With the remarkable Roberto Luongo, there are obviously no worries in goal for the Canucks. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Backgrounder | 2007-08 NHL season
Vancouver Canucks
Last Updated Thurs., Sept. 20, 2007
Scott Morrison, CBC Sports
2006-07 RECORD: 49-26-7 = 105 points (1st in Northwest, 3rd in Conference).
MOST IMPRESSIVE: Not surprisingly, given their defensive play, the Canucks were 30-11-7 in one-goal games last season and their penalty killing was tops in the league.
MUST IMPROVE: They ranked tied for 21st in goals for, 19th on the power play.
NEW FACES: D Aaron Miller, W Brad Isbister, F Byron Ritchie, G Curtis Sanford, F Ryan Shannon.
LEFT TOWN: W Jan Bulis, F Marc Chouinard, D Rory Fitzpatrick, F Josh Green, G Dany Sabourin, F Bryan Smolinski, D Brent Sopel, C Tommi Santala.
Can the Sedins improve on their breakthrough 2006-07 season? (Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
OUTLOOK: With the remarkable Roberto Luongo, there are obviously no worries in goal for the Canucks, who set team records for wins and points and drastically reduced their goals against last season. Luongo gives them a chance to win every night.
The key to continued or greater success, however, will be improving an offence that went bone-dry in the playoffs and ranked 22nd in the regular season and a power play that was ordinary and ultimately proved to be their undoing in the playoffs. The likes of Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison, who battled injuries, have to reclaim old form and the Sedins have to play just as well as they did in their breakthrough year.
Still, the scoring is sharply focused and if the goals don't come a little easier and more often, they will be challenged to improve on their success last season. Defence may win championships, but the odd goal still helps. Night in, night out, this will still be a tough team to beat but the scoring needs to improve.
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With the remarkable Roberto Luongo, there
are obviously no worries in goal for the Canucks. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Can the Sedins improve on their breakthrough 2006-07 season? (Jeff Vinnick/Getty
Images)







