The Vancouver Canucks‘ defence corps will look totally different once more this season after basic supervisor (GM) Patrik Allvin determined to not re-sign Nikita Zadorov and Ian Cole. Changing them can be Derek Forbort and Vincent Desharnais, two rough-and-tumble blueliners with dimension, however not famous for his or her mobility and offence. There should still be an addition to come back earlier than the puck drops on Oct. 9, however as we enter the month of August, let’s check out what the defence pairings might appear like in opposition to the Calgary Flames on opening night time.
Quinn Hughes – Filip Hronek
Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek are going to be the staples of this Canucks blue line for a very long time. The reigning Norris Trophy winner is signed till 2027 and Hronek simply inked an eight-year extension that can hold him in Vancouver till doubtlessly 2032. They’ve grow to be the Canucks’ model of Cale Makar and Devon Toews, and regardless of Hronek’s large dropoff in manufacturing in the direction of the tip of the season, he’s nonetheless the very best match for Hughes on the highest pairing and can proceed to be so in 2024-25.
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their stats as a pairing final season, Hughes and Hronek blew the competitors out of the water when it got here to puck possession and possibilities. In 1,237:51 of even-strength ice time collectively, they’d a 56.78 Corsi for share (CF%) and the Canucks generated 659 scoring possibilities and 277 high-danger possibilities with them on the ice. In keeping with MoneyPuck, they had been additionally on the ice for 72 objectives, second solely to Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard (78). They weren’t all offence and no defence both as Hughes (plus-38) and Hronek (plus-33) had been a mixed plus-71 within the plus/minus column. All in all, they had been as efficient of a top-pairing as any within the NHL final season and can most likely prepared the ground this season as properly.
Carson Soucy – Tyler Myers
When Carson Soucy was wholesome final season, his most typical defence companion was Tyler Myers, and contemplating their effectiveness, they’ll most likely stay a pairing to start out 2024-25. In 393:23 at even energy, they had been solely on the ice for 12 objectives and averaged 1.85 objectives in opposition to per 60 minutes. Their CF% was under 50 at 46.3, in order that they didn’t drive play however had been respectable at suppressing high-danger scoring possibilities, with the Canucks producing 66 to the opponents’ 61.
Aside from Hughes and Hronek, Soucy and Myers had been two of the Canucks’ finest defencemen in the course of the 2023-24 season. Though Soucy solely performed 40 video games, he was a chilled presence at any time when he was within the lineup and arguably was their prime two-way defenceman. The Canucks’ document speaks for itself, as they had been 27-9-4 when he suited up for a recreation and 23-14-5 when he didn’t.
As for Myers, regardless of the criticism he usually will get from the followers and media for his defensive lapses and dangerous penalties, I really feel he curtailed these issues final season for essentially the most half. He doesn’t deserve the nickname “Chaos Giraffe” anymore, and needs to be praised extra for his general two-way recreation. It appears Tocchet, Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar have found out easy methods to unlock the nice components of the 6-foot-8 defender and make him an efficient a part of the blue line, even matching him up in opposition to the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl within the playoffs. Sure, you learn that accurately, he was a part of the shutdown pairing that was despatched out to restrict two of the very best on the earth. That alone reveals the expansion of Myers’ recreation over the past season or so. A lot in order that Allvin felt he was price re-signing for one more three years – which, I could also be within the minority for saying this, was higher than bringing again Zadorov.
Derek Forbort – Vincent Desharnais
Now onto the newbies. There is no such thing as a historical past between Forbort and Desharnais, so we have now zero stats to speak about. However, if paired collectively to start out the season, they need to be an efficient tandem. Physicality, grit, and sacrificing the physique can be the secret with this duo as they’ve mixed for 1,038 hits (Forbort – 858, Desharnais – 180) and 1,029 blocked photographs (Forbort – 859, Desharnais – 170) over their careers. Mobility might be a problem, however each of them have been key parts of their earlier groups prior to now with Forbort averaging 17:48 time-on-ice (TOI) in Boston and Desharnais 15:44 TOI in Edmonton.
Forbort and Desharnais is also one of many prime pairings Tocchet sends out when the Canucks are down a person. Forbort was particularly talked about in Jake DeBrusk’s opening interview as a superb penalty killer who “loves consuming pucks”, so I’m positive he can be a staple in that scenario seemingly taking up the two:39 of common shorthanded ice time that Cole logged final season. Desharnais can be no stranger to the PK as he was behind solely Darnell Nurse (2:30) and Cody Ceci (2:36) on the Oilers at 2:02.
seventh Defenceman: Noah Juulsen
It will rely upon whether or not the Canucks resolve to take 14 forwards or eight defencemen into the common season, however as per my ahead projections, I’m leaning towards the previous. On this case, Noah Juulsen can be taking the seventh spot forward of Mark Friedman. He took main strides in his recreation final season and have become the right plug-and-play defender. Due to Soucy’s harm points, he suited up for 54 video games and established himself as a bodily no-nonsense possibility that wasn’t afraid to hit and block photographs. The Surrey, BC native completed with 164 hits (which led the defence corps) and 85 blocked photographs (fourth behind Hronek, Myers and Cole), and was a presence on the PK. If any of the Canucks’ prime penalty-killing defencemen go down with an harm, he’s the right alternative as he performs the identical model as Forbort and Desharnais.
Canucks’ Defence Doesn’t Lack Top or Physicality
Final season, the Canucks’ defence corps was one of many greatest within the league with solely Hughes underneath 6 ft. This season, it will likely be extra of the identical because the additions of Forbort (6-foot-4) and Desharnais (6-foot-6) change Cole (6-foot-1) and Zadorov (6-foot-7). In truth, they are going to be greater, with Forbort standing three inches taller than Cole, and Desharnais just one inch shorter than Zadorov. Additionally, except Hughes and Hronek, they’re all bodily and prepared to throw their physique in entrance of pucks. Mainly, whereas this defensive group would possibly lack mobility and puck motion past Hughes, Hronek and Myers, they are going to be one of many hardest items to go in opposition to night time in and night time out – and that’s precisely how Foote and Tocchet prefer it.
