Vancouver Canucks: New Faces, New Season

The always entertaining preseason schedule has just gotten underway this week and it looks like this is the team that the Canucks are going to go with heading into the season.

I love the preseason because you can always see how hard the young guys from each team are willing to work to get a job in the NHL. So far the Vancouver Canucks are 2-0 with two victories over division rival Edmonton.

During the offseason the Canucks were able to make many changes to shore up their lineup. To be simple, the Canucks became a meaner, grittier team while adding a little offensive punch. New depth acquisitions, such as forwards Ryan Johnson and Darcy Hordichuk and defensemen Rob Davison, give this team a gritty component that hasn’t been seen for a while.

Trading for Steve Bernier and signing scoring winger Pavol Demitra gave offensive punch to the team who recently lost Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison.  And the most important addition may be 10th overall selection Cody Hodgson, who could crack the lineup at the beginning of the season.

I am not saying that the Canucks now have this great, superior offense; all I am saying is that it is not as bad as everyone thinks. Not superb, not great, but solid. Now with these changes, the entire city of Vancouver has different expectations for our team.

With this team right now my expectations are very simple: Win the Northwest Division. 

Now I now that may seem a little bit high for all of you readers, but hear me out.  The Canucks have the strongest defensive corps in the division (Ohlund, Mitchell, Salo, Bieksa, Edler, Krajicek, Davison).  They also have a world class goaltender who is significantly better than the starters for three of the Canucks' division rivals (Colorado: Budaj, Minnesota: Backstrom, Edmonton: Garon)  and is better than Flames star Miikka Kiprusoff. 

And I know that it may seem to many people that the Canucks' offense is anemic, but the truth is, if the Canucks can get point production from their blue line (which they are capable of) there is a very good chance that they will be able to squeeze in many one-goal wins. Think about it.

Two years ago when the Canucks won the Northwest and lost to eventual Stanley Cup Champions Anaheim, their offense looked the same, if not worse. And I know that the offenses of teams like Calgary and Edmonton have improved, but so has Vancouver's. 

Demitra and Bernier are upgrades from Naslund and Morrison. The depth on this team has never looked better, with the additions of Ryan Johnson and Darcy Hordichuk.  And if young guns Michael Grabner and Cody Hodgson can step up this team isn’t so bad after all. They don't have the speed of the Oilers, the strength of the Ducks or the skill of the Sharks, but if the Canucks manage to put all components of the game of hockey together, they will be at the dance in April.

If the Canucks manage to stay healthy I believe that the expectation of them making a serious push alongside the Flames for the Northwest Division crown is not unreasonable whatsoever.  This raises the question: How high can the Canucks go?  What is their ceiling?

I believe the truth is that the Canucks are not a Cup contender at the moment, but one significant addition can ultimately change that.  A big, bruising, scoring center can make the Canucks a contender.  Someone like Mats Sundin.  Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem very likely for the Canucks.

However, a solid addition like Sundin or possibly the addition of a scoring winger like Brian Gionta could make Vancouver’s team a dark horse cup contender. Not a Detroit, San Jose, or Pittsburgh type of contender, but a dark horse.  Defense and goaltending are not the problem for the Canucks, all that is left is to add one or two pieces to the offensive puzzle. 

With healthy players and great play from all players on the ice, the Vancouver Canucks will make a very hard push for the Northwest Division crown, or at least the playoffs, allowing all fans in Vancouver to continue to eagerly anticipate the start of the 2008-2009 NHL regular season.