10. Kyle Wellwood is in shape!
Wellwood has always been the combination of a gifted hockey mind with the body of a couch potato. That is about to change, as this year he has come into training camp 17 pounds lighter than last year!
9. New and Improved Steve Bernier.
Bernier was the Canucks' “goat” last year, missing a ridiculous amount of scoring opportunities. He has worked on everything in the off-season, from foot-speed, to fitness, to pressure situations with the puck. We might finally see him reach his potential.
7. No slow start for Roberto Luongo
The knock on Luongo’s career thus far: slow starts to the season. With the pre-season Team Canada Orientation Camp taking place, and the starting job for the Olympics on the line, Luongo knows he has to be on form early. Pressure usually works in his favour.
6. Sergei Shirokov
No idea what to expect, but Tommy Larsheid has dubbed him the “Pocket Russian Rocket”, and he has looked great in the pre-season.
5. Cody Hodgson
Finally, the future of the Vancouver Canucks has arrived!
3. Demitra is injured
Not even getting into his softness as a player, the positive here is that young Hodgson, Shirokov, and Raymond will gain playing time and have a chance to show what they’ve got.
4. Christian Ehrhoff and Mathieu Schneider Replace Ohlund
We were worried when we lost Ohlund to free agency – our depth of offensive defensemen was low, considering Salo’s brittle body. With the arrival of Schneider and Ehrhoff, the Canucks’ blueline seems even better than it was last year.
2. Schedule Fixed
Finally, after three long seasons of playing too many divisional and conference games, the schedule has been fixed! This year we will see the Penguins, Capitals, and all 5 other Canadian teams at GM Place at least once.
1. Optimism
Not since late in the Brian Burke era, have Canucks fans felt so optimistic heading into a season. Back then, we had one of the league’s most offensive powerhouses, led by the “Westcoast Express” – Bertuzzi, Morrison, and Naslund – but no goaltending. With Luongo signed to a 12 year deal in the off-season, that will not be a problem for a long long time.
Wellwood has always been the combination of a gifted hockey mind with the body of a couch potato. That is about to change, as this year he has come into training camp 17 pounds lighter than last year!
9. New and Improved Steve Bernier.
Bernier was the Canucks' “goat” last year, missing a ridiculous amount of scoring opportunities. He has worked on everything in the off-season, from foot-speed, to fitness, to pressure situations with the puck. We might finally see him reach his potential.
7. No slow start for Roberto Luongo
The knock on Luongo’s career thus far: slow starts to the season. With the pre-season Team Canada Orientation Camp taking place, and the starting job for the Olympics on the line, Luongo knows he has to be on form early. Pressure usually works in his favour.
6. Sergei Shirokov
No idea what to expect, but Tommy Larsheid has dubbed him the “Pocket Russian Rocket”, and he has looked great in the pre-season.
5. Cody Hodgson
Finally, the future of the Vancouver Canucks has arrived!
3. Demitra is injured
Not even getting into his softness as a player, the positive here is that young Hodgson, Shirokov, and Raymond will gain playing time and have a chance to show what they’ve got.
4. Christian Ehrhoff and Mathieu Schneider Replace Ohlund
We were worried when we lost Ohlund to free agency – our depth of offensive defensemen was low, considering Salo’s brittle body. With the arrival of Schneider and Ehrhoff, the Canucks’ blueline seems even better than it was last year.
2. Schedule Fixed
Finally, after three long seasons of playing too many divisional and conference games, the schedule has been fixed! This year we will see the Penguins, Capitals, and all 5 other Canadian teams at GM Place at least once.
1. Optimism
Not since late in the Brian Burke era, have Canucks fans felt so optimistic heading into a season. Back then, we had one of the league’s most offensive powerhouses, led by the “Westcoast Express” – Bertuzzi, Morrison, and Naslund – but no goaltending. With Luongo signed to a 12 year deal in the off-season, that will not be a problem for a long long time.
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