Team Preview - Vancouver Canucks

09/10 stats
49-28-5 (103 points)
Regular season: Western Conference 3rd Overall: 5th
Playoffs: 6-6-1 (eliminated by Chicago – second round)


  There were many long faces in Vancouver B.C. after a second round exit at the hands of the eventual Championship winning Chicago Blackhawks. The Canucks, much like the San Jose Sharks, were expected to go much further than they did. It was the second year in a row that the Blackhawks eliminated Vancouver, and heading into the franchise’s 40th year, an answer must be found.

  The Canucks finished 3rd in the Western Conference with 103 points (9 points behind Chicago), second overall in goals (268), 6th on the powerplay, and 3rd in plus/minus (+41). The team was built with intentions of winning.

  It wasn’t entirely the fact that they lost, as Chicago was no doubt a tough adversary, but more so in the manner in which they lost. After beating out the up-start Los Angelis Kings in six games in round one, the Canucks were eliminated in six in round two by a score of 5-1. After opening up the series with a 5-1 win, the Canucks allowed 22 goals in the following five games. It was an odd-ball series where none of the outcomes were close, yet Vancouver played remarkably well at the United Center only trailing for a minute and a half total in three games. Though the right team ultimately won this series, the city of Vancouver seeks revenge and success and is willing to do what it takes to get there.

  On the positive end of the spectrum, Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics for the first time. The entire event was a success as team Canada won gold in a thrilling finals matchup against the United States. Sydney Crosby scored the game winning goal in overtime with home favorite Roberto Luongo in net.

  Lost in the mix this year are Pavol Demitra, Steve Bernier, Michael Grabner, Brad Lukowich, Willie Mitchell, Kyle Wellwood, Ryan Johnson, Matt Pettinger, and Mike Funk. While the incoming players list may make up for those already gone, the Canucks still have work to do to get under the cap as they are $3.658 million over budget with 24 players (9 of which are defenseman).

  In the offseason thus far Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis has locked up Ryan Kesler to a 5 year, $5.0 million contract, and Mayson Raymond to a two year, $2.5 million extension. These signings shine alongside franchise players’ and twin brothers’, Daniel, and Henrik Sedin.

  Hart Memorial and Art Ross Trophy winner Henrik Sedin led his team and the NHL with 112 points. He beat out Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby for the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP), staving off Ovechkin’s three-peat. He tallied 29 goals and 83 assists, and led his team in powerplay points with 27.

“It’s a strange feeling. I’m very proud, so it’s a great honor.” Henrik said upon accepting the rewards in late June. “These players are second to none,” said Sedin, who called Crosby and Ovechkin the faces of the sport. “I thought the Hart was going to be really, really tough. I thought that was going to be out of the question, but I’m happy. I’ll take this.”

