuss owner Francesco Aquilini going ‘scoreboard’ on critics of the Miller trade, the importance of Quinn Hughes to the Canucks attack, and finish with a lengthy discussion on the inquest into hockey culture which has now centred on former Canucks coach Marc Crawford. Download or stream the White Towel podcast and subscribe via Apple Podcasts to get the insight of our Canucks writers every week.

This week’s White Towel Podcast sees Ed Willes join Paul Chapman to talk about the recent Canucks struggles, the potential for a goalie controversy, the job security and possible moves for General Manager Jim Benning, and the furor caused by the Canucks wearing their black “Skate” jerseys and whether that’s really noteworthy or just social media fluff. Listen to the White Towel podcast every week by subscribing via Apple Podcasts.

The latest edition of the White Towel podcast is super-sized: Host Paul Chapman is joined by Canucks beat writers Patrick Johnston and Ben Kuzma plus columnist Ed Willes. The quartet take a look at Quinn Hughes’ ongoing growth as an NHL defenceman, the fact the Canucks keep scoring in buckets and the pressures they’re going to face on a big road trip to close November. Plus, there’s no avoiding Don Cherry; all three writers found themselves covering the departure of the outspoken broadcaster this week, each in a different way.

This week both Canucks beat writers Patrick Johnston and Ben Kuzma join Paul Chapman to talk all things Canucks. Starting with the team’s performance on the ice, the topic is the versatility of the Canucks and how they have so far exhibited the ability to outscore teams, or play a tough, physical and “heavy” game against quality teams like the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. The impact of Quinn Hughes is also discussed, along with the balanced contribution the team is getting so that when one player goes cold, there has been another one there to step up. It’s not all great news as the podcast discusses possible red flags and pitfalls for the team as they get deeper into the season. With the ESPN NHL player survey coming out this week, and rubbishing Edmonton and Winnipeg as cities players hate to go to, Ben and Patrick tell us which cities they love or hate to visit on the road, and why. The podcast finishes with more travel talk as Patrick tells us the travails of losing your passport whilst in the midst of a road trip in California last week. -- Subscribe to The White Towel podcast on Apple Podcasts to get all the Canucks news, insight and opinion each week from our beat writers.

Ed Willes and Ben Kuzma join Paul Chapman to talk about the amazing offensive roll the Canucks are on. The writers get into what has made such a big difference on the team, who the difference makers have been and what fans can expect to see over the next month and beyond. Why is this team on such a tear, and how much can coach Travis Green and GM Jim Benning take credit for in this version of the Vancouver Canucks? Listen to The White Towel podcast every week by subscribing to us via Apple Podcasts.

Columnist Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to dissect the fast start the Canucks have got off to. Ed surmises that it’s depth that has brought the Canucks to where they are, the additions of JT Miller and Tyler Myers, as well as Jordy Benn, have played as big a role as the growth of talented budding stars Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes.   Subscribe to The White Towel podcast via Apple Podcasts to get the insight and news from our Canucks writers and personalites every week.

On this week’s episode of the White Towel podcast, Paul Chapman and Patrick Johnston break down a promising homestand for the Vancouver Canucks.  This season feels different from past starts. Is it?  Plus a look at what J.T. Miller’s already brought to the table, the pressure on Thatcher Demko and the new-look defence.  

Unfortunately, posting of this podcast was delayed until after the Thanksgiving weekend, but the content is still gold!  Join Paul Chapman and Patrick Johnston as they give their early season impressions on the Vancouver Canucks.

The return of Canucks hockey also means it’s the return of the White Towel podcast. Postmedia hockey writers Patrick Johnston and Ben Kuzma look at what the Canucks look like going into the 2019-20 NHL season: how will the new-look defence fare? Is Quinn Hughes the real deal? Can Elias Pettersson be even better than before? 

Patrick Johnston and Paul Chapman take a look back at the draft and then ahead to free agency.   How did the Canucks do with their nine picks? Why was the reception for Vasili Podkolzin initially mixed?   With reflection what do we make of the J.T. Miller trade?   The Canucks seem set to sign Tyler Myers but might they make any other moves?    And will Roberto Luongo’s number be retired?  

Patrick Johnston explains why Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning made a home run pick in taking big Russian forward Vasili Podkolzin. 

Paul Chapman is joined by longtime Vancouver broadcaster Dave Pratt in this special edition of the White Towel.   Dave talks about his new podcast, The Prattcast, weighs in on the current plight of the Canucks, the NHL draft, and even bike lanes.   He also talks about the sun setting on sports radio in Vancouver and pays respect to former Province writer Jason Botchford for trailblazing a path forward on the Canucks beat.

In the movie Draft Day, the Cleveland Browns' owner takes the GM to an amusement park and tells him he wants to make a "big splash".   Is the same scenario in the offing for Jim Benning and the Canucks?   Patrick Johnston and Ed Willes take a look at the state of play with just over a week to go until the NHL Entry Draft.    

Patrick Johnston and Ben Kuzma talk about whether the Canucks might stand pat at the draft or move up, who the Canucks are looking to pick at 10th overall, take stock of the Alex Edler situation, and list  some valuable lessons taught by the St. Louis Blues.

