‘The Nuck Stops Here’ is a Vancouver Canucks news and opinion column running every Sunday throughout the season.

Linden Vey (Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)

NEWS

Canucks Recall Joe Cannata

The following is a press release from the organization:

Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has recalled goaltender Joe Cannata from the AHL Utica Comets.

Cannata has posted a 9-5-2 record, 2.49 GAA and a 0.907 save percentage in 16 games with the Comets this season. He split the 2014.15 season with Utica and the Ontario Reign of the ECHL playing five games with the Comets (3-2-0) and 21 games with the Reign (12-6-2).

The 25-year old native of Wakefield, MA was selected by Vancouver 173rd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

.@vancanucks have recalled goalie Joe Cannata @cannataj from @UticaComets pic.twitter.com/mbLiirJCKn

— TSN Radio Vancouver (@TSN1040) December 22, 2015

Canucks Recall Linden Vey

The following is a press release from the organization:

Vancouver, BC –Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has recalled forward Linden Vey from the AHL Utica Comets.

Vey, 24, has appeared in 26 games with Utica this season where he currently ranks first on the team in assists (12) and tied for second in points (15). In 2014.15, he appeared in 75 games for the Canucks, registering 24 points (10-14-24) and 18 penalty minutes. Vey also made his NHL post-season debut last season appearing in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

The Wakaw, Saskatchewan, native was acquired from Los Angeles in exchange for a 2014 second-round selection on June 28, 2014. He was originally selected by the Kings in the fourth-round, 96th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Scores of the Week

Florida Panthers – 5 : Vancouver Canucks – 4 (SO)

Tampa Bay Lightning – 1 : Vancouver Canucks – 2

Vancouver Canucks – 2 : Edmonton Oilers – 1 (OT)

Current Record: 14-14-9 (37 Points ~ 2nd in Pacific Division, 7th in Western Conference, 19th in NHL)

ANALYSIS

Sven Baertschi (Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)

Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi developing chemistry

For basically the entirety of the 2015-16 campaign, the Canucks have struggled when it comes to secondary scoring. The top line has held their own, but beyond that, you’ll be hard pressed to find someone, aside from maybe Alex Edler and Radim Vrbata, who is consistently putting points on the board. That may be changing however, as former 9th overall pick Bo Horvat and young winger Sven Baertschi appear to be developing some offensive chemistry between them. In the past four games, Baertschi boasts four points, while Horvat has two (both assists on Baertschi goals). Both players had had a rough start to the 15-16 season, especially considering that both started off in top-six capacities, but if they’re able to turn a corner, it could prove to be immensely valuable both as individual players, and for the team as a whole.

The Sedin twins (Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)

Sedins, Hansen not slowing down

For the past couple seasons, it’s been a bit of a struggle for the Canucks to find a consistent linemate for the Sedin twins. Radim Vrbata worked, but the coaching staff wanted to spread the offensive wealth around. Alex Burrows was decent, but seems to have lost a bit of his spark. But it appears as if they’ve finally found the answer to their question with veteran winger Jannik Hansen. Through every coaching regime, whether it be Alain Vigneault, John Tortorella, and now Willie Desjardins, Hansen had been the default selection for the top-line winger, but now, there’s some actual effectiveness to playing him there. It’s no longer out of necessity, it’s because he’s playing like a legitimate top-line player; Hansen currently boasts 22 points in 37 games, a 49-point pace (by far the highest of his career to-date). His linemates meanwhile, are posting excellent numbers themselves. Daniel Sedin has 37 points in 37 games, while brother Henrik has 33 in 35 to his name. Maybe they’ll fall off eventually, but at the moment, they don’t show any signs of slowing down.

AROUND THE BLOG-O-SPHERE

Fun links about the Vancouver Canucks from all around the internet

Our very own Colton Davies on Canucks prospects participating in this year’s World Junior Championships [The Hockey Writers]

Alex Biega embracing his chance with the Canucks [Vancouver Sun]

The kids could end up becoming trade bait for the Canucks [The Canuck Way]

A World Junior preview, featuring Canucks prospects Jake Virtanen and Brock Boeser [HockeyBuzz]

Canucks join up with local music artists for holiday rap video [CKNW]

World Juniors a chance for Jake Virtanen to re-connect with his roots [National Post]