NHL Western Conference Outlook: Vancouver Flying High

With the midway point of the 2010-11 National Hockey League regular season having come and gone, now’s our chance to look back and identify some of the biggest surprises and disappointments thus far. Today, we’ll take a look at the Western Conference and the team that’s shot to the top of the standings — the Vancouver Canucks.

With a 29-10-6 record, the Canucks have compiled one of the best first halves in franchise history and sit atop not only the Western Conference, but the entire NHL.  They’ve dominated divisional play (13-2 against the Northwest Division), gotten outstanding performances from a variety of players and received a Jack Adams-worthy effort from head coach Alain Vigneault.

One of the big reasons for Vancouver’s outstanding play thus far has been the play of the Sedin brothers, Daniel and Henrik. While Henrik is the reigning Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner, it’s brother Daniel who’s now stealing the show. His 27 goals lead the team and put him on pace for 50-plus this year — all told, he’s got 58 points through 45 games. He’s got a serious chance to lead the team in scoring for the first time in his career and make good on the promise he showed last year, when he racked up a huge amount of points despite missing several games due to a broken foot. Is a 120-point season in play? It would take one helluva second half from the 29-year-old Swede, but it certainly could be.

But Daniel isn’t the lone Canuck having a breakout season. Ryan Kesler, the team’s second-line center, is enjoying the finest season of his life with 24 goals and 18 assists through 45 games. The Livonia, Michigan native also made his first-ever NHL All-Star Game and is on pace to shatter his career-high of 26 goals (Kesler is on pace to score 41 this year).

In goal, another breakout performance has come courtesy 24-year-old Cory Schneider. The phenom from Marblehead, Mass. was Vancouver’s first-round pick at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, but has spent considerable time honing his skills at the collegiate and American Hockey League levels. This year, though, he’s made his mark professionally. While he hasn’t had a ton of playing time behind entrenched starter Roberto Luongo, Schneider has made good on almost every opportunity he’s had. Posting an 8-2-2 record with a .923 save percentage and 2.35 goals against average, Schneider has been one of the best rookie netminders in the NHL and on the top of many wish lists for teams looking for a good young goalie. Should the Canucks be able to parlay him into something at the trade deadline, they could be an even more formidable playoff opponent.