The Vancouver Canucks began their offseason by firing Head Coach Willie Desjardins, and promoting Utica Comets Head Coach Travis Green to the same position. Green will steward Vancouver’s promising young core.
General Manager Jim Benning surrounded that young core with a series of small, sensible signings this summer. A year after splurging and signing Swedish winger Loui Eriksson and trading assets for defenseman Erik Gudbranson, the Canucks were decidedly more precise.
Vancouver managed to find excellent value in signing power play stud Sam Gagner, former first round pick Alexander Burmistrov, depth defensemen Michael Del Zotto and Patrick Wiercioch, and backup goaltender Anders Nilsson for a combined $10,200,000 annually.