From the executive offices to the ice, the Canucks have gone through a makeover this summer, with a new general manager in Mike Gillis, the need for a new captain after Markus Naslund left, and a new philosophy more geared towards offense.

Yet for all the changes in the offseason, the Canucks head into the 2009-10 season looking very much like the same team that skidded out of the playoff race in the final two weeks of last season: great goaltending, a good defense core, and little or no offensive firepower beyond the top-line duo of Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

As promised during his introductory press conference, Gillis has made this year's Canucks faster and tougher, both on defense and the third and fourth lines.

New Anaheim defenseman Nathan McIver skated out of the penalty box and into a breakaway, and beating Roberto Luongo at 22 seconds of overtime to give the Ducks a 4-3 preseason win over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night. It was McIver's first game for the Ducks after being claimed off waivers from the Canucks after Vancouver tried to send him down to the American Hockey League.

The Canucks' top line of Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Steve Bernier each scored a goal, lifting Vancouver to a 3-2 preseason victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 17 saves for San Jose (2-4), but more important was the absence of Sharks star center Joe Thornton, who didn't take a shift after the second period.

Rookie Jannik Hansen scored two goals and linemates Ryan Kesler and Alexander Burrows both had three assists to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 6-1 preseason victory over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Pavol Demitra set up Alexander Edler's goal 21 seconds into the game and added one of his own in the second period for the Canucks (5-0-0), who played without their line and top four...