Ed Willes and Paul Chapman look at which Stanley Cup finalist, the St. Louis Blues or the Boston Bruins, provide the most salient roadmap for the Vancouver Canucks to follow on the path to winning a Cup.   Ed’s opinion on this may surprise you.   They also discuss Raptors hysteria and how much interest in Vancouver there is in the NBA and if Canucks ownership has any interest in returning a team to Rogers Arena.

Patrick Johnston and Ben Kuzma look at the list of free agents the Canucks have on their roster.   Alex Edler’s signing (or not signing) will affect the rest of the roster; it all starts from there.

Patrick Johnston joins Paul Chapman to discuss the plan forward for the Canucks’ defence, plus some thoughts about what it is the Bruins have done right in rebuilding on the fly and how long it will be till the Canucks are in similar shape. Plus, some thoughts on their late colleague Jason Botchford.  

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to talk about all the chatter surrounding the Canucks front office on this week’s version of The White Towel podcast. Compared to most other teams, the Canucks appear to be missing people in key front-office positions. Ed talks about how this impacts the plan to build a winner in Vancouver. The pair also talk about the playoffs and compare what the Canucks would have to do to see a path like the Avalanche, Hurricanes, Blues or Blue Jackets are travelling this season. 

In this week’s White Towel podcast Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to talk about the exit of the Canadian teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and how the Canucks can look at the teams who have advanced in the playoffs to shape their rebuild. They also talk about the Canucks presidency position, what they need in that role, and which formerly-fired Canucks executive has been sounded out about a return to office.

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to talk about the NHL playoffs and how the Canucks' prospects compare to the other teams in the playoffs.   Willes says the Canucks seem miles away from being able to get into the playoffs and compete with the top teams in the NHL.     

In this week’s White Towel podcast Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to put the whole Canucks season on a slab. From the disappointing draft lottery results to the priorities in free agency, Ed talks about the direction the team must go in the offseason. Ed also talks about Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson.

After Quinn Hughes debut for the Vancouver Canucks, Ed Willes and Paul Chapman are wondering if the elite prospect can survive under the microscope.   Talk turns to the impending draft lottery, the Canucks' offseason strategy, Jake Virtanen's future in Vancouver, and Jim Benning's draft prowess.    

In this week’s White Towel podcast Ben Kuzma joins Paul Chapman to talk about the slimmest silver lining to another Canucks season, hopefully a look at last year’s top draft pick, Quinn Hughes.   Ben talks about how important Hughes’ skill set is to the Canucks, and some of the other problems facing the team in the offseason. 

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to talk about Canucks general manager Jim Benning's job security.   Has Benning done enough to be given the mandate to go forward or are there some big names out there that may spur the team into a move?   Ed gives insight on the job Benning has done and what other factors may play into the decision.

Patrick Johnston joins Paul Chapman to answer all your Canucks questions of the week in this edition of the White Towel podcast. Patrick delves into why the Canucks have followed the trend the last three seasons essentially nailing down a lottery draft pick, then winning games at the end of the season to lessen their chances of a higher pick.   They also get into which blueliners may have helped, or hurt their causes for next season.  Patrick also gives his insight into what Quinn Hughes has on his plate the rest of the season, and what Elias Pettersson told him about Hughes.   They also get into the issue of General Manager Jim Benning. While missing playoff revenue for the last four seasons has seen the team cut some financial corners off the ice, Patrick tells us what he thinks the pressures on Benning are, and what are the chances he’s going to be given the green light to swing for the fences in a crucial offseason where the Canucks want to make a big splash as they host the NHL Draft in June, and have money to spend in free agency on July 1.   Download and subscribe to the White Towel podcast on Apple Podcasts every week, visit us and give us a rating.

This week's White Towel podcast opens with talk of expectations squarely on the shoulders of injured rookie Quinn Hughes, potential for the Canucks to make moves at the NHL Entry Draft, Travis Green's pitch to be the bench boss going forward, and why GM Jim Benning might be out of a job by the end of the season.

In this week’s White Towel podcast, Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to delve into the debate over Brock Boeser being a great young player or merely a good piece. Other topics include: pressure put on young players, underperforming journeymen veterans, and whether Utica is the best place for young players to develop. Finally, the podcast covers if Vancouver is a more toxic market than others, with news that Dahlen had to delete his social media accounts because of abuse from Canucks fans. Does Vancouver have an especially angry fanbase?  

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman on the White Towel podcast to share his dissertation on the Vancouver Canucks performance at the NHL trade deadline.   The guys try to figure out what went wrong for Erik Gudbranson in Vancouver and if he can be a valuable piece in Pittsburgh for the Penguins.   Ed also talks about the holes left on the Canucks blueline, the Jonathan Dahlen trade, and what the rest of the season holds for the Canucks.

