LCS Hockey - Team Reports - Vancouver Canucks

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head coach: Mike Keenan

roster: C - Mark Messier, Peter Zezel, Dave Scatchard, Brandon Convery. LW - Todd Bertuzzi, Markus Naslund, Brad May, Donald Brashear, Larry Courville. RW - Alex Mogilny, Pavel Bure, Brian Noonan, Steve Staios. D - Mattias Ohlund, Bryan McCabe, Dana Murzyn, Bret Hedican, Murray Baron, Adrian Aucoin, Jamie Huscroft, Chris McAllister, Bert Robertsson, Jason Strudwick. G - Garth Snow, Corey Hirsch.

transactions: Gonesville: Jyrki Lumme (Phoenix), Arturs Irbe (Carolina). Charlie New Guys: Murray Baron.

1997-98 results:

Record...........25-43-14, 64 PTS, 13th Western Conference 
Goals Scored.....224
Goals Against....273
Power Play.......12.9% (21st)
Penalty Killing..82.2% (24th)

GEE, THAT'S SWELL

* Mark Messier has to have a better performance than he did last year.

* Alexander Mogilny will pick up the slack left behind by Pavel Bure.

* Todd Bertuzzi could be ready for a breakthrough season.

* Mattias Ohlund and Bryan McCabe are two young, solid defenders.

* Mike Keenan rarely has two losing seasons in a row.

GRIEF

* Bure's trade demand will be a distraction if allowed to linger.

* Goaltending remains a huge weakness, with Garth Snow set to be the number one.

* Not much talent on offense, especially at center behind Messier.

* Club could miss the emotion of Scott Walker.

1998-99 OUTLOOK: Vancouver won't be too bad if the Bure trade yields a number one goaltender and a second line center. Otherwise, the Canucks could be in for another long season.

PREDICTION: Second in Northwest Division.