<table align="center" border="0" width="80%"><tbody><tr><td><img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/02/chuckstanley_sm.jpg" align="left" hspace="4">For the Vancouver Canucks, change is imminent. The team needs more speed, grit and offensive talent if they hope to make the playoffs and contend for the Stanley Cup next year. Almost all Canuck fans realize this, but they may not realize just how soon that change may come. Team history suggests that this team may only be 3 weeks away from a major defining moment.

<img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/03/MAR1708_Canucks-Coyotes12_t.jpg border=0 align=right>While the Canucks have had some questionable draft picks over the years (I must admit I have seen enough Libor Polaseks, Jason Herters and Nathan Smiths to last a lifetime), few teams can match their record when it comes to draft day trades. Let’s go back in time to July 8, 1995. Then-GM Pat Quinn sent shockwaves through the league when he acquired Alexander Mogilny from Buffalo for Mike Peca, Mike Wilson and a first round pick that would turn into Jay McKee. With all due respect to Peca, acquiring a talent like Mogilny was a clear win for the Canuck organization. Brian Burke took over from Quinn in 1998, and it didn’t take him long to repeat history. At the 1999 draft, Burke pulled off a great series of deals that allowed him to draft Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Not to be outdone, Dave Nonis completed arguably the greatest trade in team history during the 2006 draft, trading Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alex Auld to Florida for Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek.

The last three Canuck GMs have all made huge impact trades during the draft, and all the pieces are in place for history to repeat itself yet again. The owner has made it clear he wants to win, and win soon. There is a new GM eager to improve the club and to make his mark on this team. The Canucks have about $20 million in cap space to target that special impact player. Their depth on defence could be attractive to many potential trade partners. The Canucks have a top-10 pick in a very good draft next month. There may or may not be a window of 2 years to build a contender, depending on whether or not Roberto Luongo wants to re-sign with the team. Put all of this together and the stars may be aligned for another draft day blockbuster.

<img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/04/040708_lottery04_t.jpg border=0 align=left>I’m not a big fan of “change for the sake of change”, since trades made under that philosophy usually end up being disastrous. That being said, I really hope Mike Gillis can become the fourth straight Canuck GM to make a major deal at the draft. The Canucks have the pieces in place to make such a trade, and bringing in an impact player could make Vancouver very attractive to free agents in July. For the fans, just dying for a reason to feel good about the team’s future, there’s nothing like a blockbuster to get them buzzing about the Canucks again. After each of the three draft day trades I can remember my apathy for the team quickly turn into excitement for the upcoming season. I was happy when Dave Nonis acquired Mika Noronen—I can’t imagine how excited I would be if the Canucks acquired a 40 or 50 goal scorer.

It will take more than one big trade to complete the Canucks’ transformation, but the right deal can go a long way toward rebuilding this team. History has shown that Canuck GMs have a knack for making great deals at the draft. Here’s hoping that Mike Gillis can make lightning strike for a fourth time in Ottawa on June 20. </td></tr></table>