We’ve approached the end of the road for the 2016-17 Vancouver Canucks, much to the pleasure of mostly everyone. But the season doesn’t end when they leave the ice, the off-season will perhaps be the most exciting part of the season, as many anticipate a shake-up across the board, with the expansion draft stuck in as well. What do the Canucks absolutely need to accomplish in the off-season, other than a successful draft? I asked our writers, have your say in the comments as well!

Question: Other than drafting, what’s the one thing you want the Canucks to accomplish this offseason?

No surprises here. I won’t disappoint the rapidly growing #ExposeSutter2017 movement. That’s exactly what I want the Canucks to accomplish. I want them to get out from under Brandon Sutter’s awful contract with a cap hit o $4.3M for four more seasons while they still have a chance. Is it a guarantee that Vegas hops on that grenade? Not entirely, but if the Canucks don’t give them the option it’s gross negligence on their part. With 29th overall a distinct possibility and the possibility of Nico Hischier or Nolan Patrick stepping into the Canucks’ lineup next season, whether you think Sutter is decent as a third line centre or not, there just isn’t room.

#ExposeSutter2017 is indeed gaining momentum and expansion draft tees will be flying off the shelves. What I personally would like to see is a trade that gets the Canucks two picks in the first round and possibly in the top 5. There have been rumours Ben Hutton is the piece they are willing to move so we’ll have to see on that. It sounds like Olli Juolevi might be the real deal and if the Canucks are all in on the youth movement, we could see a fresh lineup to start 2017/18. The Coyotes went this route, the Oilers went this route and so did the Flames. Might the Canucks partake as well?

In general, I just want to see a reversal of previous recent off-seasons where the Canucks made transactions that focused mainly on the short-term. I want to see management stay the course they initiated at the trade deadline, building towards the future, acquiring young talent and lots of it. No Sutter or Gudbranson trades, no Eriksson-like free agent deals. Just an honest, steady commitment to a true rebuild.

As the resident graphic designer, and also working full-time in the industry, I’m looking at this off-season from the brand perspective. I want the Canucks to use the Adidas takeover as an opportunity to ditch the orca, clean up their brand and create a new look for the up and coming squad, while keeping the blue and green the fans have come to love. It’s time for them to move away from the orca and Vancouver arch which has been both loved and hated in it’s 10 years at the helm.