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The promise of a new defence has yet to materialize for the Vancouver Canucks this summer.

Something had to change after another NHL season where they didn’t get to 25 goals as a group (they had 21). But nothing did, and so far the Canucks are poised to return the same collection of defenders.

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They know bringing back the blue-line will not be a boost to marketing, but that could change if rookie Quinn Hughes is on the team.

Things could also be different if Ben Hutton and Derrick Pouliot figure out off-season training programs that won’t have coach Travis Green talking about their conditioning all year.

Hutton especially can be a much better player than the one last season who managed no goals, six assists and a series of healthy scratches. If both Hutton and Pouliot kick it up, the Canucks have a shot at improving a defence that really didn’t do anything well.

Alex Edler is set as the workhorse and Chris Tanev will be playing big minutes too as long as he’s healthy. Erik Gudbranson returns with a multi-year contract so it’s difficult to imagine him not having big minutes in a top-four spot.