Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo and his teammates watch as Minnesota Wild centre Eric Belanger celebrates a goal by Wild teammate Guillaume Latendresse during the first period of their NHL hockey game at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, February 14, 2010.ERIC MILLER
One year ago, the Vancouver Canucks did nothing at the NHL trade deadline - and hockey-mad British Columbia was content to watch the party from the sidelines.
General manager Mike Gillis was able to convince Canucks Nation that deadline rentals, particularly those that cost high-round draft picks, were not in the best long-term interest of the franchise, particularly given the sorry state of its farm system.
One year later, the price for rentals remains the same, the Canucks are tight on salary-cap space and without a second-round selection in the 2010 entry draft.
But they are flush on the farm, and have some needs if they are to be spring-time rivals to the Chicago Blackhawks and other Western Conference powers.
The Canucks were trumpeting their blueline depth in the preseason, yet are now thin given the absence of Willie Mitchell (post-concussion syndrome), perhaps for the remainder of the regular season.
Mitchell was playing more than 22 minutes per game, second on the team, and is the team's chief shutdown defender, often drawing the opponent's best offensive players. Defenceman Kevin Bieksa (ankle) hasn't played in more than two months, but is expected to return soon.
The Canucks entered last night's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in third place in the conference, tied with the Colorado Avalanche in points.
At stake is the Northwest Division title and home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Since the 2010 Olympic roster freeze was lifted, three defencemen have changed teams. All of them have expiring contracts, and all of them cost second-round picks.
Nashville Predators blueliner Dan Hamhuis is a pending unrestricted free agent whose name was all over trade reports yesterday. He may be the next to go - at a much steeper price - and if Gillis is interested, it may be with an eye to convincing the Smithers, B.C., native to re-sign with the Canucks this summer, and replace Mitchell for more than just two months.
The other Canucks complication is the state of the third line, which is filled with offensive-oriented players struggling to score. Earlier this week, head coach Alain Vigneault said the line was without an identity and needed an upgrade. Centre Kyle Wellwood and winger Steve Bernier have both taken steps back this season.
Gillis doesn't fancy pure rentals, and would much prefer a deal for long-term assets, raising two questions heading into today's deadline:
First, are Mitchell's absence and the Canucks' place in the pecking order creating a special enough situation to merit a change in philosophy? And second, if the answer is "yes," can Gillis find a creative solution to both roster holes?
Unlike last year, he has more bait.
Cory Schneider is the most likely piece to be moved. He remains one of the top goaltending prospects, and he is not going to unseat Roberto Luongo, who is under contract for the next 11 years.
Top prospect Cody Hodgson has returned to action with the Brampton Battalion of the OHL. His trade value has not yet fully recovered, but he is not as untouchable as he once was.
Former first-round pick Michael Grabner showed offensive flashes in a nine-game NHL cameo earlier this year. Forward Jordan Schroeder won a world junior championship with the United States last January, and Swedish winger Anton Rodin made the most of limited world junior minutes.
The Blackhawks have signalled that their time is now, and that same consideration now faces the Canucks, especially since some of next year's cap space has been spent on this year's team.
Gillis is in the second year of his contract, with reason to believe the near-future could be even brighter.
Whatever he does - or doesn't do - today will say even more.