Vancouver Canucks Year in Review: Grading 2015 X-Factors

#1 Linden Vey (Grade: I)

"My prediction for Vey for the 2015-16 season: 18 Goals, 12 Assists provided he gets time on the PP."

Well, you can scrap that now. Read this instead, if you will. It’s an “I” report on Vey.

Related: The Canucklehead Lament: F Linden Vey means Frustration

Thank Adam Cracknell for silencing all the Vey lovers and scoring just as many goals in the NHL as Vey has this year in the AHL. Fair enough for all the Vey lovers who might point out that Vey’s possession numbers outweigh Cracknell’s by a mile. But there is no place in Vancouver’s healthy lineup for Vey when his counterpart, Cracknell, is doing so well defensively.

At three goals and a dozen assists in 26 games for Utica, Vey’s production, even at the AHL level, is dropping. Two years ago, he had 48 points in 43 games for the Manchester Monarchs, and a year before that, Vey had 67 points in 74 games. Interesting to note that Tyler Toffoli — who just had a hat-trick against the Canucks — was Vey’s winger in those years.

Verdict on Vey: Hate to nail the coffin on a 24-year-old centre, but Vey is not ready for the NHL. His time with Vancouver should end after this season, a disappointing one especially compared to his former line mate Toffoli’s. Unlikely that he gets claimed off waivers, unlikely that Benning will, or can, trade him.

Next: Year 2015 in Review: Grading the Trades

The 2015 portion of the Canucks’ season engendered question after question, failing to answer most, if any. And the team doesn’t seem to have any answers going forward. The only Canucks who hold any form of answer might be the prospects. Till then, so long Vancouver and the lost year 2015. Change is coming, it will come tomorrow, whenever tomorrow is.