'Nucks New Wings: Vancouver Flying To Finals!

It is sad to think that Luc Bourdon will not be a part of what may possibly be the next NHL dynasty in Vancouver.

The Canucks have been on fire lately, with 11 straight wins at home, and a 16-3-1 record in their last twenty games.

In fact, Vancouver looks poised to make a run deep into the playoffs this season; and quite possibly for years to come.

With that being said, it may just be that the next great NHL team that resides on the west-coast of Canada.

The Swedish flavour on this club bears a striking resemblance to the Detroit Red Wings on the surface, but it goes even deeper when you look at the club's recent draft history, and stable of young prospects.

Awaiting in the wings is the AHL's top goalie in 23-year old Cory Schneider. 19-year old Cody Hodgson, whom is lighting it up for the Brampton Battalion this year, and led Canada to a gold at the World Junior tournament, is also awaiting his shot. 

There is also 22-year old Austrian phenom Michael Grabner, 19-year old rear guard Yann Sauve and a couple talented Russians in Sergei Shirokov and Ilja Kablukov.

Throw in the already impressive crop of youngsters that the Canucks have playing now in Ryan Kesler, Alexander Elder, Jannik Hansen, Mason Raymond and Steve Bernier, and what you have is the building blocks of a championship team for years to come.

In fact, the veterans on this club could easily have a good 8-10 years left in them when you consider that the Sedin twins, Roberto Luongo, Kevin Bieksa and Alexander Burrows are still under 30 years of age.

Unless the Gillis group has a major brain-fart, the Vancouver Canucks are indeed the next Detroit Red Wings.

But then again, I'm a Flames fan so what could I possibly know about hockey?