Canucks patient approaching deadline
Canadian Press
3/8/2004
VANCOUVER (CP) - While other NHL teams in the Western Conference have dipped into the trade pool to add talent for the stretch run, the Vancouver Canucks have remained treading water.
The Detroit Red Wings bolstered their scoring punch by landing Robert Lang. The Calgary Flames got tougher by acquiring Chris Simon. The Edmonton Oilers enhanced their playoff chances by dealing for Petr Nedved and goaltender Jussi Markkanen. The Nashville Predators added scoring winger Steve Sullivan.
Meanwhile, Canucks general manager Brian Burke has watched and waited.
The Canucks are the only Canadian team who haven't made a deal leading up to Tuesday's 3 p.m. EST trade deadline. Vancouver's inactivity has callers to radio sports programs burning up the phone wires.
Burke is in the final year of his contract with the Canucks and his future could be tied to how well Vancouver does in the playoffs. Still he has said he won't be panicked into making a deal.
He also is loath to trade away one of his young prospects for a high-priced player he could lose to free agency.
In the Canucks dressing room the players tow the company line about having enough talent to be a Stanley Cup contender.
``We don't worry about should we do something, should we not do something,'' veteran winger Mike Keane said Monday, prior to Vancouver's game against the Colorado Avalanche where first place in the Northwest Division was on the line.
``That's not for us to decide. We're very happy with what we have here. We've proven we can play against the elite teams and do very well.''
Winger Brad May, who the Canucks acquired at last year's trade deadline, shrugged when asked if other teams in the division have got better while the Canucks have stayed the same.
``I'm a left-winger,'' he grinned. ``I just play the game.''
Privately, some players say they'd like to see Burke acquire someone with some scoring ability to take the pressure of Vancouver's big line of Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison.
A physical defenceman or a veteran with playoff experience would also fit nicely into the Canucks equation.
To acquire a player the Canucks will have to give up something.
There's speculation Burke would part with eccentric centre Fedor Fedorov, who never has played up to his potential. Finnish pest Jarkko Ruutu might also be offered up.
Down on the farm, there's centre Ryan Kesler and the Canucks have been shuffling winger Tyler Bouck in and out of the lineup. After that the pickings are pretty slim.
The Canucks do have draft picks to deal which could be part of a package.
Coach Marc Crawford said the trade deadline can be a nervous time for some players.
``There's no doubt at this time of the year players are anxious,'' said Crawford.
``Most players on our team recognize that if we are going to do anything it's probably going to be adding a body. I think the guys that are maybe anxious . . . are the guys that have come up and are filling some roles with us.''
Cheers,
Aquaman