Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Picking Out Specifics In Year-End Comments, Draft Order Only a few specifics about the makeup of next year's Canucks team were revealed when Trevor Linden, Jim Benning and Willie Desjardins met with the media on Wednesday at Rogers Arena.

Virtanen for the Calder

If there are no "big changes", and the status quo remains expect VAN to battle EDM next year for the final playoff spot, if they get that close.

If there are no "big changes", and the status quo remains expect VAN to battle EDM next year for the final playoff spot, if they get that close.
- VanHockeyGuy

Without changes, I predict 11th in the west.

The tank is on...........................I hope.

When you say big changes, what is enough to keep making the playoffs?

Big changes may be contingent on some minor moves.

Next season is going to be interesting. Will Bieksa and Hamhuis be traded before their contracts expire or do they just walk at the end of the season? Same for Vrbata.

Frees up 14million in cap space...

Just have to get through next season.

If there are no "big changes", and the status quo remains expect VAN to battle EDM next year for the final playoff spot, if they get that close.
- VanHockeyGuy

I read a lot of news articles today; Linden sounds like he's fully onboard with the Redwings model in that they'll soak the kids until they're ready.

I'd be cheering for the Flames regardless. Fun team to watch and I hate Anaheim. Nuff said

When you say big changes, what is enough to keep making the playoffs?

Big changes may be contingent on some minor moves.

Next season is going to be interesting. Will Bieksa and Hamhuis be traded before their contracts expire or do they just walk at the end of the season? Same for Vrbata.

Frees up 14million in cap space...

Just have to get through next season.
- hillbillydeluxe

Canucks are happy with the result, they got playoff revenue. Problem here is do you expect LA & SJ to miss the playoffs again? No. These are teams which already have more depth than VAN. Will EDM be as bad as last year? No. Are the playoffs a realistic goal based on the team as it sit's today? No.

I read a lot of news articles today; Linden sounds like he's fully onboard with the Redwings model in that they'll soak the kids until they're ready.
- LeftCoaster

I'm fine with that. I like the rhetoric about "winning." Easier said than done but so is blowing up the team

Canucks are happy with the result, they got playoff revenue. Problem here is do you expect LA & SJ to miss the playoffs again? No. These are teams which already have more depth than VAN. Will EDM be as bad as last year? No. Are the playoffs a realistic goal based on the team as it sit's today? No.
- VanHockeyGuy

SJ could be as bad as they were. That team is much like Vancouver was last year. They have Couture, Pavelski and Burns as great players but not much for goaltending and I don't have a huge amount of faith in Thornton and Marleau. LA could miss again next year. Richards and Brown are shadows of their former selves, Carter isn't exactly a superstar, Quick is a moody goaltender. They have two cornerstone pieces in Kopitar and Doughty but I don't know that the rest of the team is dedicated enough for the 82 game season. I also don't know what's going on with Voynov and now Stoll is in legal troubles

Canucks are happy with the result, they got playoff revenue. Problem here is do you expect LA & SJ to miss the playoffs again? No. These are teams which already have more depth than VAN. Will EDM be as bad as last year? No. Are the playoffs a realistic goal based on the team as it sit's today? No.
- VanHockeyGuy

We'll see. Unless Chirelli makes some big moves I'm not expecting much. Even with McDavid.

I read a lot of news articles today; Linden sounds like he's fully onboard with the Redwings model in that they'll soak the kids until they're ready.
- LeftCoaster

Then I'm really looking forward to hearing Hughson say "23 year old Cole Cassels is only 23 years old"

Blake Price heard a tweet about Erikkson coming to Van and he suggested Vrbata for Erikkson + 2nd. I would be on board for this. Worst comes to worst Erikkson sucks and we pick higher Tradeoff is the sale of assets without bailing on the season, plus lesser cap hit and younger player. BOS's pick is pretty high too so realistically if we waited on next deadline to trade Vrbata and grabbed a first, we would be looking at a 10-20 pick difference at most between a high second and late first

SJ could be as bad as they were. That team is much like Vancouver was last year. They have Couture, Pavelski and Burns as great players but not much for goaltending and I don't have a huge amount of faith in Thornton and Marleau. LA could miss again next year. Richards and Brown are shadows of their former selves, Carter isn't exactly a superstar, Quick is a moody goaltender. They have two cornerstone pieces in Kopitar and Doughty but I don't know that the rest of the team is dedicated enough for the 82 game season. I also don't know what's going on with Voynov and now Stoll is in legal troubles
- bezz44

Stoll is a UFA, LA gives VAN fits, SJ & LA cupboards are full, LA is built for the playoffs. Expect EDM to give VAN trouble next year.

