Vancouver Canucks: Best Free-Agent Fits with the Sedins

Needing to add more scoring depth and talent up front, the Vancouver Canucks should take advantage of a fairly deep free-agent pool. In order to maximize the Sedinery next season, it’s imperative the Canucks add a top-six forward or two. 

Because after all, that’s one of the Vancouver Canucks’ more prevalent issues this offseason: how do they capitalize on the final two years they have of Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin — that is, before they would have to be re-signed or (Gretzky forbid) they retire?

Hand in hand with that issue is the lack of scoring depth the Canucks currently possess past the top line. Even if the youngsters make huge strides in their development as future producers and even if everybody stays healthy, that won’t do much to move the Canucks out of the league’s scoring cellar.

Do you still savour the sweet, sweet memories of the West Coast Express line lighting up the league or recall the well-balanced attack that propelled the Canucks to the top of league scoring in 2011? The Canucks need to get back there and fix their powerplay woes along the way.

Remember this dominance?

A.K.A. listen up, Trader Jim.

Not only should GM Jim Benning be looking to sign free agents but he should also be exploring all possible trade avenues.

So, which free agent forwards are the best fits?

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It’s almost a given by now that any player who skates with the Sedins is automatically made better. Some players even have career years with them. Truthfully, the Twins don’t need an elite, top-line winger alongside them: Radim Vrbata scored 31 goals from the right side; Anson Carter scored 33. Neither one of those guys is an “elite” winger.

Here are several of the Sedins’ most successful line mates over the course of their career, including a brief description of their playing style:

Trent Klatt (6-foot-1, 210 lbs)

• Bigger body but not much speed or skill
• Made presence felt in front of the net

Taylor Pyatt (6-foot-4, 230 lbs)

• Big body who often made his home in front of the net
• Quick hands, decent shot

Anson Carter (6-foot-1, 210 lbs)

• Fairly speedy
•  Crashed the net
• Played with grit, an edge to his game

Ryan Kesler (6-foot-2, 202 lbs)

• Big body, liked to throw his weight around
• Extremely fast skater, with lightning-quick agility
• Hard-nosed edge to his game
• Very competent forechecker

Alex Burrows (6-foot-1, 188 lbs)

• Quick skater with long reach
• Accurate and hard shot
• Under-your-skin, in-your-face quality
• Excellent forechecker
• Great anticipation

Radim Vrbata (6-foot-1, 194 lbs)

• Sniper capabilities
• Able to anticipate with solid hockey IQ

Jannik Hansen (6-foot-1, 195 lbs)

• Extraordinarily fast skater
• Smaller body but skilled forechecker
• Good two-way player
• Gritty and unafraid to battle in the corners/in front of the net

Out of that group, it’s obvious that two types of players are usually slotted in with Daniel and Henrik: 1) the big power forward who battles hard in front of the net and has enough skill to handle complex feeds from the twins and put them home with a deft scoring touch or 2) a smaller, speedy forward with an excellent shot, great anticipation, and a dose of grit.

But which type of player is the optimal fit?

An argument could be made for both but it’s hard to deny the impact of a big body in front of the net, especially if it’s a player who can crowd the crease without taking penalties and easily nullify defensemen with size and strength. Add a set of hands and a decent hockey IQ — at least a player with good ice-vision who is able to anticipate Sedinery and therefore put himself in a position to succeed — and you have the ideal fit for the Canucks’ top line.

The fact is, the majority of the time the Sedins are matched up against the top lines of opposing teams. These matchups usually lead to gruelling battles, and while speed is always valuable, an imposing figure coming down the wing can create a lot of space for the Sedins to work.

Now that we’ve identified what qualities a Sedin line mate would ideally have, which free-agent forwards best embody them?

Next: Milan Lucic