The Vancouver Canucks are an interesting squad. It seems like they’ve played a lighter game since forever, but the Sedin twins are gone and the team is facing a new era and has yet to truly define itself.
This year the squad made some bewildering veteran signings. In the cap age that’s not so bad as some could be swapped out for futures at the deadline if the season doesn’t go the way fans hope, although signing over 30 vets to 3+ year contracts is always kinda scary in today’s NHL. It appears that management expects a playoff berth this season based on their acquisitions, but the roster doesn’t appear to have the horsepower to do so yet.
Sadly, barring some wondrous trade, this is a team that at best would be fighting for a wild card spot. They simply play in a powerhouse division with teams that have made stronger improvements.
Boeser and Horvat will entertain, but there simply isn’t enough high end talent, a d corps that at best is middle of the pack, and unless Demko is ready for showtime, mediocre goaltending, and needs some meat to protect their smaller forwards.
The team has done a good job of turning a sinking ship, but this isn’t the year it’s full steam ahead.
Other than the Ericsson contract there are no horrendous or untradeable contracts and cap term and space is good for growth moving forward.
CORE: Horvat, Boeser, Baertschi, Del Zotto, Pouliot, and Demko
Deadline Tradeable Roster Assets: 5
Prognosis UP
Cap Control UP
Projection Bubble Team – Seller