Every year, the Canucks have been forced to go out and sign at least two or three UFA d-men.
This off-season, it was Desharnais, Forbort and Myers, if you include him as a UFA. And of course they basically rescued Brannstrom from the Av's.
Sometimes the new guys work, and sometimes they don't. That's just the risk. At this writing, the blueline simply isn't good enough. It could be decent enough to make the playoffs, but not to go very far.
So either the Canucks enter the crowded trade market and give up assets they can ill afford to give up. Or they start introducing some younger guys into the lineup and let them grow under the tutelage of Foote and Gonchar.
Really, it's coming down to the latter option as the only way out--but might mean sacrificing another year on player development at the NHL level.
This team has spent the last 20 years drafting Dmen with only Hughes to show for it. Hughes is the GOAT for us of course but lets take a look at our drafting and lack of development. 20th year ago was Bourdons draft so thats not really fair, 21st was Edlers. The last 19 drafts we’ve selected 44 D, now lets rank the few who made the NHL
Hughes (2018) 381+GP.
Forsling (2014) 415+GP, 0 with us. Turned into a top pair elsewhere
Hutton (2012) 513+GP, 276 with us. Bottom pair/scratch since leaving
Connauton (2009) 360GP, 0 with us. Journeyman
Corrado (2011) 76GP, 28 with us. Bust
Tryamkin (2014) 73GP. Bottom pair, went home
Juolevi (2016) 41GP, 24 with us. Bust
Rathbone (2017) 28GP. Busting elsewhere
Brisebois (2015) 27GP. Busting
Sauve (2008) 8GP. Bust
A 19 year span and we have Hughes and a few seasons of Hutton to show for it. Forsling wouldve been nice if he was kept and had the same career. We have to hope that Pettersson and Willander pan out