|
Vancouver Canucks: Preseason Wrap Up, Projection For 2014-15 |
|
|
|
|
|
A busy day around the NHL, as teams make their final cuts to set their 23-man roster and get salary cap compliant for the first day of the season on Wednesday.
The biggest news so far: The Columbus Blue Jackets have come to terms with Port Moody's Ryan Johansen.
No word yet on whether the deal includes a no-trade clause. The average annual value of $4 million per season marks a compromise between the two sides, but Johansen will earn $6 million in the final year of the deal, setting himself up for a high qualifying offer in his final year before he reaches free agency.
If Johansen continues to develop as expected, he'll be mighty expensive by the time the Canucks (or any other team) might get a chance to bring him into the fold as a free agent.
Johansen was the last of the prominent restricted free agents to come to terms with his team, so all the young guns around the league should be ready to go on opening night.
Preseason Wrap Up
Back in Canuck-land, here's a quick summary of the state of affairs so far:
Biggest Positive: The Sedins' chemistry with Radim Vrbata. I was highly skeptical about the Vrbata signing when it was announced back in July, but so far he's slotted in exactly as planned on the first line and the power play.
The Canucks have had a pretty easy ride through the exhibition schedule and will start the season in much the same way: Calgary, Edmonton, Edmonton. The team will get its first real test from October 21-24 with three games in four nights on the road in Dallas, St. Louis and Colorado.
Biggest Disappointment: As a group, the Canucks' players have met or exceeded my (relatively modest) expectations for them so far. If I had to single someone out who I'd hoped would have brought more, that would probably be Zack Kassian. We're into Kassian's fourth season with the Canucks since his acquisition at the 2012 trade deadline. Time flies! The big guy's now 23, so the time is now if he's going to develop into a difference-maker.
Since Kassian was hampered by injury during preseason, it's hard to assess his play too thoroughly. I wish he'd done more, and I'm concerned that he was shuffled down the lineup during game action before he got hurt. I'm hoping that, like last year, Kassian's just off to a slow start and will be better offensively, defensively and physically as the season wears on.
Biggest Question Mark: Ryan Miller. I've been impressed with Miller as a student of the game, and when I've watched him play live, he's done a few things that remind me that the Sabres were a well-coached team for many years. The Sabres were also defensively terrible during Miller's final years in Buffalo. So far, he seems well-equipped to stay even-keeled after defensive breakdowns in front of him.
We've seen Miller let in some questionable goals as he settles into his new role, but we've also seen him make some solid saves—the kind that would have had the crowd chanting "Looooo!" back in the old days. I wonder if he'll come to earn a chant of his own and, if so, what it'll be?
I like Eddie Lack a lot. I don't hate what I've seen from Miller so far, but I can't say that he's won me over just yet.
Projection for 2014-15
I haven't given too much thought to trying to project where the Canucks will finish in the standings this season. Many variables are in play at the beginning of every campaign, but this year is even more volatile than usual.
Last week, Bleacher Report asked me to submit my preseason Power Rankings, so I had to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, more accurately) and make a commitment.
Once I factored in my projections for the league's other teams, the Canucks ended up in the dreaded 19th place—just outside the playoff picture, but not low enough to earn much of a shot at winning the draft lottery.
Here's how the Pacific Division stacked up for me:
1. Los Angeles Kings
2. Anaheim Ducks
3. San Jose Sharks
4. Vancouver Canucks
5. Arizona Coyotes
6. Calgary Flames
7. Edmonton Oilers
Though fourth place in the division *could* be good enough for a wild card spot, I've picked five Central Division teams to finish higher than the Canucks: Chicago, St. Louis, Minnesota, Dallas and Colorado (in that order).
I expect to see strong progress this season from the Wild, if they can keep their goaltending situation organized, and from the Stars. I think Colorado will fall back to earth a bit, but will still be good enough to grab that last wild card spot in the West.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»