My predictions for this year:

1.  There will be fewer man-games lost on defense.
2.  There will be more man-games lost from the forwards.
3.  Luongo will have a slightly better year than he did last year.
4.  The Canucks SO record will be better than last year (although they better start playing right handed shots against Garon if he’s in net).
5.  The Canucks will have a better record in one-goal games.

Most of this is reversion to the mean, so it isn’t rocket science. 

6.  The Blackhawks will make the playoffs.
7.  Nashville won’t.
8.  The Canucks will make the playoffs.

Posted by Dean on 07/24/08 at 01:03 PM ET

I believe the Canucks have been a better team recently than most give credit for. 

True their offense needs to improve, but the Sedins are an excellent combo and put up plenty of points for what they are paid.  Their 3rd line is excellent and cheap.  The defense is solid and diverse (stay at homes, jack’s of all trades, slap shooters, gritty point producers, young guns) and inexpensive.  Goaltending is obviously excellent, though the backups have been par players.

The Canucks lost out last year IMHO because they dropped 7 of their last 8 games.  Had they won 4 of those games, we’d all be singing a bit of a different tune.  Naslund seemed worn out and ready to move on, Morrison was physically done and Luongo was obviously having personal issues. 

So where’s the franchise now?  I’m glad that Naslund left because I think his talents were being wasted on Vancouver’s style (cycle vs. run and gun).  Morrison was doing fine for his money though I think that his health may have been a problem this year.  The Canucks have been doing well but need to improve in their player development.  I have hope that the future looks bright with some of the players coming up.

I believe Gillis has been making good moves.  The Canucks had no reasonable 4th line with good character players.  I like Johnson for this signing and can see Pyatt doing well here or being moved around.  I think Bernier was a good move and Demitra didn’t do harm.  Sundin’s offer was through the roof, but looking around this years batch, I can see why the Canucks went after him alone in the manner they did. 

Hossa and some of the other big ticket items are good, but they too would have cost a fortune and lacked what the Canucks need.

The Canucks have lost a bunch of scoring talent but importantly they have lost ALL their leadership staples in Naslund, Linden and Morrison.  They needed to bring in youth, grit and scoring, but also leadership, heart and consistency.  Sundin was the person to for and the only one.

My belief in the state of the Franchise is that the Canucks have the ability to become a powerhouse.  It will either take a consistent 1st line through free agency/trades or the flowering of some of the young players.  Or both.  In any case, if these fail the Canucks will be left with a high degree of flexibility, draft picks and money to rebuild.

Most importantly I believe the franchise has been doing really well for the past 2 years regardless of what pundits/fans have been beaking off about.  No offense to Gillis, but Nonis was a smart, long-term builder from the bottom up.  He’s the reason the team was doing well and deserved another year.

Posted by Jordy from Toronto on 07/26/08 at 08:52 PM ET