The Two-Line Pass 2008-09 NHL season preview: The Vancouver Canucks
We’re now something like 23 days out from the start of the NHL season, which means I have to get a move on with these season previews. This is mainly for two reasons: 1) I am lazy and there’s no way I’ll do one of these every day, and 2) These started early enough that if I just stop doing them entirely you’ll have forgotten by October anyway. Oh and I guess also to show off my near-infinite knowledge of the National Hockey League. I’ll be previewing the teams in reverse order of finish in the 2007-08 season. Please note, though, that this is the opinion of one man, however smart and handsome he may be.
Vancouver Canucks, you’re on the clock.
This is the Sedins’ show now.
Before, they were kind of in that nebulous group of players that seem good enough for the first line, but are largely unregarded as such throughout the league. It has often been my contention that, were they not twins but remained the exact same players they are, no one outside of the Northwest Conference would really think about them too much one way or the other.
But the league is going to have to start thinking about them, and hard. Daniel and Henrik are two of the best players in the league that get very little credit for what they bring to the rink every night. I mean, LOOK at these guys (and enjoy the sounds of Molly Hatchet while you’re at it), and then think about how Vancouver fans continue to say they aren’t true first-line players.
More after the jump.
Now with Markus Naslund off to New York and Brendan Morrison seeking the warmer climes of Anaheim, Vancouver fans don’t have anyone besides the Sedins upon which to rest their hopes. That’s a good thing though.
Despite playing under 20 minutes a night, the Daniel scored 74 points and Henrik netted 76. Both played all 82 games. In the last three seasons, they are nearly point-a-game players and no one talks about them. Jarome Iginla, by comparison is barely a point-a-game player over the last three seasons (259 in 254 with an extra two or three minutes of ice time a night). But it’s not just that the Sedins are good themselves, they also raise other players to another level. Markus Naslund and, less recently, Anson Carter can thank the twins for the big-money contracts they’ve picked up immediately after playing a full season on their line.
But now the Sedins are on an island, so to speak, and playing for a contract. Bad news for the Northwest division. Add to that Vancouver’s offseason addition of Steve Bernier, and it looks like Vancouver’s pretty-bad offense from last year has gone the way of the dodo. Here’s a highlight video of Bernier from his days with the Sharks. What do you notice? A lot of garbage goals around the net. If the Sedins had someone the past few years that could clean up around the crease as efficiently as Bernier does (i.e. not Naslund), they’d be top-10 scorers no problem. If this is the line Alain Vigneault goes with for the whole season, the Sedins will threaten to break into 90-100 point territory and Bernier will be a 35- to 40-goal scorer.
Also, the addition of Pavol Demitra will give Vancouver’s lagging second line a shot in the arm offensively. Or at least it should. He is, after all, pulling down $4 million this year (the highest-paid skater on the Canucks), so you’d think he’ll be pretty heavily relied upon.
At the back, the Canucks still have Kevin Bieksa, Willie Mitchell, Sami Salo and Matthias Ohlund, and a few career third-pairing guys, so they’ll probably be very solid defensively once again (they allowed just 206 goals last year, fifth-best in the West). Bieksa, Salo and Ohlund, the team’s best three defensemen, played an average of 50 games each last year, and the defense will only improve with them playing at 100 percent.
A lot of that, of course, has a lot to do with Vancouver having the best goalie in the world, Roberto Luongo. Only three other teams in the league that scored as little as the Canucks allowed fewer goals (the Rangers, Devils and Ducks). Vancouver was the only one not to make the playoffs. But now with an improved offense and healthy defense, the Canucks will get back into the postseason.
Vancouver fans can thank the Sedins for that.
The Hero: Roberto Luongo. As good as the Sedins are, and as much as they’ll pace the offense, having the best goalie in the world is a boost for any team. With a full defense in front of him, his numbers will be Vezina quality this season.
The Darkhorse: Kevin Bieksa. At just 26, he was a monster for the Canucks when he was healthy. He was, however, prone to off nights, especially late in the season. Missing every game from Nov. 1 to Feb. 21 will do that. He still scored 12 points in 34 games from the blue line for an offensively punchless team, which is impressive-ish. I don’t know why, but I think he’ll grow considerably this year.
The New Guy: Steve Bernier. Kid’s going to rain goals on the division. He is the PERFECT complimentary player for the Sedins.
The Big Question: Will the Canucks be stupid enough to sign Mats Sundin for $20 million over the next two seasons and effectively hamstring their ability to re-sign the Sedins, Bernier or Ohlund? You could probably get all four for $15 million.
Offseason gains:
- Claimed C Kyle Wellwood off waivers from Toronto
- Signed RW Steve Bernier to offer sheet from Buffalo
- Acquired D Lawrence Nycholat from Ottawa
- LW Darcy Hordichuk
- D Nolan Baumgartner
- C Ryan Johnson
- C Mark Cullen
- RW Pavol Demitra
- D Rob Davison
- C Jason Krog
Offseason losses:
- 2010 second-round pick, 2009 third-round pick (Bernier offer sheet)
- RW Ryan Shannon (Nycholat deal)
- C Brendan Morrison (to Anaheim)
- D Drew MacIntyer (to Nashville)
- LW Markus Naslund (to New York Rangers)
- LW Brad Isbister (to Ottawa)
- D Mike Weaver (to St. Louis)
Apropos-of-nothing TLP predicted finish: Third in the division, eighth in the West, 15th in the league
