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Wednesday, November 8, 2000
No big Mess in Vancouver
By George Johnson
Special to ESPN.com
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With the Mark Messier era a staggering, non-playoff disappointment, the Canucks intensified their youth movement. Only two of the team's core group – 33-year-old defenseman Murray Baron and 31-year-old center Andrew Cassels – are over 30.
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Wed., Sept. 27
Two heralded brothers and Felix the Cat will pace the Canucks.
They've pinned their hopes for the future on the Sedin twins. If they play well, losing Mark Messier doesn't hurt so much. Counting on rookies to help a team win immediately is not the easiest path to success. But the play of Felix Potvin could give them the time they need to gain confidence. Potvin has played at a high level in this league but hasn't been great the last couple of years. If Vancouver is going to go anywhere, Potvin will have to have to lead them while the brothers get their feet wet at the NHL level. |
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In youngsters like Peter Schaefer, Harold Druken and Scott Lachance the future is bright. And even their 'oldguard' – Markus Naslund, Ed Jovanovski, Brendan Morrison and Todd Bertuzzi – are only between the ages of 25-27.
With Messier departed for his beloved Manhattan – and a two-year $11 million contract – most of the attention early on will focus on Henrik and Daniel Sedin, the Swedish wunderkids. General manager Brian Burke hoped Messier would at least be around to tutor the unproven twins. Instead, they'll just have to figure things out for themselves.
No one doubts their future potential, but realistically, if each contributes 60 points to the cause this winter and adds a bit of excitement to the team as a whole, the Canucks will be nothing short of ecstatic. And the twins have help with Naslund, Cassels and Bertuzzi, whose 25 goals showed he might be ready to fulfill his promise.
The return of Mattias Ohlund, out the first half of last season due to an eye injury, helps a defense that also includes Adrian Aucoin, Jovanovski and the feisty Baron. Injuries to any of the above four for an extended period of time would put the Canucks in deep trouble.
Naturally, much of the finished product will depend on goaltender Felix Potvin. In the former Toronto star, the Canucks feel they've finally found a legitimate No. 1 to be a workhorse in net. Problem is, Potvin hasn't had a winning season since 1995-96. But Potvin played well late last season and might have turned the corner.
Mirroring the frustration in Calgary, it's been four long, painful seasons since the Canucks qualified for the playoffs. That dissatisfaction has resulted in a free-fall in ticket sales at GM Place. The organization has to do something to try and win back the fans, and hope the new-wave approach fronted by the Sedins will turn the trick.
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Bottom Line on the Canucks
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Strengths
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Weaknesses
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Youth
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Back-up goalie
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Defense
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Leadership
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Center
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Faceoffs
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SEASON OUTLOOK: Promising. After the four consecutive playoff misses and the loss of Messier, nobody will be paying the Canucks much heed – outside of a glance or two to see how the Sedin kids are faring – this season. Maybe, that's a positive here. If Potvin holds up his end of the bargain, they'll fight for that elusive postseason spot. |
George Johnson covers the NHL for the Calgary Herald. His NHL National column appears every week during the season on ESPN.com.
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Edmonton Oilers preview
Calgary Flames preview
Colorado Avalanche preview
Minnesota Wild preview
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