Team Previews: Vancouver-Doomed for another early playoff exit

The first team I'll take care of in my NHL season preview is the Vancouver Canucks. Let me say this right now. Vancouver is going to suffer the same thing as the last two seasons. They did make some improvements, they were needed improvements, but they needed more than what they did.

First, lets start with the improvements this Vancouver team made. Solving the goalie problem is a huge plus. Luongo was expected to be traded, but he says he's ready to start the season. He's probably going to be the best part of this team. John Tortorella is the right coach for this team. Some people are unsure if this was a good move or don't think it was a good move, but it was. Tortorella isn't afraid to tell it like it is. If the team has a problem he'll fix it. However, this leads into the negatives of this team. Can he fix it?

The Vancouver Canucks are a wonderful regular season team. They'll probably either win or finish high in the Pacific division this year and it'll be the usual suspects of players putting them in that position. However, come playoff time they just can't do it. This team has had the same core of players for a few years now and it has very few playoff performers. The two best players on this team, the Sedin twins just don't have what it takes to play in the playoffs. If the two best players on the team don't perform then the team doesn't perform no matter what they might get from Kesler or Burrows. Also, what other good playoff teams have is depth. This means that if a couple of the best players on that team don't perform other players are good enough to keep scoring until those stars find their stride again. Vancouver simply doesn't have many players able to do that in the playoffs. They haven't gotten much this off season so it's essentially the same group of players who have bowed out in the first round two years in a row and are going to do it again.

If Vancouver was going to win a Stanley cup 2010 was the year. That was the year when all the players were in their prime and ready to go. Now this team is starting to fade. Some players aren't as productive as they were and this team just doesn't have the depth to make up for it. Expect a strong regular season from this team, but another early end to their playoff run.