The 2006/07 season started with a bang when GM Dave Nonis brought in unprecedented change to a franchise long a powerhouse in the regular season but all too often a flop in the playoffs. The house cleaning started with the firing of long time coach Marc Crawford and promotion of Manitoba Moose head coach Alain Vigneault keen to prove he belonged in the NHL after years in the wilderness. Vigneault's arrival coincided with a change in philosophy and personnel. Gone were long time Canuck stars Todd Bertuzzi, Ed Jovanovski and Dan Cloutier. In a move which won Nonis plaudits and nominations for NHL Executive of the year was the trade which brought superstar goaltender Roberto Luongo to Vancouver. Suddenly, the West Coast Express, a long time offensive powerhouse was replaced with Vigneault's defence first and hustle built around an underrated defence and arguably the league's best goaltender.

At seasons start the Canucks were rated as the ninth or tenth best team in the Western Conference. Question marks littered the lineup. Where would the goals come from? How could a notoriously thin blueline cope with the loss of their most talented player in Ed Jovanovski? Could the Sedins continue to produce with yet another new right winger? Would a run and gun team embrace the sudden change to a defence first system? Why hadn't GM Dave Nonis done more to secure a scoring winger to help out? Would Luongo be able to deliver in the playoffs if they got that far?

Luongo went on to set a Canucks single season record with 47 wins, soundly breaking Kirk McLean's previous mark of 38. On many nights Luongo proved to be the difference and for the first time in over a decade the Canucks had a goaltender they felt could bring them Stanley Cup glory. Luongo was undoubtedly the Canucks MVP by season end recording a massive 24 three star nominations, including being named the first star 15 times in the 76 games he appeared. Proving the adage that your goaltender is your best penalty killer, Luongo backstopped the Canucks to become the league's best penalty kill unit.

For the heroics in net the Sedin twins after a strong 2005/06 made the Canucks their own, finally delivering on the promise that many held when they were drafted in 2000. Daniel Sedin emerged as the top goal scorer, tickling the twine 36 times, while brother Henrik rightfully took up his mantle as one of the better playmakers by delivering 71 assists in his 81 point season. The Sedins play was so infectious that Buffalo discard and first round disappointment Taylor Pyatt, brought in by Nonis for a bargain third round pick, recorded a career high 23 goals as the ‘third twin', doubling his career best.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the season was the development of second year pro Kevin Bieksa who filling Ed Jovanovski's sizeable skates and made them his own. By the end of the season Bieksa had bamboozled every commentator in the league and gone on to record a 42 point season with a team high 134 PIMs mixing skill with toughness. Bieksa's exploits proved the perfect compliment to defensive rock Willie Mitchell. The BC native was highly sought after during the off-season and a Canuck priority. By the end of the regular season he was regarded by many observers as the Canucks unofficial leader and best defensive defenceman.

Despite Bieksa's sound play the biggest newsmaker amongst the Canucks blueline was long time AHL veteran Rory Fitzpatrick who through an internet phenomenon was voted by the fans almost into the All Star game. Fitzpatrick fell tantalisingly close as the third most vote getting defenceman and caused the NHL no end of concerns should the fan initiative actually succeeded in getting the likeable depth defenceman into the mid-season classic. Canuck fans will surely cherish their ‘Vote for Rory' t-shirts as a memento of what became one of the NHL's top news stories.

However, the season also brought its fair share of disappointments. For all the plaudits Nonis received for his off-season acquisitions of Luongo, Pyatt and Mitchell he also made several questionable moves. Veteran signings Marc Chouinard, Jan Bulis, Tommi Santala and even crowd favourite Rory Fitzpatrick were all soundly criticised throughout the season. By the end of the regular season Bulis and his agent wanted out of Vancouver, Santala was regarded by many as a lineup filler and no more and Chouinard was back in the AHL despite a two year deal.

Captain Markus Naslund suffered through his worst season in Vancouver squeaking to modest totals of 24 goals and 60 points while pulling in a handsome $6 million salary. Surely the most talked about story this off-season will be whether the Canucks attempt to move Naslund to bring some badly needed salary cap relief or grin and bear the albatross deal until it comes off the books in one years time. Naslund's long time West Coast Express linemate Brendan Morrison also struggled through the season to record equally disappointing returns of 20 goals and 51 points. Bothered by a hip injury all season long Morrison's once notable skating prowess abandoned him, as did the room created by exile Todd Bertuzzi.

After the Christmas break the Canucks went on a tear as the hottest team in the West. The unprecedented run lifted them to top of the NHL's tightest division and into the playoffs with two weeks to spare. Note must be made of veteran grinder Jeff Cowan's rise to fan favourite and unlikely second line scoring hero. Amidst a four goal scoring streak the man usually known more for his work after the gloves hit the ice managed 7 goals followed by several showers of female fans bras raining down on the GM Place ice.

