I like Fabian Lysell, Chad Lucus, and Trent Johnson as forwards. I did not like McTavish and Guenther will be gone. As for Defense: I like Hughes, Clarke and Ceulman. If the top 2 of my list of forwards or defense are there, take them. To clarify: Trent Johnson or Fabian Lysell are both dog on bone type players I would choose. Hughes or Clarke would be great additions as well.
As for pickups from teams in expansion trouble. They can get # 4 defenseman or a # 8 forward. This shouldn't cost as much as I have seen some people think. The Canucks real needs are better young defense and maybe right wing. The most glaring in my opinion is defense.