The Vancouver Canucks will look to improved performances by the slick Sedin brothers, Daniel and Henrik, to replace the scoring of Todd Bertuzzi, traded to secure elite goaltender Roberto Luongo.
The identical twins each signed three-year contract extensions yesterday worth $10.75-million (all figures U.S.). A day earlier, the Canucks tied up Luongo for $27-million over four years.
The Sedins combined for 40 goals last season and played on a line with Anson Carter, who led the Canucks with 33 goals. Carter, living in Los Angeles during the off-season, is eligible for unrestricted free agency today, with Vancouver his preferred destination.
"We had a lot of fun with him last year," Daniel Sedin said of Carter. "Hopefully, he will be back."
The Sedins, 25, are training at Ornskoldsvik in their native Sweden during the summer, trying to pick up more speed. Their skating improved last season when Henrik had 18 goals and 57 assists for 75 points. Daniel scored 22 times and had 71 points.
Carter and the Sedins developed into Vancouver's most consistent forward unit after the top line of Markus Naslund, Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison mysteriously slumped. Naslund finished with 32 goals, Bertuzzi 25 and Morrison 19.
Canucks general manager David Nonis dispatched Bertuzzi, defenceman Bryan Allen and netminder Alex Auld to the Florida Panthers last week for Luongo, defender Lukas Krajicek and a late draft pick.
The Canucks have nine players under contract for next season, at a total cost of $32-million. Nonis will have his work cut out in putting together the rest of the roster because he's indicated Vancouver will spend only $40-million on players, well short of the $44-million salary cap.
Last season, the Canucks were precariously close to the $39-million cap all season, rendering it difficult to make changes that were needed.
Carter and defenceman Ed Jovanovski were to become unrestricted free agents today and Vancouver likely will lose Jovanovski, who earned $3.9-million last season. With the Toronto Maple Leafs paying Bryan McCabe $5.75-million next season and Wade Redden getting $6.5-million from the Ottawa Senators, Jovanovski's asking price will likely be too rich for the Canucks.
The Sedins have played five seasons for the Canucks and would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2007 had they signed only one-year extensions. The Canucks seem to feel the Sedins are on the verge of greatness, especially if they become faster through neutral ice.
"We're working on our skating," left winger Daniel Sedin said from Ornskoldsvik. "That's part of our game that was missing and is our main [off-season]focus.
"We came to Vancouver to bring the Stanley Cup there. That's always been a goal for us. Hopefully we can take the next step, to have the team win. I'm glad they brought us back and hope we can make them proud."
The breakout season for the Sedins included earning gold medals with Sweden at the Turin Olympics. The brothers did not participate in the world championship, when Sweden won again with a somewhat different lineup.
The Sedins are adept at the cycle game and, with the crackdown on obstruction by referees, they excelled at holding possession in the offensive zone, often making precise passes to Carter off the far post for goals.
"We love this city [and]wanted to stay," Henrik Sedin said. "We want to get back into the playoffs . . . prepare to win the [Stanley]Cup. That's why Europeans come over to the best league."