OFF-SEASON GAME PLAN: VANCOUVER CANUCKS

[mattola]

Off-Season Game Plan: Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks came so close to winning their first Stanley Cup, but came up short in Game Seven, leaving a long summer to think about what could have been.

Off-Season Game Plan looks at an obviously talented Canucks team that GM Mike Gillis will presumably want to keep intact as much as possible heading into next season.

Part of the reason that the Canucks shouldn't be looking to make drastic moves is that their lineup was rather depleted by the time the Final was finished. With defencemen Dan Hamhuis and Aaron Rome out due to injury and suspension, respectively, and second-line wingers Mason Raymond and Mikael Samuelsson both hurt, the Canucks' depth was put to the test.

Given those circumstances, the Canucks' best plan going forward may be to try and maintain as much of the status quo as possible, with minor tweaks to improve the depth in the organization.

After all, the Canucks finished with a franchise-record 117 points and led the league in both points and goal differential, so making wholesale changes based on losing Game Seven against Boston, would be taking a rather narrow view of this team's abilities and shortcomings.

That's not to say the Canucks can't improve or don't face challenges heading into next season.

Improved secondary scoring never hurts and if the Canucks can keep their defensive core mostly intact that continuity would be welcome to a team that is attempting to return to the Final.

Moreover, Gillis has eight unrestricted free agents to deal with this summer along with some players that are going to be recovering from injuries over the summer, not least of all Mason Raymond, Manny Malhotra and Dan Hamhuis.

If the Canucks return relatively healthy next season and make a few smart additions, the Canucks will give themselves a chance to return to the Final.

Trouble is, in the Western Conference, just having a chance to return still means battling through Chicago, Detroit, San Jose and others just to get to the Cup Final.

And now that the Canucks have been there, just getting to the Final isn't enough.

cont' ...