VANCOUVER CANUCKS

2005-06 RECAP

Record: 42-32-8, 92 pts (4th Northwest Division, 9th Western Conference)

Playoffs:

Failed to Qualify

Goals For: 252 (12th overall)
Goals Against: 251 (T-14th overall)

Power Play: 18.3% (11th)
Penalty Killing: 81.8% (T-17th)


2006-07 Preview

Key Additions: G Roberto Luongo (trade from Fla), D Lukas Krajicek (trade from Fla), C Marc Chouinard (UFA, Min), D Rory Fitzpatrick (UFA, Buf), RW Jan Bulis (UFA, Mtl), LW Taylor Pyatt (UFA, Buf), D Willie Mitchell (UFA, Dal), Head Coach Alain Vigneault

Key Losses: RW Todd Bertuzzi (trade to Fla), G Alex Auld (trade to Fla), D Bryan Allen (trade to Fla), G Dan Cloutier (trade to LA), RW Anson Carter (UFA, Clb), D Ed Jovanovski (UFA, Phx), D Nolan Baumgartner (UFA, Phi), LW Jarkko Ruutu (UFA, Pit), D Eric Weinrich (retired)

RFA left to sign: none


Offense: They lost their top goal scorer in Anson Carter, and one of their top Power play threats and top power forward in the Todd Bertuzzi deal. They haven’t replaced these players and expect to build from within. The Sedins lose their linemate, and expect to play with Captain Markus Naslund as the top unit, so they can expect to face the other teams’ top defensive units, which will show what the twins are really made of. After the twins, Naslund and Morrison, the offense looks to dry up quickly.

Defense: Losing a key lynchpin in Ed Jovanovski, a leader at both ends of the ice, hurts and Willie Mitchell will not plug the offensive hole, but should help defensively. Ohlund is still a stud but if he gets injured, as often happens, the Canucks are in trouble.

Goaltending: The Canucks went out and acquired the franchise goalie that has been missing since the days of Richard Brodeur in the early 80’s. Luongo is happy to be out of Florida, but the team he is going to isn’t much better than the team he left, and he will have to be spectacular all season if he is going to see the first playoff action of his career.

THE BIG QUESTION: Can the Canucks change from run and gun to a defensive club? The question isn’t can they, it is can they afford not to. The roster saw a great degree of turnover in the off season, and GM Dave Nonis needs Luongo to show Vezina trophy form if he is going to be the GM at the end of the season. The Canucks scored one more goal than they allowed last season, and they barely missed the playoffs. The offense isn’t there any more with the departure of Bertuzzi, Carter and Jovanovski, so Alain Vigneault is going to have to put the focus on the defensive aspect of the game to be successful.

Synopsis: The Canucks are one team that was a victim in the offseason, and they haven’t shown improvement in any area save for goaltending. Luongo is considered one of the top 5 goalies in the league, but hasn’t been able to lead a team to the playoffs in six seasons. There isn’t enough offense on this club to qualify for the playoffs given the improvement of the teams that finished near or above them in the standings last season.