The Vancouver Canucks fired head coach Alain Vigneault and assistant coaches Rick Bowness and Newell Brown on Wednesday afternoon just 15 days after the Canucks were swept by the San Jose Sharks, marking the end of an era for Vancouver Canucks hockey.

After a second-straight first round playoff upset the Vancouver Canucks were desperate for a scapegoat, and as head coach the accountability ultimately fell on Alain Vigneault to win hockey games.

The Canucks endured a tumultuous season which saw its fair share of untimely injuries, unfamiliar tactics, and bad luck, however this team desperately needed a new direction after two unsuccessful seasons.

Alain Vigneault was relieved of his duties by the Canucks on Wednesday.

It seems unfortunate for the Canucks to lose AV under these circumstances, yet the decision had to be made, and it didn’t even involve a coin.

Despite recent shortcomings Alain Vigneault was an effective and successful head coach during his time in Vancouver.

The Canucks missed the playoffs only once under Vigneault’s watch, and it should not be overlooked that Vigneault helped lead the team to within one game of the Stanley Cup.

In addition to the team’s success under his watch, the Sedins twins have greatly benefited from the tactics of Alain Vigneault. As scorers their most efficient use was during the 2011-12 season when both Henrik and Daniel Sedin were starting around 80% of their shifts in the offensive zone.

A cynical Canucks fan could say the twins were sheltered under Vigneault and suffered the consequences in the playoffs, but back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies are hard to argue with.

Despite Alain Vigneault’s accomplishments above a lack of recent playoff success was enough to justify a coaching change.

He didn’t “lose the room” and he didn’t lose his ability to coach hockey, but he lost two first round playoffs matchups he probably should have won, and now he has paid the price.

Alain Vigneault shouldn’t struggle to find employment coaching in the NHL next season, but the Canucks do face a considerable challenge in finding another coach likely to be as successful as his predecessor.

Names likes Lindy Ruff, Dave Tippett, Dallas Eakins, and others have been floated around the last two weeks, but if anything was clear from Mike Gillis’ press conference today it was that he is still grumpy, and will need to take time in evaluating the franchise thoroughly before making any serious decisions regarding a new head coach.

And so ends the Alain Vigneault era, will his successor have what it takes to win that extra game necessary to achieve what he couldn’t?

It could be a long summer for Canucks fans.

CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE CANUCKS BLOG IN OUR CLUBHOUSE SECTION AT NWSB!

It has been a full thirteen days since the Vancouver Canucks were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, and after an appropriate mourning period it is time to look towards next season and the changes needed to be made in the mean time to improve this hockey team.

“This off-season will lead to difficult decisions including roster adjustments and changes in personnel  We’re going to have to reinvent ourselves in order to be successful.”

Mike Gillis’ words in his year-end apology letter to fans made it very clear: the Canucks are prepared to make significant changes this summer. But after a surprising first round playoff exit who is expendable and who is worth keeping to remain a core part of the team?

Roberto Luongo

Roberto Luongo has been on his way out of Vancouver for some time, and while he hasn’t found a new team to play for just yet he is certainly not expected to be a member of the Vancouver Canucks by the time training camp comes around next fall.

Roberto Luongo’s days as a Vancouver Canuck are numbered.

Luongo arguably leaves Vancouver as the best backstop the goalie graveyard has ever seen, yet a tragically expensive contract seems to have forced his fate.

Speaking of expensive, Canucks fans can reminisce over Luongo in the goaltender’s Vancouver home for only $4.2-million.

Alain Vigneault

Ever since the word “shap” was added to the Smylopshere’s collective vernacular Alain Vigneault has sat squarely on the hot seat in Vancouver.

Despite embracing a system of ice time optimization that has greatly benefited the Sedin twins Alain Vigneault continuously catches the majority of the blame coming from Canucks fans and is likely to become the scapegoat in Vancouver.

Count NWSB’s “Bartender” as one of many critics calling for the coach’s departure after another devastating end to the season.

