If there is one mad skill that Canucks GM Dave Nonis possesses, it would be the fact that he has a very good track record of negotiating contracts with his own players.

In addition to signing Cloutier, Nonis managed to finalize a 1-year deal with Brendan Morrison for $3.55 million, as reported here. This represents a nice $1mil raise for Morrison, one of the few Canucks that shows the total package of skill, grit, and resiliency under pressure.

In my earlier entry regarding Morrison�s arbitration prospects, I predicted a similar windfall for the local Centerman.

Morrison is 29 years old, and one of the few core Canucks that is not under a long-term deal. I expect he will get something similar to that of Shane Doan, a 28 year-old player that has put up slightly inferior offensive numbers, but adds a more physical dimension to his game.

Doan made $2.8mil last season, and he is slated to make $3.45 million next season. Morrison, who had around $2.5mil last season, should get an award that will fall into the range of $3.25-$3.5mil next season.

So, falling in line with the market (looking at the numbers), Morrison�s deal isn�t a bad one for either side, and now the Canucks totally avoid the nasty arbitration process entirely.

With those 2 deals out of the way, maybe baby bear Nonis will awaken from his slumber and get some free agent help. The Canucks wish-list isn�t large, but the Canucks do have holes to fill if they want to enhance their championship chances. (And since Cloutier is #1 again, we won�t worry about that situation, as much as they need to).

#1 � Physical Offensive Winger
Apart from the psychotic enigma known as Todd Bertuzzi, the Canucks offensive forwards are soft, small, or poor in front of the net. In past years, the Canucks have put guys like Trent Klatt, Matt Cooke, and Jason King with the Sedins, with decent results.

Still, �decent� doesn�t cut the cake, and the Canucks could use a bonafide 2nd line winger that combines offensive ability with physical acumen, especially in front of the net.

Given the Canucks are tightwads with a moderate payroll, a player like Scott Mellanby, who recently signed a contract with the Atlanta Thrashees, would have been perfect for the Canucks.

Who else is there? There isn�t a lot that�s left�

• 1. Glen Murray � He made $3.85 million last year thanks to barroom brawler Joe Thornton, and he�ll be looking for a big contract. With the numbers he put up, he�s likely out of the Canucks price range. If the Canucks do decide to open up the Orca Bay cash register, Murray is the gem of the market right now.
  
• 2. Travis Green � I don�t think too highly of Castlegar�s Travis Green, even if he did to go to school with my old science/PE teacher. For all of his raw abilities, Green has had trouble putting up decent offensive numbers for quite some time, and he�s still prone to many defensive gaffes. He�s just a frustrating player for his coaches.
  Still, he�s a possibility because he�ll likely get a deal for about $1.5mil, he�s got good size, and he�s played with skilled players before (Palffy) and not looked out of place. He�s not really an upgrade on what the Canucks have had in the past, but he�d add to the depth and may want to play close to home. I have a feeling that Green is the most realistic UFA candidate for the Canucks.
  
• 3. Eric Lindros � I know it sounds crazy, but Lindros is looking to play for a contender, will have to take a drastic salary cut (And he knows it), and could still provide some solid production as a winger.
  The problem is, Lindros is so afraid of traffic now that he�ll only drive at 2am on Monday mornings, and he�s one concussion away from having his brains mashed into split pea soup.
  Now, Dave Nonis has been known to be craving some more size down the middle, so it could be a possibility that he�s looking to sign a big centerman, and then shift Cooke or Henrik Sedin to the wing full-time.
  

Honestly, the market doesn�t look good for physical wingers with skill. Nonis already missed the boat on Mellanby, and two of the three above aren�t the most realistic possibilities for the Canucks� salary structure.

#2 � Top 4 Defensive Stopper/Defensive Depth
The Canucks started last season with a good 7-pack of d-men after signing my favourite defenseman Jiri Slegr. Unfortunately, Mark Crawford didn�t trust Slegr (why? Because Crawford is a doofus sometimes), and they gave him to Boston. After he was dealt, the Canucks suffered some untimely injuries and were forced to play class clown Marc Bergevin during the playoffs.

The Canucks have great skill and offensive ability on the back end, but their lack of a defensive masher was obvious come crunch time. Sopel is in over his head, Jovocop has more crashes than Windows 98, and gives the puck away 3 times a night, while the other defensemen, except hairy Marek Malik, are all a bit too finesse and soft as a whole.

Fortunately, there are more possibilities here than at forward. If the Canucks are to make a signing, I would expect one of these 4 defensemen to don a Canucks uniform next season.

• 1. Jon Klemm � In the past, I would have considered Klemm to be too expensive for the Canucks. Looking at the recent deals signed by Matvichuk ($1.8mil/year) and Cullimore ($2.45mil/year�and the Hawks had to overpay), I think Klemm won�t get more than the $2.0mil he made last year.
  He only put up 7 points last year, but Klemm has the defensive punch and ability to play a key top-4 role in the Canucks defence corps. He�s from Cranbrook (my old hometown), so he�d be a good local boy to have around. He�s really the best of the bunch that�s left apart from the expensive gems that the Canucks won�t sign (Chelios, Schneider, Numminen).
  
• 2. Brad Bombardir � He�s cheap (made 825k last year), he�s available, and he�s another local boy from Powell River. He would be a 3rd line defender on the Canucks, but could still help out some with the depth. He wouldn�t really give the Canucks a real upgrade, but the Canucks do need some depth and Bombardir could come at a reasonable price.
  
• 3. Jason Marshall � Another Cranbrook boy! Marshall is big (6�2� 200+), and very adept at the physical game. Like Marchment, he�s limited in skill, prone to losing his temper (bad penalties) and he is really only a #6 defenseman on his best days. He made $1mil last season, and will come cheap to any team willing to take him on. He�d made a good companion to Bryan Allen or Brent Sopel on the 3rd unit.
  
• 4. Bryan Marchment � �Mush� would certainly add to the nasty quotient on the Canucks, but he�s old and no longer more than a #6 guy. I wouldn�t mind him for depth reasons, if he came a lot cheaper than the $2mil that he earned last season. I think he�ll end up on an Eastern team (Closer to home), but he�s an old favourite of mine, and I wouldn�t mind seeing him kneecap a few members of the Red Wings or Avalanche before he retires.
  

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Unless the Canucks are willing to pay some big bucks for a guy like Dan McGillis, or get lucky enough to sign Jon Klemm, I�d expect the Canucks to sign a physical defenseman that will only enhance the lower-tier depth, rather than upgrade the top 4. Good depth is necessary, but quality is hard to find without paying for it, even in today�s market.