Canucks' Regular Season: Sizing Up The Competition

By Aleem Peermohamed

With the NHL already in full swing on another continent, the Canucks are set to open up at the garage Thursday evening, so let’s have a look at their competition in the Northwest Division.

With a great deal of parity in the division, the Northwest standings are likely going to be tighter than spandex pants on Homer Simpson.

Edmonton Oilers

Last year the boys in Oil Country finished fourth in the division with 88pts. With the key additions of GM Steve Tambellini (Vancouver’s loss is Edmonton’s gain), power forward Erik Cole and blue line stud Lubomir Visnovski, the team’s strength appears to be offense, with a very mobile defence, and a lot of speed up front.

Their totals from last year don’t seem impressive, but it was in the second half of the season where the team really took off. If not for numerous key injuries, the young Oilers probably would have made a playoff appearance last year. Look for them to be an improved Northwest opponent.

Minnesota Wild

With 98 points and first place in the Northwest last season, the Wild have a tough act to follow. Key veterans were added including Andrew Brunette from the Avs, Owen Nolan from Calgary and Anti Miettinen from the Stars. But can they sustain the loss of Demitra, Rolston and Parrish up front.

The Wild have a mobile defence, and this will prove to be their strength, and hopefully for their and their fans sake, they can get the Gaborik contract saga resolved so it does not prove to be a distraction.

The Wild as always will be a tough team to play against, but not the most entertaining bunch to watch.

Colorado Avalanche

95 points last year, was good for second in the Northwest. They added goaltender Andrew Raycroft, superpest Darcy Tucker from the Centre of the hockey universe, and lured Daniel Tjarnqvist from Sweden. Leaving, however, were Brunette, Finger, Foresberg and netminder, Theodore. They have a pretty solid top six but depth and goaltending seem to be the big question marks.

Under the leadership of Burnaby Joe Sakic, the Avalanche should remain in the thick of things.

What do you think of the Canucks chances this season? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.