Vancouver Canucks: No Trade Nonis

The Canucks stick handled through the trade deadline without making any significant changes to their roster. Matt Cooke for Matt Pettinger. Not quite earth shattering.

It seems clear that Canucks' GM Dave Nonis is waiting for the summer. This summer the Canucks can free up significant cap-space with Naslund and Morrison becoming unrestricted free agents. Nonis may only be able to upgrade the teams' scoring through free agency.

Everyone knows the Canucks have trouble scoring. And Luongo, as good as he is, can only stop so many pucks. Last week he faced 51 shots when the Canucks played Nashville and the Canucks barely won the game, 3-2 in overtime.

Heading into the playoffs, Canuck fans can only expect about the same result as last year.

Other teams in the West have made significant changes. Dallas has definitely upgraded their scoring by adding Brad Richards; Colorado added Forsberg and Foote.

Dallas was already a good team. Now they may even be a great team. The Canucks don't want to meet them in the first round.

Last year the Canucks managed to beat the Stars in seven, but were shut out by Turco three times. Three times. And since that series there has been no significant upgrade to their top six forwards.

The Sedins seem to be easy to shut down. Who's going to score? Kesler? Isbister? Linden?

Naslund must produce, Morrison must produce, and their defense first style of play must be nearly perfect if the Canucks expect to make it past the first round.

Luongo may only be in Vancouver for another two years. Nonis must do something to add scoring. Otherwise having the best goalie in hockey is simply wasted on a team with little or no scoring talent.

What good is having such a great goalie if you surround him with third and fourth line players? And oh yeah, throw in an overpriced Swede and an overrated local boy. Maybe next year, Canuck fans.