Keith Ballard

The mayor of Alain Vigneault’s dog house, Keith Ballard has been disappointing since the day he landed in Vancouver.

One of Mike Gillis’ most-regrettable acquisitions, Ballard has never been able to find a fit on the Canucks’ blue line, surviving alongside Chris Tanev for a short time before finding himself out of the starting six during this year’s playoffs.

Put bluntly, at $4.2-million per season the Canucks would be better off investing in Roberto Luongo’s former home as a tourist attraction rather than allowing Ballard to remain on the books for another season.

David Booth

Mike Gillis’ second most-regrettable Florida Panthers acquisition, David Booth has also been underwhelming since joining the Canucks. To make matters worse Booth’s hunting trips and religious affiliation have become polarizing topics of conversation in Vancouver, causing further headaches for an organization looking to make significant changes this summer.

Mason Raymond

While Canucks fans never seemed to give Raymond a break after fracturing his spine two seasons ago, it has become clear that speed cannot overcome a lack of skill on Vancouver’s roster.

Raymond should be able to find a home elsewhere in the league, but on a Canucks roster moving in a new direction the speedy winger simply hasn’t elevated his game enough to remain in Vancouver long term.

CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE CANUCKS BLOG IN OUR CLUBHOUSE SECTION AT NWSB!

The Vancouver Canucks are one loss away from the end of their 2013 playoff run, but around the city of Vancouver it seems the majority of fans have already turned the page on this season, playing armchair owner, debating off-season changes before the year itself is even over.

What a long way we have come since 2011, the year Vancouver was supposed to learn its lesson about the power of these NHL playoffs.

For those who were too busy boozing to remember the 2011 playoffs, here’s a Canucks-notes recap.

The Canucks won the first three games of their opening round series with the Chicago Blackhawks, dropping the next three only to win in a nervous sudden death victory in Game Seven. Brimming with confidence the Canucks then went on to handily defeat both the Predators and the Sharks before taking on the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final. Once in the big dance the Canucks took a two-game series lead before completely breaking down in Boston, allowing the Bruins to take control of the series.

We all know how the rest of this terrible tale ends, but there are a few lessons to take away from the tragedy.

Ryan Kesler has been one of Vancouver’s better players during their series against the Sharks.

‘Till the fat lady sings

Only three NHL teams have ever come back from three games down in a playoff series to force and win a deciding Game Seven, but after experiencing the comeback from the other side of the ice these Canucks are better fit than most to make a significant push back. While there have been few signs of life from this year’s edition of the team, I see the their recent struggles as a source of optimism considering the large contingent of forwards who have completely disappeared from the score sheet.

Chris Higgins, Jannik Hansen, Mason Raymond, Zack Kassian, and Maxim Lapierre have all been held pointless through three games, and in my mind are the cause of the Canucks’ biggest concern: they simply can’t score. And while Ryan Kesler may have managed to ride a wave of emotion during Game Two, and the Sedins have settled for a few points each during the series, the Canucks remain lost in a team-wide scoring slump.

#Canucks have scored 17 goals in their last 13 playoff games. Raffi Torres has 2 of those goals.

— Mike Martignago (@MikeMartignago) May 2, 2013

So while you’re watching the Canucks fight for their playoff lives tonight in San Jose, focus on those players without a point beside their name on the series score sheet. The Canucks as a whole may not deserve to win this series, but the team’s stars certainly don’t deserve to become the subjects of trade talks days before their final game.

There will be a lot of blame to go around in Vancouver after back-to-back playoff upsets, but after an emotional reaction to the end of 2011 season I feel its best for this frustrated fanbase to take some time away from the game before starting the off-season trade tracker.

Who knows, maybe this team will surprise us.

CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS CLUBHOUSE TODAY ON NWSB!

The Vancouver Canucks were soundly beaten by the San Jose Sharks in Game One of their opening series and were given the day off by head coach Alain Vigneault in anticipation of a much better performance tonight in Game Two.

Ryan Kesler was noticeably labouring Wednesday after missing the game day skate with the flu, but is expected to bounce back after taking advantage of the time off between games.

