Mikael Samuelsson Named As Honorable Mention On Dobbler Hockey's 2009-2010 Prime Cuts

2009-10 Prime Cuts (Part 5 of 5)
Jeff Angus DobberHockey.com May 12, 2010

Better late than never! The final part of the Prime Cuts 2009-10 article series is here! Check out the Prime Cuts rosters from 2007-08 and 2008-09. The thinking process that goes in to selecting the team is similar to Pierre McGuire’s “Monsters” for TSN (I promise that is the first and only time I will compare my thinking process to Pierre’s). Since this is a fantasy hockey site, the selection process favours players that have had strong seasons on the score sheet, obviously. However, not just goals and assists are weighted – perhaps a player has started to shoot the puck more, or play better defensively. Intangibles like heart, grit, and determination factor in to the selection process as well. It is far and away my favourite article to write each year, and I hope you will all enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it!

Honourable mentions:
Mikael Samuelsson – perhaps the best non-goalie UFA signing last summer (Craig Anderson), Samuelsson set career highs in almost every category, anchoring the Canucks second line with Ryan Kesler.

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Samuelsson Assists Twice In Game 5 Win Over Chicago

Bieksa's pair pace Canucks as Luongo keeps Hawks from clinching
Associated Press May 9, 2010

The Vancouver Canucks got back to a more disciplined style, made sure they had fun and relied on a formula that's familiar and successful.

They used their speed, checked well and got solid goaltending from Roberto Luongo. Their reward: at least one more game with the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference semifinals.

Kevin Bieksa scored twice and Luongo made 29 saves Sunday night in a 4-1 victory that cut Chicago's series lead to 3-2.

"The two games in Vancouver obviously our emotions in some situations got the best of us," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "We needed to be more disciplined and we were."

Vancouver gave up four power play goals in Game 4 on Friday night when its attempt to play more physical ended up in a penalty-filled 7-4 loss that put the Canucks one defeat away from elimination.

"I think that was a little uncharacteristic of us. We are a fairly disciplined team. For whatever reasons we were frustrated the last game and did things we don't usually do," Bieksa said.

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Man On Fire: Spurred by an Olympic snub, Mikael Samuelsson has turned into a scorer

Brian Cuzeneuve Sports Illustrated May 10, 2010

Mikael Samuelsson's ascent from journeyman forward to the NHL's hottest scorer began with a blind-side blow—not a hit from behind, but a stab in the back. Samuelsson's Canucks were in Calgary on Dec. 27 when the 33-year-old winger learned he'd been left off the Swedish Olympic team. A gold medalist in 2006, he fumed at the omission, urging Swedish officials to engage in unprintable anatomical gymnastics. "I knew I deserved to be on the team," Samuelsson says. "My words came from the heart. I don't regret them."

Neither do the Canucks. After dispatching the Kings in six games, Vancouver trounced the Blackhawks 5--1 in their Western semifinal opener last Saturday at the United Center. Although Samuelsson didn't score, through Sunday his seven goals were third best in the postseason, and his +9 rating was tied for first. "Mikael has been completely on fire," says his linemate Daniel Sedin. "There isn't a hotter player in the league."

Samuelsson admits the slight from home was a catalyst for the play that has put him among the game's top snipers. "It flipped a switch," he says. "I wanted to prove that they made a mistake, and the best way was with what I did on the ice."

At the time he had 10 goals in 38 games, and was +1 for the season. But over his next 31 games Samuelsson scored 20 goals and was +14. It was a stunning turnaround for a nine-year veteran who had broken the 20-goal plateau just once before. Samuelsson had played on four teams before signing with the Red Wings as a free agent in 2005. He became a playoff rookie that season at age 29. Three years later he won a Stanley Cup. Vancouver G.M. Mike Gillis liked the Red Wings' Euro-heavy blueprint for success and last July gave Samuelsson, a third-liner in Detroit, a three-year, $7.5 million deal. As important, Gillis also promised the Swede a bigger role with a franchise that still awaits its first title. (Samuelsson's 76 postseason games are more than those of all but one Canuck.)

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The Bleacher Report's Top Five Canucks In The Playoffs, Number One Mikael Samuelsson

Canucks Playoffs: Their Top Five Players
Nucks IceMan The Bleacher Report May 7, 2010

Number one has to be Mikael Samuelsson as he leads with 8 goals and 4 assists. The one area that has really impressed me is his physical play, which speaks volumes for his compete level and will to win.

The ‘Nucks need more guys like Mikey.

The Sedin Twins fall into second and third place respectfully and although Daniel has one more point at 11, two game winning goals, I’ll give the nod to second to Henrik who has been strong in the face-off circle (59%) and has hung in there when the going got tough.

We’ll see if the Hart Trophy nominee rises to the occasion on the key Friday night game.

