Vancouver Canucks: Time for Change and a Philiosophic Shift

At this minute Roberto Luongo and both Sedins are playing it close to the vest. No word from either camp that the player will re-sign here.

What if they don't? What if the Canucks lose the Sedins to free agency and trade Luongo? What could be accomplished? For one thing it would shift the core group. The current (2009) crop was unable to overcome a young, fast, and skilled Chicago Blackhawks team.

Perhaps the answer is to become younger and faster, too. Cory Schneider is as ready as the AHL can make him. He has excelled at every level. There is no reason to assume he cannot make the jump to the NHL.

If there is doubt raised in camp, shift the starting role to LaBarbera. LaBarbera has had expert coaching for most of the last season and has been watching a similar player. He must have picked up a few things, here and there. He wasn't far off when he arrived from LA, either. If they both have crippling life-altering melt-downs, Luongo might be available as a free agent next offseason—maybe cheaper, too.

Moving Mr.Luongo has other benefits, as well. There will be a Captain on the bench for one thing. Starting goalies can be had for less money, for another.

One big benefit would be the return, which, following the current trends, should include a player, a prospect, and a pick. That player might be a puck carrying, speedy defenceman or some other important piece like a large center.

Mr. Gillis has shown himself to be unfettered by the conventional wisdom that small is undesirable in the NHL. He drafted Cliff Ronning play-alike Cody Hodgeson over Lucic-like Kyle Beech. I don't want to rant here, but when your most pugnacious guy is 184-pound Rick Rypien, there is a problem.

Unless you are talking defence, then behemoths are the norm. Unfortunately, behemoths are slow. Even the offensive behemoth was slow last season. This, too, is a problem.

The third problem is players that are too expensive. Demitra and Sundin are the obvious examples, but I would argue that Salo's fragility makes him a less-valuable asset. If a player is pursuing the Guinness book for injuries, then you can't count on him being there when he is needed.

What to do? Trade Luongo now, while people think his playoff performance was an anomaly. Amass picks! Maybe Tampa wants a goalie. Maybe Lu wants to go back to Florida. See what I'm saying?

Trade Demitra to wherever Gaborik goes. In addition to saving face this might get some return. It is preferable to buying him out.

Bring up the Moose that have earned it. Alexandre Bolduc, for example. He can play and he is a big (6'2" 200-pounds) center. Cory Schneider, Micheal Grabner, and Nathan McIver are other candidates. Don't rush Hodgeson, though!

Sign some free agents. There is space under the cap for some very big names. It would be nice to get a player or coach with a Stanley Cup ring, too. It might help morale.

The most important thing is to not freak out and sign a guy because everybody else is chasing him. I think the Heatleys, Niedermayers, and Bouwmeesters of the world are great players and fine human beings but that doesn't mean they will fit on a hockey team!

Of course some of the names being thrown around could help the Canucks, but each brings different things to the table which must be accounted for. Bouwmeester, for example, would fit as a player, but would upset the payroll. Others would cost players which alters a team's chemistry. Would anyone welcome Heatley if he costs Kesler and Schneider?

A youth movement can be sold to knowledgeable Vancouver fans as long as they see definite progress. I suggest Luongo, Salo, Mitchell, and Demitra aren't going to get faster or stronger or learn a bunch of new things to improve. I don't need to mention Sundin, right?

Will there be a better time to blow it up? No. The time is now. This week. Will Gillis ante up?