The Vancouver Canucks had something of a rebirth in the 2014-15 NHL season. The club returned to the post season but was summarily dismissed without much fanfare by the Calgary Flames.
The problem for the Canucks is their team age; they are old.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Radim Vrbata, Ryan Miller, Alex Burrows, Chris Higgins, Kevin Bieksa, and Daniel Hamhuis are the backbone of the club and all are over 32 years of age.
The Sedin twins had rebound years from dreadful performances the season prior but were still not back to their peak efforts.
Miller was brought in to tend the net and ended up sidelined with injuries leaving Eddie Lack as the number one.
Vrbata had a career high 63 points for Vancouver but is a free agent after the 2015-16 season and if he has another good year then expect him to be gone.
Vancouver was good for seventh in offense with a 2.88 goals per game average. It was on defense that the club found themselves lacking in 19th position yielding 2.68 goals a game.
That stat cannot be placed on Lack, the defense was woeful at times.
It’s the age of the club that will drive this year’s draft. If the Canucks can get one more year out of their stars then they may have time to draft a player with potential in two years not now.
Injecting some youth on the wing would seem a path to getting the Canucks off the geriatric list of the NHL.
Right winger, Daniel Sprong has been variously ranked from 18 to 26 by scouting services and indeed one prediction has him going in the second round to the San Jose Sharks.
Sprong has played the last two seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the Charlestown Islanders.
Despite pundits’ assessment that Sprong is diminutive, he stands 6’ and weighs in at 191 pounds.
Sprong’s strengths are his scoring touch with 88 points on 39 goals in 68 games this past regular season and added 11 points in 10 playoff games.
On the downside, he does not add to the Canucks defensive game as he is described as holding the puck too long. He was a -23 this past season in the QMJHL.
The Canucks have a history of going to Europe for their prospects and Sprong may fit the bill as the club looks to get younger their stars continue to age and lose their scoring touch and defensive acumen.
“With the 23rd pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Vancouver Canucks select, from the Charlestown Islanders, forward Daniel Sprong.”
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