The Vancouver Canucks were good enough to reach the playoffs last season, finishing with 101 points before getting bounced out of the first round by the Calgary Flames. And it's not likely that they are going to collapse to the point of being a downright bad team this season.
 
On the other hand, they don't appear to be a threat to the top teams in the Western Conference, are jammed against the salary cap due to their own ill-advised contract extensions and, with many of the team's most valuable players over the age of 30, the Canucks will need their young players to take it up a notch if they are going to remain competitive this season.

As long as the Sedins remain productive, they are cornerstone players that control play when they are on the ice and will prevent the Canucks from falling too far, but they can't do it alone. Canucks management is counting on centre Brandon Sutter, acquired from Pittsburgh after tying a career-high with 21 goals last season, and have to hope that young forwards Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi are capable of contributing more.

The Canucks also traded defencemen Kevin Bieksa (to Anaheim) and goaltender Eddie Lack (to Carolina), and while they have back-filled those positions, using prospects brings a level of uncertainty and that might be what hangs over Vancouver this season. They could be good enough to make the playoffs again or, if they run into injury problems or struggle early, then it could be tough to avoid becoming sellers.

 

OFF-SEASON HEADLINES

June 27: Canucks trade goaltender Lack to Hurricanes

June 30: Veteran blueliner Bieksa traded to Anaheim Ducks

July 28: Canucks acquire centre Brandon Sutter from Penguins

 

2015-16 VANCOUVER CANUCKS

* Off-season Addition

 

TSN's Projected Lines

LW C RW
Daniel Sedin Henrik Sedin Alex Burrows
Sven Baertschi Brandon Sutter* Radim Vrbata
Chris Higgins Bo Horvat Jannik Hansen
Brandon Prust* Linden Vey Derek Dorsett
Ronalds Kenins   Jake Virtanen

Fighting For Jobs: C Brendan Gaunce, RW Alexandre Grenier, C Jared McCann, LW Hunter Shinkaruk

 

TSN's Projected Pairs

LD RD
Alexander Edler Christopher Tanev
Dan Hamhuis Yannick Weber
Luca Sbisa Matt Bartkowski
Frank Corrado  

Fighting For Jobs: LD Alex Biega, RD Taylor Fedun, LD Anton Cederholm, LD Ben Hutton

 

TSN's Projected Goalies

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
Ryan Miller Jacob Markstrom Joe Cannata

Off-season Departures: D Kevin Bieksa, C Nick Bonino, RW Zack Kassian, C Shawn Matthias, G Eddie Lack, C Brad Richardson

 

KEY QUESTIONS

1. With so many options and questions on Sven Baertschi, Alex Burrows and Radim Vrbata, who will play in the Top 6?

2. Which young forward (Bo Horvat, Jake Virtanen) will make the Canucks - if any?

3. With Kevin Bieksa gone, is Frankie Corrado ready to be a full-time NHL defenceman?

 

CRAIG'S LISTS

Vancouver's Top 2015-16 Prospects

1.    Jacob Markstrom (Utica, AHL): Has always had the goods. Put it on display last season in AHL and looking for him to establish same thing in NHL.
2.    Jake Virtanen (Calgary, WHL): Great skater with great power and can add a heavy, physical presence with skill.

Top 5 Long-Term Prospects

1.    Brock Boeser (Waterloo, USHL): Blend of high skill, power and determination that impacts game in multiple ways.
2.    Cole Cassels (Oshawa, OHL): Outstanding two-way centre who conjures up images of Guy Carbonneau.
3.    Jared McCann (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL): Well rounded centre who can make plays and adds a very good shot.
4.    Thatcher Demko (Boston College, NCAA): After off-season hip injury, he should move easier and be pain free. Not good news for opponents.
5.    Ben Hutton (Maine, NCAA): Rangy defenceman who skates well, is smart and remains calm and poised under pressure.

* Listed with 2014-15 teams

 

BY THE NUMBERS

 

THREE-YEAR BREAKDOWN (LEAGUE RANK)

  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Points 101 (8th)* 83 (23rd) 101 (8th)
Goals For 2.5 (T-19th) 2.3 (28th) 2.9 (8th)
Goals Against 2.4 (T-9th) 2.6 (T-14th) 2.7 (19th)
Power Play 16% (22nd) 15% (26th) 19% (T-8th)
Penalty Killing 84% (8th) 83% (T-9th) 86% (2nd)
SAT% Possession 52% (11th) 51% (10th) 50% (19th)

* 2012-13 points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total

 

ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $70.7M/$71.4M

The Canucks are in a precarious cap position, with very little room to add should that be necessary. If they fall out of contention, Vancouver has veterans that should hold appeal on the trade market, but the organization's decision-making gets called into question when the team is in a tight financial spot while paying significant money to the likes of Derek Dorsett, Brandon Prust and Luca Sbisa.

 

PARTING SHOT