I have just completed my 2012/'13 projections for eight Canuck forwards and I thought I'd share them with the NM community. I have been doing my own forward projections since 2007 (mostly to help me win hockey pools) and last year I projected goals and assists for 246 forwards. My projection system is comprised of three elements; expected SOG, expected shooting percentage, and career assist-to-goal ratio. In 2008/'09 I tested my projections against The Hockey News and the Score Forecaster and my projections were proven to be statistically significant more accurate (95% confidence level).

I will post my projections (I always assume 80 GP) for the 2011/'12 team against what actually happened, then I will post my projections for the upcoming season.

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With our goaltender controversy all but decided, we still have to sign our RFA goaltender. In this post, I'd like to look at some comparable contracts signed by goaltenders to see what kind of financial impact Schneider could have on this team in the short term, and in the long term.

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The game of musical chairs has ended. The music has stopped, and Roberto Luongo is left without a chair looking at Cory Schneider sitting in what used to be his, the prickly throne that is the number one goaltender position of the Vancouver Canucks. The cold hard reality that hasn't dawned on most yet, is that the music will never play again. This game is over. The greatest Vancouver Canuck goaltender of all time has played his last game in our Blue and Green.

I really never thought that it would come to this. I never truly believed Vancouver would allow it to go this far, but looking back I shouldn't be surprised. Asking fanatics for patience and understanding is like politely asking your dog not to eat the pile of milk bones in his dish; you look even stupider than the dog stuffing himself.

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As everyone at NM knows, the Nashville Predators are a formidable opponent. They are known across the league as a well coached team that plays well in its own end, gets great goaltending, and... well, let's say gets some timely offense.

The Predators lack of firepower makes them the number three team in the Central, and just a secondary power in the Western Conference. But what if that were to change? What if they were about to add the best right winger in the world for the playoffs?

Well they just might.

Enter Alexander Radulov.

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Unlike most Canuck fans, I believe our 10-9-1 start to be a blip. Most of us predicted a Stanley Cup hangover, but when it actually occurred we hit the panic button. So here it is. The cup hangover.

Let's not get too crazy and realize what we have. We have a team that not only was the best team in hockey last season as a +77 (GF-GA), they were the best Western Conference team since the '06 Red Wings (+96). We also know we have a coach that we know can lead and motivate this team to excellence. What else do we know? We have a goaltender that has the third best SV% in NHL history, two Art-Ross trophy winners, and a Selke trophy winner, all in their primes.

Should I let 20 games worry me? No. This bunch will figure itself out. For every time we've yelled at Daniel to shoot in the slot when he didn't, there is a time he was in a position to take that shot and instead found the trailer for an easy tap in goal. For all of Kesler's struggles he is not going to shoot at a 5% clip. Luongo had a rough start? This is new?

No I am not worried about what we have. The biggest mistake we could make is change a winning formula after a predictable rut.

I don't even worry about us getting bullied by the Bruins again in the East finals. We don't need a team that can defeat Boston, as odds are they won't be the ones we play in the finals (if we get there.)

What I do worry about? The obvious problem we all saw last June, and the same worry I have had since last November. The lack of elite top six forwards.

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I have some time to kill, so I thought I would put my thoughts on paper. Then I thought I might as well get some insightful feedback. (Realize I am not addressing the pitching situation.)

So what do the Jays have right now? Let's first look at the players we expect to be a part of the next championship Jays team.

C - JP Arencibia or Travis d'Arnaud - Question marks on both, but we have depth.

1B - (Open) - Who knows? It doesn't look like Lind is the guy.

2B & SS - Kelly Johnson, Yunel Escobar, Adeiny Hechavarria - K Jo could be back.... Might have to fill that hole. Hech is a question mark.

3B - Brett Lawrie

OF - Colby Rasmus, Travis Snider, Anthony Gose, Jose Bautista - Question marks around Snider and Gose.

DH - Could be anyone - I like the idea of giving Edwin Encarnacion a shot here, or somewhere on the field.

So 3B, RF, CF, C, and SS are legitimate strengths, while LF and 2B are question marks, and 1B is our teams largest hole.

Second base could be sorted out for one year if Kelly Johnson accepts arbitration. If he declines, we get a nice pick, but have to figure out the hole. I'm not going to give any solutions to this problem right now, I will look at problems we know exist.

So let's look at left field, DH, and first base as one problem, so that the solution is easier to find. How do we complement our strengths with these three positions. First of all, I believe that we need to create more competition in left field. That's right more. I would try and do this without completely blocking Travis Snider, by not signing anyone who would clog the DH slot (David Ortiz or Jim Thome). I also believe first base is a hole that can not be filled in house, and should be either acquired in a trade or a signing. I recommend that the most impactful signing, should be a LHB.

My recommendation:

Sign OF Grady Sizemore, one year deal.

Bring in a high risk, high reward lefty bat that creates competition for the left field position on the team. Grady would then have to hit to keep his job, while playing a position that will be easier on his knees (I realize our turf isn't great on the knees either.) He should be great in the field, and if his bat is half as productive as 2008, we are laughing. It's a big if, and a risk, but our contingency plan is Thames, and Snider. Also, when/if Gose is ready in the next few years, we can make room for him

Do not sign a DH.

This would leave the DH slot open to give Grady some games at DH for rest, as well as let Snider split time here to keep his bat, if he comes around, in the lineup. Also if Joey Bats or any other regular needs a little rest, we will have the option of leaving their bat in the lineup. Also Encarnacion would give you platoon options all over the field, and would be another contingency.

Sign or trade for an impact 1B.

This has been talked about to death, but what if we went wild and signed Prince Fielder? Or got crazy and traded for Kendry Morales? Our lineup would be a force. Even compared to other AL Beast teams.

My recommendation costs money, or prospects, or both. But it would also give us a good shot while the Yankees get older and face pitching problems, and the Red Sox are reeling. This is our time to strike.

Projected Lineup:

1. Yunel Escobar - SS -

2. Brett Lawrie - 3B -

3. Prince Fielder/Kendry Morales/Big Lefty bat - 1B -

4. Jose Bautista - RF -

5. Colby Rasmus - CF -

6. Kelly Johnson - 2B -

7. Travis Snider/ Edwin Encarnacion/ Grady Sizemore - DH -

8. JP Arencibia - C -

9. Grady Sizemore / Travis Snider - LF -

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