Season
It will be a boring season if the Canucks start the season with Virtanen and McCann in the lineup and ultimately after they play 9 games, the management team deems them not ready to play full time and returns them to Junior.
Cause, then there is really nothing to be hopeful for.
My best hopes for the season are the following:
Goaltending: Miller/Markstrom - expect a 2 to 1 split in games. 55 for Miller and 27 for Markstrom. Want to see Markstrom play at least as well as Lack has for the team in the past 2 seasons. Important to see that Markstrom can at least bridge the team until Demko is ready or become a future #1 and fulfill his promise that he displayed as a prospect.
Miller is Miller at this point. 36 year old vet goalie. Best days are behind him. Just needs to be steady and help Markstrom develop
Defense:
Edler - play steady. Fewer ups and downs
Tanev - same as we have seen. Stop getting plastered
Hamhuis - traded at the deadline
Scisba - play much better than he did last season
Weber - contribute on the PP and not be terrible defensively
Bartkowski - be a serviceable 3rd pairing/spare Dman
Corrado - show the poise he did when he was called up very early in his career. Be a dependable 3rd pairing right side Dman
Hutton - likely starts in the AHL, but expect him to be the first call up when Dmen go down during the season. Needs to add some bulk to play at the NHL regularly
Offense:
Hank - same old - close to PPG production
Dan - same old - close to PPG production
Vrbata - traded at the deadline
Burrows - plays solidly this season. If offer comes in for a trade, make the move and deal Burrows
Hansen - same solid 3rd line checker and grinder he has always been
Higgins - if lucky, be a solid decent 3rd line winger and doesn't see any PP time. Hopefully those minutes go to McCann and Virtanen. If option to trade him comes near the deadline and by picking up part of his contract next season, make the move
Sutter - hope he delivers on the faith that management has in him. Need to see him produce 25 goals and 50 points and be a solid 2 way guy
Prust - bring the physical presence and kill penalties. Step in for the youngsters like Virtanen and McCann when it gets rough. Traded at the deadline.
Dorsett - see Prust. Except he won't get traded
Baertschi - play like the offensive 1st/2nd the Canucks hoped for. Pot in at least 20 goals this season.
Vey - will he deliver on the faith of Benning/Desjardins? Or do we see that it wasn't just a numbers game that kept him out of the Kings lineup. Given the opportunity to play regularly but hasn't seized it.
Virtanen - play physical and chip in offensively. Don't get too focussed on playing like Ferland, play his game. If he can pot a goal total in the teens and around 30 points, I would be satisfied
McCann - generate some offence and play solid defence. Point total, depending on who he plays with, I would hope for similar numbers like Jake, teen goal total and 30 points.
Horvat - build upon last year's solid season. Increase goal total to 20 and point total into the 40 point range.
Outside -
Kenins - not sure on his waiver situation. Likely has to start the season on the farm
Gaunce - numbers game for him. Injuries happen and likely to see him called up at some point
Grenier - likely to see him as a call up at some point too.
My main hope is that Benning doesn't lose sight of the long term goal of winning a cup. They can't win one in the very near future and can't pass up dealing Vrbata/Hamhuis/Prust for a playoff berth this season. Don't have enough young talent if they only have their own draft picks. Need to get a few more young players. Limited Defensive depth and high end offensive players.