Gragnani determined to shine for Vigneault
He had been a healthy scratch for the better part of the last six weeks with the Buffalo Sabres and now Marc- Andre Gragnani is getting a chance to quarterback the first- unit power play of the Vancouver Canucks.
Excuse Gragnani if he pinches himself.
When Gragnani got the news last Monday that he had been dealt to the Canucks, he figured it was good news. He had played two seasons under Alain Vigneault in the Quebec Junior League and knew his old coach would give him a chance to play. But he never dreamed of this. “When they told me I got traded I was really nervous for about half a second and then they told me Vancouver and then I was ecstatic,” Gragnani said Monday. “I was so happy. I know how he [ Vigneault] works. I had a really good time when I was coached by him and I performed well under him. So I know everything is here for me to do good. I have everything around me to do good and so now it’s up to me.”
Not much good had happened in Buffalo lately. After making a terrific impression in last year’s playoffs — when he had seven points in the Sabres’ firstround loss to the Philadelphia Flyers — Gragnani started the season as a regular on the Buffalo defence. That continued until the All- Star Game. He had only played once, very briefly, since the All- Star break.
“I think it’s just that they were struggling and I was the only rookie on D so I was an easy option, you know,” Gragnani said. “So that is probably what happened.
“They really didn’t give me an explanation when I didn’t play. But I worked hard, stayed in shape and I am happy I did that now because I feel very good right now.”
The Canucks like Gragnani’s puck- handling skills and his ability to move out of his own zone and are giving him a good look on their power play, which has been struggling of late.
“Our scouts felt with us losing Christian [ Ehrhoff] that this young man had that offensive spark to know when to jump into the play,” Vigneault said.
The Canucks will have to give Gragnani a fair bit of time if they are to prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer. Unless he has logged 80 NHL games, including playoffs, by the end of this season, Gragnani would become a Group 6 free agent. He has played 68 games heading into tonight’s game against the Dallas Stars.
Leaving Vancouver certainly is not on his mind these days. Gragnani is pumped about playing again for Vigneault, who coached him as a 16- and 17- year- old in Prince Edward Island.
“I like the way he does things,” Gragnani said of Vigneault. “He was always really honest back then and I am sure he coaches the same way now. He tells you when you play good and when you play bad, he’s straight forward. There’s no grey area, you are good or bad. Not so- so. Personally, I like that.”
SEEING STARS: The Stars will start backup goalie Richard Bachman tonight against the Canucks. Bachman has been impressive since replacing former Canuck Andrew Raycroft as the Stars’ backup to Kari Lehtonen. Bachman has compiled a record of 7- 3- 1 with a 2.58 goals- against average and a .916 save percentage.
Roberto Luongo will start in goal for the Canucks. SEDIN STRUGGLES: Vigneault doesn’t seem too concerned with the recent decline in production of the Sedin twins. Henrik has gone five games without a point and Daniel has one point in his last five.
“They have not been 5- on- 5 as good as they normally are,” Vigneault said. “But I’d like to look at this in a positive way, too, in the sense they are still one and two in scoring in our conference.
“I know these two guys, I know where their hearts are, I know how much they work. Points might be a little bit more challenging right now, but I have got a feeling when push comes to shove they are going to be there. They always have for us.”