  Daniel Sedin had a career year in only 63 games tallying 29 goals and 56 assists for 85 points with a plus/minus +36. Henrik and Daniel not only make for one of the best top lines in the NHL, they are the only (twin) brothers playing on the same line as they head into their tenth season together. They also scored and impressive 14 points each in 12 post season games. This dynamic pair has proven to be one of the most exciting the league has ever seen. In his first year with the Canucks, Mikael Samuelsson also had a career year posting 53 points and 30 goals. Samuelsson spent much of his time on the top line with the Sedins', and the rest of it primarily with Ryan Kesler on the second line. After his free agent signing in Vancouver he has proven he is more than a third line player/powerplay specialist. Samuelsson’s career has been reinvigorated as the Swedish top line has manipulated teams with ease and been devastating on the powerplay. Ryan Kesler also had a career year playing second line center with 25 goals and 50 assists in the regular season. Kesler led his team in faceoff win percentage (55.1%), powerplay goals (12), and was second in powerplay points (26), only one off from team leader (and NHL points leader) Henrik Sedin. He also (like the Sedins') appeared in the 2010 Winter Olympics for the United States where he really impressed. The five year contract is a mega signing for Gillis. The 25 year old 2003 first round draft pick is really starting to blossom into the player he was drafted to be. If he hasn’t peaked yet in terms of performance, the Canucks are looking incredibly solid offensively for years to come. Sticking with the trend in B.C. Alexandre Burrows, too, came through with a career high in points. He was team leader in goals, 35, and was a playmaking and physical presence for his Canucks squad regular strength and on special teams. Not only did he lead his team in shorthanded goals, but also tied Marian Hossa for most shorthanded goals (5) in the NHL. Burrows showed the aggressive side to his game as well, racking up 121 penalty minutes (27th in the league).  The top two lines and powerplay unit were at times mesmerizing in puck control. Mayson Raymond rounds out the same impressive top six we saw last year. At 24, heading into his 4th season, Raymond is coming off a career high in points with 53, and goals, 25. Raymond didn’t help his squad by filing for arbitration and personally gaining financially, but he did help his squad on the ice. The compete level that he and the other top 5 forwards displayed last year was more than impressive as not one of the top six forwards on the team had anything less than a career year. Demitra, Bernier, and Wellwood only accounted for 74 points combined last year, while the aforementioned top six combined for 445 points. The Canucks’ obvious weak point (outside of goaltending) was the third and fourth pairings, and although things could change (primarily due to salary cap-implementations), they are looking much stronger down the lines then they did last year.

  Free agent signings bolster the third and fourth pairings as Manny Malhotra, Raffi Torres, Jeff Tambellini, and Joel Perrault have been signed to three, and one year contracts respectively. At $2.5 million for 3 years, 30 year-old Malhotra brings the grit, determination, and skill to the third line center position that the team was missing last year. As a great penalty killer he will forecheck and block shots. He led the league in faceoff win percentage in the regular season (62.5), and was second in fifteen games in the post season (60.7) for the San Jose Sharks. In the regular season Malhotra recorded 14 goals and 19 assists with a plus/minus +17 in 71 games.

 “We got Malhotra because he could play the wing and he’s been the top faceoff man in the league over the past four years,” said Mike Gillis “He can play either wing if Hodgson is ready and can take the crucial draws. We had to get bigger as well.”

 Free agent signing Raffi Torres, nearly a twenty goal scorer last year, will bring grit and hard work to the third or fourth pairing and adds size and strength to the team. Re-signed players like Jannik Hansen and Tanner Glass will surely feel the heat with prospect players like Cody Hodgson and Jordan Schroeder potentially making the roster. If neither do (which is unlikely), Gillis could be in a bit of a pickle. Free-agent signing Joel Perrault, and tough guys’ Darcy Hordichuk, and Rick Rypien round out the players likely to see time on the bottom lines. Also acquired through trade with the Florida Panthers was Victor Oreskovich, a hard working 23 year old sophomore who will likely brew in the minors. With perhaps a little bit still to be desired, the goal scoring power of this offense will be a threat as is.

  Cody Hodgson, Jordan Shroeder, Joel Perrault, Sergei Shirokov, and Victor Oreskovich will be trying to make the roster this year. The hands-down favorite, 2008 1st round 10th overall draft pick, is Cody Hodgson. Cody is a great skater, very strong on the puck, and can quarterback the powerplay. Hodgson is a solid passer with good hands and excellent on ice-vision. Envisioned as the 3rd line center, Hodgson will spend most of his time on the third line with Manny Malhotra. He will likely move up from time to time depending on his health and progression to play with Kesler and also see some powerplay time. The key to the puzzle is when Kevin  Bieksa ($3.75 million), or another top 4 defenseman is traded. The Canucks’ misfortune of losing Sami Salo ($3.5 million) until at least Christmas does, however, get them back under the cap by $158,333 when he is placed on Injured Reserve. Assuming  the one-way contract signing Joel Perrault is waived and sent down at some point and Bieksa is in fact dealt, the Canucks  have enough money free to call up one of the three youngsters looking to make the team. This leads to a question mark on the one way deal for 27 year-old Perrault. It is in the team’s best interest to start with Hodgson and see where this team is at, and if it needs anything else by the time Salo is healthy. Bieksa is a solid top four defenseman, rounding out a very deep and strong defense.  Another misfortune suffered by the Canucks is the fact that Bieksa, upon Salo’s return, could be worth less and Salo could be worth nothing. Bieksa, too, has struggled with injury.

