randymeeks wrote:
this is NOT the best canuck team we have had on paper. not by a long shot. what makes this maybe in some peoples eyes the best team ever is Luongo and some false hope.
but is it false with Luongo?
I don't think it is so false for two simple reasons. Even though we can make a point that this won't be our most skilled team, we will be strong as all hell at the strongest position with Luongo, and we will have a legit, big centre anchoring our team. We may not have the best Canuck team of all time here. But we will be stronger up the middle than ever before between Sundin and Luongo. Don't underestimate how important it is to be strong up the middle.
Man - can you imagine if...
A) We got Sundin
B) One of our young guys REALLY elevated his game (i.e. Edler, Grabner, etc.) to a completely different level.
Back to the discussion - Although I highly doubt that the Canucks will do this, the Canucks, theoretically, could decide to have Sundin, Demitra, H.Sedin, and Kesler all centering different lines. Talk about depth at center! It would remind me a little of the Red Wings from a decade ago when they had Yzerman, Fedorov, and Larionov.
(just for the record - I don't recommend that the Canucks do this...I'd rather have Sundin/Demitra on our 1A line, while Sedin-Sedin-Bernier would be our 1B).
As far as this team being our most TALENTED team of all-time (with Sundin), I would have to disagree. Our 02/03 team was probably our most talented team ever assembled.
Having said that - I think this team (with Sundin) would be our most BALANCED line-up of all-time. If this team had Mats Sundin, I don't think I'd see any glaring 'red flags' on this team like I've seen with the other ones. The Canucks, on paper, would have the leadership, grit, defense, goaltending, offense, special teams, and speed. With Sundin in our line-up, I think the Canucks would have a very good chance of progressing beyond the 2nd round.