The NHL begins tonight! And the Canucks have been predicted to come last, dead last.
For real? I get that we are not the powerhouse President Trophy winners this year but last? In fairness, we were 3rd to last last season. And I don't care what Benning & Linden say, we are not retooling we are rebuilding. What if the Canucks make the playoffs? And you imagine the surprise? I don't think they will but it's the 1st day of the season...let me dream for a second people. I like the direction our rebuild is heading.
I get it though, where are the goals going to be coming from?
Last year the Leafs (who had many AHL kids up to tank the season) had more goals than Vancouver...yep, you read that right.
I know what people are going to say, "We signed Eriksson." For too much money I must add. $6M was the going rate...and then Kucherov signs back with TB for $4.75M and Johnny Hockey signs a 6 year deal with the Flames for only $6.7M. But hey, we got Eriksson! Yippie. He had 30 goals last year. Yep....but he wasn't playing for the Canucks. Could he have 30 again? Possibly. And for $6M a year and playing with the twins, he better scored 30-40!
But who else do we got to pick up the scoring pace? We are hoping our young kids are going to be improving and producing more this year.
Baertschi should be better...Horvat will as well.
Virtanen? That's the hope.
Gaunce? Don't hold your breath. But he better or he's heading back to the AHL.
The one guy I think will score more this year is Granlund.
But what about Sutter? $5.5M and injured last year...for some reason people in the hockey world love this guy. I'm not a fan but it's his year to produce. And what line will he be on? His criticism was he was behind Crosby and Malkin in Pitts. But he might be behind Sedin and Horvat. Money wasted in my opinion.
We know Burrows isn't going to light the lamp much. Hansen can scored some with his blazing speed but he's not scoring 30 goals. We can't expect much of any offense from Etem or Dorsett.
What about our defensemen?
Elder can score. Tanev, not really. Hutton, who knows?
I like the Gudbransen deal...but is he going to score more goals? I hope so but he hasn't produced offensively in the NHL yet.
Trymakin? Still developing.
Sbsia? Bahahaha
We are developing Juolevi to become that stud D like some are predicting. But he's back with the London Knights trying to repeat as CHL champs. (By the way, Tkachuk who maybe people wanted Vancouver to draft made the Flames roster and already on the 2nd line for scoring help).
And our goaltending...how will they do???
Ryan Miller was good. He couldn't stay healthy last year but still making his $6M. Markstrom...needs to be more consistent. Our real hope is in a few years with Demko.
So now that we have gone through that maybe this prediction of last isn't that far off?
Now before we are start handing the Canucks the best lottery position, let's not forget that the Oilers haven't made the playoffs in 10 seasons. I know, I know, it's different this year. I've been hearing that for 10 years! But I think the Oilers are getting better with McDavid and getting rid of Yakupov. But trading away Taylor Hall was a HUGE mistake in my books. Drafting Puljujarvi was brilliant. Maybe this year they do have real hope?
And the Leafs...they got Austin Matthews and who? Exactly. I think they will be better this year. A great coach and great GM seem to help that sorry looking squad.
So maybe we won't come dead last. But if we do...I just really hope we win the lottery...we need a stud like McDavid or Matthews...to give us some hope. Because hope gives optimism and hope sells tickets. But more importantly score more goals and win more games.
Before we declare Vancouver will be last...the people who predicted that? USA Today. What do they know about hockey??? EA thinks Vancouver will be 11th behind Colorado. What will really happen? We will find out!!!
I could be wrong but I doubt it.
