Canucks & Beyond

The Defense Rests

by Alanah McGinley on 02/05/08 at 02:14 PM ET
Comments (6)

The Canucks have recalled Zack Fitzgerald, yet another defenseman from Manitoba who gets his first shot at discovering life in the NHL this season. As Brad Ziemer via Canwest News pointed out this morning, things are beyond desperate:

Can anyone out there skate backwards?
Good, because you may be able to help the Vancouver Canucks, who are giving new meaning to the phrase, “the defence rests.”

A couple of these d-men might be back, but here’s the current status of the Canucks top-6, as they were projected to be last October (to paraphrase Ziemer):

Mattias Ohlund (returned to Vancouver for “personal reasons” Monday and may not make the game in Dallas tonight)
Sami Salo (groin injury the other day; possible return tonight, depending...)
Aaron Miller (foot injury from blocking a shot last week; morning skate determines if he can return tonight)
Willie Mitchell (back)
Lukas Krajicek (shoulder)
Kevin Bieksa (lacerated calf)

There’s reason to hope for Ohlund, Salo and Miller in Dallas tonight… but no certainties.

Regardless, this AHL team of ours is getting ridiculous, and J.J. at Canucks Hockey Blog agrees:

Alex Edler and Luc Bourdon as a top pairing would have been great if we were talking about the Manitoba Moose. Heck, a blueline that consists of Edler/Bourdon/Weaver/McIver/Fitzgerald isn’t bad really if we were talking about the Moose. That these guys might form the Canucks blueline tonight is lame (pardon the pun).

Switching to the topic of offense, Adam Proteau printed this in his mailbag article in The Hockey News today:

I was just wondering if you think it’s time the Vancouver Canucks say goodbye to Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, Matt Cooke and start looking to rebuild, because I think so.
Travis Ryan, North Vancouver, B.C.

Travis,
I think you’re onto something. However, as long as the Canucks are in the midst of a playoff race, there’s little to no chance GM Dave Nonis goes bananas in the next month and strips his roster in the name of starting over.

The Canucks are like a lot of post-season-bound teams in that there’s extensive pressure on them to win, at minimum, two playoff rounds this season.

If that doesn’t happen – and if they don’t get any scoring help prior to the Feb. 26 trade deadline, I don’t think it will – Vancouver’s team next season will look significantly different than this year’s group. And unrestricted free agents such as Naslund, Cooke and Morrison almost certainly will be goners.

Given the circumstances, I’m not sure many are expecting Vancouver to even make the playoffs, much less win two rounds. So that means more pressure on Dave Nonis than ever, and that February 26th deadline is a critical and loaded situation.

I think Proteau jumps the gun being so quick to dismiss what might happen there.

As for vanquishing Naslund, Morrison and Cooke… Should they all be scrapped? I don’t think that makes a ton of sense in Morrison’s case—just my opinion—but certainly Naslund is likely to be gone. And the non-renewal of his contract alone frees up $6 million for next season.

So… if you were GM of the Canucks, what would you try and buy for $6 million this summer?

Filed in: manitoba moose, vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: defense, offense, rumors, trade+deadline, vancouver+canucks,

Comments

Buy Wade Redden. At least he’s healthy.

Posted by Anonymouss from Toronto, ON on 02/05/08 at 02:29 PM ET

The Caunucks.. ahahhaaha. wot a bunch of stiffs. if luongo seriously wants to win a cup - or even get past the first round of playoffs - he’ll get the hell out of vancouver! no team relying on the sedin sisters is going to go anywhere at playoff time when the game gets gritty. forget them. check out the Kostitsyn Brothers in Montreal. they got talent but they can match it with toughness. too bad canucks. another lame season.

Posted by Byron Moore from Vancouver on 02/05/08 at 02:29 PM ET

ok first of all: my gosh remember when people wrote about vancouver trading a defenseman for some scoring because we were so deep on d?

second: i agree with you on morrison. looking at what it would cost to sign a 20 goal, 60 point centre who is a great penalty killer, and not out of place on any of the first 3 lines--i don’t see upgrading on morrison without paying large for it.

third: naslund certainly won’t be back form $6M, but considering how much he seems to like the city, and considering how he just seems like a guy who doesn’t want to roam the continent too much, i think he could be had for a short term low salary incentive-laden deal. i think the wildcard is just how much do naslund and AV not gt along.

cooke: i just don’t know. only if he’s cheap. gritty hard working players are a dime a dozen.

Posted by philb on 02/05/08 at 02:29 PM ET

I may be the minority, but I resign Naslund for a smaller contract. Again, he plays hard, never complains, and will contiune to put up 60-70 points. How is this not bad?!? That Gomez and Smyth territory from last year. Also in that neibourhood were Sundin, Parise, Demitra, Roy, Gagne, Elias, Rolston, Kopitar, Cole, etc. How is that not worth 4-4.5 mil a year, especially considering the lack of top flight UFA’s this summer?

Posted by Stephen on 02/05/08 at 02:33 PM ET

Naslund is in the top 50% for production for guys making the same money.

I’d still trade him / let him go however. Too soft, not a playoff performer.

Posted by Ryan from dapuddle on 02/05/08 at 02:57 PM ET

Honestly, Mo was having a good year before the injury. As for Cooke - I would give him away in a heartbeat. His scoring touch went south a long time ago. Nazzy will resign for a discount next year so why get rid of him?

Posted by Trini from Van C on 02/06/08 at 07:29 PM ET

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About Canucks & Beyond

Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.

She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.

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