During the 2013-14 season, Jim Benning studied the Vancouver Canucks from afar. Gary Gaetti Twins Jersey .Months later, the former general manager of the Boston Bruins is unsure what went so drastically wrong for a franchise that only three years prior had represented the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup final.For whatever reason, Benning told the Associated Press, last year things didnt go as scripted.Vancouver finished fifth in the Pacific Division, 12th in the Western Conference, and did not qualify the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08.The punishment for missing the playoffs was harsh. GM Mike Gillis, coach John Tortorella and his top assistant, Mike Sullivan, were fired. In place of Gillis and Tortorella are Benning and Willie Desjardins, who are tasked with returning Vancouver to the playoffs.With the Canucks set to begin their season Oct. 8 in Calgary, here are some things to watch for:POWER PLAY: The Canucks learned what the New York Rangers had long known: Tortorella and Sullivan arent the remedies for a malfunctioning power play. Vancouver had the second-worst man advantage in the West a€” and fourth-worst in the NHL a€” last season, despite the presence of Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Ryan Kesler and Jason Garrison.YOUTH MOVEMENT: By his own admission, Benning and the hockey operations department could make difficult verdicts about the construction of the team prior to the start of the season due to the play of prospects Bo Horvat, Nicklas Jensen, Hunter Shinkaruk and Linden Vey in preseason.Theyve given our group energy through the exhibition (season). These guys have scored, so its creating interesting scenarios and its going to make some tough decisions in the end, Benning said. Theyve had strong camps.NEW DESJARDINS: The disconnect between Tortorella and his team was evident on the last day of the Canucks 2013-14 season. The coach wanted the roster gutted, while his charges thought tweaks needed to be made in order for the team to qualify for the playoffs. Vancouver believes there will be more unity in 2014-15 with Tortorella replaced by Desjardins.Willie is the type of personality that the players all want to work hard for him, Benning said. Everywhere hes been, hes got buy in from players. He respects the players. He gets them to compete hard, to work hard every night. I think with his personality and the type of players and team (we have), its a good fit.KEEP ON ROLLING: Tortorella favoured a philosophy in which top players were overloaded with ice time. That will change under Desjardins, who told reporters in September that the Canucks want to play with four lines. To that end, Vancouver added forwards Radim Vrbata Nick Bonino and Derek Dorsett, and defenceman Luca Sbisa, to add depth to Vancouvers skaters.We want to get back to who we are, Benning said. Thats a hard working team when (we) dont have the puck (and) when we do have the puck, have the ability to use speed and skill to create scoring chances and take the puck to the net.CHARACTER CANUCKS: One intangible players, coaches and executives stress as being vital to a teams success is character. Benning is no different, as he praised the substance of the players he brought in this off-season.Theyre all hard-working, character guys, Benning said. We brought in skill players in Radim Vrbata and Nick Bonino. Derek Dorsett (is a) guy who will do whatever needs to be done to help the team. Luca Sbisa is a physical, stay-at-home defenceman. I would say the one quality they all have is that theyre all high character players. Rod Carew Twins Jersey . -- Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno was admitted to the hospital Friday for observation due to minor complications from cancer treatments, his family said. Trevor May Jersey . Then youve got to worry about the other up and coming teams in the two weaker divisions in the "Junior Circuit". https://www.cheaptwins.com/802t-brusdar-graterol-jersey-twins.html . Roma has a game in hand but now second place is even at risk for the capital side as Napoli moved to within three points with the win. "The result is not always fair," Roma coach Rudi Garcia said. "If we play like this until the end we will win many matches.Michael van Gerwen will meet Gary Anderson in Saturdays World Grand Prix final after impressive semi-final displays in Dublin. After the numbers of seeds sent scattering early in the week, it is the top two in the rankings who made it through to the prestigious double-to-start tournament final, Anderson chasing a first Grand Prix crown and MVG chasing a third.Van Gerwen was given the tougher test, coming through a thriller against Dave Chisnall to win 4-2, while Anderson weathered an early Raymond van Barneveld flourish to see off the Dutchman 4-1 and set up a mouthwatering Dublin showdown. Amazingly, Anderson and Van Gerwen have never met in a PDC ranking final. Anderson did come out on top when they met in the Premier League final a couple of years ago and if the pair reproduce their semi-final form, it promises to be a cracking final which you can see on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30pm on Saturday. Michael van Gerwen v Gary AndersonVan Gerwen was the first man to advance to the final, and having been given a couple of scares along the way by Steve Beaton and Simon Whitlock, he survived his toughest test against an inspired Chisnall.The man from St Helens reached the final in 2013, having beaten Van Gerwen in the quarter-final but the early signs looked ominous as the world number one chalked up the first set in no time, averaging 114 to set a frightening pace. Michael van Gerwen came back from 2-1 down to beat Dave Chisnall 4-2 and reach the final of the World Grand Prix But Chisnall hit back to level the match and followed up with a brilliant display in the third set as MVG uncharacteristically struggled to find doubles at the start and end of the legs, Chizzy was ruthless in sinking his chances to lead 2-1.When Chisnall led 2-1 in the fourth set, Van Gerwen looked set for a stiff test but the world number one went into overdrive, a brilliant 10-dart leg sealing a comeback that took the leg and levelled the set.Van Gerwen went through the gears to take the fifth set without losing a leg and the Dutchman fought back from 2-0 down in the sixth to clinch his place in a third successive World Grand Prix final and fourth in the last five years.The 27-year-old has already claimed the UK Open, the Premier League and the World Matchplay this season and, having lost to Robert Thornton in last years Dublin final, he will be keen to make amends and addd to the titles he won in 2012 and 2014 on the Emerald Isle. Jake Cave Jersey. Grand Prix Semi-Finals as they happened Recap of our live blog from Fridays action Gary Anderson beat Raymond van Barneveld 4-1 to reach his first World Grand Prix final in Dublin In his way will be another Scot in the shape of Gary Anderson, who had already matched his best ever showing in the Grand Prix by reaching the last four, and he went one better by sinking Van Barneveld who could not match the standards he had set throughout the week.Barney came into the final as the only man not to drop a set but that changed quickly as a 112 average and a couple of big 100+ check-outs gave the Flying Scotsman the early initiative.But Barney was not to be overawed. He showed huge character and no little skill to level the match at one set apiece before charging into a 2-0 lead in the crucial third.An inspired Anderson upped the ante though, as he rallied from 2-0 down to produce 12 and 13 dart legs to go in front once again, a brilliant 104 out-shot knocking the stuffing out of Barney whose shoulders seemed to slump.Despite a couple of scares, Anderson held firm to move into the final and the man who has won the last two world championship titles will meet the man who is the dominant world number one in what promises to be a memorable Saturday showdown.You can follow all the action from Saturdays final with our live blog and on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30pm. Fridays Semi-Final results Michael van Gerwen 4-2 Dave Chisnall Gary Anderson 4-1 Raymond van Barneveld Also See: Grand Prix semi-finals - at they happened Results/Schedule ' ' '