Armchair GM: What Do The Canucks Need to Succeed?

Ryan Kesler had heart and soul; but this team needs some serious tweaks. The gaping holes in our size were exposed by the Boston Bruins and the salt in the wound was the fact that they won on our home ice. On top of that, the Canucks, through injury and uncertain goaltending in the Stanley Cup finals, were unable to have enough gas to make it through the final round. We found out that Ryan was playing through a torn hip labrum and groin tear Acetabular Labrum Tear Diagnosis info

This probably means that like Hamhuis who has a sports hernia and lower abdominal injury, we won't see Kesler for the start of the season as these two have injuries that have a recovery period of about two to three months. It is said that Hamhuis won't be available for training camp and Kesler pretty much may be out of the roster line-up at the start of the season. These are two major injury gaps that Gillis will have to fill at least temporarily. Maybe he'll be able to do it from roster callups, but unfortunately, the loss of two key players; one renowned for his defensive transition game (Hamhuis) and one for developing into a key power forward (Kesler), means that we have two glaring holes for the start of next season. The Canucks need to look within their organization to bandage these two holes for the start of the season.

During the course of the Stanley Cup finals, it was evident that the skill players were being manhandled by the larger power forwards that the Bruins seemed to have. We need to acquire at minimum two large 6'5" power forwards with grit and not hesitant to drop the gloves: One to line with Hank and Danny, a proven passer with a good hand as well as size to protect them if any of the players on the opposition try anything; one(a Scott Hartnell or a Ryan Clowe type)one to power a wing with Kesler. That would give us two solid scoring lines. We also need a guy willing to go to the front of the net and plant his huge body in front of the opposing goalie in the style of Byfuglien who I'd have to say was a royal pain in the ass during his two series with the Hawks against the Canucks. We also need to shore up our defense with a two big six-footers who are willing to take the body to any forwards coming over the blue line. Try to get in close to our goalie and you're going to pay the price. Team them up with Ballard and Hamhuis, puck moving defensemen who can move the puck out of the zone on a transition play while the big guys keep the net clear. Malhotra has heart, had a rebound season before his eye-injury and deserves to be here. So does Bieksa on our blue-line. We need to sign Bieksa and pair him with Rome. While having big solid D on our blue-line transition D corps. Salo should be kept as a 7th D to slot in on the powerplay or play with Bieksa when we need him due to season injuries.

Above all, we need to get Lui back to mental form. His puck handling may be suspect but I feel that's more of a mental thing than lack of puck handling skill. He may need to talk to a sports psychologist to work on his mental conditioning. There was no need to chirp off at Thomas. The opposing goalie has no need to pump you up. In the finals; it's a war. The opposition is there to beat you; not pay you accolades. There was a mental breakdown at that point and that needs to be fixed before we can even make an attempt at another run. The mental toughness that a goalie has, has to be one where the goalie can't let in two or three bad goals in a row after the first bad goal. He has to be able to mentally regroup and regroup instantly.

One more year with Alain Vigneault. Give him another chance. Prove that he can be flexible. If he can't then get him out before he starts playing favorites and screwing with player's minds. We can salvage Ballard. Give Schneider the chance to backstop more games this year, and play him a lot towards the end of the year too as the playoff near so that he can get a taste of the intensity of the jockeying for position to get to the playoffs.

Needless to say, it is quite possible that the Canucks may not be repeating their feat of winning the President's trophy next year. But still it doesn't matter whether they win it or not. The 2-3 year window of winning the Stanley Cup should be the ultimate goal: Win sooner not later.