While we sit here and wait for Mike Gillis to either sign Sundin and or another top 6 forward, it's intriguing to look at what we already have. Let's just assume the depth at forward positions in order is as below:
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Pavol Demitra
Mason Raymond - Ryan Kesler - Steve Bernier
Alexandre Burrows - Kyle Wellwood - Taylor Pyatt
Matt Pettinger - Ryan Johnson - Darcy Hordichuk
That really isn't that bad when you look at it. It's just that we are to assume and/or hope that several players are going to excel or improve on last year's output.
Those that may excel are: Bernier, Raymond, Kesler, Burrows.
Those that need to step it up are: Sedins, Demitra, Wellwood and Pyatt.
If all of the above players do what is expected of them, we will be in better shape. We also need a defence core that isn't depleted by injury.
Where does Wellwood rank at the center position? Can he be a #2 center? Yes he can. We know Kesler likes his checking role, but we also know that he could score more than 21 goals as well if given the chance to play in a more offensive role. Kesler averaged over 19:00 of ice time last year mostly because of his shadowing defensive game and penalty killing role. Is it time to hand over the offensive reigns to Kesler?
Burrows' 12 goals and 31 points were a career year and I bet he could score more as well. But he is also tied into a checking role, and marred by inconsistency as far as offence goes.
Mason Raymond is one of those creative kind of players who could turn heads even more this year if he gets more playing time and his tall lanky frame can handle the crashing and banging.
Taylor Pyatt had the same amount of points last season as the previous season, but scored 5 less goals. At 28 years old, he's entering his prime. Is this the best we'll see of Pyatt? With his size and determination, I am suprised he doesn't put up more points.
These guys need to score more, because it is obvious that the Sedins are not going to improve on their numbers until the rest of the guys chip in more.
Imagine what adding Sundin or another top 6 player would do that the Canucks' roster depth. That would technically drop Burrows to the 4th line. But then another question arises: Why would Vigneault split up the formidable tandem of Kesler and Burrows?
Questions and more questions. God, I wish it was October.
I really hope that Krog can impress and make the squad in October. He was officially signed today by Vancouver. But can he play in a checking role? If he can't, he'll be a Moose. He may just have Jason Jaffray Syndrome: Super in the AHL but fails at the NHL level.
T tags: Canucks+roster+depth 2008-09 season
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Pavol Demitra
Mason Raymond - Ryan Kesler - Steve Bernier
Alexandre Burrows - Kyle Wellwood - Taylor Pyatt
Matt Pettinger - Ryan Johnson - Darcy Hordichuk
That really isn't that bad when you look at it. It's just that we are to assume and/or hope that several players are going to excel or improve on last year's output.
Those that may excel are: Bernier, Raymond, Kesler, Burrows.
Those that need to step it up are: Sedins, Demitra, Wellwood and Pyatt.
If all of the above players do what is expected of them, we will be in better shape. We also need a defence core that isn't depleted by injury.
Where does Wellwood rank at the center position? Can he be a #2 center? Yes he can. We know Kesler likes his checking role, but we also know that he could score more than 21 goals as well if given the chance to play in a more offensive role. Kesler averaged over 19:00 of ice time last year mostly because of his shadowing defensive game and penalty killing role. Is it time to hand over the offensive reigns to Kesler?
Burrows' 12 goals and 31 points were a career year and I bet he could score more as well. But he is also tied into a checking role, and marred by inconsistency as far as offence goes.
Mason Raymond is one of those creative kind of players who could turn heads even more this year if he gets more playing time and his tall lanky frame can handle the crashing and banging.
Taylor Pyatt had the same amount of points last season as the previous season, but scored 5 less goals. At 28 years old, he's entering his prime. Is this the best we'll see of Pyatt? With his size and determination, I am suprised he doesn't put up more points.
These guys need to score more, because it is obvious that the Sedins are not going to improve on their numbers until the rest of the guys chip in more.
Imagine what adding Sundin or another top 6 player would do that the Canucks' roster depth. That would technically drop Burrows to the 4th line. But then another question arises: Why would Vigneault split up the formidable tandem of Kesler and Burrows?
Questions and more questions. God, I wish it was October.
I really hope that Krog can impress and make the squad in October. He was officially signed today by Vancouver. But can he play in a checking role? If he can't, he'll be a Moose. He may just have Jason Jaffray Syndrome: Super in the AHL but fails at the NHL level.
T tags: Canucks+roster+depth 2008-09 season