The Vancouver Canucks are expected to miss the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs — time to take a first look at the roster for 2016-17.
For the Vancouver Canucks, like the rest of the Canadian NHL clubs, the off-season will be filled with more golf than hockey. However, it is safe to assume that general manager Jim Benning and his staff will start working on their roster for next season as soon as the final game is played.
The Canuck Way writer Jeff Godley did a great job breaking down which Canucks free agents should be re-signed and which players he expects Benning to re-sign. Based on those predictions, I broke down the Canucks roster for 2016-17, inserting some predictions of my own.
Throughout the 2015-16 campaign, the Canucks struggled with injuries. Before the injury bug started to bite, Vancouver was second in the Pacific Division — a place they are now far away from.
Looking at next season’s roster, it is clear to see that the playoffs would have been possible without all those injuries. The roster is certainly not on the same level as that of the Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars or Chicago Blackhawks, but it should have been good enough to make the postseason in a terrible Pacific Division that turned out to be not quite that terrible.
But what about next season? What contracts are expiring? Who is left? Where do the Canucks need help? Let’s take a look.
Next: Goaltenders