Kesler was one of five Canucks forwards who finished below 50% on the draw on Wednesday, and will need to find a way to even the score after the Canucks were forced to fight for puck possession more than they would like to admit in Game One.

This photo sums up Game One between the Sharks and Canucks quite well.

“I think you have to establish body position early and work for those loose pucks laying around there,” said Kesler regarding faceoffs.

“If you can help the centre win one or two, that does a lot for face-off percentage. If each line won one or two, we’re probably about 50 per cent.”

Kesler is expected to slide across to the wing tonight after struggling on the draw Wednesday, playing alongside Chris Higgins and Derek Roy on Vancouver’s second line. “I expect more out of myself tonight,” Kesler told the media Friday morning.

“I expect to be on top of my game.” Zack Kassian is expected to slide down to the fourth line alongside Dale Weise and Andrew Ebbett, while Maxim Lapierre moves up to the third unit.

While Ryan Kesler’s lack-lustre performance during Game One was a slight concern, the Canucks as a whole simply have to be better tonight against the Sharks.

Kesler may have been moved to the wing to accommodate any lingering effects of the flu, but I see today’s optional game day skate as a message to a team that knows it needs to execute more effectively in tonight’s rematch.

Alex Burrows and the Sedins were held to four shots combined on Wednesday, and failed to set up any consistent offensive zone puck possession as the Sharks aggressively defended their blue line and continually retrieved dump-ins with ease.

“They did a good job of using a low centreman,” Henrik Sedin said of Game One.

“We didn’t get any pressure. We got the first guy in there, but our second and third guy stayed back too much. We have to get more guys in there.”

Execution is the name of the game tonight as the Canucks attempt to rally from a poor performance in Game One.

With excuses like nerves and the flu out of the way, Game Two will make it perfectly clear if the Canucks have what it takes to emerge victorious over the San Jose Sharks once again, or if they are in for another early exit at the hands of a Californian underdog.

Tonight’s game isn’t a must win for the Canucks, but it’s pretty damn close.

CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS CLUBHOUSE TODAY ON NWSB!

The Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks thrived on home ice this season and are expected to continue the trend in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With another Northwest Division title secured the Canucks return to the post-season with home ice advantage in the first round, but will the crowd at Rogers Arena be able to elevate its involvement after a bitter lockout and shortened season?

Vancouver’s hockey crowd often comes under fire for its corporate identity, yet when the weather warms and suits are ditched for hockey sweaters the building seems to transform into a storm of towels propelled by logo-bearing supporters.

Tonight, after a long and bitter lockout, the Canucks and their faithful fans must return to playoff form on home ice against a Sharks team that travelled poorly throughout the regular season. We don’t want the sit on their ass fans to show up.

My colleague Josh wrote here in mid March that the Rogers Arena crowd on most night is just not acceptable.

The Sharks went 8-14-2 on the road this year, and after a relatively calm regular season it is up to Canucks fans to remind our Western Conference rivals that Rogers Arena is not a friendly building to play in.

Roberto Luongo makes his return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight at Rogers Arena.

Despite large corporate crowds and devastating beer prices Canucks fans have proven their passion for hockey to be beyond limitation in the past, and tonight’s return to the post-season begins another epic journey fans can only hope will be full of Molson Canadian, Towel Power, and even a few “Luuuu” chants.

Luongo’s last stand?

Yes, you read that right.

Roberto Luongo will make his return to the post-season tonight starting for the Canucks after Cory Schneider was deemed unfit to play due to a “body” injury suffered at the end of the regular season.

After watching Luongo backstop the Canucks to within one game of Stanley Cup glory it feels oddly appropriate to see #1 take to crease in Game One, but could tonight’s start mark the end for Luongo after a lengthy tenure in Vancouver?

While Luongo was allegedly notified of his start this morning, the sudden change may not matter once Vancouver’s veteran goaltender returns to the crease and faces his first shot.

Luongo surely knows the extent of Schneider’s injury better than those on the outside, and should be riding a wave of excitement  after being given a second chance by the Hockey Gods.

