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Entering the 2003-04 season, there weren’t many roster spots open to the young players in the system.  Veteran Trent Klatt was replaced by free agent Magnus Arvedson, Murray Baron by returnee Jiri Slegr, and Johan Hedberg was brought in to take over for Peter Skudra.  The only way a young player could make the team was if he were able to impress the coaching staff with skill and hockey smarts or if his last name was Sedin.  Jason King was the only player to make the type of impression coming out of training camp.  He made the team and played on the second line.  However by the end of the season, Alex Auld had taken over as the most impressive of the seven rookies who played for the Canucks during the 2003-04 season.

Jason King, RW

Acquired:  5^th Pick 212 Overall, 2001 NHL Entry Draft

Jason King began the season with guns a blazing but was firing blanks two months into the season. After a strong preseason King was placed on the right side with the Sedin twins, clicking instantly forming a solid threesome nick named the ‘Mattress Line’ (two twins and a King). The 22-year-old from Newfoundland scored his first career NHL in the season opener against Calgary on October 9. King continued his torrid pace with five points in 10 games for the month of October. He took it to another level in November when he registered 11 points in 14 games, enough to earn him NHL Rookie of the Month honors and make an early Calder Trophy candidate.

As hot as King was in October and November, he was cold in December and January. He played in 20 games, and didn’t score a goal and registered only three points.  Although he continued shooting at the same pace, he couldn’t finish and lost his confidence. He was demoted from the line with the Sedins, but could not break out of his funk. He was sent down to Manitoba of the AHL, but was quickly called back for two games. King did not improve his play and was sent down on February 3. He began to rediscover his scoring touch in minors and was called up late in the season on March 29. He was able to break his 23-game goalless streak that night against Phoenix. 

Who is the real Jason King?  Is it the player who had everyone abuzz early on or is he the player who showed no scoring touch in the months of December and January?  The Canucks are still convinced they have a blue chipper as evident in the fact they refused to include King in any deadline trade discussions.  King is going to have to prove himself once again in training camp to earn himself a roster spot.

Ryan Kesler, C

Acquired:  1^st Pick 23^rd Overall 2003 NHL Entry Draft

Ryan Kesler had a very solid season for an 18-year-old. Even though he had a very strong preseason, the Canucks were in no hurry to rush him into the lineup so he began his first preseason in Manitoba. He was called up for the November 24 game against Toronto because of a back injury to Artem Chubarov. Kesler recorded his first point in his next game on November 25 against Montreal. Four days later, he scored his first career NHL goal against Ottawa.

Kesler continued to play a solid game, mostly on a line with Linden and Cooke. He was released to the US national junior on December 9.  After helping lead the U.S. to a gold medal, Kesler made his return to Canucks on January 17 against Anahiem.  He played 11 games in that stretch, but wasn’t able to collect a point while playing mostly on the fourth line. 

The Canuck brass decided to send down Kesler after the February 13 game versus Atlanta.  He continued his strong play in the minors and most likely would have finished the season there if it weren’t for the Bertuzzi incident on March 8.  Kesler was called up for the rest season beginning with the March 10 game against Minnesota.  He was even playing third line center between Trevor Linden and Jarkko Ruutu, which led to his strongest play of the season.  On March 16, he recorded his first multipoint game versus Nashville with 1 goal and 1 assist.  He finished the season with the big club but was left off the playoff roster. 

Kesler’s first season exceeded everyone’s expectations.  He has already displayed great skating ability and a hockey sense that far exceeds his lack of experience.  The question that still remains about his future in the NHL is whether he becomes a solid third line player or if he can develop the scoring touch to become a top six forward.  After first round failures like RJ Umberger and Libor Polasek, the Canucks are hoping the latter is the case. 

Wade Brookbank, D

Acquired:  Waiver Pickup from Florida December 30, 2003

Wade Brookbank was able to collect a lot of frequent flyer mileage in his freshman season in the NHL, as he was picked off waivers or traded a total of five times.  He started in preseason in Ottawa when he was claimed in waiver draft by Nashville October 3.  There he played a total of 9 games, including his first in the NHL against Anaheim in which he collected his first two fights. Brookbank was then traded to Vancouver on December 17 but he had to be placed on waivers (waiver draft rule) and was claimed by Ottawa on December 19. Ottawa couldn’t keep him on their major league roster so they traded Wade to Florida on December 28. He had to be placed on waivers and was claimed by Vancouver on December 30. 

He played his first game as Canuck versus Calgary on January 3 where he began his life as a Canuck knocking out Flame tough guy Kristof Oliwa.  Marc Crawford didn’t trust Brookbank on defense, so he played him mostly on the right wing.  He scored his first goal on the road against Washington on January 31 playing on a line with the Sedins.  In his very next game he scored his second goal in next game versus the New York Islanders assisted by the Sedins.  He continued his tough play but as the playoffs neared closer, his ice time continued to decrease where he eventually didn’t play a single game in the playoffs.  Brookbank has established himself as a solid NHL policeman but needs to prove that he can be a player who is capable of taking a regular shift and isn’t a liability on the ice.