Canucks are happy with the result, they got playoff revenue. Problem here is do you expect LA & SJ to miss the playoffs again? No. These are teams which already have more depth than VAN. Will EDM be as bad as last year? No. Are the playoffs a realistic goal based on the team as it sit's today? No.
- VanHockeyGuy

If they get steamrolled next year they may re-think things...hopefully. But the summer is long. We'll see where they land come October.

I still don't get how in the offseason so many predict Edm. to improve..... they never do... still a bottom team in my mind until they actually end up in the running for the playoffs.

I'd be surprised if that Vrbata trade is true.

Stoll is a UFA, LA gives VAN fits, SJ & LA cupboards are full, LA is built for the playoffs. Expect EDM to give VAN trouble next year.
- VanHockeyGuy

I'm expecting some changes, but unsure how big. If they stand pat and miss the playoffs, a good draft pick might be just what we need.

Still want them to be a playoff team but it wouldn't be the end of the world if they missed.

I'm expecting some changes, but unsure how big. If they stand pat and miss the playoffs, a good draft pick might be just what we need.

Still want them to be a playoff team but it wouldn't be the end of the world if they missed.
- hillbillydeluxe

Trevor was pleased with the 101 points. Missing the playoff's is going "backwards" plus they want the revenue. They also want to get younger, and are usually picking in the bottom 1/3 of the seeding (when they have a picks). JB better be a (frank)ing Genius. It will be a long process looking for diamonds in the rough.

I read a lot of news articles today; Linden sounds like he's fully onboard with the Redwings model in that they'll soak the kids until they're ready.
- LeftCoaster

Hmm is this like how we wanted the Boston model after the SCF yet we had zero toughness?

Now we want the Red Wings model without the league's best scouts.

I read a lot of news articles today; Linden sounds like he's fully onboard with the Redwings model in that they'll soak the kids until they're ready.
- LeftCoaster

Mike Gillis started that in 2008.

I still don't get how in the offseason so many predict Edm. to improve..... they never do... still a bottom team in my mind until they actually end up in the running for the playoffs.
- SMP8719

Well they did just get a legit number one center. And guys like Draisaitl and Nurse will also be there soon. As much as people rip them for having a team full of top picks, it's really just the forwards Hall/Nuge/Yak/Eberle and after that it's a bunch of veterans that other teams let go of plus Justin Schultz. Klefbom looks like he'll be a solid top 4 d-man, Nurse is projected to be the same but he might still be another year away from handling top 4 NHL minutes. Suddenly center is a position of strength for them(Gordon is a very solid defensive center) and defense should be decent if Nurse pans out. Wingers have always been a position of strength for them as well. Goaltending is still a problem but their terrible center depth and weak defense has made the golaies look worse than they really are.

Blake Price heard a tweet about Erikkson coming to Van and he suggested Vrbata for Erikkson + 2nd. I would be on board for this. Worst comes to worst Erikkson sucks and we pick higher Tradeoff is the sale of assets without bailing on the season, plus lesser cap hit and younger player. BOS's pick is pretty high too so realistically if we waited on next deadline to trade Vrbata and grabbed a first, we would be looking at a 10-20 pick difference at most between a high second and late first
- bezz44

I'd rather have a first than Eriksson and #44, but that's just me.

I still don't get how in the offseason so many predict Edm. to improve..... they never do... still a bottom team in my mind until they actually end up in the running for the playoffs.
- SMP8719

With Nicholson & Chiarelli they have very solid management team, more experienced than Vancouver's hands down, lots of draft picks (2 firsts). Trending upward.

Don't expect big changes for the Vancouver Canucks this summer.
- Carol Schram

Oh this franchise...