Tonight’s game has given Luongo what could be one last chance to chase the dream that has eluded him for his entire career, and that is something worth cheering for.

After a cold and bitter winter that went far too long without NHL hockey the Stanley Cup Playoffs have finally returned to Rogers Arena, and in what could be Roberto Luongo’s last playoff game in front of his home fans I expect Rogers Arena to be rowdier than ever tonight during Game One.

The Ginger Jesus may not be in tonight’s lineup, but I expect 18, 630 Canucks fans will be there to pick up the slack as we make noise for the team we love, and the game we can’t get enough of, because it’s the Cup.

CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS CLUBHOUSE TODAY ON NWSB!

The Vancouver Canucks have advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs once again, but after two consecutive Presidents’ Trophies the optimism in Vancouver could be higher heading into this year’s post-season.

Could the Canucks surprise the Western Conference and make another lengthy run towards the Stanley Cup?

If so, the reigning Northwest Division Champions may need a few favours from the Hockey Gods this time around.

A healthy Cory Schneider

Cory Schneider’s health has been the talk of Vancouver since his mysterious ” body injury” was first revealed last week, and after two poor performances from Roberto Luongo it seems Schneider’s health will be paramount in any potential Stanley Cup run.

We may never know what exactly Schneider has suffered from all week, or whether this “injury” is simply an elaborate smoke-screen to take the pressure off his first post-season as Vancouver’s starter, but barring a return to health or a bounce-back from Roberto Luongo the Canucks could see some cracks start to show in their crease this post-season.

Resilient rearguards

The health of Kevin Bieksa and Chris Tanev is crucial heading into this year’s playoff run. Vancouver’s two original right-handed defenceman sat out for several games as the regular season came to a close, and will both be necessary to keep Vancouver’s blue line steady under the increased pressure and intensity of playoff hockey.

Kevin Bieksa was seen practicing with the Canucks on Monday, while Chris Tanev remains “day-to-day” in a walking boot.

Ryan Kesler was a key contributor against the Sharks in 2011, is a repeat performance possible?

Kesler returns to form

Ryan Kesler played a key role in the Vancouver Canucks’ 2011 playoff run, and will need to return to form once again opposite Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks in the head-to-head rematch. Kesler seems to play better with a chip on his shoulder, and facing off against Jumbo Joe once again should stoke the fire inside a well-rested #17 after playing his number’s worth in games during the regular season.

Who knows, maybe we’ll even see a long anticipated fight to start the series.

Sedins shine

Henrik and Daniel Sedin have quietly enjoyed another near-point-per-game season for the Canucks, but have begun to embrace the defensive side of the game after facing criticism in season’s past for their cycle play, and lack-lustre defensive coverage.

While the Sedins have run the cycle with great success over the years, their “fancy” stats this season show progress on the defensive side of the puck which should greatly benefit the Canucks in the post-season.

Young guns

The Vancouver Canucks will need some of their younger players to step up their game in the post-season. Zack Kassian had a fantastic start to the regular season but quickly fell from grace, putting up only 11 points in 39 games for the Canucks.

After struggling to stay consistent Kassian needs to channel his inner Todd Bertuzzi in the playoffs and perform like the power forward Mike Gillis envisioned when he sent Cody Hodgson packing two years ago.

Youngster Frank Corrado will need to learn playoff hockey on the fly after playing well in his first three games at the NHL level. Corrado is expected to start the playoffs alongside Andrew Alberts on Vancouver’s third defensive pairing while Keith Ballard remains locked in Alain Vigneault’s dog house.

CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE CANUCKS BLOG IN OUR CLUBHOUSE SECTION AT NWSB!

The NHL’s April 3rd trade deadline fast approaches and the Vancouver Canucks have a number of spots on the roster worthy of attention heading into this year’s playoff push.

With trade asset Roberto Luongo on the roster, general manager and high blood pressure suffering Mike Gillis has plenty of options when it comes to upgrading the Canucks heading into the 2013 playoffs.

