Canucks Lack of Depth is Showing

The Vancouver Canucks got thumped by the San Jose Sharks last night by a score of 5-1.  Can't score, can't keep the puck out of they're own net.

While the Sharks appeared to be firing on all cylinders and looked like a team ready to seize a playoff spot in the NHL's tough Western Conference, the Canucks looked like a team with no direction.

Injuries on the back end to Tanev and Bieksa, and a Dan Hamhuis in the lineup who looks like he hasn't fully recovered from injury, have exposed the Canucks lack of depth on D.  Even without any significant injuries up front, their lack of scoring depth throughout the forward lines is apparent.  Without any significant secondary scoring threats through the line-up, it all falls on the top line of the Sedins with Vrbata; and when they're not going, the results are self-evident.

The Canucks, if they are going to threaten for a playoff spot and do anything at all meaningful should they get there,
are going to need at least one more scoring forward.  Adding a 25-30 goal scoring winger to bolster the second line would work wonders.  The question is, are Linden and Benning willing to gamble some of the future at a chance to do something this season.  The answer is 'probably not'.

Heading into this season, even the most optimistic Canucks observer would have a hard time expecting this team to do much this season.  Even making the playoffs seemed like a stretch and squeaking in and doing anything against teams like Anaheim or LA seemed incredibly unlikely.

So, where does this team go?  What to do?  A team that desperately needs a spark and an infusion of offense up front and stability and consistency on the back end remains an enigma.  Some nights when they're on, they look competitive, they look like if you were to add a piece or two, they may be able to make some noise and surprise a team or two in the playoffs.  Other nights, when they're off, one wonders if they're not better off pulling the plug and hoping for a good draft position to reload for down the road.

The Canucks are a team in limbo.  Probably not good enough to make the playoffs and certainly not good enough to do anything once in; but not crappy enough to become sellers at the deadline and build for the future.

So, with the NHL trade deadline looming, Canucks GM and former defenceman, Jim Benning finds himself in a tough place.  Trade a draft pick or two and/or a prospect or two to try and fill a couple of holes to make a run for the playoffs and get some of the younger players on the team at least a round of playoff experience?  Or, maybe move a few vets like Higgins or Hansen, etc and give the kids from the farm some playing time and experience and look to the off-season to reload for next year?

It will be interesting to see what Benning does at the deadline, if anything.  Either way, I'm sure half of Canucks nation will think he should have done more.  Or less.  Or whichever.

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