Today the Canucks announced their final three roster cuts from camp: Patrick Coulombe, Jannik Hansen and the injured Rick Rypien. So, their opening lineup will very likely look like this:
| Pyatt | Morrison | Bulis |
| Sedin | Sedin | Naslund |
| Cooke | Kesler | Burrows |
| Green | Chouinard | Linden |
| Santala |
| Ohlund | Bieksa |
| Krajicek | Salo |
| Mitchell | Bourdon |
| Fitzpatrick |
Luongo
Flaherty
The team is clearly missing a top-six forward. It’s going to be a long year, methinks.
Stop kvetching. You aren’t in Toronto.
To be fair, only 6 teams in the league can have a top 6 forward – last year only 5 did (Ottawa had 2).
Unfortunately, our best forward last year (Naslund) was 29th…
Chris: I think you’ve misunderstood my use of ‘top six’. I mean that Vancouver only has five forwards qualified to fill the ‘top six’ spots on the first two lines (generally considered the scoring lines).
In broad terms, a ‘top six’ forward will be good for at least 25 goals and 50 points, and be an offensive threat with the puck.
In the Canucks’ case, Taylor Pyatt is on one of the top two lines (as I’ve got them), but doesn’t really qualify as a top-six forward.
Neither does Bulis, can’t believe he’s on the first line! Average at best.
Gotcha – that’s what happens when I read blogs while on cold medication.
Watched the game on Saturday.. too bad they cut Hansen, he looked like he had good potential..
We’re all going to have to get reacquainted with the phrase “It’s a rebuilding year” 😦
It’s a rebuilding year in Toronto.
For 40 years.
So far. 😦