Magnus Arvedson, LW (FA-Ott); Dallas Eakins, D (FA-Atl); Martin Grenier, D (T-Phx); Johan Hedberg, G (T-Pit); Mike Keane, RW (FA-Col); Jesse Schultz, F (FA--); Jiri Slegr, D (FA-Europe)
Murray Baron, D (FA-StL); John Craighead, RW (FA-Europe); Bryan Helmer, D (T-Phx); Chris Herperger, C (FA-Europe); Trent Klatt, RW (FA-LA); Justin Kurtz, D (FA-Europe); Trevor Letowski, RW (FA-CBJ); Denis Martynyuk, LW (FA-Europe); Peter Skudra, G (FA-Europe)
Talk with most anyone about the Canucks' Stanley Cup chances and goaltending immediately comes to the fore. Starter Dan Cloutier has taken his share of heat from fans and followers alike after shaky playoff performances in 2001-02 and last year. Despite the raging debate, general manager Brian Burke continues to support his No. 1 puckstopper. Cloutier proved a reliable option in the regular season with back-to-back 30-win seasons, but his 3.24 GAA and .868 save percentage in last season's playoffs kept the goalie issue alive.
While Burke didn't go out and grab a new top goalie in Vancouver, he did secure the services of a quality No. 2 guy with frontline experience. The Canucks now look to former Pittsburgh Penguins starter Johan Hedberg to fill the backup role left by the departed Peter Skudra. Hedberg has a decent .901 save percentage and 2.88 goals-against average in his three-year NHL career, despite playing for the rebuilding Pens.
The Canucks possess one of the league's most dangerous attacks, headed by the top unit of Hart Trophy finalist Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison. The trio collected a combined 119 goals and 272 points last season and should give Colorado's Joe Sakic-Paul Kariya-Teemu Selanne line a run for its money as the most productive grouping in the NHL.
Vancouver will look for a leap in progression from the Sedin twins as its main source of secondary scoring. Henrik has increased his point total in each of his three NHL campaigns, but he has not yet broken the 40-point barrier. Meanwhile, brother Daniel has seen his point tally sink each season, bottoming out at 31 last year.
With regular linemate Trent Klatt now in L.A., the Canucks have considered using recently acquired Magnus Arvedson with the Sedins. The speedy Swede is a gifted two-way player who has averaged a shade under 40 points per season and always boasts a strong plus-minus figure.
The Canucks' blue line corps may not be the most defensively disciplined, but they excel at joining the rush like few others. Ed Jovanovski and Mattias Ohlund provide the most offensive punch, but the duo can also handle their own in the physical department. Sami Salo, Brent Sopel, Marek Malik and Bryan Allen provide additional size and skill in the rearguard spot for Vancouver. The biggest change will be the insertion of Jiri Slegr, who returns to the Canucks after a year in Europe and stints with other NHL sides. Slegr replaces Murray Baron, who was unable to reach a contract agreement with the club.
Linemate Markus Naslund may be the Canucks' captain and leading scorer, but few players in the NHL have the ability to dominate a game like Bertuzzi. The Vancouver power forward led the league with 25 power-play markers last season, finished fifth in scoring (97 points), and once again failed to shy away from the rough stuff by racking up 144 penalty minutes. It also doesn't hurt that he lines up nightly with Naslund and Morrison on one of the league's most fearsome trios.
Some observers suggest Bertuzzi's lone deficiency is his ability to get rattled by opposing players and take unnecessary trips to the penalty box. Wild defenceman Willie Mitchell found those buttons in last year's playoffs and pushed them with success.
