Vancouver Canucks
Team Page | Schedule | Roster | 1998-99 Stats
Sports Illustrated Ranking: 24
By Luis Fernando Llosa
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| 1998-99 Leaders |
| Stat |
Leader |
No. |
Goals
Assists
Points
+/-
Shots
Ice time (F)
Ice time (D)
Faceoff Pct.
Hits
PP Pts.
SH Pts.
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Markus Naslund
Mark Messier
Markus Naslund
Peter Zezel
Markus Naslund
Mark Messier
Mattias Ohlund
Dave Scatchard
Adrian Aucoin
Markus Naslund
Mark Messier
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36
35
66
+5
205
22.6
26.1
56.3
208
28
7
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So what do Canucks fans have to look forward to this season?
Vancouver's only star is aging, injury-prone center Mark
Messier, whose uninspired play has contributed to consecutive
last-place finishes. The club's best offensive prospects,
19-year-old Swedish twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were
drafted second and third overall in June, won't join the team
until next season. Moreover, the club's No. 1 goaltender, Garth
Snow, finished 1998-99 tied for the most losses (31) in the
league. His backup, Kevin Weekes, who was acquired in last
January's infamous Pavel Bure trade, has tons of potential but
has yet to win an NHL game in 15 starts.
Still, general manager Brian Burke insists that Vancouver, which
finished 23-47-12 last season, will fight for a playoff spot. "We
went out and signed [center Andrew] Cassels and [defenseman Doug]
Bodger," Burke says of those two free agents. "I don't think it's
fair to ask our season-ticket holders to wait until the Sedin
twins arrive."
Whom is he kidding? Cassels, who scored only 12 goals for the
Flames last year, can hardly be expected to revive the league's
fourth-worst offense. In fact, the Canucks' forwards were the
lowest-scoring group in franchise history. One good sign is that
former scoring whiz Alexander Mogilny, who had 76 goals for the
Sabres in 1992-93 but who slumped to only 14 in 59 games last
year, said he is motivated and ready for a big comeback. Another
positive is the preseason play of 21-year-old rookie wing Steve
Kariya, whose big brother, Paul, is among the NHL's elite.
As for Bodger, he's a 15-year journeyman who will not make much
of a difference on an inexperienced defense that relies too
heavily on 23-year-old star-to-be Mattias Ohlund. Vancouver is
hoping that defensemen Ed Jovanovski, 23, the centerpiece of the
Bure deal, and 26-year-old Adrian Aucion, who scored 23 goals
last season, a franchise record for a blueliner, can at least
take care of their own zone.
Vancouver has a better shot at making the playoffs next year.
Coach Marc Crawford, who replaced Mike Keenan last January, won
the Stanley Cup with the gifted Avalanche in 1995-96, but can he
work magic with players who, for the most part, have middling
talent? Next summer the Canucks may have plenty of cash to go
shopping with if Messier, who is finishing a three-year, $20
million contract, departs as expected. Then there are the Sedins.
"Our goal is to get better right away and make the playoffs,"
says Burke. "But everything I've done in the draft and with the
Bure trade is oriented to the future. We'll definitely be better
when the twins get here."
Issue date: October 4, 1999
ALSO:
SI's Scouting Report Main Page
SI's Pierre McGuire Insider Rankings
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BRIGHT SPOTS
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GRAY AREAS
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LW Markus Naslund is coming off a breakthrough season with 36 goals, breaking his career high by 14. He had 15 PP goals.
LW Bill Muckalt (7th in Calder voting) and D Adrian Aucoin (23 goals, including 18 on PP) also coming off impressive years.
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C Mark Messier has been largely a disappointment since signing huge free-agent contract two years ago.
Coach Mark Crawford begins first full year behind the bench, hopefully ending a turbulent couple of years.
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People, Places and Things
GM: Brian Burke
Coach: Marc Crawford; 1st full season (8-23-6); 6th overall (173-111-47)
Assistants: Jack McIlhargey; Mike Johnston
Captain: Mark Messier
Last year: 23-47-12 (26th overall)
Playoffs: None
PP: 12th (15.9%)
PK: 19th (82.9%)
Get The Highlighter
Sat., Oct. 2: Home opener against a worn-out Rangers team that will have played in Edmonton the night before.
Fri., Nov. 5: Chances are the "Welcome Back Kotter" theme won't be playing when Pavel Bure and the Florida Panthers come calling.
Sun., Dec. 12 to Sat., Dec. 18: Three consecutive games against division winners from last season -- Colorado, Ottawa and Dallas.
Notable Number
101-85-79-77-64: The decreasing point totals over the last five regular seasons (lockout-shortened 1994-95 season not included).
Quoteworthy
"Right now, to be honest, I don't know what's going on with Vancouver ... They're not putting much value on my play or my presence with the team and that's what's frustrating. I've been there the last (five) years, played well and had a breakthrough season last year. It's not like I'm a big question mark ... I'm just going to stay in shape so if something happens I'll be ready to go." -- Adrian Aucoin
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