Of all trades Gillis could pull off, below are five of the most likely pieces headed to Vancouver this week.

A right-handed defenceman

The Vancouver Canucks carry only two natural right-handed defenceman in Kevin Bieksa and Chris Tanev heading into spring hockey, and have seriously struggled earlier this season when one of the two are out of the lineup. The Canucks need at least one right handed blue liner, but could easily a pair to play it safe.

The Canucks simply cannot afford to head into the playoffs without at least three right-handed rearguards.

A third-line center

With Ryan Kesler still in crutches, the Canucks could use another center heading into the post-season. While Jordan Schroeder has played well as Vancouver’s second-line center, only Andrew Ebbett and Maxim Lapierre remain behind him on the depth chart.

Players like Toronto’s Tyler Bozak and Florida’s Marcel Goc have been brought up in trade talks, but will likely depend on a Luongo deal for a change in scenery.

Ryan Kesler’s injury will dictate just how desperate Mike Gillis is to make a deal.

A scoring winger

What NHL general manager wouldn’t love to add a scoring winger to their lineup? David Booth‘s ankle injury has left another hole in the Canucks’ top-six, and there are a number of ways form the lineup in his absence.

Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen have played well during their time on Vancouver’s second line, but are better fit as checking forwards on a fully healthy roster.

The first domino dropped when Jarome Iginla joined the Bruins , err Penguins last week, however a number of serviceable UFA wingers remain available.

A big, depth defenceman

It’s no secret that GM Mike Gillis like heading into the playoffs with defensive depth. Vancouver’s blue line begins with a solid top-four, but becomes shallow quickly after Bieksa, Edler, Hamhuis, and Garrison.

While a right-handed blue liner is a must, the Canucks could also benefit from another big depth defenceman capable of playing hard minutes along the wall and in front of the net, where the Kings dominated the Canucks during last year’s playoff series.

A true backup goaltender

If Mike Gillis is able to move Roberto Luongo before Wednesday’s trade deadline, another backup goaltender will be necessary to take his place in Vancouver.

Eddie Lack is scheduled to compete for a backup position next season with the Canucks, but will not be available to play until next fall after undergoing hip surgery in January.

CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE CANUCKS BLOG IN OUR CLUBHOUSE SECTION AT NWSB!

Tuesday night the Vancouver Canucks beat the St. Louis Blues in a back-and-forth one goal game. The game featured drastic shifts in momentum from period to period, as well as a couple of “big time” fights featuring heavyweights from both teams. But did these staged brawls do anything to benefit either club?

Canucks fans in favour of fisticuffs may want to continue reading with caution.

Less than three minutes into the hockey game Zack Kassian and Chris Stewart decided to square off in a staged fight in the Vancouver zone. Immediately after the puck was dropped the pair flipped off their gloves, sized each other up, and traded big swings mixed within a colossal grappling session.

Lost in the chaos was the fact that Kassian was making his return to the lineup after re-aggravating a back injury dating back to the start of the NHL season.

Watching the fight replay it is no surprise Kassian again re-aggravated the injury, leaving the Canucks down a player for the rest of the game after only 2:28 in ice time.

While it’s safe to say Kassian must have thought his back was ready for the physical toll of a fight, the cost of his truculence has already surpassed the benefit of escorting the opposition’s best player to the box for five minutes.

No punches landed, no momentum created, just another roster spot to fill.

If the first staged fight wasn’t enough of a waste of time, Tom Sestito made sure to re-enforce the point in the second period. Before Vancouver’s opening goal of the game could be announced Sestito squared off against fellow fourth liner Ryan Reaves, trading mediocre blows before taking each other down the ice in an unimpressive tilt.

Despite the alleged entertainment value of a heavyweight tilt Canucks fans were left asking the same question, what was the point?

Reasonable fans can argue over the entertainment value of a hockey fight, but the team benefit is clearly missing in a majority of NHL fights.

Ryan Reaves doing what he does best, fighting other fourth liners.

