Stanley Cup Chances Ranked For All Canadian Teams
By Adam Savard
Vancouver Canucks
This is another team I can’t believe has as strong of Stanley Cup odds as they have. The Vancouver Canucks are listed as 45/1 to win the Western Conference and 85/1 to win the Stanley Cup. To me they have more talent on the roster than Toronto but less direction.
That could all change this trade deadline. Sure, any team led by Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin will score a few goals but for how much longer. This is an aging roster up front that didn’t improve during the offseason and much of the team is signed to deals with multiple years remaining. Unless the Canucks retain salary in a rebuild fans are looking at a core they will have for a few more years.
It’s not all bad news for Vancouver. Bo Horvat impressed enough last season to stick on the roster but needs more minutes for his development. Sven Baertschi played in only three games last season after coming over from Calgary and has the chance now to show his first-round talent. Canucks fans need to focus on these young players as the rest of the roster changes.
Having a direction for those changes is critical. The roster is older, the younger and possibly better goaltender was traded to Carolina, and many contracts are tough to move. For all the talent on the roster I see the Canucks going from second in the Pacific Division to missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs completely. Top team in the Western Conference get stronger while other teams (Canadian teams) are getting better.
Simply put, the Vancouver Canucks are closer to the bottom of the NHL standings than contending for the Stanley Cup. What happens this season up to the trade deadline could set them back further.
Next: Number Five: Coming Back From The Ashes