But Gillis Needs To Pull The Trigger On A Deal If Canucks Want To Go Far In Playoffs!
By Jessy Dhillon
What a roller coaster season this Canucks season has been. Last week, everyone this side of the BC-Alberta border was calling for wholesale changes. This week, after a five game winning streak everyone is planning the Stanley Cup parade route. As of March 27th, The Vancouver Canucks have quietly put together their longest winning streak of the season after defeating the St. Louis Blues at home and then going on the road to win all three games against Phoenix, Los Angeles and Colorado. Vancouver then came home and won 1-0 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. This game was quite possibly the most boring game of the year.
I like to point of some positives from this recent string of wins by the Canucks. Firstly, the team has finally made a decision with their two star goalies. Cory Schneider has taken over as the number one goalie in Vancouver’s crease. The native of Marblehead, Massachusetts has started all five games that the Canucks have won in the recent streak. In those five games, Cory has allowed just five goals. By far Cory Schneider has been the Canucks best player on the ice. Finally he is showing that promise of being the “guy” in Vancouver’s crease.
I would also like to point out the amazing job coach Alain Vigneault has done during the five game winning streak. The injury bug has hit Vancouver hard. The Canucks are without three top six forwards: Ryan Kesler, David Booth, and Zack Kassian along with depth forwards Steve Pinizzotto and Dale Weise. Also, Alex Edler was suspended for two games on a questionable hit on Phoenix Coyotes’ goalie Mike Smith. I feel Coach Vigneault did an excellent job with the players he had to work with while some of his key players were injured. I like how he has simplified the game plan for the Canucks and got them to believe in the hard working system he wants them to play while being short handed of his talented forwards. The decision to put defensemen Keith Ballard on the third forward line had a lot of people questioning the coach. Surprisingly, Keith has been one of the better forwards on the nights he has to play up. The last positive I would like to point out is that our defence has started to finally gel. Earlier in the season the defence looked unorganized and soft. Lately, they have looked like a unit that is going to be tough to play against in the playoffs.
Now I know a five game winning streak is great, but something is really alarming me: Goal Scoring. The Canucks have managed to score nine goals during the winning streak. This team would be in trouble without the rock solid goal-tending and great coaching. I know injuries to forwards have played an issue to the lack of goals being scored. However, the Canucks are still getting “grade A” goal scoring chances but still cannot put the puck in the net. Not since the great Pavel Bure has Vancouver had a pure goal scorer. With the trade deadline approaching next week, I feel general manager Mike Gillis has to go all in and make a offer for a goal-scorer that make us a contender and not a pretender come playoff time.
Here are three players I feel the Canucks should go after before the trade deadline:
Jaromir Jagr: He’s 41 but can still get the job done. Jagr would drastically improve the struggling power play if he were to play with the twins. He is a free agent at the end of the year so the Canucks would not have to worry about taking on more salary for next season.
Jarome Iginla: You must think I am crazy suggesting this since he plays on the rival Calgary Flames. Jarome is what the Canucks have been lacking for years. A tough “good old Canadian” that scores, hits and fights. I would be willing to part with Alex Edler and a top draft pick for Mr Iginla’s services. I feel he would be another player that would be a great fit on the power play with the Sedins.
Claude Giroux: A great playoff performer with a low salary hit that Canucks would benefit from. Getting Giroux out of Philadelphia would take a miracle. I would offer Roberto Luongo and a first round draft pick for Claude Giroux. The Flyers are looking to buy out Ilya Bryzgalov at the end of the year they could be able to afford Luongo’s hefty salary.
Due to the Canucks previous trade deadline history, I do not think they will make a big headline deal. However, Mike Gillis really has to think hard about this one. The window for a Stanley Cup is closing for this team, the time is now. Go all in or watch the Canucks get eliminated in the first round like last year. With no real top-notch prospects in the minors for Vancouver, once the window is shut for the core of this team their will be some dark years to come for the Vancouver Canucks. So what are you waiting for Gillis? Pull the trigger on a deal!
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