Fantasy: 5 players to target on the Vancouver Canucks
With your fantasy draft just around the corner, theScore's Ian McLaren and Darren Kritzer take a look at 5 players you should consider drafting this season.
Top Targets
Daniel and Henrik Sedin
The Sedin twins struggled under coach John Tortorella's system last season, and even though they won't publicly blame the former coach for it, their numbers were enough to prove that someone had to go - and surely - it wasn't going to be the twins.
Henrik played in 70 games last season, recording 11 goals and 39 assists, missing 12 games due to a rib injury - which ended his ironman streak at 679 games. The 50 points recorded last year by the Art Ross trophy winner in 2009-10 was his lowest total in an 82-game regular season since the 2003-04 season when he notched 42. Despite his injuries, and struggles, Tortorella had him on the ice for an average of 20:40 minutes, his highest ATOI of his career. His average points per game of 0.71 was also his lowest since the 2003-04 season. He struggled for sure, and had a 12-game pointless streak from January 13 - March 8 to boot, a rare occurrence for sure, but things should be different this season.
Daniel also didn't have much offensive success under Tortorella last year. In fact, Daniel went 23 straight games without a goal, and, in total, recorded just 16 goals and 31 assists in 73 games. His 47 points (for an average of 0.64) was his lowest average since 2002-03. Daniel, like Henrik, also played the most average minutes of his career, playing in over 20 minutes per contest.
The team struggled, the twins struggled, this we know, but will a change at the top make all the difference? Newly appointed coach Willie Desjardins plans on managing the twins minutes this season, and said he plans on limiting their time killing penalties. More offensive time for both will not be a negative, and you should still consider drafting both in the early rounds of your draft.
Proceed With Caution
Ryan Miller
The Canucks needed to add a goaltender in the offseason, and they didn't disappoint the fan base, signing former Sabres and Blues netminder Ryan Miller to a three-year contract worth $18-million.
Having a tandem of Eddie Lack and Jacob Markstrom this year, just wasn't going to cut it, but be careful where you select Miller in your draft. After the trade that sent him from the Sabres to the Blues in a 5-player deal, Miller went on to post a 10-8-1 record in 19 games with St. Louis with a .903 save percentage. Miller's inconsistent play continued into the playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks, recording a save percentage of just .897.
Miller's played in 559 NHL games, and has always been counted on as one of the top goalies in the game, but his play down the stretch in and in the playoffs last season is hopefully not a sign of things to come.
Take A Flier On
Radim Vrbata
The Canucks, in need of some offensive punch, landed Vrbata on a two-year deal this offseason, and if the plan is for him to lineup with the Sedins, he should enjoy success in Vancouver. The former Coyotes forward scored 20 goals last season - the fourth time in his career he's achieved that, while adding 31 assists. Although he recorded his lowest shooting percentage in the last five season at 7.6 percent, Vrbata won't shy away from taking them, finishing 11th in the NHL with 263 shots on net. Again, playing alongside the twins will only up his value come draft day.
Zack Kassian
Kassian, the former first round pick of the Sabres in the 2009 draft broke out in a big way last season, recording career-highs in games played (73), goals (14), assists (15), hits (91) shots (91) and shooting percentage (15.4). Kassian ended the season on a high note, recording four goals and eight assists in the teams final 17 games.
If he can avoid hits like this one, and stay out of trouble, he should be a solid sleeper candidate heading into your draft.