Rick Rypien News

St. Louis Blues right wing Cam Janssen, right, is led to the penalty box by a game official after fighting with Vancouver Canucks center Rick Rypien in the first period at the Scottrade Center in St.

St. Louis's David Perron and Vancouver's Alexandre Burrows battle for a loose puck in the first period on Thursday.

The Canucks lost more than a game here on Tuesday. They also lost Kevin Bieksa, one of their key defencemen, who had been playing very well the past few games.

Alexandre Bolduc will get into the lineup right away tonight against the Phoenix Coyotoes after being recalled from the Canucks AHL affiliate in Winnipeg on Monday.

Opportunity will knock Saturday for the Canucks, who appear to be getting a better bargain than any Boxing Day sale.

Maybe the Canucks need to stop posting the standings on an LCD screen in their dressing room.

Injured Vancouver Canucks forward Pavol Demitra rejoined his teammates for an optional practice Tuesday morning but, for the third straight day, veteran defenceman Mathieu Schneider was nowhere to be seen.

So, when do you start to wonder? When is the security derived from a gritty, well-earned win over first-place Washington replaced by anxiety over another loss to the 15th-ranked team in the West? When can we tell if these are the old, easily satisfied Canucks, a group that can find a way to grow fat on winning one playoff round? Or if head coach ...

The Vancouver Canucks' practice Friday was short and sweet for most players, but it went sour in one drill when alternate captains Willie Mitchell and Ryan Kesler nearly came to blows.

Vancouver Canucks' centre Rick Rypien fights with Atlanta Thrashers' defenceman Boris Malabik during third period NHL action at GM Place in Vancouver, BC, December 10, 2009.

Perhaps the most overworked line in hockey - other than the Canucks' first unit - concerns the one about your best players being your best players.

Every Monday, we break down Vancouver's schedule for the upcoming week. The Games: Monday vs.

Hank's little brother nets a hat. 2. Henrik Sedin, Canucks. Danny's older bro collects two more helpers.

Divisional realignment would solve most of the Vancouver Canucks' problems. If the Canucks could play in the Atlantic Division, the Northeast or Southeast -- anything east -- their world would be happier.

Daniel Sedin hasn't missed a step, even though a broken bone in his left foot kept him out of the Vancouver Canucks lineup for 18 games.

Willie Mitchell and Ryan Kesler seemed on good terms during the jersey unveiling last year.

Let me take the time to explain a little background, about my take on coaching.A As a coach at any level, you are constantly working with many varied individuals and their personalities.

Sedin twins refuse to cool down Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin is checked by Atlanta Thrashers' Zach Bogosian as he scores on Ondrej Pavelec in Vancouver, B.C., on December 10, 2009.

Nashville's Shea Weber tries to defend against Vancouver's Henrik Sedin in front of Predators goalie Pekka Rinne during Tuesday game, a 4-2 win for the Preds.

Vancouver Canucks' Rick Rypien loves his fisticuffs, both on the ice and off. View full size photo>> So what's a hockey player to do with all that free time they have between games and practices? Apparently follow MMA pretty closely.