Honestly, what good does Tom Sestito do for the Canucks if he steps onto the ice and beats seven shades of shit out of Ryan Reaves?

It’s OK, I’ll wait.

Reaves, like Sestito, averages less than 10 minutes of ice time per game, and can only expect his ice time to diminish with the Blues trailing in the game. So what is Sestito doing taking one of the Blues less-useful players out of the game while risking a momentum shift?

The only thing he can do.

Tom Sestito averages almost 26 penalty minutes per point, and while many of those minutes are matched by an opponent, some are inevitably dangerous to his hockey club.

His two minute minor for cross-checking during Tuesday’s first period was a perfect example of the costly penalties “tough guys” are known for, and could have given the Blues the lead if not for some big saves by Cory Schneider.

In the midst of serious injury trouble Sestito may be a necessary evil in Vancouver, but moving forward the Canucks simply cannot afford to throw away that roster spot in the name of “toughness” every night.

In the meantime, Canucks fans can only hope Jordan Schroeder and Dale Weise continue to find chemistry on the fourth line. Like truculent teammate Zack Kassian, Sestito may also have injured himself during his Tuesday scrap. Try not to get too upset about it.

ZackKassian (back) not on Nux road trip and TomSestito limping at airport. Nux may need a call upfor Thurs game in Phoenix. #canucks

— Elliott Pap (@ElliottPap) March 20, 2013

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE CANUCKS CLUBHOUSE TODAY AT NWSPORTSBEAT!

The Vancouver Canucks announced Wednesday afternoon that forward Ryan Kesler will be out several weeks with a fracture in his foot. The injury is a tough break (sorry) for the Canucks after just beginning to adjust to life with the former Selke winner back in the lineup.

Kesler has played only seven games with the Canucks this season after nursing previous injuries to start the year, and was believed to be the key to Vancouver’s mid-season push. With Kesler potentially out of the lineup for the rest of the regular season Andrew Ebbett is expected to fill in at second line center.

I’m told Ryan Kesler broke a bone in his foot against Dallas last week. That was 3 games ago.

— Matthew Sekeres (@mattsekeres) February 27, 2013

The timing of the injury announcement speaks to just how extremely unlucky Kesler and the Canucks have been. As Matt Sekeres noted on twitter today Kesler apparently suffered the injury three games ago in Dallas, only his fourth game of the season.

“He’s blocked a few shots since he’s been back,” Alain Vigneault told The Globe And Mail Wednesday. “That foot had taken two X-rays. He’s been playing. Other than some discomfort he was handling it well.

The discovery of a Kesler’s latest injury was a real punch in the face.

Whether or not you believe Kesler unknowingly played through the fracture for three games, it is extremely hard to fault him for playing through the pain after already missing the first third of the season. NHL players aren’t always honest when it comes to injuries they’ve suffered, and in the case of a fractured foot the cost of attempting to skate through the pain is minimal.

In addition to Andrew Ebbett, young center Jordan Schroeder will be looked towards to play a portion of Kesler’s minutes. Schroeder played well before Kesler’s return to the lineup, and should be rewarded with additional time on the Canucks’ power play after playing with both units earlier this season.

Jordan Schroeder taking Ryan Kesler’s spot on first Canuck pp unit at practice with 22-33-14-23. Second unit is: 2-5-9-21-7. #canucks

— Elliott Pap (@ElliottPap) February 27, 2013

While Jordan Schroeder and Andrew Ebbett stand to benefit from Kesler’s absence, Aaron Volpatti appears to have been left on the outside looking in. The Canucks also announced they had waived Volpatti during Wednesday’s press conference, but Alain Vigneault denied the move had anything to do with the discovery of Kesler’s injury.

AV says Gillis made Volpatti decision last night. Has nothing to do with Kesler. Team wants him to play more minutes in Chicago. #canucks

— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) February 27, 2013

Your move, Mike Gillis

Naturally, the announcement of Ryan Kesler’s latest injury has given new life to trade rumours surrounding Roberto Luongo. While Mike Gillis has made it clear before that he will not cave to make a deal that doesn’t fully benefit his club, the absence of a player of Kesler’s calibre is something to seriously consider. Assuming Kesler is out at least four weeks with a fractured foot, he could have the month of April to get into mid-season form before the playoffs begin.

