Canucks appear likely to be active in trade market
Nobody could accuse Vancouver Canucks management of being inactive as August started.
But the second-guessers were still left to wonder whether general manager Mike Gillis and his cohorts had actually accomplished much. With the re-signing of right winger Dale Weise to a one-year, one-way deal worth $615,000, the Canucks had more bottom-six forwards than they knew what to do with.
A pleasant problem considering the struggles Vancouver has had stocking the third and fourth lines the last two seasons? Perhaps.
But the true results will be known if and when those units produce some tangible results on the scoresheet. This is not to disparage Weise. The Winnipeg native was dependable after being picked up on waivers, but he had only four goals and four assists in 69 games -- proving the obvious: His job was to be mean and physical -- not score.
Sooner or later, the likes of Andrew Ebbett, Steve Pinizzotto and Aaron Volpatti, who were re-signed earlier in the summer, among others, must prove they can turn the red light on once in awhile.
Never mind that Nicklas Jensen, the top 2011 draft choice, will have to do likewise if he sticks with the team. Ditto for Jordan Schroeder, the 2010 first-rounder who has spent the last two seasons in the minors, considering that he could also factor into the top-six mix.
But these are just niggling matters because the fact is the Canucks still have serious concerns when it comes to filling openings at center. The spots were vacated by Sammy Pahlsson's return to Sweden and center Ryan Kesler's offseason shoulder surgery. With only about $2 million in salary-cap space pending goaltender Roberto Luongo's trade, Gillis was hard pressed to make serious offers to the likes of unrestricted free agents Shane Doan and Jason Arnott although the club made indicated it was interested in them.
As July turned to August, the time was coming for a more significant move. But there was still no telling when it would occur.
