Don't expect big changes for the Vancouver Canucks this summer.
When meeting with the local media on Wednesday, president of hockey operations Trevor Linden, general manager Jim Benning and head coach Willie Desjardins didn't offer many specifics about the changes that they'd make to their team after a tough first-round playoff loss to the Calgary Flames, but seemed to indicate that they were satisfied with overall improvement they saw on and off the ice in 2014-15.
There was talk of one of the best dressing-room atmospheres in the league—as reported during exit interviews with Daniel and Henrik—and the big steps taken by the franchise to improve their depth with players in the 20-24 age range—acquisitions like Sven Baertschi, Adam Clendening and Andrey Pedan, who were added during the season without giving up roster players.
"We are not taking a step backwards," insisted Trevor Linden when asked if the rebuild would be better served by a year or two of missing the playoffs in an effort to secure higher draft picks. "We plan to win and keep trying to make the playoffs. We can't put players in the lineup that aren't ready to win."
It's "all about winning," we were reminded—citing the example that the team climbed four spots in the draft order with a win against Edmonton in the mean-nothing final game of the season.
That means patience will be required with the development process. Linden praised Cole Cassels for an excellent season in Ottawa but, in a rare moment of specificity, indicated that he would be expected to spend at least one year in Utica before even being considered for the big club.
Other specific things we learned:
• Ronalds Kenins hurt his knee in Game 5 against Calgary, which is why he was scratched in Game 6. He has had an MRI and is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks, so he won't be rejoining the Comets' playoff run.
• On the topic of the courtship of college goaltender Matt O'Connor, Benning talked again about how goaltending is the most important position on the team and how you can never have too much goaltending depth. He also said that if O'Connor is signed, he'll be sent to Utica.
That could provide the opportunity to deal a goaltender at the draft for an extra pick—right now the Canucks have a first-rounder, then don't pick again till Round 4. Their second-rounder goes to Calgary in exchange for Sven Baertschi, while the third-rounder goes to the Ducks as part of the Ryan Kesler deal.
This sounds to me like impending restricted free agent Jacob Markstrom will be the target to be moved—especially if Vancouver gets O'Connor. Ben Kuzma's thinking the same way:
• Benning praised Yannick Weber for the second half of his season and touted him as the solution for a more "dynamic" defense for the Canucks. He said re-signing the restricted free agent would be a priority. Weber made $850,000 last season—he'll be cheap to qualify.
But—
here's the quick and dirty summary of NHL arbitration eligibility.
Weber's now 26 and has been playing pro hockey for seven seasons, so he easily crosses the arbitration threshold. The Canucks were able to sign him as an unrestricted free agent during the summer of 2013 because Montreal chose not to qualify him at $850,000. It's funny that he now regresses to being restricted—he still has just 229 games of NHL experience.
Weber's big bargaining chip is his 11 regular-season goals, which ties him for 17th overall among NHL defensemen—on par with rookie John Klingberg, who just signed a new deal that'll pay him $4.25 million a year.
If the Canucks need to play hardball, they can point to Weber's ineffectiveness in the playoffs. He was pointless in six games and had the worst plus-minus on the team at minus-5.
• Also on the blue line, Benning promised that another dynamic young defenseman, Jordan Subban, will be signed to his entry-level deal before the upcoming deadline. Again, Subban won't be expected to step into the NHL right away, but I'm very interested to watch his progress in Utica.
• By contrast, Benning would not commit when asked about the possibility of re-signing impending unrestricted free agents Shawn Matthias and Brad Richardson. My read is that neither will be back next season.
I'll wrap up today with a review of the intricacies of the NHL draft order procedure.
The short version—even though Jim Benning stated that Vancouver has the 23rd pick, the Canucks *could* still move up, depending on what happens in the playoffs.
Here's the key point, from Elliotte Friedman's
30 Thoughts at Sportsnet.ca:
The two teams that lost in the conference finals pick 27th and 28th.
(For) draft choices 15-26...Teams eliminated in the first two rounds who did not win a division title come next, followed by those who did win a division, but lost before the Eastern and Western Finals. Again, fewest points equals a better selection.
We can’t officially say who’s picking where yet, because Calgary still gets the 15th pick if it loses to Anaheim. The Flames would jump to at least 27th if they won this series, not that anyone dancing around The Red Mile would care.
The key point here is that teams that make the final four will get picks 27-30, no matter where they finished in the standings. After Detroit was eliminated last night, three teams ranked below Vancouver are still alive. If Calgary, Washington or Minnesota wins their second-round series, they'll make the final four and be pushed down in the rankings, allowing teams like Vancouver to move up. So—the Canucks *could* conceivably pick as high as 20th if the results of this round break their way.
Good enough reason to cheer for the Flames?
As the second round begins tonight, I'm pretty pleased overall my first-round picks. I went 6-for-8 on teams, and got four series right for the number of games.
Apparently my focus gets foggiest on teams that are close to me. The two series I got wrong were the Pacific Division matchups—I picked the Canucks and the Jets.
How'd you do?
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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