2007-08 Canucks

Where do the Vancouver Canucks stand?

Good question...

As of today (1/7/08) they are sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference. They post an overall record of 23-14-4, for a total of 50 points. Division-wise, it puts them just one point back of Calgary for first in the Northwest, with Vancouver having two games in hand on the Flames.

If the Canucks can keep on pace, it looks as if we will be seeing yet another 100+ point season.

In recent years this team has become a lethal threat in the highly skilled Western Conference. I believe that if all goes well, this year's team could make a solid run into the postseason come April.

Vancouver boasts possibly some of the best potential in the NHL (besides Pittsburgh of course). With the Sedins, Naslund, Ohlund, and Salo, just to name a few, Vancouver is a decently built squad overall. They have had to battle their way through some key losses this year, as Morrison, Krajicek, and Bieksa have all gone down with injuries, giving some up-and-comers from Manitoba playing time. These players have certainly stepped up to the table and done all they can to help the team win.

Before I continue, let me stop and certainly not forgot arguably the best goaltender in the league: Roberto Luongo. He is by far one of the best pick-ups by the Canucks in past years. He has done nothing but help this team stay positioned near the top of the standings during his tenure. As of right now, he is in the top five for almost every netminder stat there is and is on pace to finish the season with 12 shutouts.

That's about it for the quick recap, now let's get into Chris's Mid-Season Report Cards.

Where can we start? How about on offense.

Vancouver is not particularly known for high-scoring affairs with other teams, but more for a hard-nose defensive style doing anything to keep teams off the score sheet. But as always, there are some players that stand.

First there's Henrik Sedin, Vancouver's best player. He is nothing short of a superb play-maker. Tied for fifth in the NHL with assists (34), Henrik is averaging one point per game for the Canucks. You can't ask anymore from the first line centerman. There is a good chance that he is behind the outcome of many of Vancouver's goals.

His twin brother Daniel isn't doing so badly himself. Daniel's offensive stats are much more wide-spread as compared to brother Henrik. After 41 games, Daniel finds himself sitting close to a 20-20 season with 39 points (G 19-A 21). These two are certainly a threat to the opposition when they step onto the ice together.

That leads us to the team captain, Markus Naslund. Many speculated that this could possibly be his final year with Vancouver after back-to-back dissapointing seasons compared to previous years. However Naslund has raised his offensive game to an acceptable level and is on pace to finish up the regular season with 68 points.

In my opinion, there are many more players who contribute to the offense of the Vancouver Canucks, but those are the three individuals I believe have made the biggest impact so far this year.

OVERALL OFFENSE GRADE: B-

Let's turn our attention now to defense.

Throughout this year, the Canuck defense has had to put up with some major losses on the blueline. Ohlund, Salo, and Krajicek have all missed time, with Kevin Bieksa still down for the blue, green, and white. Backed by Roberto Luongo, the Canucks are known to many across the league as a team that carries pride with their defensive play. It is not out of the ordinary to see Vancouver win games with scores such as 2-1, 1-0, etc.

A certain player who has caught my attention with his solid play on the ice is rookie defenseman Alexander Edler. With 34 games played, Edler has nine points. That is good for a skater who usually sticks to his defensive side of the game. That is just what stands out though, his defensive stats. As a rookie, Edler is leading not only defensemen, but the entire team in the +/- category. I personally think that this is the one stat that I would take pride the most in as a player. Edler sits right now with a +/- 17. I do believe that his play has certainly helped guide the Canucks to where they are right now in NHL.

OVERALL DEFENSE GRADE: A (Roberto Luongo:A+)

What can make our beloved Canucks even better? Well, some minor roster adjustments couldn't help.

The first step I would take is the re-calling of star prospect Luc Bourdon from Manitoba. So far this year with the AHL club Bourdon has 11 points in 26 games. He too, like Edler, plays a defensive game. That is not what sticks out to me. It is his NHL statistics that I think should result in him getting another shot with the big boys. In nine games played with the Canucks this year, Bourdon has registered one point and four PIM.

But just like Edler, you have to put the +/- stats into consideration. Nine games with a +/- of six?! For the amount of experience he has under him in the NHL, that is unheard of! Good things happen when Luc Bourdon is on the ice folks.

Finally, a trade from Dave Nonis could add some good potential to the locker room. Shifting a couple players around could possibly light a fire and spark some chemistry. Here are two possible (and realistic) trades that I may consider if I were the GM of the Canucks.

TRADE 1:

FROM VANCOUVER: Matt Cooke, Alex Burrows

TO BUFFALO: Drew Stafford, Adam Mair

This trade would not only add more grit to the team with Mair, but it gives the Canucks offense some speed and strong potential with the young Drew Stafford. Buffalo would possibly take the trade as they could use both energizers (Cooke) and third-fourth line centerman (Burrows).

TRADE 2:

FROM VANCOUVER: Brendan Morrison, '08 first round pick

TO PHOENIX: Kyle Turris

It was speculated that on draft day this past year, Nonis and the Canucks would trade up to the top three picks in order to draft B.C native Kyle Turris. This would give Vancouver the offensive superstar they have lacked for about five years. Turris tore it up in junior hockey, finishing Jr.A with 121 points in 53 games. This past summer, he also helped Team Canada (in the super-series with Russia) dominate the event, as Canada won seven of the eight games played. In those eight games, Turris tallied eight points. He was at times speculated to go first overall, but was eventually taken by the Coyotes third. He has drawn much attention to scouts who say he plays like a young Yzerman.

This trade certainly would not hinder the Canucks in any way, shape, or form. Sure Morrison is a team leader who has been around for a while, but sometimes change is good. Like Naslund, Morrison seemed to fall of the chart offensively after the whole Bertuzzi incident that eventually led to the breakup of Vancouver's top line.

This roster move would give the Canucks some cap room, which may come in handy as this upcoming offseason plans to be big for the F-A market. With Vancouver looking as if they will finish the year near the top of the standings, trading away a first rounder won't do much to hurt them. The Coyotes could potentially draft a solid, talented prospect with that pick and would have two first rounders this year.

But if you ask me, Kyle Turris is worth all of that and more. It certainly would be something to see if things turned out this way come trade deadline for the Canucks.

So having given a quick rundown of the year so far for Vancouver, graded the teams various areas, and maybe turned on a light bulb in the front office, that will conclude my summary of the 2007-08 Canucks. I hope you got something out of my article and I hope to give you more in the future.

So that's it for me, and as for the Canucks, we'll see them come spring time!