Nathan Smith, C

Acquired:  1^st Choice 23^rd Overall 2000 NHL Entry Draft

After the 2000 Entry Draft, Canuck management projected Nathan Smith as a NHL third line center with the ability to contribute offensively.  Four years later, Smith has yet to achieve that status with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.  The 22-year-old pivot did make his big league debut this year in a short stint that was most likely to give a taste of the big league and motivate him to work harder to develop the necessary skills.  Smith made his debut on November 18 against the Montreal Canadiens, because of a minor back injury to Artem Chubarov.  He played two games, averaging five minutes of ice time per game, while recording only one shot on goal.  Smith returned to the minors to finish the rest of the season with the Moose.  If the 23^rd overall pick in 2000 is to ever fulfill his potential, his offensive play needs to taken to another level, because players like him are a dime a dozen. 

Fedor Fedorov, C

Acquired:  2^nd Choice 66^th Overall 2001 NHL Entry Draft

Every year in training camp for the Vancouver Canucks, expectations on Fedorov to have a breakout season are very high.  As usual again this year, however, Fedorov had little impact.  The 2003 training camp opened with most media and fans penciling Sergei’s younger brother onto one of the top lines.  Unfortunately, Fedorov showed no progress in developing a complete game and unselfish play and thus began the season in the minors.  After a fast start with the Moose, Fedorov was called in mid-November but after hurting Johan Hedberg in practice with an errant shot, he was chastised by Marc Crawford and saw no action on the ice. 

He was sent down and spent another month in Winnipeg, before finally being inserted into the lineup in games on December 16 and 17 for Henrik Sedin.  After being a non-factor, he returned to the AHL where in late December he was suspended for ten games by Stan Smyl for serious team violations.  After the suspension Fedorov returned to the team rejuvenated and with a renewed dedication to the game.  He was finally rewarded by receiving a call up to replace Markus Naslund after the hit by Steve Moore.  Playing with Artem Chubarov, he recorded his one and only point of this season, but more importantly he showed a greater defensive commitment and hard work ethic.  After six games, he was sent down one last time because of the deadline acquisitions of Geoff Sanderson and Martin Ruchinsky and finished the season with Manitoba.

The future of Fedorov in Vancouver depends on whether or not he is interested in returning or playing the rest of his contract in Europe.  A lot of this depends on how management can alleviate Fedorov’s concerns about his chances of having a decent opportunity to make the team.  Of course, management may not want to bring him back either.

Brandon Reid, C

Acquired:  5^th Choice 208^th Overall 2000 NHL Entry Draft

After finishing the 2002-03 season like a man on fire, with five points in the final seven games of the regular season and seeing some playoff action, some thought that Brandon Reid was a few steps away from becoming a full time NHLer.  But they couldn’t have been more wrong in their assessment of the diminutive Reid, as he struggled through training camp and couldn’t live up to those lofty expectations.  The main reason for his struggles was because Reid’s speed and quickness were severely hurt because of the excess bulk he put on his frame during the offseason.  He lost his given spot to Jason King and started his season in the minors where he began to shed his bulk to regain his speed.  Reid started playing like his old self, however it didn’t lead to any immediate call-ups. 

Reid finally made his NHL debut this season in a game against Florida on January 11 and recorded his only point this year in his next game versus January 15.  He was sent down to the farm and made only one more trip on the 24^th of February against Detroit.  After leading the farm team in scoring two years in a row and with a changing economic situation, Reid’s going to have another opportunity to make the team next year.

Alex Auld, G

Acquired:  Via Trade with Florida for 3^rd round pick in 2002

In his first season with the Canucks, Alex Auld was considered not ready to assume the back up goalie role with the team, but when the season ended, he had out performed the incumbent backup, Peter Skudra.  This season ended with very similar results.  During this past offseason, Canuck brass decided again that Auld wasn’t ready for the pressure and decided to bring in veteran Johan Hedberg as a back up to Dan Cloutier.  Thus, Alex Auld began the season as the full time starter of the Manitoba Moose.  When Auld was called to the NHL, he was thrust into a starting role, as both Cloutier and Hedberg went down with injury in the same day. 

His first game this year was on December 11 against Colorado where he stopped 26 of 27 shots for a 1 all tie, which he followed up with a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.  At this point Auld was relegated to bench duty as Dan Cloutier returned from his minor knee injury.  His next start versus Edmonton in late December was his worst game as a Canuck as he allowed six goals on twenty shots.   He bounced back in his next start against Calgary as he allowed only 1 goal on 31 shots as he back stopped the Canucks to a 2-1 overtime victory.  One week later he recorded another tie against Florida with another solid performance.  Auld was returned to the minors on January 19 as Hedberg was declared healthy from his wrist injury. 

Auld didn’t return to the NHL until March 19 when Dan Cloutier injured his hip.  His only appearance was relief duty for a pulled Hedberg in a 4-3 overtime loss to Chicago.  He stayed with the team and entered the playoffs as the team’s No. 3 goalie, but was quickly elevated to back up status when Cloutier was injured in game three.  After Hedberg struggled in Game 4, Marc Crawford made Auld the starter in Game 5, expecting his size to combat the crashing of the net by the Flames.  Although Auld allowed nine goals in the three games and his save percentage dropped below .900, many of the goals were of the pinball variety where Auld had very little chance.  He kept the team alive in overtime in Game 6 with many clutch saves in the triple overtime game, and had no chance on the series winning goal in game seven.  Because of the Auld’s solid performance, his chances of being the back up goalie are very good with some suggesting that he may be ready to take on the starting goalie duties.