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Canucks TV Talks With Mikael Samuelsson

NHL.com April 3, 2010

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Sammy Makes The Sports Dish's All-NHL First Round Team

The Sports Dish Exclusive: All-NHL First Round Team
The Sports Dish April 28, 2010

Right Wing- Mikael Samuelsson, Vancouver Canucks (7 G, 4 AST, 11PTS)

When your team is facing a Goalie as good as Jonathon Quick, it’s tough to score when you do not have an offense as good as Vancouver’s and a player as good as Mikael Samuelsson. Samuelsson was complety dominating Quick and the Kings defense during the series and scored 7 goals. He also helped score four more goals by providing his teammates with good passes, as well. Look for him to make a big presence in the series against the Blackhawks.


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Mikael Samuelsson Best Secondary Player In Round 1

Top 10 Secondary Players in Round 1
Dave Poleck The Hockey Writers April 28, 2010

1. Mikael Samuelsson (7 goals, 4 assists)

Samuelsson led the Canucks in goals and points and used his deadly wrist shot to expose Jonathan Quick’s weak glove all series long. In Samuelsson’s last three Finals’ runs with Detroit, he had 11 points in 18 games, 13 in 22 and 10 in 23 last year; his highest goal total over that stretch was five.

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Canuck Offense Gets Edge Over Chicago Heading Into Series

Early look and prediction at Hawks-Canucks

Jesse Rogers ESPN Chicago April 28, 2010

Offense: Vancouver had the most potent attack in the Western Conference, but the Blackhawks weren’t far behind. Both teams have secondary scoring, but it didn’t surface as much for the Hawks in Round 1 as it will need to in Round 2. Players like Kris Versteeg and even Troy Brouwer might find the open ice against Vancouver a relief compared to Nashville’s stifling play, especially in games 1-4 of the opening round. There might not be a better top line in the conference than the Sedin twins along with Alex Burrows. And don’t forget about Pavol Demitra and Mikael Samuelsson. Samuelsson leads the NHL in goals in the postseason with seven. Edge: Canucks.

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Sammy's Lucky Break Helps The Canucks Advance

Canucks’ late goal finishes off Kings: Latest third-period rally sends Vancouver to conference semis
Associated Press April 26, 2010

Of all the breaks that went the Vancouver Canucks’ way in the final three games of their playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, none was bigger than a fortuitous crack in Mikael Samuelsson’s stick.

When Samuelsson’s lumber snapped on a shot that sent the puck trickling meekly toward the net, Daniel Sedin was in perfect position to pounce. His late goal sent the Canucks into the second round on a wave of confidence in their talented twins’ top line, which is making its own good luck.

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Mikael Samuelsson's Hard Work Paying Off

The harder Samuelsson works the luckier he gets
Ben Kuzma The Province April 26, 2010

The media mob was surrounding Henrik and Daniel Sedin and allowed Mikael Samuelsson to catch his breath and contemplate another stunning playoff comeback Sunday. And while he didn't score to send the Vancouver Canucks to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, he proved that there is no such thing as luck. There is preparation meeting opportunity.

When Samuelsson's stick broke as he teed up a slapper in the slot with the score tied 2-2 late in the third period, the puck found Daniel Sedin and his sharp-angle wrister beat Jonathan Quick for the game-winner en route to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

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Signing Samuelsson a coup for Canucks

Dave Lozo NHL.com April 25, 2010

When Mikael Samuelsson signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent last summer, it wasn't exactly an attention-grabbing move on par with Marian Gaborik and the Rangers, or Marian Hossa and the Blackhawks.

But at three years and $7.5 million, Samuelsson has been a bargain. Teammates rave about what he's brought to the Canucks after spending four seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Besides leadership and Stanley Cup experience, he also contributed a career-high 30 goals while playing mostly on the second line, a stark contrast to his time in Detroit, where Samuelsson was a third-line player who didn't get anywhere near as much power-play time as he has in Vancouver.

"He's been great that way," Henrik Sedin said of Samuelsson's offense. "We know he's kind of an offensive talent to score more than he has. He was put in a different situation here, playing on the second line, more power play, and he's stepped up."

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Samuelsson's a Swede surprise

Samuelsson's a Swede surprise
tearing it up: No matter what Henrik Sedin says, no one could have seen this coming
Gordon McIntyre The Province April 23, 2010

Had it been Christian Ehrhoff at the point and not Daniel Sedin, Mikael Samuelsson might have gone to the net for a rebound.

But since Ehrhoff was in front of the crease, screening Jonathan Quick, and it was a Sedin with the puck at the blueline, Samuelsson knew he had to be ready for anything.

So when Daniel's slap-pass arrived, Samuelsson turned his blade at the perfect angle to redirect the puck past Quick and pull the Canucks even at 3-3 at 7:29 of the third period in Wednesday's pivotal Game 4.

"I'm looking to do a little more with them, I guess," Samuelsson said about being moved to the Sedin line for the third period.

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Meet The Players: Mikael Samuelsson

The Vancouver Sun April 22, 2010

He moved to North America in 2000 to join the San Jose Sharks organization. After one year there, he moved on in fairly rapid succession to play for the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings in that order. said laughing. He added that Sandra makes great lasagna and lots of good Swedish food as well.

He has few dislikes but is easily rattled in traffic. He likes to cut through it.

He is also a man who stands for social justice. When he sees unfair treatment of people both on and off the ice, "that rattles me too."

