from Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province,

The list of this summer’s potential unrestricted free agents is the most attractive in the NHL’s recent memory.

As of this writing, there are at least five elite forwards who are currently 28 and under, a secondary group of four who are 29 and under and would fit into the top six of any team in the NHL, a Norris-Trophy defenceman in Erik Karlsson, a Vezina-winning goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky, and a couple of other enticing baubles.

Now here is today’s homework assignment: Look at that list, look at the Canucks’ lineup, and factor in this organization’s history of chasing big-name UFAs. Now, try to imagine a universe where the Canucks don’t make an attempt to land at least one of those players this summer.

Given this administration’s track record with free agents, that’s a scary proposition. But this time, it actually makes sense.

This season, the locals have demonstrated they’re trending in the right direction.

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