By Josh Martin, Sports Editor handful of players, whether they’re prospects or veterans, e fighting for a possible spot on the Vancouver Canucks. One of the most interesting players trying to make the squad is former Canuck, Brendan Morrison. The fan favourite is on a Professional Tryout and is not guaranteed he will make the team. He is now 35 years-old and is hopefully looking for a last hurrah with the city where he spent the better part of his career. Morrison grew up a Vancouver Canucks fan in Pitt Meadows, BC. He has played for five teams in his NHL career which included from 1999-2008 with Vancouver, where he played in 543 games and recorded 393 points, making him 11" in all-time franchise scoring. Last year, Morrison spent the season with the Washington Capitals recording 42 points in 74 games. He says that if he makes the team he will play on any position that the coaching staff will have for him, that means even the fourth line. Peter Schaefer, another former Canuck is back on a professional tryout as well. Schaefer at 33 years-old believes he still has some NHL left in him, and will get the chance to prove it in the pre-season. Schaefer was drafted in the third round by Vancouver (66" overall) in 1995 and was traded for Sami Salo several years later to the Ottawa Senators. Schaefer has recorded 259 points in 556 NHL Vets & Prospects Fight to make Team games and is known for his excellent penalty killing. He will most likely be fighting for a spot on the third line to play with Raffi Torres and Manny Malhotra. Last year Russian winger, Sergei Shirokov made the initial line-up after an impressive pre-season where he led the Canucks in scoring, but was quickly sent down to the Manitoba Moose after appearing in six regular season games without a point. He finished last year in the AHL with 22 goals and 45 points in 76 games, which made him third among AHL rookies for scoring. This year, the 24 year-old brings more experience and a stronger game to the table, which will make him a viable choice for the organization. Cody Hodgson is the top prospect for the Canucks and is expected to make the team, despite his on-going injury. The bulging disc in his back has been bothering the forward for 14 months now but is finally subsiding as Hodgson was recently cleared to play with contact and is ready to join a normal practice. He will be participating in pre-season games to ensure where he will be playing come the regular season. With only a couple weeks left until the 2010-2011 regular season starts, the Canucks will not only have to establish their line-up, but they’ ll have to get their team organized and declare who will be the next Captain. Brendan Morrison By Josh Martin, Sports Editor he Toronto Raptors are heading T= the 2010-2011 season, which is expected to be their rebuilding stage, with the loss of star Chris Bosh to the Miami Heat last summer. Last year, they finished ninth in the Eastern Conference and didn’t qualify to contend in the playoffs. This year, without their number one, it will be a different scene as they will not have the defence or rebounding skills to be a running team, they will also be without a big man to protect the perimeter and most of all they won’t have a guard who can create offense from almost nothing. The Raptors will miss Bosh in all of these categories. He is the whole package as a power forward; he’s long, athletic, skilled, and tenacious. Bosh is a lefty with a nice mid range and the ability to hit those three pointers from the perimeter. He dominates inside offense which makes him such a versatile player and works hard as a rebounder and defender. He averaged 24 points a game last season in 70 games total with a 79.7 free throw percentage and an average of 10.8 rebounds a game. The 26 year old was drafted by the Raptors in the first round, fourth overall back in the 2003 draft and has played seven seasons since. Bosh is a natural born leader who will be dearly missed by Toronto. With Bosh gone, there are some important holes that need to be filled before their season starts on October 27" against the New York Knicks. The Raptors are not looking good at the moment but you have to emphasize that this is again the rebuilding stage with the organization and the team is full of young blood and little experience, with more coming on its way in future drafts. Toronto received two first-round draft picks and a traded player exception & a wa POR Raptors on Verge of Extinction Andrea Bargnani in exchange for Bosh last summer. This will give a chance for other players to come in, give it all they got and establish themselves, at the NBA level. Rookie forward, Ed Davis who was drafted by the Raptors in the 2010 draft 14" overall in the first round will get his chance to shine coming in for his first year. The big framed 21 year-old, has a huge reach and unusual agility and footwork for his size. He is a great shot-blocker, rebounder, and post scorer who can explode past his opponents on the rush. Davis has the potential to be a starting power forward in the near future. Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan are both expected to be in the starting line-up, come October. Bargnani is going to be one of the key players of Toronto’s future, with four years of experience and averaging 17.2 points per game last season, he’s going to be called upon to answer the call along with DeRozan who will try and prove himself as a strong wing scorer. Toronto fans will just have to remind themselves this season and a couple more to come, that all good things come to those that wait. Hopefully the Raptors won’t go extinct like the Grizzlies did. 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