KEY ADDITIONS				KEY LOSSES
Name Andrew Cassels Steve Kariya Doug Bodger	Pos. F F D	From Flames College Kings		Name Bryan McCabe	Pos. D	To Blackhawks

Outlook
Here's the situation in Vancouver: Lots of question marks and very few answers.

		Even if the Canucks improve 20 points on last year's mess, they will still end up with just 78. This team had no discipline last year, facing 450 short-handed situations. Will coach Marc Crawford be able to re-energize the Canucks team after he won only eight games after taking over for Mike Keenan? Every NHL team needs a goaltender who can get it out of a jam, and the Canucks are banking on Kevin Weekes, a fine prospect, but a kid who has never won an NHL game. Garth Snow is as competitive as they come, but the jury is still out on whether he can be a No. 1 goaltender. Will we see the world-class skills of Alex Mogilny or the 14 goals he scored last season? Is this the end of future Hall of Famer Mark Messier? The warrior may not want to go to battle too many more times for this group. I like the future of their defenseman, led Bryan Allen, Mattias Ohlund and Adrian Aucoin. The Canucks were 26th in the NHL last season and scored only an average of 2.34 goals per game. There is very little reason to believe they can turn it around, so the playoffs are out of the question. I see the Canucks building toward 2000-2001, when the highly touted Sedin twins enter the NHL to go along with the development of Allen, Bill Muckalt, Josh Holden and possibly Weekes.

Vancouver general manager Brian Burke drafted a pair of gems back in June in Swedish twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin. However, they're only 18 and at least another year away from the NHL. So for now, he'll have to make do with a mix-and-match cast of players.

The forwards are led by aging captain Mark Messier, who may be centered by Alexander Mogilny -- who reported to camp fitter than in recent years -- and possibly accompanied by Bill Muckault.

Depth is a problem. Marc Crawford, entering his first full season with the Canucks, will choose from Andrew Cassels, Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brad May to fill out the next best line.

Rooky Steve Kariya (Paul's brother) has impressed thus far and could make an impact, as could Peter Schaefer and Josh Holden.

One of the reasons Vancouver finished first in the NHL last season in goals from defense was due to the play of Adrian Aucoin, who led all NHL blueliners with 23 tallies in 1998-99. But he's holding out right now without a contract, as is Ed Jovanovski. That leaves Vancouver with Mattias Ohlund along with aging veterans Doug Bodger and Murray Baron ... and not much else.

Did you know that when Crawford took over for the deposed Mike Keenan last season, his mark of 8-23-6 was worse than his predecessor? For Crawford to turn things around, the offense will have to score more -- which means the forwards have to stay healthy, one or more of the rookies above will have to exceed expectations and Garth Snow needs to play huge.

That's an awful lot to ask for and that's why the Canucks will not make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

'98-99 NORTHWEST STANDINGS
TEAM	W	L	T	Pts.
Colorado	44	28	10	98
Edmonton	33	37	12	78
Calgary	30	40	12	72
Vancouver	23	47	12	58

The bottom line
Better or not: Better
By how much: 5-7 more wins
Most improved: Todd Bertuzzi
Most valuable: Mark Messier
Biggest disappointment: Dave Scatchard

Charles Avellino is a lead NHL researcher for ESPN.