Despite the offensive struggles the Canucks entered the playoffs with a many hopes. Meeting an almost mirror like image in the Dallas Stars the two defensive teams played their way through the toughest and tightest series in the post-season. Game 1 will long live in the memories of many fans as the Canucks went to quadruple overtime (138.04 minutes), the sixth longest game in NHL history when Henrik Sedin finally ended it and Roberto Luongo had his first ever playoff win after making 72 saves. It was not the last overtime thriller between the Stars and Canucks before the Canucks finally outlasted their Southern rivals in Game 7.

Entering the second round few gave the Canucks much of a chance. They faced the Anaheim Ducks and former Canuck leaders Brian Burke and Randy Carlyle. Long a Stanley Cup favourite the Ducks proved the hype was true eliminating the Canucks in five games, though the Canucks pushed them several times in the series. It was the first time in five years that the Canucks had advanced to the second round of the playoffs and showed that they had the building blocks of a contender in the years to come. With a sound defence and star goaltending, only a frustrating inability to score goals hindered the Canucks. With injuries mounting the Canucks lack of depth was also shown to be a weakness, though Moose youngsters Jannik Hansen and Alexander Edler gave Canucks faithful an exciting look into the future with their cameo efforts.

So there ended the 2006/07 season for the Vancouver Canucks. A season of change and excitement with many fans eagerly awaiting the 2007/08 season and hopefully a step closer to that elusive first Stanley Cup.

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It is the meeting of the Northwest Division Champions and the Pacific Division Champions and the master, Brian Burke, and his apprentice, Dave Nonis. The Canucks will have one days rest before landing in Anaheim for what promises to be a tough matchup against the league's most physical team. Lead in the front office by former Canuck stalwarts Brian Burke and Randy Carlyle the Ducks have a physical edge to go with their free flowing offence. Blessed with two of the best defencemen in the NHL and two goalies capable of starting in the playoffs the Ducks have the confidence to count on their back end and allow their fleet footed forwards to be creative on the offensive side of the puck.

The Ducks manhandled the Wild into a five game capitulation with their physical style of play, stifling defence and creative offence. Ryan Getzlaf was a notable performer up front for the Ducks and continues to build a good reputation in April play after his stellar play as a rookie last year. Veterans Andy McDonald, goal scoring machine Teemu Selanne and Chris Kunitz were closely checked by the Wild, a job which the Canucks will have to match to shutdown the Ducks top line. The danger with the Ducks though is their depth with youngsters Getzlaf and Corey Perry having good post seasons and leading the second line.

The Canucks are coming out of a tight defensive affair with the Dallas Stars, two teams which matched up incredibly well. After the sixth longest game in NHL history in Game 1 the Canucks players did a lot of growing. The offence continues to be a sore spot for the Canucks who were shut out three times by Marty Turco. The Canucks will not be able to endure a series with Anaheim if they cannot put goals on the board. The powerplay won Game 7 for the Canucks, another weakness of this team it will have to be better. The Ducks play a physical team who will take penalties and give the powerplay chances, to beat the Ducks those chances must be taken.

The Ducks have been tipped by many to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender and are expected to take the Canucks to the wall and ultimately advance. The Canucks will need to be sharp in front of Roberto Luongo and frustrate the Ducks forwards into committing turnovers. The Ducks are also prone to being distracted into playing the physical game and forgetting about the scoreboard. The Canucks would do well to get bodies in front of the Ducks net and push the boundaries of Ducks grinders, Travis Moen, George Parros, Brad May, Shawn Thornton and Joe Dipenta.

Key Player – Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks are lead by their big two on defence, Chris Pronger and Scott Neidermayer. Two accomplished post season performers the Ducks will look to their blueline to guide their offence. Pronger leads the team in scoring with two goals, four assists for six points in their five game series against Minnesota. The Canucks will see plently of Pronger, Neidermayer and their running mate Francois Beauchemin who all play over 25 minutes a night.

Key Player - Vancouver Canucks: The Canucks leading scorer and most experienced playoff campaigner Trevor Linden will again be counted on in key situations. Now utilized more as a defensive presence, he leads the Canucks in scoring with two goals, three assists for five points. His clutch play in Game 7 of the Stars series got the Canucks over the line. Linden brings a calming influence to a very young inexperienced team.

Injuries – Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks carry no significant injuries. Checking centre Todd Marchant and powerplay expert Ric Jackman are both on the day-to-day list with minor injuries. Brad May will not play in games one or two serving out the remainder of his three game suspension for cold cocking Kim Johansson in Game 4 of the Ducks series against Minnesota.

Injuries - Vancouver Canucks: The Canucks will be without Ryan Kesler whose cameo appearance in Game 1 of the playoffs ended with a broken finger and surgery, he will not return this post-season. Matt Cooke remains on the day-to-day injury list with a groin strain and is not certainty to play in this series. Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa are doubtful for Game 1 of the series although Alain Vigneault has said they will be available to play.

CanuckAccess Playoff Verdict: Vancouver in six games. The Canucks will have to withstand a physical storm early in the series but will eventually settle down and stifle the Ducks offence.

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