With just over a month to go until the Vancouver Canucks' veterans report for their physicals to kick of 2014-15 training camp, I'm starting let myself think about how the team's on-ice performance will play out this year. One of my biggest questions—how will pricey free agents Ryan Miller and Radim Vrbata fit into the lineup?
I wrote a piece for Bleacher Report a couple of days ago, looking back on how the free-agent class of 2013 fared in its first season. David Clarkson takes all the heat, but there are other serious duds in the group as well.
Even scarier, signings like Clarkson's, Vinnie Lecavalier's and Mike Ribeiro's all looked like great ideas when they happened. Click here to check out the high grades assigned by my colleague Steve Silverman early in last year's free agency period.
As I mention in my story, there have certainly been some free-agency success stories through the years. But last year's group was filled with more misses than hits, and I fear the trend could continue in 2014.
No matter how Ryan Miller plays, I think we'll see plenty of controversy in net—as usual. Eddie Lack has won himself a lot of support with his big smile and easygoing attitude, not to mention his strong play through most of 2013-14.
Miller will need to make the most of his early honeymoon period, delivering excellent performances right out of the gate while the curiosity lingers about what he might bring to the table.
The same goes for Vrbata. If he slots in with the Sedins as anticipated, he'll have also displaced a well-liked incumbent, Alex Burrows. If Vrbata doesn't show good chemistry with Daniel and Henrik in a hurry, you'll hear the cries to put Burrows—or even Zack Kassian—up with the twins.
With Trevor Linden and company preaching the idea that last season was an anomaly and that the Canucks will bounce back this year, I don't think fans will be very patient in letting Miller or Vrbata adjust to their new surroundings. They'll be looking for immediate results that show up in the standings.
Who Wore it Best?
Patrick Sundstrom topped our voting at No. 17 by a landslide, and was also selected as the player who wore it best by Canucks.com. The highlight they chose was, naturally, Sundstrom's fantastic seven-point game.
It's worth noting, that wasn't even Sundstrom's best game ever in the NHL. As a New Jersey Devil, Sundstrom scored eight points—three goals and five assists—in a 10-4 Devils' playoff win over Washington in April of 1988.
Now, on to No. 18. A couple of very strong candidates here:
Robert Kron: Drafted by the Canucks in the fifth round in 1985, this Czech left winger didn't come to North America until 1990-91, then spent two and a half seasons in Vancouver. He had 57 points in 144 games with the Canucks before being traded to Hartford at the 1993 trade deadline as part of a package that included Murray Craven and a draft pick that became Scott Walker.
Igor Larionov: When 29-year-old Igor Larionov joined the Canucks as part of the Russian invasion in 1989, who knew that "The Professor" was embarking on a 14-year NHL career? Clearly not the Canucks, who parted ways with him after just three seasons due to money that needed to be paid to Soviet hockey authorities. After playing for a year in Switzerland, Larionov returned to North America as a member of the San Jose Sharks, then cemented his legacy as one of the NHL's all-time greats as a Detroit Red Wing.
While his linemate Vladimir Krutov struggled with the transition to North American life, Larionov adapted much more successfully. He scored 17 goals during his first season with Vancouver and got up to 21 goals and 65 points by his third year. He was also instrumental in easing the adjustment for young Russian Pavel Bure, who followed Larionov and Krutov to Vancouver in 1991. Larionov was Bure's first centre with the Canucks, with Greg Adams on left wing.
During three seasons in Vancouver, Larionov totalled 51 goals and 143 points in 210 games.
Darcy Rota: One of the Canucks' top offensive players of the early '80s, Darcy Rota was acquired with Ivan Boldirev from the Atlanta Flames in February of 1980, in exchange for '70s star Don Lever and Brad Smith.
A left winger, Rota scored at least 20 goals in each of his four full seasons in Vancouver, topping out at an impressive 42 goals and 81 points in 1982-83. He was also one of the Canucks' key players in the 1982 playoff run, with nine points and 54 penalty minutes.
Rota retired at age 30 after suffering a career-ending neck injury in February of 1984. He remained on staff with the Canucks for several years and also did colour commentary alongside Jim Robson on Canucks TV broadcasts for a couple of seasons.
All told, Rota scored 120 goals and 236 points in 289 games in Vancouver. He still lives in town and serves as president of the Coquitlam Express of the BCHL.
Other notable names at No. 18: Shawn Antoski, Cam Barker, Marc Crawford, Troy Crowder, Fedor Fedorov, Rory Fitzpatrick, Steve Kariya, Richard Park, Rick Vaive, Mike Weaver.
Though my heart wants to vote for Larionov for his overall NHL career, I think Rota is more deserving for what he did with the Canucks. What do you think?