GM Kirk Slocum feels excited at his Canucks' prospects in the upcoming season, thanks to smart drafting and building a culture of expecting to win.
As some of you know I have been very high on the make-up of this team. I have felt strong enough to turn down fair offers that would disrupt this team as I see it. So, let’s start into what makes this team, in my opinion a pretty competitive team.
FORWARDS:
Current Lines (as of today)
Center Left Wing Right Wing
1 Mika Zibanejad Anders Lee Brayden Point
2 Erik Haula Alexis Lafrenière Patric Hornqvist
3 Victor Rask Tyson Jost Owen Tippett
4 Filip Chytil Nils Hoglander Jakob Silfverberg
Extra: Casey Mittelstadt
These forwards average 74.8 OV; 73.1 SC and 71.8 DF. We maybe a bit heavy offense on the first line, but think the other lines all have enough offense to keep the goals coming.
DEFENSE:
Current Lines (as of today)
Defense Defense
1 Ryan Lindgren Ryan Suter
2 Marc-Edouard Vlasic Ty Smith
3 Braden Schneider Gabriel Carlsson
Extra: Urho Vaakanainen (what a name)
These defensemen average 73.3 OV; 64.7 SC and 76.0 DF. The offense ratings are a bit weak, but as a GM I have always thought the DF ratings to be the most important for the success of my team and these players have a significant DF rating.
GOALIES:
Current Lines (as of today)
Starting: Cam Talbot - OV 81
Backup: Philipp Grubauer – OV 79
Extra: Keith Kincaid – OV 64
The one/two combo of Talbot and Grubauer should be one of the strongest in the league. Kincaid will be a fine emergency backup if Cam or Philipp go done.
So, between the strong defense in front of these goalies scoring on the Canucks should prove rather difficult.
Overall, I believe that the Canucks should be a very competitive team this season and will be a contending team for another division title and who knows what the playoffs could bring.