Vancouver Canucks: 5 Players Who Could Score More Goals in 2016-17

The Vancouver Canucks need to score more goals in 2016-17. Here are five current players who could help.

This offseason, one of the most glaring questions for Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning is, “who will score goals for the Canucks next season?”

The Vancouver Canucks finished second last in goals for in 2015-16. Their scoring struggles were best exemplified by some dark days in March where they set a franchise record for minutes played without a goal — which included being shut out in three straight games.

Goal-scoring is clearly a major area of weakness. Since Benning, Trevor Linden and Willie Desjardins all insist they want their team to challenge for the post-season in 2016-17, it’s a weakness that needs to undergo a major reversal.

A fifth-overall pick in the upcoming Entry Draft could land the Vancouver Canucks a major offensive talent, but it’s unlikely that player will be ready to step in and make a major impact this coming season.

Few of the available free agents are true top-six scoring wingers, and high demand will drive up the price to acquire them.

Short of an improbable free-agent signing, a coup at the draft, or a blockbuster trade, the Vancouver Canucks may be stuck with what they have.

So, what exactly do they have?

Could Help Come Within?

Daniel Sedin led the team in 2015-16 with 28 goals; Henrik Sedin contributed 11 of his own. Assuming the Sedins (particularly Henrik) stay healthy, 25 goals from Daniel and 10-15 from Henrik seem likely.

Jannik Hansen surprised many with a 22-goal year while playing first-line minutes with the twins. If he stays on that line next season, perhaps he can come close to that number again. He has scored 16 goals on two previous occasions.

So the top line shouldn’t score any less than it did last season — but it likely can’t score any more. Is there anyone on the current Canucks roster who could contribute more goals than they did last year?

Here a five such players. Included with each is a potential number of goals. This number is not so much a hard projection as a “best-case scenario”: how many goals could fans reasonably expect, if the player plays 82 games next season and if they perform to the best of their offensive ability?

Next: Number 1: Bo Horvat