One strike Keith Ballard. Two strikes David Booth. Three strikes Jason Garrison?

 

After the Vancouver Canucks signed Garrison to that whopping six-year, $27.6 million contract skeptics were asking if this will be another “sour” deal with a former Florida Panther.

 

Ballard is grossly overpaid with a cap hit of $4.2 million on a contract that continues until the end of the 2014-15 season.

 

It’s too early to call Booth a bust, but he certainly did not live up to expectations in his first season with Vancouver (29 points in 56 games and just one assist in five playoff games) with a cap hit similar to Ballard at $4.25 million per year for the next three seasons.

 

Now, Garrison will cost $4.6 million per season, a fancy raise over the $700,000 he received from Florida.

 

In total, the Canucks invested more than $13 million in these three aforementioned Panthers.

 

The 27-year old Garrison is arguably the biggest gamble for Mike Gillis since he took over as GM. He is coming off a break-out season with 16 goals and 33 points and a plus six rating in 77 games with Florida. That’s the good news; however, the former Nanaimo Clipper has only played 190 NHL games with just 59 points to show for it. In other words, he wasn’t much more than a depth defenceman with the Panthers prior to the 2011/12 season.

 

As well, when entering the free agent market, you either dive in or stay out. There’s no middle ground. The Canucks went all-in on Garrison, crossing their fingers that they are now in a better
situation.

In addition, Gillis needed to make a move after losing out to the Edmonton Oilers on the Justin Schultz sweepstakes. He had no interest in matching the ridiculous two-year, $7.5 million deal that Tampa gave to 37-year old injury prone defenceman Sami Salo.                                                                         

 

In another move, Vancouver wisely did not want to re-sign Aaron Rome, who somehow received an outrageous three-year, $4.5 million deal from Dallas.

 

Garrison wanted to play in his home province and on a winner. The Canucks certainly needed a top blue liner so there was an obvious fit for both sides.

 

Expectations will be high for the White Rock native, who will be given plenty of opportunity on the power-play. He did not face this kind of pressure while playing in the relative hockey obscurity of Florida.

 

Once Roberto Luongo is traded, he will be, along with Kevin Bieksa, the 4^th highest paid player on the team only behind the Sedins and Ryan Kesler. Yes, Garrison will earn even more (by $100,000) than another B.C. product, Dan Hamhuis of Smithers.  

 

 

 

Is it just me or is something not adding up here? The former Prince George Cougars captain has seven solid NHL seasons to his credit, yet will earn less than a teammate who has played 439 fewer games and just the one bona fide year.

 

Naturally, money isn’t the only measuring stick, but how often does a player who gets more than a 600 per cent raise in hockey live up to the contract? In this case, Gillis is banking his reputation on it. After the failures of Ballard and Booth, it’s just about time for Garrison to silence the critics by stepping up to the plate and not go down swinging.

 

 

 

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It’s a stretch to suggest that the Wild have become instant Stanley Cup contenders, but Minnesota should be the most improved team in the NHL.

This is a big victory for the “little guy” as Zach Parise and Ryan Suter signed identical 13-year, $98 million contracts. Usually players of that magnitude like to go to a big market and/or glamour team, not one where blizzards are the norm over the course of the winter.

The 27-year old American friends wanted to play together, however, this was not a case of a Lebron James-Chris Bosh basketball scenario where they joined forces with another superstar Dwyane Wade in Miami.

Parise instantly becomes the top forward and Suter the best defenceman on the team. This move makes Minnesota much more relevant as the Wild have not been to the playoffs since 2008. There is no disputing that the NW Division has become much more competitive following these signings.

Minnesota will be a dangerous team especially since they have strength in goal with Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding.

Parise and Suter chose family over glitz and as leaders want to be the centre piece of a franchise on the upswing in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. And that is a refreshing change. 

 

 

 

 

A new law that charges passengers $50 for vomiting in taxi cabs has just gone into effect in Chicago. This is pretty much the Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane’s worst nightmare. He may need to restructure his contract. 

Comedy writer Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver

 

 

SF 49ers star rookie Aldon Smith apparently sustained minor injuries when he was stabbed at a party near San Jose. This comes five months after a DUI in Florida. What’s Smith trying to do? Get traded to the Bengals? 

 

 

Contrary to popular opinion, the U.S. Republicans are not that unhappy with Justice John Roberts. In fact they just sent him an invitation for an all-expense-paid hunting trip with Dick Cheney. 

Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, Californiawww.leftcoastsportsbabe.com

 

 

 

Jim Palmer, explaining why he’s auctioning off his Cy Young Awards, says he no longer needs trophies as momentous of his Hall of Fame career. But he is keeping his framed Jockey undershorts.

Former Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia, who was signed by the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes injured his fingers giving the peace sign. It must’ve been a Metta World Peace sign. 

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 

 

 

Spain beat Italy 4-0 in the Euro Cup 2012 final. Of the 8 Americans watching on ESPN, one guy figured out that a kick that Spain booted over the crossbar counted for 3 points.

Anyone remember this guy? Billy Kundiff of the Baltimore Ravens is considering soccer as a new career. Makes sense, his place kicks actually end up as “corner kicks” anyway.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/) 

 

 

Packman Jones talked to NFL rookies about excess and explained how he spent $1 million in a single weekend. The CFL countered when they had a former great come and tell their rookies how he almost used up all his food stamps during the pre-season.

A Vancouver couple has anonymously donated $30 million to help reopen heritage home Taylor Manor as a housing facility for the homeless in the city. The complex will be ready for 2013 and will have space for both rookie and veteran CFL players. 

Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgaryhttp://smacksport.blogspot.com

 

 

What’s the difference between a CFL player and the Canadian Mint? The Mint isn’t making pennies. 

 

Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com