  The real impressive changes come on the back end. Keith Ballard acquired via trade, and B.C. native Dan Hamhuis signed via free agency, are both strong, responsible, and talented top four defenseman that can change the defensive dynamic that failed them last year. Ballard played 82 games for the Florida Panthers last year with 8 goals and 20 assists and a plus/minus -7. He had, just the year before, signed a six year contract extension at $4.2 million per year and Vancouver now has his remaining five. Hamhuis, native of B.C., has signed a six year $4.5 million dollar contract after spending six years in Nashville. In his 483 games with the Predators he has 32 goals, 129 assists and 161 points with a plus/minus +3. Both of these 27 year olds are top tier defenders joining a squished corps of good, high paid defensemen.

“It’s a team that’s committed to winning and you see the way they spend the money and spend right to cap or close to it,” said Hamhuis.“And it’s not like I demanded to be a No. 1 or No. 2 guy here. My play will dictate that.”

  Christian Erhoff was probably the most impressive amongst Vancouver’s deep defensive corps. The 28 year old offensive defenseman notched 14 goals and 44 assists with a team leading (matching Daniel Sedin) plus/minus +36. He was third on the team in powerplay points, 23, and led his team in average time on ice at 22.47 minutes per game. Erhoff is one of the current five defensemen scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and probably the most important of them all to be re-signed. 24 year old Alexander Edler was second amongst defensemen in points with 5 goals and 42 points. He posted 6 points (three of which came on the powerplay) with a plus/minus +9 in the post season and with three years remaining on his contract he looks to be a key part of the Canuck’s defensive future. 35 year old veteran Sami Salo was next in line in terms of points for the Cancuks in 2009-2010 posting 28 points. The seven year (and currently injured) Canuck may well be heading into his last year in B.C., but barring long-term injury effects could prove to be a key piece in Vancouver’s push for a Stanley Cup and do well for himself to stay on board for the rest of his career if he is willing to take substantially less money on an extension. Salo comes off of a good year with the Canucks after winning Bronze in the 2010 Winter Olympics for Team Finland but his recent injury could be a major set-back for the remainder of his career. Likely to be on his way out: Kevin Bieksa had an average year in his 55 games played. Should he remain and stay healthy, Bieksa can deliver defensive responsibility and strength to his team’s defense and round out the seemingly too offensively minded back end. Bieksa was drafted by the Canucks in 2001 in the 5th round and has worked his way up in the status quo of defensemen in the NHL in his 5 years played.

“I’m not an idiot.” Bieksa said on TSN’s Off The Record Program. “I can put two and two together. Anything can happen right now.” Bieksa responded when asked about Vancouver’s plethora of defensemen. “We have a lot of depth on defense now, and it will be fun to see how it unfolds.”

  Shane O’Brien, Andrew Alberts, and Aaron Rome round out the bottom end of the ‘D’ in Vancouver. Acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline last year, the towering 6’5 218lbs. Andrew Alberts will surely get some ice time in the up-coming year, but will not factor in for taking anyone’s spot above the 6th spot. 6’3 224lbs. Shane O’Brien can deliver hard hits along the boards or at open ice and plays fairly solid in his own zone. Despite some of the off-ice problems O’Brien encountered last year, he has signed a one year contract extension in efforts to prove he deserves top-six time. With so many free agents at the end of the year, players like O’Brien will be battling each other for a new deal, a deal that will help the cash strapped Canucks in the long term. With the defensive clog being what it is, Aaron Rome will more often than not be the odd man out, but will do his best to overtake Alberts throughout the year.

