Another division title wasn't nearly enough to
consider 2012-13 a successful season for the Vancouver
Canucks. Not only did they lose in the first round to a
lower-seeded team for the second straight year, they've lost 10 of
their past 11 playoff games after being swept by the San
Jose Sharks. Not much has gone right in Vancouver since the
Canucks had a chance to win the 2011 Stanley Cup on home ice in Game
7 against the Boston
Bruins. Last season was particularly wacky because of the ongoing
goaltender saga. General manager Mike Gillis finally traded one of
them, but it was Cory
Schneider, not Roberto
Luongo, who had long ago made peace with leaving Vancouver and
finding a new home. Gillis did receive a top prospect in return, the
Canucks took Bo
Horvat with the No. 9 pick acquired from the New
Jersey Devils, but Horvat might not be ready to help in 2013-14.
Vancouver's offense has stagnated and could use a boost up front.
Mason Raymond
wasn't retained, and Maxim
Lapierre signed with St. Louis. Brad
Richardson was signed away from the Los
Angeles Kings and will replace Lapierre as a bottom-six center.
On defense, Keith
Ballard was bought out and Yannick
Weber was signed as low-cost depth. Let's start with the strength
of the team: The defense will again be one of the top groups in the
League, provided restricted free agent Tanev is signed. Beyond that,
there are some serious questions for the Canucks, who could be
hard-pressed to win their division for the sixth straight season.
Booth has to prove he can stay healthy and be productive again, and
Kassian has to prove he is worthy of a top-six spot in the NHL.
Kesler had multiple health issues last season and needs to show he is
still an elite player. If any of those three aren't healthy or
productive, Higgins or a young player likely would see second-line
minutes. There might not be a lot of offense from the bottom six
either. There are a few young players, namely Horvat, Jordan
Schroeder and Brandon Gaunce, who could drastically alter the
look of the forwards if they are ready for full-time roles. Then
there is the goaltending. If Luongo is content and healthy, the
Canucks could be fine. If he's not, Schneider isn't around anymore as
maybe the League's best insurance policy. The competition in the
division improved a lot this summer, and not just because the
Edmonton Oilers
might have the best collection of young talent in the League.
Realignment moves Vancouver into a division with the Los
Angeles Kings, San
Jose Sharks and Anaheim
Ducks, and the California teams look like strong playoff
contenders again. If a few things don't break right for the Canucks,
it isn't just the division title streak that could be in jeopardy,
but reaching the postseason for a sixth straight time could be in
peril.
In: F Benn
Ferriero, F Brad
Richardson, F Mike
Santorelli, D Yannick
Weber
Out: C Andrew
Ebbett, C Maxim
Lapierre, RW Steven
Pinizzotto, C Derek
Roy, G Cory
Schneider
UFAs: D Andrew
Alberts, D Cam
Barker, C Manny
Malhotra, LW Mason
Raymond
Prospects: D Frank
Corrado, C Brendan
Gaunce, LW Nicklas
Jensen, G Eddie
Lack
Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the
Canucks:
Forwards
Daniel
Sedin - Henrik
Sedin - Alexandre
Burrows
David
Booth - Ryan
Kesler - Zack
Kassian
Chris
Higgins - Brad
Richardson - Jannik
Hansen
Benn
Ferriero - Mike
Santorelli - Dale
Weise
Tom
Sestito - Zach
Hamill
Defensemen
Alexander
Edler - Kevin
Bieksa
Dan
Hamhuis - Jason
Garrison
Frank
Corrado - Christopher
Tanev
Yannick
Weber
Goalies
Roberto
Luongo Eddie
Lack
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