Vancouver was 2-7-6-2 in the final 17 regular-season games. The Canucks were swept in the first-round of the playoffs -- for which they barely qualified.

Nonetheless, the Canucks took plenty of positives from the 2000-01 season.

	2000-01 by the numbers
	Record: 38-26-11-7, 90 points (T-14th overall, 8th West, 3rd Northwest) Goals for: 239/2.91 (12th) Goals against: 238/2.90 (21st) 20-goal scorers: Naslund (41), Bertuzzi (25), Sedin (20), 50-point scorers: Naslund (75), Cassels (56), Bertuzzi (55), Morrison (54)

First, coach Marc Crawford led his young team to the playoffs in the hyper-competitive West. For a team that lost Mark Messier, had major goaltending questions and carried a roster with an average age under 26-years old, that's a significant accomplishment.

How did they do it?

Well, it turns out there were some top-notch leaders in the dressing room who just needed the opportunity to show their worth. Markus Naslund not only had his best year in the NHL (41-34-75) but also become a positive force with his teammates. Andrew Cassells (12-44-56), Todd Bertuzzi (25-30-55) and defenseman Ed Jovanovski (19 power-play assists) stepped up their collective games.

Perhaps most importantly, goalie Bob Essensa proved more than a stop-gap when Felix Potvin faltered and then was traded to the Kings. The 36-year old netminder won 18 of 33 starts and kept a respectable 2.68 GAA.

When Naslund and Cassels went down with injuries late in the season, the team struggled. Somehow, the Canucks held on to qualify for the postseason, just edging out Phoenix on a tiebreaker. And although they were four-and-out in the first round against Colorado, three of the four losses were one-goal games.

Even with the injuries and losing skid, GM Place was full almost every night late in the season. Couple that with the team's young talent and the Canucks re-established themselves as a healthy Canadian franchise -- despite the fatalistic words of GM Brian Burke on the NHL's offseason spending spree: "Right now, we're going head to head with people who are nuts, absolutely out of their minds."

Looking at next season
Despite all the optimism, there remain significant issues to resolve before a repeat ticket can be stamped for the '01-02 postseason. Vancouver allowed 238 goals last season -- second worst of the 16 playoff teams and just one less than the team's 239 goals scored. The primary issue is goaltending; the defense isn't deep, but the blueline corps was more consistent than the trio of Potvin, Essensa and Cloutier.

This offseason, Canucks elected not to exercise the option on Essensa's contract, and unless something happens before training camp, Crawford likely will begin the season with Dan Cloutier as the No. 1 goalie. Alfie Michaud -- two NHL games of experience -- sits behind him on the depth chart right now, and although the Canucks now have two prospects from junior hockey (Kevin Swanson and Alexander Auld), they probably won't be in the mix next season.

Cloutier, acquired from Tampa Bay last winter, is with his third team in three years, and the former Rangers first-round pick knows this could be his last opportunity to establish himself as a No. 1 goalie in the NHL. He won just four of 14 starts last season with the Canucks but had a 2.43 GAA and showed flashes of brilliance. He has to show up every night for the Canucks to have a chance -- unless they find someone else.

The Canucks were an average offensive team last season but could be better if the young players continue to improve. The roster is heavy at center and a bit thin at wing on the lower lines, which might force Crawford to experiment with some new combinations.

Daniel and Henrik Sedin have a season of NHL play under their Swedish belts, and a few more pounds of muscle will help the twins play more consistently over the 82-game season. Naslund, signed to a new $15 million contract, is rehabilitating his broken leg and expects to be ready for opening night. Bertuzzi and Morrison, who set career highs in games played (82), goals (16) and assists (38), seem poised to have breakout seasons; if Bertuzzi becomes the 30-goal scorer the Canucks think he can be, and Morrison inches closer to his point-a-game potential, Naslund will have more room to score.

Vancouver doesn't three A-level defensive pairs, but there is some talent on the backline. Drake Berehowsky was a nice addition last season and helped fill the void left by Adrian Aucoin, who was dealt to Tampa Bay and is now Islanders property. Mattias Ohlund returned from his serious eye injury and should play better with a full offseason and training camp to prepare for hockey. It was thought that Murray Baron's days in Vancouver were done, but the 34-year-old veteran will be back for his 13th NHL season. Jovanovski, Scott Lachance and the much-improved Jason Strudwick -- plus-16 last season after going minus-13 in '99-00 -- provide a good core, and Brent Sopel will be in the mix as well.

Because the team faltered so much without Naslund and Cassels late last season, players like Bertuzzi must produce offensively, since depending on one line can be dangerous.If the lower lines generate some offense, and the goaltending holds up, Vancouver should be competitive again. And with Phoenix switching to a youth movement, there should be plenty of opportunity to compete for a playoff spot, but that goaltending situation is a major "if".

Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com.