The offseason fantasy hockey outlook for the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks

The first three weeks covered the six Western Conference teams that failed to make the playoffs. Now for the first of the eliminated playoffs teams based on those eliminated first and their regular season finish. That means Winnipeg and Vancouver are up for dissection.

Winnipeg

Winnipeg's offense stayed relatively stable from last to this season, the change was on the defensive end. First they allowed nearly a shot and a half less per game. A third of the cut down in shots came on shots in the high danger area where they allowed half a shot less per game. That is huge in an area where goals are scored on roughly one out of every five shots. In combination with their save percentage rising to a roughly league average range the Jets allowed one fewer goal every three games. As such a team that picked eighth last year made the playoffs this season.

Eddie Lack was the first Canuck goalie other than Corey Schneider to post a save percentage above 92% in four years. The good news is this is only the second time in the last decade that Miller had a save percentage below the league average. There is reason to be optimistic that this was a blip on the radar as his high danger save percentage was close to a career high of 86% while he suffered on mid-range shots, to the tune of an abysmal 88%. Even if Miller, at 35 next year, starts his downturn he should return to being an above average goalie. In contrast Lack's numbers improved but nothing jumps out as being an unsustainable. Goalies' numbers are historically very volatile unless they are elite but Lack at 26 seems set on the right track to take over from Miller in two years. The Canucks could be in for a year of stellar goaltending in 2015/16.

The Sedins had a big bounce back year this season, or so it seems. The Sedins ranked 63^rd and 99^th in points per 60 minutes at even strength. Their even strength production stayed static from the previous year. One reason their even strength production did not rise this year is while their shot rate remained static their scoring chance rate dipped by 5.7 scoring chances per 60 minutes played. Thus while they still dominate possession the quality of shots they are producing is diminishing. Any improvement they had was based on other areas of the game, namely the power play and when the opposition's goalie was pulled (the Sedins had seven points each with the net empty). They are becoming more power play reliant and their resurgence looks to be short lived if the power play dips next year.

Alex Burrows and Radim Vrbata have each played more than 550 minutes with the Sedins over the last two years while no other active Canuck forward has played more than 200 minutes. It is a safe bet that one of these two will get the bulk of the playing time with the Sedins next year. Neither was on for impressive numbers alongside the Sedins with Burrows at 1.83 GF60 at even strength and Vrbata at 2.20 at even strength. Conversely both were on for just under 3 GF60 at even strength when alongside Nick Bonino. In the end the winner will be the one who gets the top line power play minutes, if that comes while playing with Nick Bonino at even strength then all the better.

That brings this discussion to Nick Bonino and his most common linemate Chris Higgins. They were very effective as a duo, putting up 2.7 GF60 while allowing less than two GF60. Higgins was the biggest beneficiary as he was on the ice for significantly more scoring chances this year, playing with Bonino, than last year. Bonino-Higgins were good that they were on for virtually the same number of scoring chances as the Sedins. As long these two are only getting second unit power play minutes, and starting less than 40% in the offensive zones they are unlikely to break 45 points.

The Canucks are full of interesting options in their bottom six including Linden Vey, Bo Horvat, Zack Kassian and Sven Baertschi. None of these players had outstanding seasons as Horvat and Vey produced the most points of the four with 25 and 24 respectively. This is partially due to none of them getting more than 12 minutes per game at even strength and only Vey receiving anywhere close to two minutes per game on the power play.

On defense the Canucks do not have a lot of great fantasy options. Only Edler had more than 25 points, a repeat of last year where only Garrison broke 30 points. Alex Edler is the only Canuck D over the last two years to get decent power play time, getting three minutes per game. Bieksa does not seem to be an option any more as he fell to a minute and a half under Desjardins. There are two interesting options for the Canucks on defense, starting with Yannick Weber.The Canucks have been very productive averaging over four P60 on the power play, equivalent to Canuck defensemen on the top unit. This year he had a run starting late March where his P60 was in the Shattenkirk strata. The other option for the Canucks on the power play is recent acquisition Adam Clendening. In 2013/14 he had a huge AHL season, which he has not been able to match since.  He brings big offensive upside and will be with the Canucks all year giving him a better chance to learn the systems and make the team.

UFA: Shawn Matthias, Brad Richardson

RFA: Linden Vey, Ronalds Kenins, Brandon McMillan, Sven Baertschi, Yannick Weber, Ryan Stanton, Adam Clendening, Frank Corrado