Busy off Season for Canucks

The Canucks could not have come any closer to winning the cup this past season.  After being down 3 games to 1in the finals, they took the Lightning to a game 7 match up, where winner takes all.  To boot it even went into overtime where, like in every kid's dream scenario, the next goal wins.  Unfortunately for the Canucks they ended up on the wrong end of the score and would walk away empty handed. 

Once the riots ended the Canucks would look to the off season.  One would think that being one goal away from winning the cup would lead to minimal changes.  Clearly that is not the approach Canucks GM is taking.  He has acted swiftly and often.  So far the Canucks have completed 24 trades this offseason in an effort to revamp their entire organization.  Some transaction could be considered minor while some have been block busters. 

The first significant move would see the Canucks sending the Staal brothers, Jordan and Marc, to the Calgary Flames for the Schenn brothers Brayden and Luke.  It is not everyday a deal involving siblings occurs.  The move allowed the Canucks to get a little younger while also providing some cap relief.

The next big move would see the Canucks move another core player in Brent Seabrook along with recently acquried Carl Hagelin and Frank Corrado and a couple picks to the NY Islanders for Cam Fowler and the rights to Mike Fisher.  Fowler gives the Canucks another young stud dman who can contribute at both ends of the ice.  Fisher would be resigned to a multi year deal and is expected to fill the void left afterJordan Staal's departure as the second line centre.

The other major move would come on draft day.  The Canucks were probably the only team who would make a major splash on the day even though they did not make a single pick.  The move would see the Canucks send Evgeni Malkin to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Toews.  Toews has one at all levels and the Canucks are hoping he will continue the trend in their uniform.  It is unsure if team consultant Don Cherry had any influence in this deal, although after the transaction was made there were only north american players in the organization.  Hear his comments regarding Malkin being a loser http://audio.weei.com/a/76559415/don-cherry-on-the-stanley-cup.htm?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter (6:20).

The Canucks have also made some big changes at the AHL level.  After an early knock out at the hands of "Unkown Player" the Utica Comets seem to have decided to take measures into their own hands this season.  They have recently acquired heavy weights such as Chris Neil, Jared Boll, Jay Roshill, Cody McCormick, Ben Eager, Matt Kassian and Adam McQuaid among others.  Clearly their intention is to make life hard for any opponent.  Expect this season to be a rough and tumble one down in Utica.  The only player they haven't brough in yet is Olgie Ogelthorpe.  The way they have gone it might just be yet.

As free agency is expected to open soon it would seem that the Canucks are not quite finished tinkering with their line up for next season.  

Time will only tell if any of these changes can bring the Canucks back to the finals next season.  Hopefully this time not leaving empty handed.