Canucks’ trades and the loss of Averil
Hodgepodge by Charlie Hodge
Why do I feel like I have seen this movie before?
And despite all the hype the movie turned out to be just mediocre.
It reminds me of the sarcastic, tongue in cheek statement, ‘Keep on beating me it feels so good when you stop.’
The Vancouver Canucks traded Quinn Hughes, the NHL’s best defenseman and probably the best player in the National Hockey League team’s history. No matter how excited, or even ‘okay’ with the latest shuffling of the deck in Vancouver I want to be – I simply feel the vicious circle of going nowhere continues.
Hughes was dealt to Minnesota Wild on Friday in a truly blockbuster deal for forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren as well as defenseman Zeev Buium, and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin was naturally ecstatic over his scoop saying, “Bringing a player like Quinn Hughes here, you just don’t get these opportunities all that often. When a player of Quinn’s caliber comes available, and you have an opportunity to get him, there’s a cost to it and we were willing to do what it takes”.
Yeah, no kidding. Only a fool would say no to one of the world’s truly elite. Hughes won the 2024 Norris Trophy and was captain of the Canucks. He is one of six players that have already been named to the United States roster for the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026. He was dynamic, exciting, and returned enthused fans to the rink.
Tez and I were both initially shattered at the trade news, having decided that with Hughes on the Canucks roster we’d become huge Canuck fans again. I even bought her a Canuck sweater with Hughes’ name and number on it. It’s because of Hughes’ skill that Tez has once again fallen in love with the game.
For the first two days after the trade we fumed and sulked about the trade, yet after listening to a number of skilled (and a few not so skilled) broadcasters sing the praises of what the Canucks received in return, we started to calm down. We then watched the Canucks’ first game without Hughes and with the new kids in town.
We were pleasantly surprised.
Zeev Buium is clearly a very skilled two-way rookie defenceman and while he may not have all the savvy and superstar potential of Hughes, he will certainly be a star on the blueline and help replace Hughes. Buium scored a goal and garnered an assist in the Canucks 2-1 win. Impressive start. Marco Rossi is a diminutive veteran of a few years, solid, and will easily eventually fit the mode of a second line centre. Ohgren is a big, confident solid skating rookie forward who actually looked at home in his first game.
The key to the deal will be what the Canucks get with the first-round trade they also received. That is the huge unknown game-breaker to this draft.
Time will tell how the Canucks did in this deal. Hopefully it won’t be a bust, and not just part of a ‘rebuild”. Canucks fans deserve better after 55 years.
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Regardless of my moaning and analyzing, the loss of Hughes to Vancouver is something time will eventually blur into the background. The same, however, cannot be said with last month’s passing of local resident Averil Radke. The wonderful lass made instant friends with those she met, her quick brain and sense of humor endeared her to many. She was a pleasure and honour to know.
Averil was also a very knowledgeable hockey fan and constantly finished high in the Media Hockey Pools standings both regular season and playoffs. She often finished ahead of her equally savvy hockey pool husband Shurman. Averil was the only female participant in the pools which often saw more than fifteen participants.
The media hockey pool has a long tradition in Kelowna going back to the late 1970’s and has always been as much about camaraderie, the getting together with other media hacks, and finding a neutral ground in which to have some chuckles and get to know one another. A lot of silliness and frivolity highlights the opening draft when teams are picked. While the suds flow so does the humour and barbs. Few can hand out or take the bombardment of witty comments and shots like Averil could. In fact Averil seemed to get the upper hand in most of them including verbal vanquishing’s with Al Patterson or myself. Her wit was remarkable, her sense of humour outstanding, and her kindness top shelf.
We will all miss you deeply Averil and our fondest regards and blessings to husband Shurman.
Averil was born 1969 in Kamloops. A celebration of life will be held Jan10 at the 97th Street Pub. Further arrangements entrusted to First Memorial Funeral Services, 1211 Sutherland Ave, Kelowna 250-762-2299.
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A reminder to readers that with the holiday season comes another tradition – the annual Charlie’s Christmas Angels List.
Angels are simply folks who have gone above and beyond to assist or help others.
I invite you to send me your list of caring folks who have made a difference in your life – or even just one day.
The criteria to make the Angel list are simple – be a kind person who willingly does something nice for another.
Return the kindness by surprising them with a public thank you in the Angel list.
Take a few minutes and email me your Angel’s names and reasons to charliehodge333@gmail.com