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to discuss the litany of Canucks injuries. Is this a product of bad luck or are the Canucks doing something wrong to have so many players on the IR, with Jake Virtanen being the latest. With the looming trade deadline they also examine what to expect from the Canucks and GM Jim Benning at the trade deadline.   They then examine the Canucks blueline and are Erik Gudbranson and Derek Pouliot scapegoats or really that bad? Ed has some thoughts on how Gudbranson can be used to still be of value to the Canucks, and he also expounds on how much Quinn Hughes changes the whole equation for the Canucks next season.   Ed also illuminates on the Canucks gameday experience, and if what the reaction would be in Vancouver if they participated in the post-win antics that are causing such a fuss in Carolina. Download, listen and subscribe to the White Towel podcast covering all things Canucks on Apple Podcasts and give us a rating.

On the latest episode of the White Towel podcast, Paul Chapman and Patrick Chapman take a look at the Canucks’ goalie controversy this week and what it really means.   They also get into the team’s defence, their planning and where the team really stands in their development.

On this episode of the White Towel podcast, Patrick Johnston is joined by the Utica Observer-Dispatch’s Ben Birnell to chat about the Utica Comets.   The development of players like Adam Gaudette, Jonathan Dahlen and Jonah Gadjovich are on their radar, as well as the team’s hopes for the post-season and the situation in goal, where Ivan Kublakov now finds himself No. 1 in net.  

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman for the White Towel podcast where they delve into the Canucks playoff hunt and how much benefit it will bring the team in the long run.   They also examine the case of Nikolay Goldobin, and how many more chances does he have to prove he can be a contributor to the Canucks beyond this season. Ed was encouraged by Goldobin’s play recently when placed on Bo Horvat’s line, but the question is, can he bring that night in and night out?   Also covered in this week’s podcast are Erik Gudbranson and Derrick Pouliot. Are they scapegoats or really below-par performers who have no place in the Canucks plans?   Ed also gives an assessment of the Jacob Markstrom and coach Travis Green and the odd relationship between the Canucks and the Super Bowl winning New England Patriots is also discussed.    

Ed Willes and Paul Chapman talk about what the All-Star Game meant to Elias Pettersson and how the experience of a young player being included with the game’s greats is often overlooked.   The podcast also covers what the trade market will be for the Canucks now that the Leafs and Kings have set a bar for the rest of the market, what the second half of the season holds for Brock Boeser, Jake Virtanen and Bo Horvat, and if the Canucks will still be in the playoff mix come March.   And last week’s “Pricklygate” podcast, which touched on the interactions between Pettersson and the media, and the ensuing social media fallout is addressed—especially the impact on Ed’s Sunday dinner.    Lastly, talk turns to Rogers Arena, is it an ‘armpit’ and would Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini need to upgrade the team’s home to entice the NBA to return to Vancouver.  

In this week’s White Towel Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman to talk about what makes Elias Pettersson different?   While many wondered if Pettersson could handle the rigours of the NHL and the media attention, he has exceeded all expectations. Ed says part of it is in the kid’s prickly nature, and while that has concerned Canucks braintrust in how he handles the media, it may be part of what makes him unflappable on the ice.   The pair also covers Alex Edler and Chris Tanev’s value to the team, Jake Virtanen’s season and if Trevor Linden’s departure has actually harmonized the Canucks front office or if Linden was just the victim of bad timing.  

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman for the latest edition of the White Towel Podcast. In the pod the boys get into where the Canucks really stand in the Western Conference. Is a playoff chase an essential part of their development? Ed also believes this is where we will really see what the Canucks are now they finally have their full set of forwards healthy and ready to roll with Brandon Sutter back and Elias Pettersson on the verge of a return. They also get into the state of the blueline, the Canucks prospect group and reflections on other key pieces, Quinn Hughes and Michael DiPietro and what Ed took out of their performances at the World Juniors. Finally, Ed gets into the standing and stature of Roberto Luongo who just visited Rogers Arena, and where he ranks as an all-time Canuck.

Harrison Mooney and Patrick Johnston are back for another episode of the White Towel podcast. Olli Juolevi’s season is suddenly over. What’s with that? The Canucks and the Lightning got emotional on Tuesday. What’s with that? And might the Canucks trade a defenceman in the new year? This is Province Sports Radio.

Paul Chapman is joined by Ed Willes to talk about the progress made by the Vancouver Canucks this season. After a game in which they physically answered the bell after an opponent had injured a teammate, they talk about the maturation of the young Canucks team and how they are learned to stand up for each other. There’s also talk of the chemistry between Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson and of the blueline, what do the Canucks need to go with last year’s number one pick Quinn Hughes to take the next stage of development as a team that can compete in the playoffs. Ed also assesses the job GM Jim Benning has done, and he talks about the city of Seattle as a hockey market as he prepares for a visit to Washington State this weekend to get the puck potential in the Emerald City. Subscribe to the White Towel podcast via Apple Podcasts and give us a rating and let us know what you think.

Two days after Nikolay Goldobin was scratched to some controversy, Patrick Johnston and Harrison Mooney are here to take further stock of the Canucks, who might just find themselves in a realm of sadness when the end of the year comes. The guys talk about lineup decisions, about ambitions and about reality. This is the White Towel podcast on Province Sports Radio.