Mikael Samuelsson is married to Sandra who is from his native Sweden. He has two kids -4½-year-old William and 2½-year-old Stina. They live in Shaughnessy.

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Mikael Samuelsson's Experience Proving To Be Major Factor In Canucks Success

Kings not at all surprised by this series
Veterans had warned younger players it would be this way and now it's 2-2
Arash Markazi ESPN Los Angeles April 22, 2010

"This is was what I hoped for," Samuelsson said. "This is what I wanted. I wanted to play a bigger role. I really liked it in Detroit, but I got stuck a little bit there and I thought I could do bigger things and I still think that."

He has proven his worth so far, on and off the ice for a Vancouver team, which may have more playoff experience on the roster than the Kings but only has one player in Samuelsson who knows what it feels like to hold the Stanley Cup.

"He's been unbelievable for us and that's what we need," Henrik said about Samuelsson. "He's been there every game for us. It's been fun to play with him. He's really calm out there. He makes the plays that we need and he's really patient and if things don't go right he stays with it and that's what we need."

While the stat sheet will show Samuelson's impact on the ice, his ability to relax the Sedins and his teammates may be just as important. This is a team that would have almost certainly fallen behind 3-1 in a similar situation last year but stuck with its game plan and battled back to get the win this year.

"You have to approach it as a game," Samuelsson said. "If you want to get deep it's like if you're watching a movie. Last night I was watching a war movie. I can get into it, but you have to understand it's only a movie and this is only a game. It means a lot obviously, but you have to take it for what it is and separate yourself from it. I'm pretty easy going like that. I just try to stay calm."

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Sammuelsson Helps Canucks Take Series Lead Over LA

Kings down Canucks, take series lead
Sports News Radio April 19, 2010

Michal Handzus scored two power-play goals and added an assist to help Los Angeles defeat the Canucks, 5-3, in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series at Staples Center.

The clubs split two overtime games in Vancouver, with Los Angeles dropping the opener, 3-2, before overcoming a two-goal first-period deficit to take Game 2 by the same score on Anze Kopitar’s winner.

Drew Doughty registered a goal and three assists for the sixth-seeded Kings, who hosted their first playoff game since April 27, 2002.

Ryan Smyth and Brad Richardson also tallied for Los Angeles, while Jonathan Quick made 25 saves on 28 shots.

Mikael Samuelsson, Daniel Sedin and Mason Raymond each had a goal for the Northwest Division champion Canucks, who were dealt an embarrassing 8-3 loss in their last visit to Los Angeles on April 1.

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Classic Video: Mikael Samuelsson Game Winner vs. LA Kings 4-15-2010

Playoffs: Mikael Samuelsson Scores in OT vs Kings Apr. 15/10
VanCity12 Youtube.com


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Samuelsson Receives 1st Star Honors from Yahoo! Sports Puck Daddy

Thursday's Three Stars: Samuelsson, Plekanec OT heroes
Sean Leahy Puck Daddy Yahoo! Sports April 16, 2010

No. 1 star: Mikael Samuelsson, Vancouver Canucks

The final game of the night needed an extra period to decide things and at 8:52 of overtime, Mikael Samuelsson's shot beat Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick(notes) for his second goal of the night as Vancouver took Game 1 3-2. The Sedins continued leaving their imprint on the Canucks' offense with Daniel adding a goal and an assist and Henrik recording two helpers of his own.

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Samuelsson nets winner in overtime as Vancouver slips past L.A.

Canucks work overtime to get 1-0 jump on Kings: Samuelsson nets winner in overtime as Vancouver slips past L.A.
Canwest News Service April 16, 2010

The Vancouver Canucks had to work overtime to do so, but they struck first in their NHL Western Conference quarter-final series with the Los Angeles Kings.

Mikael Samuelsson scored his second of the night at 8:52 overtime to give the Canucks a 3-2 win Thursday before a towel-waving crowd at General Motors Place.

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Samuelsson brings the ring-thing factor to the Canucks

Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun April 14, 2010

There aren't many Stanley Cup rings in the Vancouver Canucks' dressing room and, given the team's history of never winning one, obviously the jewelry has been captured elsewhere and been imported.

Mikael Samuelsson won his ring two years ago while a member of the Detroit Red Wings and then reached the final again last season before the Wings fell in seven to Sid Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins.

So Samuelsson has been there, he's done that and wants to do it again with his new team. The right-winger, 33, signed a three-year deal with the Canucks last summer, in part because they were seeking his playoff experience and savvy. Samuelsson has played 69 post-season games, all of them since 2005-06.

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Mikael Samuelsson Part of A Regular Season To Remember For Canucks

A Regular Season To Remember
JJ Guerrero CanucksHockeyBlog.com April 11, 2010

The Canucks won 49 games, tying the franchise record set by the 2006/2007 edition. Their 30 home wins is a franchise record.

They scored 268 goals, 2nd in the NHL only to Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. It’s their highest goal total since their first season at GM Place.

They ranked 3rd in win percentage (.795) in games in which they scored first; they also led the league with 11 wins after trailing in the third period.

Individually, several players also had career years....

In his first season with the Canucks, Mikael Samuelsson hit the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career and scored a career-high 53 points.

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