Its gotta be a free for all next year as to who the starter will be. No you can't pin the series loss on Lou when the entire team can't score, but you need at least GOOD goaltending to win a cup, Lou didn't deliver that. He didn't give his team any confidence whatsoever. He was out tended in every series by the opposing goalie.
The Canucks made it WAY to easy on Thomas.
The Sedins proved that they can't adapt against top D pairs on a regular basis. Keith/Seabrook, Suter/Wever, Chara/Siedenberg shut them down. It really exposes Kesler as relatively by himself on the 2nd line. The Canucks need a compliment for Kesler to have a second wave. Or get Burr back with Kesler, and find a player that can compliment the Sedins.
It will be interesting to see what happens with this team going forward. Hard to imagine the Canucks trading Schneider, but it is quite clear, that the Canucks need a fast, physical player to compliment Kesler. But can they afford to move their best asset with a great contract ($900K) next year, then RFA status after that, for a piece.
Too bad Sameulsson is still on the books for one more year. Mason Raymond is going into a contract year but with a serious back injury, so he might not be moveable.
Tanner Glass has proven useless. Especially if the Canucks keep Lapiere and Torres, both of whom are restricted free agents.
I can't see Ehroff staying. The Canucks will have to open their wallet for Bieksa, wonder if he will take a bit of a hometown discount. The Canucks have Tanev who looks ready for prime time minutes. Salo is an UFA, wonder if his career is over, or if he'd come back for a 1 year, 2MM deal or something like that for one more run. I wonder if the Nucks will bet the farm and go for Weber. Bieksa/Hamhuis, Edler/Weber, now thats a top 4., Alberts/Rome/Tanev/Ballard (whomever, to fill out the bottom pair)
It will be interesting to see if there is a team that has a trouble contract forward that the Canucks could swap for Ballard seeing how far he's fallen out of favour.
What do the Canucks do with Hodson?
Hansen must be due for a raise. He was great, start to finish this year, he is an RFA.