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In a neat and tidy world, Steve Bernier will report to the Vancouver Canucks' training camp next week hugely motivated and in terrific shape, ready to assert himself as a professional goal scorer and a perfect complement to the Sedin twins.

That development would not answer all of Vancouver's questions heading into the new NHL campaign, but it would be an important first domino in new general manager Mike Gillis's transformation of the franchise.

The Canucks are still defined by goaltending and defence. The need for scoring remains an albatross.

Gillis's dam-patching appears as though it will be a two-year project after a summer of big-game hunting failed to net the plumb and took a turn toward Plan B.

Without Mats Sundin, who has a standing two-year offer of $20-million (U.S.) from the Canucks, the team is banking on Bernier, 23, and former Toronto Maple Leaf Kyle Wellwood, 25, to skate among the top-six forwards. They are sooner called reclamation projects than plug-in solutions.

Both players have flashed offensive potential, but both have also admitted to lax work ethics. They will be trying to jump-start their careers while carrying new responsibilities, and it's hard to envision Vancouver returning to the playoffs without significant contributions from Bernier and/or Wellwood.

If Bernier, a right-handed shot, blends with Henrik and Daniel Sedin on the top line, and Wellwood combines with free-agent addition Pavol Demitra for secondary scoring, the Canucks will have some on-ice traction.

Off the ice, the Canucks made news all off-season and some subplots still loom.

The Sedins are entering a contract year and negotiations are not on the fast track. Something will have to give come the trade deadline.

Head coach Alain Vigneault signed a one-year extension in the spring, but remains on the hot seat. Will he be the first coach fired? Gillis wants a team that takes more risks with the puck, which hasn't been a trademark of Vigneault's tenure.

The Canucks began an overhaul in April, firing hometown general manager Dave Nonis and replacing him with Gillis, a former player agent.

In May, defenceman Luc Bourdon died when his motorcycle struck a tractor-trailer in his native New Brunswick. Two months later, assistant GM Steve Tambellini, whom Gillis had made his right-hand man, left to become the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers.

In 2007-08, an injury-depleted Canucks side lost seven of their final eight games and missed the postseason for the second time in three years. Seven players who did not log a game with Vancouver last season could be in the opening-night lineup.

Bernier, a 227-pound would-be power forward, burst onto the scene with 14 goals in 39 games for the San Jose Sharks three years ago, but has just 31 goals in 138 games since. Acquired from the Buffalo Sabres for two draft choices, the Quebec City native is on his third organization in the past seven months.

Wellwood was nearly a point-a-game player in 2006-07, but slumped to 21 points in 59 games last season amid poor conditioning. Demitra's output was also down 10 points last year with the Minnesota Wild. The 33-year old is a former Gillis client.

Bernier, Demitra and Wellwood are to replace the production of Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison, two long-time Canucks who left through free agency. Naslund's departure means the team is also searching for a new captain, and former captain Trevor Linden's retirement leaves an even greater leadership void.

The Canucks plummeted from 12th to 21st to 23rd in offence since the lockout and are down 0.5 goals a game in that span. Into the breach stepped goaltender Roberto Luongo and five dependable defencemen.

The defence-first formula can be successful, but Gillis's challenge is to shape a team that can win 5-3 as easily as 2-1. Too often, Vigneault said in his postmortem last spring, the Canucks were playing with thin margins of error.

"Some scoring by committee is going to help us out and hopefully take some pressure off people, too," defenceman Willie Mitchell said.

Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows worked splendidly as a checking third line last year and could see second-line minutes this season. They combined for 33 goals and are young enough that more could be in store.

Taylor Pyatt notched 16 goals and logged some time beside the Sedins. Diminutive speedster Mason Raymond, 23, had 21 points in 49 games in his NHL baptism.

Gillis signed free agents Ryan Johnson and Darcy Hordichuk to revamp the fourth line. The Canucks want to be edgier at the back end of the roster, so expect Rob Davison to challenge sixth defenceman Lukas Krajicek.

Up front, there is enough ambiguity that prospects such as Jannik Hansen, Michael Grabner or even first-round pick Cody Hodgson could crack the top 12 with an excellent camp. The same goes for journeymen such as Jason Krog.

"We're going to have a lot of challenges and a lot of competition, which is good," Kesler said. "It brings the best out of guys and that's what we want in training camp."