(Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks have been dominant since their days as a top choice for video game connoisseurs during the Sega Genesis era.

With speedy puck handlers such as Pavel Bure, Cliff Ronning and Trevor Linden, and backstop Kirk McLean tearing up the video game world back in the early 1990s, the Canucks set the foundation for success that still lingers today. Petr Nedved, Geoff Courtnall and Murray Craven are also long gone, but today's core of players that won the Northwest Division last year for the second time in three tries is back and hungrier for more.

The Canucks were eliminated in six games by the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western semis and recorded 40 or more wins in the regular season for the sixth time in the past eight years. Head coach Alain Vigneault will be behind the bench and is 133-86-27 since the 2006-07 campaign. Vigneault has to be appreciative for the moves Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis made during the offseason to keep the club competitive.

Gillis' first major move of the offseason was re-signing forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin to new five-year contracts in July. Daniel and Henrik have played their entire NHL careers with the Canucks after being drafted by Vancouver second and third overall, respectively, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. The twin brothers led the Canucks in scoring last season with 82 points apiece, as Daniel notched 31 goals and 51 assists and Henrik posted 22 goals and 60 helpers.

Locking up the Sedin's was nice, but opening the vault for prized goaltender Roberto Luongo was even sweeter. Luongo was set to become a free agent following the 2009-10 season, and Vancouver wisely inked the 30-year-old to a family-settling 12-year contract extension through the 2021-22 season. Luongo, a one-time Lester B. Pearson Award and Hart Memorial Trophy nominee, has recorded 115 of his 230 career wins over the last three seasons, during two of which he has backstopped the Canucks to the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

Luongo was named the Canucks' captain prior to last season, when he posted a record of 33-13-7 with a 2.34 goals-against average. It was his fourth consecutive season with at least 30 wins. He also established a franchise record for shutouts in a season (nine) despite playing in only 54 games.

All that's left is getting Vancouver back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since the 1993-94 campaign, and winning that elusive ring. The Canucks are favorites to win the Northwest again and will be battling with Calgary for division supremacy, but they must be cautious of Minnesota and Edmonton. Colorado, meanwhile, still has some work to do.

FORWARDS - Daniel Sedin enters his ninth season in Vancouver and led the club with 31 goals, five short of his career high set during the 2006-07 campaign. Sedin's smarts and quick hands has helped him become a major scoring threat in the Northwest, as evidenced by his average of almost 30 goals per season over the last four years. His brother, Henrik, posted 22 goals and a team-high 60 assists to finish tied with Daniel for the team lead in points at 82.

Henrik is an assist machine and is averaging 62 helpers a year over the past four seasons. He had a career-high 71 assists in 2006-07 and has always been reliable in getting his teammates involved. Fellow center Ryan Kesler enjoyed a career year in 2008-09, and is expected to contribute even more this upcoming season. Kesler, a five-year pro, had 26 goals and 33 assists in 82 games. The durable native of Michigan was a Selke Trophy Finalist.

Mats Sundin signed a big deal last December, but turned out to be a bust with nine goals and 19 assists in 41 games. Sundin was not re-signed by the Canucks and is still currently a free agent. Veteran forward Pavol Demitra appeared in 69 games for the Canucks in 2008-09, recording 20 goals and 33 helpers for 53 points, good enough for fourth on the team. Demitra, who entered the league back in 1993-94, had 20 or more goals for the 10th time in his career, but his skills are slipping a bit as his 35th birthday looms. He is expected to be out until mid-October because of shoulder surgery.

Forwards Alexandre Burrows, Kyle Wellwood, Taylor Pyatt and Jannik Hansen all chipped in during Vancouver's 100-point season. Burrows scored 15 goals in his last 25 games.

The Canucks bolstered their offense in the offseason by signing free agent right wing Mikael Samuelsson to a three-year contract. The Swede had 19 goals and 21 assists in 81 games last season for Detroit, and added five goals and 10 points in 23 playoff games. His experience and skills will help such prospects as center Cody Hodgson, forward Michael Grabner and Jordan Schroeder. Enforcer Darcy Hordichuk, Rick Rypien and Ryan Johnson give the Canucks grit on the fourth line. Rypien inked a two-year deal this summer.

DEFENSE - Vancouver's defense fell apart in the Western semifinals against the Blackhawks, so this will be an important year for the blueliners from British Columbia.

The Canucks hope their signing of free agent defenseman Mathieu Schneider pays off after giving him just under $2 million this year. Schneider, 40, scored nine goals and dished out 23 assists in 67 games with the Atlanta Thrashers and Montreal Canadiens last season. His 19 years of experience and 221 career goals is something this back line needs.

The Canucks lost defenseman Mattias Ohlund to free agency, as the blueliner headed south for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ohlund fell out of favor with the coaches after spending his entire 12-year career with Vancouver, which took the Swedish backliner in the first round (13th overall) in the 1994 draft. He played in all 82 games last season, compiling six goals and 19 assists. Filling the gap will be Kevin Bieksa, Alexander Edler and Sami Salo. Bieksa led the group with 11 goals and 32 assists in 72 games.

Defenseman Shane O'Brien was re-signed and completed his first season with the Canucks after being acquired from the Lightning last October.

GOALTENDING - Luongo missed a significant amount of time with a groin injury last year, but that shouldn't stop him from proving that he is worth every penny of his mega deal. Luongo, who posted a .920 save percentage and a 2.34 goals against average in 2008-09, must get this team past the second round of the playoffs. He was rocked in Game 6 of the semifinals by Chicago, which moved on with a 7-5 victory.

Luongo has eclipsed the 30-win mark for four straight years, setting a Canucks franchise record with 47 victories in 2006-07. Last season he established a franchise mark with nine shutouts, in addition to setting a new team record for the longest shutout sequence, playing 242:36 without a goal against over four games. The two-time Vezina Trophy candidate and four-time All-Star has accumulated a 230-232-31 record with 33 ties, and owns a career 2.57 GAA and 47 shutouts.

Andrew Raycroft seems to be in the driver's seat as Luongo's backup and signed with Vancouver this offseason. Raycroft spent last season with the Colorado Avalanche, posting a 12-16-0 record with a 3.14 goals-against average, and captured the Calder Trophy in 2003-04. Cory Schneider, a first-round pick in 2004, will push for that backup spot after winning the Baz Bastien trophy as the AHL's top goaltender for the 2008-09 campaign with Manitoba.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The Canucks will once again be the favorite to win the Northwest Division for the fourth time in six years with all of their core players returning, including stud netminder Luongo. Vancouver has registered two 100-point seasons over the previous three years, and there's no reason why a third shouldn't be on the way in 2009-10. With both Sedin bothers locked up to identical five-year deals and prospects such as Hodgson and Grabner prepared to take on more responsibility, Vigneault has a strong chance to have the organization battling for Lord Stanley's Cup for the first time since 1994. Kesler, Burrows and an aging Demitra will also contribute to the cause after each player topped the 20-goal mark last season.