Is one month enough time for the Canucks to come together as a championship calibre team, or will Mike Gillis elect to acquire another forward to advance his team’s chances of Stanley Cup glory?

The NHL trade deadline occurs on April 3rd this season, exactly five weeks from today’s injury announcement. Until then, the experiment without Ryan Kesler continues Saturday night versus the Kings when the Canucks take on the reigning Stanley Cup Champions at Rogers Arena.

Has the absence of Kevin Bieksa exposed Vancouver’s blue line imbalance?

Mike Gillis has always been a big believer in acquiring a wealth of defensive talent. Since his start with the Vancouver Canucks, Gillis has preached a dogma of depth and foresight, accounting for injuries and other bad luck as a season grinds on. The off-season acquisition of Jason Garrison was a perfect example of Gillis’ dedication to defensive depth, rounding out a solid top-four for the Canucks.

Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis, Alex Edler, and newcomer Jason Garrison are all signed through the 2015-16 season and have shown early chemistry to start this year, but will this core be enough to carry the team as the season wears on?

Kevin Bieksa’s recent groin injury has begun to raise questions over the true depth of Vancouver’s defensive corps.

After a strong front four consisting of Bieksa, Hamhuis, Edler, and Garrison Vancouver’s blue line is relatively thin. Specifically, the Canucks just don’t have enough defenceman comfortable playing the right side. Chris Tanev and Kevin Bieksa are the only two naturally right-handed shooters on Vancouver’s blue line, and can’t be exclusively counted on to balance out the others.

Kevin Bieksa’s recent groin injury has only exacerbated the issue, exposing Vancouver’s off-balance blue line.

With only one natural right-handed shooter on the blue line Vancouver’s defensive corps shifts drastically from deep to dangerous.

Kevin Bieksa is out day-to-day with a groin injury, but has been sorely missed through two games.

After playing the same six defenceman through the first 17 games of the season head coach Alain Vigneault has had to make serious adjustments in Bieksa’s absence.

Alex Edler has already shown some instability when playing on Jason Garrison’s right side, and others aren’t exactly jumping at the opportunity to learn a new position.

Bruising defenceman Andrew Alberts may have been eager to see playing time after a sedentary start to the season, but if Sunday’s loss to the Red Wings is any indication Alberts and company have some serious work to do.

Deadline dealing

After enjoying sublime goaltending from Roberto Luongo through his first eight starts of the season, the Canucks crumbled in front of the Luongo, resulting in a collapse of epic proportions in Detroit.

While regression and bad luck could be blamed for a few of Sunday’s goals against, life without Bieksa doesn’t appear to have an easy solution.

As the Canucks approach the 20-game mark of the 2013 season there is still a healthy amount of time for players like Alex Edler to adjust to the right side, however I don’t believe the team can’t afford to shuffle the blue line night in and night out.

At full capacity the Canucks are already forced to deploy one lefty at right D, and with the NHL trade deadline just over one month away Mike Gillis must quickly decide where his team needs help, and move to acquire the necessary piece(s).

I expect a right-handed defenceman sits atop the Gillis wish list heading into this year’s deadline, and with two talented goaltenders in the crease Vancouver’s GM holds all the pieces necessary to swing a deal.

Would the Canucks dare trade away depth in the crease for a bolstered blue line, or will Mike Gillis find a Moneyball-worthy signing to strengthen the team’s right flank?

As the NHL’s April 3rd trade deadline approaches the pressure for a playoff push grows in Vancouver.

Despite the Canucks’ on-ice performance, the upcoming decisions made by Gillis and members of Canucks management could define this year well before playoff seeding is decided, which remains an unsettling feeling for a fanbase desperate for its first Stanley Cup win.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE CANUCKS CLUBHOUSE TODAY AT NWSPORTSBEAT!