Canucks Rebuild Going According to Plan

When Vancouver Canucks GM Travis Fleming announced that the team would be entering into a rebuild last year, fans were understandably skeptical.

Sure, there are plenty of examples of successful rebuilds. But for all the rebuilds that have gone right, there are just as many that have gone horribly wrong. With Vancouver not known as market that tolerates losing very well, many were wondering if Fleming’s plan would blow up in his face an ultimately cost him his job.

According to the GM though, the rebuild is going as planned. When asked by reporters how he thought things were coming along Fleming seemed optimistic.

“I really like how the team is shaping up,” he said. “We had a plan and I think we’ve executed it about as well as we could. We’ve acquired some great young players who are already on our roster, and we have some excellent prospects on the way.”

When asked about when he thought the team could compete again, Fleming made a bold prediction.

“By the 2020-21 season this team will be competing for a Stanley Cup again.”

Considering the team is well out of the playoffs this season, and still has a number of holes to fill, that might would be a pretty quick turnaround. If he can pull it off, it would be one of the fastest full rebuilds in recent memory.

So, the Vancouver Canucks GM likes what’s been done so far. But just how well is the rebuild really going? Let’s take a closer look to see just how close this team is to competing again.

Forwards

Despite their poor performance in the standings, the Canucks haven’t been completely devoid of excitement. The trio of Alex DeBrincat, Nico Hischier, and Sam Reinhart have provided plenty of entertainment and given fans hope for the future.

DeBrincat has shown himself to be an elite goal scorer. Losing Alex Ovechkin was tough, but the 21-year-old winger is proving to be a nice consolation prize and should light the lamp for Vancouver for years to come.

Hischier has the skills and hockey IQ to be a first line centre, but it’s still up in the air whether he’ll achieve his full potential. Meanwhile, Reinhart is proving himself to be a solid top six player.

Earlier this year, Fleming also acquired 23-year-old Kevin Lebanc. This has proven to be a savvy move as the young winger has taken a huge step forward this year and is turning into a solid playmaker.

The Canucks also have two blue-chip prospects which they acquired in last year’s draft. Barrett Hayton had a very impressive season in the OHL this year, setting new career highs in goals, assists, and points despite playing 24 less games than last season. And Isac Lundestrom has also shown improvement in Sweden and may not be too far off from making his debut in the EHE.

Defence

Although the Canucks don’t have any young defencemen making an immediate impact, they have a number of top prospects that should provide a great core on the back end in a few seasons.

Ty Smith started the season by lighting the WHL on fire. While he cooled off a bit near the end of the year fans are still extremely excited to see what he can do at the pro level. Although he’s not the biggest player out there, he possesses a solid two-way game and great offensive upside.

In a shocking move a few weeks ago, GM Travis Fleming paid a staggering $15,000,000 to the Coyotes to acquire Dante Fabbro and Arizona’s first round pick in the upcoming draft. After a stellar college career, Fabbro has opted to turn pro and the hope is that he can develop into a first pairing defenceman within the next few seasons.

Rounding out the Canucks’ top defence prospects are Henri Jokiharju and Nicolas Hague. Both have looked very solid in the AHL and should be ready to take the next step sooner rather than later.

Rumour has it that Fleming may look to deal one or possibly two of his defence prospects over the coming months for a more established young defenceman to compliment the young stars he already has at forward.

Goaltending

Earlier this year, Fleming acquired goaltender Cory Schneider in the hopes that the veteran could regain the form he had a few years ago. While it’s still up in the air whether Schneider can ever be a star goalie again, the Canucks do have some young talent in net that may be ready to take the reins in the coming years.

Thatcher Demko is one of the EHE’s top goalie prospects. Having been a star in the AHL for a number of years now, fans are starting to wonder whether he’s ready to play full time for the Canucks. It’s quite likely Demko will have a chance at the back-up job in a year or two, and could even challenge for the starting job within a couple seasons.

Further down the depth chart, the Canucks have Colin Delia, Kevin Boyle, and Oscar Dansk. While none of these goaltenders project as EHE starters, there’s a chance one or more could develop into a solid back-up.

2019 Draft

The Canucks currently hold six picks in the upcoming draft, with two picks in the first round. Vancouver’s pick will likely land in the top 10, so Fleming should be able to add another top prospect this year.

The Verdict

While the Canucks have some impressive talent up front, they don’t really have anyone at defence and goal who’s likely to make a big impact soon. Still, Fleming has done a solid job of assembly talented young players and prospects at all positions. Stay tuned for the draft and the offseason, as there are sure to be plenty more big moves made.