What's wrong with Jason Garrison?

[sfgiants5518]

3. NO POWER IN HIS PLAY: Jason Garrison isn’t the first player acquired from the Florida Panthers to struggle in transition to the Canucks. Keith Ballard had hip surgery before arriving and then a concussion and knee injury curtailed his effectiveness. David Booth was stunned by his trade and needed seven games to get his first goal and was just starting to hit stride when felled by a knee injury. And now he has a groin injury.

However, Garrison’s struggle in concerning. The White Rock native did have a chronic groin issue to correct during the lockout and he certainly knew of a rabid following for the Canucks in this province. But he was acquired via free agency and awarded a six-year, $27.6 million US deal to provide the big shot on the power play — especially in the absence of the departed Sami Salo — and hasn’t delivered. At first, he wasn’t shooting enough and then accuracy became a problem. Then, Garrison started to struggle in his own zone and was split from Alex Edler and placed with Kevin Bieksa. On Saturday, he was also taken off the power play and supplanted on the first unit by Jordan Schroeder with Daniel Sedin moving back to man the point. Garrison wasn’t on the second unit either.

You wonder if that groin is bugging him again. Garrison had 16 goals last season, including nine on the power play, which were just two behind Shea Weber, who led all bluelines in that category. Garrsion has just one goal and 17 shots in 11 games. Edler has three goals and 29 shots.

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/02...-for-garrison/

It's concerning that he hasn't produced this year. Luckily Hamhuis has picked up some of the offensive slack.. as well as Bieksa/Edler. If this team wants to win, Garrison needs to AT THE VERY LEAST establish himself on the PP.

[sfgiants5518]

Garrison won the hardest shot at the Canucks skill challenge:

Jason Garrison should consider it a form of therapy.

In the annual Vancouver Canucks' love-in, better known as the Super Skills competition, the struggling defenceman was greeted as a conquering hero, just like the rest of his teammates by the adoring faithful Sunday afternoon at Rogers Arena. That's what five-straight NHL victories mean in a hockey-mad market. Instead of enjoying a rare day of sunshine, a huge throng of true believers cheered every shot, save and even the expected shaving-cream pie to the face of rookie Jordan Schroeder.

And when Garrison wound up in the hardest-shot competition, the 28-year-old White Rock native unloaded a winning blast of 101.8 miles per hour. You could almost sense the piano-size pressure of living up to free-agent expectations slip a bit from his back. After all, that six-year, $27.6 million US contract carries tremendous weight on a club that believes it can again challenge for the Stanley Cup. Scoring just once through 11 games and being taken off the power play aren't what Garrison expected after 16 goals with the Florida Panthers last season. He looked good Sunday.

"I still feel like I had something left in the tank — it kept going up and up," Garrison said of his 97.4, 100.5 and winning 101.8 mph blasts. "I would have liked a couple of more shots. This was my first skills competition other than an All-Star Game. The fan support here is tremendous and every day I make a point of coming to the rink and having fun. It's what you have to do and a day like today was awesome to be out there. There are a lot of smiles going on around here."

If Garrison can maintain his enthusiasm and replicate that hard shot Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, maybe he can get back on the power play because his ongoing struggles have included being demoted from both special-teams units Saturday during a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. And getting back on the power play won't be easy because Schroeder added a creative dimension to the first unit with Daniel Sedin on the point.

"It's a transition and it's as simple as that," reasoned Garrison. "The main thing is we're winning games and I'm happy to be a part of it. The power play is just part of the process and there are lot of combinations that we can put out there. I think that's a good thing."

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/Garrison+...#ixzz2KZRyXaix

Hopefully he carries this momentum into Tuesday.

[BlueJayFanDan]

Maybe we should trade for Brian Campbell to help him out? Food for thought.

[BlueJayFanDan]

When we choose to trade Luongo (Or Schneids):

Canucks get:

Howden
Campbell
Mueller
1st round pick

Panthers get:

Luongo (Or Schneids)
Ballard
Raymond

I see no flaws.

[GrkGawdofWalkz]

I don't really see anything to get upset over. Garrison still has time. It's a shortened season that had a 6 day training camp. He has been rusty. So have a lot of players. I still love our top four with Edler, Bieksa, Hamhuis and Garrison. Nothing wrong with that at all.

[NUCK-U]

Seems the players that come from Florida (aside from Lu), struggle or get easily injured (Garrison, Booth, Ballard) Just a coincidence I'm sure.

[sfgiants5518]

Garrison was left off the PP at today's practice...

After 101.8 mph super skills blast, still no Garrison sightings on #Canucks pp units. 14-45-33-22-23/36-21-9-3-2.

https://twitter.com/benkuzma/status/301054431171067905

You really can't argue with the 1st unit PP... but does Hamhuis really deserve to be on the PP over Garrison?

[carson005]

I mean from my understanding, Garrison was mostly brought here for his excellent defensive play. His shooting % last year was 9.3%. In his two full seasons he has had a shooting % of 4.3 and 9.5, I think it's silly to think he would repeat scoring 15 goals.

[sfgiants5518]

Garrison was supposed to 'replace' Salo on the PP... among other things. He's failed in that aspect.. so far.

[ink]

Not including the Luongo situation, I'm hoping Gillis has other numbers programmed into his phone than Dale Tallon's. So far he's gone 0 for Florida.

[carson005]

He made two really great position plays on the PK last night, prevented two one timers in the slot

[sfgiants5518]

He made two really great position plays on the PK last night, prevented two one timers in the slot

Did you see what Garrison was doing on Chicago's 3rd goal?

[sfgiants5518]

Garrison scored his 2nd goal today and actually wasn't a defensive liability. Hopefully this gets him going.