Matt Martin, one of Orton’s clients
I had the chance to speak to Dave Orton, a strength coach from Windsor, Ontario, last week. Dave trains professional athletes from a wide variety of sports (in addition to us everyday folk at Lifestyle Fitness). He trains several NHL players, including Zack Kassian of the Vancouver Canucks and Matt Martin of the New York Islanders.
Even with a second straight Presidents’ Trophy, 2012 was largely a year of disappointment for the Vancouver Canucks. The team lost in convincing fashion to the surging Los Angeles Kings in Round 1 of the playoffs, and the intensity and effort that carried Vancouver to the 2011 Cup Final was largely nonexistent in 2011-12.
There were some impressive individual performances this past season, though, and GM Mike Gillis was very busy with regards to player transactions. In addition to that, the biggest news of the year in the hockey world has, of course, been the most incomprehensible work stoppage in the history of professional sports. Let’s get to the most interesting and/or newsworthy stories relating to the Canucks in 2011-12.
Canucks GM Mike Gillis and Assistant GM Laurence Gilman were on the TEAM1040 on Wednesday afternoon with Don Taylor. The interview was wide-ranging and about as candid as could be expected from the two. They covered essentially all of the major issues surrounding the team right now, from the lockout, to Ryan Kesler’s injury status, to Alex Edler’s development, and more.
Although the season is only a few months old, why not check in and see how the top 20 prospects are faring?
The Canucks have placed a focus on size and strength at the draft and on the trade front in recent years. The shift in philosophy is perhaps no better reflected than in the team’s three best young forwards – Zack Kassian, Nicklas Jensen, and Brendan Gaunce. Coincidentally (or maybe not), the trio all play different positions as well.
Read on past the jump to find out whether Vancouver could be icing their own version of the famous Legion of Doom line in a few years.