How good are the Canucks?

Is what we see, what we get? Am I the only one who's watching this team and realizing that we haven't seen the best of this team yet?

For one, Roberto Luongo's been very inconsistant. He's been better, but he's still not the Luongo of 2006-2007. The Luongo the Canucks need him to be to not just get to the Stanley Cup, but to win it. Does this team really need him to be that good though? This team can score a lot of problems away, prior teams needed him to be perfect to win.

The defense is a lot better this year than last. They are allowing fewer scoring opportunities and the transition game is top notch. They do not seem to be as active on the scoring front as last season so I do see room for improvement. It'll be interesting to see who they deal to make room for Sami Salo. Rumor has it he should be ready to go sometime in January. Bieksa's been really solid this year defensively so dealing him is not as much of a no brainer as it used to be. Ehrhoff is a free agent at the end of the year, but dealing him would drasctically decrease the Canucks transition play.

The Sedins have been average, in my view. They have not been putting up the points like they did last season, they are merely 'PPG' players so far this year. Ryan Kesler however has been magnificent and is making up for any points the Sedins aren't getting this year with his stellar play. He needs to contunie this level of play come playoff time, he's been dismal so far in the playoffs but perhaps he's ready to turn the corner and be the player the Canucks need him to be when it counts the most.

It's almost game time, Edmonton tonight should be a win - even if the Canucks come out flat. Look for Kesler to lead the way, he has all season long so far.