It's the Canucks' time in 2010-11

For the past two years, the Vancouver Canucks have been knocking on the door as a major power in the NHL's Western Conference. Now it appears they're ready to blow the door off in 2010-11 because of an array of moves that not only bolstered their defensive corps, but also a change in team captain.

Goaltender Roberto Luongo surrendered the captaincy of the team for the 2010-11 season after serving as the team's captain the last two seasons. I'm glad Luongo decided to do this because he no longer has this burden to carry on his shoulders and will simply allow him to focus on guarding the goal crease. He's one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and I think now's the time for him to backstop the Canucks to a championship.

In regards to the blueline, the team added Dan Hamhuis (a native of British Columbia that signed with the team as a free agent and was interested in playing in his home province) and Keith Ballard (who was traded to Vancouver from the Florida Panthers). This was an Achilles' heel for the Canucks when they advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season. Their lack of depth on defense during their six-game playoff series loss to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks showed, and the Blackhawks wasted no time on pouncing on them anytime and anywhere. The two big additions as well as the other returning defensmen (Andrew Alberts, Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler, Christian Ehrhoff, and Aaron Rome) will have to step their game for the first few months of the season because veteran defenseman Sami Salo won't be ready until the calendar turns to 2011 at the earliest, as he ruptured an Achilles tendon during the offseason while he was playing a game of floorball. Even without Salo and his explosive slapshot, I see the defensive corps performing better this season.

And finally, to the forwards. The Sedin twins are back, of course with Henrik Sedin coming off an MVP season in 2009-10 and Daniel Sedin who I hope will stay healthy this season. Also back is two-way center Ryan Kesler and top 6 forwards Mikael Samuelsson and Mason Raymond. But one player that I'm concerned about is Alex Burrows, who underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason and his return is uncertain. Even though he draws the ire of almost anyone on the ice, he knows how put the puck in the back of the net. The free agent signings of Manny Malhotra and Raffi Torres should make up for the loss of Burrows, but the "pain in the butt" mentality possessed by Burrows will be missed on the ice. I expect the Sedin twins and whoever lines up with them to have a great season.

But now it's on to why I believe it's the Canucks' time. This is probably the best team they've had to start the season since after the NHL lockout (which wiped out the 2004-05 season). Even ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose thinks the Canucks will win the Stanley Cup this year, and I tend to agree with him on that front. Vancouver has the talent, the goal-scoring, goaltending, defense, and all the intangibles to win the team's first Stanley Cup in franchise history. And should the Canucks accomplish that, they would also become the first Canadian team to raise Lord Stanley's mug since Montreal raised it for the 24th time in their famed history in 1993.

And speaking of those 1993 Montreal Canadiens, here's a couple of clips from their Stanley Cup run: