The always entertaining preseason schedule has just gotten underway this week and it looks like this is the team that the Canucks are going to go with heading into the season.
I love the preseason because you can always see how hard the young guys from each team are willing to work to get a job in the NHL. So far the Vancouver Canucks are 2-0 with two victories over division rival Edmonton.
During the offseason the Canucks were able to make many changes to shore up their lineup. To be simple, the Canucks became a meaner, grittier team while adding a little offensive punch. New depth acquisitions, such as forwards Ryan Johnson and Darcy Hordichuk and defensemen Rob Davison, give this team a gritty component that hasn’t been seen for a while.
Trading for Steve Bernier and signing scoring winger Pavol Demitra gave offensive punch to the team who recently lost Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison. And the most important addition may be 10th overall selection Cody Hodgson, who could crack the lineup at the beginning of the season.
I am not saying that the Canucks now have this great, superior offense; all I am saying is that it is not as bad as everyone thinks. Not superb, not great, but solid. Now with these changes, the entire city of Vancouver has different expectations for our team.
With this team right now my expectations are very simple: Win the Northwest Division.
Now I now that may seem a little bit high for all of you readers, but hear me out. The Canucks have the strongest defensive corps in the division (Ohlund, Mitchell, Salo, Bieksa, Edler, Krajicek, Davison). They also have a world class goaltender who is significantly better than the starters for three of the Canucks' division rivals (Colorado: Budaj, Minnesota: Backstrom, Edmonton: Garon) and is better than Flames star Miikka Kiprusoff.
And I know that it may seem to many people that the Canucks' offense is anemic, but the truth is, if the Canucks can get point production from their blue line (which they are capable of) there is a very good chance that they will be able to squeeze in many one-goal wins. Think about it.
Two years ago when the Canucks won the Northwest and lost to eventual Stanley Cup Champions Anaheim, their offense looked the same, if not worse. And I know that the offenses of teams like Calgary and Edmonton have improved, but so has Vancouver's.
Demitra and Bernier are upgrades from Naslund and Morrison. The depth on this team has never looked better, with the additions of Ryan Johnson and Darcy Hordichuk. And if young guns Michael Grabner and Cody Hodgson can step up this team isn’t so bad after all. They don't have the speed of the Oilers, the strength of the Ducks or the skill of the Sharks, but if the Canucks manage to put all components of the game of hockey together, they will be at the dance in April.
If the Canucks manage to stay healthy I believe that the expectation of them making a serious push alongside the Flames for the Northwest Division crown is not unreasonable whatsoever. This raises the question: How high can the Canucks go? What is their ceiling?
I believe the truth is that the Canucks are not a Cup contender at the moment, but one significant addition can ultimately change that. A big, bruising, scoring center can make the Canucks a contender. Someone like Mats Sundin. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem very likely for the Canucks.
However, a solid addition like Sundin or possibly the addition of a scoring winger like Brian Gionta could make Vancouver’s team a dark horse cup contender. Not a Detroit, San Jose, or Pittsburgh type of contender, but a dark horse. Defense and goaltending are not the problem for the Canucks, all that is left is to add one or two pieces to the offensive puzzle.
With healthy players and great play from all players on the ice, the Vancouver Canucks will make a very hard push for the Northwest Division crown, or at least the playoffs, allowing all fans in Vancouver to continue to eagerly anticipate the start of the 2008-2009 NHL regular season.
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about 1 month ago
well said. you are a Canadian legend.
about 1 month ago
excellent, finally someone realizes that we have a decent team and that we can do something with the players we have. I would also like to add that Kesler will surely be leading the team, because he seems to be the one with the highest expectations and goals for himself and his fellow canucks.
about 1 month ago
daniel sedin 40 goals 40 assists?
hey if brad boyes can do it why not danny!
about 1 month ago
while I admire your dedication to your team,you my friend and your three buddies are delusional.This team is about 3 defensemen better than the florada team luongo left a few years ago.Oh and you better enjoy him this year because it will be his last,sorry truth hurts
from about 1 month ago
I don't think Luongo is going anywhere. It would have already happened in the off season if Gillis (or the Aquilinis) had any intentions. It's not like the other GMs never thought of it.
from about 1 month ago
Lou aint leaving anytime soon and i also read from the swedish news paper Sundin well be playing and he is going to play for vancouver!!!! so the Canucks are a deadly force this year if it happens.
about 1 month ago
Have you been reading my posts for the last couple months? :P Good, fair article. We're not likely to win the cup this year but there's nor reason, if healthy, that we can't be battling at the forefront of the division. If we add one or two key top 6 forwards maybe even more.
about 1 month ago
Um the Canucks have been playing two different teams on off nights....the final roster is not complete by a long shot...
about 1 month ago
jason,what do you think gillis has been trying to do all summer?Add one or two KEY top 6.Yeah it's that easy,wonder why other GM's don't try that?I know being a canuck fan your probably not that smart,but I thought only leaf's fans were that far off.And boogey,that article about sundin was from july,sorry maybe next year
from about 1 month ago
Umm I never mentioned it was easy there Mike... I said right now we're a good team that should (barring injuries etc) make the playoffs and battle for the division lead. I don't think we're good enough to compete for the cup however at this point without another legitimate top 6 forward (or two). Now we could luck out and either get Sundin or have a young guy step up in to that role but both of those are pretty optimistic viewpoints.
Perhaps you shouldn't be commenting on others intelligence with less than cerebral responses of your own...
26 days ago
yeah go edmonton!!! u see the poll... 3% for the canucks ahahahha.. and there are like 50 votes :)
from 26 days ago
ok mango just cause u have nothing else to do u sit there nd click on a voteing box 50 times
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