Vancouver Canucks 2012: 7 Reasons the Canucks Will Hoist the Stanley Cup

The Vancouver Canucks have had an interesting 2011-12 season. After their crushing game seven defeat at the hands of the Boston Bruins in last year's Stanley Cup Final, it was hard to know if the team could address their weaknesses and come back even stronger to make another run. 

With two weeks left in the regular season, it looks like the Canucks are locked and loaded.

Here are seven reasons why we'll see the Canucks sipping from Lord Stanley's Cup this June.

1. Good Things Start in Goal

After taking home the William Jennings trophy as the NHL's best goaltending tandem in 2010-11, Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider have co-existed in near-perfect harmony this season. 

Schneider has appeared in a career-high 29 games so far and posted a sparkling .934 save percentage, while Luongo has been in good form and avoided the untimely gaffes that have troubled him in the past.

Luongo will certainly get the call at the start of the post-season, but if he falters at any point, expect a quick switch to Schneider, who can get the job done.

2. Depth on "D"

Bieksa - Hamhuis
Edler - Salo
Rome - Tanev

Extras:  Ballard, Alberts, Gragnani

The Canucks are one of the deepest teams in the league on defence. Only Christian Ehrhoff has departed from last year's roster, while Marc-Andre Gragnani has been a late-season addition.

Compared to 2010-11, the blue line has been much healthier this year, and it looks like everyone will be ready to go come playoff time.

Aaron Rome has a sprained knee but should only miss a week or two. Keith Ballard is back skating with the team. Even fragile Sami Salo has appeared in an impressive 62 games so far this season.

Alain Vigneault has been experimenting a lot with his pairs over the past few weeks. He's well-positioned to be able to adjust his core for extra toughness or extra offensive punch, depending on the situation in any given game.

3. Kesler Returning to "Beast Mode"

After offseason hip surgery, Ryan Kesler's numbers have been down significantly. He scored a career-high 41 goals in 2010-11, but has logged just 22 so far this year.

Kesler appears to have slumbered through much of the regular season, but in recent games he's starting to show glimpses of that dominant player who almost single-handedly carried the Canucks past the Predators in the second round last year.

No one can question Kesler's desire. When he wants to get the job done, you'll know about it.

4. Improved Team Toughness

When the Canucks lost to Boston last year, many believed the difference-maker was the Canucks' relative lack of grit.

They took a pounding from the lunch-bucket Bruins, and in the end, their strategy of turning the other cheek and scoring on the power-play did not work out as planned.

This year, the Canucks look better poised to take whatever is thrown their way, fists included.

Newcomer Zack Kassian is still a work-in-progress but has shown a willingness to throw his weight around. 

More importantly, the Canucks, as a team, seem to be playing "bigger" since Kassian's arrival. If they can continue to play with that intensity before and after the whistle, opponents might think twice about mixing it up, leaving a little more room on the ice for the Canucks' skill players.

5. Stronger Supporting Cast

During the Stanley Cup Finals last year, the Canucks' forward roster included Raffi Torres, Cody Hodgson, Jeff Tambellini, Victor Oreskovich, Tanner Glass and an injured Mikael Samuelsson.

Right now, those roster spots are filled by David Booth, Sammy Pahlsson, Zack Kassian, and Dale Wiese. Also, Jannik Hansen is having a career year and showing he can contribute at all parts of the game.

Chris Higgins is showing spark after dealing with two nasty staph infections during the season. Mason Raymond may finally be rounding back into form after breaking his back in last year's finals.

This year, the Canucks shouldn't have to rely solely on the twins and Kesler to light the lamp, and defensive responsibilities can also be spread throughout the roster. The Canucks look to be a well-balanced team that should be able to roll four lines throughout the post-season.

6. Sedin(s) Time to Shine

After Duncan Keith's elbow knocked Daniel Sedin out of the Canucks' lineup last week, it's hard to say which version of the "Sedin Show" we'll see when the puck drops in the first round.

After a sluggish few weeks, the Wonder Twins were starting to round back into form before Daniel's injury. They've both proven to be very durable over the course of their careers—Daniel has only missed one significant stretch with a broken ankle. Concussion recovery is impossible to predict, but there are reasons to hope that Daniel might be back in the lineup sooner rather than later.

If he's not, count on Henrik to pick up the slack. The only time he played without his brother, in 2009-10, he promptly cranked up his offense to earn his Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy wins.

Make no mistake, Daniel Sedin is a valuable member of the Canucks and his chemistry with Henrik is unique. But the Canucks are well-positioned to cover his absence if he turns out to be sidelined for an extended period of time.

7. What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

They say the best way to learn how to do something is to do it. And if you're learning how to win the Stanley Cup, losing in game seven of the Finals is a pretty powerful lesson.

Since Alain Vigneault took over as the Canucks' head coach in 2006, they've only suffered one post-season setback, missing the playoffs in 2007-08 after reaching the second round the year before. The team has been steadily ascending the learning curve, with a consistent core group of players.

After coming so close last year, the Canucks have played this regular season with their true goal in mind: be in position to take the best possible run at the Cup.