  Kevin Bieksa, Sami Salo, Alexander Edler, and Christian Ehrhoff all make well over $3.0 million, and the issue is obvious. The wrench was thrown into Gillis’ offseason plans when Salo went down with an Achilles Tendon tear during offseason training and will likely be out at least 3 months, but more likely much longer. The intent was originally to deal Bieksa to bolster the offense and create cap space, but now it seems Bieksa’s days may not be as numbered in Vancouver. If he is dealt, the prospect of losing Bieksa and Salo for the entirety of next year is worrisome for Vancouver. Even if their now third pairing is Shane O’Brien and Andrew Alberts, the team faltered defensively in the post season, and Luongo has not looked sharp.

  Goaltending is an issue Mike Gillis didn’t see coming in 2008 when he signed Roberto Luongo to a mega contract worth $64.0 million over 12 years. Luongo is a proven regular season superstar who had a below average season last year. His mark, however, is his incredible drop off in the post season. 2009-2010 wasn’t any better for him in the playoffs as he recorded a 6-6 record with a 3.22 GAA and .895 save percentage. His pay rate doesn’t allow for his lack of consistency as of late, but Roberto has a chance to shake that off with a productive 2010-2011 campaign. It’s odd how Vancouver and San Jose can relate so well with each other in terms of post season success, and the same parallels apply with Luongo and Nabokov. However funny the coincidences are, the fact remains that the spotlight is on Luongo. Last season’s playoff performance and surrounding off-ice developments further the reason to relinquish Roberto Luongo of Captaincy. It’s not entirely that he’s not deserving, it’s more or less the silliness factor of him being captain in the first place. Roberto Luongo is not the only goaltender fit to wear a ‘C’, but teams don’t do it because it does nothing more than put added pressure on your net minder. All Roberto Luongo needs to worry about next season is stopping the puck. Have him lead by playing his role when it counts.

"It's more to get some feedback from him. We don't see it as an issue, but I know lots of people seem to and I just want to explore all his feelings about it and whether or not he sees it as still positive or if he's changed his mind. We had a brief discussion about it at the end of the season and we told him we would have another discussion about it." said Gillis when asked about Roberto Luongo’s captaincy, and the prospect of it changing to one of the players’ sweaters.

  Backup this year will be highly touted rookie Cory Schneider who has four years in Manitoba under his belt. The first round (26th overall) 2004 draft pick has played 136 AHL games, posting a 84-45-5 record with an impressive 2.31 GAA and .920 save percentage. In the NHL the 24 year-old as only appeared in 10 games with a 2-5-1 record, 3.46 GAA and .887 save percentage. Not the numbers expected from Schneider, but he is young and he is big. After his entry level deal expired, the Canucks locked him up for two more years in June of this year, and everyone in B.C. is watching to see what the Marblehead, MA native has in store for the big show. Vigneault will be hopeful Luongo can bring him along nicely so he can trim down Roberto’s playing time a bit and get Schneider some valuable experience. If Cory plays to his full potential this could also bring out the best in Roberto.

  As Head Coach Alain Vigneault heads into year five on a more than tight budget he needs to get his troops going the way he wants them to. I think Vancouver stands a really good chance at a Championship. If Luongo can play anywhere close to the compete level he had in Florida and the defensive clog can be cleared in exchange for some third or fourth line depth  this team is looking very dangerous for the 2010-2011 season. By all means this squad should be making an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.

-Kendall Grubbs

Transactions to Date:

In:
Raffi Torres
Manny Malhotra
Joel Perrault
Dan Hamhuis
Keith Ballard
Tyler Weiman
Jeff Tambellini
Anton Rodin
Peter Andersson
Eddie Lack
Yann Sauve
Lee Sweatt
Chris Tanev

Out:
Pavol Demitra
Steve Bernier
Michael Grabner
Brad Lukowich
Willie Mitchell
Kyle Wellwood
Ryan Johnson
Matt Pettinger
Mike Funk
Yan Stastny
Andrew Raycroft
Pierre-Cedric Labrie
Mike Keane