Vancouver Canucks 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

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Vancouver Canucks 2008-’09 record:
45-27-10, 100 points (1st in Northwest, 3rd in West)

Vancouver Canucks 2008-’09 playoffs:
Defeated St. Louis Blues 4-0; lost to Chicago Blackhawks 4-2

Vancouver came out of the basement in 2007-08 and won the Northwest Division crown! Their 45-27-10 record was enough to earn the Western Conference’s 3rd seed and a first round matchup with St. Louis. The Canucks dispatched the Blues in quick fashion but lost a barnburner in the 2nd round to the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite the playoff exit, Canuck fans were truly enthused about a season which saw goalie Roberto Luongo perform at an elite level and the Sedin twins fulfill their extraordinary promise by scoring 82 points apiece.

Vancouver Canucks 2009 Preview

Vancouver Canucks General manager: Mike Gillis (45-27-10, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

Vancouver Canucks Coach: Alain Vigneault (242-208-62, 8th NHL year, 2nd team)

Vancouver Canucks Captain: Roberto Luongo

Vancouver Canucks Top Returning Scorer: LW Daniel Sedin (31 goals, 51 assists, 82 points)

Vancouver Canucks Top Returning Goalie: Roberto Luongo (33-13-7, 2.34, .920)

Vancouver Canucks Key Additions: D Aaron Rome; RW Mikael Samuelsson; D Lawrence Nycholat; G Andrew Raycroft; LW Tanner Glass; D Mike Funk; D Christian Ehrhoff; D Brad Lukowich; D Mathieu Schneider.

Vancouver Canucks Key Subtractions: G Jason LaBarbera; D Mattias Ohlund; C Jason Krog; RW Jason Jaffray; G Curtis Sanford; LW Jeff Cowan; LW Taylor Pyatt; D Rob Davison; C Mats Sundin; D Ossi Vaananen.

Vancouver Canucks Top Line: LW Daniel Sedin, C Henrik Sedin, RW Mikael Samuelsson

Vancouver Canucks Top Defensive Pairing: Willie Mitchell, Sami Salo

The Canucks should have quite the set of scorers on this year’s team, led by the excellent Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel. Both scored 82 points last season to lead the team and will be counted on to repeat their excellence. They’re surrounded by a strong young cast that includes center Ryan Kesler (26 goals, 59 points), winger Alex Burrows (28 goals, 51 points) and center Kyle Wellwood. Plus, don’t forget the savvy Samuelsson, who was very strong in Detroit the past two seasons. On top of that, the Canucks have a two former 1 st round draft picks at center who appear ready to break into the lineup. The only major concern about the offense is that winger Pavol Demitra will miss about a month due to offseason surgery. Sadly, it isn’t his time out that is the concern: Demitra makes $4 million per year and the Canucks will have to make a trade to get him back in the lineup because they’re currently about $2 million over the salary cap once he becomes an active player. Thus, there will be some lost productivity somewhere up front before Thanksgiving.

However, the Canucks’ biggest change this year will come on the blue line. Head coach Alain Vigneault wanted to move to a more mobile group which could join the rush and the acquisition of the speeder pair of Schneider and Erhoff should make the Canucks much more dangerous. Along with the newcomers are a steady and productive group already in place that includes Kevin Bieksa, Alexander Elder and Sami Salo. This has to be one of the NHL’s most versatile groups of defenders and I expect a very strong season.

However, the Canucks will go as far as their superstar goalie takes them. Roberto Luongo is the team’s captain and best player. He’s shown the ability to win games singlehandedly for Vancouver and is the type of goaltender that a team needs to make a run at the Stanley Cup. Assuming Luongo shakes off a tough final showing against Chicago, the Canucks have one of the best goaltenders in the world at their disposal.

2009 Vancouver Canucks Goaltending:

Luongo suffered through another sub-par playoff, questioning the wisdom of Canucks locking him into a long-term deal. Posted franchise-record nine shutouts and reached 30-win plateau for fourth straight season. Fills net with large frame and amazing reactions. Should figure large in Canadian Olympic plans.

2009 Vancouver Canucks Player To Watch:

C Cody Hodgson. Canadian Hockey League player of the year did everything he could in his last season of junior with Brampton (OHL), leading team to league final, winning gold medal with Canadian juniors at worlds, topping the tourney with 16 points. Goes strongly to the net and has the hands and shot to finish what he sets out to do in the offensive zone.

2009 Vancouver Canucks Offense:

The Canucks will not play a home game between Jan. 27 and March 13 — a stretch of 14 consecutive road games that spans the NHL Olympic break. The newly re-signed Sedin twins will get some more help up front from Samuelsson, who left the West champion Detroit Red Wings for the Pacific Northwest.

Vancouver Canucks 2009 Season Predictions

Luongo will win them games they shouldn’t win — at least during the regular season — but there’s still little scoring beyond the Sedin twins.

We predict that the Vancouver Canucks will finish 2nd in the NHL Northwest, 7th seed in West: 94 points.

Vancouver Canucks Betting

Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup Odds: +2000
Vancouver Canucks Western Conference Odds: +900
Vancouver Canucks Northwest Odds: +140

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