Hey, you here about the new signings for the Canucks? Yeah, the Canucks signed two new Russians. Oh, you want their names? Let's see. I think they are Summerov and Teeov.
While the Canucks are busy playing golf, Pat Quinn and the rest of the crew at Orca Bay have to figure out what the hell to do to fix the problems, to make the Canucks a better team. Quinn has already said that he was going to make some changes during the summer. Well what can he do?
1. Start Signing. Get busy writing checks. First off, Quinn needs to decide which of his current free agents he wants to keep. This will probably include a list of Naslund, Hedican, Mogilny, Babych, Nemchinov, and some others. However guys like Rohlin and Ridley will probably not be back next year.
His first concern must be signing two prospects. Josh Holden and Mattias Ohlund. Holden, if not signed before the draft, will re-enter the draft and become available for all teams. Ohlund, after the season will become a group 4 free agent. This means that Ohlund can be signed by any team, but the Canucks have the right to match. If, however, they elect not to match, then the Canucks get no compensation. At last report, Ohlund and the Canucks were $250,000 apart, but now that he will become a group 4 free agent, the Canucks could end up paying even more.
Quinn, if possible might consider dipping into the free agent pool. I'd be extremely surprised if Igor Larionov is not back here next year, after the Canucks twice let him go. He was unprotected during a waiver draft which saw Larionov be picked up by San Jose. Then, San Jose later offered Larionov back to the Canucks for center Cliff Ronning, but the Canucks declined. Of course, later that season the Canucks let go Ronning. Larionov wants to be back in Vancouver, and he showed that by declining a two year 2.7 million dollar contract with the Red Wings. As for other free agents, the Canucks have to do something. Roberts wasn't enough last season, and I don't think Larionov will be enough this season either.
Research prospects. This will most likely be the most eventful draft in the history of the NHL, with all kinds of great prospects ready to be drafted. Everyone knows that the Canucks don't have the best scouting team in the NHL, but they have to capitalize on the opportunity of having a high draft pick in a very deep draft. No second guessing on draft day. They have to be prepared.
Clean House? As mentioned before, Quinn has decide who he wants to keep and who he wants to rid himself of, whether free agent or no free agent. Hopefully he can accomplish who he wants through the individual meetings that he and Tom Renney conduct, and we will see what happens throughout the course of the summer, but believe me, some of the players who don't want to be part of this team, won't be a part of this team next season.
These are only a few things Pat Quinn has to worry about. He has put himself in this troubled situation, so he will have to deal with everything that has to be dealt with over the summer, because believe me, if the Canucks miss the playoffs again in the following year, I can almost guarantee there will be riots next year.
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