The Vancouver Canucks are sporting a new look: one of frugality and caution.

There was one over-arching need for the Vancouver Canucks this off-season – sign an offensive center man. This goal has not only been ignored, it’s been blatantly passed-over as the Canucks have contained their focus to role players and minor leaguers.

To date, the Canucks GM Dave Nonis has acquired the following new players:

G         Curtis Sanford              $600,000                     0 goals (2007)

G         Corey Schneider          $924,000 (2-way)        0 goals (2007)

LW      Brad Isbister                $525,000                     1 goal (2007)

C/W     Byron Ritchie              $625,000                     8 goals (2007)

W        Ryan Shannon              $550,000                     2 goals (2007)

D         Aaron Miller                $1,250,000                  0 goals (2007)

D         Zack Fitzgerald            $450,000                     0 goals (2007)

Wow. What an offensive output. What seven players, one center, no offensive center, and a grand total of 11 goals scored last year (divided by 7 players = 1.6 goals per player last year).

The Canucks will really challenge for the Cup this year.

Meanwhile, our top offensive player from last year’s playoffs, C/W Trevor Linden, and the most popular player in the history of the franchise – and one of the hardest working – remains ignored and unsigned.

Let’s rejoice with the acquisition of a new cadre sporting a 1.6 goals per player average… Nonis hasn’t delivered this kind of hope and hand-wringing since acquiring Keith Carney, Eric Weinrich, Sean Brown and Mikka Noranen.