Stay the Course

After a heartbreaking Stanley Cup Finals defeat on home ice, the Vancouver Canucks decided to keep the team relatively untouched. By Tucker Warner 

(AP Photo/Don Heupel)

     The Vancouver Canucks are looking to defend their Western Conference Championship and reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year. General Manager Mike Gillis decided the best way to reach that goal would be to keep the team intact. Whether this decision was made as to not mess with the team’s chemistry or under the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” principle, the Canucks will keep around the bulk of last year’s successful team. 


     Vancouver began their off-season period by re-signing star defenseman Kevin Bieksa to a five-year contract. Bieksa led the team in plus-minus during the regular season, often playing on the second line, and was clutch in the playoffs, scoring five goals from the blue line. He also brings toughness and aggression to a defensive corps that sometimes lacks it, and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves. 
     In addition to Bieksa, the Canucks re-signed fourth-line center Maxim Lapierre to a two-year contract, scrappy, but oft-injured defenseman Andrew Alberts to a two-year contract, veteran defenseman Sami Salo to a one-year contract, and spark plug winger Jannik Hansen to a three-year contract. Gillis also picked up veteran winger Marco Sturm through free agency. Sturm was injured for most of the 2010-11 season, but scored 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) in 35 games with Los Angeles and Washington. 
     The off-season did not come without its losses, though. Defensive-minded winger Jeff Tambellini signed with the ZSC Lions of the Swiss NLA after a disappointing postseason. The Canucks also let go unproductive wingers Tanner Glass and Alex Bolduc, who signed with the Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix Coyotes, respectively. The biggest loss for Vancouver, albeit not a major one, was third-line winger Raffi Torres, who will be joining Bolduc in Phoenix this season. 
     The Canucks have not changed their roster much in their hunt for the Stanley Cup. They return seven of their top eight defensemen and all of their top six forwards. 
     Gillis, coach Alain Vigneault, and captain Henrik Sedin hope that this consistency will propel them to that final step, the Stanley Cup Championship.